Chapter 32: Their Circumstances (1)

“Did you just say the rebels were annihilated?”

“That’s correct. It seems the volcano in the Kingdom of Jeren erupted violently and swept them away.”

At Tehis’s straightforward reply, Chloe blinked several times. She searched his face thoroughly, wondering if he was joking, but found no sign of deception.

Just the previous night, they had been racking their brains together, discussing how to deal with the rebels. The deliberation had gone on so late that they ended up staying overnight in a guest room at the Imperial Palace, offered by Kaishan.

‘And now, suddenly, the volcano erupted?’

Chloe’s mind churned uneasily as she tried to make sense of it.

To her knowledge, the volcano in the Kingdom of Jeren wasn’t due to erupt yet. She had learned this from reading various related books while raising two legendary creatures.

Especially because of Ray, she had studied the habits of the Phoenix in depth. Since the Phoenix was directly linked to volcanic eruptions, it was impossible not to gather information about it.

“Ah.”

The word ‘Phoenix’ suddenly flashed through her mind.

‘No way… could it be?’

At the moment, she had no idea where Ray was or what he was doing. However, she doubted that Isrion, who had taken the children with him, would have caused such an event.

After all, he was the Mage Tower Master—a leader of a group that strictly adhered to neutrality.

Though she didn’t find him particularly trustworthy, she set aside her suspicions for now. At the moment, resolving her other curiosity was more pressing.

“So, what happens now? Does Kaishan just ascend to the throne, and that’s it?”

“They said the coronation will take place after the mourning period for the deceased.”

“What about the Third Prince? And Duke Fernand? Are they all dead?”

“I don’t think so. Unless they were directly buried under the lava, they probably managed to escape. The third prince may be a different matter, but Duke Fernand is a Sword Master, after all.”

Well, it wouldn’t make sense for the strongest swordsman in the Empire to die so quietly and without a trace.

Chloe nodded as if she understood but added a comment for confirmation.

“Judging by your speculation, it seems there’s no concrete news yet.”

“Yes, Chloe. It hasn’t been long since the event. I’ll let you know if we hear more soon.”

“That’d be nice. Although, honestly, it doesn’t really matter to me…”

At this point, she was already deeply entangled in the Empire’s political affairs. It was far too late to feign ignorance and withdraw.

‘Since Tess’s safety is at stake, it’s better to stay informed than to ignore the situation.’

Only then could she help.

Chloe aimlessly poked at her innocent salad with a fork. Having lived as a mage of the Mage Tower for so long, she couldn’t understand how things had come to this.

“I’m the one who’s grateful, Chloe. I mean it.”

It was all because of that man. Tehis Escalante, with his straightforward sincerity, kept breaking her resolve to remain neutral.

Even now, a few simple words from him melted her heart.

Chloe smiled faintly. Every time she met his deep blue eyes, which seemed to reflect only her, a strange satisfaction filled her chest.

“It’s nothing; I’m doing this for myself. But when did you have time to talk about all this? Did I oversleep that much?”

“I met with the Crown Prince this morning. And since you went to bed late, it’s only natural that you woke up late. I thought it would be good for you to have lunch, so I woke you up, but if you need more rest, feel free to sleep.”

“No, I’m fine. I’m used to this pattern.”

She was accustomed to staying up all night in her laboratory, sleeping at dawn, and waking up around lunchtime. Although she knew it would be better to sleep early and wake early, once she became engrossed in something, she lost track of time and ended up this way.

‘When I’m with Tess, though, I end up sleeping late for entirely different reasons…’

Chloe shook her head to dispel the thought. She speared a piece of salad and lifted it as if to make a point.

“I’ll finish eating this and then head to the Mage Tower. I need to meet with my master.”

“Yes, Chloe. Are you taking Lucas with you?”

“That’ll come later. I need to get permission from my master first. Technically, black mages aren’t allowed in the Mage Tower.”

***

However, when Chloe arrived at the top floor of the Mage Tower, it wasn’t Isrion who greeted her.

Instead, Riel, the heir-designate for the position of Mage Tower Master, had taken his place.

“Riel, where’s Master?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s dead.”

Why is she so grumpy now?

Seeing Riel’s sullen face, Chloe decided not to pry further and simply nodded. While Riel was particularly harsh toward Isrion, Chloe knew that when Riel acted this way, there was usually a good reason, so she refrained from pressing.

“Are you acting as the interim Mage Tower Master now? Then can you grant me permission for something?”

“What is it?”

“Can I bring Lucas to the Mage Tower for a bit? I need Master’s help to lift a curse.”

“Sure.”

The answer came without hesitation. An invitation, bearing the seal of the Mage Tower Master, flew through the air and landed in Chloe’s hands. This seal overrode all rules, including banishment decrees.

‘Isn’t this a bit too easy to hand out?’

Chloe had expected Riel to ask a few questions about Lucas or the curse, but the approval was granted so effortlessly it felt almost anticlimactic. Still, she gratefully accepted the invitation and cautiously broached another topic.

“By the way, do you know when Master might return?”

Chloe had come to the top floor of the Mage Tower for several reasons.

To get permission for Lucas’s visit, to request the curse’s removal, and to inquire about the whereabouts of Ray and Elle.

But with Isrion absent, all she could do was secure the invitation.

“I don’t know.”

“…He didn’t even tell you how long he’d be gone and just left everything to you?”

“Yes.”

Chloe could understand Riel’s irritation. Judging by her disheveled appearance, it seemed she had been dragged out of bed for this.

Feeling a bit sorry for her, Chloe decided not to push further and chose to leave things as they were. She added her own wishes to the mix and simply hoped Isrion would return soon.

“If he comes back, let me know. I’ve got questions for him.”

“…Okay.”

Chloe didn’t notice the odd sluggishness in Riel’s response and left without further suspicion. After exchanging farewells, she turned and walked away.

Soon, the door clicked shut.

“…”

Left alone in the Mage Tower Master’s office, Riel stared blankly at the space Chloe had occupied.

Her purple hair and orange eyes had grown noticeably lighter than before, as if something foreign had mixed with her blood.

Or perhaps, as if her true form was beginning to emerge.

‘She hasn’t fully changed yet.’

Seeing Chloe resemble someone she once knew stirred a sense of longing in Riel.

Had it not been for an unexpected interruption, she might have lingered in that nostalgia for much longer.

“She looks like her, doesn’t she?”

“Shut up.”

“…Riel, don’t you think you’re treating me worse and worse?”

“That’s your fault.”

Even as Isrion drooped his eyebrows in defeat, Riel didn’t bat an eye. Up until last year, she had at least pretended to show him respect as her master. But ever since she found out he had paired Chloe with the Grand Duke of the Empire, her words had become sharp.

They weren’t merely a master-student relationship but equals bound by a contract.

“I promised not to lie to Chloe…”

Riel was thoroughly annoyed with Isrion. It was bad enough that he had summoned her from her sleep to handle his work, but forcing her to break her promise to Chloe made her even angrier.

She had just been scolded for deceiving Chloe by pretending to be a high-level mage not long ago.

Her eyes, filled with resentment, bore into Isrion, who could only manage an awkward smile in return.

“I’m sorry about that. But I have my reasons… Please bear with it for a few more days, Riel.”

“What are you plotting?”

Her usually dreamy voice now brimmed with dissatisfaction. But Isrion, as expected, didn’t give a straightforward answer.

Instead, he smiled enigmatically and left her with cryptic words.

“I’m fulfilling my contract with her.”

The “her” he referred to wasn’t Chloe. Nor was it Riel.

It was the woman who could be considered Chloe’s mother, though not biologically.

The former Mage Tower Master, Lariel. The last of the bloodline blessed by the Fairy Queen and the only human capable of wielding life magic.

She had been Isrion’s master, friend, and unrequited love.

And also the victim of his meticulously planned obsession.

He had spent a long time with Lariel. Beyond a typical mentor-student relationship, he greedily seized every opportunity to be with her.

<I want to create a child. Help me.>

<…Oh, dear. I was planning to propose to you myself.>

<Have you been obsessed with strange jokes lately? Of course, I’m asking you to assist with creation research! Haven’t you been my assistant a few times before?>

Isrion willingly cooperated with Lariel’s research, which she began because she found it a pity to die without passing down the power dormant in her bloodline. To be more precise, he wanted to fulfill her wish to see another magic user of life magic besides herself.

When Lariel brought a dying child and revived them with fairy blood, he was by her side. When she gave the child a new life, even offering her own name, he was there.

Riel, the child who came to possess the same apricot-colored eyes as Lariel, became her youngest disciple.

Although she played the role of savior, the child was ultimately the subject of a semi-gambling human experiment. As such, Riel was her last disciple, hidden from the world.