Chapter 97: A Curious Fate(3)
Chapter 97: A Curious Fate(3)
After that, I stepped out of the bookstore with a variety of books in hand. There were so many new releases that choosing took quite a while, but thanks to Arwen’s explanations by my side, I managed to cut the time down a bit.
Instead of spoiling the plots, she focused on whether the books had depth and if they were suitable for someone with extensive knowledge like me, keeping her subjective opinions out of it.
"You seem to have chosen nothing but historical texts. Do you have a fondness for history?"
Arwen asked me as we walked down the street after leaving the bookstore. It seemed my exclusive selection of history books had piqued her curiosity.
In response, I lifted the bag in my right hand to show her. Inside were the books I had just purchased.
"It’s fun. It’s fascinating to think that these events actually happened in the past."
"Indeed, as you say, the past does stir one's interest. Even I find myself questioning if such events truly occurred. Moreover, the way the past influences the present and even the future draws great interest."
"Do you like history, Arwen? Not just Elven history, but the history of other races as well?"
Elves value history and tradition to an almost excessive degree, but that is strictly limited to their own kind. Until the Race War broke out, Elves had almost zero interest in other races.
There was, however, one exception: the Demons. As descendants of Angels, the Elves were naturally wary of the Demons, the descendants of Devils, and records indicate there were clandestine clashes between them.
But since their powers were evenly matched, no direct military conflict ever erupted. Such a war would have resulted in the near-extinction of at least one race, so the Elves had no choice but to remain bystanders.
"Of course. I harbor a deep curiosity toward humans like you in particular. Despite your short lifespans, humans have achieved dazzling growth. Even magic, which was once a power reserved only for the chosen during the Race War, is now widespread among the upper classes. And given more time, magic will likely become a power that even commoners can easily wield."
"That’ll take a long time."
"Hmm..."
Arwen stared intently at my face after hearing my blunt response. She seemed lost in thought for a moment before looking ahead and sharing her perspective.
"It may take a long time, as you say. However, humans possess infinite potential and are a race that even we Elves cannot easily predict. Perhaps in the not-so-distant future, magic will spread to the masses. You already know how the perception of Demons has shifted since the Xenon Biography appeared in the world."
"I guess so. This world is full of unpredictable things."
I let out a small chuckle at Arwen’s explanation. Even I, the author of the Xenon Biography, hadn't expected things to turn out this way, so how could the rest of the world?
One might think magic is a privilege reserved for the upper class, but if you look closely, it’s a phenomenon that has naturally stagnated.
Unlike nobles who receive higher education from a young age, commoners have to figure out how to harness power on their own, and even their access to magic is vastly different.
Occasionally, a commoner shows an aptitude for magic, but that is an incredibly rare occurrence. Furthermore, because they possess extraordinary talent, the state takes them under intensive care.
In other words, magic is a power that commoners could easily use if only the issue of accessibility were resolved.
The reason Elves and Demons are so well-versed in magic is largely due to their innate nature, but the sheer level of accessibility they have is likely the overwhelming factor.
"By the way, is it true that Elves look down on humans? You, and the other Elves I’ve met so far, don't seem to have that tendency."
While pondering magic, a sudden question occurred to me, and I directed it at Arwen.
Whether it was Cindy or Elena, the Elves I had met—perhaps because they were unique—never looked down on humans.
In fact, Elena thought highly enough of me to register me as a recommended student, and Cindy was the same.
"That is merely a prejudice. Just as different humans view Elves differently, we also view humans through various lenses. However, most Elves who lived through the Race War do still tend to look down on humans."
"Why? You’d think their perspective would change after experiencing that kind of humiliation."
"The reason is simple. They believe the reason they effectively lost the Race War was due to their own mistakes, not because humans were superior. It is truly a laughable notion."
"... ..."
I was momentarily speechless at such Elven logic. I had heard that the generational conflict among Elves was particularly severe, and I think I now understood why.
Still, it was a relief that the younger Elves seemed to view humans in a positive light.
That’s why they ended up digging a lake instead of a well with all that wasted effort...
Old fogeys are a problem everywhere. Seeing Arwen grimace as if she were fed up, it was clear she disliked them as well.
To soothe the disgruntled Arwen and satisfy a sudden craving, I looked around the street. Being a festival, various stalls were lined up, offering plenty of food.
As the son of a Lord, it would be a blow to my pride if I couldn't even buy a snack for someone I’d met by chance.
"Arwen. Is there anything you want to eat? My treat."
"Th-there is no need for that. I already ate before I came here."
"Eating a meal is different from having a snack. You don't fill your stomach with candy, do you?"
"I'm really fine..."
Arwen replied softly, glancing at me as if she felt uncomfortable about imposing. Occasionally, she looked at something other than me, but I didn't pay it much mind.
"Meeting like this is a stroke of fate; the least I can do is buy you a snack. Besides, as the son of a Lord, this is the bare minimum."
"Ahem. Well, if you insist, I shall not refuse. However, I have one condition..."
"What condition?"
"That is..."
Arwen kept glancing past me to the side. I looked toward where her silver-grey eyes were directed.
But there was nothing to be seen or felt in the empty air. Just as I was beginning to wonder...
"...Please buy two."
"What?"
"If you are going to buy them, I would like you to buy two of each. I wish to eat one immediately and savor the other slowly."
"You're not going to eat both right away?"
"I—I might crave it later. It is a way of preparing for the future."
I asked her about this truly unique idea, and Arwen answered with a flustered expression. Everyone has different thoughts, but even considering that, this was peculiar.
I stared at her as she hesitated, then agreed. Arwen looked visibly relieved.
Does she have another companion with her?
If not, there was no reason to buy two. It seemed likely she was planning to meet up with someone later.
I then bought three strawberry candies from a nearby stall. Their original name is Tanghulu—a snack made by skewering fruit, coating it in sugar, corn syrup, or syrup, and then letting it harden.
The intense sweetness is top-notch, blended with the natural flavor of the fruit. Moreover, it has a surprisingly long history and is one of the snacks that immediately comes to mind when thinking of festivals.
"Here you go, sir. Enjoy."
"Thank you."
"They look delicious."
As I took the three strawberry candies, Arwen’s eyes sparkled like a child's. I paid the vendor and handed two of the candies to Arwen.
Arwen held a strawberry candy in each hand, looking back and forth between them with an appetite. Seeing this, she looked exactly like a young girl.
"This isn't your first time eating fruit candy, is it?"
"O-of course not. It is one of my favorite foods."
"Then don't just stare at them, go ahead and eat. Oh, and don't bite down too hard. You'll hurt your teeth."
"...You keep treating me like a child. As I told you before, I have lived nearly ten times longer than you."
Arwen grumbled, puffing out her cheeks as if she hated being treated like a child. But acting like that only made her seem more like one.
I felt the urge to pat her head but barely managed to restrain myself. I simply gave her a playful smile.
Arwen stared at me with a pouty face before seemingly giving up and turning her head with a "Hmph." Then, she suddenly tossed one of the strawberry candies in her left hand into the air.
Just as I was about to cry out in surprise, a phenomenon occurred that made me doubt my own eyes.
Flash!
The strawberry candy Arwen had tossed into the air vanished in the blink of an eye. There was no sign of it, as if it had never existed in the first place.
As I stood there staring in shock, Arwen explained in a casual tone.
"It is storage magic. I placed it in a space I created myself through spatial teleportation."
"Storage magic?"
"Humans seem to refer to this as 'subspace'."
Arwen mentioned subspace, the quintessential storage magic that always appears in fantasy.
Arwen spoke as if it were no big deal, but while it was possible for her because she was an Elf, it is one of the most high-difficulty spells for a human.
If subspace for an Elf is like sewing a pouch with pre-prepared tools, for a human, it’s like having to start from absolute zero. That’s why subspace is highly useful but extremely difficult to master.
Since it was my first time seeing actual magic, I looked at her with curiosity. It seemed that even if she looked young, an Elf was still an Elf.
"Then can you take it out again?"
"Wh-what?"
"Since you stored it, you can take it back out, right?"
"Th-that is..."
Arwen became visibly flustered at my question. No, she looked beyond flustered—she looked panicked.
As I looked at her with a puzzled expression, she hesitated before answering in a hurried voice.
"I—I need a moment!"
"You need a moment?"
"Yes. Even if Elves are well-versed in magic, we cannot use it recklessly. Spatial magic is especially taxing."
Is it like a cooldown? Since I knew nothing about magic, I just nodded and let it go.
Besides, she seemed to have her reasons, so pretending not to notice was a good approach.
"Alright. Still, it’s amazing. It’s my first time seeing magic with my own eyes."
"I can show you some simple magic if you wish."
"Like what?"
Whoosh—
Arwen showed me through action instead of words. She brought her hands together, and bright blue droplets of water began to float above them.
I let out a gasp of admiration as the water droplets bobbed above her fair, delicate hands. I had only heard of magic and never seen it in person, so it was even more wondrous.
Seeing me focused with my mouth hanging open, Arwen gave a satisfied smile and moved her index finger gracefully. The water droplets followed her finger's movement smoothly.
"You were treating me like a child earlier, but now you look more like the child."
Just as I was captivated by her skill in manipulating the water droplets at will, Arwen spoke teasingly as she popped them. It seemed like her revenge for being treated like a child until now.
However, I didn't deny it and simply nodded. I wondered if this was how it felt to see a giant soap bubble for the first time as a child in my previous life.
Magic has a charm that brings out the inner child in a man. Even if it was just a simple trick, magic was still magic.
"Can you show me anything else?"
"Of course. Then..."
"Isaac?"
While Arwen was preparing her next spell, a seductive voice reached my ears. It was a very familiar voice.
I turned around and, sure enough, Cecile was standing there, having apparently just finished her private conversation. Mari was nowhere to be seen.
"Ah. Cecile? Where's Mari?"
"Mari will be here soon. But..."
Cecile, who had initially met my eyes, looked at Arwen standing beside me. For a brief moment, a strange light flickered in her crimson eyes.
Then, Cecile flashed a bright smile and asked in a voice full of kindness.
"Who are these people?"
"... ..."
At that question, an inexplicable chill suddenly took hold of my body.