NOVEL NEXT Chapter 102
102.
“…What…?”
Laris could not comprehend the scene unfolding before their eyes.
After all, anyone would see it as dangerous at a glance, let alone someone who has never experienced such a thing.
The deep, inky darkness emanating from Kalen…
A world that dyes everything in its monochromatic hue.
Is he angry?
From Kalen’s perspective, there’s plenty of reason to be. Not only did Laris reject the five great houses, but they even brought him here above the Latia Waterfall.
“Kalen…”
In that moment, Laris was overwhelmed with regret and apology.
They could not understand why they were feeling such emotions.
It wasn’t fear or anxiety.
Though one might naturally feel those things when witnessing something that evokes the image of hell itself.
Still, Laris’ first instinct was to apologize to Kalen.
Perhaps because they hadn’t realized how deeply their brief time together had impacted them.
Without even realizing it, Laris took a step forward.
Thud.
“Laris.”
“A…?”
“Wait.”
It was Laris’ mother who stopped them.
“Mother…?”
“It’s not anger.”
The gentle touch on Laris’ wrist brought them back to reality.
Though their conversation had been brief, it had been profound enough for Laris to understand:
Their mother understood the essence of magic better than they did.
And she was saying Kalen was not dangerous.
Truthfully, Laris wasn’t afraid.
They just felt sorry for focusing too much on their own perspective.
Thanks to their mother, they realized now wasn’t the time to apologize.
Laris hesitated for a moment then nodded.
The woman looked at Laris with appreciation.
Finally, the gaze of mother and daughter turned toward the boy.
*
Kalen thought deeply.
Back when he fought the Ancient Being…
The method of using imagery he had realized then.
Imagery is the essence of a mage.
The essence that projects the world within one’s heart.
He still doesn’t fully understand how he managed it back then, but he remembers.
He remembers how he used imagery to defeat that dangerous opponent.
The thoughts began to flow.
Imagery – the essence that reflects the heart.
If Laris’ mother could continue to exist even after death…
Because of strong longing and attachment.
It was the love and yearning for her daughters that manifested her existence in this incomplete imagery world.
This Crystal Cave, it’s the mother’s heart remembering her daughters.
Kalen began to understand.
How he had awakened the imagery within the young ladies.
Though he can’t be certain yet, he feels that if he continues on his original path toward the Spirit World, he will learn more.
Kalen’s thoughts didn’t stop there.
The upper-tier magic he would gain after overcoming hardships with the young ladies.
Each time, it was related to the will to survive.
Especially when he had the will to save someone, it became stronger.
None of the young ladies he’d been with so far had stepped out of this great framework.
Kalen made a hypothesis.
Whether Laris would awaken their imagery or not.
If they don’t, all his previous thoughts would be proven wrong.
From the moment they dove into the water spray.
To the instant they threw themselves off the cliff into the waterfall below.
Everything was an action to save Laris.
Even this landscape within the Crystal Cave could be called a magnificent view.
Especially here at the entrance, where the blue streams of water reflect off the crystal-like stones, shining like jewels.
If Laris awakens their imagery with this Crystal Cave as a backdrop, they would take one step closer to understanding their mysterious constitution and imagery.
And for the woman…
Kalen wished their happy ending could become more complete.
Being trapped in this cave forever wasn’t what he wanted.
Rather, like something he had heard once…
Having the mother and two daughters live happily together seemed like a nice story.
So…
BOOM!!
Kalen concentrated entirely on manipulating the imagery.
Veins bulged on his forehead and neck.
Though not as tense or life-threatening as his battle with the Ancient Being,
Kalen filled the space with desperate resolve.
For the happiness of Laris and their family.
Blamia had said young ladies often have many hidden wounds.
They pretend to be proper while hiding their true selves.
The more complex a young lady’s heart, the more deeply injured it is.
And Kalen saw Laris as one such young lady.
Just as injured as the other young ladies he’d met.
They’d lost their mother and older sister.
Their father abandoned them, and their stepmother’s family tried to erase their existence.
That’s far too much for a girl who just became an adult a few years ago.
So Laris deserves to be rewarded.
The dark world began to fill in the incomplete space.
If the balance isn’t maintained, disaster would occur.
The Crystal Cave, facing the all-consuming dark world, is like Laris facing the Raiel Caravan.
However, while the Raiel Caravan didn’t withstand, Laris did as they imagined.
If Kalen adjusts, this incomplete imagery world can endure.
Accepting this imagery world created by the woman would be possible.
The woman is a being bound by her own illusory space.
If Kalen absorbs what binds her, she won’t need to remain trapped in this cave.
“Cough…”
Blood flowed from Kalen’s nose, mouth, and ears.
His eyes were heavily bloodshot, as if they would start bleeding soon.
When facing Gishar, there was no need to control his strength.
With failure meaning death, he simply gave everything he had.
But now the opposite is needed – delicate control.
Though not as tense or thrilling, it’s just as difficult for Kalen.
Because of his constitution.
A mage typically uses mana to finely feel flows.
But Kalen, who uses magic without mana, is unfamiliar with such precise control.
It’s not that controlling magic is difficult, but controlling “flows” themselves is foreign to him.
Those who understand the situation would be shocked at Kalen’s current state.
Especially Blamia.
Having once reached the peak, they would surely applaud at seeing Kalen now.
The unconscious realm Kalen was reaching…
An incomplete state only the most talented could achieve after death.
The 5th tier.
Scholarship attribute magic, unlike others, is not combat-focused.
It’s about understanding the essence and gaining insight into magic and oneself.
Now Kalen’s dark world had completely enveloped the Crystal Cave.
Thud.
The dark world surrounding Kalen had been flickering for quite some time.
Laris, holding their mother’s hand, couldn’t say a word.
Being gifted in scholarship attribute magic made it even more overwhelming.
They understood how extraordinary and dangerous this current landscape was.
Seeing the boy casually spitting blood up front was astonishing.
Because Kalen was the master of this dark world.
“Kal…”
“What is happening?”
Just as Laris was about to call out to Kalen in a daze, the woman beside them cut them off.
While she usually wouldn’t interrupt her daughter, she was so shocked she didn’t even notice.
Naturally, as someone created by the Crystal Cave’s power.
She could feel that the force binding her had transferred from the cave to the boy.
“This power… what…”
“…It seems things are going well.”
How ridiculous those words sound.
The boy had accomplished in an instant what she couldn’t do even while creating this place.
The woman lost her words.
Laris, who had been listening intently, asked urgently.
“So… mother can…”
“Yes. You can leave, miss.”
“A…”
The response exceeded Laris’ expectations.
Though staying here with mother would be fine, being able to leave was much better.
There’s so much they want to do, and most importantly, they can reunite with their older sister.
The older sister who endured hardships from the Raiel Caravan in Laris’ place.
Now they can bring their mother to her.
“Sniff…”
Laris’ legs gave out, but Kalen quickly caught them.
“Kalen…”
Laris couldn’t look at Kalen properly.
The apologies and most of all, the overwhelming gratitude.
Their sudden connection at the banquet hall.
A stranger’s request.
Even asking them to risk their life for Laris.
And Kalen willingly did so.
Said they would oppose the five great houses and two major caravans.
Became their support in the water spray.
Agreed to Laris’ unreasonable insistence on climbing the cliff.
Ultimately, protected them from the explosion by diving into it.
And now.
Kalen had granted their most unexpected yet most heartfelt wish.
The accumulated emotions lightly touched something fragile within Laris.
That became the tipping point, preventing Laris from looking at Kalen properly.
…Thump.
Very faintly.
A girl’s heart began to beat.