Don't Do Things You Weren't Asked To. (1)
Don't Do Things You Weren't Asked To. (1)
Tuk-.
A thread fell from the sky, rolling down like it was flowing along the field.
Kael watched the thread, tilting his head at the strange change occurring in his body, and the mothers were left speechless as they watched three Circles form directly in the boy's heart.
'...How was I?'
Alicia found herself recalling her own past without meaning to.
She remembered that even she, born with the talent to slay the Demon King, had started with only two Circles.
She had absorbed too much mana while forming her Circles, putting her life at risk.
She also remembered being saved by the Blue Tower Master, who had come to find her according to the 'Prophecy'.
It's terrifying.
Could it be that even meaningless things act as stepping stones for Kael's growth?
Clearly, Kael had been growing up normally, but....
No, no, this isn't the time to be thinking about that.
Kael might be in pain.
Alicia shook her head and immediately started walking.
Her stride was as large as the magnitude of her fear, and her emotions were in turmoil.
"U-um, Mom. The training Laika-nim told me to do, I think I succeeded!"
Watching Kael, who smiled only after realizing he had succeeded a little while later.
Watching the boy smile brightly as if showing off.
"...Who told you to?"
"...Yes?"
"Who told you that you could manipulate mana however you wanted!"
Alicia screamed.
"U-um, Mom...?"
"Magic has an order to it. I've told you time and time again that it's not time for you to learn magic yet. I told you it's dangerous, that you could get hurt, that you shouldn't do it, that you should wait—I told you so many times!"
Alicia's voice was hysterical.
Her gaze was trembling, and sweat was pouring down even though a cool breeze was blowing.
"Why don't you listen to me, huh? Why on earth!"
A snow-white hand reached out and grabbed Kael's wrist roughly.
His body tilted on its own, and he stumbled as if falling toward Alicia.
"...O-ouch-!"
Kael let out a small groan because it hurt so much for a moment, but....
Alicia just placed her hand on Kael's chest and closed her eyes.
The red mana flowing from the fingertips of the Great Archmage, who had her eyes closed, swept through Kael's body.
She didn't need to see it with her own two eyes; she could feel it through the mana.
There was one Circle imbued with blue light, and two empty Circles waiting for mana to seep in.
"M-Mom, i-it hurts-."
Three years.
No, four years now.
Kael spoke carefully, as the mother who always showered him with love was angry, but....
"..."
Alicia remained with her eyes closed, frozen, unable to do anything.
'...How on earth?'
Alicia was furious because Kael might get hurt.
Circles were a kind of safety device that allowed one to handle mana without side effects, but....
If one forcibly engraved more Circles than they could handle, their body couldn't adapt to the mana and they would get seriously hurt.
Even she had almost lost her life as the price for engraving two at once.
However, his talent didn't allow Kael to get hurt again after experiencing mana poisoning for the first time.
Only one of the three Circles had mana flowing through it; the other two had merely formed.
They were empty, waiting patiently for Kael to adapt to the flowing mana.
Kael wouldn't get mana poisoning, but his growth wouldn't stagnate either.
Once he adapted to one Circle, new mana would immediately seep into the Circles, and he would undoubtedly grow even more steeply.
It was as if a foundation called Circles had appeared in Kael's body, which had no 'foundation' before.
Our education has no results.
Kael is steadily moving toward the 'Prophecy'.
As soon as she realized this, she felt dizzy, as if she were in a panic.
"I-I'm sorry...."
Since Alicia was silent with her eyes closed, Kael apologized first.
He tried to burrow into Alicia's arms as he always did.
Tak-!
Alicia pushed Kael away.
At the rough touch and the anger he had never felt before, Kael looked at his mother with wide, startled eyes.
It's unfamiliar, scary, and terrifying.
It's even more so because it's the first time he's received an emotion other than love.
"...Don't do things you weren't asked to."
"...M-Mom."
"Answer me, Kael. Tell me you won't act on your own, quickly!"
Once again, a sharp voice flowed in.
Kael's heart pounded because his mother was angry.
The boy's heartbeat reached Laika's ears, and the boy's tearfulness entered Aria's gaze.
"A-Alicia!"
"K-Kael, are you okay?"
They had clearly said that if Kael showed enough talent to leave their hands, they would make him stop even if they had to force him, but....
The Saintess and Laika, who were not 'mages', couldn't help but be less aware of what Kael had done.
The Elf hugged her son and made him bury his face in her chest to hide his tears.
And the Saintess, as she always did on the battlefield, hugged the Great Archmage slightly to calm her down.
Since Alicia's hands were trembling terribly, she also held her hand lightly.
"...Alicia, please calm down first...."
Whenever Aria stepped in, Alicia would usually calm her excitement immediately, but this time it was different.
Alicia looked down at Kael from top to bottom, as if trying to get a definitive answer, and shouted again.
Ulm-!
Kael's body trembled visibly.
Perhaps his lips wouldn't open, he made sounds like, "U-," "Eu-."
"I said answer me, Kael!"
It was the moment Alicia shouted again.
"Your temper is still the same, tsk tsk."
A voice that hadn't been heard in the last four years rang out in the Mayhead mansion.
Laika, Aria, and Alicia looked toward where the voice was coming from almost simultaneously.
"...Blue Tower Master?"
"Your Holiness the Pope...."
"E-E-Chieftain...?"
They saw three of the Empire's big shots, along with a few others, walking toward the Mayhead mansion.
The high-ranking mages of the Red Tower who had lost their master, and the high priests of the church who had protected the Saintess.
And, like Laika, the High Elves born with noble bloodlines.
They were all wrapped in blue mana.
It seemed to be to avoid triggering Alicia's defensive magic.
"I originally intended to send a signal so you would notice, but I thought you wouldn't want to see me."
The Blue Tower Master withdrew his mana and stroked his beard.
"Though, as expected, rumors are not to be trusted."
He spoke about the rumors that had spread in the banquet hall and looked at Kael with a faint smile.
Perhaps he was harboring a subtle expectation, as there might be a new Great Archmage born in the Empire.
"Did you say your name was Kael? Your talent is truly outstanding. The Great Sage's prophecy is indeed...."
The moment the word 'Prophecy' came out of the Blue Tower Master's mouth, Alicia's heart froze.
A monster-like talent that engraved three Circles at once.
To the Blue Tower Master, it was just a compliment, but to Alicia and the mothers, it was a different matter.
Kael was supposed to have no talent.
He was not supposed to be the child of prophecy to replace the mothers.
Alicia bit her lip at the fact that she had to ruthlessly trample on Kael's expectations, but she opened her mouth coldly.
"It's just a fluke. Kael has no talent whatsoever."
Kung-.
Kael's heart sank.
His tearfulness stopped all at once, and the heart that had expected to be praised withered in an instant.
He had been burying his face in Laika's arms, but without realizing it, he looked at Alicia.
She was full of anger.
She was full of rage.
But he could see a certain amount of worry mixed in.
"...Ah-."
A sigh escaped Aria's lips.
Even though the Pope had visited, she found herself looking at Kael without realizing it.
Laika hugged the standing, dazed Kael even tighter and swallowed hard.
Alicia did not look at Kael.
Because she couldn't bear to look.
Instead, she just met the Blue Tower Master's eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
Didn't you adopt the child by following the 'Prophecy' because you wanted to stop being a hero in the first place?
The Blue Tower Master, who had witnessed Kael's talent from afar, didn't understand and asked back.
At that moment, anger boiled in Alicia's red eyes.
"Kael has no talent for magic, archery, or prayer. He was born with no talent whatsoever."
The Blue Tower Master's question didn't last long.
Having realized that the Great Archmage was angry, he cleared his throat to avoid provoking her further.
"Ahem. Yes, if you, the Great Archmage, say so, then it must be so."
Instead, he talked about the original purpose of his visit.
"The Emperor has sent a letter. Since you refuse to meet anyone, we have committed a rudeness, so please understand."
The Blue Tower Master took out a letter decorated with jewels and silk from his pocket.
Knowing that Alicia didn't want to even brush against him, he moved his mana to a degree that wouldn't be burdensome.
Hwiik-.
The letter, riding on mana, reached Alicia's hand.
The imperial seal of the Empire was immediately visible.
The content was simple.
The prophecy of the Great Sage Alkest is gradually coming true.
Although it is still just a sign, places where monsters are swarming are appearing because they cannot be purified.
It was a message hoping that the heroes would return to the Empire.
"...Laika, Aria. Let's take Kael inside. It's already over."
Alicia gave a dry laugh and said to the two.
The three mothers were the ones who had lived a life of killing and being killed on the battlefield since they were twelve.
They had suffered so much, grown up in such a short time, killed the Demon King, and returned—and now they want them to go back?
It was not something she wanted to hear.
At the very least, she knew it wasn't something the Blue Tower Master and the Empire should be talking about with a mere letter.
"Your Holiness the Pope, I'm sorry. You've come all this way, but I don't want to have any conversation."
Aria carried Kael inside the mansion.
Laika looked at the Chieftains who had come with the High Elves, then followed them into the mansion without saying a word.
"Please go back. If we feel like talking later, we will call you."
Just as Alicia was about to enter the mansion, ignoring the Pope, the Elf Chieftain, the Blue Tower Master, and the priests of the Red Tower.
"Do you remember the prophecy? If you don't manage the monsters from the beginning, your son will definitely be in danger too."
The Blue Tower Master said.
Alicia's eyes narrowed.
"I saw that he engraved three Circles in his heart. He is a child with even greater talent than you, Alicia. If you turn away and ignore it, and the problem grows, the child you love so much might end up going to the battlefield in your place."
"Don't mention Kael. I warned you."
"...During the four years you left to take care of the child, the Red Tower has been reeling. The church is having trouble with purification work. Some monsters that have broken into the Elf Forest are even targeting the World Tree."
The Blue Tower Master was like an enemy to her, the one who had driven Alicia to the battlefield, but....
In any case, he wasn't an 'evil' person....
"I'm not threatening you, Alicia. I mean you should think about it carefully. We plan to stay near Mayhead for the time being, so if you change your mind, please call us."
He finished his words briefly and turned around.
"...I apologize for coming to see you for something like this."
The Elf Chieftain bowed his head, covering his chest elegantly.
"As of right now, it is not such a big deal. Please reconsider just once more."
The Pope paid his respects to the hero with a short bow.
The mages of the Red Tower bowed deeply to their master, who had now become a mother.
But they didn't see the sharp, hysterical look they usually saw; they felt love in her eyes as she looked at 'Kael'.
"...Still, I am glad you seem happy after leaving the Tower."
He cut his words short.
Everyone left, but Alicia stood dazed, unable to move.
The words that Kael might end up on the battlefield remained deep in her heart.
"...You could have spoken a little more kindly, you idiot."
In front of Kael, saying he had no talent.
He must have tried so hard....
The moment she said it was a fluke in front of him remained, piercing her heart.
Still, it can't be helped.
It was the right thing to do.
Even if Kael had blossomed his talent, if she made him give it up entirely....
If she made him give it up, even by force, as she promised Laika, at least he wouldn't have to live like them.
Jeobeok-.
She took a few steps toward the mansion, intending to apologize to Kael, but.
Alicia couldn't easily open the mansion door.
She just sat down in front of the door and buried her face in her knees.
...
Alicia slept separately.
No, to be precise, she slept with Aria in her bedroom.
The 'Saintess' always used to soothe the emotions of the Great Archmage and the Elf.
Laika wanted to sleep with Kael, but since Kael didn't want that, she slept in her own bedroom.
Was it helpful that they hadn't slept with their mothers for over half a year?
Kael, thinking that all his mothers were sleeping separately, left his bedroom in his pajamas when the night deepened.
Because it was the first time Alicia had been that angry.
Kkii-ik-.
He opened Alicia's bedroom door, but she wasn't there.
He opened the office door and went inside.
"...Oh."
He saw the 'letter'.
It was a letter stating that his beloved mothers had to kill something again.
Old memories surfaced in Kael's mind.
Memories of his mothers having nightmares, crying and sobbing, surfaced.
"...I, I hate it."
He really hates it when his mothers are in pain.
Although Alicia had said herself that what she did was a fluke and that he had no talent.
Kael only had the desire to be of some help to his mothers.
Even a little, even just a little.
'I have to get stronger, even just a little, even just a little, to protect Mom.'
Kkigik-.
He moved the desk and rummaged through Alicia's study.
He found a magic book.
He read it.