Revealing the Blessing and the Prodigy's First Circle
Putting aside the strangely intimate conversation for now, Leo told Elizabeth about the Omangseong Blessing. "You actually possess the Omangseong Blessing that the founding emperor had. It's like a pearl in the muck—you can't hide it forever. And above all, you must already know it yourself. That your talent isn't ordinary."
"Omangseong Blessing..."
Having heard the story, Elizabeth nodded as if it all made sense. She didn't seem particularly surprised—just a casual "I see" expression.
"So that's why you told me not to study magic. I can't believe it. To think I have the same talent as the founder of Hesenia. But I'm from a completely different country, aren't I? And definitely not from the imperial family."
"..."
"Oh, wait—not completely different. Don't tell me. Dad."
"...Yeah?"
"Does that mean if you trace back Mom's ancestors, you hit the imperial line? You said Mom was from the empire."
It was set up that way, sure. Faced with Elizabeth's innocent delusions, Leo had nothing to say. Still, he couldn't just stay silent.
"Ahem. Talent doesn't necessarily get passed down through blood, right? Some people are just born with it."
Elizabeth looked straight into Leo's eyes.
"I want to learn magic from you, Dad."
"From me?"
"You're a mage, and I've got the talent. If it were ordinary talent, I'd let it go, but I don't want to waste this one."
Elizabeth flicked her fingers, summoning a gentle breeze. It was still unbelievable no matter how many times he saw it—wielding magic from the stagnant mana in the air. He could do it too, but he was at the 6th Circle, while she was a circle-less commoner. It was insane.
Well, with talent like that, it'd be a real shame not to study magic.
"I'm not good at teaching."
"What circle are you?"
"6th Circle."
"...You're not a high mage?"
"I advanced through real combat, so my theory's weak."
"We can study textbooks together. Anyway, please teach me magic. Yeah? You can't say no, right?"
Elizabeth wrapped her arms around his neck, acting all cute. There was no resisting that.
But still...
...I wonder if it'll be okay?
He recalled the 'memory manipulation spell' he'd cast five years ago. It was a kind of curse: if the gap between caster and target was vast, the target wouldn't even notice. But as the gap narrowed, the curse would naturally reveal itself.
In other words, once Elizabeth hit the 6th Circle, she'd sense and dispel the spell he'd placed on her.
It'll be fine.
But he wasn't too worried. The root of memory manipulation wasn't magic at all. It was the authority of the demon of memory—a power fundamentally different from magic. Like water and oil.
Schvalier, who had taught him the spell, had said it was essentially no different from a demon's authority. So even if Elizabeth reached the 6th or 7th Circle, she'd never detect the memory manipulation he'd cast. Because it wasn't magic.
Unless the real demon of memory shows up and spills the beans.
That wasn't going to happen.
"Alright. Let's give it a try."
"So this was yours originally? The 'someone gave it to me' story was a lie, then."
"I used it, but someone did give it to me."
"Still, it was yours. I'll treasure it. But..."
Elizabeth clutched the wand and ring tightly, then turned her gaze back to him.
"You're not hiding anything else, right?"
"...Like what?"
With an innocent face, Elizabeth asked point-blank.
"Turns out you're this amazing swordsman mercenary. Almost Sword Master level, but okay, that happens. But that's not the end—you're also a 6th Circle high mage who studied at the Imperial Academy. At this point, I'm wondering if there's more, but I'll ask anyway."
"..."
"Nothing else now, right?"
"..."
"That you're hiding from me."
Elizabeth stared at him with clear eyes, peering into his soul without a word. He fiddled with his wrist, keeping his expression steady. With a chuckle, he teased playfully.
"What? Would you prefer if I weren't your real dad?"
"Don't change the subject."
She should've let it go by now, but Elizabeth pressed on with that pure face. Maintaining his smile, he glanced out the window.
"Really, there's nothing else. What more could there be?"
"Then why are you avoiding my eyes when you say that?"
Elizabeth rose slightly from the sofa, grabbed his face with one hand, and turned it toward her. Her blue eyes locked onto his.
"You have to look people in the eye when you talk."
He'd always insisted he wouldn't be intimidated by anyone's presence. He'd rolled with the dirtiest scum as a mercenary, hunted demons and beasts, faced the emperor and countless powerhouses. He'd never flinched or cowered.
...He'd thought he never would.
Gulp.
His Adam's apple bobbed. The sound of his swallow echoed cruelly loud.
Elizabeth's gaze dropped to his throat, then rose back to his eyes. She just watched him.
He was certain: if he didn't speak, this uncomfortable silence wouldn't end.
"I told you—there's really nothing I'm hiding anymore."
He gently swatted away her hand from his face. She smiled back with the same depth and settled into the sofa.
*
As the saying goes, rip the iron horns off while they're hot—so Leo dove straight into magic lessons.
"First off, to truly wield magic, you need to establish your own Logos."
"Logos...? Ancient tongue for 'reason,' right?"
"Reason or truth. The vaster your inner Logos, the exponentially greater the quality and variety of your magic."
"That sounds tough."
"It is. Maybe one in a hundred manages it."
Magic was the world's most difficult discipline. It demanded insight into mathematics and philosophy, so most dropped out before even reaching the 1st Circle. It usually took half a year just for that. Typically, two years per circle: six for the 3rd, ten for the 5th. And that was for geniuses—ordinary folk never reached the 5th in a lifetime.
Logos was separate from circles. It was a mage's personal world, born from profound subjectivity, conviction, and self. Only those who'd reached great heights could establish it.
"Do you have one, Dad?"
"Yeah."
He had a Logos. Schvalier had said he'd possessed a firm one from their first meeting. That's how he'd become a high mage in just seven years.
"Can I have one too?" Elizabeth said worriedly.
"Don't mope. You'll get it. Anyway, shall we start? Open the textbook."
Leo wasn't a great teacher. He'd skipped formal study—Schvalier had taught him shortcuts, leaving massive theory gaps. Like jumping from multiplication to trigonometry. He was a combat genius, or someone else would've quit.
That's why he worried if he could teach Elizabeth well.
It was needless concern.
Just as Leo was a genius, so was Elizabeth. One who surpassed him—no, any genius in the world. A monster.
Even his half-baked explanations clicked perfectly for her.
Of course.
Considering her ancestry, it wasn't surprising. The founding emperor had forged his 1st Circle in a week. At this rate, two weeks tops?
"Dad! I made a circle!"
"..."
Elizabeth created her 1st Circle in a single day. Mana rippled in her palm—pure and pristine. The breeze she summoned grew precise and powerful.
Leo was dumbfounded. One day? He thought she was lying at first. Even the founding emperor had taken a week. Unbelievable. He checked with mana: a ring had formed in her heart. Small and unassuming, but shining like a star.
*
That same night, after forging her 1st Circle, Elizabeth dreamed.
But it wasn't an ordinary dream. She floated in the vast expanse of the cosmos. Starlight buoyed her up. She sat on a star, trying to count them, but there were too many.
She looked around at the universe—an infinite void. It should've crushed her with its scale, yet it felt as cozy as home.
Then she spotted a man. Like her, perched on a star, counting them. He had radiant platinum hair and blue eyes nearly white. Most striking: stars twinkled in his pupils.
He looked like a youth of twenty, yet exuded the serenity of centuries. Draped in ornate purple robes like an ancient high priest, a gold ring with a ruby gleamed on his right index finger.
Though she'd never seen him, he felt familiar. She meant to speak, but he gazed at her with a meaningful expression, and the dream ended.
What an odd dream.
*
"What? You're not going to the magic department?"
"Eli, you were so excited about learning magic."
The second semester of second year was a major turning point for Lenz students. It was when they chose their majors, setting their career paths.
It was the hot topic lately. Students debated departments everywhere. Most wanted magic, naturally. Magic classes were priceless—the state banned private tutoring, so only Lenz Academy offered magic education and certifications.
Students came for connections, sure, but really for the magic.
"I don't think I have the talent, so I gave up."
Elizabeth smiled faintly.
"Still a shame. You could've studied under a royal mage."
"Why not switch now? Course correction period's still open."
"Chances like this don't come often, Eli. Even if you can change majors later, catching up's brutal."
Her friends were genuinely sorry. "No talent"? The top second-year saying that? Hard to buy. But they figured it was the cost. Other departments had standard fees, but magic's were astronomical. Elizabeth's family couldn't afford it.
It made sense, but wasn't the real reason.
The royal mage Clemental might recognize the Omangseong Blessing and report it to the palace. It could go well—the king might adore her talent. But that was wishful; more likely, they'd just seize it.
Leo figured 99% chance the king would. Even if not, what about his family? Son, brothers, wife? Or Clemental might claim it himself.
Countless bad futures if it got out.
But she could learn magic.
Dad's here.
Her dad was a 6th Circle mage. Teaching skill? Maybe Clemental was better. But 6th Circle wasn't for show. And even if she could study under Clemental somehow, she'd pick Leo.
Yesterday, she'd made her 1st Circle—and hidden it now. She'd wondered if it worked, but it did. Dad confirmed: totally concealed. His stunned face had been hilarious.
"So where are you going?"
Beatrice, who'd been eyeing her, finally asked. The girls glanced at Beatrice.
"W-what're you looking at?"
"..."
Beatrice flushed. The girls quietly looked away.
Good question, whoever asked. Where does the second-year top student go if not magic?
"Law department."
Elizabeth answered.