Math Is Magic Chapter 15: CHAPTER 15: Instant Counting

Read chapter 15 of Math Is Magic by iminchoo on NovelPedia.

Upon reaching the back of the castle, Mirac caught sight of Carmen in the distance, her posture perfect as always. Behind her, the heavy wooden door had just closed with a soft creak that seemed to echo in the cold air. 'Who was she talking to?' Mirac wondered, scrutinizing carefully. But unable to make out the figure that had just dissolved into the shadow of the door, Mirac gave up on his curiosity. Instead, with his usual slow but steady step, Mirac approached Carmen. The red-haired servant, sensing his presence, turned gracefully toward him. "Good evening, young Prince," she said with her courteous smile, lowering herself slightly in a gesture that radiated respect and propriety. "How was your training with Grand Knight Leonard?" Mirac shrugged, trying to appear more relaxed than he truly felt. "It went well… everything's fine," he replied, his voice neutral but slightly strained, betraying the thoughts he didn't want to reveal. Upon further thought, Mirac realized it was wiser to avoid talking about his vision. He didn't even know if it was something beautiful, something to be "proud" of, or something absolutely horrible that he needed to hide. As a precaution, Mirac decided simply not to tell anyone, while inside him, irritation grew, fueled by his disdain for Math, which had given him yet another problem to think about. Carmen tilted her head slightly, observing him with a look that combined curiosity and a veiled concern. Her eyes seemed to probe him, as if trying to read beyond the surface. "Young Prince, are you alright?" she asked, her tone gentle but attentive. "You seem... troubled." Mirac looked away, forcing a smile and putting on an expression he hoped would seem convincing. "Yes, yes, Carmen... I'm just a little tired, that's all." However, Carmen was not easy to deceive. In her eyes, there was a sharp intuition, honed by years of observation and tact. With her usual delicacy, she placed a hand on his shoulder, a gentle but reassuring touch. Then, as if guided by some maternal instinct, she began to massage his shoulders slowly, trying to ease the tension she clearly felt in his young body. Mirac didn't resist, surprised by the gentleness of the gesture. Little by little, his body began to relax under that soft touch, and the invisible weight pressing down on him seemed to ease, at least partially. "Is it better?" Carmen asked, continuing to smile, her eyes shining with understanding. "Yes, much better, thank you!" he replied sincerely. For a moment, a small smile lit up the young Prince's face. For some reason, he couldn't help but smile, feeling that small gesture like a caress to his turbulent soul. He didn't know whether it was the warmth of Carmen's hands or the simple sweetness of her company. But at that moment, Mirac felt a little more at peace and relaxed. However, a sudden sound interrupted them. A clear and piercing cry, similar to that of a bird of prey, seemed to come from above. Slowly, they both instinctively looked up. A group of birds was flying above the castle, their slender bodies slicing through the sky in perfect harmony. The feathers, white, red, and gold, shimmered in the light of the setting sun like intertwined threads of silk. Their movements, so fluid and synchronized, captured Mirac's attention, and he remained staring at them with a more relaxed expression, almost captivated. Carmen, who had immediately noticed Mirac's interest, smiled. "Those are the Siliums. A very particular species of bird," the servant said, slowly bringing her hands back in front of her. "They usually live in warm areas, like the Desert of Shakh. That's why it's very rare to see them! Especially here, in this part of the Ardorya Kingdom." Mirac nodded, listening with apparent attention, but something was stirring in his mind that he couldn't quite define. As Carmen spoke, a sudden piece of information invaded his mind, clear and vivid, as if it had emerged from nowhere. His mind, though unable to grasp the r