AME 84

Chapter 84

The man stood at the top of the abandoned tower, gazing down below. He quietly smiled as he looked out at the barren land where not a single blade of grass grew. It was a beautiful smile, ill-suited to the desolate scene, and yet his gray-blue eyes were nothing but cold.

Just then, the door to the topmost floor opened, and another man entered. From somewhere within the castle followed a strange wailing sound, echoing behind him like a shadow.

“Oh, master of the Savior! You have finally arrived?”

The man who had been there first immediately placed a hand over his chest in greeting. His posture was perfectly respectful—except for one problem: he was still facing outward.

“I believe I told you not to provoke me needlessly.”

The man who had received a bow to his back wore a displeased look. He glared at the other, who finally turned toward him.

“One can’t even joke with you, Lord Rishar. The young lady of Ingelros will have to laugh at my jokes more often than this, after all.”

“Elliot Batiste.”

The golden-haired beauty, Elliot, blinked his eyes dramatically, then burst into laughter. Rishar’s expression only darkened further at this unexpected reaction.

“My, it seems you are in quite a foul mood. And to go so far as to mention my house, which no longer even exists. For this Savior Elliot, it is nothing but an honor.”

“Enough nonsense. Why have you still not left? I believe the Tower ordered you to depart for Ferdinand.”

“As expected of our lord. How many of the elders have you managed to win over, I wonder? Perhaps you could tell me—so that we fellow Saviors might at least exchange greetings.”

“Do I look like I have time for this? I asked why you’re still here.”

Elliot, still grinning, lifted his shoulders in a shrug. Rishar’s patience was wearing thin, and the chill in his expression deepened, but Elliot knew full well Rishar would not dare lay hands on him carelessly.

For Elliot was one of the last two surviving descendants of the Batiste family—and the second-strongest magician after Rishar himself. He was an indispensable part of Rishar’s plans.

“Why wouldn’t I want to leave for Ferdinand? Just thinking of those beautiful eyes makes me want to run there at once. But…”

Elliot let his voice trail off, lowering his brows in feigned melancholy. When he felt Rishar’s gaze settle fully on him, he tilted his chin and pointed at his own cheek.

“As you can see, I’ve been so busy that my skin is in terrible condition. I can’t possibly present myself before the young lady looking like this. These monsters are so unruly—why did they have to awaken now, of all times?”

Of course, Elliot’s face was as smooth as polished glass. Even the surface of Ingelros’ lakes could not match it.

Rishar frowned openly, his irritation breaking through.

“Crazy bastard.”

“Such kind words.”

Elliot looked truly delighted. When Rishar turned away, unwilling to waste another moment, Elliot called after his back.

“And what of the young lady? Should I perhaps try to recruit her as a Savior?”

“Bring in someone who cannot even save her own life? Don’t make me laugh.”

Rishar cut him off coldly, leaving no room for argument, and strode down the stairs. Left alone, Elliot turned back to the window, murmuring softly.

“Poor girl. To have such a cold man as her brother.”

Far below, nothing could be seen. The wasteland was empty, with only the abandoned tower standing alone. It looked so much like his own life that Elliot chuckled faintly.

“I wonder how my dear little cousin is faring.”

A low whistle scattered away into the bleak wind.

Warm light flowed from Nia’s fingertips, gently wrapping around the knight’s swollen wrist. The sunlike glow circled the injured area several times, as if caressing it, and gradually the swelling began to subside.

By the time the magic had fully settled into the knight’s wrist, the redness had almost completely faded. To finish, she cast a spell to ease the pain as well.

The knight thanked her brightly before leaving the infirmary, and Nia collapsed onto the long sofa with a sigh.

“Whew, all done!”

“You didn’t have to push yourself so much,” Kaon said, clicking his tongue as he watched her.

It had been a day with an unusually high number of injuries. Full of spirit, Nia had declared, “I’ll treat them all!”—and kept going until she had drained every last drop of her magic.

Even when Kaon tried to stop her midway, it was useless. The young mage stubbornly kept calling, “Next!” and ushering in more patients.

“I was told to do what I can, so I’m doing it.”

“I didn’t tell you to wear yourself out. You and your sister are both the same…”

Kaon trailed off. He had almost said that both siblings were equally stubborn, but the moment Alessia’s name came up, Nia’s eyes lit up.

“What about my sister? What did she do?”

“Just saying you two are alike. Anyway, when did you first learn magic? Since you were little?”

Kaon smoothly changed the subject. He decided not to mention that Alessia had been going around inspecting villages before she was fully healed. If Nia found out, she would only try to do the same—and Alessia probably wouldn’t want that.

“I don’t remember exactly. I just did as I was told, and it worked. But the adults always said I didn’t have much magic, so I’d never be able to cast anything big…”

“What kind of thing to say to a child is that?” Kaon scowled. Magic might require talent, sure—but why put limits on a child like that?

Nia was only ten years old. Even if the magicians knew more, it left a sour taste in Kaon’s mouth to see her so dejected.

“They said my parents didn’t expect much of me either. I can only do this much, after all. Still, at least I can use magic at all. Aless—”

She suddenly stopped, startled, and bit her lip. Kaon guessed what she had been about to say but pretended not to notice. Nia didn’t know that he already knew Alessia’s secret.

“Alessia has an incredible amount of magic,” she blurted instead.

“Really?”

“Yes. I heard… she was even greater than Rishar…”

The thought of her sister now made Nia falter, biting down on her lip again. That slip alone was enough to show Kaon how Alessia had been treated in Ingelros.

If even her little brother knew of it, her talent must have been a subject of great attention—both admiration and jealousy.

For Alessia, life had been thorny from the very beginning. Kaon himself had been born with great talent, but he had allies to clear the thorns for him. Alessia had none. That difference had made their lives so very different.

“So that’s why she was sent here, as your family’s representative. Because she’s such an exceptional mage.”

“…Yes. That’s right.”

Nia blinked in surprise at the words, then nodded quickly, guilt plain on her innocent face.

Kaon wanted to tell her it wasn’t a lie. Alessia was a great mage in Ferdinand’s eyes. After all, even the most gifted mage was useless if they weren’t willing to work.

Alessia, however, had been diligent from the very first day she went on inspection, and never once wavered. What greater mage could there be than that? Such a thing was rare even in Ferdinand’s history.

“Your sister is…”

Kaon had wanted to say something to make Nia proud of her sister, but then he chuckled softly. In that brief moment, Nia had already drifted off to sleep.

After a whole afternoon of casting healing spells, it was no surprise she was exhausted. Kaon gently laid a warm blanket over her small body.

He could have stopped her more forcefully if he’d wanted, but he hadn’t. The way she pushed herself to do even a little more had reminded him too much of Alessia.

Foolish, both of them.

The Ingelros siblings resembled each other deeply. Not just in looks, but in the way they felt compelled to prove their own worth—as though disaster would strike if they didn’t.

They didn’t realize how much alike they truly were.

Kaon found their stubbornness both endearing and heartbreaking.

And to think I once believed all magicians were impossible people.

Ironically, it was the siblings at the very peak of Ingelros who were breaking that prejudice of his. He stayed by the sleeping Nia’s side for a long while.

09. A Remarkable Coincidence

It was a day as peaceful as any other. A soldier tilted his head back, staring at the sky with boredom, before yawning widely. His issued fur coat was wonderfully warm, and the lazy routine of guard duty made him drowsy.

He began to nod off, telling himself it would be fine to doze until the next shift arrived. But just as he was about to drift into sleep—

“What—what’s that?!”

A tremendous roar echoed from afar, punishing his laziness. Startled, the soldier snapped his head up, then leapt to his feet. He turned toward the sound and shouted down below at the top of his lungs:

“The Tower is sending a signal! A magician has arrived!”