Chapter 148. Nov Victorian

Enoch glanced at the mages’ reactions and chuckled lightly.

It seemed that the tower’s mages had no idea who Silver was, despite him referring to the Mage’s Tower as his home.

With the Grand Duke of Bayern and an unfamiliar intruder, the mages were now almost in a state of panic.

Just as Enoch was about to turn his gun towards Silver and inquire about his identity.

“You…!”

Someone’s shocked cry was heard from a distance. The mages who shifted their gaze in that direction immediately brightened up and shouted.

“Miss Sion!”

The woman called Sion rushed over in one breath and stood in front of Silver. She looked around at Enoch and the mages with a bewildered expression and then whispered to Silver.

“Is it alright to reveal yourself like this? There are outsiders here now…”

“Yes, it’s fine. I happen to have some business with the Grand Duke of Bayern.”

“Business, you say?”

“Well…”

Silver and Sion whispered something to each other in voices too low for others to hear. Enoch’s eyes, observing them, flashed with a keen light.

After a moment, Sion turned to the mages and gave orders in a calm voice.

“For now, everyone return to the tower. I’ll take care of things here.”

“What? But…”

“It’s an order.”

The mages looked very perplexed but obediently followed Sion’s orders. After they left, Sion politely introduced herself to Enoch and his subordinates.

“I apologize for the late introduction. I am Sion Brechille, the Tower Master’s representative. And this person here is…”

As she glanced at Silver with a troubled expression, he grinned and nonchalantly revealed his identity.

“Let me introduce myself again. Silver is an alias, my real name is Nov Victorian. I am the master of the tower.”

“Th-The master of the tower?”

“That person…?”

Unlike his subordinates who were surprised by the sudden appearance of the Mage’s Tower Master, Enoch’s reaction was indifferent.

“I thought as much.”

He had noticed it from the moment that woman called Sion treated Silver intimately. It wasn’t particularly surprising.

If the identity of the Tower Master was the one who claimed to be a friend of Petra Raman… then the conversation might become easier.

While Enoch was thinking, Nov exchanged a few more words with Sion and then turned to the uninvited guests on the island and suggested,

“Well then, shall we go to the tower together, guests?”

* * *

The structure called the Mage’s Tower was actually closer to a fortress than a tower.

Enoch knew well that thousands of magical devices were installed on the walls surrounding this fortress.

It was truly a fortress optimal for defense and siege warfare. This was also the reason why Atreos, the only country in Europia that refused the control of the Mage’s Tower, had invaded this place several times and been defeated.

“No, Miss Sion. These people here…”

The mages were utterly perplexed when the island’s uninvited guests suddenly entered the tower.

While Sion was explaining to them in a gentle manner, Enoch spotted a familiar figure rushing out from the end of the corridor to the entrance and widened his eyes.

“Enoch…!”

It was Ellen, whom he hadn’t seen for two days. Enoch hurriedly ran and embraced her. The anxiety that had been driving him mad finally subsided, and an unparalleled sense of fulfillment filled his heart. The warm body temperature in his arms, the scent he missed, and the touch that couldn’t possibly be a dream proved that all this was real.

“Ellen, are you alright? Nothing happened to you?”

“Nothing happened at all.”

Ellen shook her head with a chuckle. Although he could feel the glances of the mages looking their way, Enoch didn’t care at all and kissed her.

Ellen, taken aback, flinched slightly and her cheeks turned bright red. Although she was clearly embarrassed, she didn’t push him away. Seeing her quietly accepting his kiss and even snuggling into his arms, Enoch smiled, his affection clearly visible.

“How are you feeling? Have you been eating well? The Mage’s Tower didn’t starve you, did they?”

“I ate three meals a day without fail. My physical condition isn’t bad either.”

In fact, it was a lie. The Mage’s Tower hadn’t starved her—rather, they provided fruits and desserts very well—but it had been difficult for her to swallow food, so she hadn’t eaten much.

Fortunately, no one noticed the four times she had coughed up blood over the past two days. Judging by the increasing frequency of the bloody coughs, it seemed her end was drawing near, but she didn’t want Enoch to know that fact.

Ellen met his eyes and smiled brightly as if she had no worries at all. As if doing so could cover up the truth that she would die soon.

“You two, would you follow me?”

Sion, who had just approached the couple, suggested casually. Nov was standing beside her in a relaxed posture. Ellen, recognizing him immediately, widened her eyes and exclaimed in surprise.

“You…!”

“Hello, Grand Duchess. We meet again.”

As he smiled leisurely and offered a handshake, Ellen took his hand, feeling dazed. Nov resolved her questions before she could even ask them.

“Why hide it any further? I am the master of this tower, Nov Victorian.”

“Nov…?”

Ellen, remembering the name, asked blankly. She carefully examined Nov’s appearance again. …Indeed, he was identical to the Nov described in her mother’s diary.

“You were that mage who was my mother’s friend, weren’t you?”

When Ellen asked with certainty, Nov nodded with a small smile. Gazing intently into Ellen’s sparkling aqua eyes, he spoke again.

“I’ve known for a while that you were Petra’s daughter. I’m sorry for hiding my identity until now.”

“No, there’s no need to apologize.”

Seeing Ellen wave her hand dismissively, Nov smiled gently and continued calmly.

“There’s much to discuss. First, let’s all go to my private study. It’s the perfect place for an intimate conversation.”

And so, the next destination was set as Nov’s study. Throughout the walk down the corridor at a moderate pace, Enoch held Ellen’s hand tightly, never letting go. Ellen occasionally met his gaze while secretly glancing at Nov and Sion walking slightly ahead.

The two exuded a curious atmosphere, seeming like both teacher and student, and friends. If Nov was like dazzling, shimmering fish scales, Sion was like the stillness of night.

Her deep black hair and eyes had a bluish tinge, which contrasted strikingly with her very pale skin.

Of course, the most impressive person was Nov. Ellen knew he was no ordinary person, but to think he was the master of the magic tower… She kept stealing glances at Nov with newfound appreciation.

“This is my study, but would the Grand Duke’s subordinates mind waiting outside?”

Before opening the door upon reaching their destination, Nov politely requested of Enoch’s subordinates. As the subordinates hesitated, looking to Enoch for guidance, Enoch gave a slight nod, indicating they should do as asked.

Only then did the subordinates quietly line up against the corridor wall. Nov briefly glanced at them, murmured words of thanks, and opened the door. Bright light spilled through the gap. Ellen carefully stepped inside, anticipating what scene a great mage’s study might present.

“……?”

However, Ellen’s innocent expectations were immediately shattered. Because this was, no matter how you looked at it…

‘A mess…’

It was a mess. Or perhaps a disaster area would be more accurate. It was a chaotic scene in many ways.

“Master…”

“Oh my. I forgot to clean up.”

As Sion glared at him, giving him a look, Nov laughed and made excuses. Enoch chuckled in disbelief and suddenly lifted Ellen up. Surprised, Ellen opened and closed her mouth in silent protest, but Enoch simply ignored it.

“Where should we sit?”

He asked, looking around the cluttered space while holding Ellen. Nov rushed to a sofa in one corner of the room, quickly cleared away the odds and ends on it, and gestured.

“Please sit here, Your Grace. I apologize for the messy study. It’s not usually like this, but I was away for a moment…”

Enoch, giving Nov a sidelong glance as he smiled awkwardly, sat on the sofa still holding Ellen. Ellen timidly punched his chest and gave him a look, asking to be put down, but Enoch pretended not to notice.

While the grand ducal couple continued their silent struggle, Sion and Nov, having roughly tidied up the opposite seats as well, sat down. Recognizing the two, Ellen gave up her dispute with Enoch and sighed resignedly. Nov, chuckling softly at the sight of the two, gently opened the conversation.

“Well… shall we begin our discussion? You said you had business with me, Your Grace.”

“You’re the one who said you had business with me.”

“Ah, that.”

Nov’s gaze, after a fleeting smile, brushed past Enoch and settled on Ellen. Ellen, meeting Nov’s eyes, blinked in confusion.

“To be precise, I have business with the Grand Duchess. Regarding that foresight magic of yours.”

“……!”

As Ellen flinched and stared with wide eyes, Nov smiled reassuringly and continued.

“I’ve known about your foresight magic from the beginning. I too possess the ability to see through others’ magic. Like Pyrene Castile.”

“Ah…”

“Anyway, that’s not the important part… If my guess is correct, you must have had to sacrifice something precious in exchange for seeing the future. Isn’t that right?”

Ellen nodded blankly at Nov’s question. She felt Enoch’s arms tighten around her. Ellen gently squeezed his hand and spoke.

“The price for foresight was… my lifespan.”

“…I see. That explains why the Grand Duke went so far as to invade Rosretzia Island.”

Even Sion, who had been sitting with a businesslike expression until then, was now staring at Ellen with a very surprised look. Ellen glanced at her briefly and continued.

“I have about a month left to live now. …I’ve more or less accepted and resigned myself to that fact.”

It was a remarkably calm and composed attitude for someone facing death. Nov, with a complex expression, began to speak.

“Actually, I went to investigate the ancient ruins of Almaira regarding the Grand Duchess’s foresight magic.”

“What…? The ancient ruins of Almaira…?”

“…Long ago, there were more types of magic in Europia than there are now. But after several major wars, many mages migrated to Almaira, and the ruins created then still retain powerful magical energy. Many secrets of forbidden magic are also engraved in ancient letters on the walls, floors, and ceilings of the ruins.”

“Perhaps, my foresight magic…”

“Seeing the future is taboo, Grand Duchess.”

“……!”

Ellen, overcome with a sense of bewilderment, let out a soft sigh. Nov smiled bitterly and continued his story.

“Whether it’s taboo because it comes with a terrible price, or whether it requires a terrible price because it’s taboo, I don’t know. In any case, I investigated the ruins to see if it was possible to recover what you lost as the price and…”

As Nov relayed this story, a resolution gradually settled in his heart. Perhaps he had anticipated this outcome from the moment he realized that Petra’s daughter possessed extraordinary qualities comparable to an ancient witch.

“…Unfortunately, Grand Duchess, there is no way to restore the lifespan you’ve lost.”