After taking Ren around the palace the whole day, I introduced him to Chrisola. My younger sister, who had never had a male friend her age before, appeared shy and nervous. Her awkward attempts at small conversation were so cute!
Meanwhile, Ren… Ugh! In comparison to Chrisola, he looked more interested in Elly, my sister's voluptuous nanny.
I rolled my eyes, slightly irritated. This was not how they met in the novel! In Twilight's Chronicle, Chrisola and William had a poetic, fate-touched first encounter. But that image is now completely ruined.
The next day, my first (real) magic training officially began. Accompanied by Ren and watched over by Owen, we made our way to the palace's magical training hall. Unlike my usual training spot, this room was a marvel of magical engineering. Sprawling seals adorned the walls, carved with glittering silver runes that pulsed in time with the ambient energy. Above us, a gigantic, crystalline stone radiated a lovely rainbow glow, throwing dazzling light across the room.
"What is that?" I asked Owen while pointing at the crystal.
Before he could answer, a man's voice interrupted, "That is Materite, a crystal that serves as the heart of magical energy in our world, my dear Princess."
The elderly royal wizard suddenly appeared, teleporting right before us. His long cloak draped over his shoulders in heavy folds. He bowed, lifting the hood from his face, revealing a set of wise, slightly mischievous eyes.
"Greetings, Princess Luna and Young Master Lazarro," he said with a broad smile. "We've met before, but I realize I've yet to properly introduce myself. My name is Ixius, though you may call me Ix."
Ren and I shared a quick, cautious glance.
Ixius chuckled as if reading our minds. "Ah! There is no need for such formality. You both look like you're on trial!" Ixius remarked, waving his hand dismissively.
"Of course, they're nervous around you, Old Man!" Owen crossed his arms and scoffed. "You're an old geezer who can teleport in and out of rooms like a ghost."
"Old geezer? Who are you calling that, you disrespectful brat!" Ixius lifted an eyebrow, then snapped his fingers.
In an instant, Owen was thrown backward, landing with a thump on the wall.
"Careful, my boy," Ixius muttered, narrowing his eyes.
A spark of realization struck me. Could he… be Owen's grandfather?
Ixius chanted something under his breath, and in an instant, the elderly man transformed into a handsome young man with a striking resemblance to Owen.
Ren gaped, admiration shining in his eyes. "Wow, awesome! Is that transformation magic?"
Ixius nodded and laughed. "Now you won't feel nervous or see me as an old man, right?"
"Ugh! Even if you're young, you're still—Gyaaah!" Owen's sentence was cut short as Ixius snapped his fingers again, this time sending him flying up to the ceiling.
Unbelievable. I'd never seen Owen so powerless. Does this mean this man's magical abilities far exceed his?
"Alright, young ones," Ixius said, turning back to us. "Before we dive into training, I'd like to know which spells you're already familiar with."
I nodded eagerly. "I can create a fireball, Master Ix."
Ren jumped in next, "And I can move objects, create a barrier, and do some basic room magic, Master."
Ixius folded his arms, his smile fading into something more serious. "Hmmm… All of those are still basic-level magic...," he noted. "For the son of a Marquess, that's something I already expected as the Lazarro clan isn't known for its magical prowess. But for Princess Luna…" He gave me a keen look, his eyes probing. "Is a simple fireball truly all you know?"
His gaze sent a chill through me, as if he could peer into my very soul.
Does he already suspect I have learned something forbidden? My studies with Shilien are not something I want to openly acknowledge... Not yet.
"I-I…" I hesitated, biting my lip.
Ixius's laughter broke through the tension, dismissing my unease. "Well, for a ten-year-old, a fireball is still an impressive feat! For now, I'd like to see the full extent of both of your magical potential!"
The elder magician moved his hands in a circular motion, and suddenly a portal appeared in front of him.
"Step through," he instructed, his tone suddenly grave.
"W-Wait, Old Man! What are you planning?" Owen was surprised at the portal and yelled, but Ixius restrained him once more.
"Do not interfere with my teaching methods. You stay right here, my dear grandson," Ixius remarked with a smile.
The electricity in the air shifted, exciting and terrible. I glanced at Ren, who gave me a tentative nod before we walked into the portal. As we passed through the portal, we landed in a huge desert, we were welcomed by a blast of dry heat, with golden sand reaching endlessly about us.
Ixius floated above, calm and unaffected. He pulled out an ornate white staff decorated with intricate runes, which he aimed at the ground below.
With a murmured incantation, the sand surrounding us began to quiver, rising and twisting to form. Soon, a two-meter-tall golem constructed solely of sand appeared in front of us, its figure massive and crude, but exuding a disturbing aura of latent power.
"Here's a little test. Let's see if you can destroy this golem with your current abilities," Ixius announced, his voice carrying easily over the desert's silence. "Don't worry. As for now, it's a tame creature that won't attack you…yet. So, who wants to go first?"
Ren and I exchanged glances, the thrill of competition building between us.
"I'll go first, Master!" Ren volunteered. He squared his shoulders and aimed both hands at the golem with fierce determination. After focusing his energy, he formed a shimmering energy orb, releasing it with a loud cry. "Haaahh!!"
The orb shot forward, crashing into the golem's arm, which exploded in a shower of sand, leaving the limb partially shattered.
Ixius nodded, though his gaze remained critical. "Hmmm… A decent attack spell, but your aim could be refined. Try to strike the center of mass next time."
Hearing that comment, Ren sighed and looked disappointed. As his face fell slightly, his forehead glistened with sweat. It seemed that attack was his most powerful spell and had drained a lot of his mana.
"Alright, Princess, your turn," Ixius said as he restored the golem to its original state.
Taking a steadying breath, I stepped forward, focusing on the golem.
I stepped forward and took a steady breath, focusing on the golem. It was a hulking creature, but I sensed that its bulk was deceptive because its sandy form was inherently fragile. From Ixius' words, it seemed he wanted to see if we could destroy it with a single strike.
I inhaled deeply, channeling my magic into my palms, shaping it into a blazing fireball.
"Fire… Ball!" I shouted, flinging my attack with all the focus I could muster.
The fireball hit dead center, detonating upon impact, and… Boom!
The creature disintegrated in a flash, leaving a cloud of sand drifting where it once stood.
"Hmmm… You understand the intent of this exercise well. It seems Owen's three years of training was not wasted on you." Ixius said, his approving smile returning.
A swell of pride filled me as I caught Ren's admiring glance.
"But," Ixius continued, twirling his staff with a grin, "this was only a warm-up."
With a wave of his hand, the desert sands churned and writhed as countless smaller golems rose in a rough circle around us, their blank faces staring us down.
"Now, let's see how many of them you can destroy before running out of mana," he declared, his grin widening.
Ren and I exchanged one last look, both of us steeling ourselves for the battle ahead. I raised my hands, letting my magic pulse, the thrill of the challenge igniting my spirit.
The true test had only just begun.