Chapter 33

“Miss D’Vialis, I don’t know how you found and brought this boy. Perhaps he’ll change the academic world like you did.”

Sabina didn’t reply. Helio glanced at her.

She stared at Helio’s record as if she hadn’t heard the elder’s words at all.

The wave’s pattern shows the attribute, the scale shows awakening.

‘Why is the wave so small?’

Her brow furrowed slightly.

‘Is this child… an unawakened mage……?’

Sabina didn’t think that was possible. Marquis Meolin’s name swirled through her mind.

Sabina suffered a headache all day.

The puzzle didn’t fit.

Only a mage who can interfere with another’s mind could do ‘that’ kind of thing.

And Helio was the only such mage.

It was a simple syllogism. If Helio had done it, he was an awakened mage. The sign dividing awakened and unawakened is whether one has successfully cast magic before the test.

But now, the result showed Helio as unawakened.

‘This can’t be.’

Sabina’s brow furrowed. Was there another mage with Helio’s attribute?

Logically, it didn’t make sense.

In theory, all attribute mages are registered. All of them!

Except for the tiny minority who awaken late, every mage over fifteen should have a registration card.

Ever since the late King Richard Brinita was targeted by an assassination attempt by an unregistered attribute mage, crackdowns had become severe.

“Miss D’Vialis.”

If there was an unregistered mage with Helio’s attribute, Sabina was supposed to report it to the state immediately.

“Miss D’Vialis.”

“Ah.”

She had been so lost in thought she forgot someone was sitting across from her. Sabina quickly came to herself.

A man with bright sandy hair poured wine directly into Sabina’s glass.

“Are you worried about something?”

“No.”

The answer came out quickly and unnaturally. Ashton noticed she was lying and smiled softly. But he didn’t press her about it. He deliberately missed the point.

“Liar. You look worried. Is it the research with His Majesty?”

Sabina’s eyes flickered for a moment. She answered vaguely.

“Yes.”

“But isn’t that exactly why you accepted? His Majesty said you don’t pick joint research partners for their authority or fame.”

“That’s right. It was interesting.”

Sabina consciously pushed Helio’s test results out of her mind.

“Taxidermy of Time.”

That was the title of Kenneth’s proposal. Sabina had received countless proposals before, but those who wanted her as a co-researcher were after her brilliant mind, not her unique magic.

But the King’s proposal couldn’t even exist without Sabina’s magic…… and that’s what made it interesting.

Kenneth Brinita’s attribute was ‘record.’ He could avoid forgetting anything he saw or heard, if he wanted. That ‘record’ would remain in the mage’s most-used form of communication—language.

The proposal was to fuse Kenneth’s ability with Sabina’s time magic, especially time stop, to record images onto paper. The device would freeze the image inside while it was being recorded.

“The camera developed in Retona…….”

Sabina paused to chew a scallop. Ashton didn’t mind.

“It can only record unmoving subjects. It takes a long time for an image to form. If anything moves, it all blurs. And there’s no color. But this…….”

“It’s the concept of recording a moment in time. You can ‘capture’ movement.”

“Depending on the research, it might be possible to record not just a moment, but an interval.”

“But we’re in a hurry, so we won’t go that far yet. How heavy do you think the device will be?”

Sabina thought for a moment before answering.

“Light enough to fit in my bag.”

“Impressive.”

“It’s your idea, isn’t it?”

At her sudden question, Ashton replied nonchalantly.

“Does it matter whose idea it is? What matters are the conference accolades and the research funding in your account. I’d appreciate a share.”

“Don’t talk like a materialist.”

“But I am one.”

Ashton smiled slyly again. Sabina didn’t turn away, just stared at his handsome face. Ashton was the first to drop his gaze. He shrugged and kept cutting his already sliced food.

“On top of that, I’d like a ‘photo’ of you.”

“…….”

“You’ll be the first subject, right? I want a copy.”

The scent of nonexistent Gracie roses tickled her nose.

‘Hmm, right. Lovers do exchange portraits.’

The simple thought tickled the back of her neck strangely. Her face didn’t blush, her heart didn’t race. Those feelings had been sealed away in the distant past.

“I’ll give you one.”

Sabina answered easily. Giving a record with just her face on it was no trouble at all.

“Then, are you giving me yours too?”

“Pardon? Mine?”

Sabina nodded.

“Isn’t this like exchanging portraits?”

Her manner made it clear she thought the question obvious. Ashton set his knife and fork down for a moment and bowed his head, hands on his waist.

“You’re free to take my picture if you want.”

“You don’t like being recorded?”

“That’s not it.”

“Then?”

“No, well. I can give it to you. I should. I’m just worried you might tear it up later if you regret it.”

“Ah…….”

Sabina shook her head.

“You don’t need to worry about that. If I break up with you, I’ll forget you right away, and the record will be stuffed somewhere until Mitchel finds it and disposes of it. In a proper manner.”

Ashton let out a short sigh.

“That’s… very reassuring.”

But he really thought Sabina might just tear up his photo after all.

Sabina, unaware of his thoughts, smiled gently.

“Even if I regret it later, I won’t end up hating you. Things are fine right now.”

The meal was nearly finished. Dessert was served to both of them. As expected, she ordered warm coffee, then blinked at the apricot ice cream in front of Ashton.

“You like ice cream.”

Ashton just smiled silently.

“I guess I do.”

It was a vague, elusive feeling, like he was on the verge of remembering something. As Sabina seemed about to drift into thought, Ashton quickly spoke.

“Are you sure you won’t end up hating me?”

With that, Sabina was freed from the lure of the apricot ice cream. Whatever was about to catch her disappeared into thin air.

“Ah, yes. Since you came, I haven’t had any bothersome people clinging to me.”

It was clear whom she meant. Ashton only smiled. If Sabina thought that way, it was worth driving Reyes into such stress.

Ashton’s active attention toward Sabina made Reyes start turning his eyes toward Helio. But that wouldn’t be a problem. He was confident. If Reyes focused on Helio, Ashton would only be grateful.

“That’s enough for me. Even if things end between us, I won’t forget that.”

“That would be nice.”

After the meal, Ashton escorted Sabina home. After checking that her shoes were low enough, they walked together.

The night air was cold and light. The streetlights were romantically atmospheric, but among the people walking, the only couple was them. Meeting as lovers after sunset was considered improper. Nobles with children worried their daughters might sneak out to meet men after dark.

But Sabina was the head of her house, and her reputation regarding men couldn’t sink any lower. She decided to do as she pleased.

The vague thought she’d had yesterday—‘I should see him’—was resolved. She felt comfortable.

Because of that, she wanted to share part of what she’d been worrying about alone.

“Ashton.”

“Yes, Miss D’Vialis.”

“Helio had his attribute test today.”

“I know.”

“But the result was a bit different from what I expected.”

“How so?”

Sabina spoke without looking at Ashton.

“I thought he’d used magic before the test.”

The one who made her think that rolled his eyes and fell half a step behind.

“And?”

“The result said he was unawakened.”

It was lucky he’d stepped back. Sabina didn’t see the disappointment on his face.

“You can check awakening status in the test room? I didn’t know.”

“Oh, yes. By the scale of the wave.”

Ashton put his hands behind his back. He carefully considered how to ask without seeming suspicious.

“……They notify you about all that?”

“They only notify about the attribute. Awakening status isn’t notified. Both awakened and unawakened children take the same classes. Just because you’re awakened doesn’t mean you can control your magic properly.”

“If awakening status isn’t notified, how did you know?”

One virtue every businessman must learn is not to show agitation. Ashton managed it well. Sabina didn’t detect any suspicion in his voice.

She simply walked like a fairy under the streetlights, answering his question in her characteristic calm tone.

“My grandfather taught me. Kids who’ve released magic outside before draw a different scale of wave than those who haven’t. Helio’s wave scale was distinctly different from when I had my test.”

Ashton hadn’t known that at all.

It wasn’t officially notified, but those in the know just knew.

He gave a silent sigh.

“Anyway, if Helio didn’t use that magic, then who did?”

Sabina kept walking, muttering quietly.

“Helio’s magical attribute is unprecedented. If he didn’t do it, then there’s an unregistered mage with the same attribute. In that case, I’d have to report it for investigation…… Ashton?”

From behind, Ashton took Sabina’s hand. She turned, a little surprised. Ashton’s face was gloomy.

He pulled off her glove and held her hand tightly. Sabina flinched for a moment. It stung.

‘Ah, why was I thinking about this? It’s not strange at all…….’

Even she didn’t realize how her logic about the matter had collapsed. The existence of an unregistered mage suddenly seemed trivial, nothing worth mentioning to anyone.

“Sabina?”

Ashton called her name. Sabina took back her glove and shook her head.

“It’s nothing.”