EP.166 Autumn, New Semester (9)
Lac is feeling quite good right now.
Not even trying to hide his laughter, Lac strolls through the academic halls with a bright smile and an excited gait. His steps are so light that it almost looks like he’s bouncing.
“Lac, that was awesome!”
“If you have time later, can we train just once…?”
“Congratulations, Lac!”
Every time he takes a step, the voices of his classmates recognizing him echo in his ears. Lac responds to their chatter in a booming voice.
“Mm, sounds good!”
Victory is sweet.
Especially when it comes after nearly half a year of defeats, it’s even sweeter. Lac is intoxicated by the sweetness of victory.
‘Being able to savor victory is a virtue of a warrior.’
Although there’s a note that says ‘not to be arrogant’… indulging in the joy of victory and longing for it is also a good warrior’s virtue. Lac is faithfully practicing the teachings he learned from warriors when he was young.
‘What a nice day! The wind is refreshing!’
As Lac walks, he enjoys the cool breeze of early autumn. Whenever he meets a teaching assistant or professor, he exchanges light chatter, then asks them about one thing.
His master.
The master who led him to victory.
Lac inquires about his master’s whereabouts.
“Ah, if it’s…”
As he investigates, someone appears who knows where to find him. Lac thanks him and heads in the indicated direction.
Thud.
Walking down the corridor with the chilly breeze… he soon arrives at his destination. Lac reaches out for the door where he knows his master waits. He grabs the doorknob and flings it open with vigor.
Creek, slam!
As the door swings open, the wind rushes in. The wind blows through, making his master’s hair flutter. Her silk-like hair sparkled in the soft sunlight. That hair is white…
“Professor Rania!”
…but it resembles ash gray.
“Oh, Lac.”
Sitting alone in the infirmary, Rania waves and welcomes Lac with a smile.
“Congratulations on being the top of the Battle Magic Department.”
“Thank you!”
Lac bows deeply to show respect for his master. A good warrior never forgets their master who taught them. Even in his intoxication with the sweetness of victory, Lac doesn’t forget this.
“It’s thanks to you, Professor Rania!”
“Aw, it’s nothing. It’s because you followed me so well.”
They elevate each other, acknowledging each other’s efforts. Amidst this lovely scene, Lac feels a slight sense of discomfort.
‘Is it just me, or am I forgetting something…?’
It definitely feels like he’s overlooked something.
However, upon reconsideration, it doesn’t seem to be a crucial matter. Probably.
2.
“I should be going now.”
“…Huh? Already?”
“We’re both the masters of the White Tower, neither of us can afford to be too leisurely, right? I actually have a lot of other appointments after this.”
“No, but we haven’t even seen Lac’s face…”
Huff…
“What? Why are you sighing?”
“White…”
Yetual pointed at the clock.
“It’s already been an hour.”
“An hour isn’t too long…”
“Anyone who waits for an hour and doesn’t show up won’t come even if you wait two hours or a whole day. Don’t you think it’d be better for you to stop waiting and go find him yourself? I’m leaving now.”
Creeeak, thud.
With those last words, the black figure exited the waiting room.
It was a waiting room prepared for guests. Left alone in the surprisingly large room, Selly stared at the clock. Quite a bit of time had passed.
Sigh.
Selly felt like she might cry a little.
*
After Belnoa and Chloe left, it wasn’t long before a new guest arrived. I shot a sideways glance at the guest sitting across from me.
“It seems facing a superhuman was helpful. My senses have definitely sharpened, and I think I’ve figured out how to move my body…”
He ramblings on without rest.
He must have a lot to say.
“Oh, really?”
I kept giving Lac encouraging nods. He seemed quite proud of his victory in the duel… And considering Lac’s situation, it felt well-deserved.
‘It’s victory after half a year, after all.’
After multiple duels and numerous defeats.
A single defeat may spark the desire for victory, but when it drags into two, three, and then many more, motivation tends to dip.
‘Of course, given Lac’s personality, he wouldn’t give up…’
Nevertheless, the longing for victory would surely have grown.
In that situation, to have achieved victory… It would be strange not to feel happy about it. I listened to Lac excitedly ramble on for a while before finally speaking up.
“By the way, Lac.”
I had a curiosity.
“What did you learn from the Master of the White Tower?”
“Huh?”
Lac blinked his eyes.
He looked as if he hadn’t expected the question at all.
“No, I was just thinking about it and got curious.”
It was a question I’d had while watching Lac over the past six months.
Lac is the top disciple of the Master of the White Tower. And as far as I recall… the White Tower specialized in ‘Elemental Magic Studies.’
‘In other words, it’s a tower that trains Wizards.’
But look at Lac.
This supposed disciple of the Master of the White Tower was not a Wizard.
“You don’t use elemental spells.”
He didn’t seem to be using elemental spells at all.
From what I’ve seen, Lac focuses on melee combat using an axe, bolstered by simple striking spells and… enhancement spells for melee combat.
The Battle Mage Class.
Technically, it fits into that category but, if we’re being precise, it leans more towards a warrior image. That’s why I felt a sense of confusion. While I was giving Lac an inquisitive look… he slowly opened his mouth.
“I learned elemental spells, but to be honest, they didn’t fit me well. I remember him saying my mana doesn’t suit elemental spells…”
“That does seem to be the case.”
I nodded.
Lac’s mana is rough. As a Wizard, I can confidently say that Lac lacks the talent to be a Wizard. There’s a reason for classifying the types.
‘Wizards need smoother mana.’
Lac’s mana is rough.
If Chloe’s mana, born with talent for Wizardry, flows like a well-laid waterway, Lac’s mana resembles that of a frozen pipe in winter. The mana and pathways are indistinguishable and frozen together.
Strengthening the body or mana pathways.
In other words, it’s optimized for enhancing what one possesses. It wasn’t a type of mana suited to a Wizard who ‘borrows’ something from a star.
“Then you didn’t specialize in elemental spells?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“So, what did you have left after taking elemental spells away?”
There wouldn’t be much, would there?
As I pondered the usability of the Master of the White Tower seriously, Lac spoke up.
“I mainly learned about mana utilization.”
“Mana utilization?”
“Yes, like how to imbue spells with mana and the basics of circuits… The essentials a Mage should know.”
Lac moved his fingers in the air, as if tracing out circuits. When looked at closely, it was clear he had developed the habit of drawing circuits.
‘That’s quite good.’
I let out a short “Oh!” of admiration.
Most of what the Master of the White Tower taught Lac about mana utilization, I recently smashed at a holy site up north, but…
‘At least he taught the basics of circuits well.’
This one was useful.
Of course, it needed to be tailored for practical use, but… that would be a second-year curriculum. It would be a bit later.
Nod, I nodded.
‘No wonder his written exam scores were high.’
Though he doesn’t have flair, if you consider just the magical knowledge he possesses, Lac would be in the top five at Apuria. It truly seems the Master of the White Tower excelled in theory teaching.
“That’s a good Master.”
“Yes, the Master of the White Tower is a good teacher…”
Lac paused mid-sentence, tilting his head.
Master, master. While muttering those words, Lac’s eyes widened. Lac looked at me with a shocked expression.
“What…? Why so shocked?”
“I forgot!”
Forgot?
Just as I was about to ask, “Forgot what?”
“I forgot that my master was here…!”
“Oh…”
“I think I need to go see them right now!”
Lac shot up from his seat.
“Lac?”
“Yes?”
Isn’t there something else you should be forgetting?
As I was preparing to give him a light jab, I ended up closing my mouth. While I did see the Master of the White Tower at the Coliseum, I too had forgotten about that presence until Lac mentioned it.
‘It’s the kind of person one wouldn’t be surprised to forget…’
I shook my head with a peculiar expression.
“No, let’s meet again next time.”
3.
Selly sips her cold tea.
When she looks at the clock, two hours have already passed. Could Lac have truly forgotten her? As those thoughts crossed her mind, Selly shook her head.
That can’t be.
He’s not the type to forget about his master.
He must have a reason for being late.
‘He might be so exhausted from the duel that he collapsed! Or…’
It’s been two hours of her comforting herself like this.
Selly sighed and leaned back.
“I’m a Master of the Tower.”
She muttered blankly.
“I’m the master of a colored tower. I’m in the top ten Mages of the royal capital. I’m an important person.”
And it’s true.
“I’m a recognized Mage even at the Ivory Tower.”
There are only a handful of Mages acknowledged by the strict scholars in the Ivory Tower. Famously recalling those reputations does nothing for Selly as her shoulders droop. With her disciple having forgotten her existence, what good are those accolades?
Sigh…
Maybe I should just go out.
Isn’t it right for me to go look for him?
After a lengthy contemplation, she finally made her move. Weary footsteps, Selly approached the doorknob. Slowly, she grasped it and turned.
Creek.
The wind that blew in felt sharply cold.
That wind felt especially frigid to Selly. Is that what the expression means when it says it pierces to the bone? Just as she was about to move into the corridor with a gloomy face…
“Oh, are you not the Master of the White Tower?”
A voice called out.
It was smooth, yet it held a strong backbone. A voice often referred to as a powerful figure’s, Selly turned to look.
“Indeed, it is the Master of the White Tower.”
Standing at the opposite end of the corridor was someone with platinum hair and golden eyes.
That distinctive appearance symbolizing royalty quickly made Selly realize the identity of the figure.
The Fourth Princess, Ayla.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Princess Ayla.”
Selly bowed her head respectfully. Even here in Apuria, as an outsider, she felt the need to show respect.
“I remember you came to see the duel; you’re still in Apuria?”
“Well, I was waiting for my disciple to arrive…”
Even while speaking, Selly felt a sense of embarrassment.
Her cheeks flushed slightly. In response, Ayla smiled wryly as if she understood the situation.
“If it’s Prince Lac, he must be in the infirmary. I just saw him heading that way a little while ago.”
“…Ah!”
A sense of relief flashed across Selly’s face. She couldn’t help but let out a sigh and hurriedly covered her mouth. Of course, there was no way Lac would have forgotten her.
‘Of course not!’
He must have been injured in the duel and was recovering in the infirmary. That would certainly explain why Lac hadn’t come looking for her in those two hours. Selly’s complexion visibly brightened.
“…Hahaha.”
Ayla, who knew the truth, could only give an awkward smile. She covered her mouth and continued to speak.
“Shall we go together? I was just about to head to the infirmary, too.”
Selly blinked.
“Is it alright to accompany you…?”
“Of course. It’s on the way. Then let’s go?”
Ayla showed a gentle smile.
Overcome with emotion, Selly nodded repeatedly. Cautiously, she followed behind Ayla.
The Fourth Princess, Ayla.
A true noble one to behold, difficult to see even in Apuria.
If it weren’t here, one would have to navigate through tedious and troublesome procedures to have an audience with such a distinguished guest in the royal palace.
‘What a gracious person…!’
With such an individual recognizing her and requesting to accompany her, Selly felt a wave of emotion wash over her. It was as if this moment compensated for the two hours of waiting. She held a very high opinion of the Fourth Princess.
Selly, keeping an eye on Ayla, decided to strike up a conversation.
“By the way, Princess, what brings you to the infirmary…?”
“I have someone to meet.”
Ayla replied with a faint smile.
In her hand was a sheet of paper. The seal on the letter caught Selly’s eye.
‘That’s…’
Only one person among the royalty uses that emblem. Although Selly has never received a letter sealed with that mark, she had heard of it from the masters of mid-sized towers established near the battlefield.
“Master of the White Tower should be cautious as well. That letter tends to gobble up the finances of the tower…!”
Notorious.
“Suddenly issuing a deployment order to the battlefield. When I replied saying the tower is a research facility, not one for war, I was shocked when all I received in return was a short letter saying ‘Keep trying.’…!”
A dire emblem.
“Whose emblem do you ask?”
“If you see it, you’ll know.”
Ayla lifted the letter, sprinkled with gold powder, revealing a red rose.
“Those who shed blood will have to pay the appropriate price.”
Such a phrase was woven into the seal.
The First Princess, Lruiel.
The emblem signifying the princess known as the Mad Dog.
Upon seeing the letter bearing that emblem, Selly couldn’t help but shudder. It was undoubtedly a letter from the princess known as the Mad Dog.
A word from the author (Author’s Note)
We are beginning a new episode!
Sorry for the delay ㅠㅠ.
