Chapter 310
Chapter 310
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: Reunion with Ariya
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And so, I found myself heading to the Magic Tower once again.
As we left the academy together, Dame Isabell didn't hide her surprise.
"You know the Master of the Magic Tower, Ariya, as well?"
"I happened to catch her interest. Looking back, I was lucky."
"I don't think simple luck can explain it, but this is truly astounding. To think you even received a token from the Tower Master herself..."
I let out a small laugh at her rare, wide-eyed expression, but a strange feeling settled in my heart.
*‘She probably won’t accept that it was just luck, but…’*
Still, earning her interest was indeed a great stroke of luck for me.
As we discussed various things and I explained my purpose for visiting the Magic Tower.
Since it was quite late, we hurried. After arriving at the Magic Tower and going through several procedures, we were finally able to head to Ariya’s office with a mage.
This time, Ariya didn't come out to greet me personally.
We were simply guided to the front of her office by one of the mages residing in the tower.
*Creeak….*
Just as the sound of the opening door echoed with an unsettling quietness.
A silver-haired woman sitting inside the lavish office came into view.
"Haaah..."
I saw her let out a faint sigh first.
*Glance.*
Ariya glanced back and forth between Dame Isabell and me before suddenly shaking her head, and I couldn't help but give an awkward smile.
"I'm so sorry to visit you this late."
"...Yes, it's fine. So, what brings you here?"
Hearing the deep fatigue in her voice, I wondered if I had been too hasty. But what was done was done.
As I slowly began to speak, I tried to fill my voice with as much sincerity as possible.
"It's nothing else... I wanted to learn more about mana from you, Lady Ariya."
I twisted the truth a little.
I couldn't just say I came to win her favor. And besides, it was half-true.
Winning Ariya's favor was the greatest and fastest path to growth for me right now, so I hadn't come to see her with a light heart.
But perhaps my words were quite unexpected.
"......"
"......"
I could feel not only Ariya but also Dame Isabell, who was right beside me, staring at me intently.
"You came to see me at this late hour for *that*?"
"...Yes. I know it's rude, but my eagerness got the better of me."
"Ha."
Ariya let out a dry laugh and looked at me as if she found the situation absurd, but I didn't avoid her gaze.
"..."
Meeting her mysterious violet eyes, I thought this was the best I could do.
*‘I have to face her as I am.’*
No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't figure out how to win the favor and heart of the Tower Master. So, I chose a simple course of action.
First, show interest in her and try to increase the time we spend together.
I believed that if we spent more time together, more opportunities would naturally arise, which is why I put my plan into action and was now facing her.
Regardless of the pretext, Ariya had given me her token, so I felt I had the right to approach her.
"Haa..."
Ariya, who had been staring at me intently, gave a faint smile.
"Alright. Fine, have a seat first. I'm also curious about the knight with you... and I was planning on visiting you myself anyway."
*Srrk.* She gently rose from her seat and gestured toward a nearby table, and we naturally took our seats across from each other.
*Clink.*
Soon after, a woman who appeared to be a mage in a pure white robe served tea to Ariya and us.
"Ah. Thank you."
"It is nothing."
As my gaze was momentarily drawn to the woman's cold reply, I quickly turned my attention back to Ariya.
A strange sense of composure emanated from her as she sat across the sleek black wooden table with her legs crossed.
*Sip.*
Even the way she lifted her teacup was remarkably elegant, reminding me once again that she was a being of a completely different caliber than I.
*‘Can I do this?’*
"..."
As I lifted my own teacup, I knew Ariya held no hostility toward me. She was treating me with what could at least be called goodwill and interest.
However, I didn't think for a moment that winning her heart would be easy.
*Srrk.*
I took a sip of the steaming tea, and its sweet flavor seemed to put my mind at ease.
And then, Ariya spoke.
"Is the knight beside you a Golden Knight? I don't believe I've seen her before."
"It's only natural that you haven't, Tower Master. It has not been long since I became an Imperial Knight. I am Isabell Ellinore."
"Isabell Ellinore... so you're from House Ellinore. I believe I've heard the name."
"To hear you say so is an honor."
There was no room for me to interject in the ensuing conversation.
Dame Isabell's formal replies to Ariya's relaxed demeanor... she was clearly on a different level.
She exuded an aura of dignity, yet she carried herself with an upright confidence that never lowered her own standing.
The pride of a Golden Knight.
"Hmm. I see. Even so, I'm surprised the Imperial Family is showing so much interest in you."
Then Ariya turned her curious gaze to me, and I was finally able to respond.
"It seems they've concluded that I was the target of the recent incident."
"The target of the incident... I heard the news. Another incident at the academy, and this time there were quite a few casualties."
"...Yes. That's right."
As I affirmed it, Ariya stared at me intently and set down her teacup.
*Clink.*
The sound of the cup being placed on the table echoed strangely in my ears.
"That's a relief. I was wondering what to do about you, but if a Golden Knight is by your side... I suppose I don't need to worry about you separately."
I was inwardly surprised to hear she had been concerned about me.
"Oh... wait, Han Cheon-seong."
Ariya looked at me, blinking her own eyes in surprise.
I couldn't understand her sudden, startled reaction.
"Give me your hand."
Ariya suddenly held out her hand to me.
...It felt as if she were telling a pet to offer its paw, but I extended my hand anyway.
I carefully reached out, not quite touching her palm.
*Grab!*
Ariya snatched my hand, grabbing it firmly.
"...!"
I flinched at her unhesitating action.
"This might hurt a little."
I had no time to prepare for her next words.
*Grit.*
I bit my lip as a foreign, invasive sensation flowed through my hand.
—! ———!!
I couldn't even tell if it was pain or if Ariya's unique mana was rummaging through my body.
The only thing certain was that it was a direct sensation, just as she'd said, and it hurt quite a bit.
It was a feeling I'd never experienced before, as if her mana was subjugating mine and scanning me from top to bottom.
*Srrk.*
After a brief moment, Ariya suddenly let go of my hand.
"Haaah..."
I released my tightly clenched lips, feeling as if my body had been greatly exhausted.
"Really... what in the world are you?"
And I couldn't understand the dumbfounded tone in Ariya's voice.
She had suddenly grabbed my hand and scanned my body with her mana; I had no idea what her intentions were.
"Tower Master Ariya, what is it?"
Dame Isabell asked on my behalf, and Ariya let out a dry laugh.
"You said you wanted to learn about mana from me. I can see why you'd think that now."
She then nodded and uttered a strange remark, causing me to pause involuntarily.
Even as Dame Isabell questioned her, Ariya's eyes, fixed on me, seemed to glow with an unsettling light.
"I don't know how you did it, but you used Unleashing, didn't you?"
"How did you..."
"Answer me."
At her firm command, I blankly nodded my head.
"Yes. I did."
—The use of Unleashing.
I had never told anyone about it until now. The power of Unleashing that I had manifested was completely different from its normal form.
And I had instinctively felt it was a power I shouldn't touch until I reached the next stage, until my body was more complete, so I had intentionally put it out of my mind.
But... Ariya had asked me as if she'd seen it herself, just from holding my hand and checking.
"You used Unleashing...?"
Even Dame Isabell looked at me in shock, and I was at a loss for words.
A truth I never wanted to reveal was now exposed... the situation had completely spiraled out of my control.
"......."
I hesitated, wondering how I should explain Unleashing.
"Haaah..."
Ariya sighed and tapped the table.
*Tap. Tap...*
"Han Cheon-seong. The mana you possess is continuously decreasing. Very subtly... and the deterioration is progressing to a point you can't even perceive. Even I didn't realize it at first when I saw you today."
And then she said something I had never expected to hear.
"Lady Ariya...?"
It felt like my heart had plummeted.
"Unleashing is not a power one should trifle with so easily. Whoever taught you about it, they probably never imagined this would happen. The situation has become quite complicated. Your body shows no outward signs of trouble, I'm sure. But your mana is a different story."
I couldn't bring myself to speak, even as she continued calmly.
...I came to her to overcome the limits of my mana.
And yet.
*‘My mana is decreasing...?’*