Chapter 41

◈ Chapter 41: The Aftermath of the Past (1)

"Eh, what? Mr. Rudger? What is this...?"

I heard that it's impossible to properly handle the Void element.

It's so rare that no one even knows how to use it.

There's a book about Void magic?

"Read it."

"Y-Yes, but...?"

"By reading what's there, you will at least find a new path that you didn't know before."

Liene still couldn't understand what was going on.

Why did he suddenly bring her to the staff room and give her such a strange book?

"Is this real...?"

Liene stared at the title, "Understanding Void Magic," with a look of disbelief.

As far as she knew, the Void element was so rare that no one had ever figured out how to use it.

She examined the cover in detail, but there was no author's name, and no publication stamp indicated where it was published.

Is this a fake?

It was only natural for her to have such doubts.

"Of course, it's natural to be suspicious."

"Huh? Ah! No, no! It's not that...!"

Did her expression give it away? Liene hurriedly smoothed her cheeks, trying to manage her expression.

Fortunately, Rudger didn't seem to have any intention of scolding her.

"If you read it and work hard, you will surely find a new path there."

"Then, is there no way to learn how to handle other elemental magics?"

"From what I know, there isn't."

Liene felt disheartened at Rudger's answer.

Though she didn't show it, she had always wanted to use the beautiful and splendid elemental magics like everyone else.

"Disappointed?"

"To be honest, yes. I wanted to handle even just one element."

Most people can handle at least two or three elements, and those with talent can handle five or more.

Suddenly, Liene recalled what Rudger had shown in class.

How many elements did the teacher actually handle?

He demonstrated fire, water, earth, and wind, and even used the ice element at first.

So, five?

Is he really a teacher at Seolren?

"One element."

Rudger, unaware of Liene's inner thoughts, quietly pondered her words.

"Liene, you don't understand, but handling just one element is absolutely not something to be taken lightly."

"Huh? Isn't it a relief to handle even one?"

"Not really."

Rudger shook his head.

"Those who can only use a single element are people with endless talent in that element, unmatched by anyone else."

Liene's mouth dropped open in disbelief at Rudger's words.

But Rudger wasn't lying.

Among mages, there were a few who could only use a single elemental attribute.

However, they weren't weak just because they couldn't handle other elements.

On the contrary, they were even stronger.

"The Seolren Academy gives the 'Color' title of the corresponding element to the known single-element mages. It means they have reached the pinnacle of their element."

"Handling a single element means that much...?"

Liene felt her face turn red as she realized how short-sighted she had been.

Thinking that 'just handling a single element would be fine' must have seemed ridiculous to Rudger.

Even a single element, which she had thought was trivial, had such a significant barrier.

Then, does it mean she really can't handle any elements and will have to live like this for the rest of her life?

Liene was suddenly frightened.

"Liene, what do you think Void magic is?"

"Um... it's an element that doesn't exist, right?"

Liene answered after some thought.

"Even a passing child would give the same answer."

"......I'm sorry."

"The world calls it Void, but it's not clear whether Void magic actually lacks an element."

"Really?"

"A typical example is the magic of sound."

At the mention of sound magic, Liene's eyes widened, and she tilted her head slightly.

"Does sound magic really exist?"

"Yes."

"But sound is, well, a kind of wave that travels through the air... isn't it?"

"Is it the same as the Wind element?"

"I thought so."

"No, it's wrong. Sound and Wind are entirely different. Although sound is derived from it, sound is more accurately a wave caused by vibration."

"Um, it's different?"

"Even without air, sound waves can spread in water. Does that mean sound is a Water element?"

"No, it doesn't."

Rudger seemed to find some amusement in explaining and asked another question.

"Then, what about poison?"

"Poison...?"

"Poison is a bit more common than Void, but mages who can handle poison are still rare. Can the poison they handle really be considered a natural element?"

"Um... like plants?"

"Then what about the poison in animals?"

"That exists too."

Liene explained based on her knowledge.

"Well, poison is a self-defense mechanism created by plants and small animals to survive in the ecosystem, right? Isn't it a bit ambiguous to call it a natural element?"

"Exactly. With the development of science and chemical knowledge, it's difficult to consider poison as a natural element. But poison ultimately exists as an attribute. What else could it be if not the magic that corrupts and dissolves things? If not, there might need to be a separate Decomposition attribute."

"That's true, I guess?"

"But poison doesn't fit into any of the ten major elements except Void. Sound is the same. Then, why is that?"

"Um, because there are fewer people who use it?"

"If we consider that, then those with Light and Darkness elements would also apply. They are rare cases too."

"But Light and Darkness exist in nature, don't they?"

"Then, what is nature?"

"Huh? Well..."

Liene opened her mouth to speak but then closed it.

What is nature?

What are the attributes and elements contained within it?

Nature? Isn't it the world? But isn't that too broad? Then, elements?

"You look confused."

"Um, well... Yes. I don't think I can define it clearly."

"Of course. Humans can't define the world arbitrarily."

"Huh?"

Liene made a foolish expression at the unexpected words from a teacher who teaches magic.

Rudger maintained a calm expression and continued.

"Mages think they are rational and try to fit the world into the framework of their rationality."

"Well, that's natural. Magic, after all, is something that manifests mystery through human rationality and will..."

"That's a boxed-in way of thinking. Liene, think more freely. When do you think metal, one of the ten major elements, first appeared?"

Metal was never considered an elemental attribute.

Metal is ultimately something that comes from the earth, so it was always lumped together with the Earth element.

But as science developed and various machines and tools made of iron gradually became widespread,

Metal was finally recognized as one of the ten major elements.

"The same goes for ice. Ice is just a change that occurs when water drops below its freezing point. So, aren't water and ice the same?"

But water and ice elements are still considered separate.

The same goes for Light and Darkness.

"Liene, you think the current magic is something perfect and cannot be improved, don't you?"

"Ah..."

Liene felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck her head at Rudger's words.

Her shoulders trembled, and her back straightened.

Until now, she had thought that magic was something that couldn't be altered, something at an unreachable level.

But is that really true?

Can magic not change anymore?

No, it can.

Rudger nodded, sensing that Liene had grasped something.

"Finally, you understand. That's exactly it. Mages should dominate magic, not be dominated by it."

Rudger stood up and walked to the window.

Beyond the transparent glass, the scenery of Seolren Academy, which would shape the future of this era, was visible.

It was undoubtedly a great and wonderful place.

But was it perfect?

Absolutely not.

"The world changes, and naturally, we, who are part of this world, also change. The same goes for magic. The four elements at the beginning have become ten, but those ten do not constitute everything. There may be unknown elements that have yet to be discovered. There could be twenty, or even more than thirty."

And that was an exciting, heart-pounding affair, one that might never end.

"The Void magic you possess is the same. It's Void now, but it might gain a new name as a new element in the future. Even if not now, it will surely happen at some point in the future."

At his words, Liene saw a vague vision.

A vision of herself, who had nothing, achieving great accomplishments in a certain field and becoming a successful figure in the future.

It was the image she had always dreamed of, so dazzling that she unconsciously clenched her delicate fists.

Rudger turned away from the window.

Ah.

Liene, who had returned to reality, couldn't help but exclaim.

Rudger, standing there, looking at her against the light coming from the window, seemed so different from his usual authoritative self.

The man who was like a pillar of steel was nowhere to be seen.

Standing there was just another seeker of magic, like her.

"Don't be afraid of being different. Don't fear the unknown. Believe that you can become a pioneer in history, not just another person."

Liene opened her mouth to say something but no words came out.

It felt as if something heavy and massive was pressing down on her chest, distorting her thoughts so that they couldn't form into words.

But it wasn't a feeling of suffocation or pain.

It was the supreme joy she had never experienced before.

Rudger's words had torn apart the uncertain future she had been harboring.

She couldn't speak.

But she had to express her gratitude, her thanks...

"So, do your best from now on. Read the book I gave you today. This is a personal assignment for you."

Rudger said this and then created a gentle breeze.

The breeze enveloped Liene softly, lifted her from her seat, and guided her to the door of the staff room.

"Ah, wait...!"

As soon as she crossed the threshold of the staff room, it felt as if a spell had been lifted, and her breathing became easier.

Liene turned around immediately, intending to say something to Rudger.

Click.

But the door closed faster than she could speak.