#ruth serbel

[ellery-six]

You tried, Riftan 🤷‍♀️ . . I was so excited to hear that Under the Oak Tree will be printed as a proper book in English next year, I had to another #utot picture! I can’t wait!

[ruthserbel]

Under the Oak Tree - Tarot Cards

[smashsimpson]

Maxi feeling down when learning new magic from Ruth and fighting with Riftan.

Maxi: I can’t seem to do anything right now…

Ruth: Mmmhmm. I never thought I’d have to say this. But there is only space in this castle for one unstable mage, and I have held that title for a long time. So YOU are going to have to 👏🏼get 👏🏼it👏🏼together!

Maxi: 😾

[astrangeroftides]

Made a very clear and easy to understand family tree of the Under the Oak Tree universe

Yeah I skipped a lot of people because they weren’t important

Too many characters (I mean the series is quite literally 1 million words but still)

[ishaslife]

HEBARON NIRTA MOODBOARD

It is honestly embarrassing how whipped I am for this man.

Still moodboard:

[snailsgoingdowntown]

Ruth x maid! Fem! Reader

Ruth is 30 and reader is 24, 6 year age gap cuz I'm turning 23 this year but I think Ruth is supposed to be in his early to mid thirties so I'm being kinda Self-indulent (I didn't want to make the gap 7 years so... Yeah, upped the age).

Not the actual fic that will come out, just a drabble that I came up with

Warnings: slight self-conscious on Ruth's side

Nsfw warnings: fingering, oral (f receiving)

Minors, ageless blogs that barely have anything, dni or you get blocked.

This blog contains/interacts/creates dark content, dni if you are uncomfortable with that.

No tag list for this cuz I'm on the road + I wrote it down on a sheet of paper I left at home.

--

I think Ruth would absolutely have a low sex drive. He just doesn't look like someone who thinks about it often, much less have the urge. I am 100% sure he's a virgin cuz like, look at him. He doesn't know how to rizz ppl up nor does he want to unless it benefits him (having maxi help with making the magical devices, but that was more peer pressure than actual rizz).

I'm just saying, Ruth would be kinda hopeless with asking out the reader, not because he's cluelese (probably seen Gable and the others pick up chicks, so has a vague idea of what and what not to do + can see how unbalanced maxi's relationship with Riftan is. He literally told him to calm down with his antics once, but thats about it if I remember correctly) but because he's just so... Blunt that it comes off as rude.

Maxi literally thinks that in the webtoon when her maid slams his drink down on the table instead of placing it down gently like she did with maxi's cup.

But anyway, I just imagine Ruth as the type of guy who at first, tries to ignore the developing feelings he has for you, and it works, but it gets harder and harder when you smile at him like that, when you return his playful banter and don't get offended at his tone and choice of words. When you don't overstep his boundaries, attempt to get to know him, his likes and dislikes, interests, how you want to learn about magic and you listen to his lectures, hell sometimes he even invites you to sit along with maxi as he goes about teaching her (only if the lady of the castle is comfortable, of course, which she will be after a while cuz I said so).

The way your face lights up in awe and wonder whenever he performs a spell or summons fire from the tip of his fingertips. The very eyes that tend to glance at his lips, and he pretends he doesn't notice. Your hands that are a bit rough from washing clothes, helping in the kitchen, cold water stinging and numbing them when you scrub the castle floors, are the very hands he wants to hold, and sometimes late at night, he imagines them pulling and tugging at his hair as you lean against 'his' table or even the library wall, and fuck if he actually had enough room to use in his tower, he would, his mouth latched onto your clit and fingers pumping in and out of your sloppy cunt -

It's not very often he gets thoughts like that, but when he does, he gets harder than riftan gets with the knights and their training.

He doesn't comment on your efforts to keep the library tidy, organizing his books and research papers to where the place looks presentable, at least. But he shows his appreciation through small favors in return - helps you with the cleaning if times allows for it, showing you flashy yet small spells that don't affect the area or people around (riftan would quite literally kill him if they did), gulping down his embarrassment as he massages your shoulders, ignoring the way you were just a bit too squimish, or how flustered you would get but accept his offer regardless.

It's not even a sexual thing, it just makes him want to wrap his arms around you, take in your scent, confess and just enjoy a simple life with you -

It's not really possible. He's just incapable of showing clear romantic intentions and affections. He's not husband material and he doesn't want kids, and he's very iffy about weddings and marriage in general when it concerns him. Besides, he's older than you, and while age gaps are common, he thinks it'd be better if you were to settle down with someone your own age. Because someone your own age would understand you better, give you children, marry you without worry.

You deserve a loving, caring husband, one who would hug and kiss you, make love to you, respects you, who isn't afraid or uncomfortable with physical affection, and doesn't have a rather bad reputation around the castle because of his personality.

So, when your hands clutch at his shirt, tilting your chin up, mouth pressing against his, he should stop you. He should stop instead of loosely wrapping one arm around your waist, bringing you closer, moving his mouth against yours. He should stop instead of clumsily bumping teeth with you, humming in content as you sigh into the kiss.

He should stop instead of going in for another kiss once you part, finally understanding what makes riftan so crazy about physical affection.

He should stop, but he doesn't.

He can't nor does he want to.

[herdecisions]

Im so in love with this man

[inky-escapism]

Jealously makes the heart.... beat faster?

“You’re spending too much time in the library, don’t you think?” Riftan looked at Maxi through the mirror as he combs her red hair.

“Well, I like reading books.” Maxi blushed from the attention. “And you know that..” she whispered, giving Riftan a soft smile.

The truth is, Maxi has been mumbling in her sleep, calling out a certain name he couldn’t work out and it’s bothering Riftan so much he couldn’t sleep.

For a few weeks now, Riftan’s insomnia has kept the knights enervated, especially Hebaron. Being the only knight who could kept up with Riftan, Hebaron, the sacrificial lamb, endured through the rough waves of drills till dusk. And it doesn’t help that the weather was getting warmer as summer months creep in. “Sir Nirta, come back here!” Uslin hissed, feeling frazzled with the sun shining harshly on his perfect face. Being the vice commander, Hebaron used to oversee the training of squires with Uslin before Riftan’s unease.

“Save me.” Hebaron mouths to Uslin, as Riftan drags Hebaron further away from Uslin’s group.

“Why, why? Why do I have to do this alone?” whingeing under his breath, Uslin repeats this same question for the umpteenth time. Tired and annoyed, Uslin looks up and shouts to the knight carving his own arrows. “Gabel, you come here then!”

“Noisy. Again.” Ruth comments, rolling his eyes as he hears Uslin calling out to Gabel on his trip to the library.

Back at the castle, Ruth was on his way for another lesson with Maxi. ‘Looks like I’ll have to conjure another shield to keep their nonsense out.’ Ruth sighs as he pushes the door open.  

“My lady, you’re early.” Ruth yawned, cracking his fingers.

Maxi jumped from his sudden comment and hugged the book tightly in her chest.

“Don’t bother, I know what you’re reading. No books of spells are in that colour” Ruth giggled.

 “It’s just too intriguing. Do you think the forgotten princess will eventually find out that her new guard was that hero from her childhood? Will she get together with Sir Herman in the end?’ Maxi squeals.

“Lesson 394, My STUDENT.” Ruth taps the blackboard with his chalk sternly as if to bring Maxi back to Anatol, knowing her soul was transported to the Land of Roses with Ser Herman and the maiden, rumoured to be the forgotten princess.

‘Yes, yes, Mage Ruth..’ opening her books while taking a sip of the tea Rudys left before leaving the library for her other chores.

Ending her lessons with tons of homework, Maxi dragged her spell books out of the library. Her small built made her had no choice but to leave her novels behind and come back to get them again after.

“Back from your book club activities with Ruth?” Riftan questioned in bemusement, not expecting his wife to be back this early.

“Where’s Rudys?” Riftan asked as he took over the pile of books from Maxi.

Panting, Maxi waves the questions away with her lady hands as she sat on the bed, trying to catch her breath. Taking a huge breath in, Maxi proceeds to leave for the library again to get her novels.

“Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going to the library again! Just how many books are Ruth trying to bury you under? I’ll have a talk with him.” Riftan said as he pulled Maxi’s arm back.

“No, it’s not that. It’s something else. I’ll be back soon!” Maxi chirps as she pecked Riftan goodbye.

“You’re not having dinner with us tonight?” Riftan questions behind Maxi, as she runs off with her puffy dress that can be seen bouncing in far end of the stairs now.

“I’ll see you at the dining hall!” Her little lady voice trailed off, as she hurried back to the library. “Rudys!” Maxi exclaimed. Glad that she caught Rudys in time, before she tidies up the library.

“My lady, please do not run along the corridors. You might fall and injure yourself.” Rudys warmly greeted Maxi with a worry.

Maxi blushed as she bashfully remembered her blue-blacks from her falling and knocking onto the walls whilst reading. It was good practice for her too, on her healing spells.

“My books, they’re not back on the shelves, are they?” Her wide eyes scanning the table.

“No, My Lady, they’re here. I was about to bring them back to your room after cleaning up Mage Ruth’s mess on the floor.” Rudys smiled tightly, her certain dislike for Ruth can been sensed.

Maxi let out a sigh of relief, “Thank you Rudys! That’s very sweet of you!” Maxi exclaimed as she hugged Rudys tightly.

“Let’s go for dinner now, Riftan is waiting!” Maxi collected her books from Rudys, laughing while chatting as they head to the dining hall.

Even at the door, the scent of hot gravy and roasted meat perfumed the air.

“My lady, would you like to join us?” Elliot asked, as he spot Maxi coming through the door. He was standing at his seat, splitting servings of the roasted boar for the table.

“Yes, Sir Elliot! It smells wonderful!” Maxi grins, happier than ever as she realized her stutter has improved dramatically. ‘Not an extra syllable, today!’ Maxi smirks to herself.

Moving their bottoms along, expecting Maxi to naturally take the seat beside their Lord Commander, Maxi saw the empty seat beside Hebaron and just took it. Unbeknownst to her, Riftan wasn’t too pleased with her decision.

‘She knows which pubs I go to.. I can’t just go to any pubs now. I hate drinking in the castle.’ Hebaron was brooding over his avoidance in the local pubs. ‘It’s so boring here… I want to go out there, and drink with the other lads.’ Tilting his head towards the window, Hebaron stares into the night sky whilst Gabel steals his cuts of meat.

A cold breeze sneaked in as swiftly as it went out, causing Maxi to shudder from its sudden visit. As she was directly in Hebaron’s line of sight, Hebaron thinks nothing of it, and took off his vest, putting it on Maxi. ‘Don’t get a cold, My Lady’. Hebaron adds as he got the squires to close off the windows before going back to his dwelling.

Across the table, a darken Riftan was seen stabbing his meat, giving it a second death. ‘Why is he looking at Maxi like that?.. Is it Hebaron?’ Riftan envisaged in his thoughts.

“Sir Hebaron, why are you not eating?” Maxi questioned as she joins Gabel in shrinking Hebaron’s mountain of meat. Jealous at this slight action, Riftan immediately plates more roasted boar for Maxi. ‘I’ll get more meat for you if you want, all you have to do is ask. Why are you getting it from him?’ Letting his jealously run his thoughts, Riftan narrows his eyes at Maxi and Hebaron, frowning so much that his eyebrows are almost touching.

“Start eating or there’ll be none left.” Uslin warns Hebaron as he hastily swats Gabel’s fork away. Getting the cue, Elliot sighs as he stands up again, cutting more meat to fill up Hebaron’s plate.

“I’m not hungry.” Hebaron states, shocking the whole table. “I’ll go to bed now.” Hebaron put his fork down and pushes his plate towards Maxi. “Here, you can have them, My Lady.” Hebaron smiles as he pats Maxi’s shoulder, gesturing her to eat up, before leaving the table.

“Is he alright?” Maxi asked, her eyes following Hebaron as he walked away.

‘Is he alright?! What about me? I’m not alright. Why do you keep looking at him instead?’ Riftan grumbled in his head.

“He’ll be fine, My Lady.” Uslin assured, waving a kitchen maid over. “Bring this and more ale to Sir Nirta’s room.” Uslin instructs her as he hands her a stacked pile of meat on a clean plate.

“Work wife indeed.” Ruth’s comment boosted a great deal of hilarity along the table. However, Gabel and Elliot shut their laughter immediately upon receiving Uslin’s side eye.

Maxi smiled at their interaction, as she continued to stuff her face with dinner, leaving nothing on her plate before she retreated to her room with Riftan.

“Carry me, I can’t walk. I’m too full..” Maxi whimpered, tugging on Riftan’s sleeves. Sighing in defeat, the jealous husband picked his wife up in his arms.

“Am I heavy?” Maxi asked, her fingers fidgeting with Riftan’s top.

“No.” Riftan replies cooly.

“Then why are you grimacing? Your face’s wrinkly.” Maxi pouts as she cautiously cups his face with her hands. Her touch softened his mood.

“It’s nothing.” Riftan kicks the bedroom door open and lays Maxi gently on the bed. Not letting go of Riftan’s top, Maxi used all of her energy to pull him closer for a kiss.

“Silly girl.” Riftan finally smiles as he ruffles her hair, joining her under the sheets. Maxi quickly fell asleep in his arms, with her tummy full of roasted boar.

Unable to sleep, much like the past few nights, Riftan started analysing his thoughts, running through the information as if to plan a combined attack on the field. Misusing his talents as a warfare strategist, Riftan connected the string of words Hebaron told him the other night, that how it was impossible for Hebaron to be with the innominate lady and how rumours will start flying like flies in the sky, with the name Maxi kept muttering in her sleep. Starting with a H, and seems to end with a N.

Piecing 2 wrong puzzle pieces together, Riftan jolts out of bed angrily, as he stormed towards Hebaron’s room with his tirade of nonsensical thoughts.

‘Hebaron, get up.’ Riftan whispered loudly as he fiddled with the doorknob.

Getting impatient, Riftan crushed the doorknob in anger and the door creaked open. Astounded by his own anger, Riftan strut into Hebaron’s room only to find it empty. Not even a soul behind his cloaks this time around.

‘He’s not here?’ Riftan sat on Hebaron’s bed, feeling bewildered with his paranoiac thoughts at the helm. ‘My wife and my best friend?’ Just then, a small shadow on the walls outside of Hebaron’s room caught his attention. “Maxi?” Riftan calls out.

The small shadow on the walls flickered, as Maxi quivered at the sound of his voice, not expecting to hear it at this corner of the castle. She carefully pushed the half-opened door, where the sound was from and was shocked to see Riftan standing in front of her. His hair was in a mess and his body, radiating an unusual amount of heat.

“Riftan, your heart. I can hear it from here. Are you okay? It sounds really fast. It’s beating much faster than usual... ” Maxi questioned with a concerning look in her eyes, her hand reaching out to his chest.

[author's note: have you guys realized that my stories are linked? ٩(⁎❛ᴗ❛⁎)۶]

[jimorin]

X: You shouldnt judge other people's ships

Other people's ships:

[fistfuloflightning]

Hello author-nim, have you by any chance written anything about the manhwa "Under the Oak Tree" ?

I have actually. Though I never finished either of them. They were both Ruth/Maxi fics (yes, I very much love that ship even tho there’s only like…2 fics I’ve ever found)

One was a bar crawl gone wrong college au featuring the Remdragon frat boys (+ Riftan as the instigator), and the other was a found family/second chance thing where a widowed/single mom Maxi stumbles into a dragon’s lair. Fair damsel (slowly) wins fearsome dragon’s heart, he teaches her magic and they raise her kid together. Buuuut I never finished bc I discovered Maxi was so difficult to write for/to get into her head o(>< o)

Maybe I’ll attempt a rewrite in the future! I’d have to reread again tho, because wow I’ve forgotten a lot!

[ellery-six]

Why Ruth might not have a girlfriend part 1 🤭 Also, hit him, Maxi 🫲

[ruthserbel]

Hello all! Another drabble post - because I saw this post, and I couldn't help but think about writing this, so please enjoy! This one is SFW! However, if you want to read the NSFW version (which changes the actual written part, you can find that one here [x]! I placed most of this post under a read more so I'm not clogging up the tags with this~

〚 𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒽 𝓁𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝓃 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇 𝓁𝒶𝓅 〛

» we've already established (in this (sfw [x]/nsfw [x]) post) Ruth is super cuddly with you when you two are alone.

» sometimes he will pull you in so you're sitting in his lap while you reading, other times he will wrap his arms around you while sitting behind you (making it impossible for you to continue with what you were doing beforehand - although you don't fully mind this)

» although sometimes - not often though - he will lay his head in your lap while you're seated on the bed, reading a book, or something else

▸ you can't even be mad at him when he does this though - how could you be mad when he does this? ▸ he tends to do this when the two of you haven't seen each other for a bit because he's been busy with other things

» you set aside whatever you were doing before you run your fingers through his hair

▸ he has never said it, although you can tell - he loves it when you play with his hair ▸ he will close his eyes as you continue to brush your fingers through his hair

» after a while of that, you'll lean down to gently kiss his forehead, thinking that he's fallen asleep

▸ you realize that he wasn't asleep when he pulls you lower, kissing you instead

pretext to this (because it matters for me so I could write this and have it make sense): you're sitting cross legged on the bed, leaning your back against a wall/headboard type thing (whatever you want it to be/call it - up to you as it's not specific), reading a book quietly in Ruth's tower

song: dream a little dream of me [this version] if you don't understand why after reading this, maybe i'm just crazy, but i feel as if this kinda fits?

word count: 865 (short and sweet c:)

「 night breezes seem to whisper, "I love you" 」

Flipping the page in your book that you were reading, you hear the door to opening.

"Hello," you say, lifting your head to greet Ruth - who looked very tired. You hadn't seen him all day, although that was becoming the normal right now. Riftan had been keeping him busy throughout the day. So the two of you were not able to see each other until the end of the day - if you hadn't fallen asleep already.

He gave a weak wave as he walked into the room, before dropping himself on the bed. You let out a small giggle has he laid his head down on your lap. It wasn't often that he would do this, but when he did you couldn't help but let out a laugh. You looked down at the silver haired man as he let out a sigh, ignoring your giggles at him.

"I know, I know," you whisper as you close your book, setting it down on the bed. Looking back to the man in front of you, you place your hand gently on his head. You interlaced your fingers within his hair, playing with his hair as you whispered. "I missed you too."

The two of you sat in silence for a while while you continue to run your fingers through his hair. He had closed his eyes as he relaxed, a slight smile growing on his face as you kept playing with his hair. He had never mentioned liking his hair being played with, although you could tell he did like it.

Anytime you had done this for him, he would fall asleep. Giving that, it led you to assume that after a few minutes of playing with his hair that he had fallen asleep. Gently, you push aside the hair that was laying on his forehead before you lifted your hand from his head.

"I love you," you whispered before leaning down to kiss his forehead. As your lips brushed against his forehead, you heard Ruth whispered back. His voice was barely audible, despite how close you were to him.

"I love you too," Ruth whispered, which caused you to jump a little.

You let out a soft giggle as you started to lean back, although you were stopped by Ruth's hand. He held your face a few inches from his face. His eyebrows raised as you looked at him, your face starting to blush.

"I... I thought you were asleep," you whisper, stammering over your words, causing you to blush more.

"I wasn't," Ruth replied in a whispered voice before he moved his hand from the back of your head, allowing you to sit up. Relieved, you sat back again, as he sat up himself. "Just because I wasn't means you're going to stop though?" He questioned, now sitting in front of you on the bed.

"Stop what?" you question.

Ruth let out a slight chuckle at your question before he leaned closer to you, placing his hand behind your head. "You're adorable," he whispered as he brought you forward into a gentle kiss. The kiss started out soft and delicate. You leaned more into the kiss, only parting to catch your breath.

Letting out a giggle, you break the kiss, leaning your head against Ruth's. "Ruth," you mutter breathlessly.

"Mmm," Ruth hums before kissing you again.

"You need sleep," you mumble against his lips after a moment before breaking the kiss again. You statement caused Ruth to let out a sigh. Ignoring his sigh, you rested your forehead against his again. "You know you do, so don't fight me on this," you whisper, trying to get him to listen to you. All of the features of his face were showing his exhaustion.

With a groan, Ruth agreed. "Fine," he said before he moved on the bed so he could lay down, resting his head on a pillow at the top of the bed.

"Thank you," you say with a small smile. Reaching out to grab the book, you moved to get out of the bed. Although you're stopped as you feel Ruth's hands reach around you. Before you could question what Ruth was doing, he pulled you back - pulling you against him.

Falling back on the bed, you let out a light giggle before you look up to him. You didn't need to question him - you knew what he wanted. He didn't want you to leave right now.

"You know," you whisper, before you squirm, trying to get Ruth to release you, which he did. As his arms released his grip on you, you reached to set the book down on the floor. "You could just ask me to stay," you say as you turn back, laying down on the bed beside Ruth, facing him.

"Please sta-" Ruth started, although he was cut off by you. You gently pressed your lips against his, kissing him for a moment. The kiss didn't linger for long, as you broke the kiss moving to cuddle your head against his chest.

"I won't leave," you whisper as you close your eyes. Although you weren't tired, you felt as if you could always fall asleep like this.

taglist: @kunikida-simp, @tylerhasmyheart

[smashsimpson]

Ruth leaving Maxi a list of things to do while he is away from Anatol.

Maxi: You can trust me Ruth.

Ruth: Can I? Because the last time I left you in charge of something…

Maxi: Okay, if this is about those stupid tamagotchis? You left me with six of them Ruth! Taking care of that many is like a full time job!

Ruth: I left you with six adult tamagotchis in perfect health. And by the time I got home they were all dead. You have to like actively murder them in order for that to happen.

[susurrusinperpetum]

As long as I could

✦ ruth serbel, calto serbel, agnes reuben | under the oak tree

✦ tags: this piece is completely SFW.

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‘This is becoming insufferable - His last thought before leaving the room.

Another year has passed. The same topics, the same questions, the same answers… Who said that teaching doesn’t have its downside? Although it wasn’t entirely burdensome, the activity had its perks: That feeling of satisfaction while sharing his knowledge and enlightening others' minds; seeing those young eyes sparkle in awe. 

That’s certainly rewarding.  

However, he had been devoid of enthusiasm lately. He couldn’t distinguish what exactly, but something was certainly odd.

Maybe, I need more time for research - He thought as if trying to convince himself while mentally crafting a plan to pass over his classes to a possible victim. Maybe, just maybe, that’s all he needed, more time studying, satisfying his curiosity, and asking the right questions to get to the ultimate goal: discovering the truth of everything and anything. Lost in thought, he walked through the empty hall, analyzing the last months, how different they felt, the emptiness pressuring the edges of a void forming inside, a peculiar yet familiar feeling.

After a while, he shook his head to clear the dark thoughts. He wasn’t the type of person that used to dwell too much on those things; that was utterly useless. What’s the point of doing such a thing? It was better to focus on doing something positive for his own sake. It could be anything. The logical option, after all, shall be his work.  Yes, I should concentrate more on my research. 

"Professor Ruth!"

A clear voice stopped his racing thoughts. A blonde young sorcerer appeared behind him. At the unexpected interruption, he replaced his frown -which he didn’t note at first - with a nonchalant demeanour and turned around to see the slender image before him. 

It was that noble apprentice that joined the World Tower not long ago. With boyish short hair and manly clothes, it was quite a surprise to hear a feminine voice come from that figure, and even more when the girl seemed neither bothered nor bewildered at his evident confusion the first time they met.

"Good Morning, Professor! Do you have a minute to spare?"

He appreciated the curiosity and enthusiasm of the young mage; she’s got a unique determination and eagerness, and anyone could see her resolution to grow swiftly. As if she needed to prove something.  

She has been quite persistent in looking for his mentorship, putting deaf ears each time he redirected her to another professor that could be willing to deal with her. Although he has never openly rejected to guide or even mentor a student, it didn’t imply that he was keen to do it all the time, or at least not these past days - and definitely, not now- . And somehow, she managed to attach herself to him at every opportunity since the first time he gave her classes.

"Morning Agnes, Unfortunately, I’m certainly quite busy at the moment. I think a professor at Kabalah can help you out. There are sorcerers well equipped to help another fellow of their tower. Why don’t you ask Professor Ellis? She is a talented and resourceful mage."

Without waiting for a response, he resumed his walk through the halls toward his office. He wasn’t inclined to get immersed into whatever Agnes had in mind, not this time. He barely had the energy to go through his day as it was to add some random -unnecessary- stuff to his schedule. Nonetheless, she remained insistent. 

He couldn’t help himself rolling his eyes while hearing her endless baffling arguments. It was surprising how she was never short of resources: trying to persuade him using different angles, from the World Tower's need for well-prepared sorcerers, the duty of a professor to help ANY student, even attempting to inflate his ego. 

She’s tenacious. I give her that. 

Agnes followed him throughout the halls until his office. When Ruth opened the door and entered, she simply slipped her way into the office too. 

Quite presumptuous. 

Although the place was spacious enough to hold a small laboratory on one side and a long desk on the other near the fireplace, it was crowded with unfinished work, piles of books, bags with mysterious contents, jars of herbs, tools, and all types of equipment a mage could use, leaving just the right space for up to 5 persons to gather within. Nevertheless, the cramped objects within the office almost passed unnoticed by Agnes, while Ruth just gave a tired glance at his unfinished work located aside before sighing hefty. The view was draining his energy.

He was pondering whether to ignore her until she gave up or give her a quick answer to whatever she was asking about while he was sitting at his large cluttered desk, full of stacked parchments that needed his attention. Magic formulas, runes analysis, research results… The number of class works he needed to review covered almost the complete surface of the enormous desk, creating several piles.

At that sight, he was internally screaming. How am I supposed to deal with all of this, my research, and the administrative work for the Tower?! Are they trying to work me to death?!

For one moment, he forgot that Agnes was still there, sitting in front of the broad desk with a bright smile on her face and a piece of parchment in her hands. He groaned inwardly. She insisted, for the third time, that he should provide feedback on her recent update regarding the magic tool she was working on diligently. Her main goal was to present it to the head of the Tower. Therefore, she needed to refine any detail as much as possible, and Ruth was the one that would help her get through.

"Look, I’m honoured that you have chosen me, one of the best sorcerers in this place, to review your work. A wise decision, I must say. However, as you can see, I’m drowning in work. I haven’t had the opportunity for good rest in months! Unfortunately, I may not have the time at the moment." 

He almost couldn’t believe the resolution of the young sorcerer. No matter how hard he tried to reject her, she was there, in front of his desk, determined to get what she was looking for. He groaned loudly, moving back his head. It wasn’t a good idea at the moment. It didn’t matter how he looked at it, there was a possibility he could give a piece of bad advice in the rush of the moment, a risk he wanted to avoid as much as possible. 

However, it was unbearable to impose resistance at a quite persistent persona, no more. The feeling was draining.

Defeated, with her fourth speech in a row, he snapped the piece of parchment from her hands. After a few moments of deliberation and analyzing its contents, he provided something plausible as an evaluation. At least, it was enough to satisfy the blonde’s pushy behaviour.

"Thank you, Professor!" The witty comments didn’t disturb Agnes' bright mood. "I shall leave you and start working on the valuable feedback."

He dismissively waved a hand, not even bothering to say something. 

After she left the office, Ruth remained in his seat with his head resting in one hand, looking at the piles of work waiting to be attended, yawning until an old small leather pouch caught his attention. A part of its blurry designs could be seen from under one side of a crumbled pile of parchments and books. Without thinking, his hand grabbed the stained pouch exposing it from its bury location and leaving out a bigger disorder behind- caressing the opaque patterns, almost disappearing in the material.

‘Staring thoughtfully at it, his mind was in turmoil. It was impossible to stop it now. In the solitude of his space, he could feel everything and nothing. Images and concepts started flooding his brain, filling every corner and crevice. It was futile to try to stop himself now. 

Now, it’s silence.

Now, your nature is silence , an unattainable expression of your heart and soul. Static in a moment, the fathomless of his memories surrounded him from core to atman.  Numbness, in a state of going and not going, Where the mind in awareness could do nothing but be a witness to his own understanding.

And, which understanding would it be? 

Any effort to fake ignorance would be in vain. 

He knew the consequences, all the possibilities, and their promises to become a reality. The light of knowledge was doomed; in his mind, he wanted to keep oblivious to his thoughts. The emotions created a mirage, a last attempt to disappear nothingness from existence; that promptly collided with reasoning, speaking its truth. The signs were there. Clear and shining, guiding him into a conclusion he desperately wanted to evade. 

A shadow growing upon him snapped his mind from the momentum. He didn’t notice when Calto entered his office or when he locked the door.

Bringing up his gaze to Calto’s face, he could understand it. There was no need for words. The grim darkness in his features shuddered his soul. 

The mirage, the threads of hope, was now gone. 

"I’m sorry" - Calto muttered solemnly and pitifully.

The last straw of composure crashed at those words. The surreal realization of the inevitable was there; an emptiness filled with pain and sorrow. 

"By God, no…"

A trembling voice escaped from his throat. Tears filled his vision while his body shook. He could feel his heart sinking; it was like his body had lost the ability to breathe. 

The grief untied the knot, his tangled thoughts fading slowly, allowing a wave of emotions to crash through his consciousness. 

He knew it. He just knew it. He blamed himself, for the dream, for fearing the awakening. Afraid to open his eyes, to see the signs clearly.  Where there was hope, reality shook him truly. The tiny murmur inside him, denying what was real, faded away to the touch of the hand on his shoulder. The voice echoed in his head like indistinguishable whispers making ripples in his mind. The empathy wasn’t enough to heal. No magic or technique, potion or talk, nothing could be enough, not now.

His grip clung tightly to the pouch as if it was about to disappear, while his head hung as if its weight was too much to bear. Calto was by his side, patiently, trying somehow to bring comfort in that overwhelming moment. 

He didn't know how much time passed when his tears ran dry, and the sobbing slowly subsided. He just felt the numbness that was left. His lips trembled as if trying to say something but his voice couldn’t be heard. His eyes shut tightly.

"Take the rest of the day and all the time you need. Allow yourself to breathe; take a walk or rest in your chambers. There is no need for you to stay here. I’ll cover your tasks," Calto said, swallowing hard before pausing for a moment. "Ruth, if you need anything, my door is open." He tried with all his might to bring him a fragment of comfort. Space and time were the only things he could provide, and he hoped that somehow, that could be enough.

Unable to look at him, Ruth remained frozen in his chair, staring at the floor, every part of him in pause; as if his brain stuttered trying to catch up on those words. A fragile squeeze on his shoulder made his body react. Lost, rambling in his mind, he just simply nodded at him. After a moment, he moved mechanically. Walking by mere instinct, not paying attention to his surroundings. 

A while later, he found himself lying down in his bed, with the pouch in his hand.

He stared at the ceiling; the sinews stiffened, and his body was heavy like stone. Reality felt odd. Like a dream, like he couldn’t think, fogginess surrounding his mind, suspended in a moment, feeling a pressure that attached his limbs to the spacious bed, holding his breath without even realizing it.

I just need to close my eyes and sleep. Then, everything will be better.

Tossing and turning around the bed full of restlessness, he could only stare at the barren landscape of his mattress. He caressed the emptiness on his blankets, lethargic, feeling how the hopes of a peaceful night abandoned his body while the darkness crept silently through the room. On the window for the first time, the starry night felt meaningless.

‘This is not working.

Deprived with burned, pained eyes, he gazed at the dark. While sitting at the edge of the bed, the scattered images of hankered memories, the things left, everything was there to remind him about the loss. He harshly rubbed his face and hair; it was evident he needed to do something. Whatever to stop the sleepless nights.

 In a desperate attempt, he grabbed a pillow and a blanket, placing them in that corner full of dispersed books. The musty smell of the books hoarded his senses, allowing him to escape from reality, pause his thoughts and -finally- fall asleep. 

At least for some hours.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

“Everything will pass. It just takes time.” 

The words echoed in his head -meaningless- drowned, and consumed by his pain. People around him kept repeating those overused words as if the grief could subside and the memories disappear.  

The truth is, the memories didn’t disappear. They were there, sometimes, more alive than before.

The bittersweet surrealism of a life moving on in pieces, half-finished, half-broken; a crowded void with the shadows of what was there: the warmth, that hair, those eyes, the laughs, the voice, the conversations left… He could even swear to feel a delusion of the mana he learned to identify as the palm of his hand. 

The memories were there, everywhere, in the smallest things, in the mundane; within the silence between the thoughts, among the sea of words, taking residence in a gap that never closes, that will never be restored.

Sometimes, everything felt too real.

Desperately seeking balance to fill his growing void, he turned to the familiar, to the known. His work should suffice. 

The search for knowledge would embrace him.

The days turned into weeks. Sleeping by books became common in his life. He even started collecting books of interest, stacking them on the sides where he usually would find the slumber, as an alleviation when the longing was too much to bear. The long nights at the Library were routine. 

Everything was better than being alone in that room, seeing the remnants of what it was, the ghosts and memories coalescing in a neverending stream, taking away the sleep.

And then, he thought about finding a resemblance of comfort in books. But, is it really comfortable if it's full of doubts?

His uneasiness just kept growing and growing with each day that passed. In the battle for balance, his mind with more questions than answers. The silence, the news, and the unknowns, each unspoken word. He needed to know: a reason, a cause, a detail - ‘something that would help in his constant grappling for calm.

He needed the truth.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

From the hall, it could be heard the sounds of parchments flipped forcefully, groans and whimpers resonating through his office. Reading the content of reports, messages, and telegrams -once, twice, three times- Ruth was found by his spacious desk, scraping his head harshly, trying so hard to understand how the situation turned out in that way - what all of this meant. Why did this happen? 

‘This should be a fucking joke!

He spent several weeks knocking on doors, tracking, looking, seeking for any piece of information that could help him understand what occurred, tracing back all the events.

"What the hell are you thinking?!" - Calto stormed into his office. 

"I’m doing well. Thanks for asking."

"Are you out of your mind?!" 

"I don’t know what you are talking about" - Ruth replied, visibly annoyed, with his gaze fixed on the parchments on his desk.

"Don’t dare to play the fool. Your little huff can jeopardize your position, all your work…"

"I just asked some questions. In all honesty, I don’t see why the commotion…"

"Making such a ruckus it’s not going to help anyone. Are you willing to trouble everybody for nothing?"

"Really?! If this is just a trivial matter, why are you so dramatic?! A couple of questions wouldn't kill anyone."

"How can you be so stupidly stubborn?! What are you expecting to get?"

"…" with arms crossed and a sullen face, Ruth avoided Calto’s eyes.

"Ludicrous!" - Calto said, exasperated by his demeanour. "Have you ever stopped to think for a second? "

"Do you really think I'm an idiot? I know what I'm doing…!"

"It's absurd! I told you to breathe, take a break, and clear your mind; you could even take all the time you needed and come back to work later. Why is it so hard for you to listen?!"

"Would you mind explaining how this is a terrible thing? Do you mean I don't even have the right to know what happened? I had to know!"

"And then what?! What are your plans?! Don’t you understand?! It will not get her ba…" Calto cut himself off mid-sentence, regretting each word that escaped his mouth.

Ruth flinched at the unexpected words. The sadness and anger in his features were clear as water, almost palpable. 

"Do you think I don't know? How am I supposed to live like she didn't exist? Just because the others find the matter insignificant doesn't mean that she isn’t, wasn’t," He grabbed his throbbing head for a moment. "I cannot fake it. I needed to do something!"

"And what's exactly that?" - Calto said, in the calmest tone he could perform at the moment, crossing his arms.

"I… I needed to know, to understand how all of this..." Ruth paused for a moment, not finding the right words to express what was on his mind. "I wanted…"

He hesitated for a moment, rubbing his hand over his face and hair, shaking his head while sighing heavily before continuing.

"I did what I thought was the best under the circumstances. However, I didn't expect to find this! Now, I’m not surprised that those decrepit sorcerers are so worried about this situation!" - he tossed a bunch of parchments to the other side of the desk in Calto’s direction.

Calto rubbed his temples before reaching the parchments on the desk. "That’s already been reviewed…" He trailed his words while reading each document, one after another. His jaw tightened in frustration.

"How did you get this?" Calto paused for a moment, clearly thinking about the possibilities of his discovery. "There are proper procedures to follow. This should be escalated through formal channels."

"Are you senile?" Ruth furiously scratched his messy hair with both hands before letting out a long groan. "Don’t you understand what this means?" Suddenly, something clicked in his mind, like a lightning striking over him.

Ruth's face reddened and he said irritably. "Did you know it?"

Calto’s face hardened at the implications of that phrase. - "I wasn’t aware of the details this time". His blatant and short reply did not subside the uneasiness of his nephew.

"This time?" Ruth didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the sudden revelation. "Were there more?!" 

"Calm down. Listen, you are letting your emotions get in the way…"

"They are using us as their pawns, and you knew it!" 

"If we follow the appropriate procedures, we could prevent similar events in the future…" Calto struggled to remain calm throughout the exchange.

"Should I be dancing and jumping with joy?" Ruth retorted sarcastically. "I don’t know what is worse: the Ignorance or the Idiocy." He said, collapsing in a chair nearby him with both hands covering his face, letting out a heavy groan.

"Mind your words! We are considering issuing sanctions due to the lack of cooperation and misinformation on the last missions. ‘This would support the case against Balto."

Ruth just snorted as he shook his head in disbelief.

He looked up at the ceiling as if praying to God for answers, patience, for a sign that everything was just a horrible nightmare, while Calto took a place by his side, leaving a heavy sigh when reviewing again all the discovered information.

In the middle of the silent room, all the details revealed themselves with a burst of intuition. Ruth could feel his body trembling slightly and his heart racing. He barely managed to hide the sarcastic chuckle that dared to emerge from inside out after realizing how clear it was and how, even now, everything was set and done. 

Interrupting his thoughts, the voice of Calto, like a painted sound in the background trying hard to make ripples through his mind, covered the room with words of wisdom and sense. He knew, deep inside, it was true. There was some logic behind all that preaching; no matter how hard his soul denied the words, his mind was there to accept them; each part of them. However, he couldn’t stop himself and wondered, after all this time, is this how everything would end? Is this all he could have done? Procedures, laws, policies, rules… How could the Tower really protect a sorcerer? What was the point…?

"It would be better if I handled this from now on." With a sigh, Calto said solemnly, grabbing all the parchments and notes over the desk. It could be heard a tint of frustration in his voice.

Contemplating the magnitude of the situation, Ruth merely nodded at the sight of his uncle near the door. There was no sign of satisfaction or contentment in both mages. They remained in their positions, looking into each other's eyes, with more thoughts than words to say.

After breaking eye contact, Calto in front of the open door gazed at Ruth’s figure rubbing his temples while slowly walking to the window.

"You should think about what you want for your future" - Calto’s last words didn’t make Ruth react in any way. He just stood silently looking out the window, as if there was no one else in the room. With a heavy sigh, Calto closed the door behind him.

‘Throughout the window, the beautiful sight of a sea in shades of blue. He looked at the glimmer, the intermittent shining dancing alongside the placid waves, an alluring yet distant landscape. 

My future…

He extended a hand to the sparkling lights, feeling the warmth of the sun in his palm; breathing deeply, feeling the air fill his lungs, absorbing the fresh and salty breeze that crashed to the cold grey walls of the Tower. 

Is this the life I wanted to live?

He remained like this, unmovable, contemplating the vastness, the emptiness; drowning beneath the waves, feeling the thirst aching inside. An unattainable desire echoed within.

All this knowledge for nothing

Longing for something that wasn’t, that will not be; for the things that will not become. Something so far removed, a reverie defined by what cannot be changed; by what was everything, and now was taken all away. The beginning of a lifetime of without(s).

You are not here anymore.

He stayed like this for so long, breathing in and breathing out, hanging in one thought, embracing the reality. The truth. 

Moulting in a process, everything felt so strange and familiar. The heaviness, the remorse, the loss; he kept thinking of what it was and what it could be. The words, the promises, the news, what it was and what it will be. But, was there a point? In the end, the world is what it is.

What could I have done?

The truth was, he was so tired of waiting, of filling a glass that would never placate the thirst, of becoming an inanimated part of those imponent Towers—feeling how it hurt to keep sitting idle on one side, waiting for the world to change on its own. Would it be different if he used his knowledge? Would the past be any different? 

He clasped his hands together as a prayer, leaning over the window, looking at the vast sea once more. He could feel it, he needed to do something.

Across the endless sea, a vision appeared in front of him; his eyes were wide open at the sudden idea.

A change

An opportunity

A boat. 

Feeling his resolution setting in, he proclaimed at the sky.

"I stayed as long as I could"

[ishaslife]

Here is a draft crest for my Under the Oak Tree OC, Isolde Hallowcrest's house.

A little explanation:

Isolde and her house is decended from the great Numen race, which was a race of humanoids that hailed from another star. They brought seeds to great trees called Aurum (alongside other things) with them. They wished to live amongst mankind and learn for, of them as well as teach them their own ways.

Hallowvale Castle situated in the Northern region of Balto is built around one such Great Aurum tree. The trees are famed for their yellow leaves and are regarded as Watchers or Guardians by the now diluted Numen-human race. Aurum leaves only shed off the tree when they sense the coming of a new age which is seen as a joyus occasion hence the tree's shedding being depicted on the standard.

Numens fight with all kinds of weapons. They are more proficient with claymores, long daggers and longswords. The Hallowed Guardians swear to protect their land, and any person they may encounter. Using their weapons to protect and serve than to wage war for glory.

In recent history however, Marquess Ingram Hallowcrest does not abide by this principle.

Do not copy or steal my work.

Latest "Unbroken Oaths" Chapter : Isolde VI (linked)