The Meaning of the Performance Stage
"Is it true? That Eunbyeol is retiring."
After wrapping up the meeting at the cake shop, I hurried straight home and confronted Monica.
"Ah... I did hear her parents wanted her to retire."
"Why didn't you tell me!"
Monica's eyes clouded with sadness as she replied.
"It was her parents' wish, not hers. If retirement's confirmed now, looks like the persuasion failed."
"She said she's doing a performance stage."
Monica drew in a sharp breath. "Really? Then it's probably true."
"......"
As I stared, she shrugged and explained. "Performance stages are usually for junior mages' retirement ceremonies—or Olympic champions."
"Retirement ceremony..."
"Sure, some mages specialize in performances, but they're not considered active pros."
"......"
Monica studied my face intently, then approached and patted my head. "Don't be too sad, kiddo. You gotta get used to it now. In this line of work, people around you vanishing is all too common."
I bit my lip at her words. As if I didn't know—better than anyone, it was a fact etched into my bones.
Whether by retirement or death, the day would come when those close to me left. But not like this.
Forced to quit by others when she still had so much more to give—that was unacceptable.
"Up to the last time we met, Eunbyeol was stubborn and fiercely determined. No way she'd choose to leave on her own."
Her obsession with magic surpassed even mine. She'd push her body to ruin without a second thought, shrug off lifespan loss like it was nothing.
A star blazing with mad tenacity—that was Eunbyeol.
I slumped onto the sofa, staring blankly at my hands.
After a moment's hesitation, Monica spoke. "Kiddo."
"What is it?"
"Maybe she wants to quit."
"No way..."
Grinning, Monica plopped down beside me. "Even the great master here bombed out of the Olympics multiple times without a single win, right?"
"......"
"Even Korea's hero, the brave Lee Han, never won gold there. Know why?"
It was because overwhelmingly powerful magic towers dominated. For the past twenty years, APEX tower mages had monopolized Olympic victories.
"I heard those American APEX guys are strong."
"Yeah, but that's not the whole story. APEX thrives by scouting the absolute best. They've even had their streaks broken plenty."
Monica leaned back on the sofa, resting a hand on my shoulder. "So what is it, then?"
"Every era has its defining genius who grips it tight."
"A genius who grips the era..."
A vague memory surfaced. Mages called "indicators of the age."
"You mean the indicators of the era?"
"Right~ You've been watching the news, kiddo?"
Monica ruffled my hair wildly before continuing. "Indicators of the era. This year, it'll be Pike's time. Before him, Captain's. Back in our day, there was Omega."
"Hmph, all of 'em big-nosed foreigners."
Monica burst into laughter. "Anyway! Point is, standing firm beside those icons? Tougher than it looks."
"You saying it's because of me?"
Her blue eyes locked onto mine. "Exactly, kiddo."
"......"
Monica leaned in, forehead to forehead. "You're gonna force a ton of mages into retirement, send 'em packing home. The brighter you shine, the more they'll envy, resent, and try to drag you down."
"......"
"So don't waver over something like this. You're the indicator who'll retire Seong Jiho, Hong Jiyeon—even Isara."
The weight of her words pressed me back, my back sinking into the soft sofa. Monica draped over me, rolling her forehead against mine.
"My sweet kiddo. So full of heart and tears~"
"Wh-who's—!"
As I tried to sit up, she pinned me with her body, kneading my cheeks. "Think about the planet burning beside a massive star. She's gotta be exhausted too."
"......"
I squeezed my eyes shut, enduring the barrage of kisses on my cheeks from Monica's lips.
A burning planet...
The brutal image haunted me as I closed my eyes.
Keeping her by my side forever... might just be my selfishness.
The performance stage was held at a magic stadium in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province. The massive arena, rivaling Bundang's, brimmed with faint ether and chill air.
Eunbyeol, waiting in the athlete's lounge, looked no different from usual.
"It's been a while..."
I extended my hand; she smiled and took it.
"You came to watch! My performance stage!"
She poked my side with a faint smile. "Heard you did a photobook—super famous now?"
"Yeah. I'm a famous mage now. Eunbyeol."
"Knew it since you were slinging 1-level spells in that gym."
Her distant gaze, nostalgic for the past, met mine. Black hair, black eyes—an unusually neat, refined look for a mage.
"It was nice back then. Passing 1-level for the first time."
Seeing her smile like that, I blinked. Unexpectedly, words stuck in my throat.
"You're... still just 2-level, aren't you?"
"Huh? Yeah... Failed last year's 3-level test."
"The road ahead is long... You've barely taken your first steps."
Eunbyeol fell silent.
"Ahaha."
She let out an awkward laugh, turning away. "Couldn't pass 3-level or promotion matches. No regrets now."
She sat, adding, "Losing hurts. I tried my best, but no results. Gave it everything, so I'll leave light-hearted."
"......"
Her brutally honest eleven-year-old words jolted me to my feet.
"That—!"
I grasped her hand blankly, speaking. "I'm sorry."
"Huh?"
"Must've been tough being by my side..."
She stared at me, stunned.
"I... I see it. The sparkle."
"Sparkle?"
"Yeah. Something that rude kid from Nubes Academy lacked, but you have."
Eunbyeol flinched.
"Saw it in the 3-level test too—you were one of the few sparkling mages among the passers."
"But I failed..."
"Doesn't matter. Just a slight detour. What counts is how far you go."
She gazed at me with a strange expression. "You used to say my talent was perfect for a hobby... Why say this now, when I'm about to quit...?"
She turned away, sniffling. "You're definitely a sparkling star. So keep today's magic in your heart forever."
"......"
She waved me out.
"S-sorry... for the heavy talk."
I left the sniffling Eunbyeol and shut the door.
"Ugh."
Scratching my head, I sighed. "Should I give up on her as Reverse Flow's heir..."
Nothing more pathetic than dragging someone along. Even if they scream they want it, mages are hard to recommend.
The puller and the pulled—pure misery.
"Yeah, Reverse Flow's legacy... another heir will come along."
I folded my resolve and slowly returned to the stands.
This was her farewell stage.
The finale for mage Eunbyeol.
A mere 2-level, yet she'd entered promotion matches. The dark horse who'd nearly toppled Crown Prince Seong Jiho.
That's how history would remember her.
Yeah, that's plenty.
Less than 10% of juniors reach promotion. Top 10%—that's damn good.
I'd steeled myself with that thought.
Yet here came Yu Eunha's wave, shaking me again.
Junior 2-level mage Eunbyeol's performance will now begin.
Please take your seats, audience members.
Hearing the stiff PA announcement, I thought: I hoped that 2-level path led to 7-level.
Hoped she'd stand at the forefront above all.
Hoped to see a world where talent gaps meant nothing.
So this is as far as I go...
Once she set magic aside after this stage, we'd never meet again.
She poured her all, channeling every ounce of focus into the ether.
The ether responded like friends granting wishes, blooming into gorgeous snowflakes.
Unlike other mages, no casting needed—just pure will transformed the ether.
That was the payoff of Eunbyeol's accumulated time, her desperate hours.
[1-level Control]
"Snow, accumulate! Nix Accumula!"
⟨ Snow Accumulation ⟩
Vast ice crystals extended from Eunbyeol's hands, forming trees that sparkled in the light.
Amid the glittering crystals, I saw Yu Eunha's face.
'Sorry,' she said.
She still didn't get it.
Eunbyeol didn't resent Eunha. She was grateful for the sparkling milestone she represented.
What I hate is me... for not reaching there.
What she hated was her foundation—like shackles.
A backyard too small for grand dreams.
An affinity too weak for Abyss raids.
That beautiful space, those longed-for moments, had become her curse.
Why did I go out that day of all days?
A childhood memory surged. The falling snow felt especially warm.
Like angel feathers, forgiving and covering all.
...Yeah, that's why I ran out.
Not compressed, piling snow—but fluffy flakes that blanketed everything. That's what she'd loved.
Right—my magic started from that feeling.
The ether she'd patiently built was now ample.
Next is the finale?
For the first time in ages, Eunbyeol cast with a light heart.
This ended mage Eunbyeol's tale.
Next, she'd travel snowy lands with her parents. See the aurora, make friends.
A joyful life awaited.
The ether flowed smoothly, set to bloom into beautiful crystals.
"Farewell, my beloved magic."
[3-level Control]
"Crystallization!"
⟨ Crystallization ⟩
Beautiful crystals surged upward, snow gently falling atop them.
The transformed ether snowflakes scattered—unusually warm and cozy.
"Whoa..."
Surging crystals and enveloping snow—a perfect control spell embodiment.
As I moved to clap with the crowd, Monica gripped my hand with a grave look.
"Kiddo, you feel it?"
"Huh? Feel what?"
"Ether's recovering."
"...Huh?"
Narrowing my eyes at the stadium, the sparse ether had swelled substantially.
Ether should've dwindled with the spell—instead, it grew.
Stunned, I glanced at Monica when a voice crackled from behind.
"Code Red. Confirmed special ether-related magic."
Glancing back, black-suited agents swarmed toward the waiting area.
"What the...?"
Monica smacked her lips. "Ether-related magic's under national special oversight. Capture, storage—you name it. But that? Ether generation. Top-class, highest priority."
"Ah."
"Especially in Korea... higher-ups must be freaking."
"Heh, things just got interesting. Guess I'll head over."
"Huh? Kiddo?"
I shot a glance at oblivious Eunbyeol admiring her crystallization, then dashed to the lounge.