The Magic Tower's New Stormbringer
She couldn't help but feel envious.
If she became the Klein heiress's Eina, she would receive the finest treatment and, once the young lady married, she herself could wed into a respectable household.
She could do the job perfectly if only someone would give her the chance.
That day, Baroness Gahael chattered on about the gossip she had picked up at the salon on her way home.
"The Duchess's Eina was apparently brought in from some monastery. She's quite pretty and well-mannered, so she seems suitable. Rather than someone who stands out too much, a girl who keeps her head down like water blending into water is far more preferable."
"Which family does she belong to?"
Barbara's interest had shifted entirely to the Eina rather than the Klein heiress whose face she had never seen.
A daughter of a poor baronial house had no reason to dislike hearing about the Klein ducal family, said to be the heart of the empire's left wing after the Orleans duchy.
Even if it was someone else's story, listening to it let her dream a little.
"Weren't you listening? She's a commoner brought from a monastery outside the capital."
"What?"
"If they've taken in a commoner, she must be quite capable. You'll probably see her often until the young lady's debutante ball. These things happen all the time. They use the Eina to pave the way before presenting their real daughter."
Barbara fell into thought once more.
The position of the heiress's Eina…
She wanted it too. If even a nameless commoner from a monastery could be put forward as a candidate, then perhaps she had a chance as well.
And Barbara was not the only one thinking this way. Every noblewoman at the salon who had a daughter or relative of suitable age felt the same.
Dot simply did not yet understand what it meant to face concentrated fire without Morgana's protection.
The silent war of high society had already begun.
* * *
The moment they returned to the Magic Tower, Lucius was subjected to a circle measurement test.
Holtdein, who could tell at a glance that Lucius possessed considerable mana, let out a whistle.
"Whew, we've got quite the impressive newcomer. I suppose I should start using honorifics even before the test results come out."
"What is this fellow saying?"
Lucius frowned, clearly displeased.
"Ah, Lord Lucius. In the Magic Tower, lower-ranked mages must speak respectfully to those of higher rank. Holtdein is a 6th-circle mage, and I can only wield 5th-circle water magic, so I use honorifics. If you don't want to speak respectfully to someone, you're supposed to challenge them to a duel and win."
"Hmph. It wasn't like this in the old days, but I rather like it. That's how it should be."
He recalled the ancient Magic Tower from humanity's early days.
Back then the tower had not even stood in this location, and it had been routine to fight fallen angels, only to have it collapse and be rebuilt again and again.
The world had become far too peaceful and quiet for his tastes.
Even the Magic Tower ought to keep up such practices.
After all, this was supposed to be a gathering place for madmen…
"The old days…? This rule has been in place for over five hundred years, haha. Well, never mind. Oh! A 7th-circle mage! I knew it. I'll serve you well, Pay's older brother figure."
Holtdein made a fuss.
Seeing someone who looked so young despite being 7th-circle, he figured Lucius was either a hidden sage or had elven blood. Even if neither was true, there was no harm in currying favor with the strong.
Regardless of Holtdein's reaction, Lucius bristled upon hearing his measured circle.
"What? Me, 7th-circle?"
"A 7th-circle mage is impressive, Lord Lucius. You'll reach master rank soon, won't you?"
"If it's that boy—no, big brother figure—then it's only natural."
'This is absurd!'
He understood that he had consumed an enormous amount of mana using time-reversal magic and had fallen from immortal to mortal.
But what? Him, a dragon, being only 7th-circle? Don't make me laugh!
Infuriated, Lucius placed his hand on the circle-measuring orb and gritted his teeth. The inside of the orb began to churn with a crimson glow.
A wild, ferocious power rose from his entire body. If measured again now, he would surely register as at least an 8th-circle master, perhaps even a 9th-circle user.
Paying no attention, Holtdein busied himself gathering spare supplies while muttering to Pay.
"Where on earth did you find someone like him, Pay? He's remarkable."
"Right? I thought he seemed extraordinary the moment I first saw him."
"Good catch. He's handsome, but his face looks a bit like a ferocious gargoyle."
"Ahaha… You think so?"
Pay deliberately omitted mentioning that Lucius was the owner of Momo, Moitetravanus.
She wanted to learn the details gradually as she grew closer to Lucius.
"Oh. Right, that too. A hat is an essential item for a mage."
"How about this one?"
Pay picked up a green hat with a slightly curved tip and pretended to put it on.
Holtdein gave a thumbs-up, convinced the pointed hat would suit Lucius perfectly. With that silver hair and strikingly smooth face, the sight would be worth seeing later.
Still… Pay was quite pretty and cute herself.
Whether the two of them did anything or not, Lucius's attention was focused entirely on one thing.
"Grr!"
The circle-measuring orb trembled as though it might shatter.
This much should at least preserve his pride… No, it was still far too insufficient, but it was better than nothing!
Damn it. He would definitely return to his 10th-circle master days!
Before he could even reach 10th-circle, the mark of a 9th-circle master appeared. Lucius removed his hand and kicked the stand with his foot.
Because the device had been slightly tilted, the displayed circle immediately dropped back to zero.
How utterly humiliating.
"Ha…?"
"What are you doing, Lucius? I've packed everything. You'll be staying in the room across from mine from now on, so please take care of me."
Pay, who had already gathered an armful of belongings, approached him with a bright smile.
"Lord Lucius? These days Pay's beauty and magical talent have been drawing strange men closer, so please look after her."
"Who are you calling 'big brother'! And you two! Aren't you paying attention to me? You should have seen my real power properly! This result is invalid. Measure me again!"
Lucius shouted in renewed anger, but the measurement was already over.
Thus, the silver-haired, black-eyed mage of unknown origin, Lucius, was officially inducted into the Magic Tower as a 7th-circle mage.
He would come to regard this moment as a greater humiliation than even his past defeat at Caron's hands.
Holtdein said he had work to do, so Pay took it upon herself to show Lucius around the library and his quarters. After receiving his room assignment, she worried over Lucius, who seemed strangely drained of energy.
"Lord Lucius, are you feeling unwell? If you're tired, I'll accompany you to the infirmary."
"…Watch where you're going."
Even if he were to face every storm in the world at once, nothing would faze him. The other party would be the one to suffer. How dare a mere human female mage worry about him?
However, Pay had not yet abandoned her straightforward nature, so she took his words strangely.
"Pardon? I have two eyes, you know. Has my eye somehow moved from my cheekbone down to my cheek? I heard magic failure can change one's appearance. How worrying."
Lucius felt utterly exasperated.
What was wrong with this girl? She was still so naive! She was practically begging to be scammed!
"……"
"This is your bedroom, Lucius. Well, since you're 7th-circle, I suppose there's nothing I need to teach you, but if anyone tries to bully you, be sure to tell me, all right?"
Pay's concern blew Lucius's bewilderment straight into the sky.
Who was worrying about whom…
"Hey."
"Hmm? Yes? What is it?"
Lucius lifted his pitch-black, gloomy eyes.
Just like that day when he had completely covered the sky above the Klein ducal estate, casting all beneath his shadow into terror.
"You don't remember me?"
Lucius had barely managed to cast magic right before his death, and even that had been imperfect, delaying its manifestation by several days. That must have been what happened.
Imperfect magic developed cracks and gaps. Lucius himself did not know how many impurities had slipped through.
Because of those gaps, perhaps Pay—Morgana—had come to the Magic Tower instead of the Klein estate.
"I met you for the first time yesterday, Lord Lucius."
At Pay's indifferent reply, which showed not the slightest sign of recollection, he took a large step forward. For the first time, Lucius's presence seemed to lightly touch her otherwise indifferent soul.
Her vivid green eyes met his, gazing at the man without any particular emotion.
He was handsome. His appearance was rare. But no other feelings had yet arisen. That was only natural given Pay's innocent, one-dimensional perspective.
"Think harder."
"…I really don't know. Lord Lucius, have you perhaps met me somewhere before?"
"Who knows?"
Pay was thinking something entirely different from Lucius.
Could it be… that Lord Baroa and Lucius were the same person?
She could not simply dismiss the possibility of a connection. If it were Lord Baroa, hiding his true power with a 7th-circle measurement would be child's play. After all, he had been the great Tower Master.
Yet the words to question his identity clung to her lips and refused to come out.
Lucius's pitch-black pupils swept over Pay before shifting into faint irritation.
"Forget it. And another thing."
"Yes?"
"No matter what anyone says, you are a Drakan rider. If you've fed that thing that much meat, you should put it to use. Don't turn it into a plump little chick. While I'm not around, you should at least try flying in the sky."
"…Ah, well. For now, I can't even ride a horse by myself, and Momo… seems quite satisfied with his current life."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. Ever since I brought him out of the breeding room, he has never sent a telepathic message saying he wants to return to his true form. I've also been too busy with my magic studies to find time for anything else."
Upon hearing Pay's confession, Lucius's black eyes snapped toward Momo.
The faint irritation transformed into a chilling rage the moment the target changed.
Intimidated by the menacing gaze, the Drakan plopped down on the spot and trembled.
However, because of the side effect of having turned into a baby bird, he only looked adorable with his slender legs buried in fluffy down.
At the sight, Pay burst into laughter.
"Oh, how cute!"
"Hmph. What's so cute about a male who's already grown all his feathers? Enough. Let's go flying tomorrow. I'll help you."
"Really?"
"Yes."
She only half-listened to Lucius's words, assuming he was mostly joking.
The capital was far too crowded for a Drakan to fly freely. No matter how eccentric a mage Lucius was, he would not cause a scene by reverting Momo near the residential area, would he?
She wanted to believe that.
Late at night.
'…I can't sleep.'
It had been an incredibly long day, and though her body was exhausted, her mind remained clear.
Pay knew the reason.
Seeing Barbara Gahael alive and breathing today had pushed her worries toward the distant Klein ducal house.
'What is Dot doing right now?'
She did not know.
This was the result of Pay—Morgana—choosing to sever ties with her real family.
Whatever they were thinking, whether they faced each other smiling or crying, she had no way of knowing.
She could only wait for the moment Dot made a move; proactive response was impossible…
'Will it really be all right like this?'