Episode 86: The Baron's Recovery and Kira's Farewell
Freed from the parasitic magic, Drbosi Baron recovered his health at a visible pace. It hadn't even been a serious illness to begin with—just a severe depletion of his stamina. With some rest and good food, he naturally bounced back. In his healthy days, he'd been robust enough to enjoy wolf hunts, so his natural resilience had him leaping out of bed in no time.
A few months later, the baron gathered everyone in Drbosi Hall. That included his original retainers, the clerics who'd come to treat him, random passersby who'd stopped in, and Ian's group besides—making for quite the crowd.
The baron repeatedly praised the servants who'd cared for him and the vassals who'd stayed loyal to the end.
"I can't tell you how happy I am to have loyal retainers like you all by my side."
"Y-Your Excellency flatters us!"
To Ian, it sounded like empty flattery, but the servants felt the weight of it differently. Praise straight from a noble's mouth! It was an honor worth bragging about to spouses, kids, and the whole neighborhood. Of course, they might've been thrilled anticipating the rewards that usually followed such lip service. A baron back from the brink would surely hand out coin to commemorate the event—and to warn everyone about the near-miss with that wicked sorcerer's scheme, praying nothing like it happened again.
"To come all this way for my sake... Your kindness must reach the heavens themselves."
"It's the grace of heaven watching over Your Excellency."
The clerics chuckled modestly as they received his thanks. In truth, what they'd actually done was... nothing much. Just pray among themselves, eat, and chat. Their one real contribution? Guarding the baron's door to keep out suspicious types. But the baron had to thank them anyway. Why? Because he'd survived by heaven's grace! He needed to ask them to convey his gratitude to the heavens in his stead. Now they'd head home with hefty "prayer fees"—payment for their past devotions plus offerings to the divine.
Show up, eat, and get paid? Sweet gig. No wonder faithless folks were flocking to the clergy.
"And Mage Ian. Mage Kira."
Ian and Kira drew every eye in the room. They were the heroes who'd tracked down and eliminated the foul mage controlling monsters, saving the Drbosi Baron.
No one there doubted the mages' contributions.
"I could thank you a thousand times and it wouldn't be enough, young friends. You're the saviors of my life."
Kira stepped forward with an arrogant expression.
"No need to thank us. That bastard pissed me off first, so I just got revenge."
The crowd marveled at Kira's haughty tone. She'd witnessed a colossal mystery and lived. Those who brushed against existences beyond human ken always emerged with a changed soul-glow. Kira herself was oblivious, but her eyes now leaked a strange, madness-like mystical light.
It was because she was a rootless mage. Had she mastered the Maronius Language to refine her experienced mysteries into words, her body wouldn't have changed. But she'd entered magic on pure, unadulterated talent, so she couldn't control the mysteries manifesting through her flesh.
"As expected of Lady Kira...!"
"What an incredible person!"
People whispered. Especially the retainers who'd gotten help from Kira when Ian was messing around with dark magic—their trust in her pierced the skies.
Ian chimed in too.
"Eh, it was nothing much. I didn't do all that much anyway."
He meant it. After resisting the flame storm scroll, Gerard had wrapped things up. But the crowd thought otherwise—they saw it as extreme humility!
"A mage that humble...!"
"Must be a mage of exceptional self-discipline!"
"I heard rumors he was a cleric—clearly follows the scriptures to the letter."
As everyone praised Ian's modesty, one person alone looked flustered: Kira. She shot Ian a glare of betrayal. Hey! If you're playing humble alone, what does that make me, the one who bragged first?!
Ian just grinned back. Beats me. Grand Mage? For Kira's personality, humble mage suited her way better than grand mage cosplay. But she'd blurted it out half on autopilot. Hiiing... Kira pouted for a split second before snapping back to her haughty pyromancer face. Like it or not, the role-play had to continue.
"Baron? My legs hurt—do I have to keep standing here?"
Kira asked innocently, and the baron smiled, lips twitching upward. She'd meant to sound rude, but Kira... was just too damn pretty for her own good. If Ian had said, "Hey baron, gotta keep standing?" he'd instantly be the rude mage. But from Kira, it came off cute!
"Kira's merit is something else..."
"Ahem. Reminds me of my niece."
"...?"
Ian gaped at the vassals' uncle smiles. No, you're supposed to think she's rude...!
"We've kept our guests standing too long. Let's wrap this up and reconvene in the banquet hall!"
Sure, they'd saved the baron too. But Ian wanted out of Drbosi Castle. Naturally, no one would let him go.
Starting with the clerics, the baron himself, even his two wives—they hounded Ian daily, clinging relentlessly.
"Lord Ian! There's a devout bishop in our parish—how about I introduce you?"
"So, what do you think of Drbosi Castle? I'd like to offer you the position of Drbosi Sage..."
"Ian, would you meet my daughter?"
"Mage Ian! My son wants to apologize...!"
Ian was prime talent, ripe for the picking(?). Young, unmarried, already a skilled mage. Not some gutter-born nobody, but the sole disciple of the great pyromancer Eredis Manskal, called the Dawn Star of Dravald. A pious Celestial Faith believer too, talented enough as a cleric to work heaven's miracles firsthand. Snag him, and the uses were endless!
So they stuck to him like glue, and Ian's grumpiness meter skyrocketed.
'Please fuck off, you assholes...'
Suddenly saddled with this challenge, he was swamped—yet surrounded by nonstop pitches like "Be my retainer," "Serve the bishop," "Marry my daughter." He was losing his mind.
Ian was alone in his room, drawing a magic circle. Trying to infuse Anorilsil with the eye of the wind.
'The mysteries of sun and moon are already in Anorilsil.'
He pondered materials for the true Anorilsil: firmament, clouds, wind, stars, sun, moon. All sky-related mysteries. Stretch it a bit, and they bordered the cosmos. Meaning, to make true Anorilsil, he had to cram little-universe powers into it...
'...Gonna need a shit-ton of mysteries.'
Gerard had fetched(?) the wind mystery item, but the rest? Ian had to hunt them down on foot. Combining their powers was another headache. The challenge said "Gather mystery powers~♪" all casual-like, but Ian doing the actual fusion had to wrack his brain for the right spells.
'A phrase that'd make wind and sun respond at once...'
So he drew and erased magic circles over and over. Results of pondering how to add wind to Anorilsil. He needed to invoke wind mystery and sun or moon mystery simultaneously... but no fitting phrase came to mind!
"To my dear wind and sun. First time greeting you in writing. I am Mage Ian. I'd like to arrange a meeting for your harmony..."
⟨ [Failed Draft] ⟩
Scribble-scribble. Ian angrily erased the painstakingly drawn circle. Stress from dealing with people was about to explode!
"Argh! Why the hell do I have to write essays?!"
I was a STEM kid, you bastards! Mages should do incantation math! High-speed calculations! Multiple formulas! Not letter-writing! Make the filthy humanities kids do that shit!!!
Knock knock.
"Mage, sir. It's Manet. May I come in for a moment...?"
"Get lost!!!"
Manet was Serena's daughter. Kept coming under pretense of attending him, angling for marriage. Ian was sick of it.
He bellowed her away and refocused on the circle.
Subject: Any mysteries wanna meet up?
Yo, Mage Ian here. Wanna hold a meetup with wind and sun—any mysteries wanna join? Upvotes if yes. I'll go first.
"...Fucking hell."
Nah, too much. Magic was a goddamn pain no matter how he tried!
"Ian. What're you doing alone in your room?"
"Agh, who now? Piss off already?"
"Nah, don't wanna. Why should I?"
The door flew open, and Kira strolled in with a tray. Loaded with fragrant bread and dried fruits.
Ooh, perfect timing—I'm starving.
Kira shut the door and let out a small sigh.
"...Sorry. Did I interrupt? I'll head out quick..."
"? Head out? Thought you came to hang."
"I-I did, but you look busy..."
Ian got it watching her two-faced act. She'd run into Manet outside and switched to mage mode.
"Ah, this from Manet?"
"Yeah... She left, so I said I'd pass it on."
Owe her one later. Ian forgot in three seconds flat, distracted by the circle.
Kira perched on the bed, munching bread quietly. Ian seriously drawing his circle was fascinating and fun.
It's not every day! Fantasy Ian Show! Gathering the real mystery VIPs! You come, we GO!
She had no clue what it said, but watching him fluidly fill the circle with script...
'...He's so cool. For real.'
Kira grinned without thinking. Mustering courage to save this talented mage? Best decision of her life. Even a fake mage con artist like her had her uses—heaven's grace indeed.
"Whew. Keep going and I'll lose it."
"Quitting?"
"Later."
Unlike her—faking grand mage with pretend faces—Ian spent his time drawing circles, pushing his growth. Watching him eased Kira's heart. Their fateful encounter had saved her life, but fighting Larabel settled the debt. Now she could leave without regrets.
"Ian."
"Yeah?"
"I'm thinking of heading out soon."
"...?"
Mage Kira said her goodbyes.