Chapter 71

EP.71 Next Master of the Ash Tower, Resty (Part 1)

People often unconsciously bind themselves.

The reasons for such bindings don't have to be grand.

Nightmares from childhood, regrets from mistakes... such things often limit a person's potential.

And.

This was also true for Resty Elenoa, the next Master of the Ash Tower. Resty reflects on her past.

The past she recalls is from quite a long time ago.

A time before she even bore the name Elenoa.

In other words, when she was living in the orphanage.

Resty was a somewhat unique child even in the orphanage.

While other children played outside, Resty would lock herself in the orphanage's library. It was filled with all sorts of books, thanks to the head of the orphanage, a retired magician.

Resty loved reading.

She enjoyed analyzing and exploring things. She was born with the innate qualities of a magician. It was perhaps natural for someone like Resty to develop an interest in circuits.

-Unique, you say.

-Locked in the library?

-So what, being well-behaved is a good thing.

The teachers who saw her reading would laugh.

They merely had light-hearted thoughts when they saw Resty.

No one could have imagined.

That a young child, who hadn't even properly learned magic, would complete the summoning circle of a familiar drawn in a magic book.

-Squish.

Resty drew the circuit as if piecing together a puzzle.

She completed it by fitting each piece together. Just completing it was a remarkable talent.

If she had only completed it.

There would have been no problem.

However, Resty infused it with mana.

She knew that this was what truly 'completed' the circuit.

After all, she had done this more than once.

Resty would sneak out at night to summon spirits and play with them. So, she thought this time would be no different.

So.

She mistakenly thought the familiar would be like a spirit.

-Huh?

Her luck was that she had talent.

Her misfortune was that her talent was too great.

Young Resty lacked mana.

Without enough mana, the circuit wouldn't activate. That's normal. The problem was that Resty's talent was not normal.

Creak.

Resty's talent found a way to make up for the lack of mana. Her starlit eyes naturally realized how to compensate for it.

She modified the circuit.

Resty wanted the circuit to activate.

Her talent responded to her wish.

The control circuit, which consumed a lot of mana, was dismantled.

Thus, the circuit for the half-puppet was completed.

The completed circuit emitted light.

A familiar from another realm was summoned into reality.

-Headmaster, Headmaster!

-Evacuate the children, quickly!

The summoned familiar was different from what Resty had imagined.

It wasn't cute like a spirit. It wasn't kind. Saliva dripped from its open mouth.

Sharp teeth, sharp claws.

And blood-red eyes.

It was a wild beast.

Familiars are different from spirits.

Unlike spirits, which are inherently gentle and intelligent, familiars act on instinct.

The role of the summoner is to control them.

Resty, unaware of this, had removed the control circuit. The result was disastrous.

-Grrrr!

The uncontrolled familiar went on a rampage.

The guards who appeared belatedly managed to subdue the familiar, but not without casualties.

Someone was injured.

Blood splattered.

They say no one died, but injuries were sustained.

-Sorry, so sorry...

Resty felt fear at this realization.

She was terrified of the talent she possessed.

In the end.

She extinguished her own light.

She had even forgotten that she had done so.

-So, you're the rumored child.

Before long, Resty was taken in by an elder of the Ash Tower who had heard the rumors.

Even after being taken in by the elder, Resty did not use her talent. She did not let the light mist cover her eyes.

She was afraid of what she might see.

She couldn't imagine what might happen.

-Yeah, you must be scared.

The elder understood Resty.

He did not force her to use her talent until the very end.

He only gave her advice at the last moment.

-You are capable of handling what you possess. You are already an excellent magician.

Advice she couldn't accept at the time.

-Do it until you are satisfied.

But now, she understands the advice.

As she recalls it, Resty closes her eyes. The light mist envelops her eyes.

The flame she had once extinguished.

She now holds it in her eyes.

“...”

With the light mist trailing, Resty opens her eyes.

When she opens her eyes, she sees the scenery of Aphria.

The garden on the outskirts of Aphria.

Sitting on a bench that offers a view of the entire garden, Resty gazes at the garden.

The afternoon sunlight lazily illuminates the garden.

Spring breezes make the flower petals sway.

The scent of spring lingers with the rustling grass.

With her platinum-tinted eyes, the world she sees is a bit brighter and clearer than before. Resty feels the warmth of the coffee cup in her hand and thinks.

‘...I feel a bit more at ease.’

It's just a feeling.

She had always lived as if being chased by something.

She had always lived suppressing something.

Now that she has released it, her heart feels much lighter. Feeling a strange sense of liberation, Resty subtly turns her head.

Everything seems a little different.

But some things remain unchanged.

When she turns her head to look to the side.

“...”

There sits a magician.

Her hair is ash-colored.

Her eyes are blue. Her delicate limbs and figure don't seem much older than Resty's.

Her appearance isn't much different from the students.

However, the tailored suit she wears, unlike the school uniforms of the students, adds a sense of authority. Her unique, mysterious aura also contributes to this.

She sits with her legs crossed, leaning against the backrest of the bench. One arm rests on the bench, and the other holds a coffee cup.

She sips her coffee.

Her appearance is the same as always.

She is a person with a gentle light, as if holding the stars. This light was comforting to Resty.

“So.”

Finally, she takes her lips off the coffee cup.

She slowly turns her head to look at Resty.

“What do you want to ask?”

2.

“Top of the class, Resty.”

Aron, the headmaster of Aphria, flips through the papers.

‘Resty Elenoa.’

The adopted daughter of the ash-colored elder.

And the next Master of the Ash Tower. When she first expressed her intention to enroll, Aron was quite surprised.

‘After all, it was the Ash Tower, not any other tower.’

Originally, each tower specializes in a different field based on its color.

For example, the White Tower focuses on the basic manipulation of mana and elemental magic. The Black Tower studies the concept of imprinting spells into stocks.

The Red and Green Towers, though different in their fields, share the commonality of having specialized areas of study.

So, if it had been the next Master of another tower... it wouldn't have been so surprising for them to express an intention to enroll. One could think they were learning in a different field.

‘Actually, Velnoa and Rak were examples of this.’

But the Ash Tower is different.

The Ash Tower has no specialized field. It covers all areas of magic.

‘Being the next Master of the Ash Tower means...’

She has mastered most fields.

She is no longer at the level of a student. Her abilities are on par with professors.

Such an outstanding child enrolled in Aphria.

As the headmaster of Aphria, Aron hoped she would gain something from her studies.

‘...It doesn't have to be magical development. Aphria wasn't established solely for that purpose.’

He thought a lot about it.

And Aron came to his own conclusion.

“So, I asked you for a favor.”

Aron turned his head.

There, his close friend, chin in hand, sits.

Roselle von Trias.

Aron had asked this sage for a favor.

“Find a competent professor.”

“I remember.”

It was a conversation they had some time ago.

While he said 'competent professor,' Roselle had also realized what kind of person he meant.

A talented magician, according to Roselle's standards.

That could only be the ash-colored magician, Laniel.

“You must have expected my first disciple.”

“Yeah, I thought you might know the whereabouts of the ash-colored magician.”

“...Did it have to be Laniel?”

To Roselle's question, Aron shrugged.

“This child.”

He pointed to the page with 'Resty Elenoa' written on it.

“I'm not as discerning as the elder of the Ash Tower or you. I'm not particularly good at distinguishing talented children.”

But, Aron said.

“I could tell this child hasn't broken her shell yet.”

Untapped talent.

Aron doesn't know what this talent is. But, as an educator for a long time, he has a gut feeling.

This talent is on the verge of blossoming.

But it hasn't encountered a decisive moment.

What could be that decisive moment.

Finding it wasn't too difficult.

“And, I could vaguely sense that it was related to the ash-colored magician.”

“...”

“So, I told you. If possible, even a special lecture... it would be good if you could invite him in some capacity.”

“That's right.”

Aron smiled bitterly.

“I wanted them to meet if possible.”

“Why?”

“Breaking the shell around you often doesn't require a big moment.”

A few short words.

A few lines of text can bring enlightenment. The important thing is the person who says it. The existence of someone who can empathize.

Aron merely thought that Laniel, the ash-colored magician, could be such a presence for Resty.

“Still...”

Thud, Aron closed the documents.

“This is just my greed.”

He knows it's greed.

It's not just for Resty, but it could lead to the development of all students... but it's not something he can do, bringing a sage out of retirement.

‘It would be disrespectful to the ash-colored magician.’

If he were to show up in any capacity, the royal family wouldn't let him go. Other neighboring countries are also eyeing Laniel.

‘If that happens, his hard-earned peace would be disturbed.’

Aron sighed.

“I hope you can keep an eye on Resty. It seems you are the only one who can teach her.”

“Hmm.”

Roselle took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“There might be someone more suitable than me.”

He turns his head.

Roselle's gaze is directed towards the window where sunlight streams in. Aron tilted his head at the seemingly whimsical remark.

“...What do you mean by that?”

“There is someone.”

3.

What she wanted to ask.

There were many things she wanted to ask.

How did the professor appear there?

What was that note?

Did she anticipate the Skewbal attack?

What exactly happened when she covered Resty with the robe and led her deep into the forest?

But.

She didn't really want to pry for answers. It wasn't that important.

‘What's important is...’

Professor Lania watched over her.

And helped her.

That was all.

There was something else she really wanted to ask.

“Hmm...”

Resty hesitated for a moment.

The words wouldn't come easily. She was hesitant, thinking it might be rude to ask.

Seeing Resty's silence, Professor Lania smiled and spoke first.

“Don't be shy, just speak your mind. It's fine.”

“...Professor Lania.”

Resty continued slowly.