Chapter 70

◈ Chapter 70: The Synesthesia of Magic (3)

After Flora left, Rudger, who was left alone, recalled their conversation from a moment ago.

'So, she found me by smell.'

Flora Lumos was born with the ability to perceive magic through different senses.

Even when looking at the same magic, she saw different colors and smelled different scents.

At first, he was skeptical, but her reaction to the Klein Bottle confirmed his suspicions.

'My "Aether Nocturnus" had a flaw, after all.'

Simply erasing one's presence wasn't enough to avoid everyone's attention.

The subtle residual magic that mana left behind.

Flora could smell it and follow the trail to find him.

Even considering her unique case, Rudger couldn't deny his mistake.

'She perceives magic through smell and sight. Indeed, there was a reason she topped the second-year class. It makes sense that she's been able to toy with many teachers.'

Then, what should he do from now on?

From Flora's reaction, it seemed she hadn't seen what Rudger did in the Forest of Silence that day.

She had some suspicions, but no concrete evidence.

Should he leave it alone, or take preemptive action?

'Her opponent is the daughter of a proud duchy of the empire. Touching her would only invite unnecessary suspicion.'

The academy was already in an uproar due to recent events; he couldn't afford to stir up more trouble.

However, it seemed he needed to keep a closer eye on Flora.

He needed more information about her.

'I'll have to ask Hans to do some background checks. Still, to find someone with such a constitution in Seorun... '

Indeed, this is the highest academy for teaching magic.

The teachers and students alike are filled with extraordinary individuals.

And the people he had seen so far were only a small part of this academy.

To have to endure two years in such a place.

'How long have I been here, and already two major incidents have occurred. How many more will there be?'

And how well he could handle them.

At that moment.

He sensed someone fidgeting at the door.

Today, an unusually large number of people were visiting.

"Come in. The door is open."

When Rudger said this, he sensed a startle from the other side of the door, then the door cautiously opened.

The face that peeked through the half-open door was a familiar girl.

Her delicate features and clear, light blue eyes.

And, most notably, her ash-gray hair, which was rare even in Seorun.

"Rine?"

"Yes, yes."

"What brings you here?"

"I, I finished reading the book."

"The book... Is that so."

Rudger recalled giving Rine a book about non-elemental magic.

Rine, who had only shown her face, cautiously stepped into the office.

She seemed to think that even the slightest mistake was unacceptable.

"I thought I should return it to you, sir."

"Is that it?"

"Yes. This is Mr. Rudger's, isn't it?"

So that's why she came.

Rudger shook his head and said,

"That book isn't mine. I only received it myself."

"Then, this book...?"

"Keep it with you."

"Me, me?"

"You've read it several times already, but you'll still need it in the future. Sometimes you might forget things. It's better to have it on hand just in case."

"But still..."

"An object only fulfills its value when it has a suitable user. This book about non-elemental magic will shine more in your hands than in mine."

Rudger paused to catch his breath and took off his wire-rimmed glasses.

"At least, I consider it a courtesy to the previous owner who entrusted me with this book."

"..."

"So, you don't need to return it to me. Keep it with you."

"Really, is that okay?"

Rine was secretly disappointed.

She had read it several times but hadn't fully understood its contents.

Still, since it wasn't hers, she had come to return it to Rudger.

"Of course."

Rudger was entrusting the book to her.

"I believe you will take good care of it and not damage it."

"Ah, that..."

Rine couldn't find the words to respond.

Rudger's words confused her.

'He believes in me? In me?'

Rine's head spun.

Rudger's words kept echoing in her mind.

'Why does he believe in me? He hasn't seen me much. Is there a reason? Or is it just because I have non-elemental magic?'

Suddenly, she thought of something.

Rudger seemed to know about the previous owner of this book, another non-elemental magic user.

Had he heard something from that person?

"Um..."

"What is it?"

"Um, that is..."

Rine couldn't bring herself to ask. When she opened her mouth, only incoherent words came out.

Rudger's straightforward words had left her mind in a daze.

Rine's face turned red.

"If you have nothing to say, you should go now. Class is about to start."

"Um, yes."

In the end, Rine gave up on asking and left the office.

Rine, still feeling dizzy, walked unsteadily down the corridor.

* * *

'Ah, right.'

Only when she reached a deserted garden did Rine regain her composure.

'I was going to ask about the assistant position too.'

She had been too flustered and distracted to even think about asking.

Going back now seemed awkward.

'Come to think of it, Flora-senpai also came to see Mr. Rudger. Was she here to apply for the assistant position too?'

The top student of the second year and a rare genius in Seorun.

Flora Lumos was quite famous even among the first-year students.

She came from a prestigious family but, unlike other nobles, she didn't form factions and only brought one childhood friend with her.

No one dared to bother her or try to recruit her.

That was just the kind of person she was.

Flora Lumos visiting Rudger's office naturally piqued her curiosity.

'No, I shouldn't be too curious. I should focus on preparing for the next class in the library for the rest of the time.'

Just as she thought this, she heard voices from beyond the rows of trees in the garden.

Huh?

Rine stopped in her tracks when she saw the students who appeared.

They were easily recognizable as noble students, and they didn't get along well with her.

'Ah...'

The leader, a smug-looking boy, was particularly troublesome for Rine.

He had approached her recently, offering to date her as if it were a favor.

Rine, who knew he was only interested in her appearance, had tried to politely decline.

But a student proud of his noble status wouldn't listen to a commoner.

In the end, Rine had firmly rejected him, and he naturally harbored resentment towards her.

'I really don't like this.'

To make matters worse, a group of students, jealous of her recent good relationship with the third princess, had joined in to pick fights with her.

'What should I do? I didn't expect to run into them here.'

They wouldn't leave her alone if they saw her alone.

Rine, having learned from past experiences to avoid unnecessary conflicts, immediately looked for a place to hide.

'I, I'll go inside first.'

Rine headed deeper into the less frequented part of the garden.

Seorun's vast grounds meant that even the gardens and parks were unusually large.

Marble fountains, beautiful flower beds, and long rows of trees.

There were some artificially created small forests and open spaces, sometimes used by students for outdoor activities.

Some say there are secret spots in this vast garden where no one else can see, but she didn't know about that.

'I'll hide for now.'

Rine quickly moved.

She entered the inner part of the garden.

A long arched pergola, covered with vines and beautiful pink flowers, blocked the sunlight.

Walking through it felt like passing through a portal to another world.

After exiting the pergola, she saw a lush green forest.

'There's a place like this too?'

Having only been at Seorun for a short time, she was still unfamiliar with the layout and structure, so every new place she discovered was a pleasant surprise.

Rine perked up her ears to check the situation outside.

'Are they gone?'

She could still faintly hear their chatter.

They might be planning to set up a picnic nearby.

'But they probably won't come this far.'

She could wait here for a while, then take a detour to avoid the noble students.

With this thought, Rine leaned against a tree.

Suddenly, she turned her head in a certain direction.

'This, is it a song?'

She heard singing from inside the forest.

'Is someone in there?'

She could have just ignored it, but Rine felt a strange curiosity.

The song was pleasant, but it also gave her a sense of déjà vu.

'It feels similar to when I received the book from Mr. Rudger.'

Curiosity got the better of her, and she found herself moving towards the source of the sound.

'I'll just check it out.'

She still had time before Rudger's class.

With this thought, Rine headed deeper into the forest and came upon a small clearing.

It wasn't a natural formation; someone had clearly maintained it, as it was very tidy.

There was even a small flower bed nearby.

'Who is it? A gardener?'

With this thought, she slowly approached the center of the clearing.

The melody she had heard earlier was no longer audible.

Had the person who was