Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: City of Heroes (4)
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Even when we first met, and now again.
I had only shown Clemence the sides of me I didn't want her to see.
Even with my eyes closed, the image of her sobbing in Petron's arms lingered vividly, as if etched into my mind.
I hadn't been able to say a word to her... I should have told her it was okay, that she didn't need to worry.
When I opened my eyes again, the faint afterimage in my vision blended with the dim outline of my room.
My breathing had steadied. The squeezing pain in my heart had eased.
The harsh, rasping breaths that scraped my lungs and throat were gone.
My whole body felt limp and heavy, like it had soaked up water, but I managed to push off the blanket and sit up.
The room was quiet and dark. The door was closed, and outside the window, it was the dead of night.
I realized not much time had passed since then.
From downstairs came the low murmur of people talking.
Had Clemence gone home? What about the others?
I thought about going out to check, but I didn't have the energy.
...Huh.
I glanced around and spotted something unfamiliar on the table.
I rubbed my eyes to focus and peered closer.
Even looking at it twice, it was a strangely shaped object.
At first, I thought it was a transparent, round glass chalice.
But the long handle was reinforced with wood, and the top was a completely sealed glass orb.
Inside, about half-filled with a golden liquid that sparkled brightly.
I could tell at a glance that mana was infused in the liquid. The glittering golden mana rippled, softly illuminating the surroundings.
A magic tool I'd never seen before.
Curiosity piqued, I reached out.
Then, strangely, the golden liquid inside the glass orb began writhing and churning.
The mana emanating from my body was reacting to the liquid inside.
"Lib?"
I startled at the sudden voice from the door and pulled my hand back.
I tucked both hands obediently under the blanket and watched as Luwen quietly opened the door and entered.
"How are you feeling? Coughing less?"
"Yeah... I'm okay. What about Father and Mother?"
"They're seeing off the guests. They'll be back soon."
Ah. So Clemence must have gone home too.
Next time we meet, I need to tell her I'm fine now. She must be so worried—that's what worried me.
Luwen approached, but his demeanor was different from usual.
No playful smile, and the mana that usually radiated to assert his presence was barely detectable.
He looked exhausted.
"Uncle?"
I tilted my head, and Luwen forced a weary smile. He perched on the edge of the windowsill and turned to me.
"Lib, do you know what this is?"
Luwen picked up the magic tool from the table. The golden liquid inside the glass orb sparkled under the moonlight.
"No... What is it?"
"It's the Chalice of Merces. A magic tool devised long ago by a mage named Merces."
Luwen paused there, as if lost in deep thought.
I stared at the magic tool with curious eyes.
The Chalice of Merces, huh. Even after serving as an imperial mage for so long, this was a first for me.
Sure enough, the southern kingdoms have all sorts of fascinating magic tools.
"Here."
Luwen held out the glass orb part of the chalice to me. The golden liquid sloshed heavily with the tilt.
"Put your hand on the glass."
I hesitated but slowly reached out.
It didn't look dangerous. If anything, it felt mysteriously warm and inviting.
As my hand drew near, the golden liquid in the orb began churning again, just like before.
The surface, which had looked solid as stone, rippled, and the moment my fingertip touched the glass... the golden liquid erupted like an explosion, swirling wildly.
"Ah!"
I yanked my hand back in surprise.
Luwen looked just as flustered.
"This is..."
He pulled the Chalice of Merces away from me, switched it to his other hand, and inspected the inside.
The golden liquid had settled back into its original solid clump as if nothing had happened.
His eyes widened in astonishment as he examined it.
"Lib, you're awake?"
At that moment, the door opened, and Father entered. He startled at the sight of Luwen.
"Luwen? That's..."
More precisely, he frowned upon spotting the Chalice of Merces in Luwen's hand.
Luwen let out a small sigh but didn't hide it now.
"Sorry, Jayden."
"Didn't I say I'd think about it after Lib's wounds fully healed?"
Father's voice echoed menacingly through the room.
Having never heard that tone before, I instinctively shrank back.
Luwen brushed his darkened expression.
"It'll be too late by then."
"What do you mean by that?"
Father demanded in a stiff voice.
"Jayden. We can't always be by Lib's side every time he has a seizure—neither I nor Grain. Holy magic can't prevent the attacks either..."
Luwen looked at me with eyes full of regret.
My heart pounded.
He was getting to something important.
"...The only way is for Lib to learn to control his own mana before it's too late."
Father clamped his mouth shut.
Luwen continued with a complex expression blending joy and sorrow.
"Once he can control mana, his shattered soul will fill with it. He'll be able to regulate the seizures himself. And besides..."
Luwen brushed my forehead. His gaze flickered brightly for a moment.
"If he just learns magic, Lib could become an exceptional mage. He's born with strong mana. I've never seen the Chalice of Merces react like this."
Ah. So the Chalice of Merces is a magic tool that judges a person's magical aptitude.
That golden liquid inside must be a special substance that reacts to the amount and control of mana.
In that case, such an explosive reaction isn't all that surprising.
"...Give me some time to think."
Father finally spoke after a long pause. Luwen nodded.
"Take all the time you need."
Luwen tucked the Chalice of Merces into his bosom and left the room, passing Father.
Father stood until the door clicked shut behind him, then slowly approached and sat on the windowsill.
Moonlight filtering through the window gradually revealed Father's weary face.
"Father... Did Uncle Luwen do something wrong?"
I asked impatiently.
I was worried their relationship had soured—especially since I seemed caught in the middle.
Fortunately, Father shook his head with a smile.
"No. He's just worried about you. I can understand that."
"Then why?"
"I wanted more time. Until you'd recovered more."
Father sighed and gazed out the window. His eyes looked far away—not just outside, but into some distant past.
Only after a long while did Father return from the past and speak again.
"We Eldrians are a knight family of Sernia. My path in life was set before I was even born: become a knight of the Sernian Kingdom and inherit the family..."
Father furrowed his brow and clenched his fist.
"I couldn't even imagine anything else. Only after following that predetermined path and becoming a kingdom knight did I realize there were other roads."
The path to becoming a Prius knight, that is.
Father had said he rarely visited the Eldrian main house in the Sernian capital after joining Prius.
"So, Lib. I wanted you to know you could do anything. I hoped you'd see the world, learn, experience things, and choose what you wanted to do."
Father turned to me with a sad expression.
"But Luwen says you need to learn magic right away. Or else... you won't survive."
"Magic..."
I drew in a small breath. Breathing was still not easy.
But my mind was clearer than ever.
Clear enough to look straight up at Father and convey my thoughts plainly.
"I want to learn magic, Father."
To preserve my life and uncover the mysteries of my reincarnation.
And a touch of curiosity about the magic of this new world.
"Alright. If that's what you say."
Father seemed to have made up his mind at my words.
The sadness and worry vanished from his face, replaced by a calm gaze down at me.
"Will Uncle Luwen teach me?"
"Probably. He's taught many students at the tower, so he'll do well. Even if he's... a bit willful at times."
Father added that last bit about Luwen with a wry smile.
"I'll let him know. It's late—get some rest."
Father pulled the blanket up over me.
Night was deep, but sleep wouldn't come easily.
"Father."
"Yes?"
The words stuck, and I hesitated. Afraid of what answer I'd get.
Father sat beside me, waiting silently.
"Do you... not want me to become a mage?"
As soon as the question left my lips, I realized I'd phrased it wrong. Of course he'd say no.
I looked up at Father's face anxiously.
Caught off guard, he looked surprised.
"No, Lib. Nothing like that."
Father said in a soothing voice.
"Being a mage is honorable. Important, too. What worries me is..."
He peered into my face for a moment, then swallowed a sigh.
"There aren't many mages in Prius right now. Not many in the world, either. People with magical talent have become extremely rare."
The first mage I'd met in my seven years of life was Luwen, so that tracked.
"So one mage has a ton of work. Even Luwen handles the tower, mage oversight, and dispatch missions all alone. It'll only get worse. That's what concerns me."
I understood.
Father was worried I'd end up like him—too consumed by Prius duties to even see my family properly.
"So, Lib. If you ever want to do something else, just tell me. Got it?"
"Yes, I got it."
I nodded.
I'd never considered anything but being a mage in my past life or this one, but...
For now, I had to learn magic to keep this fragile life going.
"Good. Then sleep. Tomorrow, things will get busy."
Father rose from the bed and drew the curtains. Moonlight faded, deepening the room's darkness.
I closed my eyes, feeling Father's gentle hand patting me, and drifted into the darkness.
Embracing a small anticipation for the new routine starting tomorrow.