Aila Pavria 3
Aila Pavria was one of the gifted. Even carrying the name of the Pavria Duke family—one of only three in the kingdom. At the tender age of seventeen, she already had four circles. She wasn't far from weaving one more to become a 5th Circle high mage. It was easy to imagine how she'd lived her life until now. A beautiful appearance matched by fitting magical talent. Her family's prestige would only make it all shine brighter. With no family discord, it was clear how much the Pavria Duke cherished her. That made it all the harder to accept.
"Liar...."
The words slipped out in a mutter. The blazing white flames melted away into empty air. Her voice had lost its strength, as if she'd lost her mind.
Barte's Mage Tower wasn't a place just anyone could enter. It went beyond mere money. Connections might get you in the door, but without the talent to back it up, you'd be out on your own accord soon enough. At least, that was the atmosphere in Barte's Tower itself.
The disciple of an elder.
A few names came to mind. There were only two 7th Circle mages from the magic city of El Sion. One was the head of Barte's Elder Council, and the other was Schult Markersy, one of the elders.
He took exactly one disciple.
Schult Markersy was an eccentric who'd never taken a disciple in his life—until, for some reason, he did in his later years. The council head couldn't officially take disciples, making Schult the only available 7th Circle mage for it. Licht, who'd been puzzled at first, understood upon seeing her. Aila had talent worthy of it. Becoming the direct disciple of an elder was an immense honor. Rich merchants poured fortunes every year just to get their own children in, tripping over themselves. The opulent mage tower itself was proof enough.
"You!"
She'd somehow gathered her emotions, her face now a bit flushed as she shouted.
"What trick did you pull? There's no way you could interfere with my magic using just one circle otherwise!"
"You're saying the same thing. Calling him 'that guy' one minute, then soulmates the next?"
"Seriously...!"
A rainbow of emotions played across her face. Aila scowled fiercely, then shoved her chair back.
"Fine, you're so great. Go do it all yourself. Sword, magic, whatever you want."
"......"
"Jerk. I feel stupid for even worrying about you."
She kicked off from her seat, turning to leave.
"Sit down," Licht said.
Her body froze mid-turn. She whipped her head around, glaring at him with clear displeasure.
"You...."
"I wasn't done talking."
"No way. Who are you to order me around?"
"5th Circle."
Her body gave a small shudder at his curt words. She was trying not to show it, but it was plain as day to Licht.
"You lied. Half a year to 5th Circle? Try a year at least."
He spoke softly. Those were her own confident words from moments ago. The dual incantation and attribute fusion had surprised him a bit, but there was one lie.
Half a year?
Absurd. Even a year was optimistic—the bare minimum. Generously, it should be three years. Reaching 5th Circle at twenty—the benchmark for high mage—was impressive in itself.
She's in a rush.
Like jumping from Sword User to Sword Expert. The wall between 4th and 5th Circle was thicker than from 1st to 4th. That was why 5th Circle defined a high mage. To Aila right now, three years must feel like an eternity. The current council head—the youngest ever 5th Circle mage—had broken through at eighteen. At seventeen, she'd rewrite history.
She sank back into her seat, muttering.
"...So what do you want to say?"
"I'll help you."
"What?"
"5th Circle."
"......"
"If you want, I'll weave the circle for you."
Suspicion flickered in her eyes only briefly. Staring intently at Licht, her expression soon turned serious.
It's easy.
Interfere with mana to weave a circle around someone else's heart. It could go wrong and turn her into a vegetable, but he wasn't worried. He had experience with eight circles. This would be easier, not harder. Just wrap and contain the mana.
With her mind made up, she spoke.
"...How can I believe that?"
"If you can't believe it even after seeing, that's on you. You're the one who loses out, not me."
"...I've never heard of anyone weaving a circle for someone else."
"Have you ever seen someone interfere with a 4th Circle mage's spell using one circle? If you won't think it through, leave. You've wasted my time."
Licht closed his eyes. An odd silence stretched between the table.
Aila broke first.
"...What do you want? You're not the type to do it for free."
She was hooked. Noblewoman through and through. With the title of youngest 5th Circle high mage dangling before her, she couldn't stay calm. Outwardly composed, but inwardly a mess.
Licht cracked his eyes open slightly.
"A sword."
"A sword?"
"I won't ask for solarilium or lunarilium. Just something sturdy, with high mana conductivity. No fancy ceremonial ones. They're flashy garbage."
"Don't you have a sword?"
"No. Not a single one."
"Then how'd you get to the main house last time?"
"You count a disposable training sword as armament?"
Licht shot back. The training sword from Lena, and the one he'd "borrowed" from the gate knight at the main house. One was dulled beyond use; the other returned to its owner. Training swords weren't built to last. With three or more circles, he'd break them after a few uses. He needed something to withstand his mana at least until the duel in a month.
"Custom orders take too long. And I'm a mage? No blacksmith contacts."
"Auction."
"......?"
"Alpen's secret auction house in the capital. You can find one there."
Off-the-shelf wouldn't cut it. To get the quality he wanted, he'd need a skilled smith, but he knew none—and time was short. An auction would have it. Cold weapons, magic tools, ancient relics—anything went, if you had the coin.
"You... you're not asking me to pay for it, right?"
Her voice dripped disbelief.
"I don't have a penny."
"So... use my own money...."
She trailed off, blinking repeatedly. She knew the prices at secret auctions. But Licht wasn't proposing blindly. House Pavria was notoriously wealthy. Mana stone mines aplenty in their territory. She'd have saved plenty from her allowance alone.
She'll spend it all.
He planned to bleed her dry. Even enough to buy a whole mansion in the capital's 1st District? Fine by him.
"So, deal?"
"......"
Aila squeezed her eyes shut in thought. They reopened quickly.
"Do it now."
"...Now?"
"Prepayment. If you really make me 5th Circle, I'll buy the sword even if it empties my coffers. I swear."
"Impatient one."
"Backing out? You brought it up first. Anyway... how? Weave it directly with mana for me?"
Weaving grew harder with each new circle. You had to slot it in without clashing with the existing ones. Overlaying mana atop four spinning around her heart wasn't easy. Insight. And a body to endure it. Aila lacked the insight; Licht had bodies that failed under multiple circles. Balance was key. But he could give her a nudge to speed it up.
"I'll weave the circle myself. Stabilizing it after is on you."
"...What if it fails?"
"You die. Why ask the obvious?"
"......"
"No need to worry. Unless you're a monkey, it won't fail."
Aila eyed him dubiously. He'd never attempt it on a mere 4th Circle. She was near 5th with the talent to match—that made it possible.
Licht rose and approached. As he drew near, Aila tensed, body stiffening.
"Relax. And don't make a sound."
"...I won't."
He stood behind her, placing a hand on her back. The soft robe's texture met his fingers. He drew mana, spun it through his circle, and slowly pushed it in.
"Eek...."
"Quiet. I need to focus."
"No, you... Hic!"
She yelped reflexively, clapping a hand over her mouth. He was refining ambient mana through his circle before inserting it. Pure, alien mana flooding her channels for the first time—such a reaction was inevitable.
Slowly.
Eyes closed, Licht fine-tuned his senses. Vision blocked, mana flows sharpened. He overlaid it atop the four slowly rotating circles. His will shaped it into a perfect ring. It settled between them without tangling, linking seamlessly. Licht withdrew his mana gradually. The fifth circle began its lazy orbit.
"Ah...."
Aila exhaled long. Her hunched back straightened. Her vacant stare at the air lacked focus, eyes glazed like she'd been dazed.
Done.
Her presence had shifted. 5th Circle. The new ring was stabilizing. Aila savored the new realm, gazing into space. Licht glanced at her once, then turned toward the door, muttering inwardly.
Second circle.
It was time. 2nd Circle. His body could handle a second now.
***
In a dark room, Evan's exclusive knight, Bail Crane, was sharpening his blade. Moonlight gleamed off the edge, sharp enough to kill.
"That bastard...."
He spat the words like chewing gravel, mechanically honing the steel. Since that day, rumors had spread like wildfire. Too many witnesses. The mansion servants had all seen the bastard plow through the knights alone toward the dining hall. Bail's reputation was in the dirt. At thirty, he'd reached Sword Expert and been appointed the Barbalte heir's exclusive knight—the fall hit harder.
A suppressed curse burst from his lips as he worked the whetstone.
"Damn... damn bastard...!"
If not for him. Yielding to a greenhorn who couldn't even awaken aura until recently. Absurd. The sniveling servants and other knights now ignored him. Some even said he'd lost Lady Amella's favor.
"Idiots who don't know shit flapping their mouths...."
To top it off, weird rumors swirled. Aila Pavria—the lady guest staying in the main house—was heading to the remote annex daily.
"I'd take one of that bastard's arms...."
Rage fueled his grinding hand. Evan's words from before echoed in his head. The blade was now razor-keen; just touching it drew blood.
Knock knock.
A knock from beyond the door. Bail ignored it. The door opened anyway, revealing a butler he knew well.
"...Hern. I said no one enters without permission."
"My apologies."
"You too... you think I'm a pushover?"
Hern showed no reaction to the menacing glare.
"Lady Amella summons you."
Bail's eyes widened.
"Lady Amella summons me?"
"Yes. She said it's urgent."
Bail glanced out the window. Dim moonlight blanketed the late hour. Only one reason to call now.
"As expected... she hasn't abandoned me yet."
"......"
"I'm going right now. Lead the way."