Chapter 11: Encounter (3)
Chapter 11: Encounter (3)
Ariel, having fled to a corner to avoid Joshua, crouched with her arms wrapped around Rayner, using her hands to wipe away tears. Along with her tears, she erased the lingering shadow of Aynkel. Preparing for enlistment, she had performed this act countless times; by now, it had become somewhat second nature.
Unexpectedly, Rayner, who rarely initiated conversations, broke the silence.
[You’re so delicate, unbearably so. Your emotions boil over to the point that I feel shaken myself.]
Her voice, already low, dropped further, sounding as though it scraped the very bottom of her throat.
“This is me being much better than before.”
[Is that so? I suppose it might be. It’s been so long, though, that I can’t quite adjust. Would you mind letting me go for a moment?]
At his words, Ariel released the hold in which she had practically imprisoned him. Rayner let out a sigh of relief, as though finally able to breathe.
[You seemed deeply unsettled when you saw that man’s face. If he truly saw the future, as he claims, then that future is unlikely to be wrong. Do you really think you can fight properly with your mind in such a state?]
“That’s surprising. I thought you were all cold, cutting remarks. Didn’t expect you to show concern.”
[And I didn’t expect you to be capable of sarcasm, always sounding so frail.]
“….”
Irritated at being treated like a child, Ariel had snapped back sarcastically, but Rayner caught on immediately, sending her words back like a boomerang. Momentarily, she found herself speechless. She could have argued further, but emotionally drained as she was, Ariel had no energy for unnecessary battles of wit.
By now, her tears were entirely gone. When she spoke again, her voice was steady, devoid of any tremor.
“Everything’s hard at first. You get used to it eventually.”
This statement came from experience. Her parents’ deaths had dulled over time, and Aynkel’s death, which had once consumed her in grief, was now something she could consciously suppress to a manageable degree.
“Eventually, as you grow numb and even more numb, nothing will faze you.”
Her added words were both an observation and a hope. That just as the sorrow from her mother’s death had faded in childhood, so too would the grief left behind by Aynkel’s death.
“And besides, I’m not so weak that I’d let petty emotions get the better of me on a battlefield where my life is at stake.”
Her final words carried resolve.
At that moment, a voice called out in the distance, summoning recruits. Steeling herself, Ariel picked up Rayner, whom she had set down earlier, and rose to her feet.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
Unlike the trials for ordinary applicants, the tests for mage candidates were brief. The physical exam merely assessed basic physique and stamina; all other evaluations took place during the aptitude tests. Eden Jeriem, the commander of the military, personally conducted interviews to gain a general understanding of candidates’ temperaments. This was followed by tests designed to measure specific abilities and assign scores.
While the interview with Eden Jeriem was one-on-one, the subsequent trials involved other experienced military mages, allowing multiple candidates to be tested at once. Thus, the average time for each candidate’s aptitude test, excluding waiting periods, was about twenty minutes.
Eden Jeriem, the leader of Dantella’s military and the nation’s chief commander, was not only a seasoned soldier but also a highly skilled mage. This naturally meant he was aware of Rayner’s existence.
“That book. It’s from the Rift of Time, isn’t it? Can you use it?”
True to his mage nature, his eyes gleamed with curiosity as they fixed on Rayner, who rested in Ariel’s arms.
“Yes.”
Ariel answered, opening Rayner like any ordinary book. Eden’s eyes widened in astonishment at how effortlessly she did so. He stared in silent wonder for a moment before clearing his throat and speaking again.
“Then let’s try something simple. Here.”
He handed her a torn sheet of paper. Ariel hesitated but accepted it. It appeared to be a page ripped from another book.
“Demonstrate anything you can. It’s just a check, so don’t feel pressured.”
Not that anyone wouldn’t feel some level of tension, but Ariel wasn’t particularly nervous. She scanned the text on the page, seeking a spell suitable for indoor use. Suddenly, a lively voice echoed in her mind, emanating from the paper.
[How about me? I’m on the fourth line!]
‘That works.’
Without hesitation, Ariel complied. She borrowed a word from the fourth line and cast a simple levitation spell. Without the need for complex magic circles, she traced letters with her fingertips and recited a brief incantation. The spell materialized in a mere ten seconds.
“…No matter how I look at it, that’s an extraordinary ability.”
Despite seeing it with his own eyes, Eden muttered in awe.
Typically, mages took at least a minute to cast spells, with larger spells taking up to three minutes. While the resulting power was significant, such delays were often fatal on a battlefield where every second counted.
The advantages of a shorter casting time were obvious. It allowed a mage to cast more spells of similar potency in the same timeframe. Even if a mage couldn’t muster highly destructive spells due to limited magical reserves, they could compensate by rapidly firing weaker spells in succession.
Eden, having spent decades on the battlefield, could vividly imagine the impact of such an ability. A faint smile graced his lips.
“It’s an incredible gift. That you’re willing to use such a power in service to this cause is something I deeply appreciate.”
The interview with Eden Jeriem concluded swiftly. The next test measured a mage’s capacity for magic.
The next test was designed to measure the capacity of the mage’s ability. A man in neatly pressed military attire greeted Ariel with a salute. On his chest was a silver brooch shaped like an eagle’s head.
“Good to meet you.”
“Hello.”
Ariel returned the greeting and followed him to the designated spot. Before her, a vast open field stretched endlessly. Nearby, other applicants and evaluators were present, holding papers with pens in hand.
As this was an evaluation for mages, the evaluator was naturally also a mage. He immediately recognized the book in Ariel’s hands. Upon seeing her open it, he blinked in surprise.
“…That book! The one from Rift of Time, is that the one?”
“Yes.”
“I thought it couldn’t be opened?”
“The book allowed it.”
“Oh.”
His eyes briefly lit up with intrigue, focusing on the book. Ariel was momentarily struck by the realization that Rayner was indeed an exceptionally famous book.
“As you may know, the test will assess your capacity. It’s a skill evaluation for team formation purposes. You’ll choose between two categories: attack or defense.”
“Attack.”
Without hesitation, Ariel responded. After all, the book she was relying on for this test was a combat magic tome, making it the obvious choice. The evaluator nodded.
“In that case, we’ll see how destructive a spell you can cast and how quickly you can do it. This isn’t about grading, just a reference for team placement, so there’s no need to try too hard. Just cast a spell here in the open field. Don’t worry, it’s protected by magic, so no need to fear the area being destroyed.”
The evaluator gestured toward the empty field. Ariel nodded and glanced at Rayner. Her thoughts clearly reached him: Do something, quickly. He let out a slight chuckle and spoke.
[Since we’re at it, let’s go all out. Cast the most destructive spell you can from this book. Turn the page.]
She didn’t really have to, but, thinking it over, Ariel followed his suggestion and flipped to the next page.
[Second row, first word.]
Her fingertips brushed the words.
[Focus on your target and say attack.]
“…Attack?”
As soon as her gaze landed on the spot, a tremendous roar erupted. A massive burst of red flames formed a large sphere before exploding. The flames spread outward, and the shockwave from the blast whipped the air into a fierce gust, sweeping over everyone nearby.
Though it appeared simple, the magic was unlike conventional spells. It captivated the senses of those who had witnessed it, especially the evaluators and applicants, who momentarily fixated on the explosion and flames.
However, the person most shocked was Ariel herself.
She wasn’t a mage of the caliber of someone like Karma or Jin, who had reached a high level of mastery. She couldn’t cast spells simply by infusing ordinary words with magic; magical language was always required to channel the power and cast a spell. Ariel had always believed this to be true.
She had never imagined that a simple word like attack would manifest as a spell. Yet, with that single, simple utterance, the power was overwhelming. While the area had been protected by magic, there were no traces left behind, but the destructive force was unmistakable. The heat from the blast lingered in the air, and the skin that had been touched by the wave felt as though it had been mildly burned.
……
(T/N: A little something for the after-holidays~ enjoy reading~! ❣️)
