“Why don’t you wait a little longer…?”
Dayton said with a hint of disappointment, but Yerna shook her head.
“It’s almost time for my hospital appointment. I have to go now.”
“Hospital? Sister Luke, are you sick?”
Diana asked in an anxious tone, shuddering at the mention of ‘hospital.’
To reassure Diana, Yerna gently stroked the child’s head and said, “It’s not anything serious, Diana. It’s just a check-up…”
However, Yerna already had a rough idea of the results.
Luke had Mana Accumulation Syndrome, marked by a circle.
This meant that there was no way the test results would come out clean.
Perhaps Luke was also well aware of his own body.
That the chain made of mana was circulating around his heart.
‘In reality, it wouldn’t be surprising if he suddenly died at any moment…’
No one knows how long a circle patient is given. If they cannot handle the outburst of the circle, they could die as early as tomorrow.
If they’re lucky, they might live for a long time in a stabilized state of the circle.
Of course, such cases cannot be considered common.
Those who cannot undergo circle removal surgery must endure the pain of circle outbursts entirely with their own patience and will.
‘It’s an incredibly harsh life for a child…’
Contrary to Yerna’s dark thoughts, Luke merely nodded calmly towards Diana.
“I see, then see you again next time, Sister Luke!”
“Yeah, see you next time.”
As Yerna watched this scene, she thought, ‘I hope I’m not worrying too much in advance…’
Since there is still no proper result…
As Yerna turned to head downstairs, Luke suddenly spoke to Dayton.
“Despite the unexpected visit, I deeply appreciate the warm hospitality today, Dayton. I hope you recover soon and we can meet again.”
“Uh, yeah? Y-you take care during your check-up too.”
“Goodbye, Sister Luke!”
When Dayton waved his hand to Luke absentmindedly, Luke lightly turned and disappeared outside the door, soon out of Dayton’s sight.
‘That guy’s tone is really…’
It’s always hard to get used to him.
——-
The destination was the hospital where Luke had previously been hospitalized.
Since it was originally equipped with emergency facilities, it was quite large and conveniently located.
“Luke Irushi… Yes, I see your records. You’ll need to wait about an hour.”
“An hour?”
“Yes, the appointments are a bit backed up. It’s always busy during the change of season.”
“Oh, I see.”
After all, the weather had suddenly changed drastically.
Yerna nodded at what the nurse said and then went to sit next to Luke, who was already seated.
“You have to wait about an hour. Is that okay?”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s not that urgent.”
Luke replied as if it were natural. Waiting for about an hour isn’t too difficult.
“There’s quite a lot to read here.”
Luke picked up a magazine that had been left open and began to read. It was a good resource for acquiring knowledge about fashion, makeup, or travel.
Since Luke knew nothing about the things of this era, everything was fascinating.
‘Hmm, I hope I get a chance to experience this ‘airplane’ later. Oh, a ‘Warp Train’… this is very interesting…’
Using the knowledge of class magic he had acquired, Luke briefly visualized how the techniques called ‘airplane’ and ‘warp train’ might function in his mind.
‘Are there mana arrangements and incantations for flight? I don’t know that yet. However, I have learned most of the basic grammar. Depending on the combination and arrangement, it should be possible to create effects, so flight and warp shouldn’t be impossible…’
So, Luke quickly got immersed in the magazine.
Watching him from the side, Yerna smiled, thinking he always loves reading.
About 20 minutes passed when…
“Luke’s guardian, could you come here for a moment?”
“Oh. Just a minute.”
The nurse in front called Yerna over to say something, and she stood up, telling Luke, “Wait for a moment, I’ll be right back.”
Luke slightly nodded and then concentrated on reading again.
As long as there was no one bothering him, Luke wouldn’t leave that spot. There was no need to worry that he would suddenly disappear.
——-
Luke was indeed concentrating on his reading, up until a certain moment.
“….”
The fluctuation of the mana he felt since a while ago was unusual.
This sensation felt like…
-Luke…?
The mana-sensitive spirit, Py, must have sensed it too.
“Yeah, Py. I know.”
The existence of a First Circle.
The nature of the unstable mana that spreads uncontrollably is the slightly wild mana flowing from an incomplete circle that can’t be adequately contained by the First Circle.
“Hmm.”
Luke tilted the book slightly down as he followed the direction of the mana.
Its source was quite close.
‘An Elf.’
Although elves are known for their remarkable sensitivity to mana, they rarely become mages. They prefer spirits over magic, as it is more efficient for activities in the forest.
“A circle-marked elf.”
Luke couldn’t help but feel curious.
He stood up from his seat and approached the elf who caught his attention.
With white hair and red eyes, he was a rare albino among elves.
He wore a comfortable hoodie, crossing his arms and pouting as if everything was bothersome.
He was only a few inches taller than Luke and looked young.
‘That arrogant posture…’
Just looking at his posture could give insight into his personality.
He probably had quite a stubborn and strong-willed character. To put it negatively, a bit of a lone wolf.
However, Luke did not dislike such stubbornness.
That arrogance and stubbornness were essential traits of a true mage.
“What do you want?”
The white-haired elf boy seemed taken aback, sensing Luke’s presence, and shot back with a hesitant tone.
“May I sit next to you?”
He seemed quite flustered, looking around once, and when he realized the question was indeed directed at him, he crinkled his face in embarrassment for an unknown reason.
“Uh, sure! Just sit if you want!”
“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”
Luke sat beside the little elf with the silent elegance typical of nobility.
‘Why is this girl speaking like that? Her demeanor is so peculiar…’
The little elf was still somewhat flustered at Luke’s unusual presence.
Although he could afford to wait for a moment before responding, Luke chose to ask questions instead.
He judged that this would be a faster way to get to know each other.
“Is that hair dyed?”
“It was like this since I was born.”
He answered with a slightly irritated voice, as if this was something he had to repeat several times.
Had he been asked this before?
‘That means he really is an albino.’
White hair and red eyes were common traits among dark elves but rare among white elves.
Such albino traits often result from recessive genes of high elves.
With a bit of hope, Luke opened his mouth.
“I am Luke Irushi, just call me Luke. What is your name?”
The little elf, taken aback by the sudden self-introduction, widened his eyes slightly and then looked closely at Luke’s face as if he were pondering.
‘…This is a bit embarrassing.’
Realizing that a stranger girl had suddenly approached him could be quite awkward.
Moreover, the girl seemed quite unreal.
He averted his gaze and begrudgingly responded, “…Shirud Trifind.”
“Trifind… I thought so.”
Trifind was a surname Luke was familiar with.
It belonged to high elves.
So, the bloodline of high elves had been passed down for 5000 years.
He felt a sense of nostalgia.
High elves were not only known for their mana sensitivity but also as the leadership of elves.
However, this applies to the general case of high elves.
For an albino with impure blood, it involves a sacrifice between mana sensitivity and spirit sensitivity, while strengthening the opposing tendency.
Luke, who had encountered albino elves in the past, had never truly engaged in a conversation, but he was aware that he was a promising child who had reached the First Circle at such a young age.
‘Perhaps we could communicate. Maybe I could offer some advice.’
In a world composed of class magic, this young one wasn’t a user of the now-declining circle magic.
Perhaps, he might have an interest in the magic of the past.
“Then, can I call you Shirud?”
“…Call me whatever you want.”
Luke raised the book slightly and felt the mana fragments flowing from Shirud.
‘The circle in his heart is unstable. While his sensitivity is high, the circle is too shallow.’
At this rate, it would definitely go out of control.
At best, it could last a year, or at worst, it might be just a month.
If lucky, he might be able to suppress it, but with it being so shallow, even a slight emotional disturbance could be dangerous.
“Shirud, how long has the circle been inscribed in your heart?”
“What? How do you know that…!”
“Calm down for a moment. Your circle is currently very unstable. Don’t let your emotions sway you.”
“Ugh! Hoo… That’s because of you.”
Shirud took a deep breath, slowly calming his emotions.
“Did you say Luke? What’s going on?”
Now that he had gathered his emotions, Shirud felt the pain in his heart dissipate and frowned, glaring at Luke.
Given that he was on the brink of a circle outburst, Shirud definitely had an expression filled with irritation.
‘Even if it outbursts, I can stabilize it…’
Luke had the authority to intervene with a Second Circle and could stabilize the First Circle too.
By utilizing that principle, it would theoretically be possible to forcibly stabilize the circle, but that was a last resort.
“I’m sorry. I became personally curious about you.”
“Curious about me?”
On the contrary, Shirud looked bewildered.
How did this girl know he had a circle, and why was she suddenly approaching him so closely?
‘Is she… stalking me?’
If it was just curiosity, it couldn’t possibly be anything further.
Although this was his first encounter with her, knowing about his circle made it feel like she might very well be a stalker.
‘This is a strange girl!’
Shirud raised his guard.
Wishing that his mother, who had gone to the bathroom, would return quickly.
‘This strange beast girl is stalking me!’
How had she been watching him without his knowledge?
Cold sweat began to pour.
“I have one favor to ask of you…”
Shirud glanced sideways, looking at the impassive girl calmly reading her book.
With platinum hair cascading down gracefully, emitting a strangely mesmerizing hue of turquoise and gold in her eyes, and those mysterious horns and ears he couldn’t identify.
Adding to that, she wore attire not typically donned by children…
‘Huh? Now that I see her, she seems somewhat cute…’
But her face was indeed cute.
That was quite unrealistic, though.
“W-what is it?”
“Can I touch your chest?”
“Wh-what!”
From Luke’s perspective, she intended just to examine the circle in his heart and feel it in detail, but it conveyed a completely different meaning to Shirud.
‘Is this… sexual harassment?!’
His heart started racing wildly.
The embarrassment ignited into a conflagration of shame and fear.
“Ugh…!”
Thud.
It felt like his heart was tearing apart, mana was going haywire.
The pain also produced an outpouring of fear.
Eventually, Shirud could no longer manage his emotions.
If it continued like this, he might die.
“Uh… ugh…”
He couldn’t even voice his distress.
He was hidden between chairs, seemingly unnoticed by adults—he remembered that his previous collapse wasn’t particularly loud either.
‘Am I going to die like this…?’
He felt resentful.
He had come merely for a circle removal procedure, and now it looked like he was going to die because of this girl named Luke or Ricky.
“Help… me…”
As he gasped for air, he felt something settle heavily in his abdomen.
Although there was no time to pay attention due to the pain, it felt as if something was touching his chest too.
Then, warm and steady energy enveloped him, finally untangling the frantic binding around his heart.
As if a mother gently pulled a thorn from her child’s foot, it had a nurturing sensation.
“Hah, hah…”
“Hmm, are you coming to your senses?”
When he opened his eyes, what he saw was an unreal girl atop his body, finally placing her hand on his chest.
She smiled slightly and said.
“You’re too emotional.”
“You… you…”
Before he could finish his question about her identity, a voice filled with shock reached his ears from an adult.
“Luke?! What on earth are you doing?!”
“Yerna?”
