EP.177 Sign Here, Battle Mage!(3)
“Resti Elenoa.”
The moment Kalt muttered that, screech, the door opened. The one who came in was Hound, who had been watching Kelharlem a moment ago.
“Senior, I’m here to report on today’s tea duties.”
“Any special matters?”
“Ah, it seems one student was summoned. It looks like it’s about a special lecture…”
“Looks like they’re diligent about that one class.”
Kalt let out a sigh. Did he come to Apuria because he missed the fallen academic city, Artiya?
“So who was the summoned student?”
“Resti Elenoa.”
Thud, Kalt’s pen dropped from his hand.
“…Who?”
“Uh? Ah, Resti Elenoa. The next Ashen Master and the student who was said to be the main target during Skebal’s attack last time…”
Without listening to the rest of the words, Kalt stood up. Grabbing the dagger pouch he had placed on the desk, he gestured.
“Location.”
“…Yes?”
“The location where the student was summoned. Where is it? I trust you’ve respected the principle of not placing a student and Kelharlem in a confined space together.”
The subordinate slowly nodded and mentioned the location. Kalt commanded that all remaining Hounds be gathered and hurried on his way.
It felt ominous.
Something was, ominous.
Kalt ground his lips together and hurriedly walked.
2.
Braver.
It has been nearly a hundred years since that epithet was used. The limits of his lifespan had long been exceeded. The day he was bathed in the blood of spirits, Kelharlem gained a lifespan as long as the fairy races.
He came to live a life close to immortality.
However, it was a life that had no meaning whatsoever.
There was no value in a life he did not desire.
Forced to extend a life, Kelharlem simply let it flow by. There was no significance in the passing of time. His life had practically vanished along with the destruction of Artiya a hundred years ago.
‘It has no meaning.’
A hundred years lived leaning on madness.
‘Since it has no meaning, it is simply empty.’
For a hundred years, resisting being engulfed by madness.
‘How I miss it.’
Kelharlem reminisced.
A day a hundred years ago.
An era when he was called a Sage, not a Braver.
*
“The stars are really beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Are you saying that again, Celestia?”
On the top floor of the Academy Tower, the symbol of Artiya, there lies a garden. It wasn’t a garden tended by the tower’s owner who had no interest in anything except teaching students.
“Beautiful, bright, yet incomprehensible. It must be beautiful precisely because it’s unknown.”
A girl sparkling her eyes while gazing at the stars in the night sky.
Celestia von Arta.
She looked at the garden she had personally tended and smiled brightly. It had been over ten years since Kelharlem took her in. From Artiya’s beginner class to the graduating class… it was the garden she had visited and tended almost daily.
“Of course, this garden is beautiful too.”
“Is there anything in your eyes that isn’t beautiful?”
“Ahahaha, is that so?”
Giggle, she laughed and leaned back against the bench. Kelharlem glanced sideways at the girl sitting next to him and subtly asked a question.
“…You seem nervous.”
“That’s a bit true. In ten days, I’ll have to leave this place. I’ve been here for over ten years.”
“That’s the rule of Artiya.”
“Do not live trapped in Artiya. See the wide world. Experience a lot, learn a lot.”
That was the rule set by Kelharlem, the administrator of Artiya. Even for his prize disciple, he had no intention of making exceptions to the rule.
“Even if I leave, you will take care of this garden, right?”
“I plan to leave it to my secretary.”
“Do it yourself, please. You have plenty of time.”
Kelharlem smiled bitterly.
“Well, after you leave, I suppose I will have more time. I was spending half my day teaching you after all.”
“Still, there was some achievement, right?”
A girl who can control the five most powerful spirits.
The strongest spirit summoner of her time.
Even if he listed the titles referring to her, he could easily fill a page or two. Kelharlem shrugged.
“It will depend on you.”
“Seriously, you never give proper praise.”
“It’s late. You should go inside. Don’t you have a speech to represent the students tomorrow?”
Grumbling, Celestia stood up.
As the night deepened, she walked toward the center of the garden illuminated by moonlight. Kelharlem, resting his chin on his hand, watched her back.
The girl he had nurtured for over ten years, like a daughter.
Now, she has grown so much that the time had come for her to leave his side. With a faint smile, Kelharlem thought, She has grown well. Suppressing those embarrassing words, he spoke.
“Celestia.”
“Yes, Master.”
The flowers glimmering in the moonlight shined.
Between the flowers, Celestia turned back.
“Why do you call?”
Her light lavender braided hair sparkled softly. The eyes of the same color gazed straight at Kelharlem. In those eyes, starlight glimmered. Amidst the lavender, platinum shone.
One who reads the threads of stars, Watcher.
A child loved by the stars, Stella.
What will that child, blessed with two blessings from the stars, do once she steps outside of Artiya? How many achievements will she accomplish, and what kind of brilliant future awaits her?
Imagining that in his mind.
Simply thinking about it brings delightful scenarios.
“As always.”
Kelharlem opened his mouth.
“Believe in the stars as you have until now. The stars are the guiding light that will illuminate your path. They will be a reliable companion throughout your journey.”
Having said that, Kelharlem paused for a moment. After a brief consideration, he continued.
“Thank you for your hard work until now, Celestia. Though a bit early, congratulations on your graduation.”
He showed an awkward smile.
Seeing that smile, Celestia lowered her head and chuckled softly. When she lifted her head again, she had a brighter smile than ever.
“Thank you for everything, Master!”
That smile.
That smile shining under the moonlight.
“Ah.”
It has not been forgotten even after a hundred years have passed.
Kelharlem closed his eyes. Leaning his head back, countless scenes flowed past his eyes. It was a nightmare, a tale of endless descent.
The burning Artiya.
A silver-haired woman cursing the stars.
A girl betrayed by the stars, abandoned, trampled and ultimately falling into the filth.
Remembering all that history.
Recalling the irreversible words he had left behind.
Finally, reminiscing that despicable star.
“…”
Kelharlem opened his eyes.
What he saw upon awakening was not the academic city of Artiya. It has been over a hundred years since the fall of Artiya, and now, it was the scenery of Apuria, called the greatest Magic Academy.
And.
“Did you call, Professor Lrutia?”
In front of him was a girl sitting down.
A girl with light lavender hair and eyes.
A girl resembling the Celestia from his memories.
“Resti Elenoa.”
Looking at her, Kelharlem spoke.
“Do you know Celestia von Arta?”
Who are you?
3.
Battle Magic Department’s Special Training Week.
Hmm, hmm.
The screams of students echoed, while Rania was humming as she strolled through the academy. The students were diligently keeping up with the training. It was certainly fitting for the Apuria Academy, where talents gathered.
‘They’re growing day by day.’
The students’ growth was rapid.
After all, they were kids with a certain level of basics. Even if they didn’t know their origins, they had learned about Battle Mages for quite a long time.
Stock of spells.
Close combat based on striking spells.
Acquisition of physical enhancement spells.
What they had learned over a long period of time wasn’t worthless. They just didn’t know why they had been learning those forms of combat.
‘I only explained that.’
She explained the origins.
She directed the path.
With that alone, some students seemed to have grasped a sense of understanding.
‘A faintly grasped sensation.’
The only way to solidify that into their own was through one method.
“What’s left is, real combat experience.”
Real combat experience.
However, just like in Lac’s case, she couldn’t throw them onto the battlefield, so she placed them in a gymnasium that resembled a battlefield as closely as possible.
‘I think I did well, even in my own opinion.’
The traps learned from the North greatly helped. Rania nodded with satisfaction.
Anyway, things were going well.
If things continued like this, it wouldn’t be long before she could put Kelharlem back in his place.
‘…Still, it feels a bit guilty.’
It ended up looking like she was pushing the students due to a pride battle. Of course, her intentions were impure, but it would eventually help the students too.
They would have to learn it someday.
It was something they needed to know to survive.
Not all students of the Battle Magic Department would face that situation, but a significant portion of them would stand on the battlefield in the future. It wasn’t something the founder of the class should say, but… after all, Battle Mages were classes for soldiers.
‘It seems many of them came in with that intention.’
Even though Apuria had many noble offspring, Battle Magic Department students often had ambiguous statuses, being the children of concubines or from lesser branches.
Children who would stand on the battlefield or in the field.
Children who need to build a track record on site.
There were such children. Quite a lot of them. The reason Rania was putting so much pressure on the Battle Magic Department was partly because of that.
‘…Still, this time I was a bit too selfish.’
While it would ultimately lead to the students’ growth, the initial spark came from her own pride battle. Upon reflecting on it, the students were caught in a situation like a bolt from the blue.
‘Originally, I was planning to teach this around the end of the semester, during vacation.’
Did she rush it too much?
Rania stopped walking.
“Hmm…”
She turned back.
In front of the gym, several students sat on a bench with expressions of absolute defeat. Seeing their absent-minded faces, Rania felt a pang of conscience.
“Ugh…”
After a brief hesitation.
“Ah.”
Eventually, she came up with an answer.
‘Chloe liked it when I gave her cake.’
Should she buy them something to eat? She turned her head again. It was already on the way to the café. Deciding to buy a snack on her way, Rania resumed her steps.
Thud.
Just then, something caught Rania’s eye. In Apuria’s garden, two figures were sitting.
“What…”
Rania furrowed her brows.
“Why are those two here?”
She changed her direction.
Then, she started walking again.
A bit faster than before.
*
“Do you know Celestia von Arta?”
Resti didn’t grasp the intention behind the question.
When she came to the garden after being summoned by Professor Lrutia, who had recently arrived at Apuria… that sudden question was it. Resti tilted her head.
‘It seems the question came out of nowhere…’
Celestia von Arta.
That name felt somewhat familiar. Resti rummaged through her memories. She didn’t need to search long. Slowly, Resti opened her mouth.
“Are you referring to the spirit master, Celestia?”
“Yeah.”
“I know her.”
The first Summoner in history to control five highest-ranking spirits simultaneously. She had seen that name in a book about the history of Summoners.
“She wrote an overview of spirit studies and contracted with the highest-ranking spirits at a young age…”
“No, that’s not what I’m asking.”
Kelharlem shook his head.
“I want to know your relationship with Celestia.”
He narrowed his eyes.
Though the gaze lacked emotion, something flickered behind those ashen eyes.
“Are you perhaps a scion of the Arta family? A branch family? Any blood ties? Have you received any eye inheritance? Or undergone any artificial experiments?”
Questions poured out.
Even with a monotonous voice at a constant pace, it was difficult to understand. Resti shook her head.
“…I’m from an orphanage. I don’t know anything about my blood relations.”
She didn’t even know what the Arta family was.
She had only encountered Celestia through books. She spoke the truth, yet the professor didn’t seem convinced.
‘Something feels off.’
Resti frowned.
The way the professor looked at her felt ominous. Those ashen eyes were devoid of anything, yet something swirled restlessly within.
Resti closed and then opened her eyes.
Her lavender eyes glowed brightly, filled with starlight.
Her view expanded, and the professor came back into her sight. Then, Resti saw something she had never seen before.
‘…Chains?’
The professor’s entire body was entwined in chains.
The chains were binding something. Resti shifted her gaze to what the chains were wrapping around.
‘Ah.’
It felt ominous.
Flames were fiercely bound by the chains. What flickered behind the ashen eyes were the flames. The moment she realized this, the flames shifted slightly. The professor’s eyes narrowed.
“That gaze.”
The chains creaked.
“You’ve been blessed by the stars.”
The creaking chains echoed with the undulating flames.
“One, I’ll give a warning.”
The air became heavy. As the suffocating pressure enveloped her, Resti couldn’t move as she gazed at the professor. He reached out. His finger pointed towards Resti’s eyes.
“The despicable star…”
“Hey.”
In that moment.
“What are you doing?”
Crack, someone suddenly grabbed the professor’s wrist.
The mana that had been tightening the surroundings scattered in an instant. Resti turned her head to the side.
“Are you crazy?”
Rania van Trias.
With wide eyes, she glared at Professor Lrutia.
