Chapter 16: Questions (3)
Chapter 16: Questions (3)
The mock battlefield was shrouded in darkness, devoid of any light. Inside, the space was several times larger than the tent had appeared from the outside. Even with hundreds of mechanical dolls and just as many people inside, there was still ample room to spare.
The mages immediately recognized that magic had been used to expand the space. However, the soldiers who lacked magical knowledge were visibly startled.
Within Ariel’s team, Joshua was enthusiastically explaining this phenomenon to the other curious soldiers, his usual lively demeanor on full display.
Taking advantage of the brief pause, Ariel recalled something she needed to address.
‘Rayner.’
[What?]
‘You still haven’t decided whether you’ll stay by my side or not, have you?’
[You haven’t even been in a real battle yet. Do you think I’d make a decision already? You sure ask a lot.]
‘This is the last time. I won’t ask again after this.’
Rayner uncharacteristically hesitated, falling silent for a moment before speaking again.
[And why is that?]
‘Because you’re supposed to be different from ordinary books. If I can’t be sure you’ll stay, I’ll have to start using a regular book for the next mock battle.’
[…I see.]
Their conversation ended there. Ariel refocused her attention on the training ground.
All around, lifeless mechanical dolls stood scattered without any clear pattern, their cold, motionless forms looming in the dim light. Soldiers grouped with their respective teams, positioning themselves and drawing their weapons in preparation for battle.
Ariel’s team was moving swiftly as well. It was almost hard to believe that they had been chatting just moments ago. Their communication was sharp, their movements precise, and they quickly assumed their battle positions.
“Hey, sis.”
Joshua, who had taken position beside Ariel, called out to her. She naturally turned toward the voice. With his jacket tied around his waist, he was adjusting the fit of his uniform when their eyes met.
His striking features contrasted sharply with his dull military attire, a sight eerily reminiscent of someone from her past. Aynkel.
The resemblance was uncanny, so much so that, for a fleeting moment, it felt as if he had returned from the dead.
Ariel flinched, her shoulders trembling slightly.
“…Huh?”
For a split second, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her mind quickly processed the thought. If she kept staring, she might start crying. She instinctively covered her mouth and turned away.
Unaware of the reason for her reaction, Joshua was understandably flustered.
“Uh, w-wait! What’s wrong? Did I do something?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Fortunately, her mind, which had seen that face a few times before, adapted more quickly this time. She forced herself to face reality.
He’s not Aynkel. Don’t waver. You can’t cry. There’s no time for sentimental nonsense.
Ariel clenched her fists and pressed her lips together, repeating those words like a mantra. Once she had finally managed to suppress the surge of emotions, she turned back to Joshua, who was still staring at her with confusion.
Forcing her expression to remain neutral, though stiff with effort, she spoke.
“What?”
Joshua flinched at her cold tone.
“N-no, it’s just… About earlier this morning. What happened with Jin? I mean, on the airship too, and then at dawn, that was a shock. You acted like you didn’t know him, but… Did you actually know each other? Of course, if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine!”
His flustered tone made his unease obvious, his voice tinged with nervousness.
“…Ah.”
At the mere mention of Jin’s name, Ariel’s expression grew even colder.
The moment she heard that name, the floodgates opened. Her mind became cluttered with unanswered questions about that man – questions she couldn’t shake no matter how hard she tried.
After a short silence, Ariel furrowed her brows and answered.
“…I don’t know.”
She had thought meeting him would resolve her doubts, but instead, it had only created more.
Why had he visited Aynkel’s grave? Why had he started sponsoring her? Why had he spoken as if reprimanding her for joining the military? Why had he lied about being acquainted with Ainquel? Why did he keep avoiding the truth?
One question after another surfaced in her mind, each leading to another, refusing to be ignored no matter how much she tried to push them away.
Ariel’s head felt like a tangled mess. Frustrated, she shot a sharp glare at Joshua, silently blaming him for bringing this up right before training.
Joshua, unaware of the reason behind her cold stare, could only endure it until the session ended.
* * *
Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the relentless downpour.
“Sir Kreutz!”
A voice rang out, calling Jin’s name through the storm.
Jin, walking toward his barracks without an umbrella, glanced to the side. A fully armed soldier stood there, bowing with crisp military discipline the moment their eyes met. Jin returned the greeting with a frigid stare before shifting his gaze slightly upward.
A canopy of fabric was held above his head. Someone had placed an umbrella over him. Lowering his gaze again, he locked eyes with the soldier once more.
Jin’s golden eyes, particularly icy tonight, silently demanded an explanation. The soldier hurriedly spoke.
“S-sir! Since you used magic, the captain wanted me to ask if the magic-wielding giant has reappeared.”
“…I see.”
Jin’s voice was cold. The soldier, overwhelmed by the chill in his tone, froze in place. Still expressionless, Jin replied curtly.
“There was no such occurrence.”
Though his tone remained calm, there was an underlying intensity, like boiling water beneath a frozen surface.
After answering, Jin frowned slightly and looked up at the sky. He closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled slowly.
A sudden flash of light flared in the distance, followed by a loud rumble of thunder. The soldier flinched at the deafening sound.
“Report that back.”
With those parting words, Jin turned and walked away without a second thought.
The soldier, who had been hoping for a simple exchange, found himself deeply shaken. Long after Jin disappeared into the rain, it took him several moments to gather himself and move again.
* * *
Back in his barracks, Jin quickly washed off the rain before sitting carelessly on the sofa, rubbing a towel over his damp hair. His gaze landed on the table.
A single sheet of paper lay there, untouched. He picked it up. It was the application form he had read over and over again throughout the night, to the point that he had practically memorized it.
“Ariel Elias…”
He whispered the name softly, his voice barely audible in the still air. His golden eyes remained fixed on the photograph beside her name. Tracing the sharp, cold lines of her gaze in the black-and-white image, he ran his fingertips lightly over the surface.
His other hand clenched into a tight fist, unconsciously crumpling the paper. The faint sound of it crinkling snapped him back to his senses.
Jin’s gaze shifted to his hand. He let out a small sigh, then released his grip. A moment later, as if making a firm decision, he rose from his seat.
* * *
Ariel’s first training session as a soldier was completed successfully, without much difficulty. Though her mind had been clouded with distractions before it began, she immediately immersed herself in battle the moment it started. Even though it was only a mock battle, everyone was serious.
Throughout the fight, Ariel remained eerily silent, but her power was overwhelming. The strange and destructive magic cast through Rayner made her stand out effortlessly.
Ariel’s focus was razor-sharp, her eyes never missing a single attacking doll. She simply recited the words Rayner directed her to, and the spells activated flawlessly. Not a single enemy in her designated area was left standing.
[How boring. I’d rather be killing real things.]
After training ended, Rayner let out a casual remark.
Lunch followed immediately after training. At the table, the shocked team members’ conversations spilled out like heroic tales. Having seen Ariel up close, they couldn’t stop talking.
“Our positions don’t really seem to matter much.”
“Right? They say combat wizards are monsters, but this is beyond imagination.”
“Did you see her counting numbers? I thought it was a death sentence.”
“She just had to see them, and they all dropped.”
“So we just have to cover her from behind like this?”
“Is that how being a Phema works? You just read numbers from a book, and magic fires off?”
Their eyes sparkled as they gazed at Ariel. She found it burdensome. Feeling awkward, she cleared her throat.
“No, it’s not my ability… This book is just incredible. Normally, I wouldn’t be able to use magic like this. You’re supposed to chant spells properly… Anyway, starting from the next training session, I’ll use a different book. You’ll see then. I won’t be nearly as strong. Besides, this was just a training exercise against mere dummies.”
At those words, Joshua, who was slumped beside her, exhausted and picking at his food, glanced at her. He alternated between looking at her face and the book resting on her lap, then tilted his head.
“Why bother using a different book? Fast spell activation is a huge advantage.”
“Because I don’t know when this book will leave my hands.”
“You have another book to use? Pretty sure that’s the only one you’ve been reading.”
“…”
Ariel was at a loss for words. Now that she thought about it, she had completely overlooked that. She had packed in a hurry, bringing only Rayner’s book without a second thought. The realization hit her like a cold shock, making her shudder.
He had repeatedly told her from the very beginning – he would only fight in two real battles. She had always known this, yet it had never occurred to her that she would need another book.
‘Am I… insane?’
In truth, Ariel had never properly learned combat magic. Without borrowing the book’s text, she couldn’t cast attack spells on her own. She simply didn’t know any. Maybe, deep down, she had thought it unnecessary because she was a spell counter.
And yet, despite relying solely on this one method, she hadn’t thought ahead or prepared thoroughly. This wasn’t some playground for kids. It was a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance. Even if she wasn’t in her right mind, this was beyond reckless.
Ariel’s face quickly paled as self-reproach and anxiety swallowed her whole.
“What do I do? I must be out of my mind.”
Joshua shrugged and replied,
“If it’s that important… we’ll have to report it to the higher-ups. We don’t have access to the military library yet… And you’re the only combat wizard on our team. It’s probably because you’re a Phema and your activation speed is faster than normal wizards. You’re not like the others. You need a book, no matter what.”
“Ariel! Ariel Elias!”
“Gah?!”
Before Joshua could even finish speaking, a voice suddenly rang out from afar, loudly calling her name.
