Joel's routine was inevitably disrupted by the daily presence of Alicia, a young noblewoman who, to his surprise, didn't seem to be playing apprentice. As annoying as having a constant visitor could be, especially someone as communicative as Alicia, he quickly adapted. After all, he possessed the complete memories of at least three teachers—one of them specialized in art—and infinite patience trained by experiences far more fraught than sculpting alongside a teenager with too many questions.

  With professionalism and coolness, Joel took it upon himself to establish a clear routine for Alicia, carefully separating his time between teaching, his training, personal sculpting, childcare, and experimenting with his skills. And to her credit, Alicia proved more capable than she let on. Not only had she practiced on her own before arriving—something she proudly acknowledged as soon as they began—but her woodwork displayed surprising sensitivity and technique. In terms of pure skill, she was almost at Liam's level, which was no small feat for someone without formal training.

  Although, of course, it wasn't as if Alice worked with ordinary tools. The knife she used for carving was undoubtedly a magical artifact, a finely crafted object that cut through wood like hot butter, at the cost of only a little mana. It was evident that her father, Baron Celdrik, had given it to her with the same air of sobriety as one would give an initiation sword to a young knight. This was no surprise to Joel, as nobles always found ways to ensure their sons excelled.

  "They say that constantly expending mana helps expand the reserves much faster, which is why I came up with the idea of carving with this magical artifact," Alice commented one morning, as she outlined the details of a small bird figurine. "And my instructor said it also helps to digest strengthening potions more quickly... it also strengthens the body, since constantly transferring mana increases the size of the magical channels."

  Joel nodded slightly without looking at her, as he adjusted the proportions of a stone human figure.

  "Yes, that makes sense," he replied simply, as if it were a no-brainer.

  Alicia continued enthusiastically, as if speaking to an equal. "I suppose the family you grew up in told you the same things. The nobility's training hasn't changed for a long time."

  Joel restrained himself from making any sarcastic comments. By now, Alexander was already a public figure with a reputation for being eccentric, mysterious, and possibly aristocratic. And Alicia, like many others, seemed convinced that he had been born into some hidden corner of the region's noble lineage.

  He had no reason to correct her; in fact, it was better that way. He let her speak freely, and sometimes, between her words, useful information fell. Details about magical training, the customs of the nobility, or the tensions between powerful houses. None of this was irrelevant to someone who continued to search for clues about the hidden workings of the world.

  And while Alicia carved figures and spilled her guts with the confidence of someone who believes she's on safe ground, Joel listened, taught... and observed.

  As the days and weeks passed, Joel began to grow accustomed to Alicia's constant presence. What at first was a calculated annoyance eventually became unexpectedly tolerable company. The young woman possessed a strong, almost defiant personality, but it was bathed in a genuine joy that was slowly beginning to seep through the cracks in Joel's armor.

  It wasn't a sudden change. At first, it was just less curt responses, or a nod of approval at the sight of good carving. Then came the comfortable silences, the brief conversations about topics unrelated to sculpture, and finally, trust.

  Joel, who had been inflexible with his initial conditions, eventually gave in on one important detail: he allowed Alicia to meet the children. It wasn't a decision he took lightly, but he had evaluated it from every angle and concluded that Alicia didn't yet have enough knowledge to perceive the children's true magical nature.

  The introduction to the children was simple. Joel introduced them as his adopted children, picked up during their journey along the roads, victims of tragic circumstances not worth explaining.

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  "That's all you need to know," Joel said in his usual dry, but not hostile, tone.

  Alicia, to her credit, didn't insist. She just smiled gently and greeted the children with unusual courtesy for someone of her status. But the one who truly celebrated that introduction was Ariel. The girl hadn't had a conversation with someone new in a long time, and the opportunity to talk to an older girl, full of questions and energy, was like a breath of fresh air.

  "Can you really sculpt too?" Alice asked, surprised, when Ariel showed her a figure she had tried to carve.

  "I'm learning," Ariel said proudly, looking at Joel out of the corner of her eye.

  Joel, from a distance, observed the scene without intervening. There was something strange about that moment, a calm and familiar feeling, as if for an instant, everything was in balance. There was no war, no dark secrets, no machinations. Just a noble girl conversing with a humble one, in a house where nothing was normal, and yet everything seemed to fit together.

  The mistrust was still there, of course. Joel wasn't so naive as to think the baron's game was over. But in that moment, he decided to allow a little peace.

  Liam's case, on the other hand, was quite different. Unlike Ariel, who radiated immediate warmth and open curiosity, Liam maintained his usual reserved demeanor. His introverted personality clashed with Alice's natural extroversion, and during their first encounters, he barely gave her a couple of brief glances, accompanied by curt answers or a simple nod.

  Alice, however, wasn't the type to give up easily. She had grown up among nobles, warriors, and courtiers, and she knew very well that some doors weren't opened with words... but with shared passions. And in that, Alice had found a key: sculpture.

  One morning, as Joel watched them carve from the shade of the porch, Alice, magic knife in hand, dared to ask Liam's opinion on a small falcon figurine he had attempted to reproduce.

  "The proportion of the wings is unbalanced. And the beak has no volume," he replied without even looking at her.

  "How should I do it then?" she asked, without taking offense.

  Liam hesitated. But the desire to explain overcame his silence. "You have to start by understanding the bird's center of gravity. If you notice, falcons don't hold their wings rigid when perched. Here..." he moved a little closer, pointing with a metal stylus, "... you should angle this section."

  Joel didn't intervene. He simply watched with interest as the sculpture became a bridge between two very different souls. Throughout that morning, and many that followed, Alicia found a way to establish something resembling a conversation with Liam. They didn't talk about personal matters or laugh out loud like Ariel, but they shared knowledge, ideas, techniques... and, little by little, a quiet admiration.

  For Joel, it was comforting to see how both children began to interact with another person without the need for pretense. Of course, there were still limits: nothing about their magical abilities, not a single gesture that could give them away, and of course, not a word about Nana.

  But within those rules, something genuine was happening. Alicia wasn't just learning sculpture; she was integrating into the little world Joel had worked so hard to build. And although he wouldn't admit it out loud yet, he was beginning to accept that maybe... it wasn't so bad to have her around.

  Fortunately, Nana didn't do anything that could jeopardize the children's secret. Although Joel knew she was extremely careful, there was always the risk that she might react unexpectedly to an unknown presence like Alicia's. But, as if understanding the importance of keeping up appearances, Nana remained completely silent, hidden deep within the house, observing everything carefully through her magical senses, never once revealing herself.

  Visitors continued to arrive in search of custom sculptures, and many encountered Alicia during her apprenticeship, which only further elevated Alexander's fame. The mere sight of a renowned noblewoman humbly studying alongside an already celebrated artist generated rumors and commentary in various social circles. Several times, these visits ended up becoming a sort of formal meeting between nobles, where Alicia, with her gift of speech and natural charisma, conversed on the most varied topics with all kinds of people.

  Joel didn't mind in the least. In fact, she proved to be an excellent source of information and a perfect distraction. While Alicia entertained and emotionally disarmed the guests, Nana could move with unusual freedom, drawing blood with an ease she hadn't had before.

  There was even the case of a Level 6 mage, whose mere presence had put Joel and Nana on alert. Nana wasn't sure she could safely extract blood from him, given the powerful energy surrounding him, but the man became so deeply involved in conversation with Alicia—to the point of laughing and drinking carelessly—that he lowered his guard and natural defenses so much that Nana managed to obtain the precious blood without him noticing at all. It was a silent victory, but one of great value.

  Soon, Joel began to see Alice as more than just an apprentice. Her presence became a kind of shield against the constant parade of nobles and merchants who arrived at his door. Alice had a natural talent for diplomacy, and her lineage gave her an authority that even the most haughty respected. On more than one occasion, some visitors proved to be much more troublesome than usual, and it was she who firmly calmed them down or outright admonished them, preventing any potential conflict before Joel had to intervene.

  In light of this, Joel decided to sincerely reciprocate her help, offering her much more in-depth instruction in the art of sculpture, beyond what he had initially promised. He even included her in his private math classes, where Alice demonstrated a lively intelligence, although she struggled initially with some more advanced concepts.

  As a gesture of appreciation—although he didn't express it directly—Joel also shared with her his instant drinks and some of the sweets he had managed to materialize with his skill. Alicia, fascinated by those flavors she had never tasted before, tried on several occasions to discover the origin of such strange delicacies, asking questions that Joel skillfully dodged or answered evasively, maintaining the mystery.