Chapter 24: The Miracle of Love (1)

The communication, which began with small talk, continued even as they each had lunch. Since Tehis wasn’t alone at the moment, the conversation was filled with light topics instead of sensitive matters.

“Are you leaving today?” 

—Yes, Chloe. I finished preparing yesterday, so I plan to depart this afternoon.

“You mentioned the border, right? Or is it the capital?”

—We agreed to meet in the capital for now… but since there’s also a warp gate near the border, it doesn’t make much difference.

“They say the soldiers from the North march on foot.”

—It’s impossible to transfer tens of thousands of people through the warp gate. Originally, I was supposed to lead them myself, but I had to leave early and entrusted it to Lord Bren.

“The Knight Commander?”

—You remember.

“You shouldn’t underestimate a mage’s memory.”

Thanks to starting off on the right note, the conversation flowed naturally, just like usual. In fact, the continuous exchange of dialogue made previous concerns seem unfounded.

The topics were varied—ranging from the menu they were eating, to future plans, to even the weather. They also inserted what they wanted to do when they met next, ensuring that they never ran out of things to talk about.

Chloe ate simple fruit, while Tehis had a protein-rich meal. Even though they were in separate spaces and connected only by voice, it wasn’t much different from their usual lunch dates.

‘Wouldn’t it have been better to just visit and eat together?’

She quickly dismissed the thought. Perhaps the atmosphere they had now was created precisely because they were only speaking and not meeting in person.

If they were face-to-face and within touching distance, perhaps…

—I’m alone now.

“What?”

—I’ve returned to my room, and there’s no one else around anymore. Didn’t you say you had something urgent to discuss?

“Oh, right.”

Chloe corrected her wandering thoughts. She summoned a bracelet from the cabinet using magic and let it float in the air.

“It’s about the bracelet from the Kingdom of Jeren. I haven’t figured out everything yet, but I’m fairly certain about its origin, which I initially suspected.”

—So, it’s not from the Kingdom of Jeren?

“It’s more than just that. Tehis, how much do you know about shamanic magic?”

—…Shamanic magic? Do you mean the power wielded by the barbarians?

He hesitated, and she could sense it even through the space between them. Mentioning the people absorbed into the North had caused his voice to stiffen slightly.

Chloe wanted to reassure Tehis that she was merely asking out of curiosity, but this was precisely why she had to contact him.

“Yes, the power wielded by the barbarians of the North. It’s not widely known in the Empire, is it?”

—Even having fought them directly, I don’t fully understand it. It’s an eerie and sinister force that seems to toy with people’s minds.

It was a power that could only be described in such terms—something that drove people to madness.

Even Tehis, who had experienced shamanic magic firsthand, couldn’t define it. This was largely due to the language and cultural barriers, but also because the invisible nature of the power made it difficult to discern.

For example, the shamanic magic Tehis encountered during the war was a type that disrupted one’s senses. In fact, the nightmares that haunted him every night were also influenced by this magic, but he had dismissed them as mere daily occurrences and paid them little attention.

A curse. In ancient times, this power was described using such a word.

“The bracelet didn’t contain any poison or magic that could induce a comatose state. While it’s true that the Emperor collapsed after vomiting blood, he had used an elixir. The fact that he didn’t recover means the cause wasn’t physical.”

Elixirs completely restore the body. They guarantee perfect regeneration, even if limbs are severed or one is on the brink of death.

They even mitigate some effects of aging, which is why, when they were first created, there was a rumor that they could grant eternal life.

If the Emperor couldn’t rise even after using such a potion…

“The poison on the bracelet was just for show. It wasn’t meant to harm the Emperor but to make the assassination attempt conspicuous, thereby framing the Kingdom of Jeren.”

—So the real attack was the shamanic magic that seized the Emperor’s consciousness?

“Yes. To be precise, I suspect it stole his soul. It’s a little-known concept, so I’m not sure how you’ll interpret it.”

Chloe twirled the bracelet in the air. The long needles that had pierced the wrist gleamed menacingly, reflecting the light.

“Rather than the bracelet itself, it was the needle that pierced the Emperor’s wrist that carried a transmission spell. It seems they conducted a ritual with his flesh and blood…

—Wait. Before we continue, may I ask what exactly a soul is? I understood that retrieving it would revive the Emperor.”

“I don’t know the details either. It’s a substance from the hidden world that can’t usually be seen or touched unless you’re a shaman. It’s said to govern a person’s morality, but since it’s not a phenomenon explainable by mana, there’s little record of it even in the Mage Tower.”

Shamanic magic was a completely different force from magic. While magic could alter the principles and order of the world, shamanic magic distorted people.

That’s why Chloe suspected that Lucas might also be a victim of shamanic magic. The overlap between the barbarians and dark mages as part of the rebel forces made it a plausible theory.

‘If I think about it that way, a lot of things make sense.’

No matter how consumed by revenge he was, Lucas’s changes went beyond the norm. His emotions fluctuated erratically, and he seemed unable to control himself—a clear sign of something abnormal.

And this was a mage, not an ordinary person.

‘But the real question is when and how it started.’

Thinking about an unknown force she couldn’t handle gave her a headache. She already had mountains of research to do, and now she had to delve into shamanic magic as well.

Lost in their respective thoughts, a brief silence passed. It was soon broken by Tehis’s peculiar voice.

—Then there’s no way to retrieve it?

In other words, the Emperor’s soul.

Chloe caught the omitted subject but couldn’t discern Tehis’s emotions in detail.

It felt both full to the brim, as if something was boiling over, and coldly detached. His tone revealed nothing about what he was thinking.

‘This is a bit uncomfortable.’

Perhaps it would have been better if she could see his eyes.

Rather than attempting to judge his emotions, she chose to answer his question.

“That’s right. While his body is breathing, it’s safe to say the Emperor is effectively dead.”

At this point, she became curious about the rebels’ objective. Why leave Kiberun Harpeon in a half-dead state on the throne instead of simply killing him?

‘To buy time?’

Chloe shrugged and returned the bracelet to its place. Though she was deeply entangled in the matter, her mage’s blood was too strong to delve into the political reasons.

“What will you do now, Tehis?”

***

—What will you do now, Tehis?

“Hmm.”

Tehis couldn’t answer immediately. The weight of the new information was significant, and it took time to assess the advantages and disadvantages of each option.

The position he found himself in was exceptionally complex. It wasn’t a matter that could be resolved by simply choosing a side.

By his estimation, the Imperial Army and the rebel forces were evenly matched in size.

The Crown Prince had the Emperor’s Sword Master by his side and held the authority to command the continent’s most powerful army. Even if this authority was temporarily transferred for the war with the Kingdom of Jeren, it still ultimately belonged to him.

The rebel forces were led by Duke Fernand. They also had a Sword Master, though their directly controlled army was smaller in scale. However, they had allied themselves with several factions.

The Kingdom of Pnea, dark mages, and even the barbarians.

‘This is beyond imagination.’

Tehis couldn’t help but admire their resourcefulness. To gather enough strength to contend with the legitimate heir of an empire with such strong imperial authority was remarkable.

‘The Crown Prince? Or Duke Fernand?’

Whichever it was, it was clear they were capable. However, the risks of aligning with either were too great.

More precisely, he would have to prepare for the possibility of being betrayed at any moment.

It was one thing to have a poor relationship with the young Duke Fernand, but Lucas had already set his sights on him as the next target. Furthermore, his past involvement in the massacre during the war against the barbarians would have earned him their enmity as well.

And yet, could he pass up the opportunity to crush the Emperor with his own hands…?

‘No, didn’t she say he was already as good as dead?’

Tehis took a moment to calm his turbulent emotions. For now, he needed to focus on making a decision.

Objectively speaking, pledging allegiance to the Crown Prince wasn’t a bad option, but the fact that he was deeply entangled with the rebels was a stumbling block. If Duke Fernand accused him of treason, it would be difficult to defend himself.

Lucas and Chloe’s relationship alone wouldn’t be an issue. However, if the barbarians of the North were involved, it became a different story.

‘This is troublesome.’

There were only two options, and both were poisoned chalices. He was left with the task of choosing the lesser of two evils—a situation that made him sigh.

“What do you think, Chloe?”

The rebel forces had Lucas, while the Imperial Army had Helena and Kaishan. Of these, Lucas undoubtedly carried more weight.

So, perhaps the answer was already decided. Or so he thought…

—Choose what you want, Tehis.

As always, she defied expectations.

—Wherever you go or whatever you do, I will support you until the end.