Lesson (2)
Marcelo Simuard. A genius coveted even by the demon king who parasitized the Simuard family. Nothing could block the path of his innate talent.
Rumors like this circulated among the continent's mage families.
"They say he's one of the top geniuses in Simuard..."
"Indeed, his talent isn't confined to the family!"
"He could aim for a senior position in the Mage Tower."
Those from mage families knew better than anyone what the Mage Tower was like. Yet they rated him capable not just of entering but of claiming a senior seat. No one refuted it as exaggeration. It couldn't be helped.
"To think a boy like this has mastered the magic of all twenty major factions to intermediate level!"
At around thirteen years old, Marcelo could freely cast the mainstream magic of the twenty factions that upheld the Mage Tower, up to intermediate proficiency. There was no way such a Marcelo would be barred from entering the tower.
"Is that frail boy really a Simuard?"
"Oh ho."
"Apprentice mages drawing chit-chat like this? Quite the unfamiliar reactions."
In the Mage Tower, apprentices were treated like fledglings. They couldn't join factions or prove their worth. But Marcelo was the exception. Even as an apprentice, he drew the sharp gazes of countless seniors.
'Incomparable talent.''Coveted, yet dangerous.''...He might even threaten my own position.'
An apprentice drawing checks from seniors? Unimaginable in the past or present. No, unprecedented in Mage Tower history.
Some even sighed in relief.
"We should be grateful he's not our generation."
No matter how outstanding the talent, the Mage Tower was no easy place. Even if Marcelo could threaten their seats, it would take considerable time.
Of course, such complacency...
"...Simuard passed the preliminary verification?"
"He hasn't even chosen a faction yet?"
"Don't tell me he finished his research as an apprentice!"
...vanished. From apprentice to proficient, as if he'd only been waiting for promotion. Thanks to Marcelo passing verification and presenting at the regular conference, but from that point, he became a rival to the seniors.
"It depends on which faction he chooses."
"One of us will lose our seat."
"This is absurd..."
However. Marcelo exceeded predictions once more. He didn't choose—he created.
Theory of Magic.
A entirely new faction, hailed for changing magic's history.
After that, it unfolded as known. Theory of Magic advanced all magic by a step, and Marcelo's功 was recognized: promoted to senior mage, then surpassing prime candidate Matis Din Karl to claim chief.
The youngest chief for the greatest achievement.
That day, Marcelo attended the roundtable as chief. He met the Tower Master for the first time. And faced.
"Hm, you look far too frail to bear the weight of chief. It's not too late. How about returning to senior and tending that body first?"
"...!"
The 'wall' that first blocked his path.
The Tower Master was harsh only to Marcelo. Even before Theory of Magic, his attitude never wavered.
"Magic isn't something to unravel with mere writing, little one."
"That's what Theory of Magic enables. And as an adult well past majority, I request you refrain from calling me 'little one'."
"Is that so. Understood, little chief Marcelo."
"......"
The Tower Master nitpicked Marcelo relentlessly. If the rest of the tower didn't know Marcelo's talent—save the Tower Master—it would have been insult enough to make him abandon chief.
Yugweed swallowed a laugh at the sight.
"To think even the Tower Master has such a twisted side."
Including herself. All mages deviated from normalcy. As said, it applied to Marcelo too. Simply put...
The Tower Master and Marcelo were twisted only toward each other.
"Do you know? That's called nitpicking."
"Insolent, little chief."
"Rearranging words doesn't change the meaning."
"Understood, chief little one."
"......"
No one could imagine. In the world's Mage Tower, atop the highest floor, the Tower Master and chief exchanging such childish banter.
Yet the two parallel lines, seemingly never to meet, suddenly—one-sidedly—severed one day.
"...Tower Master?"
Like a larva curled in a cocoon. The Tower Master trapped himself in a mana sphere.
No one's doing.
"Definitely the Tower Master's mana trace."
The Tower Master did it himself. Marcelo couldn't understand. Couldn't accept. The sole wall blocking him—the Tower Master—now crumbled not by his hand.
But time is medicine, they say. Years passed, and Marcelo finally admitted.
"I was ignorant."
The Tower Master had precisely seen his—and Theory of Magic's—shortcomings.
Recalling talks with the Tower Master, Marcelo advanced Theory further. Awaiting the day to meet again, to prove himself...
......
I realize once more.
'Mages are all insanely unhinged!'
Marcelo's respect for the Tower Master wasn't simple. Simply put. A twisted desire to defeat him—with his own hands. Boiled down to one word: ambivalence...
"Forgive me for following without word, sir."
No need for apologies, Marcelo. As always said, more reinforcements are better. Just that conscience limits dragging them along. Amid flailing and foam-clogged struggles, wasn't I caught in hellish difficulty?
'Truthfully, I'd love to call total mobilization.'
From grand alliances to Lion Heart Knights. Craving solid backup. But even now, few—Tower Master aside—would survive facing him. Players? Total wipe.
'Of course, Jessie excepted.'
His disciple, favoritism-showered Jessie treated like side dish—exempt. Marcelo joins, but no worry for him. Talent aside, I saw it first-hand.
"I'll take responsibility post-return via procedure. But I have irrefutable reason. The story just shared."
Such zealous Marcelo. Emotions seep even through telepathy?
I nodded.
"Understood, Marcelo."
With Marcelo joined. No longer just Jessie's lesson. Me peeking over shoulder at grand mage magic. Marcelo proving growth to Tower Master. Each with motives, a tangled battlefield.
"Apprentice mage Jessie Haynes."
"Yes! Listening, Chief Marcelo!"
"I seek your consent too."
"Ah, yes! Fine! No idea what, but!"
I hadn't revealed the grand mage's identity precisely. Thus. Jessie assumes Marcelo connected to grand mage. Marcelo same boat.
'Hasn't realized Tower Master's unconscious.'
......Wait, does he even know Tower Master is the grand mage? Predecessors' identities unknown implies low chance. Jessie adventurer, rare known case.
'Tangled tight.'
I swallowed a sigh first.
'Again, only I burdened.'
Ignorance bliss hits hard...
"Wow, all illusion magic?!"
Jessie truly thinks it's lesson. "Long reunion, yet no reply."
Marcelo addresses Tower Master's shell. Only I know full tangle. Grave situation.
But can't show. Beyond Grandfell's pride. No gap given anyway.
The Tower Master's body appears.
"!"
Appearance message. Simple: previews till now. Illusion landscape fades. Converts to pure mana. Then ignites.
Marcelo grits teeth.
"Truly oblivious to situation, are you."
Theory of Magic founder. Systematized all mainstream magic theoretically. Naturally grasps counters best.
Marcelo erects water barrier instantly.
"Fire countered by water...!"
Jessie says, but. Not simple magic. Interference process equals three high magics simultaneous.
Szzzzz—!
Still insufficient. Water superior to fire only at matched levels. All-devouring blaze evaporates even water.
"Tch."
Such from Marcelo? Rare sight. Can't spectate arms-crossed forever. Confirms: Tower Master's body rampaging.
"Excessive."
Disparity from separated mind-body. 'Interference unimaginable.'
Tower Master couldn't perfect either. Mind left arrangements irrelevant. Body rampages blindly.
No longer lesson. Words fixed.
"As chief, I cannot approve this lesson."
......Bold opener. But Marcelo's countered magic crushed. Even First World Tree's Blessing—magic alone may fail. Opponent has circles too.
Full sincerity from start. Prepare ki manifestation. Reversal magic most efficient.
But reversing attribute returns pure mana. 'Tower Master interferes again.'
Infinite mana? No. Such consumption burdens body. Illusion to flame: top mana-drainers.
'Do good deed?'
To fell grand mage: precise. My regen max with blessing. Mana superiority.
Then.
"...!"
"...Huh?"
Marcelo, Jessie freeze. No emotion, no mind from Tower Master's body— anomaly detected. Blood trickles Tower Master's lips.
Experienced, realized? Jessie looks: "Surely mana exhaustion...?"
Meteor Strike, illusion, flames continuous. Body fine? Unconscionable. Declare coldly here. Tower Master, your plan. Utter failure.
"I cannot accept."
Twisted admiration. But Marcelo respected Tower Master. Sole to pierce his flaws.
"What reason...?"
Marcelo's pupils shake. Thought acceptance near. But Tower Master no longer he knew.
I spoke.
"Jessie Haynes."
"Yes, listening!"
"Regrettable news."
"...Ah, was about to say too!"
No voice from pointed hat. Jessie relays. Instinct: something inside hat.
But fine. Wound-only lesson ends here. Continued.
"Your lesson ends here."
"Yes! Accepted!"
"But concentrate till end."
"...Yes?"
"I'll take responsibility as chief to conclude."
Meteor. Illusion. Now flames. Watching top magics, realized. As boasted. Peering 'transcendent realm' from.
Ki realm.
Meaning.
"Nothing to learn from your manifestations."
"......"
"Didn't I say? All changed."
Such flames. Counter Absolute Zeroki.
Craaaack!
Instant. Area chills to breath-freeze. Gazed Tower Master.
"From now, my lesson begins."
"No questions mid-lesson."
"Answers from Tower Master—you."
Some lingering grudge, Grandfell. Prepare, Tower Master. Preliminary alone flooded tower tears. My first lesson: no mercy!
......
Churning mana vortex. Late-arriving elder Yugweed. All twenty seniors witnessed.
"Truly, Chief—you...!!"