Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Shamshir
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“You. You said you're about the same age as the young lady, right?”
“Not exactly, but... probably.”
“It's truly hard to believe. Even though it happened right before our eyes.”
Vasek's words seemed to speak for all the other mages. The escaping mages shared the same look in their eyes. Like ordinary folk who had just witnessed an unbelievable mystery firsthand, they were all filled with shock and disbelief.
“We nearly suffered massive losses, duped by that merchant's silver tongue. Your contribution in stopping it wasn't small. The headquarters will offer fitting compensation on our behalf.”
The moment Vasek finished speaking, mana tinged with blue light began to stir slowly. The precursor to spellcasting. Natural mana started converging in one spot, carving a massive boundary across the red desert.
Another barrier spell. I silently gazed at the world shimmering beyond the transparent veil. Beyond the barrier lay another, and beyond that yet another—three layers stacked upon each other.
The properties of the mana forming each barrier were distinct. It meant each of the three had been cast by different mages.
At least three people capable of deploying large-scale barrier spells like this...
“You can see it, can't you? That's the headquarters coming out to greet us.”
As Vasek said, changes were gradually rippling through the barrier spells. A portion of the massive gate twisted open. From the space beyond, a group clad in orange robes emerged slowly.
The instant they appeared, the mages who had evacuated from the branch office prostrated themselves in unison. A stark contrast to how they treated Lenila. It spoke of a clear hierarchy.
The only one not kneeling was Lenila. Even Vasek had bowed his head, but Lenila beamed and ran toward the man in the orange robe.
“Daddy!”
No one among those greeting from headquarters seemed weaker than Vasek. But the one exuding the most overwhelming presence was the middle-aged man Lenila called Daddy.
His appearance seemed ordinary at first glance, but the world he harbored was anything but. It resembled Lenila's own world, yet felt entirely different. The flowing sands stretched vast and endless, evoking the image of an ocean.
He was no weaker than Ayner. At minimum, they were equals. That was the realm this man had attained.
The outermost barrier was set by that man.
Of the triple barriers encircling Hayar's headquarters, the outermost one was linked to him.
The man, who had scooped Lenila into his arms and was stroking her hair, lifted his head to look at me and Durel.
“Rare guests after so long. I'm Ordan. Though lacking, I hold the Blue Seat among Hayar's Three Seats. In your terms... yes, something like vice-chairman would do.”
I'd known Lenila's status was no ordinary one, but I hadn't expected this. I glanced at her in mild surprise, and she peeked at me before hiding behind Ordan.
I let out a small sigh and opened my mouth.
“Lumia, of the Infinite Archive School.”
“Durel...”
“I've heard you're friends of my daughter, Lenila. And that you've done us a great favor. We can't leave valued guests at the door. Please, come inside.”
The moment Ordan finished speaking, platinum sands from within the barrier swirled around me and Durel before vanishing. It was like attaching a recognition mark. Without this procedure, we couldn't have entered the barrier.
So they can impose restrictions like this...
It was a day full of lessons. After gauging the surrounding glances for a moment, I approached Ordan alongside Durel.
Thud-
As the distance closed, Ordan turned and spoke.
“Vasek. Report in detail everything that happened on the way here. Leave out nothing, no matter how trivial.”
“Yes.”
With that, the prostrated mages rose. The moment we all stepped inside the barrier, massive mana began gathering around Ordan.
Shaaaah-
The precursor to magic. Ordan was casting a spell. The open barrier sealed shut, and the sand beneath our feet flowed like a river. In the next instant, we stood before a grand palace.
We received lavish hospitality for three days. Save for areas restricted to outsiders, we roamed freely through the vast palace interior and perused countless grimoires. Even the clothes Durel and I now wore had been provided by Hayar.
The soft silk garments gleamed smoothly, intricate embroidery woven throughout harboring faint enchantments. They could block a blind swing or two from a back-alley thug, it was said.
Durel mentioned they were rare treasures, seldom seen even within the Magic Society.
Hayar's interior buzzed with war preparations. Mages dashed about ceaselessly all day. Word that countless mages had been abducted by Shamshir was easy to overhear anywhere in the palace.
I was strolling the palace halls with Durel when a familiar presence came bounding toward us from afar. I turned my head slightly to see Lenila, dressed in splendid finery, rushing over.
“Lumia!”
“Lenila.”
Since being invited here, I'd seen her only three times. I smiled lightly in genuine pleasure, and Lenila's face flushed with embarrassment.
“Ah, uh.”
“What's wrong?”
“Ah, no, it's... um, the Black Seat is inviting you two to dinner tonight...”
The Black Seat—or Black Position—one of Hayar's Three Seats and its leader. A figure I hadn't glimpsed once in the past three days had summoned us to a banquet. My interest was piqued.
“Is that why you came?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks.”
“Heh, hehehe...”
Lenila giggled bashfully before turning away. She was a girl of noble status. In a place where everyone at Hayar was busy, she couldn't be the only one free.
“Well, I'll get going then? I'll come pick you up for dinner later. Don't hide anywhere, okay?”
Lenila glanced at me wistfully, waved lightly, and left. Watching her go, I called to Durel.
“Durel.”
“Yes.”
“You have the Warden Stick, right?”
“Yes. Safely stored in my bag.”
“Set it aside separately. It'd be good to give it to Lenila.”
“Okay...”
Unlike before, his response lacked energy. I turned to see his eyes drooping sadly. It seemed taking back the gift I'd given him had hurt his feelings.
“You don't need it anymore anyway.”
“That's... true.”
“I'll make you something else later.”
I saw Lenila again that evening. The full moon hung enormous in the sky. Dressed in fine attire, she walked lightly, unlike before.
“Not running now?”
“I'll get in trouble if I do...”
She stomped her feet in place as if she really wanted to. Tap tap- The small footsteps echoed through the wide corridor.
The place Lenila led us to was the upper floor, a restricted area we hadn't entered before. It occupied an entire level. The view stretched unobstructed, centered around a large training hall ringed by a long railing.
“You've arrived.”
The voice carried an eerie power. Mana resonated with the sound, creating vibrations in the air.
Beyond him, a man sat in a massive black chair, casting his gaze down. A faint spark of interest lay within those cold eyes. His appearance stood out from those around him. His ears weren't round—they were pointed.
An elf...?
I'd seen dwarves a few times, but this was my first elf. As I paused to gauge the situation, the man beckoned.
“Come in. Lenila. And, hmm. Anyway, come and sit.”
I frowned as I walked over with Lenila. Arcana was the eye that beheld mysteries. Yet I detected nothing from the seated man's body. He was the Black Seat, Hayar's leader. A mage, without doubt—yet nothing was visible.
It felt strange. There was clearly something there, but it was invisible. Something cloaked him, shielding him from the world. Up close, it might be different. A faint whisper echoed in my mind.
The seats we took beside Lenila were next to Ordan. I'd expected more people at a banquet venue, but only about ten sat there now.
No one spoke. They all waited for the man at the head to open his mouth. The elf blinked slowly, looking bored, then spoke.
“Eat without holding back. Times being what they are, we skipped the music... but I can sing if you wish.”
Still, no one dared respond. The elf sighed boredly as he looked down at them. At that moment, his gaze turned to me.
“So, you saved the Blue Seat's child. You've done a grateful deed. Name your desire. I'll grant anything.”
Such unprecedented words. Even Ordan beside me swallowed in surprise. What to ask for?
After a moment's thought, I slowly spoke.
“That.”
“That what?”
“If you could briefly drop the veil around you.”
“Hah...?”
Interest flickered across the elf's face. His flat lips curved up to his pointed ears. Tang- With a small chuckle, he lightly tapped the armrest of the black throne. In the next instant, the veil cloaking the elf peeled away.
Whoosh-
Mana flooded the chamber in an instant. Amid the swirling black currents, the elf, half-reclined on the armrest, asked me,
“Well? What do you see?”
This is...
A gaze looking down from above. Across a vast platinum desert gleamed a grand palace. The elf harbored a world of platinum. In other words, this very place was the elf's inner world.
Ayner had shown me something similar.
It seemed mages who reached a certain realm could manifest their inner worlds outwardly.