Morgana spoke up then, her voice gentle but carrying practical concern. "There's one more complication we need to address, Lord Satou. As I mentioned, I cannot accompany you on this journey—my presence is required elsewhere for political reasons, and my teleportation abilities won't be useful without visual anchors."

She reached behind herself, and from the shadows of her robes emerged a small figure that had apparently been hiding there the entire time—so quietly that even Satou hadn't noticed her presence.

A girl stepped forward, and Satou's first impression was of delicate fragility. She was tiny—barely five feet two inches tall—with a slim build that made her look almost childlike. Her most striking features were her vibrant green hair, which fell in soft waves past her shoulders, and her long, elegant pointed ears that marked her as some form of high elf or fae creature.

Her eyes were a vivid emerald green that perfectly matched her hair, currently fixed nervously on the floor as if making eye contact was too intimidating. Her skin was pale, almost luminescent, with a slight ethereal quality that suggested magical heritage. She wore simple but well-made robes in earth tones, with subtle magical runes embroidered along the hems.

She bowed deeply to Satou, her movements precise but timid. "H-hello, Lord Satou," she said, her voice soft and gentle, barely above a whisper. It had a melodic quality—almost musical—that was characteristic of elvish speech. "My name is Freda. It's... it's an honor to meet you, my lord."

Satou nodded, his expression softening slightly at the girl's obvious nervousness. "Welcome, Freda. Any apprentice of Lady Morgana is welcome in my presence."

Morgana placed a gentle hand on Freda's shoulder, and the girl seemed to draw strength from the contact. "Freda will accompany you on this journey in my place. And before you judge her based on her appearance or demeanor, let me be very clear—she is the most talented student I have taught in the last century."

Freda's face immediately flushed bright red at the praise, her pale cheeks turning pink all the way to the tips of her pointed ears. "M-Master!" she squeaked, her voice taking on an adorably flustered tone. "You're embarrassing me in front of everyone!" She buried her face in her hands, clearly overwhelmed by being praised in front of so many important people.

Gob couldn't help but smile slightly at the display, and even Urgot seemed to relax a bit at the girl's shy, genuine reaction.

But Morgana continued, her voice taking on a note of genuine pride. "Despite her youth—she's barely seventy years old, which is very young for a high elf—Freda has mastered all six basic elemental magics: fire, water, earth, wind, light, and darkness. She can cast spells from each school with equal proficiency, which is extraordinarily rare. Most mages spend their entire lives mastering one or two elements. Freda can use all six."

The ancient vampire's red eyes were warm as she looked at her student. "More importantly, she has exceptional magical sensitivity and detection abilities. In the Illusion Forest, where distinguishing real threats from magical phantoms will be crucial, her skills will be invaluable. She'll be able to identify which enemies are real, which magical signatures are genuine, and which are just illusions designed to lead you astray."

Freda peeked through her fingers at Satou, her green eyes wide with embarrassment and a hint of pride. "I... I'll do my best, Lord Satou. Master has taught me well. I won't let you down."

Morgana smiled—a rare, genuine expression on the usually stoic ancient vampire. She knelt down gracefully, putting herself at the same eye level as her diminutive apprentice. The movement was fluid, centuries of practice making even simple gestures elegant.

She reached out and gently rubbed Freda's head, her touch carrying obvious affection. The maternal gesture seemed almost incongruous coming from the legendary vampire, but it was clearly genuine. "Make sure to be on your best behavior," Morgana said softly, her voice carrying a warmth that few ever got to hear. "Show Lord Satou everything I've taught you. Remember your training, trust your instincts, and don't hesitate when it matters most."

Freda nodded seriously, her shyness momentarily overcome by determination. "Yes, Master. I'll remember everything."

Then Morgana pulled Freda into a gentle embrace, holding the small elf close with a tenderness that contrasted sharply with her fearsome reputation. "Please be careful, Freda," she whispered, loud enough for others to hear but clearly meant for her student. "This is a dangerous mission—more dangerous than anything I've sent you on before. But I know you're ready. You've trained for this. You're stronger and more capable than you give yourself credit for."

She pulled back slightly to look Freda in the eyes. "Just... come back to me safely. That's all I ask. Complete the mission, help Lord Satou, and come home. Can you promise me that?"

Freda's eyes were shimmering with tears, but she nodded firmly. "I promise, Master. I'll be careful. I'll use everything you taught me. And I'll come back." Her voice grew stronger. "When I return, I'll tell you everything about the journey. About the spells I cast, the enemies we fought, the Illusion Forest. And... and maybe I'll have grown stronger. Maybe I'll have proven I'm worthy of being your student."

Morgana's embrace tightened just slightly. "You've already proven that, Freda. A thousand times over. You are one of the brightest students I've ever had the privilege to teach. This mission will simply show you what I already know—that you're capable of far more than you believe."

When they finally separated, Freda was trying hard to compose herself, wiping at her eyes with the sleeve of her robe and taking deep breaths to steady her emotions. Morgana stood gracefully, her usual serene expression back in place, though her eyes still held unmistakable warmth when she looked at her student.

Loki cleared his throat gently, bringing everyone's attention back to the practical matters of the mission. "We've prepared a carriage waiting just outside the settlement's main gates. It's one of my personal vehicles—enchanted for maximum speed and comfort. The demon horses pulling it can maintain supernatural pace for days without tiring. We should reach the edge of the Illusion Forest by tomorrow evening."

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