Maness Remains Silent
Maness couldn't answer. It wasn't just because silence was his only way out. At least this time, finding an appropriate response was impossible in the first place.
The egg of a famulus, stored in a warehouse deep within the Library of Memories, accessible only to those who ventured farther in. Even if the continent's top advocate were brought in, no excuse could justify possessing it.
"Brings back old memories."
Merhen savored the resistance from the egg, transmitted through his mana.
"The first thing I researched when I entered the towers at my advanced age was familiars. That... what's his name? There's a professor named Hiteri Solik at Snowrobe, right?"
"He is."
"With that guy. Sharp-eyed fellow, wasn't he? Wonder if he's mellowed out by now?"
This cleared up the mystery. Why Merhen and Hiteri Solik had noticed the egg's presence. Why Almond hadn't mentioned that Hiteri had caught on. There was something only those who delved into familiar research could sense. Or perhaps those who had directly experienced a familiar.
With the young mage showing no sign of responding, Merhen returned the egg he held with his mana. The discomfort of the being inside the egg grew even thicker.
"If it's hard to explain your circumstances, that's fine. I'm not trying to torment you; I'm just purely curious."
"...Thank you for your consideration."
"It was stored in a place I know, but it's been a while since I checked there, so something must have happened."
The owner of the familiar quietly waited as Merhen blinked his eyes wide a couple of times, organizing his thoughts. The elder who had noticed smiled warmly, showing consideration for the young mage.
"You can go now. The other students are waiting over there."
"I hope you have an enjoyable conversation, Elder."
Merhen's gaze followed the promising student's retreating back as he offered a final greeting and quickly rejoined his peers.
"Just one question."
"Yes."
"I know first-years touring the Magic Tower is unusual, but what's the story with that kid?"
Almond paused briefly at the question. How to phrase it so her intent came across properly. The deliberation didn't take long.
"He has aspects that burden me."
"...Burden you?"
Merhen stroked his beard, signaling he was ready to listen intently.
"Learning is like adaptation, isn't it? Teach one thing, and the student interprets it through their own lens."
"True enough."
"The best approach is to leave the path open. Forcing learning is impossible—and shouldn't be allowed."
Almond leaned back against the chair, crossing her arms—a gesture she made when pondering deeply.
"That's perfect up to that point."
"Then comes the next part."
A short sigh escaped into the conversation.
"The hardest type. The ones who take one lesson and branch out even further. In short, those with exceptional potential."
Everything has stages. One, two, three. This is especially evident in organic relationships. But when that structure falters, balance collapses. Just like the students currently at the Magic Tower.
They had left school temporarily because their level far surpassed their classmates. They had shifted their place of learning. To somewhere broader.
"If they understand three things from one lesson, it becomes a problem. You have to adjust what to teach next, calibrate the level accordingly."
Merhen nodded quietly. He had been giving lectures at the towers recently, so he could relate.
"And if they ascend to a higher realm on their own, the time comes when they no longer need teaching."
"Early graduation?"
"Not quite. As you know, Snowrobe doesn't just teach magic. Some students focus more on the relationships formed within the grounds than on magic itself."
Almond paused. She had to broach a delicate topic.
"And students like that need to be kept at school."
"Kept?"
"Because if their talents veer off course, it becomes unstoppable."
Who she meant was clear. Merhen knew exactly.
"Row, you mean."
The student hailed as one who would write new history in the magic world. The promising talent picked as Snowrobe's greatest in history had rejected shining on his own.
"My memory's fuzzy, but how did that guy end up like that?"
"I don't know the details. But I clearly remember what I heard after he graduated."
Almond gently closed her eyes, recalling that memory. The voice seemed to echo in her ears right then.
"I'll be the fertilizer for humans who surpass limits."
It made no sense at all. The occasional glimpses of gloom when he vaguely mentioned his future were the only clues to understanding him. Almond felt that mystery had been solved today.
"I think the 'human who surpasses limits' that Row mentioned is that student, Maness."
"Why's that?"
"Something happened today."
Almond briefly recounted the events: Maness's exploits, the assassins' attack, Row's appearance. As she described the scene seen through the magic tool, Merhen's expression hardened.
"Fertilizer, huh..."
The elder took a deep breath and scanned the surroundings. Mages openly displaying their emotions. The Magic Tower, accessible only to those who dreamed of bright futures, was like the night sky. Every mage a star. Row had shone even brighter.
"His magical talent?"
"Illusion magic."
"Well, damn. That's trouble."
Merhen, aware of illusion magic's potential, could only let out a hollow chuckle.
"First since Metaph?"
"Yes. If you look at the cycle of mages showing talent in illusions, it's quick."
This was another delicate topic, so Almond took a brief pause.
"Metaph was the anomaly. Maness's mother was..."
She couldn't finish. It was taboo.
"...from the Pictri family."
Merhen recalled his own introductions. The very last one, the white-haired student.
Maness Pictri. Child of a mage whose name was taboo even to utter.
"He actually got in."
"Most mages know it was an accident. Especially at Snowrobe, where Metaph is a professor."
"Still hasn't gotten over losing his mentor?"
This time, Almond nodded faintly.
"Poor kid."
Almond drew a line at the elder's pity. This was as far as she'd share. Anything more required investigation or was Maness's own story. The connection between Row's talk of demons and Maness. For her student's sake, silence was proper.
"Still, it'll work out, won't it?"
Merhen shook off his sympathy for the junior mage and returned to his usual demeanor.
"No matter how willful familiars are, they don't serve villains. Guide him right, and he'll become a great man."
"...Hearing that eases my mind."
"More importantly..."
The grand mage's eyes narrowed slyly.
"Since you're here, you should take the rank exam, right? How long are you planning to hold onto 5th rank?"
Almond hadn't expected it. To face this hassle so abruptly.
*
The guest room wasn't much different from Snowrobe's dorms. Structurally, at least—the scale was so vast comparing them would be rude. Exaggerating a bit, it would take a hundred steps to cross the hall.
"Rooms 1 through 5 on the fourth floor."
Under the guidance of a person who could be either a mage or civilian without their robe, the students climbed the stairs. As a building for guests, few passersby wore robes. Those who did were likely tower mages visiting staff.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, Roen distributed cards etched with magic circles, one per student. Room 5. Pressing the magic-circle side against the door of the end room as instructed, it opened magically, inviting the guest inside.
A spacious room with all the basics, nothing fancy. Far better than Maness had expected for a mere tour. Not lavish like for VIPs, but compared to school dorms, it rivaled a noble's mansion.
"...Let's rest first."
After roughly unpacking clothes and gear, lying on the bed melted his tension away. From school to the tower. The short journey let his body scream in relief.
It hadn't been ordinary. He'd thought just riding the carriage would suffice, but reality was harsh. He'd anticipated a semi-magical ambush but expected it to end at Almond's intervention. Recalling the near-death ordeal made the half-day feel endless.
Knock knock. The sound scraped at Maness's nerves as he prepared to drift off. Ignoring it didn't work; the persistent intruder seemed unlikely to give up.
Knock knock knock. Sighing deeply, Maness rose and strode to the door.
Click. The door swung open forcefully, revealing a familiar yet tiresome face.
"What're you doing? Already bedtime?"
"...You know what happened today."
"C'mon, it's our first day at the Magic Tower—gotta sightsee! Time is money."
Maness leaned an elbow on the wall, running a hand through his hair, unable to argue. He was tired, but wasting the first day here felt regrettable. Without a clear return date, every minute counted toward growth.
"Got a destination?"
"Travel's about wandering aimlessly for inspiration."
He wanted to smack the smug face boasting with hands on hips, but couldn't. It aligned with his own views.
"Fine..."
Calculating his remaining stamina, Maness returned inside, tidied his hair, grabbed fresh clothes, and changed.
Worst case, overwork collapse—with helpers around, no worries.
"Alright, let's go."
Locking the door with the card and heading for the stairs, Maness's steps halted.
"Not going?"
"Wouldn't it be good if... your senior came too?"
Boltman, pondering, glanced at room 3. The second-year's quarters. Maness gaped at the suggestion.
"She obviously doesn't vibe with us—you nuts? What kinda grief you want?"
"But getting close now would be nice. I peeked earlier; the other seniors headed out already."
"Well..."
Getting close would be good. Not wrong.
"True."
Worried at his friend's unusually agreeable streak—maybe bad carriage food en route? Or silent pressure from seniors? Unlikely either way.
As Boltman alternated glances between him and room 3, Maness sighed and approached the door.
"You're making me sigh nonstop, slacker. If she refuses, that's it."
At room 3, Maness cleared his throat lightly and knocked carefully.
Knock. Knock. What to say first? Before he could decide, the door flew open swiftly.
"......"
"......"
Caught off-guard, words failed. This speed implied pacing outside or rushing at the knock—latter unlikely. The second-year promising student still exuded a cold aura.
"Uh, what."
Scratching his weary, sluggish head, Maness tossed out a vague question.
"Got plans?"
Overly curt. Could get him dismissed as crazy. For Maness Pictri, even more loaded. On the verge of dejection—
"...Wanna go out together?"
An unexpectedly warm voice welcomed him. Maness blinked, then managed a reply.
"Sure, that'd be great."
Clueless about the exchange.