Episode 28
The Magic Bureau was, as rumored, divided into various departments. To reach the Healing Magic Department, one had to head to the administrative office. Amidst the bustling crowd, the court magician who had led the way one step ahead guided me to Arzen’s location.
Arzen’s striking silver hair was visible from a distance.
“Arzen, the guest you mentioned yesterday has arrived.”
“Oh, thank you. Sierra!”
He threw aside his somewhat aloof demeanor and ran towards me like a puppy.
“Arzen, seeing you like this, you seem quite convincing as a healer, as I mentioned yesterday.”
“I’m still a novice, so I appreciate you saying that.”
Arzen laughed and nodded at the court magician as if to say that it was okay for him to leave now.
“Now you seem quite busy with work, so if it’s bothering you because of me, I can come back another time…”
“No, I finished the majority of my tasks yesterday when I heard you were coming.”
A novice, you say?
Arzen’s desk was unusually tidy, unlike the cluttered desks of others, stacked with piles of documents and various herbal experiment tools.
“Arzen, you worked until dawn yesterday? Was it all for the guest here?”
At that moment, a woman with brown hair held high approached, chuckling softly.
“Hello, I’m Marisa, the head of the Healing Magic Department.”
“I’m Sierra Drenian.”
I greeted her, shaking the hand she extended.
“As Arzen mentioned, I finished my work in advance, so you can leave early today. Don’t worry about it.”
Marisa said with a laugh before leaving.
“Arzen, were you working until dawn? You might ruin your health.”
“That’s an exaggeration; I didn’t work that late.”
As Arzen awkwardly laughed and said so, a colleague of his with white robes appeared from the side.
“Arzen, where did you put the key to the research lab door that you took with you when you said you’d close and leave yesterday?”
“I just placed it on Senior’s desk a while ago.”
“Oh, right. I heard you left work around dawn; your youthful vigor is impressive. It’s good to have a passionate junior join us after a long time, haha.”
The man playfully tapped Arzen’s shoulder, laughed heartily, and then left.
“…”
“You can’t deceive anyone, Arzen.”
I tidied up Arzen’s disheveled hair, a clear sign of a night spent in the research lab, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter as if to say it was unavoidable.
* * *
Arzen led me to the reception room.
The Magic Bureau had a well-known open atmosphere. Though it would be a lie to say that I wasn’t worried about any senior figure scrutinizing Arzen, seeing it with my own eyes made me feel that I didn’t have to be concerned.
“Well, who would dare to scrutinize Celber’s disciple?”
‘Magic’ was undoubtedly different from ‘ability.’ While the former belonged to the realm of innate abilities, the latter could be achieved through acquired efforts.
However, they shared quite a bit of overlapping knowledge.
Even though the Celber family could produce exceptional healers without formal magical training, as scholars, they often sent their heirs to the royal Magic Bureau for educational purposes.
“I was worried when you decided to work at the Magic Bureau, but now that I see it, you seem fine.”
It seemed that, perhaps due to childhood memories, I had always seen Arzen as a kid. He definitely had a recognized presence within the department, different from the gaze toward the heir of a duke.
“You’re in the process of adapting. To reach the qualifications my father demanded, you still have a long way to go.”
Arzen sighed as if already tired and laughed.
“Lord Celber is truly remarkable. He casually sent his one and only son to the royal Magic Bureau, placing him in a humble position.”
I recalled Lord Celber, whom I had seen before.
“Now, I’ve accepted my fate. Besides the succession issue, I had another reason to come here.”
“Another reason?”
“It’s also the reason I called you.”
In his letter, he had mentioned my health. The neat handwriting seemed like he had contemplated it deeply before sending it.
“I’m only saying it now, Sierra. I recently found out that the illness in your body is rapidly worsening.”
“…!”
I gasped, and my heart started pounding rapidly.
“I didn’t mean to hide it intentionally. I found out recently as well, and I needed to verify if it was certain.”
Arzen continued, looking somewhat embarrassed.
“As you know, Lizbeth’s disease is incurable. I managed to invigorate you with my power so far, but the fundamental issue hasn’t been resolved.”
Lizbeth.
It was a rare and incurable disease that only a tiny fraction of people suffered from. Despite being discovered a long time ago, the small number of patients made the development of a cure slow, and it was now categorized as an incurable disease.
Only recently, with the substantial support from the duke, was there progress in developing a cure due to my efforts. However, the nature of developing a cure meant that it still required a considerable amount of time.
Even with an influx of capital now, the time that had passed couldn’t be changed.
It was a part that my father had long lamented.
“You will definitely recover from that illness.”
As a child, I thought my father’s words were like a magical incantation that would surely come true.
But now, I knew it was also a desperate wish.
“Have you ever experienced your hands becoming cold, Miss?”
The chief physician, who had been examining me for a long time, often asked me that. I shook my head, as I had never experienced such symptoms other than occasional numbness.
And according to medical literature, that was the ‘beginning.’
The onset of the rare Lizbeth syndrome that strikes in the early to mid-twenties.
Had I been relying on Arzen, hoping for a miracle all this time?
Or was it something I simply wanted to avoid?
If I optimistically thought it was okay, it really seemed that way. Arzen, too, had reassured me that I was getting healthier and there was nothing to worry about.
But, even in the original work, which followed the laws of this world, there was no mention of curing Lizbeth.
“So, I didn’t want to accept it even more.”
If there seemed to be no way out, people tended to avoid it.
Perhaps my complicated feelings were evident on my face, as Arzen took hold of my cold hand.
His hand was always warm and melted my icy one.
Then, peace would find its way.
“When you hold someone’s hand like this, you feel something. A heat, like Tao. My father called it the flame of life.”
It seemed to be something that the Celber family could feel through their healing abilities.
“Sierra, your flame has diminished compared to before. It was fine not too long ago, but recently, it’s been rapidly…”
It meant that Lizbeth had officially started progressing.
“I was mentally prepared for this, but it’s still a shock. There’s nothing we can do about it; everyone already knows the fact.”
Rather than feeling more confused, I found myself sorting out my complex emotions and calming down.
It was just a momentary confusion.
I was only re-emphasizing known facts.
On the other hand, Arzen’s expression stiffened.
“When you look like that, I feel resentful because I can’t do anything.”
No, what are you saying?
“Arzen, you resent yourself for not being able to do anything? How much healing power have you transmitted to me? I’ve always been grateful to you.”
“That’s not enough. If it’s greed, then call it greed, but I entered the Magic Bureau to research and find a solution for that disease.”
“Then, the reason you decided earlier than planned was…”
“I will do my best in my own way, Sierra. So, if any strange symptoms appear in the future, tell me first.”
There was no hesitation in Arzen’s eyes.
It wouldn’t have been easy for someone who had never experienced failure to decide to go through a challenging process to find a solution.
“Well, tell me if anything happens. I’ll tell you first if there’s anything wrong, Arzen.”
Arzen knew well that even when I was in pain, I often pretended to be okay.
Growing up hearing my father’s concerns, it had become a habit ingrained in me.
I smiled and wiped away the redness from Arzen’s eyes.
“Don’t cry.”
“I’m not crying.”
“You’re crying on the inside. I’m sure I’ll get better, so relax your serious expression. It’s not like you.”
As I playfully said this and laughed, Arzen nodded as if he had no choice.
* * *
Leaving the royal palace, I felt as if I were carrying a small burden, my heart heavy.
In reality, there had been times when I optimistically thought that if I died, I might return to my original world.
It’s not impossible for lightning to strike twice.
But if I were not there, there would be people who would be saddened.
Arzen and my father were desperate.
For the sake of those people….
‘I have to find a way, even if it seems impossible.’
As I made that resolution, an unexpected person appeared in the distance.
The man stepping down from a large carriage with a black dragon symbol engraved on it was….
“Ludwig?”
His gaze met mine as I called out.
