Death. A single word that sends a chill down my spine.
"For a mage, pushing oneself beyond their limits doesn't only lead to mental but also physical exhaustion. It could leave your body paralyzed, make you lose consciousness, or even damage your vital organs," Ixius explained. "Well, you can imagine what might happen after that."
Ren and I nodded, recalling the bone-deep weariness we had experienced last week after training magic with Ixius.
"But there has to be a way to avoid mana exhaustion, right, Master?" Ren asked, a hint of hope flickering in his eyes.
Ixius smiled. "You're a sharp one, aren't you?" The old wizard took out his staff. "The simplest way to prevent mana exhaustion is by using materite. With a tool made from materite, you can enhance your magic's power and efficiency while reducing the mana needed to cast spells. This is much better than casting magic with your bare hands."
"So… can we request a magic weapon of our own?" I asked.
"It's not that simple, Your Highness." Ixius chuckled. It seemed he could see my excitement at the prospect of wielding such power. "A magic tool must be made from materite that aligns with or is compatible with the EMBLEM type you possess. Take mine, for example." The old wizard raised his staff, tapping the crystal at its tip.
Ren and I leaned closer, examining the crystal embedded in Ixius's staff. Its translucent surface shimmered gently. We noticed that somehow, it's almost similar to the large crystal in the ceiling of our training area.
"My staff was crafted from a specific type of materite that resonates with my power. However…" The man gestured to the large crystal above us. "That is Omnicite, one of the rarest and highest-grade materites, compatible with almost all elements. That's why when you train using magic here, you won't tire as easily and can avoid mana exhaustion."
"Oh, I see. So when you said you wanted to test our capabilities, you had us practice elsewhere, then brought us back here once we were exhausted and out of mana?" I asked.
"Exactly." Ixius nodded with a smile. "I wanted to see your limits before easing the pressure."
"When can we get our magic weapons, Master?" Ren's eyes lit up with enthusiasm.
"Once you're truly ready for them. You need to focus on understanding the true power of your EMBLEM and strengthening it first," Ixius replied, his expression firm.
"Then, will you consider asking His Majesty to commission magic tools for us if we're strong enough?" I looked at Ixius hopefully.
The elder magician just smirked at us. And we took it as a 'yes' answer.
We then continued our discussion, covering the fundamental aspects of advanced magic use. Previously, I believed that the entire structure of magic revolved solely around the eight core EMBLEM elements: HEAT, COLD, LAND, SKY, LIGHT, DARK, PHYSICAL, and FORCE. But my studies with Ixius had unveiled far more nuanced layers, like the use of materite and the specific conditions required to master more advanced spells. None of those were told in Twilight's Chronicle, revealing the gaps between the novel's worldbuilding and the world I live in now.
And I thought changing my fate would be easier with all my previous life knowledge. Damn it…!
The rest of our lesson unfolded in a blur of intricate theories and demonstrations. As our session drew to a close, I waited until Ixius was preparing to leave before calling out to him.
"Excuse me, Master Ix. Do you know anything about Daedalos L.?"
Ixius paused, a flicker of surprise in his gaze as he heard me mentioning that name. But he turned to face me and answered calmly, though his expression was thoughtful. "Of course. Lord Daedalos was one of the most brilliant scientists and mages of his era. He pioneered many of the theories we use today."
"Was his specialty in space-time magic and summoning arts?" I asked further, my heart racing.
"Indeed. He was unmatched in those fields. But…" Ixius inclined his head. "May I know where you hear about him, Your Highness??"
"Oh, I… read some of his work in the library," I replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
There's no way I could tell him that I had been sneaking out forbidden books on ancient magic, right?
"Hoo… Interesting. Most people find his books very hard to understand, even for an expert," he murmured.
"Uh… Is reading his work forbidden?" I asked carefully as I sensed the curiosity in Ixius's tone.
A hint of amusement tugged at Ixius's lips. "Not at all. However, I would caution you against attempting anything in his books unsupervised. Some spells are perilous, even for an experienced mage."
I cast a quick glance at Ren, who gave me a knowing look but kept silent, his face a careful mask.
"Is that man still alive?" The question just slipped out without me having time to hesitate about it.
"That… is not something I can answer, Your Highness." Ixius's expression shifted, his usual calm demeanor wavering. And with that, he turned and vanished via teleportation, leaving Ren and me alone in the silence of the training room.
"Doesn't that seem a bit sus?" Ren finally broke the quiet, his eyes glinting with intrigue.
"Do you think this Daedalos L. could be connected to why we're transmigrated to this world?" I asked him back.
He just shrugged. "I dunno… but I think it's worth finding out."
My gaze drifted to the dimly lit crystal on the ceiling, a storm of unanswered questions swirling in my mind and lingering in the air.
In the days that followed, whenever we weren't training, Ren and I spent our spare time returning to the library to look for more information about Daedalos L. and the history of the Emeraldine Kingdom. But our search was fruitless as we found no other significant clues.
"Hmmm… Adventus…" I muttered while flipping through the magic book I had borrowed from the library in my bedroom. "What does it actually mean?"
Knock! Knock! Knock!
Just then, sharp knocks from the door pulled me from my thoughts.
"Yes? Who is it?" I closed the book and called, but there was no answer.
"Come in," I then said, allowing entry.
The door creaked open, and Chrisola's head peeked in shyly.
"Hey Chrisola! What's up?" I asked, offering a gentle smile.
The little girl stepped into the room. Her small hands clutched a big stuffed teddy bear. "Big Sis… will you play with me?"
"Oh, Chrisola, I'm sorry. I'm just so busy with my studies right now," I replied, a pang of guilt stirring.
Her face twisted into a small pout, her shoulders slumping. "You're always busy studying again and again! Ever since that boy arrived, you haven't made time for me and only studied with him!"
"No, Chrisola, it's not like that. I just have a lot to learn," I tried to explain, reaching out to her, but she shook her head, her cheeks flushed with hurt.
"Forget it! I'll go play with Mother instead!" She shouted, her voice thick with tears, before spinning on her heel and darting out the door.
"Chrisola, wait!" I called out, heart pounding as I chased after her.
A cold, foreboding sense gripped me, freezing my veins the moment she mentioned "Mother." Something in her tone, something so vulnerable and desperate, set every alarm in me off.
My worst fears were confirmed. I found Chrisola in the hall, her small arms wrapped around Shilien, who held her close with a motherly gentleness that felt anything but genuine. She stroked Chrisola's hair with one hand, her other arm wrapping possessively around her. And then, her gaze found mine, her lips curling into a sly, triumphant smile.
There was no kindness in her eyes… only satisfaction, as though she had won some unspoken battle. The weight of her smirk settled over me like a noose tightening around my throat.
Chrisola clung to her, her tear-streaked face pressed against Shilien's shoulder. "Mother understands me. She always has," she whispered, loud enough for me to hear.
I clenched my fists, helpless rage burning beneath my calm facade. Shilien was slowly but surely claiming Chrisola's heart, turning her against me. The realization twisted inside me, sharp and cold.
How long had she been waiting for this moment?
"Oh, my dear Luna," Shilien cooed, voice dripping with feigned sympathy. "Is everything alright? You look so… distraught."
The words dripped like venom, and I fought to keep my composure. But as I met her gaze, I could sense her silent message.
It was a warning… A challenge, and perhaps even a promise that this was only the beginning.