Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Mage Lumi
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“T-Teacher! It's dangerous! If you reveal yourself, we'll be chased by those guys too!”
“I know.”
“Y-Yes? But you know...”
I answered Durel calmly. I knew full well what would happen if I headed straight to Raymond to help him.
“But... but the direction... the direction...?”
That was exactly why I ran in a straight line. My destination hadn't changed. Toward the brilliantly shining massive building, I kept running.
“Durel. I'm going to run faster now.”
“Huh?”
The moment I reached out my hand, the golem charging from behind collapsed. Its core spilled out from within, riding the wind right into my grasp. A Gentle Wind rose from beneath my feet, softly pushing against Durel's and my backs.
“W-Waaah...!”
He was quick on his feet to begin with. Durel, who had nearly tumbled while flailing his arms, adapted to the Gentle Wind in no time.
Whoosh!
It was a sprint with the wind at our backs. Our child-sized bodies felt weightless, so Durel and I shot forward almost like we were flying.
We leaped straight over the massive bridge linking Noir to the main boulevard. I could feel the soldiers stationed at the entrance rushing toward us in surprise at the sudden appearance of mages.
“Wh-What's going on!”
“Out of the way. This is academy business.”
No need for lengthy explanations. The moment I invoked the academy's name, the soldiers parted. Leaving Durel's flustered expression behind, I stepped into the Noir building.
Even so, the wind coiling around my body didn't let up, sending lighter objects flying in all directions with the Gentle Wind.
Whoosh!
‘Stairs.’
In the vast hall, I spotted a grand staircase. It led to the upper floors of the building. True to the structure's immense size as seen from outside, the stairs stretched on endlessly.
“We're going up.”
I informed Durel of our destination, then kicked off the ground and ascended the stairs. It felt no different from sprinting across flat terrain. The Gentle Wind constantly adjusted my balance while pushing at my back.
Whoosh!
Each step skipped five or six stairs. In an instant, I'd reached the top of what had seemed like an endless climb.
‘The highest point...’
I scanned my surroundings, confirming there was nowhere higher. This was the tallest spot in all of Noirain.
-A mage?
-Why have children come all this way...?
-Shall we speak to them?
Was the ball's dress code masks? Everyone here wore one over their faces. Seeing them reminded me of Durel's words about the nobles from various nations backing Noirain.
‘Not interested.’
That wasn't important right now. I shook off the stray thoughts in my head and walked ahead.
Whoosh!
The Gentle Wind showed no signs of dying down. It swirled along the path Durel and I took. With no one daring to approach, we arrived at the ornate terrace, drawing every eye.
“Teacher, why here... no... don't tell me.”
Ignoring Durel's question, I climbed onto the terrace railing. The natural breeze couldn't pierce the wall of Gentle Wind. Even balanced on just one foot along the narrow rail, my body didn't waver.
Leaning into the soft Gentle Wind, I took in the entire city at a glance.
Arcana were eyes that beheld the world's mysteries. It meant I could precisely detect the mana flows blanketing the city and the movements of every mage within. That was why I'd come here.
‘Help from afar without showing myself...’
Over the world sparkling in shades of blue, lights like stars in the night sky blinked and darted ceaselessly. More than fifty mages were visible right away. Raymond was among those fifty, naturally.
“Durel.”
“Yes?”
“Don't let anyone come near.”
“Understood.”
“Tell me if any other mages approach.”
“Got it.”
Shing—
The moment Durel drew his sword, the mana circle lodged in my heart began to rotate.
There was no spell I could cast right now that would pack a punch at ultra-long range. Not even the nameless spells I'd flung around indiscriminately before.
It didn't matter.
I had a key. The fusion of two spells with utterly different properties. It produced an unexpected phenomenon laced with fierce repulsion—the very reason I'd held back from using it. I'd found my answer in that reaction.
My left hand pointed to the ground, and winds bearing scorching heat began surging skyward. My right hand pointed to the heavens, and frigid winds started whipping over the pitch-black thunderheads.
Thunder wasn't some divine voice. It was merely a natural phenomenon born when the sky's energies reached their limit and yin clashed with yang.
Heat from the earth rose. Cold from the heavens descended. The collision carved a narrow rift between the clouds.
Extremes beget transformation.
When energies peaked, change followed. Amid the black thunderheads massing overhead, a tiny spark flashed.
Rumble—
It was like beholding a colossal living beast. Vaulting over jagged black peaks, it asserted its presence across the sky. The immense roar heralded a force of nature beyond control.
“Th-the sky...”
Ruuuumble!
The sky's energies had crested. As if it could hold no more, it screamed out in savage thunder.
Perfect control was impossible. It was a phenomenon I'd triggered, but not a spell of mine. All I could do now was guide the bolt's path—and even that was uncertain.
“Durel.”
Rumble!
The colossal boom echoing from the heavens drowned out Durel's voice. Ambient sounds grew heavily muffled. Backed by the black thunderheads and the flashing light from above...
I opened my mouth once more.
“Let's head down.”
Flash!
Light came first.
KABOOM!
The sound chased after it belatedly.
The world, awash in blinding light, regained its true colors. Amid the beautiful blue-sparkling expanse, the blinking starlights faded into nothing. Of the fifty-plus mages, fewer than ten had survived.
The remaining mages pursuing Raymond came to a natural halt. At the same time, the entire city erupted in clamor.
-Heavens' wrath!
-The gods' voices have touched the earth!
-People died! Divine punishment has come!
Screams and shouts mingled chaotically with cheers and cries of worship. Some even dropped to their knees, gazing skyward. The nobles attending the ballroom upstairs were no exception.
They had witnessed it all from even closer range. Their emotions surged all the more fiercely.
“H-Heavens'... from the sky, the god's...”
Durel wasn't immune to the aftermath either. He stared blankly at the sky, mumbling the same words.
“Durel. Get a grip.”
“But... Teacher, just now... from the sky.”
“It was my magic.”
That brief explanation was enough for Durel. His emotions settled swiftly, and the look of reverence in his eyes deepened further.
“I see...”
I left Noir alongside Durel.
The city had plunged into chaos, with most functions grinding to a halt. People chattered that the mages slain by the fallen lightning had received divine retribution. No one dared approach the surviving mages.
They feared another bolt of heavenly judgment might strike from the sky at any moment.
The few surviving mages were in no better shape. Trembling, they scrambled to hide in the city's darkest corners.
‘We got lucky.’
I glanced up at the sky, thinking so. It had been possible only because thunderheads were already massing overhead. I couldn't replicate this anywhere else.
The place Durel and I arrived at was a narrow alleyway.
“Why are you here?”
A familiar voice drifted from the pitch-black space between buildings, untouched by light. The tone was utterly serene. His breathing wasn't ragged, and the figure slowly emerging bore not a single wound.
He didn't look like a fugitive in the slightest.
“Teacher.”
“I told you to go to my sister. Didn't you meet her?”
“I did. She said she had to step out midway for something important... Wasn't she looking for you?”
Raymond's face twisted at my question.
“That idiot girl... she went after him after all.”
“Pardon...?”
“Just muttering to myself. Don't mind it.”
Silence fell after those words. Now that I was face-to-face with Raymond, the things I wanted to say wouldn't come out. I steadied my breath and finally managed to speak.
“This time, let's go together.”
Raymond didn't answer my statement. He threw a question right back.
“You've made some progress, I see. I can feel the depth in your winds. But is the academy after you now?”
“No, not that...”
“Does the academy know you're with the Golden Wind School?”
“No...”
In that instant, Raymond's perpetually irritable expression softened. The corner of his mouth twitched upward in what seemed like a smile.
“Then you're in luck.”
The moment his words ended, a sudden gust swept through the alley. It wasn't natural. Wind conjured by magic. The instant I realized it, Raymond vanished without a trace.
In the howling wind, Raymond's voice scattered into nothingness.
“Teacher. That man just now...”
“Raymond...”
“He disappeared... It was like his body turned to wind in an instant...”
“This fucking bastard...”
The Raymond I'd reunited with after so long was the same as ever. He was still a mage.