3. Before the Beginning Begins - 04
3. Before the Beginning Begins - 04
"Ohhh, can this really be? This child must have been born for the sole purpose of learning magic!"
Old man Karl, the only mage in the entire Estel Duchy, could not hide his excitement as he looked at Aria.
"Her affinity for Magic Power, her instantaneous output, and even her computational ability—all of it is perfect! This child will undoubtedly become a mage who marks a new chapter in the history of the continent!"
Old man Karl's face had turned bright red as he sputtered with excitement at me, spraying spittle everywhere. Well, I could understand why. Aria was a witch with power so immense that ten years from now, she would bring winter to the entire continent. If anything, I might have been more surprised if I'd been told she had no talent for magic.
"Young Duke! Would it be acceptable if I took this child as my disciple? I wish to teach her. No, I must teach her. For a child with such jewel-like talent not to learn magic would be a loss to the entire continent!"
"Is that so? That's good news."
When I answered rather indifferently, Old man Karl couldn't contain his elation.
"Ohhh, then you are granting me permission to take this child as my disciple?"
At Old man Karl's words, I found myself retorting with a look of utter disbelief.
"No, I never said I give permission. And why would you need my permission anyway?"
"...Excuse me? What do you..."
"Isn't what Aria wants the most important thing? No matter how talented she is, I have no intention of making her do something she hates, so you two should work it out between yourselves."
No sooner had the words left my mouth than Old man Karl's eyes began to gleam and he strode briskly toward Aria. Watching that spectacle, he looked as if he might kidnap Aria at any moment, which made me think I might have to smack the old man hard on the back of the head to stop him.
"Ohhh, so your name is Aria. You heard what the Young Duke just said, didn't you?"
"Yes."
As Aria nodded meekly, Old man Karl also nodded, looking satisfied.
"First, let me introduce myself. My name is Carlos Heddle. I am one who acts on behalf of mana's will, the Green Mage who studied under the Chalcedon School."
"Why'd you leave out the 'third-rate mage' part?"
When I interjected from the side, Old man Karl looked at me with a dumbfounded expression.
"Why on earth would you say that?"
"No, I thought maybe you forgot the most important part in your old age. Shouldn't Aria know what she ought to know?"
When I answered with a smirk, Old man Karl let out a sigh and turned his gaze back to Aria. And the moment he looked at Aria, his face instantly transformed into that of a kind old man.
"...Yes, just as the Young Duke said, I'm a worthless mage who's remained in the third-rate all the way to this age. But please don't misunderstand—I didn't omit it with the intention of deceiving you."
At Old man Karl's words, Aria nodded obediently. Seeing her show no particular reaction even to the news that a third-rate mage would be teaching her, she seemed to have quite a gentle disposition. So much so that it was hard to believe she would become the 'Winter Witch' in the future.
"As I told the Young Duke, you were born with an innate talent for magic. An innate talent that, with just a little effort, might make you one of the foremost mages in this Empire."
As he spoke, Old man Karl looked at Aria as if gazing upon a jewel.
"I had no such talent. I could handle Magic Power, but that was also my limit. In the end, I've remained a low-grade mage to this age. Yet I bear no resentment for it. Since I first entered the Path of Magic, I knew well that this end would come for me."
But in that moment, I didn't miss the sight of Old man Karl's hands trembling slightly.
"Knowing full well that I could never rise high as a mage, I have devoted myself entirely to research all this time. Knowing full well that I could never reach the truth through my own power, I fervently wished to at least become a foundation stone in the development of Magic Studies. Yes, at least until I saw you just now."
Old man Karl's hands began to tremble, quivering.
"You are qualified to inherit everything I have built. If it's you, you are qualified to inherit all the fruits of my lifelong research. I believe that if it's you, you could surpass my research and discover the truth that lies beyond. What do you say? Will you become my disciple? If you so much as nod your head, I shall undoubtedly mold you into the Empire's greatest mage."
At Old man Karl's lengthy and elaborate speech, Aria merely tilted her head. Then she blinked and posed a question to Old man Karl.
"...If I become your disciple, what would happen to me?"
"Hmm? What do you mean by that?"
"If I become your disciple, will I have to stay with you and study only magic?"
Old man Karl furrowed his brow for a moment at Aria's question, then answered her willingly.
"...Hmph, I suppose it won't be necessary to go quite that far. But magic is a profoundly deep discipline that can never be mastered in a single morning. Even on the lightest schedule, you would need to spend at least half your day coming to me for lessons to lay and refine your foundations. However, that time is absolutely essential for you to take great strides as a mage..."
"Then I don't want to."
"...What?"
In an instant, Old man Karl stared at Aria with a look of sheer disbelief, as if he'd just been told a dog had laid an egg.
"...What did you just say? You won't become my disciple? Are you saying you won't become a mage?"
At Old man Karl's question, Aria pouted her lips and murmured in a sulky voice.
"But I've already decided to be Lord Kain's exclusive maidservant. I'm just getting used to my duties now, and I don't want something like magic taking that time away. Unless Lord Kain allows it, anyway."
At those words, Old man Karl's mouth dropped open.
****
"Seeing the old man's face crumple like that is truly refreshing."
The moment Aria and I stepped out of Old man Karl's residence, I couldn't hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
I'd always despised how he walked around stiff-necked with pride, calling himself a mage, but seeing that old man bow his head to me felt like a ten-year-old case of indigestion finally clearing up. I admit I felt a little petty for thinking so, but it couldn't be helped. What can I do about the way I was born?
"Aria, you're a real lucky charm. A lucky charm."
"Hehe."
Just moments before, I had managed to strike several 'negotiations' with Old man Karl on the condition that I persuade the sulking Aria to become a mage. For instance, he would shut up and lend a hand whenever a mage was needed, or produce various goods for the territory without complaint, among other things. Even after I finished those negotiations and desperately tried to persuade her, Aria's stubbornness wasn't easily broken. Her logic was that since she liked being a maidservant more, why should she have to be something like a mage. For the record, the old man's expression when Aria brought that up was a sight to behold. So much so that it felt like a waste that I was the only one to see it.
Ultimately, after a long and arduous persuasion, it was decided that Aria would receive magic training from Old man Karl three times a week, six hours a day. Naturally, Aria wasn't very keen on the idea, but she eventually nodded upon hearing my sweet talk about how learning magic might be of greater help to me. All the mages I knew were always half out of their minds, so I wondered who Aria took after to be this good-natured.
I kept chuckling like that as I returned to the main castle with Aria. But though I'd only been gone for a few hours, the main castle was now exuding a completely different atmosphere than before. Even the maidservants who usually did nothing but gossip were bustling about, and the knights, whom I'd considered nothing but salary-draining thieves, were maintaining strict discipline and moving with sharp efficiency for some reason. What in the world had happened while I was away?
Just as I stood blinking, unable to grasp the situation, a passing knight seemed to recognize my face, stopped walking, and saluted me. The young knight, who gave me a disciplined salute, had a face that was quite familiar to me.
"Young Duke. It has been a month. I have safely returned from my mission and offer my greetings."
"Right, it's a pleasure to see you after so long. Hmm... but your name is... James? Or was it Hans? Something like that, I believe."
"...My name is Rian Deckersell, Young Duke."
"...Was it? Sorry."
Truthfully, since it had been years rather than a month since I last saw him, I'd completely forgotten his name.
"Ah, while we're at it, I almost forgot. His Grace the Duke gave orders to deliver a message to whoever found you first."
"Hmm. Has my father just arrived then?"
"Yes, just now."
So that was it. I had been wondering why the main castle was so noisy, but it seemed the atmosphere was because my father had returned to the main castle after finishing his month-long territory patrol.
For reference, this wasn't just seeing my father after a month, but seeing him again after roughly five years. Because five years from now, my father would be dead. He would fight on the front lines to hold back the magical beasts that suddenly surged madly into the Estel Duchy and eventually breathe his last. But that wouldn't happen this time. Since I knew full well what would happen in the future, I didn't have the slightest intention of standing by and watching.
"Anyway, what exactly is this message about?"
"Ah, His Grace the Duke is looking for you. He said he has something urgent to discuss. And also..."
"And also?"
Rian continued with a sheepish smile toward me.
"He is quite angry."
And ten minutes later.
"...Admirable. It seems I've raised quite the praiseworthy son. Kain."
The moment I entered the office, I was greeted by the gloomy face of my father, whom I hadn't seen in ten years. To be confronted by that kind of face before even feeling the joy of reunion—just how unfilial a son had I been?
"Do you know what this is, Kain?"
My father shook a neatly folded letter from side to side before my eyes as he questioned me. It seemed he had no intention of waiting for my answer from the start.
"It is a formal notice of annulment. An official document sent in the name of House Sernad."
"A notice of annulment? I was afraid it was something..."
Having panicked thinking a serious situation had unfolded, I relaxed at the word 'annulment'. The annulment of my engagement to Sarah was nothing more than an event scheduled to happen five years from now. So even if the annulment letter arrived now, it wasn't that big of a deal—
"...Wait. You said a notice of annulment?"
Only then did my mind start working properly. The annulment was scheduled for five years from now, not an event that was supposed to happen now. As far as I remembered, something like an annulment letter flying at me ten years ago never existed. Which meant...
"Yes, Kain. You've done something quite big."
My father heaved a sigh so heavy it seemed the floor might cave in and spoke to me in a gloomy voice.
"Sarah... that child says she wants to cancel her engagement to you. Immediately, at that."