Chapter 48

“Uh…”

Her eyes darted around in circles.

When confronted with an uncomfortable question, people generally fall into two categories: those who remain calm and lie, and those who shy away and divert their gaze. The latter usually tend to be more honest and poor at deceiving others.

In this sense, Sinar had to be considered a very honest and forthright person. Instead of lying to Kalen, she avoided his eyes and hesitated to answer.

“It’s…awkward…”

However, Kalen also found this perplexing. If anyone were to ask whether the question posed to Sinar was an ‘awkward’ one, very few could nod in agreement.

“Is it really so difficult to explain what you were doing back then?”

“…Kalen! You shouldn’t pressure people like that!”

Pretending to be stern, Sinar pointed her index finger at Kalen without even stammering.

“At that time, nothing happened, you know.”

“…”

The sight of her innocent face trying to appear strict could be described as the ideal image most men aspire to. However, Kalen was not the kind to care about such appearances, and more importantly, he needed to uncover the forewarned danger threatening Sinar.

Kalen gently grabbed her extended finger and lowered it.

“Tell me.”

In the face of Kalen’s sincere expression, Sinar had no choice but to yield.

The young woman slowly leaned her head toward the hand Kalen had taken and whispered in a delicate voice.

“It was spirit magic…”

This happened before heading to Hiart, after returning from Lactus.

At the time, when Sinar embraced Kalen, he had felt a slight prickling sensation at the back of his neck. She had brushed it off then, claiming it was nothing, but clearly, this seemed to be the truth.

“Spirit magic?”

“Yes… Kal had lent a bit of his mana and placed it there.”

“Why?”

Sinar flinched at this single-word question, as if it were some grave pronouncement. For a moment, her jaw tightened in hesitation.

“In case Kal got hurt…”

“Got hurt?”

“Ugh…”

As if confessing a thoroughly concealed secret, Sinar’s face grew increasingly red as she whispered.

This revelation was certainly surprising to Kalen.

Although she hadn’t reached the third tier in rank, making her unable to use serious spirit magic extensively, it was reported that spirits themselves could perform magic without depending much on the contractor’s ability.

Certainly, the versatility and power of this type of magic were incomparable, but creating a temporary magic shield would indeed be within its capacity.

Sinar’s words carried this very implication.

“After coming back from Lactus…”

By then, Sinar had already taken both of Kalen’s hands in hers.

Judging from her earnest grip, she appeared to be truthful.

So, this meant that out of concern for Kalen’s well-being after the hardships he endured in Lactus, Sinar had used spirit magic to place a protective shield around him.

“Is the second tier capable of doing something like that?”

Spirit magic governed by a contract system was fundamentally different from the other five elemental systems since it relied on the spirit’s magic being transmitted, rather than the user generating their own magic.

Therefore, while this might be a unique form of magic, it was indeed hard to believe that anything so remarkable could be achievable at the second tier.

A fact Kalen was more than aware of.

Despite the state his body was in and having forced the second-tier combat magic into it, the protective shield Sinar had provided seemed to have been the thing that saved him.

Understanding that it was spirit magic, was something Kalen struggled to come to terms with initially.

“I didn’t know either. My grandfather was also amazed at first.”

Sinar mentioned that her diminutive spirit could use various other forms of spirit magic.

Upon further consideration, her spirit was, indeed, an exceptional entity, the sort that even the great mage Blamia had never encountered before, only finding mention in ancient texts.

Perhaps that’s why, although at only the second tier, her magic was so extraordinary.

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I had no choice. I thought if I mentioned it, maybe you’d do something reckless.”

Blamia had also previously advised Sinar of this.

Since your body is unstable, take care of yourself better. These words seemed more precious to Sinar than they were to Kalen himself. Of course, whenever Kalen didn’t care for his own body, for some unknown reason, he placed himself in perilous situations.

A matter of life and health where the scales weren’t heavy enough to tip one way or another.

Despite having been cautioned by Blamia, it was evident that Kalen couldn’t resolve certain things alone.

However, Kalen wasn’t the type to throw a tantrum in front of someone who cared for him.

“…Thank you.”

“Yes…”

Coming to find out what exactly had happened to the nape of his neck and instead discovering facts he never anticipated; though Sinar appeared somewhat unnatural even now, indicating there was still more she hadn’t revealed.

Regardless of what it was, Sinar had already helped Kalen once.

Sometimes, it’s best to respect the reasons behind hidden secrets. Occasionally, it’s better to remain in ignorance.

Thus, Kalen decided to respect Sinar’s feelings and leave the unanswered truths as they were.

After all, this felt like a matter unrelated to any dangerous reasons Sinar had foreseen. Most importantly, it might very well be his own misconception.

“Alright. And don’t push yourself too hard.”

It seemed all Kalen needed from Sinar had been uncovered, so he turned to the next phase of his journey.

He didn’t forget his concern for Sinar, who lately seemed to be overexerting herself.

And so, with Kalen’s departure, Sinar remained.

“Sorry, but that’s impossible. Kal.”

With a bashful smile, she clutched her hands to her chest and whispered softly, her voice too low for the distant Kalen to hear.

*

As Sinar reached toward the third rank,

And Blamia wrestled with the turbulence of her thoughts,

Kalen began to form his own answers about the danger foretold by the spirit.

A short staff-like wand spun through the air.

Kalen’s mind, as he unconsciously twirled the wand, focused solely on one fact.

This was undoubtedly related to spirit matters.

To delve further, it had to do with a spirit known as a sovereign and the seal it guarded.

Monstrosities, perhaps, would be a relevant term.

Contemplating every possibility and thought, nothing stood out as clearly except one event.

The danger foretold for Sinar.

The mark that the spirit had inscribed on her back, highly likely associated with that specific spirit.

Considering now, this seemed the best thought, and also the most accurate.

The core of the matter was this: the spirit had chosen Kalen, not Blamia, who was renowned as a great mage.

What made the spirit bypass Blamia, to select him?

This thought led back to an event prior to heading to Lactus.

When Sinar, in her efforts to apologize to Blamia and break through the second tier, encountered an unidentified monster within the spirit realm.

It was undoubtedly prevented by her unique constitution and sigils.

Different from others, these peculiarities.

Blamia, though unsurpassed in her capabilities, still adhered to conventional paths—walking a predetermined course toward an inevitable end.

Contrarily, Kalen was still at the start of his journey but was moving toward the same end.

No path untraveled becomes meaningful until the pioneer reaches its culmination.

Thus, Kalen firmly believed the spirit warned of the danger by marking him because of this.

Perhaps the spirit had carved the sigil on his back to expose the image within, unveiling the truth.

While he knew little concrete about the danger that awaited Sinar, uncovering these hints brought him a measure of relief.

Knowing a little, even if incomplete, was preferable to knowing nothing at all.

Taking a deep breath, Kalen leaned against a tree, his staff in hand.

If only this danger were immense yet visible.

Whether by slaying it or protecting Sinar by laying down his own life, the certainty and action would be more reassuring to him.

He disliked how everyone was now quaking under this unforeseen threat, waiting for the inevitable pain.

Sinar at first, then Eliana, then Serasie.

Each had been challenging, yet resolved through sheer determination.

This wasn’t the case of suffocating dread arising from the unseen unknown.

Sinar was undoubtedly exhausted, both physically and mentally, in the process of inheriting the responsibilities of the household.

With such considerations, could he protect her?

This question, Kalen posed to himself.

Ultimately, it was for this reason.

Because of the favors granted by the elder and the young lady of the Dranunus family.

It was a repayment made by journeying to Lactus and Hiart.

All to ensure that Sinar could properly inherit everything in the Dranunus family.

This, too, was part of that overarching process.

A modicum of relief.

Though unintentionally, he had saved Eliana and Serasie for the Dranunus name.

With Sinar also within that circle,

Not as a pure, innocent girl,

But as Lady Sinar Dranunus.

When viewed this way, his mind seemed to settle a little.

Beyond notions of gratitude and obligation,

It was about protecting those who had become precious to Kalen, and in turn, repaying their warmth.

Just repeating the same action once more.

The dark eyes watching over the young girl in the training yard seemed to lower their intensity.

“Haa… Haa…”

The small cottage is nice.

In her distant memories, she lived in a massive house.

Now, she knows that it was the family mansion of the Dranunus family.

Even so, Sinar prefers the cozy little cottage.

Because her beloved grandfather lives here, and her bed feels much cozier and more intimate than the unnecessarily vast room.

Especially since the arrival of Kal, a very charming young man and friend, it has grown even better.

After being saved by him, things got even better, and getting to know Kalen was even better still.

So, at one point, she thought that living forever in the small cottage wouldn’t be so bad.

It seemed her grandfather shared a similar sentiment.

However, opportunities come without warning.

The invitation from Lactus.

That marked the beginning of everything.

Kalen cares for her, yet neglects his own wellbeing.

When it became apparent, she started thinking, much like in her childhood when her father, mother, and older brother were around—that she wanted to draw Kalen into this life here.

Of course, she knows it’s not possible, but she feels that this boy might do it for her.

Thus, she hurried along at times.

Honest as she may be, studying magic is both tedious and hard.

Nevertheless, being no fool, she knows that the fact slacking off once makes greater effort necessary.

The growing sense of urgency stems from this realization.

This time around, if it weren’t for the mana of Kal Dragon keeping watch, things would have truly taken a bad turn.

So, before Kalen gets severely injured for not taking care of himself, she wants to return to those happier times.

A dream that now cannot be realized.

To lock him within her own dream.

And wish that they could be happy together.

Under the beautiful moonlight, her cyan-colored eyes glistened.

Sinar, once again cutting her sleep short to study magic, attempted to raise her mana and summon the Kal Dragon from the spirit realm.

-Creak.

The wooden chair Sinar sat on tipped over with an ominous sound.

Simultaneously another sound arose.

-Thud.

The girl’s vision turned dark as she, along with the chair, tumbled to the ground.