Steel, Explosives, and Spellcasters

[Champagne's Outskirts]

The bumpy path meandered with the undulating terrain. As far as the eye could see, vineyards stretched endlessly across the landscape.

It was mid-April, and the withered grapevines were budding with tender green shoots. At a glance, it almost seemed as if the wooden stakes supporting the vines had sprung to life.

Wooden stakes of similar thickness and uniform length were neatly arranged on both sides of the road, like soldiers standing to attention, saluting the passersby on the path.

By some twist of fate, among the three travelers on the road, one was indeed a general, while another...

"Wow! So this is how grapes grow?! I always thought grapevines were thin little things, but they can actually grow trunks like this?"

[Novice Nun Liz] turned around, excitedly sharing her newfound knowledge with her companions, as though she'd just discovered something monumental.

"Stop shouting," the blond knight chastised coldly. "Hold the reins properly, or you'll fall off the saddle."

The enthusiastic novice nun seemed as though she had been doused with a bucket of cold water; her eagerness to share her discovery quickly withered away.

With wide, almond-shaped eyes, she shot back in defiance, "Don't look down on me! I can ride a horse—probably learned it earlier than you! I can swim, I can use a spear, and I can handle a sword too!"

The blond knight showed no reaction.

Seeing this, the novice nun puffed out her cheeks in anger and turned her head away, leaving only her back to the knight.

The atmosphere became heavy and awkward.

"Sister Liz," Marvey cleared his throat and kindly reminded her, "those aren't grapevines, but the stakes holding the grapevines."

"Oh?"

The novice nun turned around in surprise. After studying the nearby trellises closely, she finally noticed the grapevines tied to the stakes.

"Ah, I see." Novice Nun Liz nodded slightly to Marvey and said sweetly, "Thank you, Mr. Marvey."

"No need to thank me." Marvey, caught off guard by her gratitude, waved his hands repeatedly. "No need to thank me."

Feeling a little awkward, Marvey removed his hat and smoothed his hair. Before long, blush spread from his cheeks all the way to the tips of his ears.

The blond knight let out a disdainful sneer.

The novice nun Liz bristled like a cat stepping on a trap. "What are you laughing at?" she snapped.

Marvey quickly tried to mediate. "'Siegfried,' surely wasn't laughing at you, Sister Liz. He's probably just got a sore throat."

The novice nun was so angry her shoulders trembled. She gritted her teeth and let out a stifled scream—trying her best to keep it low-pitched.

Then, clutching her reins tightly, Liz fell silent. After a while, she finally mumbled with a tinge of grievance and bitterness, "I'm not some fool from a storybook. Of course I know grapes don't grow on plates. I just... I've never seen grapevines growing on the ground before…"

Faced with the novice nun's sudden heartfelt confession, even Marvey was at a loss for how to diffuse the awkwardness.

The blond knight [Siegfried] loosened his collar and tried his best to soften his tone—though his face remained stern—"If I recall... doesn't your home have a vineyard nearby?"

Seeing his friend persist on the grape topic, Marvey quickly interrupted him.

He nudged his horse forward, placing himself between the nun and the knight, and asked curiously, "Sister Liz, you said you can handle a sword and a spear?"

Moments earlier, Liz had been drowning in a sea of disappointment and frustration, but now her spirits soared again. She eagerly replied, "I can use a longsword! A longsword like a cross! And I can use a spear too! I even hunted a duck once!"

"That's impressive!" Marvey encouraged her. "But aren't swords and spears unnecessary skills for a nun? Where did you learn them?"

"My father," Liz puffed out her chest with pride. "My father taught me himself!"

"Your mother didn't object?"

"How could she not? Mother was very upset. But once Father decided something, she couldn't change his mind."

Marvey listened intently, nodding repeatedly. "Instead of teaching his daughter embroidery or sewing, he taught her swordsmanship and marksmanship. Your father must be a unique and fascinating person..."

Rubbing his hands together, he asked enthusiastically, "Did he teach you anything else? Or has he done any other extraordinary things?"

"Sister Liz!" the blond knight suddenly interrupted.

The novice nun tilted her head in puzzlement at the blond knight.

"There are some cottages over there." The blond knight untied a waterskin from his saddle and tossed it to the novice nun. "Go fetch some clean water—fill it up."

"Why me?"

The novice nun began to protest but seemed to realize something mid-thought. She blinked, took the waterskin, tugged her reins, and obediently set off down the path to fetch water.

Watching the nun ride off into the distance, Marvey sighed and shook his head. Then he turned to the blond knight with a dissatisfied look. "Siegfried, even though we're good friends, I have to call you out on this—you're interfering with my storytelling!"

"Since you already know her identity, stop pretending you don't and taking advantage of her," Siegfried—also known as Siegfried—warned with a stern expression. "And don't try to use this to pry into royal secrets."

Marvey scrutinized Siegfried's every subtle expression. After a moment, he spread his hands, shrugged, and laughed casually. "Alright! I promise you."

"Thank you." Siegfried nodded in acknowledgment. Then he dismounted to let his horse rest.