Opportunity
Opportunity
This life had truly been one unbroken string of astonishing events.
So much so that I wanted to tell my past self, the one whining just days ago about why there wasn't some Flying Heaven Sword Style, to learn a little fucking patience.
When Sheryl, judging that the mood required a longer conversation, moved to excuse herself and ask Esmue's understanding, Widra raised a hand lightly to stop her.
"It's already been delayed six years. There's no need to rush over a day or two now. Priority goes to the guest who arrived first, wouldn't you say?"
Widra smiled with a face full of mixed emotions, looking as though he hadn't aged a single day compared to ten years ago. Did mages really have ways to slow aging once they reached a certain level? Maybe Radnelbandes was older than he looked too.
The fact that he remembered a promise from so long ago and was trying to keep it was deeply moving, but something he just said nagged at me.
His deliberate mention of both the Dragon Race and the Demonfolk... meant he knew I used Magic Power, didn't it?
"You've... worked hard. You can't even compare to when you were a child."
The blue glow shining like an inner light that visibly marked him as a magic user seemed to give a rough explanation on its own.
"Hm. Young lady. I am sorry to make such a request during an unannounced visit, but could you wait until our talk is finished?"
"Of course. Jenny? Guide the court mage of Regneva for us."
Jenny seemed to go pale, having been standing at full tension right behind me, but I turned a blind eye for now and went back to the room to look after Esmue first.
I gave her a concise summary of what just happened, and the response I got back was a hollow laugh and a remarkably simple reply.
"I am fine with it, so finish your conversation with that man and return to me."
"Huh?"
"What is there to be surprised about? I never mistake my priorities. I would simply like you to call the young lady of Ogatorf back before you go. We still have things to discuss, and I must ask her forgiveness for all this."
I checked to see if the smile lingering on her lips held any hint of displeasure, but instead I took a hamster punch as she asked if I thought she was that petty.
"Widra Regneva is a renowned mage who has exchanged much with the Empire. Before the war, he devoted himself to the advancement of the Magic Path, and since then, he has devoted himself to understanding and researching the Demonfolk for victory. A mage like that not only knows your situation, but resolved to form a master-disciple bond with you long ago. How could I push that aside?"
She must have made time in her busy schedule to visit, yet she still showed such refined consideration. So this was the dignity of a princess. For this once, my own curiosity was overflowing too, so I accepted Esmue's goodwill without hesitation.
This was a chance to meet someone who might have academic knowledge in a field I had endured through purely by instinct, with no learning at all. Considering the paths I intended to walk, accepting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like this calmly wasn't an easy thing.
After relaying various stories back and forth, I was once again guided by Jenny into the guest room. Widra, who'd been staring at me with a face full of questions, spoke the moment Jenny closed the door behind her.
"The princess knows you use Magic Power as well?"
"Uh......"
The way my tongue tied itself in knots instantly gave him the answer to his question. Had he learned mind-reading?
"How..."
"What do you mean, how? You were in a conference with the imperial princess herself. No matter how urgently I might treat this matter, how could you possibly have come back so fast?"
I hadn't even considered it. Now that I heard it, that made sense.
Huh? Really? I could understand me not getting it, but Esmue hadn't predicted this either? I was getting a distinct whiff of self-serving intent here.
"Don't worry. What does it matter what kind of relationship you maintain with the princess? I won't go around talking, so you can relax."
Speaking as if it were nothing of consequence, Widra gestured to the seat across from him, and I awkwardly sat down, studying him.
Though he maintained an infinitely composed demeanor, Widra also seemed to be agonizing somewhat over what to say first.
"First... you already seem to know how special the situation of being able to use Magic Power is."
"I've lived carefully hiding it."
"A wise decision. Because now is a time of war with the Demonfolk. It's not a matter you can speak of carelessly when the backing of those with a solid standing is not yet certain."
Even as he nodded in understanding, Widra continued to look at me with those blue-glowing eyes.
"I don't know where to begin, but I think the right thing to do is to first confirm your intentions without doubt. Will you learn magic?"
"My intention to learn is overflowing, but... there are a few things I need to tell you first..."
The things I explained to Widra as he listened to my words were simple but critical.
That I was preparing for revenge. That I didn't want to be tied down by politics and duty, so I'd even learned the Ogatorf family's teachings through a makeshift method. That I wanted to learn magic, but if it caused setbacks in my plans, I'd have a lot of thinking to do, and so on.
Even though what I said was entirely argued from my own convenience, Widra agreed far too easily.
"I understand. In living, knots you must untie inevitably form. I myself am in a position where I'm not just teaching you magic one-sidedly, but must also receive help. I can take that into full account."
"Is there help I can give you?"
"Your very existence is the help. To the best of my knowledge, you are the only human on the continent who can use Magic Power as if it's nothing. Many of the hypotheses I've built up until now can be verified through you. How could that not be help?"
Emphasizing once more that this meant far more than I realized, Widra continued speaking.
"But apart from that... I have absolutely no intention of dismissing the effort you've put in, but to be honest, the strength of those fighting on the front lines has gone beyond the norm. Have you ever encountered a member of the Demonfolk?"
"Yes. So I can understand what you're getting at."
"That's a relief in many ways. You can probably guess from looking at my eyes, but right now, I'm in a state where I can observe the Magic Power flowing through your body. As you stand now, you're not particularly inferior compared to Demonfolk... but there are so many who are distinctly stronger than you. Most of them are above a certain rank, so you won't easily run into them, but it is a danger nonetheless."
In the end, he was saying I wasn't ready yet.
It didn't put me in a bad mood. There was no way to know if I stayed stuck inland, which was why I'd planned to gather information by moving on my own two feet. If anything, I was nothing but grateful for advice from an experienced person.
"It puts my mind at ease to see you taking this calmly. Don't worry too much. Magic Power is different from aura and Mana. I see your current state as a stagnation caused by using Magic Power haphazardly because you don't know how to operate it efficiently. I'll have to see for sure, but if you just properly grasp the operation method, results can come in an instant."
I felt genuine admiration as Widra precisely pinpointed the wall I had been feeling, as if he'd been watching from right next to me.
"It tells me that neither you nor I spent those ten awry years merely frittering them away. Impatience can rise, but trust me. The time ahead will feel like walking through fog, but we will certainly reach our goal."
I resolved. From today on, I wouldn't just thank the gods in words—I'd start by getting down on my knees and praying first.
With that determination, I decided to accept Widra's teaching without a shred of hesitation.
There weren't as many things to discuss right away as I'd thought, so after a short conversation, Widra hurriedly made preparations to leave.
"I'll make contact first. It's embarrassing to say, but I've lived a rather worn-out life all this time. It will take some time to arrange an environment where I can teach you properly. Still, I won't let it exceed a week."
"Thank you for your consideration, Widra."
"Mm. Next time, I'll come as your teacher."
Pulling his hood down once more, Widra left the mansion with a smile at the corner of his mouth.
While seeing him off as part of her duties as the young lady of the house, Sheryl overheard our last exchange, looked at me questioningly, and asked.
"Teaching? Master? Really?"
"Your vocabulary seems to have deteriorated severely, young lady."
As I dodged the kick flying at my shin like lightning, Sheryl furrowed her brow.
"What on earth is going on? You knew the Regneva court mage?"
"Uh... I didn't know he was a court mage either. I met him back when our village was still intact."
Because I had brought up the story, the scenery of the village when it was still whole painted itself in my head for the first time in a long while. Warmhearted neighbors. Cheerful little kids. My parents, living in harmony.
They were memories I usually deliberately turned away from, but I hadn't known they would rise up so vividly, without a single faded color.
"Sigh. I thought Ragnis's business was finally settled, and now a court mage bursts in, then they say an imperial princess is staying the night. I wish Father would return quickly."
"...Her Highness the Princess is staying the night?"
"Yes. She contributed quite heavily to proving your innocence this time. She said we need to share information as fast as possible and coordinate our stories so there are no gaps. I couldn't refuse when she's making time for you and going that far."
Sheryl...! You always just default to swinging violence whenever you're bored, but the bond we've built really doesn't go anywhere!
But sorry!
What Esmue told you was definitely all just an excuse...!