Chapter 90
Elena couldn’t help but be stunned when the Archmage uttered the words “Spirit Master.”
It was because she also intended to relay what she found about the former Spirit Master to the Archmage.
“What’s wrong?”
Noticing the change in Elena’s expression, Karen asked.
“Well, I also have something to tell about the previous Spirit Master, but I wasn’t expecting the Archmage to disclose something about them…”
She didn’t know how much the Archmage knew about the former Spirit Master; nevertheless, Elena didn’t predict that she would disclose such a story.
In response to Elena’s words, Karen nodded.
“Hmm. I see. Then, is it alright for you to listen to my story first?”
“Yes. It’s okay.”
With her answer, Karen began her story.
“It was a long time ago…”
*****
A long time ago, Magic Tower.
A rookie wizard has entered the West Tower.
“Nice to meet you. Are you Karen? I am Henus.”
The young man had blue eyes and long silver hair that reached his waist.
Karen felt her heart skip a beat as soon as she saw him.
However, she didn’t reveal what she was feeling.
Karen didn’t even hold the hand that Henus offered and just immediately turned around and walked away.
“Tsk, tsk. What a character.”
She heard the whisperings of the wizards behind her, but she couldn’t properly fathom them.
It would appear that Henus was someone remarkable.
Meanwhile, the two never interacted for a long time after Henus entered the Magic Tower.
But, occasionally, Karen would watch his back.
It was after two years that the two began to talk.
That day, Karen was in a miserable state.
Despite being a chief researcher in the Magic Tower and a genius wizard at the top of that, her family treated her like garbage.
Instead of being proud of her for becoming a mage, they deemed her a disgrace.
All because of an absurd reason that Karen – a woman – became a wizard, and not her brother, the eldest son.
“Did you obtain such powers by seducing a wizard with that face or something?!”
Her father insulted Karen with such nonsense.
“That power should have been mine!”
Similarly, since she was a child, her brother would verbally abuse her.
But unlike them, her mother did nothing.
She just stood on the sideline and watched.
Karen, on the other hand, couldn’t easily turn her back to them. Because they were family.
Even if they would say harsh words to her, beat her, or hold her down.
All she had to do was use her magic and it would be over, but she couldn’t.
So she could only grit her teeth.
That day, her family came to visit.
Even though her family was human, they were able to visit the tower. And they would come all the time.
Karen took them to her dorm every time, fearing they would be seen by the other mages.
Moreover, every now and then, the mages would gossip about her, and her savings would be taken away.
Worn out, Karen sat alone in the garden of the Magic Tower that night.
Beneath the gorgeous moonlight, Karen wept in one corner of the garden.
At the same time, she felt a presence.
“Hello, Karen.”
It was Henus.
Karen didn’t even look at him when he spoke to her.
Undeterred, Henus came up to her and sat down.
“Get lost.”
Karen cursed and pushed him away, but Henus remained silent.
Then, when Karen stopped crying, he said:
“If you’re so good at telling me to get lost, why can’t you do it to your own family?”
At Henus’ words, Karen was slapped in the face.
“That…that…”
“Just because you see them as family doesn’t mean you have to embrace everyone. Karen, the most important person in your life is yourself.”
Karen was then certain.
With that one statement, her life changed.
After that, Karen immediately started to have feelings for Henus.
It would turn out that Henus witnessed Karen often being humiliated by her family.
There was a time, on his way to the dormitory, he saw her family being furious at her, demanding why they could only talk to her at her dormitory every time.
He was baffled to see Karen – who was always so confident – make herself small in front of her family.
So Henus reached out to her.
At first, Karen thought they would just be good friends.
But one day, Henus revealed his secret to her.
“… You’re a Spirit Master?”
In the middle of the night, Karen saw Henus in the garden, talking to the air.
The spirits were just like myths buried in history; but Karen, an honor student in the Magic Tower, was well aware of their existence.
Henus couldn’t even deceive her and told her his secret.
So the two found out each other’s secrets.
Knowing each other’s secrets could sometimes advance a relationship.
The more time they spent together, the closer they became.
Karen thought that this happiness would last forever.
But great sorrow would come when one was at the peak of their happiness.
10 years have passed since the two of them were together.
Karen ascended to the position of the Archmage.
And that night, Henus fell.
*****
“The malady that Henus was suffering from only happens to Spirit Masters. You are aware that Spirit Masters share their power with the spirits, right?”
“… Yes.”
Elena answered nervously.
“When a spirit master gives power to their spirits, it is the same as giving their life force. Spirits are also living creatures.”
“That means…!”
Lexion’s eyes widened once they heard the story.
Karen solemnly nodded.
“That’s right. Every spirit master in history, including Henus, has died at a young age. If Elena had been a human instead of becoming a mage, she wouldn’t be here.”
This was because wizards have magical powers, unlike humans.
“The power of spirits and the power of magic. Those who wield both share their life force and magic with the spirits.”
The office became quiet.
Lexion’s face was shrouded with pain at the fear of losing Elena again.
Elena unconsciously tightened her grip on Lexion’s hand.
“… Then what will happen to me?”
Elena asked in apprehension.
Karen then smiled softly.
“You don’t have to worry. Because we have developed a cure.”
Lexion’s expression brightened rapidly at her words.
It felt like going back and forth between heaven and hell in just a few seconds.
Meanwhile, Karen pulled out a bottle of pink liquid from her bag.
With a flick of her magic, the glass bottle flew to Elena, gently landing on her hand.
“Drink it. If you drink that medicine, even if you share your power with the spirits in the future, only your magic can be shared, not your life force. In other words, it will transform your magic into something more like a life force.”
“Th-Thank you, Archmage.”
However, Elena couldn’t help but be confused when she looked at the Archmage.
She was smiling, yet somehow, she looked lonely.
Elena opened the bottle and drank it.
Immediately, she felt the change in her body.
She couldn’t explain it exactly, but it felt like her magic power had increased.
“All right, then. Now, Elena, let’s hear what you wanted to say.”
“Ah…”
Elena was contemplating how to bring up this story.
Recounting such an event about Karen’s lover – the person she loved more than anyone – was saddening.
But since she decided to speak about this, she couldn’t back down now.
In the end, Elena cautiously opened her mouth.
“… Not long ago, I saw the former Spirit Master in the war against the monsters.”
“What?”
Karen’s eyes darkened.
“I heard it from my spirit, and I knew it was him.”
Elena explained the situation at that time.
A person who suddenly appeared during the battle with the monsters.
And even the gigantic monster he summoned.
“I don’t know why, but I felt like he was also a monster. When the gigantic monster was destroyed, he also got annihilated with it…”
After finishing the story, Elena looked into Karen’s eyes.
Complicated thoughts seemed to overtake her.
For a while, there was only silence.
“First… Everyone should leave.”
Elena, Lexion, and Jeremy had no choice but to leave the office at Karen’s order.
Left to her own thoughts, Karen covered her face with both hands.
“Henus. You were the most virtuous man I know…”
Why were you there?
Clear liquid trickled in between her hands.
Karen sobbed until her shoulders trembled.
It was only after a few minutes that she calmed down.
Karen wiped away her tears and loosened herself.
She calmly organized her thoughts.
‘Henus could never have joined hands with a demon.’
The young man who lost his life while saving the spirits who were stained with black magic.
The man who despised dark magic.
At the same time, he was a person who loved the spirits very much.
He buried himself in the Black Continent, hoping that even after his death, the power that remained in his corpse would purify the spirits that were infected with black magic.
That was his last words to Karen through the messenger.
‘If I had known it would be like this, I would have brought you back.’
Overwhelming regret washed over her.
But soon, Karen dispelled such negativities again.
For Henus, she needed to clear her head.
‘Summarizing the story I heard from Elena, Henus must have been resurrected by black magic.’
The way he turned to dust; the way he disappeared at the same time as the creature he summoned.
When considering these circumstances…
One conclusion could be reached.
‘… Henus was resurrected by black magic.’
Karen’s eyes shone brightly.
