Sometimes, in those rare moments of quiet, the human mind gets swept away by deep thoughts, questions that no one usually has the time to ponder
Kaiser sat quietly on a wooden bench while the sun was slowly sinking behind the trees, dyeing the sky with a brilliant red-orange hue
At this point, Kaiser's school life was quite busy. Every day of the week had a nearly packed schedule. After classes, he often spent time with his friends: sometimes taking a walk around the school with Amelia, other times helping Helen care for the flower garden. When he had some free time, he didn't forget to continue working on his physical training and his mana control
But now, when reflecting on everything, he suddenly realized that there was one thing that was never in his daily plan - revising theoretical subjects
Kaiser understood what the professors taught in class. He picked up the material quickly enough to pass exams without much trouble. But just "understanding" wasn't enough. If he wanted to truly master the knowledge, to dive deep into its essence, he would need to invest more time and effort
He could rearrange his schedule to study more, if he really wanted to. But then, a question unexpectedly popped into his mind-
"Why do I have to do that?"
Indeed, he didn't see any reason why he should try harder
His future... he didn't know where he was heading
Kaiser wasn't the ambitious type. He had never craved power or fame. A simple life, enough for him to feel at peace, was all he needed. If possible, he wanted to open a small shop, maybe a tea house, a bookstore, or a place selling small useful items. Each day passing in stability, without too much worry, without getting caught up in power struggles or complicated schemes - that was the future he longed for.
'Sounds great...' he thought to himself
But then, his gaze fell on his left wrist - where the Master-level Mana bracelet emitted a faint glow under the sunset
His talent was too remarkable to live an ordinary life
Carrying a Stigma, his fate had long ceased to be something he could easily control. His past training wasn't for himself, but for Myreni - the one who had given him a better life. If there was a path he should follow, it was probably the one that helped Myreni with her work
But the problem was... Myreni had never revealed anything about her work to him.
Leaving him unable to know if that was truly his path
Thinking about the future, he instinctively remembered Amelia
The two of them had so much in common. They understood each other, harmonized in a way that not everyone could. But when imagining a longer-term future, a life together, Kaiser felt an invisible distance between them
He only needed a simple life, but what about Amelia?
She was a princess. From the moment she was born, she belonged to a world of luxury, where power and status were essentials. If she wanted to continue down that path, could he be the one to walk alongside her?
Maybe... he was worrying too much. Amelia had never said she needed that kind of life. But whether she said it or not, the truth remained - their worlds were too different.
What would the future hold for the two of them?
Kaiser sighed, leaning back against the backrest of the bench, his eyes quietly watching the sky
A soft sound pulled him from his thoughts
Kaiser turned his head and caught sight of a familiar figure walking toward him.
Mary, in simple training clothes, her hand gripping a wrist guard, her gaze serious yet unable to hide a hint of nervousness
"Hi, Mary" Kaiser's smile brightened when he saw her
"Good afternoon, Kaiser" Mary replied, her voice a little deeper but still calm as usual
After lunch the day before, they had agreed that Kaiser would notify Mary in advance about the training schedule so she could prepare well. Today was the first session.
The two of them then went together to the academy's training hall
"Shall we start right away?" Kaiser stretched a little before stepping out into the open area of the training ground
Mary took a deep breath and nodded firmly
"Sure"
Kaiser had been thinking about how he could help her. Illusion magic was a field that required persistence and a long time to master. He didn't have much experience in this type of magic, so he couldn't directly guide her in advanced techniques. Instead, he decided to observe and point out mistakes during her casting, helping her improve step by step.
"Let's start quickly" Kaiser said.
"Try creating a copy of me" he instructed
Mary nodded, took a deep breath, and raised her hand. The air shimmered slightly as mana flowed through her body, weaving an illusion - a second Kaiser appeared in front of them.
At first glance, it looked similar, but Kaiser immediately noticed something off
"The height's a little off" he pointed out.
Mary looked back, realizing the illusion was slightly shorter than the real Kaiser. She tried to adjust but couldn't get it quite right
"Maybe you should try a different approach?" Kaiser suggested.
Mary pondered for a moment, then tried creating a simple frame before applying the illusion on top. This time, the height was perfect
"That's good" Kaiser nodded, then pointed at the illusion's eyes "But the gaze is too empty"
Mary frowned. She continued experimenting, over and over again. Each time she fixed one mistake, Kaiser pointed out another - posture, color, expression
The training session lasted until evening. By the time they stopped, Mary was exhausted, but her eyes still shone with determination
"You're progressing pretty quickly, Mary" Kaiser smiled.
She gently replied
"Thank you, Kaiser"