Enemies Meet in an Arranged Marriage

“I have magic within me…”

Kaon’s words still felt unreal to her. If she truly had any magic left, why hadn’t she sensed it all these years? And how had so many mages in Ingelos failed to notice it? It wasn’t that she didn’t want to believe him; she just couldn’t.

“Even if you can’t feel the magic, I can see it clearly. So I’ll tell you what I see. It’s better than knowing nothing at all. As we go through this, we’ll find a solution.”

The idea of Alessia Ingelos sensing and controlling magic to become a true mage…

Kaon treated this daunting task, which no one in her family had solved, like an ancient riddle that was tough but ultimately solvable. Seeing his overly confident face somehow made her deep-seated defeatism seem trivial.

While she had grown accustomed to failure, Kaon Ferdinand had not. Though he might have learned to compromise and let go, he had never experienced personal failure. His innate genius exuded a confidence that seemed to influence her as well.

It was almost laughable that the confidence she once found so irritating now brought her comfort. How ironic.

“First, I want to understand more about the ring. I know there’s ongoing research on magical artifacts, but how far has it advanced? Weren’t these artifacts originally usable only by mages?”

Caught in a swirl of emotions, Alessia nodded a couple of times while looking at Kaon.

“That’s right. Richard developed this on his own. It’s not officially known yet.”

Until now, magical artifacts could only be used by mages, as Kaon had said. They worked by inscribing magical formulas on mana stones, which would then be activated by infusing them with magic.

These artifacts were designed to make casting complex or energy-intensive spells easier.

The principle was simple. Mana stones, containing condensed mana, would react much more strongly than natural mana when met with an equivalent amount of magic. This had an effect similar to amplifying the magic.

“Do you know how that ring works?”

“…No. I tried to figure it out, but it’s impossible for me.”

Unlike traditional magical artifacts that required even a tiny bit of magic to use, Richard’s ring was revolutionary in that it allowed Alessia, who had no magic, to use spells.

Alessia had also tried to understand how the ring worked in her spare time but had found no answers.

“The formulas aren’t visible on the surface. To interpret them, I’d need to see them, but it seems they’ve been inscribed inside with magic.”

Without knowing the formulas, there was no way to know what magic was embedded in the ring. It was impossible to decipher from the start.

Alessia’s gaze dropped. Although she hadn’t lived as a mage, she had diligently read and memorized magic texts. She prided herself on her theoretical knowledge, which was second to none, but it was useless when she needed it most.

“Come to think of it, isn’t magic supposed to be used only by the one who possesses it? If this ring was given to you by someone else, doesn’t that mean the magic in it isn’t yours?”

“Normally, yes. That’s what I thought too.”

Alessia stared intently at the ring. Using someone else’s magic was unprecedented. Moreover, Richard’s ring was set with a ruby, not a mana stone. Encasing such potent magic in an ordinary gemstone with no amplifying properties was beyond conventional wisdom.

“Why would the young duke of Ingelos create something like this? If it exists, even non-mages could use magic. Wouldn’t that diminish the status of mages?”

“The artifacts would still be made by mages. Borrowing magic means someone has it in the first place. Successfully creating such artifacts would be incredibly profitable. Other mages might resist, but that’s inevitable.”

Indeed, it would negatively impact mages. If magical artifacts could be used without hiring mages, their necessity would decrease.

But every successful research project has faced this. Initially, there would be jealousy and loud criticism, but eventually, people would extend their hands to avoid being left behind. Richard and Ingelos would further cement their unassailable position in the magical world.

“But why has it been so quiet?”

That was the odd part. It had been over a year and a half since Alessia arrived in Ferdinand. The fact that she had been living without issue meant there was nothing wrong with the ring.

If this discovery were made public, it could instantly resolve his massive debts and the enormous research funds required. Yet, it was strangely quiet.

“If the formula is inscribed with magic, can I see it?”

“With your eyes…”

Alessia, lost in thought, paused. Maybe it was possible. She hadn’t considered asking Kaon for help until now, but he might be able to see it.

Stationary magic always left some trace. No matter how well hidden, it would eventually be revealed due to the formula. Inscribing a formula with magic, as Richard did, wasn’t easy, and even he couldn’t keep it hidden from the few who could see it. In the end, no secret was eternal.

“It should be visible, no. It will be visible.”

“That’s great. If we figure out how it works, maybe you can make one too. What’s the difference between you and that Richard guy anyway?”

Alessia couldn’t help but let out a small laugh. It was the first time someone had so positively compared her, who couldn’t even sense magic, to a brilliant mage like Richard.

The only thing she shared with Richard was the Ingelos name, yet Kaon didn’t seem to be mocking her. He genuinely believed it. His boundless optimism, oddly enough, gave Alessia courage.

‘I may not compare to Richard, but things will certainly change.’

For now, even if she deciphered the formula, it wouldn’t be much help. She couldn’t sense or use magic.

However, if she became a true mage, everything would change. Knowing the secret method of creating magical artifacts that only Richard possessed would shift the balance and bring new opportunities to Ferdinand.

Richard was confident she couldn’t decipher the formula, and he was right, but Kaon was the unexpected variable.

Thinking this, her heart raced. Maybe she wouldn’t have to leave Ferdinand after all. It felt like she had found a way to repay those who first believed in her.

“Let’s leave the ring for now. Shall we start?”

“Yes.”

Alessia, unknowingly excited, calmed herself down. There was no rush to celebrate. The priority was to draw out the magic within her.

“Is there a type of magic that uses a consistent amount of power? It would be easier to observe that way.”

“Using defensive magic should work. It requires a constant infusion of magic.”

“Isn’t your magic all about burning things? Do you even have defensive spells?”

“It’s not my magic to begin with. I’m just borrowing the magic in the ring from Richard. Since he has light and fire attributes, I can use any corresponding spells.”

“Can someone really have two attributes at once?”

Kaon furrowed his brows, surprised. Ferdinand mostly needed fire mages, so he rarely encountered mages with other attributes.

“Magic is greatly influenced by one’s innate qualities. Water and fire, light and darkness, earth and wind. A mage’s magic usually has one or more attributes, making it easier for them to master and wield powerful spells in those areas.”

In Ingelos, young mages would undergo attribute tests at a certain age to determine their path. Alessia was an exception. Without any detectable magic, her attributes remained unknown.

Richard could use spells from two different attributes. Mastering even one would set a mage on a successful path, but he could handle both.

Even he was considered a child compared to the great mage Ingelos, who could freely manipulate all attributes. But there was no mage in the world who could compare to Ingelos.

Anyway, the important thing now was not a lecture on attributes but observing her magic. Alessia, momentarily distracted, focused back on Kaon.

“I need something to write with. Paper isn’t necessary.”

“There shouldn’t be anything in this room. Wait a moment.”

Kaon left the training room and returned shortly. Alessia took the quill and ink he handed her and took a deep breath.

“Can I really do this?”

She had always feared depleting the ring’s magic, using it only when absolutely necessary. Using magic frivolously to satisfy her personal curiosity was out of the question.

Even if that wasn’t the case, she had never implemented magic through a magic circle before. Memorizing the formulas was one thing; making them work was entirely different.

“You can do it. It’s Richard’s magic, after all. There’s nothing it can’t achieve.”

Despite her fear, Alessia brushed it aside. This wasn’t Ingelos; it was Ferdinand. Even if she failed, there was no one here to push her to the brink.

Alessia began drawing shapes on the floor of the training room. Inside a small, palm-sized circle, she inscribed two intersecting triangles, and around it, various shapes were intricately entangled. The empty spaces between the shapes were filled with tiny ancient characters.

“…Are you summoning something?”

 

 

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