Aila Pavria 2
Licht didn't look back. Leaving the dazed Aila behind, he headed toward the annex. Sebrik and Lena, who had been gauging the moment, followed suit. Even the noble daughter of House Pavria couldn't rank above their master, Licht.
Three days had passed since she departed.
Licht had cut back on his sword training. It wasn't intentional. The moment he delved into the world of magic, insights flooded in as if they'd been waiting. Insights as profound as when he'd first learned Circle Magic. Thanks to them, his progress was lightning-fast.
Manipulating mana like an extension of his limbs—things he'd taken for granted. He knew without consulting books.
Aura Blade.
A feat possible only from the pinnacle of Sword Expert. Licht had only managed it after weaving his five circles. It involved emitting atmospheric mana as pure particles of light—that was how he wielded Circle Magic. He fired high-density, ultra-pure mana in the form of a sword aura.
The technique he'd dubbed Mana Blade rivaled a Swordmaster's Aura Blade.
But.
That's all it is.
He couldn't adapt mana into other forms. All that remained was raw destructive power. That had been the ideal his past self pursued. He hadn't sought anything beyond it then.
Now was different. He needed more than that ideal.
"Young master, this is tea brewed from mone flower petals. It's not long steeped, but I thought you might enjoy the flavor."
Sebrik tilted the pot with dignified poise. The deeply infused tea filled the cup.
Licht reached for the cup but paused, extending his hand toward it instead.
"Sugar...?"
"Mone petals give a fine aroma, but the aftertaste is a touch bitter. A bit of sugar would be better."
"You never used it before. You said artificial sweetness was distasteful."
"Did I?"
"Yes, until just recently, you avoided it..."
Sebrik trailed off.
The incident where Licht had stormed the main house and turned it upside down. It was such a massive scandal that it reached the two servants' ears in no time—via the maids and servants sent by the head butler himself with food supplies and necessities to the annex.
He has changed abruptly, that's certain.
At first, they hadn't believed it. The head butler wasn't one to hand over supplies so readily. But now, they had to accept it. Thinking back, the main house servants hovering awkwardly in front of the annex that day had acted strangely. Men whose pride pierced the heavens under the banner of Barbalte retainers.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
"Nothing, young master. Seeing you so composed just reminded me of the madam for a moment..."
"Mention her tears again, and I'll pour this tea in your face."
"......"
Sebrik's lips pressed shut at the stern warning. Licht slowly lifted the cup. Not scalding hot, but pleasantly warm—not lukewarm. Peering inside, he saw his reflection shimmering on the tea's surface.
Freezing magic.
He channeled imaged mana into the tea. Crackle— it froze from within. The tea rapidly cooled. Tiny ice chunks refracted in the liquid. A gentle shake produced a crisp tinkling as they clinked against the cup.
In this regard, aura couldn't compare for convenience. It made his past stubbornness feel a bit foolish.
My progress is absurdly fast.
Silent casting. No need for gestures or incantations. Mana manifested reality from mere imagination. Growth had been swift right after mastering Circle Magic, but now it was even more so.
Should have started sooner.
He'd tried nearly every attribute magic. All that remained was waiting to weave the next circle. His mana control had long surpassed human limits.
Sebrik, watching quietly, widened his eyes.
"What was that just now...?"
"Iced isn't bad either. The aroma fades a bit, though."
Licht took a sip as is. The cold chill followed by the unique mone flower taste wasn't unpleasant. The sugar dulled the bitterness.
It was teatime right after a light breakfast. Licht set down his cup and asked, "Where's Lena?"
"You mean Lena?"
"Haven't seen her since earlier."
"Probably in the kitchen."
"The kitchen? She should be chattering nonstop out front by now..."
Licht's words cut off abruptly. His honed senses had caught someone. Three people within detection range—now four with the newcomer.
In this remote annex where no one tread, only one person would visit unannounced.
"What's wrong?"
"...Lena can handle it. I gave her instructions."
Doesn't she ever get tired?
Aila Pavria had been visiting the annex every morning since that day. Even Licht had to shake his head at her persistence. Sending her away politely via Sebrik and Lena did nothing—she returned the next day as if nothing happened. At this point, it felt like a silent protest.
Licht fiddled with his cup, then dismissed it.
She can't stay forever. She'll leave soon enough.
Whether tiring of her own accord or summoned back to Pavria manor. To Licht, Aila Pavria was just another person. As she'd been in the past, and as she was now.
He felt no need to force a connection.
Though I do need a sword.
That was when it happened.
"No, milady! The young master said no visitors..."
"Let go! I need to see that smug face of his!"
The voices echoed from the corridor. A loud bang followed as the door flew open.
"...No manners. Is that how they raise them in House Pavria?"
"Shut up. All talk and no bite. Do you know how much I've put up with?"
No honorifics between them. Cascading silver hair and blue eyes. Her outfit differed from last time—not a elegant dress fit for a banquet, but a pure white robe emblazoned with a mage tower emblem. The hood was pushed back, her gaze on Licht piercingly blue.
Barte's faction.
Golden embroidery like a crest adorned the white robe. Licht knew it well. El Sion, the magic city-state. A sovereign nation where even the Orkin Empire yielded in sorcery. Amid countless factions, Barte's had formed alongside El Sion's founding, boasting the deepest history—the city's premier school.
The bribes to get one child apprenticed there...
A hexagram over the emblem. Not just any Barte mage, but a direct disciple of an elder.
She strode forward boldly.
"I've never been treated like this anywhere."
"Want VIP treatment? Go to the main house. Plenty of servants there to fawn over you."
"Are you doing this on purpose, or are you serious?"
She pulled out the chair opposite Licht with natural ease, ignoring Sebrik's flustered face.
Mask off, and what a sight. Her true colors?
The prior poise was gone. No pretense at all. Before, she'd seemed a sheltered noble flower; now, she exuded the vibe of a brash, no-nonsense woman. The contrast was oddly appealing.
Licht drained the last of his tea and set the cup down slowly.
"Y-Young master, um, that is..."
"You've learned Circle Magic, haven't you?"
She cut straight to it, no beating around the bush. Licht sighed faintly and dismissed Sebrik and Lena. It was a meeting with Aila Pavria. With his order given, they had no reason to stay.
"...And?"
"Since when? Barbalte's second son wielding Circle Magic..."
"None of your business."
"We just met, but I can tell. Feels like 1st Circle, but weirdly stable..."
"......"
"Are you even human? This doesn't make sense."
Aila eyed Licht with drooping lids, just like before, staring intently at his chest.
"I heard everything. You took down not just Cliff but several knights on your way to the main house. Incapacitating multiple Sword Runners in one strike is one thing, but how'd you beat Sir Bail? He's a Sword Expert. Word's spread all over the main house."
"Has nothing to do with you."
"How do you even do that with 1st Circle...?"
"Say your piece and go. We're not here for chit-chat."
Licht shoved the cup aside, fatigue lacing his voice.
Time's wasting.
Every moment here grated. Swinging a sword would be more productive. But Aila Pavria's shameless daily visits were relentless.
"You sure you wanna play it like this?"
"......"
"Before our duel even happens next month, the whole kingdom might hear. That Barbalte's second son, who couldn't awaken aura for seventeen years, secretly mastered Circle Magic..."
Now resorting to threats. Licht let out a disbelieving scoff.
"Blackmail, is it?"
"That how it sounded?"
"Do it if you want. Your call."
"...For real?"
"But you'll pay the price."
"Gonna kill me?"
"Think I can't?"
Aila snorted dismissively.
"What circle do I look to you?"
"4th Circle."
"Not just any 4th. I can weave another in half a year."
"That's exactly why it's laughable."
"...What?"
"Don't strut around with your meager achievements, you hack."
Half in earnest, the words made Aila's eyes widen.
Aila Pavria. No deep ties in his past life, but he knew of her. Before El Sion fell to Orkin, she'd fought as a 6th Circle mage of Barte's faction, or so he'd heard.
Probably died after.
No further rumors, so likely. Weaving six circles at an age matching his own was remarkable. Across the continent, few talents rivaled hers. The world rightly called her a genius.
By Licht's standards, though, she was utterly ordinary—a hack.
Aila furrowed her brow.
"I came to help, and you twist everything..."
"Help?"
"Yeah. That guy's a Sword User on the cusp of Expert... I know you're decent with a blade, but you'll lose if you get cocky."
"Why would Evan's fiancée help me?"
"...You really don't know?"
She asked with genuine curiosity. He'd half-expected it. Her demeanor in the dining hall screamed it—like two actors in masks. A political marriage between great houses like Barbalte and Pavria demanded such performances. A ducal house's shadow wasn't easily shaken.
She smoothed her robes with slender fingers and replied.
"You knew and asked anyway. You're a real jerk."
"What's your point?"
"I'll teach you."
"What?"
"Magic. You know swords, but magic? I'm a direct disciple of Barte's elder. I can cast not just common spells but unique ones too."
Aila puffed out her chest proudly. Her confidence shone through. With that talent and eyeing 5th Circle at seventeen—like him—she had reason.
But.
"Can't see why. Just bad blood with Evan?"
It didn't add up. She answered with exasperation.
"Need more reason? I wanna see that creep, who gropes his maids daily, get humiliated in defeat. ...And if you win big, maybe I can use it to break the engagement."
"That's the real motive."
"...So, you in or not?"
"Eh."
Luke-warm response. She scowled instinctively, raising her right hand slightly.
"You don't believe me. My skills."
"......"
"Fine, watch."
The words barely left her when mana gathered above her hand like a magnet. Invisible, but vividly felt. It condensed to a point, then crimson flames bloomed atop it. Simultaneously, water surged, coiling around the fire.
Dual incantation?
Dual cast with attribute fusion. A feat few high 5th Circle mages dared. He was mildly impressed. Noticing, she grinned at him.
"See? Even you, walking the path of magic, know I'm better than most high mages. This proves I'm qualified to—"
"You're misunderstanding something."
The surprise was fleeting. Regaining composure, Licht pointed his right hand at her palm.
"You're not the teacher."
"Wh-what...?"
Mana churned. The dual attribute spell wavered unstably.
"I am."
In that instant, pure white flames erupted. Horror flashed across her face as control of the spell was snatched away.