“A poison that neutralised the Mana in the blood vessel,” recited the blonde, middle age Emperor ‘Ragnar Greenriver.’ He was the history’s first Emperor to have united the Continent under his rule.
“The poison’s effect last for several minutes at most. For you that is.”
He was close friend with Humanity's first 8th Class Magician, ‘Ian Page.’ Together, the two childhood friend’s mark on the world created numerous songs, planted countless poems, and written scores of epics.
Though it was still true, till, at least today.
“Still, if I try bland some other poison...”
“Uh, for what reason…..?”
The 8th Class Magician, Ian, who had returned to his hometown to spend his remaining life in quiet solitude, spoke as he swallowed the thick blood in his mouth.
“Do you not know already?”
The Emperor’s voice was surprisingly unconcerned. Even though he had fed a deadly poison to his friend of several decades.
“Your strength, that power has been no help for the days after the Unification. In war time it may have been different, but right now, it is something that causes unease. Those words you spoke back then.”
Doubtless, it was all true.
The unfathomable power that could easily wipe out a minor nation single-handedly. That was the power of the 8th Circle Magician.
“As long as Ian Page lives as an ally to the Empire, that fact alone is enough to light the fire of rebellion. Therefore, I shall go back to my hometown and live the rest of my life in penitence. I am sure you said it in such lines.”
Fear entered the Emperor’s eyes.
Of all things, why fear? The one who had ingested poison was Ian.
“Do you know, Ian? I do not fear a rebellion. No matter what, rebellions are a work of man. This is within the scope of man’s understanding.”
“······.”
“But you, what about the power you possess? Is this the work of man? Do you surely see this power as something beyond the ken of man?”
Ian dearly wanted to respond.
This power was what made you Emperor.
That this very power shaped the Unification of the whole Continent.
The power that was maintaining the very peace right now.
“Cough!”
Ian could not project his voice any longer.
The very counterflow to his blood was difficult to cope with.
“I am afraid. Afraid of Ian Page. Afraid of the 8th Class Magician. My old friend….. Damn it! Yes, I am maddened by fear of my old friend! Me, my kingdom, you are a savage monster that can take it all from me! How so can I let such monster live?”
The Emperor, exposing his bout of madness to the world, stopped his soliloquy and looked toward his dying friend, Ian Page. Sorrowful but satisfied, the Emperor’s expression was difficult to read.
“By all means, do not…. do not forgive my actions.”
That was the end of the Emperor’s words. As he left the cottage, a fire erupted all around. Did he think that the poison was not enough?
‘Bastard.’
Ian, meandered in his thoughts.
The Emperor. His old friend Ragnar Greenriver’s transformation. His decision to leave for the countryside. He thought if he was out of sight, the situation would have become better.
‘It seems I was too complacent.’
Ian could have never imagined it would have come to this. He could have never imagined the depth of madness the Emperor fell into.
‘But.’
From his bosom, Ian took out an object. At first glance, it looked like an ornate dirk. Decorated from the tip of the blade to the handle with jewels and engravings. Rather than a bladed tool, it looked more like a decorative piece.
Surururung……
Even then, the sound of it’s unsheathing said otherwise. Just the sound told of it’s sharpness.
‘It seems like I wasn’t the only one complacent, Ragnar.’
Engraved letters covered the blade of the dirk completely. So small were the letters, that it could not be read by the ***** eye.
‘This is the repentance I have desired. ’
The blood on his hands, he wanted to wash off what little he could wash off with this.
‘For the numerous that dies with my magic, for them, I would lead my life in repentance.’
All of it was true. Only the method was different.
Surpassing Humanity’s first 6th Class, 7th Class and even reaching the 8th Class, the unprecedented Arch Mage Ian. Wasting away the years praying was something that could not fill Ian’s bowl.
‘Setting back everything as it once was.’
The moment he decided to leave for the countryside, Ian had decided to research ‘Time Magic’ with all his might. If it was possible to turn back time, it was possible to reset everything.
‘And make better choices.’
Of course, it was not easy. Rather, it was close to impossible. There were only unproven, unfinished theories.
‘This will possibly be the very first test.’
The time to agonise perfection and improvement had long passed. Even if there were an adverse reaction, what more than death awaited? No, in the end, he had to die.
‘To save what little Mana I have, there is no other way.’
There was only one place that the poison had yet to affect him. The place that regulated all Mana within the body, the small core within his heart.
‘Mana Heart.’
Puuuuk!
At that very place, he pierces the formulaic dirk, to drain all possible power source that was called Mana.
UuuuuWung!
Before long, a brilliant blue light engulf Ian.
(Ra……. Husu……… Ekiro……..)
Simultaneously, Ian had started his chant. One by one, words were spurted out painfully. By no means did this sound came through his voice. Nor was this a common chant.
(Ro…… Kuberugato……..)
The Dragon that was commonly known as the ‘Initiator of Magic.’ They had created the ancient language, ‘Dragon Chant.’
(Zen… Shenigas…!)
In the heart of the mountain, when the echoes of the reverberating Dragon Chant was about to come to a close. The dirk crumbled into dust and scattered. The intense blue light gradually hid the trace of the last vestige. Of the Great Arch Mage Ian Page.
“Uuuurrg…….!”
As Ian was regaining conscience, the very first thing he felt was nausea. The nausea was so bad, he felt like vomiting.
‘What happened?’
Hurriedly, he searched his chest. Blood, wounds, pain, he did not feel any of it. He was certain something unusual happened.
“Ian, what is wrong with you?”
Ian’s heart skipped a beat. Even nausea disappeared for the moment. Such unforgettable, familiar voice. That memorable voice, that voice he missed so terribly, tickled his left ear.
“Mo, mother……?”
His mother that departed long ago. The voice of ‘Vanessa Page.’ Never could Ian have known that a day would come that he would meet her again.
‘Did I succeed?’
Or did I fell into world of the dead? Clasping his mother’s hand tightly, Ian looked around.
“Next!”
“Je, Jess from Lloyd Village!”
“Lloyd? There is a village named Lloyd?”
“The village is very far apart and rural…….”
“Hmph! No matter, go in.”
“A, a, a is there really, a true Mage inside?”
“Well, you will know if you go in, ain’t it?”
“Ah. Yes!”
A row of thousands of children seem to have lined up for this. Mixed in this line was Ian and Vanessa. Controlling the surging crowds were the rough, ugly looking soldiers from the lord’s castle. A flag with an Ivory Tower symbol fluttered atop the pure white tent.
Drinking in the scenery, Ian could judge his current situation.
‘I seem to have …… succeeded.’
His small-er hands were further proof of his success.
He had travelled exactly 30 years back. Back before the Continent was Unified under Greenriver’s name. He could guess the exact number of years because of the current situation. All the children were lined up to be ‘examined,’ every region was enforced to do the ‘Mana Reaction Test.’
‘It was mandatory test for every child who turned 10 years old.’
Before coming back, Ian was forty years old. By the consequence of logical deduction, he had travelled back 30 years into the past.
‘I have come back further than I thought possible.’
Not 10, not 20, but 30 years. Of course, this was not a bad result. No, it was rather fantastic.
‘I only tried to erase the blood on my hand.’
The reason he had delved into Dragon Chant, his pursuit of Time Magic, was to erase any evidence of the destruction he wrought with his magic. To pull out the root and branch of history, and change it completely. Such was his vindication before he was poisoned by the Emperor.
‘Well, I simply can’t let it end again with a knife in my back.’
By the pretext of being friend, he had made many concessions. By the virtue of being loyal, he had been more than tolerant. This had lead to the unlimited misery. His best of friend, Emperor Ragnar, turning traitor. Being used of his life, in the end, all it lead to was his death.
‘This life I have been given, I shall not be lead by anyone.’
For such conviction to be proven true, he had to find it again. The Power of the 8th Class Mage, and advance above that power. Why not? For he had already walked that path once. He would run toward it in a breath of a moment and aim much further forward.
“Next!”
As Ian came to the resolution of the heart, it was his turn for the Mana Reaction Test.
“I will be back.”
Ian tried to comfort his mother, whose face was full of worry.
Walking forward to the soldier in front of the tent, he spoke, “Ian, from Mogrian Village. ”
“Mogrian…… Ah, are you the son of our Vanessa?”
Ian’s mother was the kitchen maid in the lord’s castle. For a kitchen maid, she was beautiful to a fault that many soldiers fawn over her. They saw her as an easy target, as she was a widow and a kitchen maid.
“Go ahead and don’t bother the Mage with useless questions.”
The soldier’s eye was clammy as he had his sight focused on Ian’s mother. Something Ian could have never noticed in his youthful ignorance.
‘I should probably fix his gaze very soon.’
Vowing, Ian entered the tent. In the tent was a young delegate Mage and three Knights, who stood guard.
“Sir Aaron, how many children are left?”
“I believe you still have to spend severals hours on this task.”
“Huh..…..”
Was it because the Mage had already tested several hundred children? The Mage’s voice was full of tiredness.
‘This brings me back to the good old times.’
During his time as an apprentice Mage, Ian was dispatched to conduction one of these tests. Though he wasn’t as fatigued as the Mage in front of him, it must have been due to the village being rural and quiet.
‘The situation here must be different.’
This was Mogrian province. One of the four largest regions in the Empire, it was a so-called ‘Great Province.’ The region was vast enough that there must be thousands of children who had to take the test.
“Right, boy. Come closer.”
With a gentle voice, the Mage called Ian. Other than him being a Mage, he seems to be a well mannered noble. Though Ian was a Mage, the arrogance of most Mages knew no bound.
‘If they could be worse than the nobles than they did it.’
Mages were precious. So rare were they, that most common folks could hardly meet one in their lifetime. With the value of a Mage, their headcount were small in itself.
Among the Mages, 90% stayed in 1st Class for the rest of their lives. The authority of the 1st Class Mage was the next best thing to being a minor noble. From 4th Class onward, they did not even fear the power of the greater nobility.
‘They do say the number of Mages is proportional to the strength of the nation.’
Therefore, they conducted the mandatory Mana Reaction Test. To find and nurture just one more Mage for their nation.
“For now, won’t you bow your head for a bit?”
The first attribute, ‘Mana Brain,’ A part of the brain that took charge in manifesting the magic. This attribute could not be acquired, the person was inherently born with it.
“I will prod your head slightly with Mana. You could feel dizzy, but it’s momentary so do not worry.”
Speaking as such, the Mage laid his hand on Ian’s head. As he describes, Ian started to feel dizzy. This was an obvious outcome, a side effect of the Mana Brain being stimulate
“Good. Now, turn so that your back is facing me.”
The second attribute, ‘Mana Heart.’ The place that stored, generated and circulated Mana, an all-inclusive organ. The place that he pierced the spell engraved dirk.
“Hmmm.”
The test ended after the proof of the existence of Mana Heart. If both attributes were proven, the examinee was given the immediate privilege of attending the Magic Academy.
Like in the past, Ian did not feel confident. He felt something was ‘lacking.’
“Why did you stand?”
Ian was hesitant seeing the Mage hurrying about. As if it reminded him of something, the Mage began spewing out words.
“Ah, I just discovered your Mana Brain. What does it mean? It means that life is about to turn about right in front of your nose. But only if, you have Mana Heart. So hurry about, and turn around.”
The Mage never did imagine that a reaction would appear this year.
Hearing the part about his “life is about to turn about”, Ian hurriedly turned about to proceed with his Mana Heart test, but he stopped as he had a higher ambition than a simple change in life.
‘A simple Academy admission is not enough.’
Ian needed the best possible head start, right from the starting line. While he was lacking in Mana, that did not mean there were no other means. Should he be a bit more bold?
“Uh, Mr. Mage.”
Decided, Ian opened his mouth. His childish voice still felt strange.
“There is something I want to show you.”
“A letter? Well, something like that……..”
Yes, there were many like that. Children bringing ‘letters’ or ‘gifts’ as respect. The even minded Ian also had experienced such. Without a doubt, this noble also had similar situations.
“Nothing like that.”
But, what Ian wanted to show was something completely different. Something that will increase his value exponentially.
Magic. What else?
Whooosh!
In Ian’s hand, a small fist sized fire erupted. A basic magic belonging to the 1st Class, ‘Fireball.’
“Fireball……?”
At the Mage’s reaction, Ian was satisfied. In his other hand, Ian made a tear shaped water ball. This time, it was ‘Aquaball.’
“Double Casting……?”
The Mage’s eye popped wide open. The Knights watching nearby was of similar disposition. This small boy was using magic? Not having entered the very door sill of the Academy, this boy was using magic during his Mana Reaction Test? And on top of that, Double Casting?
This was positively a huge incident with no such precedent in history.
“I don’t really know.”
The Mage’s face was longing for answers, and Ian looked straight at the Mage’s face without flinching. Without dropping one syllable, Ian continued.
“It just started working one day.”
“........ What?”
What preposterous nonsense was this boy speaking?
This boy, he was suspicious.
“Perhaps, did someone teach you such skill?”
“Not really. I don’t recall something like that happening.”
“Really?”
The Mage cast Interrogation Magic as he asked his questions. The magic checked the instinctive biological response such as the spike in heart beat or the dilation of the pupil.
“Think clearly before you answer. Any lies can have you declared for treason. What I mean is you, your family, even your neighbours could be executed. ”
The Mage’s word were not those to incite fear. With the benefits beyond one’s imagination, so too were Mage's existence strictly governed. Every Mage was under the administration of the Empire and the Ivory Tower. Every unregistered Mage was considered a traitor. So too, was teaching magic without permission. This extended to dedicated organization setup to observe their every actions.
“What reason do I have to lie to you?”
Ian knew the reality of it all better than anyone else. He even acknowledged the Interrogation Magic that the Mage invoked. But he still carried on with his falsehood.
‘Because I truly did not learn it from anyone.’
The basic invocation of Mana and several magic spells. All of it, he had realised through self-study in his previous life. All of it, in exactly 3 month period between passing the Mana Reaction Test and waiting for the new season of Magic Academy.
‘Peerless genius doesn’t sound so bad.’
The first Ian was a certified genius. Was he not the first 8th Class Mage humanity ever seen? Just that in his previous life, he was an ordinary genius. In this new life, he would be a legendary existence among the Mages, a genius among genius that would associate him with the ‘First Mage.’
“Hu hu…….”
The Mage’s mouth split open and out of it, laughter came. There were so many suspicious angles with the story the child was spewing. But the problem was, the Interrogation Magic was not working. Could the child somehow control his basic instincts intentionally? To fool the Interrogation Magic?
‘But that’s preposterous.’
The Mage could affirm, such act was impossible. Only spies who assimilated daily and the utmost, extreme training could be this unresponsive.
‘There are two conclusions to this.’
Either this boy was history’s most premier spy.
Or.
‘He possesses talent of the ‘First Mage.’’
A legend any Mage would have heard at least once. To the common folks, they believed magic had its root in the Dragons. For the Mages, they believed in the ‘First Mage.’
‘Both side is beyond my wildest imagination.’
As the Mage’s inmost thought was beginning to skew to the later….
“Ple, please stop this!”
“Shu, shu! Don’t you know there are important people inside?”
The sound of squabble could be heard outside. From the soldier guarding the flap of the tent, and Ian’s mother.
“Mother?”
Without any hesitation, Ian rushed out of the tent,
The three knights and conducting mage followed.
“shu! shu! stop playing hard to get! I know you miss the touch of a real man”
“wh, what … ?!”
What humiliating words.
Seems he laid his hands on mother’s body.
“Come on, have a listen. Don’t you feel lonely at night after being a widow for 7 years? there are plenty men who will sneak into your bed if you just let the door open…… huh?”
The soldier who was sexually insulting mother was stunned.
Of course, because of the mage and knights.
Seems he doesn’t care at all about Vanessa’s son, Ian.
“What is this ruckus?”
One of the knights, who is named Aaron, asked.
There was a natural-born solemness in his low voice
“I.. it is nothing, sir! This degraded kitchen maid dared to look inside the tent, I was scolding….”
“Degraded?”
Ian cut into his excuse.
“How dare you! Don’t you see I’m talking to Nobles here?”
Now he started rebuking Ian.
Totally different reaction from the soldier compared to the attitude he just showed to the mage and knights.
Well, I understand that’s how the rank system works
Then…
“Mr. Mage.”
“hmm?”
“Am I mage now?”
The mage can’t give a straight answer to the sudden question of Ian.
Can this little boy be called a mage?
‘Far from officially being enrolled as an mage, he hasn’t even received admission to the Academy’
Officially, he is not a mage yet.
However, he self-studied the management of mana
Furthermore, he is able to cast 1st class magic.
‘The Royal and The Ivory tower will be alerted.’
To adopt this boy into the Empire, by any means necessary.
The boy who contains unfathomable talents.
Literally, it is only an matter of time.
It didn’t take long for the conducting mage to make a decision.
“He is a mage.”
Official confirmation by the conducting mage.
Suddenly, all the eyes focused on Ian.
Although, Ian stood solid, without any emotional swaying.
He continued the conversation.
“So what is my rank now?”
“Equivalent to Empire Nobles”
“How about my mother?”
“Same. If you wish.”
Now Ian looked at the knights.
“Did you hear that? my mother and I, from now on, are Noble.”
*sururung!*
While Aaron, who is sensible enough to understand Ian’s intention, drew the first sword,
*sururu! sururung!*
Two other knights drew their swords too.
“Insulting an Noble is applicable to instant execution.”
Aaron’s brutal declaration reached the soldier’s ear.
That was what Ian intended.
“uh……. huh?”
The soldier still didn’t understand the situation.
After he rolled his eye few times, finally he was able to conclude this situation.
So, the boy is a mage.
Vanessa, is the mother of the boy.
So that means….
“Heeeeccckk?!”(E/N: just a moment of shocking revelation)
Not just shocked, but he started to drivel on the ground.
“P….p….,please, please spare my life!”
He quickly bowed down, hammering his head on the ground
Now, the apologies were targeted to Ian, neither knight nor mage.
The tide has turned.
“Please, mercy, then I will….”
“Why do you apologize to me?”
“I will never forget this grace ……. I beg your pardon?”
Ian indicated to his mother and spoke quietly.
“It is not me who you should apologizing to.”
“……. Ah!”
The soldier now turned his body to Vanessa, and repeated what he just did to Ian.
“Please, please forgive me! please just give me a chance!”
He totally lay on the ground hammering his head into the ground.
Begging for his life with a servile voice.
“I..Ian. You don’t need to do this much…”
He was so desperate that even mother who was receiving the apology felt uncomfortable.
Actually, even if he just said sorry, she would accept it.
Now I remember.
‘Right. Gentle and kind, that was my mother.’
If I execute him in front of her, she will struggle with nightmares.
So, it is not a good time to execute him, not now.
‘I’ll shed blood, in a place where blood can’t be seen’
The promise of my second life was carved deep in my heart.
‘For now, my mother is the priority.’
Suddenly, Ian felt sorry for his mother.
In his former life, he couldn’t protect his mother.
He was immature, didn’t understand much.
‘At that time, I was too young.’
In his former life, Ian was an newbie, just entered into the academy.
He didn’t tell anyone that he self-studied the fundamental management of mana and 1st class magic, actually, he couldn’t.
‘I was afraid, since I was young.’
Blinded by the fear that he might be rebuked about it.
So he had spent another whole year on magic theory class with other kids, in his former life.
As an ordinary mage apprentice, neither superior, nor inferior.
‘Of course, no privileges was given to her like nobles.’
Mother had left Mogrian village.
She no longer needed to work as a kitchen maid, but that was all.
She spent 1 year alone.
‘She didn’t get to enjoy any luxuries.’
After 1 year, when he finally became a 1st class magician, he finally received the rank as high as nobles.
Then mother passed away from an illness.
Even if she had a greatly talented son, she never had a chance to be treated as a noble.
However, this time, history will be changed.
“hew.’
After recalling the bitterness of his former life,
he sit squatted in front of the soldier.
“Listen.”
A whisper only the soldier can listen.
“I exactly know how rubbishes like you think about my mother, saying dirty jokes about her.”
Then he made an eerie face at him.
No one would have imagined such an expression came from an 12 years old kid.
“So what you saw, and heard today, relay it to the bastards like you.”
The soldier nodded crazily, as if he going to break his neck.
From his shaking two eyes, his desire of survival was reflected to Ian
“I will watch you.”
Then, Ian stood up and said to knights
“I think this is enough.”
At Ian’s word’s, knights sheathed their swords.
‘Th, thank you! Thank you! Thank you for my life!’
Although Ian stopped the execution, the soldier kept begging his life, to avoid Ian’s reconsideration, just in case.
“Is that little boy a mage?”
“The son of an kitchen maid?”
“Shut your mouth. Didn’t you see that the soldier almost lost his neck?”
People started whispering to each other, and it seems there was no sign to the end of it.
Today’s story might be spoken by people for a while.
“Mr. mage, are there any more tests left?’
“……. huh? N..No. It is all done.”
“Mr. Mage, if you’ll excuse me, I better return to my home. My mother seems quite frightened.”
“Yes, as you wish. Ah! wait, hold on a second.”
The mage suddenly stopped Ian and asked the knight, Aaron.
“Sir Aaron, please escort the boy. I will contact you later through the crystal orb.”
Aaron obeyed the order without question.
It couldn’t be refused, and also it was his duty.
“Ok then, I better go now, Mr. Mage.”
Ian left the area by escorting his mother.
A Kitchen maid’s son, escorted by a royal knight!
Due to such a rare sight, People can’t take their eyes off them.
‘What a surprising boy, in many ways.’
Soon, the report of the conducting mage was sent to The Royal, and The Ivory tower.
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