‘I’m… a mage. A person of Tildyen who won recognition even in an honor duel.’
Anya’s palm wriggled. He was the only one who could protect those young children. Anya closed both eyes and sensed the mana flowing around him.
‘Please, please.’
The mana here surged turbulently. A chilling and cold flow could be felt above the ground, as if a giant snake were moving. Anya felt that mana and drew up his own energy sense.
‘From now on, don’t give them anything. That’s not your duty.’
At the entrance to the village, Evernight had said that. My duty. My duty is…
‘To be a person who must protect Tildyen. That’s my duty.’
Anya’s eyes flashed open. His hazelnut, sensitive eyes held a glimpse of fear but were filled with determination. Light gathered beneath Anya’s palm. He gathered energy into his palm with the feeling of peeling off the giant flow of mana layer by layer. Finally, a round light floated above his palm. Anya immediately threw the light at the flock of crows. The crows scattered instantly, making painful cawing sounds.
Anya approached the children and spread out his palm. Light gathered once more.
“N-now, I’ll l-light it for you, so l-look inside.”
The light floating above his tender palm was different from a torch. The light was pure like something primordial and made those who saw it lose themselves.
“A… a mage…”
One of the kids muttered, still prostrate but lifting just their head. Since ancient times, mages had been passed down as mysterious beings through the songs and stories of various bards.
“It’s, it’s okay. This is just… light. S-something that illuminates the d-darkness. It w-won’t harm you.”
Anya put his palm between the gap in the barrier. The gap was so small that Anya couldn’t enter. When he quietly looked at Joel, only then did Joel frantically stick just his face through the gap and search for Ronan.
“Ronan, snap out of it!”
“Ugh… urgh… Joel? Huh, why is it so bright? Am I dreaming right now?”
“Stop talking nonsense and come out quickly!”
Finally, Ronan crawled out through the gap.
“I must have backed up and hit my head on the wall and fainted.”
Ronan grimaced while touching the back of his head. Then he soon let out a small exclamation.
“Wow… is that magic?”
The cluster of light scattered quickly as if it had fulfilled its purpose.
“My lord, are you a mage? That great mage who participated in the battle beyond the Wall four years ago!”
At the admiration filled with awe, the surrounding kids began to gather. It seemed they were mistaking Anya for Riario.
“Th-that person is Sir Riario.”
“Then who are you, Sir Mage?”
The tallest boy among them, Joel, asked while gulping down his saliva. Anya smiled slightly as if to reassure them. In truth, he himself was also very surprised and his heart was beating violently. God had heard his earnest desire for magic.
“I am…”
Perhaps because he had shared milk with them earlier, the children quickly shook off their fear and gathered closely around Anya. Just then, the women who had finished their work were returning.
“What are you doing so rudely to the mistress!”
They hurriedly bowed their heads before Anya.
“My lady, please forgive these children’s foolishness.”
“The mistress?”
“A… a man though…”
“Shh! Can’t you be quiet?”
Even as the women scolded them, they were busy hiding their children behind the folds of their skirts, worried Anya might punish them. Just as Anya was about to awkwardly smile and return inside the tent, Ronan’s face popped out from behind a woman’s skirt.
“That person is a ma…!”
Shh, Anya brought his finger to his lips. Not yet, not yet—he was still too insignificant.
Ronan smiled shyly and whispered silently with just his lips.
“Thank you.”
* * *
“Commander, it looks like we’ll need a few more days than expected.”
The party that returned from the Wall late in the evening took seats at the tavern on the first floor of the inn. Riario, who already had a small appetite, didn’t even look at the slop porridge the innkeeper had brought out and only downed wine.
“We need to quickly establish defensive magic circles because of the Snow Storm. But do you really think there’s anyone here who knows runic characters?”
“If it really doesn’t work out, Riario, you stay behind and finish the work.”
Evernight’s words were so cold that Anya, who had been drinking water, hiccupped slightly. Fortunately, Riario himself seemed unbothered…
“Well, I suppose I’ll have to. Leave the infantry behind. I don’t want to die a miserable death on the way back.”
His attitude of listlessly picking up and putting down the spoon in the slop porridge looked quite unpleasant.
“S-Sir Riario. P-perhaps, would it be alright if I h-helped…”
Pardon? Riario asked back as if he’d heard something absurd. Having succeeded in gathering mana during the day, Anya had quietly practiced behind the tent. It was definitely different from before. Once the flow had been opened, it was as unstoppable as pouring valley water. Though he didn’t succeed every time he tried to gather it, seven out of ten times he succeeded in gathering mana. The boy’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. Perhaps he really did have talent for magic.
“No.”
But that light was extinguished immediately, not even lasting a few seconds. Evernight looked at Anya’s face and spoke firmly.
“Don’t think useless thoughts.”
He pronounced each word with emphasis. Perhaps it was the price for causing unwanted disturbances. Whether it was the honor duel, magic, or that full moon… But back then, he had been in a blank state knowing nothing. Now he was ready to fulfill his duty to Tildyen.
Anya quietly fiddled with his fingers, his face filled with regret.
“Can you read magic circles?”
“N-no.”
Anya’s voice shrunk. Riario let out a small sigh.
“Then that’s that.”
Anya stood up from his seat in urgency and raised his voice.
“B-but I’ve become able to g-gather mana!”
The hands of the three men holding spoons stopped in midair. Anya quickly drew together mana. A small cluster of light formed above the palm of the boy who was groaning with his eyes tightly shut. The innkeeper and maids, who had been carrying dishes, stopped and stared at this place in a daze. The rumor would probably spread soon.
“Then…”
Riario’s eyeballs rolled toward Evernight. He was pulling down Anya’s hand with a slightly stiff face. That’s enough. Don’t draw too much attention. Pretending not to notice, Riario continued speaking.
“…how about the mistress helps move the magic tools?”
As soon as he finished speaking, the inn window rattled. The weather was ominous. Outside the window, snow flurries swirled with the wind.
“When moving the magic tools, mana needs to be infused, but there are limits to what I can do alone.”
“Besides, this year’s Snow Storm seems to be arriving early.”
Late at night. The whispering voices of the knight order shook the hearts of the Northernmost residents staying at the inn. They looked at Tildyen’s new mage with faces filled with earnest hope.
“Yes. It might be good for you to help.”
Evernight exhaled a deep sigh and answered reluctantly. At his finally granted permission, Anya clapped his hands in delight. Since this was the first time seeing Anya happy like a child, Riario and Karen chuckled, then soon laughed along.
“But only do what you can do obediently.”
Anya nodded his head enthusiastically, saying even that was gracious.
* * *
The next day, the party headed to the Wall again. Near the Wall was bustling similarly to yesterday. However, if there was a difference, it was that everywhere in all directions had turned white due to the snow that had fallen since last night. Nevertheless, most of those working here were barehanded without gloves.
‘They’re people doing important work… I should ask Lord Evernight to give them gloves as gifts.’
Just as he was making such a resolution to himself, someone ran toward them.
“D-Duke, my lord!”
It was the old man in charge of on-site command. This old man was the same. The hand holding the stiff parchment was wrinkled and clearly frozen solid. The elderly man hurriedly ran toward Evernight, who was much younger than himself, and bowed his head. He was someone who had witnessed the brutal Wall battle four years ago right before his eyes.
Evernight dismounted and received it. Though he didn’t know what was written, judging by how the old man was breaking out in cold sweat, it didn’t seem to be good news.
“I’ll be there in a bit.”
Evernight said while sweeping back his wet bangs. Even though he was the man who had slept in the same bed with him last night after finishing dinner, he felt unfamiliar. It was always like this. Unlike when he first arrived in Tildyen, the time spent stuck together with him had doubled, but he still didn’t feel like he had entered within his boundaries. He was blunt and unkind to everyone, but it was definitely different. Only to him… only he was not recognized. Still.
“Then we’ll go ahead.”
Since the conversation seemed like it would be long, the rest decided to leave Evernight behind and go to the garden where the magic tools were positioned. Hiya! Soon Riario and Karen squeezed their thighs to turn their horses’ heads. Riario disappeared quickly, his robe fluttering.
“Your Highness?”
Karen, who had stopped midway, called out to Anya, who was still not budging from that spot. I-I’m sorry. Only then did Anya emerge from his deep contemplation and rode his horse to follow them.
“Duke, I will guide you.”
Evernight, who had been watching the small figure moving away, finally moved his steps.
