Witch's Son
Silence descended upon the council chamber. In the abruptly hushed space, only the ring of flames flickering quietly atop the boy's palm burned on.
And it wasn't even red. Helena's flame ring had been vividly crimson, but the boy's—the ring conjured by Ruin—was an unnaturally deep black. Could that even be called a flame?
Everyone gathered there harbored the same doubt. When mages awaken to an attribute, their magic takes on color—but only for spells excluding their own innate element. This was a hallmark of the so-called null-attribute basic magic.
If one possessed the fire attribute, a red hue would tint their null magic. Lightning would bring a pale blue shimmer. But what if it was multi-attribute? What happened then?
The outcome was simple. The stronger attribute dominated. Multi-attributes didn't hold equal weight; the most potent one took precedence. Take the White Tower Master, who wielded both lightning and fire—his null magic swirled with pale blue because lightning overpowered the rest.
No matter the multiplicity, the strongest attribute always consumed the others, dictating the color. Yet...
"...Black."
All eyes locked onto the boy's flame. A color none had ever seen. An alien shade absent from known spectra. Black.
Ruin the mage was bizarre not just in his visible presence, but in the very hue he wielded.
"...You... you..."
Helena could barely speak. The magic floating before her left her mind blank.
Then—
Crush!
Ruin clenched his fist, snuffing out the spell. Only as the black flame ring vanished did the mages react.
"He really cast it without incantation."
"How? Without chanting?"
"Forming magic without a single word?"
The Tower Masters gasped in shock. They'd just witnessed chantless casting firsthand. What Helena had taken seconds to weave, he'd completed in under one.
How was that possible?
As everyone struggled to comprehend—
"...Interesting."
Tom Jenel, the Gold Tower Master, had a glint in his eye.
"Not the same idiot I saw back then. That was real chantless magic."
Fascinating. Truly fascinating. And with a black attribute, no less.
He replicated Helena's spell on the spot.
A laugh bubbled up. The witch's son exceeded even Tom's expectations. No—exceeded was too mild a word. A single spell had captivated every Tower Master here.
What were they thinking now? Verifying the chantless feat? Probing the black magic?
No. One thought unified them:
The witch's son is worth it.
They finally understood Elise's choice. One demonstration had convinced them.
He's on another level.
An incomprehensible existence. A realm beyond human grasp. The prodigy of a mere boy felt divine.
And so—
Flutter.
Tom began gathering mana. His lips twitched, preparing an incantation.
The moment he started weaving—
"What're you up to?"
"...!"
Ruin's gaze turned to him. The casual stare made Tom freeze.
"Why? Got something to show?"
"Hah."
How did he know? Even Colton Clay hadn't reacted. No—he couldn't have. Tom had barely stirred a faint thread of mana, subtle enough to evade detection.
Yet the boy had sensed it before Tom even chanted.
"Kid."
"Yeah."
"...Your mana sensitivity is freakishly high."
Sense it? Ruin tilted his head.
Of course he sensed it. But...
Sense it? Dude was about to move.
He'd seen something gathering in the man's hand. That's why he'd spoken up.
"Gold Tower Master."
Colton stirred at the words.
"Planning something?"
"Yes. I was."
Tom was unapologetic.
"Part of why we're gathered is to determine if the kid's a demonkin. This was for that."
"Demonkin? Me?"
Me, a demonkin? What the hell?
"Why would I be a demonkin?"
"You used chantless magic."
"...What kinda bullshit is that? Demonkin use chantless? They sure as hell didn't."
I've killed one before. Saw it chant with my own eyes. What's this crap now?
Tom recalled the report at Ruin's retort. Indeed...
'Hunted a demonkin.'
The North's grand duchess. A genius rivaling the crown prince and the secret hero. She'd slain a demonkin alongside him. So he knew something about them.
"It's not that demonkin use chantless. They can't—they just have high mana resistance and affinity closer to ours than most."
"So?"
"Once, there was a demonkin faking chantless magic."
Faking chantless? Such a thing existed?
Ruin narrowed his eyes. Was that even possible? "Faking" sounded ridiculous, but the Tower Masters didn't refute it. It must be true.
"It masqueraded as human, killed a bunch of mages exploiting that."
"...There was a guy like that?"
"A formidable one. Of course."
Tom eyed Ruin oddly.
"Even he was nothing before the witch."
Ah. Ruin nodded in half-understanding.
That explained it.
Mom took out the cocky faker.
The fake-chantless demonkin? Handled by Mom. And now here he was in the same situation.
Guess they gotta check if I'm one too?
Whatever. He got the gist.
"So how do we confirm? Gotta hurt or something?"
"Fortunately, no."
With that, something rippled from Tom's hand. Magic.
"Forcing truth isn't hard."
"...Truth?"
"The god Solara desires knowledge—"
Tom began chanting.
Oh.
Ruin marveled inwardly. The mana flow was chaotic. It bloomed like heat haze, twisting into threads, forming shapes in wildly complex patterns.
This...
He couldn't replicate it from sight alone. Instinct told him: magic beyond his current grasp.
About thirty seconds later—
"Descend upon this land and judge the liar."
Rumble!
As the spell completed, something erupted from the ground. A bizarre doll with a golden frame.
"Now. Touch it."
"What's this?"
"Magic that compels truth."
"Hm."
Ruin approached. Then paused.
"Before that."
"Yeah?"
"Why aren't the others showing their magic?"
"What?"
"Seemed like you were gonna demo something. No word on that?"
"Ah."
Tom caught on. Show the other Tower Masters' magic, and he'd reveal chantless in return?
"Kid, you already showed it—with the flame ring."
"Can't see other spells then?"
"Hah."
Tom laughed. He recognized the fierce hunger in the boy's tone. The madness mages often craved.
"...Not bad."
"Pardon?"
"One promise. Touch this doll, prove you're human, and I'll show you a spell."
"Oho?"
A bet? Or just giving it? Either way, fine by him.
Ruin grinned and stepped forward. He wasn't demonkin anyway.
"Just touch it?"
"Yes."
He placed his hand on the doll. A cold sensation spread as something stirred. Mana? It coiled around his body from the doll.
Unpleasant. As he probed it—
Hm?
Ruin sensed something. The mana tried burrowing in everywhere.
This...
Just block it, right?
With that thought, he casually repelled the invading mana. It never entered.
...Hm.
Maintaining the block—
Hummm.
Golden light flickered in the doll's eyes.
"Activated."
Tom nodded in satisfaction.
"I'll ask, kid. Are you a demonkin?"
"No."
Mana stirred again. Blocked at the edge, it merely twitched.
Hummm.
The doll's glow faded slowly. As silence returned—
"...Negative."
"Not demonkin, then."
The Tower Masters nodded. Convinced just like that?
"Hey."
"Yes, looks like you're not demonkin—"
"Ask once more?"
"Huh?"
"Same question."
"Why suddenly?"
"Wanna try something."
Hummm!
The doll's light reignited. Tom asked dubiously.
"Are you a demonkin?"
"Yes."
"What?"
The doll flashed again. Then, like before, the light died.
"Huh?"
"What...? Solara's truth spell?"
"What the hell...!"
Everyone panicked. Their reactions confirmed it.
Just gotta reject the mana, huh?
Ruin had cracked it. The workaround.
Truth my ass.
"How...? How'd you do it?"
"Just did."
What how? Block the mana from entering. Shrug.
The Tower Masters' eyes widened.
"You can't just 'do' that...!"
Tom raised his voice—
"Quiet."
Colton spoke. His low tone commanded the room.
"Duke Colton?"
"Focus. The Sun approaches."
"...!"
Everyone froze at the warning.
Step.
Oh.
Ruin whipped around. Beyond the door, something approached.
Different. Unlike anyone he'd sensed before.
Soon, the doors opened.
"His Imperial Majesty, the Sun of the Empire, enters!"
All dropped to their knees instantly. Ruin followed suit—Colton had pressed his shoulder down.
Kneeling, head bowed. Footsteps passed overhead.
"Familiar faces after so long."
A handsome voice.
"Raise your heads."
Ruin lifted his chin reflexively. There he was.
Ah.
The man.
Sub-lead.
One of this romance-fantasy world's key trio. Golden hair, golden eyes. Neatly tied locks, sharp jawline, piercing gaze. A peerless beauty fit for emperor—or king by face alone.
Emperor Lehart.
Former crown prince. Now emperor.
My favorite character.
He spoke.
"Duke Colton."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Mission complete, returning—"
"Your granddaughter and the Hailron girl are fighting."
"...Pardon?"
"What?"
"Care to watch?"
What the fuck...?