Contract (4)
The moon hung beyond the window.
Lying on the small bed, I feigned sleep, squeezing my eyes shut tight.
Soon, a blanket draped over me, and the lights went out.
The moment had finally arrived.
'Let's begin, Hierniorn.'
Commencing cultivation method 'Origin of All Things'.
Proceeding with artifact as catalyst.
[Do as you will.]
After punishing it for the tailing incident, its attitude had turned a bit prickly.
It claimed to have done its best, only for me not to acknowledge its efforts?
But as soon as I began manifesting my will, I could see its flame feathers bristling.
What an easy-to-read spirit.
I began condensing blue mana into Iphril's pendant.
The mana gathered like dough, forming layers upon layers into a perfect sphere.
Shhh...
It was the process of crafting a vessel, using the artifact's mana as the framework.
Needless to say, the larger and sturdier the frame, the more solid the vessel could be.
Then, I felt the space ripple.
Opening my Transcendental Eye wide revealed the situation.
Natural forces repelling the current incantation are in effect.
It was expected.
The great nature sought to maintain equilibrium at its core.
The laws of the universe were moving to thwart the birth of a new mage.
But I defied it without hesitation.
"Tiberian, magic is the art of shattering the world's laws and perverting them to our will. Don't forget that."
Five hundred years ago, I had already walked this path under Iphril's guidance.
There was no reason to falter.
The moment the vessel took its desired shape, I drew it deep into my chest.
Whoooosh—!
Into my tiny heart.
A seed of light, flickering like a shrunken sun, took root in the depths of my chest.
Now, I had to gradually expand it, fusing it with my body.
Before I knew it, Hierniorn was gazing at me with worried eyes.
[You're sweating buckets. You alright, Tiberian?]
'My vision's spinning already.'
Unlike my previous life, this immature body was woefully inadequate.
Even controlling the mana was no easy task.
But I gritted my teeth.
There was no room for retreat.
'If I give up here, my heart might burst.'
At that instant, the natural forces reacted violently.
The power, which had merely crept up like mist, suddenly gained sharp directionality.
[Careful!]
It felt like a dozen venomous serpents lunging with fangs bared.
But I didn't panic.
In fact, I had been waiting for this moment.
'Come on, then.'
This time, I blew mana into Iphril's ring.
The forces of order clung to the artifact like glue, sinking their teeth in before starting to drain its mana instead.
Hierniorn's eyes sparkled.
[Oh, you're using its tendency to target greater mana sources?]
'Exactly.'
The forces of order targeted entities with greater mana reserves.
Iphril's ring was an artifact forged from top-grade magic crystals.
With far less mana than that, I fell lower in priority and evaded the attack.
'Hiern, know what happens when this natural backlash merges with a magic crystal's static mana?'
[No idea?]
'Watch.'
Whoooosh!
A sudden whirlwind tore through the nursery, sweeping up furnishings.
It was the result of mana density surging like a burst dam.
The room brimmed with mana, overflowing like a boiling pot.
The power that had lunged to kill me had become an elixir in turn.
I nodded at Hierniorn.
'What're you waiting for? Eat up.'
[Oho!]
The phoenix soared up, shoveling mana particles into its beak.
I focused on forging the Mana Heart.
I intended to craft the strongest possible one, making the most of this moment.
"Huuuuh..."
Sweat beaded on my small button nose and round forehead.
After planting the mana seed in my heart, I carved basic circuits throughout my body, laying the foundation for mana channels.
It was time to wrap up.
But right then—
Kaboom!
A jet of crimson-black flame erupted before my eyes.
The backlash tethered to the pendant had gone berserk, igniting a fire demon.
This was off-script.
Natural forces repelling the incantation are slipping from control.
Immediate action required.
[T-Tiberian!]
'Quiet.'
Hierniorn panicked, but I stayed steady.
The ring was old, cracked—triggering a minor mishap.
'Won't burn if it doesn't erode.'
My Transcendental Eye activated to its limit.
Though immature, the Mana Heart was starting to function, letting me wield some mana.
Subduing this raging inferno was impossible—but...
'I can redirect it.'
I arrayed the surrounding mana particles seamlessly, carving multiple paths out from the bed.
The flames surged like waves, pouring outward.
The finale fell to Hierniorn.
'Just like this. You can do it, right?'
[Of course!]
Kabooooom!
The whirlwind-entwined flames swelled like a midsummer storm.
But I focused solely on forging the Mana Heart.
The moment mana overload hit its peak—
'Ignite.'
My will sparked ignition.
Blue flames bloomed simultaneously.
Proof of the completed mana organ.
Whoooosh!
In my past life, it had been a mere fingertip spark; now, flames cloaked my entire body.
Mana Heart completed.
Current stage: 1st stage.
Highest stage forgeable at present.
...Done.
I looked at Hierniorn.
'The contract?'
[Established!]
The Great Guardian Spirit that once protected the entire Kirchheis family had been demoted to my personal guardian.
Yet it wore no expression of dismay.
If anything, it reveled in the overflowing mana.
Hierniorn burned denser than the room's flames, reclaiming its former glory.
[By oath, I shall guard thy well-being!]
With a single flap of its wings, the phoenix gathered the flames into a single mass.
Then came the roar.
Kabooooom!
It shattered one wall, expelling the fire demon outside.
Coincidentally, the Silver Garden was engulfed.
The mana-reactive flames ballooned instantly, devouring the garden...
"Wh-what?"
"W-what is it? Fire out of nowhere!"
"Fire! Fire! Everyone evacuate!"
The garden, powered by siphoned underground mana, became a massive tinderbox.
A fitting payback for the Kirchheis family that scorned spirits.
Hierniorn grinned in satisfaction.
[Ah, the taste of revenge is so sweet.]
Bastion Lamoff stood before the door.
The maids flung it wide open.
A small-statured old man sat at the desk in the study, face twisted in a scowl.
"I pay respects to the master of Kirchheis."
—The Iron-blooded Warlock, Rohbark Kirchheis.
Among the pinnacle of modern humanity's Eight Great Seats, he was the foremost transcendent.
A 9-star grand mage of the Holy Hero Ulfric's lineage.
His gaze at his subordinate flashed like a beast's.
"Bastion, you damned fool."
"Yes, my lord."
"You dare submit a report like this? Someone stole an artifact from the annex, and there's an explosion of unknown cause? In Kirchheis Castle, no less!"
As Rohbark bared his emotions, the floor trembled.
His fiery temperament manifested as mana, sharpening into blades at the giant's jaw.
Bastion could only answer silently.
"It all happened near Young Master Kirian's room. I judged you needed to investigate personally, my lord."
"Kirian? What's that?"
"Lord Demiph's son."
"......"
Demiph Kirchheis.
At his youngest son's name, Rohbark's expression shifted subtly.
"Another grandson I didn't know about. Three years old?"
"Lord Demiph should have reported the birth, but he had already run away by then."
"Tch! Damned nuisance."
His youngest was a sore thumb.
Lacking talent as a mage from childhood, he'd wandered outside.
Rumors even placed him in northern "underground organizations."
Utter nonsense, far from the truth.
"So you want me to go check that brat's room myself? You incompetent wretch."
Bastion bowed wordlessly.
Direct kin matters fell under the Elder Council, not the Discipline Corps.
Low ranks couldn't investigate direct lineage quarters.
But the council had long dodged frontline duty, wary of the patriarch's gaze.
"Failed at raising heirs, useless subordinates. What a wasted life!"
"My apologies, my lord."
"Spit on your tongue before speaking!"
Tsking his tongue in lament, Rohbark rose.
Clapping his palms together, space warped, transforming the scene in an instant.
Whoooosh!
Rohbark and Bastion now stood elsewhere than the study.
A small room in shambles, like after a bombing.
As the report described, the wall had crumbled, exposing the outside.
"All pay respects to the patriarch."
"P-Patriarch!"
Servants cleaning with tools startled at Rohbark's arrival, bowing in unison.
But the patriarch's gaze fixed elsewhere.
"......?"
A young nanny stood dazed in one corner.
In her arms was a tiny being.
A sharp presence pricking the grand mage's mana senses.
An ill omen furrowed Rohbark's brow.
"Bring that here."
"Ah!"
With a casual gesture, "it" flew to him like an arrow.
Startled Jenice screamed, but Rohbark caught it effortlessly.
A child with shimmering platinum hair and pale blue eyes.
Gazing briefly at the fearless, sparkling pupils, Rohbark turned to the nanny.
"This is Kirian?"
"Pardon? Oh, yes! This is Young Master Kirian."
"What happened last night?"
"Well......"
Jenice recalled events at the patriarch's question.
That instant, Rohbark's eyes gleamed.
His Mind Reading trait activated, infiltrating her thoughts to swiftly discern the truth.
'The nanny and maids know nothing of the missing artifact.'
He also grasped that Kirian had lain at the explosion's epicenter yet emerged unscathed.
Further inspection might yield clues.
But Rohbark's focus had already shifted.
To the child in his arms.
'Already possesses a Mana Heart.'
Rohbark had sensed it the moment he saw Kirian.
Holding him confirmed its impossibly perfect craftsmanship.
"A monstrous little thing..."
"Pardon? No, sir! Our young master is very gentle! His chubby cheeks are adorable, and his eyes have this mysterious charm—quite the twist!"
"Enough. You're noisy."
Congenital Mana Hearts weren't unheard of.
But they were vanishingly rare, probability-defying cases.
The world called it the "goddess's blessing"; in Kirchheis history, this was the third.
"Kirian."
"......"
Rohbark murmured the baby's name, gazing down.
The boy didn't cry.
Just blinked.
'My Mind Reading doesn't work either. Another innate gift.'
Suddenly, Rohbark's head snapped around.
An intense presence had appeared from nowhere.
On the crib's railing.
Invisible to the naked eye, something of lofty stature perched there.
Heightening his senses revealed its identity.
'Hierniorn?'
The Great Guardian Spirit, unseen in Kirchheis since spirit arts fell from practice.
Even Rohbark would struggle to find it without deliberate search.
Yet here it was, staring openly—like a protector.
'Hold on. Did it steal the artifact?'
Extending his senses, he felt something hidden deep in the crib.
Confirming his suspicions.
"Hmmm..."
His mind grew tangled, but a thrill stirred too.
'This'll be fun. Very fun.'
The time approached to name Kirchheis's future heirs.
Using Kirian well could humble the arrogant ones who acted as if they'd already claimed the seat.
The patriarch smiled faintly, handing the child back to the nanny.
"Care for this one well from now on."
"Pardon? Yes! Patriarch! I'll do my utmost!"
Then, Rohbark issued two orders to Bastion.
The disseminated contents read thus:
— Dispatch across the continent to apprehend Demiph and escort him back to the main house.
— Provide home education to Kirian until he turns 12 and can enter the Tomb of Books and Swords.
A new wind began to blow through Kirchheis.