Chapter 52

### Chapter 5: Zeraphi

I hesitated about posting "Zeraphi," but I wanted to record Zeraphi's final moments and move on to the next story. I hope you can read it casually.

The next story, "The School Life of (Lucian and others)," will have a lighter atmosphere. (I think Zeraphi's story is not too heavy after the beginning, relatively speaking.)

It will be a total of five chapters.

I am very grateful to those who have read it. Your bookmarks and evaluations are a valuable source of energy for me. Thank you.

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### 8 Years Ago

Zeraphi was placed in the 6th prison of the mine in Janine Town. The prison was notorious for its poor working conditions, harsh labor, and the low quality of the prisoners. Noble daughters who were sent there usually died within half a year to two years. Deaths and injuries within the prison were not uncommon, and investigations among the prisoners often made little progress, leaving cases unsolved. When Zeraphi's victims, Simone's parents, heard that she was sent to this prison, they felt a sense of relief.

◇◇◇

Zeraphi was known as the "Flame Woman." The magic attribute one possesses greatly influences their personality.

People with the "Earth" magic attribute are calm.

Those with the "Water" magic attribute are generous.

Those with the "Wind" magic attribute are whimsical.

Those with the "Fire" magic attribute have a strong heart.

However, mages do not have just one magic attribute but multiple. It is said that two or more magic attributes balance each other, preventing personality and character from becoming one-sided.

Noel would always think of Zeraphi whenever she thought of the "Fire" magic attribute. Her hair was a deep golden color, and her eyes were a vivid blue. When she smiled, it was as if a large flower had bloomed, radiating beauty. Her appearance reflected the intensity of fire itself.

Noel had learned about the relationship between magic attributes and personality from Professor Theo.

"There are no mages with only one magic attribute. They have two or more.

High-level mages, who are called mages, always have more than one magic attribute.

If a mage has only one magic attribute, their personality becomes one-sided.

If a mage has a strong 'Fire' magic attribute, they will also have 'Earth' or 'Water' as secondary attributes.

The immense power of magic is given direction and form by the magic attributes, allowing them to cast spells.

The influence of this is very strong and greatly affects personality.

Therefore, magic teachers insist that mages practice all their magic attributes evenly.

If they don't, they are not good teachers."

If "Earth" is too dominant, one becomes heavy and sluggish, or stubborn.

If "Water" is too dominant, one becomes easily swayed by desires.

If "Wind" is too dominant, one becomes physically weak and mentally anxious.

And if "Fire" is too dominant, a mage becomes intensely harsh.

Zeraphi had only used fire attacks in her magic. This was allowed.

Thinking about this, one cannot help but blame her toxic parents. They had created a harsh mage.

◇◇

The news reached Noel when it had been eight years since Zeraphi was sent to the mine. Sirius told her.

"An accident at the mine?"

"Yes, a large-scale accident.

Zeraphi died protecting her fellow prisoners."

"Protecting her fellow prisoners? Zeraphi?

Did Zeraphi change her personality and repent?"

Noel couldn't believe her ears.

"Well, it's hard to say just from this."

"Yes... I see."

Zeraphi's funeral was held as that of a prisoner with no family. Zeraphi was no longer a noble, and her family consisted only of her parents, who were still in the mine.

◇◇◇

Accidents in the mine are rare but not uncommon. Mining is inherently dangerous.

Explosives are used to dig tunnels, and their use requires extreme caution. At the time of the accident, the worker was inexperienced. The handover was taking place as a long-serving worker was retiring, which is the most accident-prone situation. Zeraphi happened to be working nearby and noticed that an accident was about to occur. However, prisoners' opinions were not taken seriously, so she consulted a guard she often talked to. By the time they took action, the accident had already happened. There were several collapses, and Zeraphi tried to save her close friends, but she was hit by the falling debris.

Noel read the testimonies of those who were present.

"Zeraphi often gave me bread.

She would make a face and say, 'I can't believe you can eat such hard and tasteless bread.' I told her, 'It's delicious if you soak it in stew,' but she said, 'I don't like soggy bread.' Instead, she would take the meat from the stew.

For me, the tough meat made my stomach hurt, so I was glad she took it.

Zeraphi had a lover... No, not exactly.

But since she's gone now, it's fine.

We know we shouldn't have such relationships here, but Zeraphi didn't care about the details.

Her partner... I don't know much about them. But from that time on, Zeraphi became a bit more calm.

I think I was probably the one who talked to Zeraphi the most. Even if she didn't consider us close friends.

She said she was sent here by Simone's family.

She said, 'I was supposed to be unhappy, but this place is quite relaxed and nice.'

I thought she was amazing to find it relaxing here.

Zeraphi had high magic power and wore a magic-sealing device, but she could still use a little bit of body-strengthening magic.

She said, 'I can use a little bit of body-strengthening magic since I came here.'

So, she said, 'Work is easy, and I can handle the quota.'

She did more than her share of the work.

I was very envious.

But Zeraphi would say, 'I envy you. I wanted to be as carefree as you,' with a serious face. I didn't understand.

Zeraphi was beautiful and of noble birth... but she wasn't at all like a noble lady. Yet, there was nothing about me that she could envy.

When I told my friends, they said, 'She's just being sarcastic.' But Zeraphi was straightforward when she criticized.

She always acted superior and said, 'It's a privilege to be in my presence,' with a serious face. I thought she was beyond imagination.

During the accident, she came to help, saying, 'It's going to collapse! Can't you hear the ground rumbling?'

I couldn't hear any rumbling, but Zeraphi could because her senses were enhanced.

She said, 'Come this way, it's dangerous.'

There were five of us, including me, working in a side tunnel. She pushed us into the tunnel... and then the collapse started.

Zeraphi shielded us from the falling debris. She said, 'Ugh,' and then stopped moving.

We carried her to the back of the shelter, but... she was already... gone."

Noel read the first report and, unable to find the right words, looked up from the documents. Sirius was watching her intently, with an expression that was hard to read.