"I have to say, you've got magical hands," Rowena remarked as Cassian finished massaging her legs. "I've never felt this weightless in my feet and legs before. No wonder Katherine's taking you with her."
Cassian would have liked to continue massaging her thighs, but they were approaching their destination—something he was blissfully unaware of. At least he was still alive, which was a relief. For now, he focused on surviving after a near-death experience only hours before—his second one in just a few months.
His immediate goal was to keep a low profile and find a way to learn a sword technique or something that could help him survive future dangerous situations.
"You stopping here means you want to travel by air?" Rowena asked, glancing at one of the mountaintops. It had a flat area as large as several training grounds, filled with people, numerous carriages, and a few large constructs that looked like boats to Cassian.
He was puzzled about why they were here, so high up in the mountains where the available space was only a few hundred meters wide rivers or ponds. He doubted these large constructs could even fit in them.
Cassian glanced at Katherine for an answer to Rowena's question. She nodded and explained, "My mother would have notified them to keep an eye out for me at every teleportation gate. I could take the road, which would be a month of hassle, or fly through the beautiful clouds in just a week. I chose the clouds."
"Suit yourself, just make sure to repay this favor," Rovena said, handing Katherine a large pouch. The distinct clinking sound from inside caught Cassian's attention, and judging by its size, he quickly guessed what it contained. It was even larger than the one Katherine had given to Sumina at her farewell.
"I'll send you twice the amount, don't worry," Katherine replied with a smile as she accepted the pouch filled with gold coins.
"Money? Nah, I don't need that. Pay me back with something else—or better yet, give him to me instead," Rovena said, flashing a wide grin at Cassian, leaving him surprised by her words. "I've fallen in love with his massages. Having those daily before bed would make me feel like I'm sleeping in heaven."
The way Katherine looked at Rowena after hearing her was as if she didn't need any massage to feel like she was in heaven. Coldly, she said, "Stop messing around. He's coming with me."
Rowena blinked in surprise but quickly smirked. "Relax, I know how important he is to you. Like I said, I don't need money in return for this favor. Just let me have some of his massages once he's learned them properly." Katherine looked like she wanted to argue, but before she could say anything, the carriage stopped at the top of the mountain, in front of what looked like a bustling village.
Rowena, with a mischievous smile, opened the carriage door and added, "If you say no, I'll let your mother know you're heading to Magisteria by airship."
Katherine, clearly annoyed, hopped out of the carriage, and Cassian—who was being used as a bargaining chip without his consent—followed. Katherine shot Rowena an angry glare before walking off toward the village, while Cassian, feeling a bit uncomfortable, bowed slightly and said, "Thank you for your help today, Lady Rowena. May your journey to where ever your going next be safe."
"Same to you, Mr. Cassian. Take care of my angry friend there. She's a bit of a psycho, but as long as you're loyal to her, she won't do you any harm," Rowena said with a playful grin. She tapped the carriage door, signaling the coachman to drive off, still smiling at Cassian.
Rowena was definitely peculiar for a noble, at least from what Cassian had gathered about her. But oddly enough, he kind of liked her. As he watched the carriage disappear down the mountain path, he hurried to catch up with Katherine, who was already browsing the nearby shops.
The place resembled a small market, shaped like a village, with people bustling about. Some were clad in armor, while others wore comically large hats, a clear sign they were mages. Cassian couldn't understand why mages wore such oversized hats—did they get them as graduation gifts or something? He'd never seen Lady Katherine wear one like that, and she was certainly a mage.
Cassian was caught off guard when Katherine suddenly stopped in front of a hat shop and said, "Let's shop for a bit. I left all my things back there."
He quickly realized that he, too, had left his bag behind. At least he had his wooden sword with him, but he would definitely need more than just one set of clothes. Back in the slums, he always had a couple of rags to switch out while the others were drying after washing.
He wasn't sure how to bring it up, and before he can think of way and build up his courage, Katherine glanced at him and said, "Looks like you left your things behind as well. Let's pick up some clothes for you, too."
Cassian smiled and said, "Thank you, my lady."
"No worries," Katherine replied as she headed into the hat shop to begin her shopping. After an hour of browsing, to Cassian's surprise, she had only bought three dresses. She had also discarded the one she was wearing, as it had been attracting quite a bit of attention.
The new dresses were much simpler, not drawing as many eyes, and she picked out a pointed hat—not as comically large as the others Cassian had seen, but big enough that the brim shaded her face.
The dress she wore now resembled the long, loose robes many mages donned, but even that couldn't fully conceal her curves, her figure still noticeable despite the modesty of her attire.
Cassian had changed into his usual clothes and bought only two extra sets for the journey. After purchasing their tickets and booking a small private cabin—Katherine insisted on keeping a low profile, by not getting two, they finally boarded the ship. The room was modest, with a single bed, a tiny bathroom, and just enough space to walk around.
Cassian was still a bit confused—she could have easily booked him a berth in a standard room with another passenger. But he didn't complain and quietly followed her lead as he climbed into bed beside her. Still, he couldn't help but wonder, 'Where am I supposed to sleep?' seeing Katherine let out a sigh as she lay down on the bed, removing her hat.
"Are you planning to stand there all night?" she asked, eyeing Cassian, who stood awkwardly by the door, unsure of what to say. Seeing his hesitation, she sighed in frustration and added, "Come on, we can sleep together. I don't mind." She shifted to the side, making room for him on the bed.