NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3
003.
The world of a magician, in essence, is not something that can be interfered with or drawn out by others.
What Blamia sought to verify was the nature of mana. However, what suddenly emerged was Kalen’s mental world. Since Blamia was also a magician who had established her own world, she was certain of it.
“Mana… there is none…”
Even such a great magician was astonished. This was because she had just discovered two new facts.
First, Kalen did not use mana to manifest magic; rather, he had no mana to begin with. The other was the hard-to-believe reality that Kalen had already established his own world.
But still, questions remained. For instance, how was magic being manifested without the use of mana? Furthermore, when she attempted to stimulate Kalen’s mana, an imaginary world was revealed instead.
And then there was the ominous scenery depicted in this imaginary world.
“Gr, Grandfather…”
Stumped by the unexpected situation, the moment was brief. Sina, trembling her lips, called out to her grandfather. Blamia then realized she had unconsciously been projecting her intimidating presence. She quickly retracted her aura and removed her hands from Kalen’s back.
“Phew…!”
Thus, the dark world vanished, and Blamia’s gaze became heavy with thought.
“Unaware?”
“Yes. I’ve lived without even witnessing magic.”
A few days later, Blamia called Kalen for a private meeting because she simply could not understand. Was there a unique past he had or a secret he was struggling to reveal?
However, Kalen claimed ignorance about everything—using magic without mana, extraordinary talent, and the foreboding imaginary world. Although it was possible to forcibly inspect his memories using magic to confirm the truth, that would be inappropriate for a young boy.
So Blamia ultimately chose to ease Kalen’s thorny path set before him.
It was good to be talented but not too talented.
This was an eternal truth. Moreover, Kalen was the illegitimate child of a prostitute and a lower noble—essentially worse off than a commoner.
“It’s quite fortunate, the fact you have talent. There was a young lady I once knew who possessed everything but lacked talent, and she went mad. Another had so little talent that despite being the eldest daughter, she was treated like an unwanted child.”
Since the day Blamia glimpsed his imaginary world, Kalen had experienced more.
For example, he participated as Sina’s sparring partner, leisurely explored parts of the world he had missed while begging, and even spent an entire day at the gambling den with Blamia.
Though the last event led to an unexpected gambling habit that Kalen later regretted, Blamia ensured that Kalen experienced many things, largely because of his imaginary world.
This conversation was, in a sense, a continuation of her concerns.
“Even members of the royal family are rarely high-ranking magicians. How do you think they’ll regard your talent when they find out, even if you’re only at the first rank? It’s unsettling given your age.”
“A…”
“That’s right. No matter how generous people may seem, they become indistinguishable from street thugs when their livelihood is jeopardized.”
Blamia wasn’t just worried about his talent.
Even in her prime, during her younger days, the significance of the imaginary world had somewhat faded. With wars less frequent and peace prevailing in the empire, the imaginary world had distanced itself from its original role in combat.
The more beautiful and radiant the scenery etched in the imaginary world, the more esteemed the individual became. Now, everyone prayed for an even more beautiful world.
From this perspective, Kalen’s imaginary world was far removed from such ideals. A world of darkness, starkly contrasting against beauty and radiance, seemed dangerous in Blamia’s eyes.
“They might envy your talent and use your imaginary world as an excuse to subject you to a purification tribunal. People might even begin to believe that you’re a demon.”
A boy barely eleven years old could not shoulder such a burden. If he had remained entirely unaware, that might have been different, but Blamia decided to extend just a little more care.
“Though the imaginary world can’t usually be forced out of someone, in your peculiar case, it emerges when you stimulate mana. Hence, never let anyone touch your body.”
“Yes…”
“Also, don’t flaunt your talent in front of nobles. Just enough to get by. That will suffice.”
Blamia was a grand magician. There was no one who could rival her knowledge of magic. Moreover, given her age, she deserved respect. Kalen took her advice to heart.
“That’s all I have to teach you. Any questions?”
Perhaps due to the heavy atmosphere, Blamia chuckled lightly, attempting to lighten the mood. It was because Kalen had never initiated a question before, and she naturally assumed it would remain the same this time.
“…Can you tell me more about the young ladies you mentioned earlier?”
“Hmm?”
Kalen was unusually serious for his age. Blamia thought the boy must regard her as even more difficult than before. Yet, this was the first time he voluntarily asked something.
Was it because he harbored some kind of fantasy about noble ladies as a boy, or had he just reached out for whatever hand she extended?
Blamia couldn’t tell exactly, but this change wasn’t entirely negative.
“So, does hearing about noble young ladies spark your curiosity?”
“Ah…”
“Let’s go on. I too once had a certain someone in my heart, back in the day.”
Blamia found Kalen suddenly boyish, and she let out a faint smile.
“You’re already playing the role of Sina’s opposite partner, so you know. Though I’m male, I still had my encounters with many young noble ladies and learned their ways through etiquette. My wife also had her own say.”
Blamia was the head of a prestigious dukedom. As one among the top grand magicians, it was unsurprising. Before leading a separate life with Sina, he had interacted with countless young ladies, mastering propriety and decorum.
This was true for his spouse as well, the eldest daughter of one of the most powerful houses at the time. She was naturally well-versed in the decorum of the noble world.
“At the very least, none of the noble young ladies who carry that title are sane.”
“Excuse me?”
“They’re either insane or acting insane to stay that way.”
Blamia chuckled lightly before continuing.
“The more prestigious the family and the more beautiful and graceful an individual is born, the greater the pressure from an early age, which no young girl should endure.”
“Does that mean… young ladies…”
“Sina? What I tell you is only a fraction. My name can shield you from most ill will, but this is a temporary patch for the remainder.”
“Ah…”
“Only the insane can endure it. My wife once said that people usually cope with their painful realities by becoming excessively obsessed with something precious.”
Even shortly before meeting Kalen, Blamia met several young noblewomen who each hid behind fabricated smiles.
“Until their coming-of-age ceremony, they have to endure everything—clothes, hobbies, even how they laugh—all chosen for them. Now, they’re also expected to achieve success in magical pursuits.”
What remains after all this?
Those fortunate enough to find a suitable spouse might be lucky if they marry well, but most do not.
“A young lady who loves eating adjusts her diet for weight management. A young lady who enjoys running about starts walking cautiously. Another who loves theater must attend high-class orchestra concerts. Even one who loves meadow flowers is forced to wear heavy jewels.”
“Surely it can’t be… that extreme?”
“If you find that excessive, then you’re off the mark. Each of these things is a way they, their parents, and their houses are evaluated. They willingly bear these pressures because they know it.”
Even with the advent of magic, this fact had never changed.
“Certainly, not every young lady willingly accepts it, but the majority does. How does it sound? Another bitterly trying life, very different from yours.”
“Even now, I find it hard to fully believe… But a little… ”
“A little?”
“A little respect for them comes naturally.”
One cannot comprehend what they haven’t experienced. Hence, Kalen admired them purely.
“Well, now it’s often said that excelling in magic can somewhat gloss over other shortcomings.”
Blamia chuckled playfully and lightly patted Kalen’s stiff shoulder.
That’s why countless young ladies stake their lives on magic and the pursuit of beautiful worlds.
The words she refrained from saying hung in the air.
*
A peculiar relationship had formed—Kalen served as a servant yet received teaching. This unusual bond had continued for four years, and somehow, bonds—real or not—had formed. Furthermore, Kalen was responsible for managing Blamia’s and Sina’s household affairs. No matter how heartless one might be, it’d be hard to sever such ties easily.
“Kal! Give me a hand!”
“Teacher, please don’t say things that might cause misunderstandings…”
“Between friends, what misunderstanding?”
“…No, it’s not.”
No, if the sole reason was this, the relationship wouldn’t have lasted long enough for Kalen to stop speaking formally to Blamia because Blamia cared only for his granddaughter and showed very little concern for Kalen.
Even now, at fifteen, this remained true. Had it not been for Sina, their peculiar relationship would have definitely ended much earlier.
– No way, Grandfather! If you send Kalen away… I’ll leave home too!
Every time Blamia hinted at dismissing Kalen, Sina somehow sensed it and stood in his defense, ready to protest. Even when Kalen tried to convince Sina for his own independence, her resolve remained unchanged.
There was a time when Kalen secretly left without informing Sina, only to find her threatening to harm herself. That made it impossible for them to do anything.
Kalen turned his back to her, letting Sina lean her head on his chest. That image of her, calmly sitting with her eyes closed and smiling faintly, had become a common scene over time.
That day.
Would things have been less severe if he had only been away briefly during the family emergency? Despite this thought, Blamia instinctively recalled an incident from two years ago.