Chapter . 66
“Michelon, Yolande is doing her best.”
Yolande was merely referencing the Throne Magic Circle. But Michelon disliked me shedding blood even when I used the Throne Magic Circle. Unless he was shedding his blood as well. He dislikes blood, yet likes battles.
“For Nanette, not you.”
As Michelon retorted, I acknowledged.
“For Nanette.”
I nodded and continued.
“For me who likes Nanette. Also, since Nanette likes me and likes Yolande, it is natural for Yolande and me to care for each other.”
Yolande looked only at me.
“It is Vincent.”
“Who?”
Michelon asked, but Yolande shut her mouth and lowered her head. There was no color in those lips that had just spoken her husband's name.
“Thank you, Yolande.”
Saying so, I extended the other arm Michelon wasn't holding to Yolande.
“What are you—”
But Yolande was faster. As Yolande swung her staff, my exposed wrist was slashed by a blade so sharp I didn't even feel pain, and blood dripped down.
As soon as the blood fell, Yolande healed my wound. It didn't hurt at all. It hurt more that Michelon, gritting his teeth, gripped my arm tighter.
Then Yolande cast magic with all her mana. How long has it been since I saw Master's magic?
Most of the incantations that came out were composed of ancient languages that had become dead languages. Words whose meanings were actually unclear, though they are said to mean protection mainly nowadays. Master had mentioned that there are rare cases like that among spells handed down from ancient times. Speculating that they might be cipher spells hiding the actual meaning in dead languages.
Even if I couldn't understand, the clear and deep vocalization sounded beautiful.
“Incipiora Valaskaion de Valaska interese Armatiana Hellanesta.”
Yolande's magic was brightening the originally dark Audience Chamber. But now magical darkness settled everywhere. To brighten the light of the magic circle most vividly. Only the tip of Yolande's staff was faintly lighting up.
Then a faint vibration occurred throughout the Audience Chamber. That vibration slowly pushed from all over the Audience Chamber towards the Throne and concentrated under the Throne.
“Fiordelichea pasturanera brontesenus.”
As the vibration spread from under the Throne to all directions again, the steps of the platform where the Throne was placed slowly went down. Thus the floor became flat. Then light began to emit slowly, but only the immediate vicinity of the Throne was sparkling barely. It wasn't bright enough yet, and far from a magic circle, it looked like a few fireflies gathered.
“Scatelano Herzeloidera—”
She was out of breath. Before even finishing the spell.
It wasn't because Yolande's magic was insufficient. Originally, more mages were needed. Doing it alone itself was truly amazing.
And although it wasn't the method I established by banging my head alone, it was an interesting spell and an exciting method. Enough to want to watch until the end.
‘At this rate, the sun will rise.’
It was hard to keep watching such strong mana and truly excellent magic being consumed. Although it is really good, doing so is too inefficient, and there is no need to do so. Especially when Master, not just any other mage, is about to pass out struggling alone.
“Throne Magic Circle Manifestation!”
I raised one hand, palm down, and drew a semicircle from the Throne towards the entire Audience Chamber.
The next moment, the entire Throne Magic Circle vividly emerged on the entire floor of the Audience Chamber, brightening the darkness.
Thud.
The staff fell from Yolande's hand and rolled away.
“Why didn't you do it earlier. I thought the sun would rise.”
Michelon, who had glared at me so fiercely lest I reveal the fact that I am a mage, finally took his hand off my arm and said. A friend who persuades me if our wills differ, but always follows if my will is firm. Is that what a friend is originally like, or is Michelon just such a friend.
I wanted to see Master's magic after a long time. Still, if Master gets too exhausted, we won't be able to achieve the real purpose of coming here.
I bent down, picked up the staff Yolande dropped, and held it out. Yolande barely accepted it with a still blank face.
“You are released from the contract with the Emperor.”
Yolande blinked at my words and looked at me. Realizing that the words were Word Soul Magic.
She still had a bewildered face uncharacteristic of Master, but I pushed on without giving her time to come to her senses. If we drag out time like this, it will only become more dangerous for fellow mages like Master and me.
“My husband... Vincent.......”
Yolande whispered. Like a younger sister who can never be happy alone without her older sister, a wife who can never be free alone without her husband.
“I know. He too shall find freedom like you.”
Having said that, I asked.
“By the way, how did Vincent, Desmond's mage, come to marry the Emperor's mage? Setting aside hostages.”
The imperial family of Armatia does not forbid mages under their command from marrying. However, they block not only marriage but interaction itself with mages of other imperial family members. Even when forming an alliance and fighting together, under strict surveillance.
Because hostages also need to be held together, but if they are under another master, they cannot be called hostages.
Yolande's lips trembled. She truly couldn't speak. A direct order not to speak.
‘Mentioning Ilaves's death itself must be taboo.’
I extended my hand.
“Recall that memory. Close your eyes and shut your lips. You do not break the taboo.”
Yolande stared intently at my hand for a moment, then finally raised her staff and touched it to my palm.
-Oath of Silence.
Master had said.
-Mages cannot divulge anything regardless of what order or what happened.
Silence included as a basic condition when mages swear to obey under the imperial family's protection.
Master could not explain in detail about that either. But I was someone who had already achieved a new contract replacing the most difficult contract with a dragon. Someone who also revived memories of the contract seal experienced in the past.
‘Trust me, Master.’
Speaking only inwardly while looking earnestly outwardly, I lifted Yolande's staff and touched it to the center of my forehead. The sound of Michelon inhaling was heard vividly.
I took Yolande's other trembling hand and made it cover my eyes, and when my eyes were covered by her hand, I said.
“If there is magic to erase memories, there is also magic to read memories.”
Amidst Yolande gasping for breath, a voice from the past whispered to me.
-But oblivion magic is stronger, why?
-Because there must be many who wish to forget themselves. More than those willing to hand over memories.
-Mental magic is less stable than elemental magic, why?
-Is it because it is abused, reducing people's spontaneity?
-Exactly. Mental magic originally utilizes people's mental power. Since it is a great power no less than elemental power. However, instead of harmonizing with elements like elemental magic, it forces will upon others' minds and abuses it, so the magic itself could not be developed properly.
Master's teaching was correct.
But whenever I recalled my past which was forgotten even though I didn't wish for it myself, I recalled another victim who recommended that oblivion.
-I was like that too... once you obtain it, you can forget everything except the joy of that healing... there will also be oblivion like a blessing.......
Counting from before the regression, it is still a matter of a few years later.
Now he was agitated thinking Yolande would be in the same situation as him.
But would it really be so a few years later. Being in the same situation, wouldn't he believe oblivion is the only medicine. Another victim brainwashed by the same pain.
Thus, from his case, I found a way for mental magic not to be abused.
“Yolande.”
“Yes.......”
“If Vincent perceives oblivion as <Healing>, it can also be <Light>. When he perceives pain as <Darkness>.”
“…Light and Darkness.......”
The most distinct concept and most natural image perceived by the mind, namely light and darkness.
Clarifying light and darkness, utilizing mental magic for the subject.
“You are currently in the <Darkness> of silence. If you wish, come out to the <Light> of expression.”
Mental magic itself was a first. It would succeed only if Yolande's magic participated voluntarily while I realized my concept.
“For Vincent.......”
“For Vincent.”
Entrusting my forehead under Yolande's staff, closing my eyes under Yolande's hand, I realized mental magic.
Recalling the appearance of Vincent I saw, the appearance of being beaten to death by the First Prince's knight, I conveyed that memory to Yolande.
“Sob!”
Yolande's hand fell away. The tip of the staff too.
I waited with my eyes closed.
Waiting, Yolande's hand approached again. But instead of coming to my eyes, it went to my hand, grabbed my hand and brought it to her eyes.
When I covered Yolande's eyes with my hand, damp and warm moisture was felt. Like the hand that grabbed my hand first. As if she had blocked her crying with her hand.
Again the tip of the staff touched my forehead, and a hand touched my closed eyes.
I manifested magic again very quietly.
Containing my question following my memory.
Looking back, it was a question buried along with sadness in my young heart from a very long time ago.
<Who is that mage?>
Vincent.
<What happened to that mage?>
Time passed. Both our hands became wet with sweat, and tears welled up in our eyes. Amidst the continuous darkness where nothing could be seen.
I couldn't borrow the power of the Throne Magic Circle either.
When I examined Yolande upon her arrival, her oath was also recorded in the Throne Magic Circle. So Yolande could use magic on the magic circle, but she couldn't use the magic circle to break her oath.
‘Then a conflict between command and command will inevitably occur. I must avoid only that.’
Time passed again. A terrible headache arose. Mental magic was too different from elemental magic, and far from being able to feel or accept with the whole body like elemental magic, there was nothing. Since there is nothing, insisting this is not <Nothingness> but <Darkness>, therefore <Light> must also exist.
‘But I have already done it. I have already experienced it.’
The seal of the contract, the contract with Michelon, the pain experienced while confronting and breaking contracts... ultimately, what happened before the regression was mental magic itself.
<Darkness>
After regression, just as the new contract with Michelon is <Light> manifested by one who experienced <Darkness>.
Slowly, something began to emerge from the darkness. Yolande's memory trapped in taboo finally being released, from the confining <Darkness> to the liberation of <Light>.
The moment the memory of that time began, mages gathered in the Audience Chamber. At first only the Emperor's mages gathered, but the oldest mage shook his head.
-It is far from enough.
When he said that to the Emperor watching them sitting on the Throne, the Emperor brought the Empress's mages.
-I am incredibly happy to be of meager help to His Majesty the Emperor. God Traneha looks down hoping everything will be accomplished according to His Majesty the Emperor's will.
The Empress, who brought them personally, smiles brightly at the Emperor requisitioning her mages. However, before leaving, she secretly warns her mages. Without knowing the fact that the Throne Magic Circle broke the Empress faction's anti-spying magic, and the Emperor's mages including Yolande were monitoring the Empress faction.
-Report what happened here to me somehow. Regardless of means and methods, figure out a way to circumvent the Imperial Order somehow.
The Empress's mages tremble. Vincent is among them. Vincent looks at Yolande among the Emperor's mages, but Yolande is busy talking with her teacher, the eldest mage.
-I haven't taken the oath yet.......
-Do not speak foolish words. A mage is protected by the Traneha Order only when there is a master. If you have to swear loyalty anyway, the Emperor is best. You don't need to serve multiple masters throughout your life.
Yolande cannot object and goes before the Emperor as her teacher leads.
-She is my disciple, still an apprentice mage, but I believe she will surely distinguish herself this time.
Besides Yolande, there are several other apprentice mages. That many mages were needed, and there were many mages trying to make their disciples Emperor's mages like themselves taking this opportunity.
The Emperor accepts their oath of loyalty, but there must be a hostage.