Chapter 54
Chapter 54
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: Desert Night
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The sun had vanished from the sky, and the scorching heat of the desert had cooled into a frigid wind. It was late at night, with everyone fast asleep.
Two weeks had passed since the decisive battle with Shamsher. By the original plan, they should have left Hayar headquarters long ago. Yet they lingered here because this quiet, safe haven had proven immensely helpful for organizing insights and devising Erkamons.
It was the work of completely dismantling existing spells and remaking them as his own. He had taken in various methods of interfering with space using mana, even experiencing them firsthand up close. He had observed the phenomena and understood the structures of the spells. Even without knowing the Erkamon embedded in their inner worlds, replicating them similarly posed no great issue.
Whatever was lacking could be filled in. His talents and memories from his past life made it possible. In this process, there was no room for Erkamon to intrude. It was a part that could naturally be omitted.
If it were a spell for his personal use alone, he surely would have done just that.
'Not anymore.'
But now, he wasn't alone. He had begun operating under the school name Infinite Archive. He even had a disciple trailing after him, calling him "Master, Master." The boy still lacked much. To keep him from dying as a stray somewhere, he needed a variety of usable spells.
'Since I've started, I might as well do it properly...'
Infinite Archive took the mana circle as its foundation. The school's character was distinct. It had to harmonize with the inner world already held by the mage, without displacing it. It meant blending in seamlessly without any distinctive traits.
Spells were already complete in their existence. What was needed was merely the Erkamon to supplement the lacking imagery and imagination.
The role of Erkamon was to ignite the spell. It had to be crafted as intuitively as possible for easy initiation. Yet it couldn't be too long. It was exceedingly difficult work.
When one thinks of the word "apple," the associated image varies from person to person. Some envision biting into an apple, others see apples in a basket, and still others picture a single apple sitting alone.
Thus, concrete descriptions must be added. Writing the Erkamon was much like this.
A decent start. It conveyed the idea of releasing controlled mana to open gaps in space. Put more simply, it was like creating a door in a massive wall. Not difficult. Durel could grasp it easily enough.
It meant setting the direction of travel and specifying the destination. Then the released mana would follow the spell's structure and exert its power. It was the task of connecting space to space—like building a bridge.
"Cast your body into faith. As long as it does not break, those steps will always reach the end."
⟨ Spatial Leap ⟩
Perfect. An impeccable conclusion. Nothing more could improve it. Step off, hurl the body into the spatial gap, and arrive beyond via the connected bridge. That's how it had to be.
A space leap spell. A form of blink. He didn't know about other schools, but Golden Wind School taught this simple spell around page 100 of their grimoire, accompanied by bizarre instructions to turn the body into wind.
He couldn't understand it. There was no need for such complications; crossing spatial gaps made it trivial.
Paat-
The moment his foot left the ground, he arrived about four meters away. He could use it consecutively three or four times without much strain. The instant he thought it, he moved.
Pot-! Pot-! Pot-!
The world flickered like a strobe, the scenery before his eyes changing rapidly. This speed was possible only by omitting the unnecessary Erkamon process. Durel might need about a second between jumps.
"I can't sleep a wink. What are you doing at this hour?"
"Training."
A familiar voice came from behind. He didn't need to turn to know. The master of this world, the elf leader of Hayar, had come.
"Do you not know how dangerous it is to interfere in a space claimed by its owner? If I weren't so tolerant, your body would already be in two pieces."
"Ah..."
He gaped blankly at the elf's words. Too absorbed in his task, he had momentarily forgotten this wasn't ordinary space. It belonged to an owner. Repeatedly opening and closing small doors here must have been quite irritating.
"Sorry."
He turned and apologized, but the elf boy's expression soured deeply.
"Come to think of it, you've switched to informal speech. Since you returned. Why?"
The elf was right. Before leaving, he had used formal address. Somehow, without realizing, it had shifted to casual. Probably because of that deceptively youthful appearance.
Knowing was enough. If it bothered the other, he could fix it.
"Your looks changed a bit... My mistake. Sorry if it was rude."
"It's not rude. Doesn't bother me."
Then what did he want? As he furrowed his brow, the elf spoke.
"Speak casually. The distance feels off otherwise."
He'd said part of himself had died, and apparently a chunk of his brain went with it. He nodded awkwardly.
"Anyway, if you have business, come find me directly. Don't make me call you."
The elf boy vanished before his eyes after those words. Strangely chilling. He suddenly wanted to leave right away.
'Time to go...'
The Erkamon for the spell he'd been devising was now complete. No need to stay longer; they could depart immediately.
He headed straight to Durel's room. The boy was sleeping soundly on the bed.
"Durel."
"Yeah, gasp...!"
"Get up and pack. Time to leave."
"M-Master...? Yes... Got it...!"
Durel asked no questions. He rose at once, packed swiftly, and followed. They hadn't brought much to begin with. Just add the gold and jewels Hayar had given as compensation, and done.
"Master."
"Yeah."
"Tomorrow—or today, rather. Didn't you have a breakfast promise with Lenila? Is it okay to just leave like this...?"
They halted while exiting the platinum palace. Lenila was his first friend made in this desert. She had approached without prejudice, spoken kindly. She meant a great deal. His feet wouldn't move easily.
"Maybe say goodbye at least?"
"Nah."
He shook his head and rummaged in his bag. Out came a neat notepad and pencil—gifts from Lenila.
"Leaving a letter?"
"Yeah."
More a note than a letter. Short content. There was no real reason to leave in such haste, but one had just arisen. The elf in boy form wasn't right in the head.
See you later, Lenila.
Become an awesome mage.
"Good."
"Nice handwriting. But where to put it?"
He handed the neatly folded note to Durel.
"On the bed in my room. She checks there first every morning anyway; she'll find it."
After Durel placed the note in the room he'd used, they boarded the airboard together and sped out of the platinum palace.
Shaaaak-!
Early morning. Lenila bolted upright in bed upon waking. These days, mornings brought her great joy. Her only "friends" had been Hayar's mages, far older than her.
Now she had a same-age female friend. Even her strict father said nothing about Lumia. Lenila was happy every day.
"Lumia!"
Without even washing her face, she dashed to the annex and toward her friend's room. Rounding the large corner, she flung open the door, expecting as always to see her friend sitting in a chair, reading a book.
She'd been there yesterday, the day before too. Today would be the same routine. Lenila thought so.
Bang-!
"Lumia?"
But Lumia was gone. The room felt a bit lonely. Neatly made bedding, empty desk. Even Lumia's ever-present bag was missing.
What was this? Approaching the bed, Lenila spotted a single note atop it.
See you later, Lenila.
Become an awesome mage.
The note blurred before her eyes. Lenila bit her lip, barely holding back tears. It was a future that would come someday. It had just arrived a little sooner than expected.
'Awesome mage...'
An awesome mage doesn't cry. Lenila carefully folded her friend's note and slipped it into her pocket.
It was the moment an eleven-year-old girl grew a little more.