Shattering the Invisible Waves
I didn't know much because I'd been locked away in that crumbling prison for so long. But whenever the Collodic family held one of their grand festivals, a soft-hearted servant would sometimes let me out. Those were the only moments I could wander outside. I'd sneak out of that mold-infested room and steal some food from the kitchen. Looking back, it's impressive my stomach never rebelled against all that greasy stuff. After scarfing down my pilfered bites, I'd always head straight to the library. No one ever stopped by the library during festival nights. It was the perfect spot to spend time alone, soaking in the quiet peace. Especially since reading books made time fly by. I never properly learned to read, but I could understand spoken words—a perk of my isekai reincarnation, I guess. Thanks to that, even without knowing letters, I could use the 'speaking book spirit' in the library. It looked just like a lamp genie, because of course it did in this fantasy world. I figured it wouldn't help me, but maybe because I carried the Collodic bloodline, the spirit listened well enough. I'd listen as it read books aloud, learning about laws and history. And tucked among that knowledge was a smattering of magic, too.
3rd Circle magic? A 1st Circle spell had the power of a small blade piercing skin. 2nd Circle was like a massive rock smashing down. And 3rd Circle? That was the realm where it could turn an ordinary person into a donut for real.
The academy was mentioned in the books too. They finished covering 3rd Circle understanding by the second year. Only the most brilliant geniuses got into the academy, and even among them, only a rare few skipped a year ahead. So 3rd Circle magic was some rare, village-never-sees-it kind of thing. That's why I hadn't given much thought to the wave I'd smashed earlier. I'd been born without the ability to wield magic, after all. Wasn't that why, the moment I turned nine, they held a funeral for me in age-descending order and left me like this? Someone like me couldn't even see 3rd Circle magic, let alone break it. I'd chalked it up to starvation hallucinations, right on the brink of death after going so long without food.
"Ahng."
Of course, the biggest reason I hadn't dwelled on it was simpler.
My stomach growled at the spilled soup on the floor—it was that empty. Instinct screamed to stuff my mouth right now. So I opened wide again, spoon-sized.
"You're eating well..."
Speredo's words came out halting as he fed me the soup. I recalled my past life as a tough guy, but with shoulders too heavy to shrug it off, I gaped like a baby bird. Couldn't help it; my body was too weak to move. Besides, I wasn't even a guy anymore. Rationalizing it that way eased my mind.
"Mm."
The hearty warmth of the soup sliding down my throat感動ed my stomach. Feels like there's meat in it.
After a good long session of "feed me," my belly finally felt full enough. That's when I noticed something off about Speredo, who was watching me.
"......"
What was with this uncle? He was three times my size, yet he seemed afraid of me. Was I the weird one?
"More?"
Nope, he was definitely scared of me. His hands trembled with every spoonful to my mouth, and he couldn't meet my eyes at all. Unless he had some phobia of little girls, something was wrong for sure.
So, back to that wave from earlier.
3rd Circle magic?
My stomach was comfortably full now. My brain started turning.
Come to think of it, the world had its clichés. Awakening in a near-death crisis was straight out of any old fantasy tale. I chewed my soup thoughtfully and reached a conclusion.
Awakening?
Had I unknowingly grasped the essence of magic in my brush with death? This world was brutally realistic, so I'd shelved such fantasy ideas. But I was a reincarnator, wasn't I? Suddenly, Speredo's weird reaction made sense.
"Hap."
After one more spoonful, my thinking cleared to normal. Holy crap, it felt like I'd awakened to something—magic's core or whatever.
"Sorry to ask while you're eating, but can I?"
Speredo spoke cautiously. I had a good guess what was coming, but I nodded.
And sure enough.
"When you reached out earlier... you know, the magic around me. Did you break it?"
He pulled out the half-shattered necklace and asked. Straight-up: Did you break 3rd Circle magic? I'd dismissed it as absurd before, but now with a full belly, replaying the moment I reached for the wave and it exploded... conviction hit the formerly starving idiot me.
"...Seems like it."
I nodded gravely. A sigh escaped Speredo, followed by his next question.
"How??"
No words on that. I broke the magic, sure, but no clue how. Just reached out, and it shattered. The wave had rippled like it feared me.
"...Yeah. I'm just a knight anyway."
As I pondered, Speredo suddenly self-deprecated out of nowhere. Probably thought my silence was evasion.
"Hmm..."
He rubbed his chin, lost in sudden thought.
"Take her to the countryside...? No, that won't do."
The muttering type when thinking alone. Speredo furrowed his brow in serious concentration, lips moving nonstop.
"Not my domain... someone versed in magic..."
Listening to his quiet mutters, my eyes widened. Right—Speredo was from the Cardia family, the Empire's Eye. Not much info, but they wielded kind influence, pitied abandoned kids like me, and held massive power in the empire.
...More than the Collodic family.
He'd said he'd set me up to live normally in some rural village. Sounded like he wanted to introduce me to his family directly but figured I wasn't worth it.
What if I joined the Cardia family?
My stomach churned into digestion. Possibilities raced through my small head.
Revenge. Against the Collodics who treated me like trash.
And happiness. No more starving, living luxuriously.
Revenge and happiness—a way to grab both.
Like this?
A brilliant idea sparked. At the same time, Speredo's furrowed brow relaxed. He'd decided, wearing a resigned look. Felt like if I didn't act now, it'd be straight to the countryside.
"I—"
So I spoke up. Speredo paused mid-mutter, closed his mouth, and waited.
I swallowed hard and continued.
"Suppose I have magic talent. And I could become a way better mage than average later."
I blinked up at him.
"Countryside might feel kinda... wasteful."
He leaned down. "What would be a waste?"
"Mages are rare. They always earn their keep."
He nodded quietly. "More than knights, even."
I didn't get why he compared to knights, but pressed on.
"And just my thought, but if a knight brought in a mage, wouldn't he get rewarded for bolstering the forces?"
I wanted into the Cardia family. Dead or alive, I'd go and make something happen. Whether to fuel my rage at the Collodics or just climb high and loaf around.
Staying put solved nothing.
Speredo's brow twitched. His face hardened, then softened. He chuckled in disbelief.
"Are you saying this now 'cause you're scared I'll ship you off to the countryside right away?"
Nailed it. I nodded.
He shook his head. "I wasn't thinking that. Something else."
His expression firmed, resolute. He'd decided.
"Wondering how to report what I saw so the Cardia family takes it seriously."
"??"
Didn't get it. How to make them notice?
"In other words, figuring out how to show you to the family mages."
Speredo planned to present me—a nobody—to the Cardia mega-corp equivalent. I got it right.
He was a family knight, but clearly lower-status than core members. Like you can't just chat with the Samsung CEO 'cause you work there.
"Originally, my mission was to drop you in the countryside by spring."
He scratched his head, then offered a fist. Grinned helplessly.
"But reporting what you did properly seems more important."
He opened his hand. The half-broken necklace.
"That place is scary to visit without solid grounds."
Now an intact one appeared in his palm.
"Need some certainty."
He donned it. A soft glow shimmered, waves forming around him again.
"Ordinary folks like me can't see this protection magic. If the necklace hadn't broken, I wouldn't have known it shattered."
Bitter smile.
"A realm unreachable in a lifetime for most."
Speredo grinned, flicked the necklace, and stared.
"So, what do you see?"
What I saw? Elegant, rippling transparent waves. The unknown I'd never seen, thought I'd never see.
"That's invisible to me."
He hesitated, then asked.
"Can you break it?"
Like before. He said it lingering like an afterimage, hands behind back.
He wanted certainty.
Honestly, still no idea how.
But I knew what to do. I reached out like before.
And any worry it'd fail? Pointless.
The waves thrashed wildly. Static-like tingle at my fingertips again.
Got it.
I pushed with force—and in a flash.
Crack!
Like fireworks blooming, the waves shattered. No—the 3rd Circle protection magic scattered into the air.
With a single gesture.