Chapter 31 - The Magic Geek Gets Scolded
Night had fallen. In the lower town of the royal capital, on the outskirts of a commercial district not far from the Noble District, a carriage sped along a street that followed the inner wall, the very barrier that encircled the nobles' residences and separated them from the common folk. It was an unusual sight at an hour when midnight was fast approaching, and as if aware of this, the coachman drove with exceptional restraint, urging the horse on without a single shout.
The carriage bore no ornamentation whatsoever. Not only that, but its body and wheels were painted a deep indigo, causing it to seemingly melt into the gloom of the dimly lit lower town. To further this effect, the horse pulling it was a magnificent blue roan, from the tip of its nose to its hooves, and the coachman himself was bundled in a dark navy cloak. One could feel the intense will of whoever had arranged this transport: "I absolutely must not be seen."
Several gates in the inner wall connected the Noble District to the lower town. The carriage came to a quiet stop at a point midway between two of these gates, in the least conspicuous area possible. The door opened without a sound, and a figure dressed in a dark navy cloak identical to the coachman's, with their hood pulled down low, stepped out.
Without a single word exchanged, the carriage started moving again, and the person who had alighted began walking silently toward a nearby building. Along the way, a break appeared in the thick clouds covering the royal capital, and a half-moon peeked through. Had the son of some viscount seen it, he might have murmured, "A waxing moon." The figure, however, glanced up at it and clicked their tongue softly.
Ordinarily, they were supposed to gather on a moonless night. But a series of unforeseen events had occurred one after another, and they had been forced to reconvene, reluctantly, a mere week after their last meeting.
Nothing good could come from loitering in an alley under the moonlight at such a late hour. The cloaked figure produced a key, unlocked the door, and slipped silently into the building. They navigated the complete darkness of the interior without hesitation, moving deeper inside. Placing a hand on the wall, they felt for an indentation, hooked their fingers into it, and slid it open. A hidden door in the wall opened into the pitch-blackness, revealing the entrance to an even darker passage.
The cloaked figure stepped inside, closed the door behind them, and started walking. The passage twisted and turned multiple times in the darkness. Feeling their way through, they finally reached a dead end with a door.
It had been utterly dark since they entered the building, but a faint light now leaked from the crack beneath the door before them. The mysterious person held their breath for a moment, as if sensing the presence on the other side, then pulled something from their pocket. It was a mask. Crafted to cover the entire face, it had a reptilian visage and two horns.
After fitting the mask to their face, still hidden in the shadow of the hood, the figure knocked on the door. Three times first, a short pause, then once, and finally twice. Then, without waiting for a response, they opened the door and stepped into the room.
It was a square room, illuminated by a dim light. A round table sat in the center, and upon it was a lamp, the sole source of light. A shade restricted its glow, keeping the brightness just high enough to make out the surface of the table.
Four chairs were placed around the table, each with its back to one of the room's four walls. Three of them were already occupied. The occupants were all dressed in hooded cloaks or robes, their faces concealed by masks.
Behind each of them was another door, suggesting that they, like the last person to enter, had come into this room through their own separate entrance. In fact, all four of them had reached this room from different buildings, through different passages.
"You are late, Dragon. Sit."
The person to the right of the newcomer, who wore a mask resembling a lion, spoke. His voice was that of a calm, middle-aged man. The one called Dragon spoke as he took the only empty seat, the one directly in front of him.
"My apologies for the delay. It was a sudden summons, and it took time to make arrangements. Forgive me."
His voice sounded younger than the man in the lion mask. Even so, his composed manner of speaking suggested that the face hidden beneath the dragon mask possessed a gravitas that belied his youth.
"Your tone suggests you aren't sorry in the slightest. Lion, shall we just begin?"
The person seated to the left of the man called Dragon proposed this, his low male voice tinged with irritation. This person also wore a mask, but it was an unusual one, long and slender, with a sharp horn protruding from its forehead.
"You are right. We mustn't waste time. I've gathered you all today because we have new information regarding the Arcalai house."
It seemed "Lion" was the moderator of this gathering. As he stated the reason for the summons, "Dragon" immediately interjected.
"Is this about the next head and the girl from the branch family gaining their graduation qualifications already? I heard they learned four new spells in a week and can now use eight."
At this statement, the man in the horned mask stiffened in surprise, but seeing that neither "Lion" nor the remaining, silent individual showed any sign of shock, he crossed his arms with a sullen air.
"Heh heh heh. It seems the news had not yet reached Unicorn's ears. It is already a well-known fact at the Academy."
At "Dragon's" mocking tone, "Unicorn" turned his masked face away, arms still crossed.
"Silence. I departed for this meeting in a hurry, so I must have missed the report that was meant to arrive... But if that is the case, does it not force us to question our very premise?"
"...And what is that?" "Unicorn" spat out irritably, but his next question was posed to the group in a meaningful tone. The moderator, "Lion," prompted him to continue in a perfectly calm voice.
"The story that the Arcalai heir is a failure, lacking in magic power. It was a rumor spread by some young fool..."
"It was no rumor. During his time at the private academy, the boy could barely cast a single spell a day. On the day he was first taught a spell, he even fainted from the rapid depletion of his mana."
"Unicorn" was practically returning the jab with interest, but "Dragon" replied evenly, showing no reaction. It seemed less a case of ignoring his counterpart's scorn and more a reflection of his confidence in the information he had obtained.
"But in reality, that same child, a year later, entered the Academy not only as the youngest in history but with the highest marks in history, and then surpassed the graduation standard of 'mastering seven or more First Tier spells' in just one week. Can a child with so little magic truly transform so much in a single year?"
"Lion" voiced the question, his tone still calm. To this as well, "Dragon" answered without hesitation.
"The highest marks went to the girl from the branch family. The heir was second, but let's set that aside. I believe there are two possibilities. One is that the next Arcalai head was feigning his lack of magic during his private academy days for the sake of deception. One could argue it was to make us lower our guard, but the talent of the girl from the branch family was known from the start, so it's hard to imagine a reason for only the heir to put on such an act. He studied at the academy for less than a year and then immediately revealed his true ability in the entrance exams."
"...Continue."
"The other possibility, which I suspect is the true one... is that the Arcalai family has devised a technique that makes it easy for even those with little magic to master spells. Or, they have succeeded in increasing mana itself. The next head may be their first successful case."
"Is such a thing possible? I have always heard that a person's mana remains largely unchanged throughout their life."
To "Unicorn's" question, "Dragon" replied, shaking his head.
"That is the common belief. It is also said that the amount of one's mana affects the speed at which one can learn spells and the tier one can reach. Of course, the one who first proposed that was 'The Witch,' so I don't know what to make of that... In any case, if this speculation is correct, the situation becomes grave."
"Dragon" said this with something like a sigh, then crossed his arms and fell silent. "Lion," who had also crossed his arms, picked up where he left off.
"In addition to the previous head reaching the Seventh Tier, the next head, who was thought to have no magic, has shown tremendous talent. The girl from the branch family was already said to be poised to succeed 'The Witch.' Does this mean our prediction—that the Arcalai house would be easy to deal with once 'The Witch' grew too old to wield her power—has completely backfired?"
"That is not all."
"Unicorn" continued, waving a hand dismissively, his tone somewhat resigned.
"If they have acquired some technique like the one Dragon predicts, the mages of the Arcalai faction will grow even stronger, and their private academy will continue to produce powerful magic users one after another. Magic will fall even further under the Arcalai's control, and for the next several decades, we will be slowly cornered, as if being strangled with silk. Once it comes to that, it will be impossible to achieve our goals."
His words filled the room with silence. The four people present each sank into their own thoughts, and a long time passed without so much as a cough or a stir. At long last, "Lion" spoke.
"...We should still make a move to check them. It has become more difficult to use direct means than before, but if we simply do nothing, they will only gain the advantage."
"I agree. We should also investigate the Arcalai family's secret art, the secret that turned the next heir into a first-rate magic user. And if possible, I want to obtain it."
"Dragon" immediately concurred with "Lion's" words. Just then, the fourth person, who had not spoken a word until now, looked up and spoke.
"Is that not dangerous?"
It was the voice of a young woman. The mask on her face, hidden beneath her hood, was shaped like a bird with a sharp beak.
"They have the upper hand when it comes to magic. Rather than confronting them on their chosen battlefield, perhaps we should apply pressure through political maneuvering and our own economic power..."
"Of course, we will proceed with operations on those fronts concurrently. If we focus on only one thing, we will be unable to respond if the situation changes."
"Besides, Eagle, when it comes down to it, military strength is what truly matters. If we fall behind here, any advantage we gain can be overturned at the end when they force a contest of power. Bolstering our own magical forces is an urgent task."
After being lectured in succession by "Lion" and "Dragon," the person called "Eagle" offered no further arguments and fell silent once more. In her place, "Unicorn" spoke again.
"So, how do you intend to meddle with them? A half-hearted approach like last time will yield no results. Should we instead fully commit to uncovering this secret of theirs that Dragon mentioned?"
"For the time being, I believe we should. However, if the opportunity arises, I also think we should eliminate both the next heir and the girl from the branch family. If left alone, those two could grow into monsters on par with 'The Witch.' If that happens, the situation will not change at all even when 'The Witch' weakens. Before they become untouchable..."
Just as "Dragon" was about to finish, "Unicorn" cut him off sharply.
"That would be treading on the dragon's tail. You young ones may not know, but 'The Witch' does not act based on profit or loss. Even if it brings her nothing but ruin, she would calmly burn half this kingdom to the ground in retribution. And don't bother with nonsense like 'without just cause' or 'what about the innocent.' She grew tired of hearing such prattle during the war thirty years ago."
Perhaps sensing the scent of genuine fear in "Unicorn's" words, both "Lion" and "Dragon" were momentarily lost for words. Though they acknowledged Ester Adoni Arcalai as a threat and understood the power of the magic users aligned with her, they had, on some level, been thinking of this tense relationship as an extension of ordinary political strife between nobles.
Just as "Dragon" himself had said, Ester could overturn everything at the very end. And she could do it alone. The two of them, it seemed, were only now realizing this peril.
Once again, a period of silence fell between the four. After a long time had passed, just as before, "Eagle" let out an exaggerated sigh. She raised a delicate hand and spoke.
"I have a proposal. For the time being, all direct action against the Arcalai house shall be limited to investigating the 'secret art that transformed the next heir.' Any coercive measures beyond that, including abduction or assassination, will not be carried out unless we gather again to deliberate. How does that sound?"
The remaining three all nodded in agreement with "Eagle's" words.
"Then it is decided. Who will take the lead on the actual investigation?"
As "Lion" summarized the discussion in his role as moderator, "Dragon" raised his hand in response.
"My house will. I will reinforce the personnel we have stationed in both the royal capital and the academy city. If it comes to it, we are not without contacts inside the Academy."
"Hmm. Are there any other opinions?"
"Lion" looked toward the other two, but neither "Eagle" nor "Unicorn" showed any sign of objection. Seeing this, "Lion" gave a firm nod.
"Very well, it is decided. This concludes the meeting, but as usual, avoid leaving at the same time. That is all."
The moment he finished, "Eagle" stood, gave a bow, and left the room through the door behind her. "Lion" and "Dragon" watched her go in silence, while "Unicorn" made a gesture like a shrug. The three of them remained seated without another word. Eventually, "Unicorn" stood, turned his back to the other two, gave a dismissive wave of his hand at shoulder height, opened his door, and departed.
Of the two who remained, "Lion" turned to face "Dragon," his gaze fixed on him from behind his mask, but "Dragon" did not move, his arms still crossed. "Lion" continued to stare at him for some time, but finally shook his head as if in resignation, opened the door behind him, and exited.
Even after he was alone, "Dragon" remained seated with his arms crossed, the light in his eyes gleaming fiercely from behind the eyeholes of his mask, and he did not leave his chair for a long time.
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Tragic news. I, your humble narrator, was subjected to a thorough, sit-down lecture.
Yesterday, after Ruria and I succeeded in omitting spell gestures in the Great Training Hall, we were immediately whisked away by the rebooted Professor Hazza. Of course, Roche, Isak, and Lady Elisha were with us.
Then, in a separate room, Head Professor Azadh and Professor Hazza interrogated each of us one by one. The verdict was delivered: Mastermind, me. Accomplice, Ruria. The other three were acquitted. For the time being, after being sternly warned "under no circumstances are you to speak of this to anyone," we were sent back to our dorms. The next day, just the two of us, Ruria and I, were summoned again by Professor Azadh.
"Saki. Your grades are excellent, but you are careless in matters like this. Why do you think we have magic experiment labs separate from the Great Training Hall?"
"...I have no excuse whatsoever. It was reckless of me."
In the Head Professor's office, standing before Professor Azadh who sat at his desk, I answered with my head bowed. The professor's words were exasperated—no, he was genuinely exasperated—and I could only feel ashamed.
"We were lucky that only Hazza and those three witnessed it. If other students had seen it, word would have spread throughout the entire Academy by now. Hazza is a fellow disciple of Levi and me, and the sons of Lamed and Begin are part of our circle. They will not speak of this of their own accord."
Professor Azadh stroked his magnificent beard as he spoke.
"The Shamir girl is a bit of a question mark... but, well, it shouldn't become a major issue. In any case, Saki. This matter is, frankly, beyond my ability to handle. Which is why I took the liberty of calling someone."
"You called someone? Who?"
Even as I asked, I had a pretty good idea who he had called. I mean, come on, I could see an incredibly powerful light of magic on the other side of the office door. A magical presence second only to Ruria's, who was currently ignoring the professor's lecture to nuzzle her face against my arm.
"That would be me."
With a click, the door opened, and the person who entered was exactly who I expected. It was, needless to say, my grandmother, Ester Adoni Arcalai herself.
"Grandma?! How did you get here..."
I knew it was her, but I was still shocked. Grandma was supposed to be living in retirement in Arcalai Village, a journey of several days by carriage from the Academy. What was she doing here the very next day?
"It feels good to see you surprised. After all, you surprise me time and time again. It's quite satisfying, really."
As Grandma crossed the room toward us, Professor Azadh stood to greet her. He pulled out the chair he had just been sitting in for her, and then stood respectfully to the side. Looking exceptionally pleased, Grandma looked at Ruria and me and spoke.
"You look like you have no idea why I'm here, don't you? Saki, just as you have mountains of secrets you hide from us, I have a few things I hide from you. So, what's this I hear? You've gone and done something again, haven't you? Why don't you show me what it is?"
"...Understood. Will the [Light] spell suffice?"
Seeing Grandma nod, I stared at the space in front of me and, using only my imagination, drew an orange equilateral triangle there. Then I chanted, "[Light]," and a sphere of light appeared before me, illuminating our surroundings. Grandma had been leaning over the desk to watch my incantation, but eventually she muttered a single word.
"You certainly didn't form a sigil. Can you do it with spells other than [Light]?"
"I'm not sure. I think I probably can... Ruria, want to try [Shield]?"
"Mhm."
Ruria gave a short reply and then, still clinging to my arm with both hands, stared straight ahead. I saw a yellow square-shaped sigil form in front of her, and with a murmur of "[Shield]," a shield made of magic materialized.
"So the [Shield] can be cast without issue as well. It's probably safe to assume you can omit the gestures for all the other spells, too," Grandma said, placing a hand on her chin in a thoughtful pose.
Like me, Grandma could directly perceive the [Shield] spell, so she knew if it was successful the moment Ruria finished chanting. Professor Azadh, on the other hand, was walking around the desk to touch the air in front of Ruria and confirm the [Shield] was there.
"I understand that you and Ruria can cast spells without drawing sigils. The problem is that there isn't a single other person who can do it."
Wait, really? I looked back and forth between Grandma and Professor Azadh. The professor cleared his throat before answering me.
"Both Hazza and I tried it for ourselves yesterday. We couldn't succeed with a single one, not even a First Tier spell."
"It was the same for me and my sons. Saki, why do you think that is? You're the only one who can explain why you two can do it and we can't."
Grandma sighed and took out a long pipe from her pocket. As I watched her, I thought for a moment.
I had a general idea of the reason she was asking about. But a theory must be accompanied by an experiment. Thinking about it that way, this situation was rather convenient. I turned to Professor Azadh and bowed my head politely.
"Professor, I know this is a great imposition, but would you mind casting the [Light] spell as you normally would?"
"Hm, me? Very well, I shall demonstrate."
The professor formed the sigil on the spot and quickly chanted, "[Light]." A triangle drawn with a solid orange line appeared, followed by the spell name, and then a bright sphere of light was born. A truly magnificent incantation, just as one would expect from a Fourth Tier magic user. The hand movements for drawing the sigil were swift and efficient, and the sigil that appeared in the air formed a truly distinct image.
"Thank you, Professor. I am terribly sorry to ask another favor, but would you be willing to try casting it again, this time omitting the gestures?"
"Ah, yes. Understood."
Professor Azadh hesitated for a moment, then clasped his hands behind his back and chanted, "[Light]." The sigil that appeared before him was completely different from the one he had just drawn with his finger. The orange light was weak, the lines thin and broken, and it didn't even form a proper triangle. Naturally, no sphere of light was produced.
"Professor Azadh, thank you very much. Thanks to your cooperation, I believe I understand it well now."
I thanked the professor again, who seemed a bit dejected with his shoulders slumped. Grandma, who had been watching us intently, took a puff from her pipe and asked me a question.
"Did you figure something out? It's all Greek to me."
"This is just my personal opinion," I began, and then presented the hypothesis I had been considering.
"The essential requirement for activating a spell is to 'vividly and correctly visualize the sigil.' Tracing its shape with your fingers is merely an aid to imagine it more forcefully. Therefore, if you can correctly visualize the sigil without drawing the lines with your finger, the spell will activate properly."
"Is that all?" Grandma asked, surprised. I nodded once and continued explaining my theory.
"Those who have studied magic up to now have diligently followed the teachings of their predecessors. Visualizing the sigil exactly as it is drawn with the fingers is an act that has become second nature. So if you suddenly try to cast a spell while omitting the act of drawing, you may find it awkward or feel uncertain, which prevents you from visualizing the sigil correctly. I believe it's a technique anyone can master with training."
At my words, both Grandma and the professor adopted thoughtful expressions. After a moment, the professor shook his head and muttered.
"I find that hard to believe. I pride myself on being one of the foremost magic users in this country, a high disciple of the Arcalai school. It is true I am far from my master's level, but to think I cannot correctly visualize the sigil for a First Tier spell..."
"Well, if Saki says so, it must be true. You wouldn't happen to be able to see the sigils others draw, would you?"
At Grandma's words, I froze and glanced at Professor Azadh. He, in turn, was staring back at me, his eyes wide. Grandma, unconcerned by our reactions, continued speaking.
"Oh, this one may be an unworthy disciple, but he's tight-lipped, so you can rest easy. He knows I can see magic power, too. Azadh, I've kept this quiet until now, but Saki has 'Magic Vision,' too. And his eyes are far superior to my own."
"I-Is that so? Saki has 'Magic Vision'..."
The way Professor Azadh was looking at me now was as if he were seeing something terrifying. Hey, I know it's rare, but I'm not scary, okay? In any case, I should probably answer Grandma's question.
"Yes. When you cast the spell just now, Professor, the first time you drew a distinct and magnificent sigil, but the second time it was an incomplete shape. That's part of why I surmised the reasoning I just explained."
"And 'with training,' you say. I suppose that 'training' is that thing you've been doing?"
I nodded silently in response to Grandma's question. "That thing" was, of course, the [Triple Circle Method], which we had only taught to a very small number of people connected to our house. By practicing this training, which enhances one's powers of imagination, anyone should be able to activate spells without the need for gestures. Probably.
Grandma held the already extinguished pipe in her mouth, her expression grim for a moment. Then, as she put the pipe away, she began to speak, as if to no one in particular.
"Succeeding with a spell without gestures is one thing, but to be able to see the sigils others draw... I've been so surprised so many times now, my senses are starting to go numb."
She stood up from her chair, looked around at us, and spoke.
"This new technique is not unrelated to the Academy. I'm going to see the Academy Head now to discuss how to handle it. Azadh, you're coming with me."
"Ah, wait, Master. Even if you say you're going to see the Academy Head so suddenly..."
"It's fine. I've already told him, 'My Saki might cause some trouble, so please be lenient with him when he does.' Well, I didn't quite expect it to be less than ten days after he enrolled, though."
Hold on a minute, Grandma. You told the Academy Head something like that? And you're acquainted with him? I'm your grandson, you know. Couldn't you have a little more faith in me?
"You two, from now on, when you're testing spells, make sure no one sees you. I can't bear being summoned to this Academy so often. Well, make sure you keep studying hard."
Having said her piece, Grandma left the office, dragging Professor Azadh along with her. And so, Ruria and I were left behind.
"...Should we go back to class?"
"Mhm."
In the end, we did not see Professor Azadh again for the rest of the day.