Chapter 34

34

He knelt on one knee, pulled his arm out of his robe, and placed his palm on the floor.

Melaine slowly closed her eyes.

"Follow the unerasable traces, source of magic, bonds of time."

A blue aura flickered in Melaine's palm.

In an instant, the magic coalesced into a long thread that began to extend somewhere.

The thread, swaying in the air, lightly trembled as it created a path.

"Follow this thread. It doesn’t seem to have gone far."

"I will overlook your unauthorized intrusion this time. No matter what reason you had, if you step into my mansion again without permission, even once more..."

Swish.

With a sound slicing through the air, Sharent Clowen's sword extended and reached directly under Melaine's neck.

The speed was so fast that it couldn't even be seen with the naked eye.

"At that time, you will have to leave a few of your limbs behind..."

Sharent Clowen's eyes curved into a smirk.

It was a dazzling smile, yet it sent a chill down the spine, making one feel very uneasy.

"Please be careful."

"...I will."

Seeing Melaine answer obediently, Sharent Clowen sheathed his sword.

He put the sword back into its scabbard at the same speed as when he drew it, a speed that couldn't be seen with the naked eye.

"Since I don't know what might happen, I'll go to the child first."

Before Sharent Clowen finished speaking, Melaine disappeared from sight using a warp spell.

Sharent Clowen, who was slowly turning his body, squinted one eye when he saw Desar Clowen standing in front of the window.

"Father, where are you going?"

"To find the child. How scared must that little one have been to use such magic to escape? I need to go and comfort her."

As Desar Clowen spoke, a magic crystal stone shimmered in his hand.

Sharent Clowen, who had a fleeting thought, furrowed his brow for a moment before letting it go.

"Father, did you give that child a magic crystal stone?"

"Khom, the child has a desire for material things."

"..."

"Let's go first."

Desar Clowen, who had lost his words, passed by Sharent Clowen and jumped out of the second-floor window.

With a dull thud, the window shook several times.

"...Young Duke."

"Kant, just in case, prepare for any eventuality. I'll follow Father for now."

Sharent Clowen turned his body and left the room in large strides.

Kant swallowed a late sigh and moved quickly.

* * *

"Huh?"

Glancing down, I saw a thin, shining thread attached to my arm.

The moment I saw it, I couldn't help but frown.

'Tracking spell?'

There are various types of tracking spells, but this one isn't a high-level spell. It's usually used to track something close or inexperienced.

'I can't use it now, but...'

In the past, I could cast this spell just by waving my fingers without even reciting a spell.

Thinking about this made me feel down again.

'But, there was a mage?'

I hadn't heard that the Clowen family had hired a mage.

They usually considered magic to be something extremely unreliable.

"Oh, they say a lot of mages came to repair the magical items in the house."

I suddenly remembered what Sharent Clowen's son had said.

Now that I think about it, mages did come. They might have been asked for help.

'But why go to such lengths?'

It would be perfect if we just pretended not to know each other. Do they really want to kill me that much?

Really, Sharent Clowen, you are so petty and utterly annoying.

I was too drained from using such a powerful spell. I could probably use a warp spell again after a night's rest somewhere.

Why warp into the garden of the mansion? At least send me outside the mansion.

Of course, the biggest problem seems to be that I can't recite spells with my current meager skills.

Mages can cast spells by reciting incantations or visualizing the situation in their minds.

I used to visualize most spells in my mind, but this body can't do that.

This young, weak, and frail body isn't that skilled.

I need to feel and accumulate magic power, build a solid foundation, and then cast spells, but I skipped too many steps.

If that's the problem, then it is. But...

"Meow, yawn..."

Lost trajectory...

...What? With such pronunciation, how am I supposed to recite a spell?

It's an ancient language with a twisted pronunciation. I thought memorizing it would be a headache, but pronouncing it is even harder.

Does this body even have a tongue?

I put my hand in my mouth and fumbled with my tongue. Fortunately, it was intact.

Thud.

A handful of dirt entered my mouth, and I spat it out hurriedly.

After rubbing the dirt and saliva off my hand on my clothes, I was about to pick up the magic crystal stone to move to a new spot.

"Ah, found...you...?"

At the familiar and resentful voice from behind, I couldn't do anything.

I froze in place, forgetting even to breathe, in the same position where I had planted my hands and feet to crawl.

"...Are you the nephew of the Clowen Young Duke?"

I couldn't even turn around and just held my breath.

My face turned red, and before the pain of suffocation forced a gasp out of me, I couldn't do anything.

"Younger than I thought..."

Melaine, Melaine.

He was hateful and cursed.

He knelt on one knee in front of me, speaking in a slightly flustered voice, just like when he had sworn eternal loyalty and friendship to me long ago.

"Your silver eyes, it's really you."

Instead of a cold, hard voice, his characteristic warm voice struck my ears.

That voice used to scold me. It still had a youthful quality.

"Did you use this magic crystal stone...?"

Melaine reached out his hand toward the magic crystal stone I was holding.

I flinched and quickly retreated. Melaine, looking surprised, widened his eyes and then shrugged.

"Sorry, I just wanted to check. Did you really use a warp spell?"

"..."

"Quiet baby."

He frowned slightly, looking a bit awkward and troubled.

That expression was no different from the past when we were together, so I tightened my grip on the magic crystal stone.

It was only a baby's grip, but it was enough pain to make me regain my senses.

"Your uncle and grandfather will be here soon. Let's stay here until then."

Is it okay?

I wanted to ask if he was really asking me sincerely, but I closed my mouth again.

I would only make a foolish sound. I didn't want to show such an ugly face.

"I heard that even Hellas couldn't use magic at such a young age."

"..."

"Of course, neither could I."

He said this with a smile, just like in his youth.

How can he smile so easily? How can he casually mention the name of the one he drove to their doom?

"Hellas was said to be the only one who could use magic at such a young age. She never told me when she started using magic, though."

He sat down next to me and spoke as if talking about a living friend.

I glared at him, thinking he must be crazy, but Melaine didn't seem to care about my gaze.

I wanted to cast a curse spell right away, but I still lacked the strength.

If I tried to cast a curse spell, I might receive the curse back from his protective magic.

"I thought that just hearing a human voice would make the fear go away."

That was also something I had told him.

I couldn't understand why he could mention my name so casually.

"Well, you are a Clowen, so you're brave."

Melaine asked if I didn't know fear, and when I remained silent, he sighed and lowered his head.

He looked much thinner than the last time I saw him.

His jawline was sharp due to the loss of weight. Without strength, I couldn't do anything even if my enemy was right next to me.

"Of all people, to be born with a mage's talent in the Clowen family, you must be suffering. That's why you ran away, right?"

I escaped because I almost died.

I never thought I would be caught like this.

Melaine has always only blocked my path, never helping.

He didn't say anything more as I sat quietly, rolling the magic crystal stone. He just sat quietly next to me, tilting his head.

I would rather be in Sharent Clowen's arms a hundred times over.

'Why...'

Why do I have to sit here like this? I knew that once the tracking spell was cast, I couldn't escape no matter where I went, but it still felt miserable.

Wasn't I the great Hellas?

I was not a worthless human in the body of a newborn.

"Hellas' burden was heavy to carry."

No matter what reason he had, no matter what regrets he had, he shouldn't have done it.

If he had any concerns, he should have consulted me.

You shouldn't have made me like this. That's why I couldn't forgive him.