“………….”
In the western duchy of Everts.
The lord of the estate, Duke Nicholas, was deep in thought.
It wasn’t because of the recent invitation from the Arkhé Magic Tower, which was different from before. In fact, as the leader of the western region, he genuinely hoped for the revival of the Arkhé Magic Tower and naturally intended to accept the invitation.
Yet, what troubled him was…
“…So, you failed too.”
“My apologies, Your Grace!”
“No, no… It’s not your fault. She won’t even meet anyone, so what’s there to apologize for?”
The issue was his daughter, a sore spot for the ducal family.
Leisha Everts was born with a natural affinity for spirits, but due to various events in her childhood, she had shut herself off from people and locked herself in the tower.
Despite the Duke’s efforts, he couldn’t even set foot in the tower guarded by countless spirits. However, just over a month ago, he had seen a glimmer of hope.
‘Kyle Byron.’
The creator of Kyle Galli, who had caught Leisha’s interest. Frankly, the Duke had thought it wouldn’t work but had invited him anyway.
Surprisingly, Kyle Byron was the first to enter the tower and meet Leisha. Not only that, but he also played board games with her and grew somewhat close.
The Duke still remembered his last conversation with Kyle.
Specifically, Leisha’s move of sending a spirit to summon Kyle first.
That’s why he believed that through board games, he could get closer to Leisha.
‘But no one is allowed in.’
Over the past month, he had invited some of the most renowned board game players in the empire, but all were turned away.
Though they were skilled players who quickly adapted to unfamiliar games like Kyle Galli and Spirit Poker, the games themselves were impossible to play.
In the early days, a few managed to reach the top of the tower, leaving only a door between them and Leisha. But she strictly conducted the games from behind the door, speaking only in whispers.
After a few games, she even stopped opening the door entirely.
To the Duke, it seemed like all hope was lost.
‘Perhaps her distrust of people has only deepened…’
Maybe even if Kyle Byron returns, he’ll be turned away too.
Having glimpsed hope, the current situation was unbearably frustrating.
After sending away the tournament-winning player, who had apologized repeatedly, the Duke picked up the invitation from the Arkhé Magic Tower.
‘I can’t delay any longer.’
He had postponed it while focusing on Leisha, but now it was time to head to the Arkhé Magic Tower.
If he decided to go late, a few more days wouldn’t matter, but the Everts Ducal House was the leader and ruler of the west. For such a house to arrive late to the invitation of the western magic tower would be a political statement in itself.
Moreover, many other influential figures were also moving for this invitation.
Just among those the Duke had to personally attend to were the Grandel Ducal House from the east, the Rutenhark Marquisate from the south, and the 6th Magic Towers, Glesia and Astron.
And most importantly…
‘The Third Prince from the Imperial Family is attending.’
Instead of the First and Second Princes, who were in the line of succession, the Third Prince, believed to be out of the running, was personally attending.
Even if he couldn’t become the Emperor, he was still a member of the Imperial Family. With such figures coming to the west, it wouldn’t do for the western leader to be late.
Considering the distance the others had to travel, he needed to leave today to arrive before them.
Finally making his decision, Duke Nicholas called for a servant.
“Prepare the carriage. We’re heading to the Arkhé Magic Tower.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
As for Leisha’s matter, he could discuss it with Kyle Byron again at the Arkhé Magic Tower.
Dressed in his travel attire, the Duke headed to the main gate where the carriage was ready.
Once the decision was made, he had to leave as soon as possible.
I was in a hurry to go, but…
[…………….]
“………This is.”
“Y-Your Grace, Duke. Suddenly, this spirit came to the side of the carriage from the turret.”
“So… that’s what happened.”
It wasn’t just the carriage that was prepared at the main gate.
One of the spirits guarding the turret, the Water Spirit.
A tiger-shaped spirit made of water had come to the carriage.
Which means…
“Did Leisha send this?”
[………Growl.]
“So my efforts… weren’t entirely in vain, huh? Alright, are you coming to Arkhé Magic Tower with me?”
[Grr………Grrr.]
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Maybe this is Leisha’s way of sending a message of reconciliation.
To send a spirit as an escort for her father leaving for the Magic Tower—just that alone made Duke Nicholas───
[Grrr…….Splash.]
“………?”
But why, though?
The water tiger, which had been acting strangely, suddenly lowered its head.
Though momentarily flustered…
‘Well, it’s clear Leisha sent this spirit for me.’
Anyway, the Duke, with a smile, boarded the carriage and made room for the water tiger.
“You get on too. The road ahead will be rough.”
[…………Grr.]
And so, though it wasn’t his daughter, the Duke set off with his daughter’s spirit, grinning to himself.
Even if it was just a spirit, it felt like he was traveling with Leisha, which inexplicably lifted his mood.
[Splash………Splash.]
“Hmm………?”
He couldn’t help but look at the restless water tiger with a puzzled gaze.
Being a spirit and a tiger made of water, it was hard to be sure just from its sounds and expressions.
But from the perspective of Duke Nicholas, who had met many people in his position…
‘………Is it feeling burdened?’
Not just the burden of being alone with him in the carriage.
But something more fundamental.
[Splash…….]
The water tiger, still making splashing noises, eventually lowered its head.
As if surrendering to something within.
After briefly looking at the Duke, it even moved away from him.
“………….”
Somehow, it felt like he was drifting apart from his daughter too, and the Duke’s mood soured.
*
The territory of Arkhé Magic Tower, Gias.
As is typical for a Magic Tower powerful enough to possess a territory, the land was inevitably influenced by the tower’s aura.
The northern Agni Magic Tower, located between a mountain range teeming with monsters and the Empire, had a warlike and impulsive atmosphere.
The eastern Glesia Magic Tower’s territory was small but bordered the sea, and its ice magic had frozen parts of the ocean to expand its land.
The territory of Arkhé Magic Tower, which researched light and dark magic…
Was distinct in a slightly different way.
“It’s always a fascinating sight, Adela.”
“……Is it? To me, it’s just a scene I’ve grown up with.”
“There’s no other place on the continent where day and night shift so dramatically.”
Day becomes night, and night becomes day.
The light and dark magic wielded by Arkhé Magic Tower, though intangible, manipulated the laws of the world.
The artificial sun and night sky over Gias could turn night into a sleepless city and day into a tranquil sanctuary.
In this territory, day could last 24 hours, or night could stretch just as long.
By controlling the direction and intensity of the light, Gias alone could shine brightly, as if under streetlights.
Thus, the artificial boundary between day and night was…
The unique beauty and dreamlike quality had long made it a famous landmark of Gias. Especially when viewed from the upper floors of the Magic Tower.
…
In fact, Adela was right. No matter how fantastical the scenery, after a month of seeing it, the appreciation naturally fades.
…
This was more of an excuse. An excuse to take a break from the board game.
…
“It’s already been 14 hours…”
A month had passed since I returned to the Magic Tower after resolving Frederick’s matter.
To be honest, the part I needed to be involved in ended about two weeks ago. The rules of Abracadabra were firmly set, and there was nothing left for me to advise on regarding the construction of illusions, so I was just observing.
Then I got caught by Adela. Along with the Abracadabra board covered with cloth.
—
“Shouldn’t we continue?”
At the time, I had nothing else to do, and I did recall the hours-long sessions of Abracadabra before returning to the family. But refusing a board game goes against my principles, so I accepted.
…
Now, I’ve been playing Abracadabra non-stop for two weeks. And for 10 hours a day at that!
“Doesn’t Adela get tired?”
Unlike me, who has nothing else to do, Adela is even participating in the construction of illusions. How does she manage this? Are you even sleeping?
Still, there’s one thing that has changed.
[Whoosh!]
“Alright… [Sanctuary of the Gods].”
A sparrow spirit sitting on Adela’s shoulder is helping her? I’m sure it wasn’t there before, but now she always carries it on her shoulder.
…Wait, that sparrow looks familiar. Isn’t it the same sparrow spirit that was always busy running around whenever Leisha called me? The one that even delivered my letter yesterday?
Anyway, thanks to the “advice” (?) from the sparrow, Adela’s skills have improved quite a bit, and I had to struggle to keep up with her.
“You’re really good at this. You’re not using the spirit to peek at my magic, are you?”
“Don’t misunderstand. Besides, what kind of shameless and unscrupulous person would use a spirit to cheat?”
“…Right.”
[Whoosh…]
Judging by its reaction, it does seem like the same sparrow I saw. Or maybe it just looks similar?
Unlike other elemental spirits, wind spirits don’t have a clear form, so no matter how many times I see it, I can’t be sure.
Well, the Water Tiger and the Wind Horse have become friendly with me, so there’s no rule saying Adela can’t befriend a spirit too.
But before I knew it, we were naturally playing Abracadabra again.
Just as I was about to give up and continue the board game, the sparrow spirit, who had been pondering with Adela, suddenly cried out.
[Whoosh, whoosh!? Whoosh!!]
“Huh?”
“What’s going on…?”
Flapping its wings and flying up, the sparrow spirit urgently pushed Adela with the wind.
For a moment, I was stunned by its sudden action.
‘This is my chance!’
I instinctively realized this was my opportunity to escape from the 14-hour-long board game session and stood up as well.
“Adela, why don’t we follow the spirit for now?”
“You mean Chirpy?”
“…So its name is Chirpy. Anyway, spirits are said to have better intuition than humans. Let’s keep an eye on Chirpy for a while. We can continue Abracadabra later! It’s fine to come back to it, right?”
“Hmm…”
[Whoosh!!]
“Alright. Chirpy, what’s going on?”
Thank you, Chirpy. Now I can take a little break.
Even for me, playing the same board game for 14 hours straight, day after day for over two weeks, is exhausting. I was genuinely grateful to Chirpy.
Adela, who had also stood up, moved according to Chirpy’s wind.
[Whoosh!!]
“Adela, can you understand Chirpy? Where is it trying to go?”
“I can hear a little… Outside the Magic Tower? It’s saying we need to leave here quickly.”
“Huh?”
If you get close to that spirit, you can understand its words, so it’s not strange for Adela to understand what Ppyak is saying.
But it was a bit unusual that it was telling her to leave the Magic Tower.
If it’s because of an unprecedented danger, staying inside the Magic Tower would be the safest.
But since Ppyak was so desperate, I followed along anyway.
From the upper floors to the lower floors, passing by magicians preparing various magic demonstrations and illusions, we headed toward the main gate.
“Oh, Creator! Where are you and Adela going?”
“Creator! Master Olfin was looking for you earlier!”
“Creator, I need some advice…”
“Everyone! Sorry for a moment!!”
In the meantime, several people tried to talk to me, but Ppyak kept urging me, so I had to postpone it.
In a somewhat bewildered state, we reached the hall where the giant board game had disappeared, leaving it completely empty.
Just as Ppyak suggested leaving the Magic Tower, and Adela and I were about to step outside the main gate.
[Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!?]
“…Wait, suddenly saying not to go out… huh? You’re telling me to step away from the main gate?”
“Huh?”
At Ppyak’s back-and-forth words, I paused for a moment.
Then, the main gate of the Magic Tower opened.
“Welcome, Duke Nicholas. Let me introduce you to the Magic Tower.”
“I am truly grateful that the Archmage himself is guiding me. Thank you… huh?”
Wait.
Duke Nicholas? Master Olfin?
‘Ah, it’s about time for the invited guests to arrive.’
But why is Ppyak telling me to stay away from the main gate…?
[…Grr.]
[Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!!]
As the familiar Water Tiger that came with the Duke let out a sound, Ppyak, who was trying to escape, turned 180 degrees and bowed its head in front of the Water Tiger.
The Water Tiger, who had been looking down at Ppyak with a somewhat dumbfounded expression, soon shifted its gaze.
[Grr…roar!!!]
“Huh, huh?”
As soon as it saw me and Adela, it let out a loud roar.
At first glance, it sounded threatening, but since I was quite close to the Water Tiger, I could understand what it meant.
In fact, that’s why I was the most confused.
‘It’s telling me to run away immediately?’
First Ppyak, now the Water Tiger.
While I was trying to figure out what was going on.
[…………….]
Suddenly, the Water Tiger’s demeanor changed slightly.
It felt like it wasn’t the Water Tiger I knew, but someone else had taken over its body.
And then.
[…Rroar.]
“What is this…?”
“……………….”
The Water Tiger quietly stepped between me and Adela, glaring at Adela. Sensing something in its gaze, Adela also stared sharply back at the Water Tiger.
The atmosphere suddenly turned tense, and the Water Tiger and Adela didn’t seem to be on friendly terms.
What on earth is going on?
I couldn’t understand it at all………
