Chapter 61 Dorothy


    Ssh!


    An felt the cold waters of theke seep through his entire body. The burning sensation from passing through the wall of mes subsided, and he finally let out a sigh of relief. From outside, he could hear the shing of swordsKraush was buying time, facing off against Adolf. He couldnt understand why Kraush would go to such lengths. Kraush had previously revealed that he possessed the skill to steal the Lunar Body on his own. Though it was imperceptible now, if Kraush had indeed stolen the Lunar Body just moments ago, his goal would have been achieved. Yet, despite being able to escape, Kraush was still confronting Adolf directly. An knew that Adolf, not wishing to incite strife with the Balheim lineage, wouldnt harm him significantly.


    From Kraushs perspective, there was no need to take the risk of directly confronting Adolf.


    Could it be because of Lirina?


    The interactions he had witnessed between Lirina and Kraush suggested a certain closeness. He recalled the first time he had met him through Lirina, and it was possible there was something between them.


    That can be ponderedter.


    Why Kraush was helping him to this extent remained a mystery. One thing was certain, though: he was indebted to Kraush for a favor so great that it would require a lifetime to repay. His immediate task was not to squander the kindness shown to him, but to fulfill his purpose.


    An quickly retrieved the Spirit Kings egg and Dorothys crystal from his embrace. Then, submerged in the water, he began to slowly press Dorothys crystal into the egg.


    Woosh!


    The moment the crystal was consumed, the Spirit Kings egg emitted a brilliant light. An cradled the glowing egg gently.


    Dorothy.


    Despite being the Igrit familys only direct descendent, An had endured numerous humiliations due to his Lunar Body. He felt himself growing increasingly wearyhis mother, Agatha, had be harsher with each passing day, and his grandfather, Adolf, had never once acknowledged him. No matter his efforts, without mastering the Igrit familys me magic, he could never be regarded as a true direct descendent.


    Under the crushing pressure of the family, Ans spirit rotted. He had reached a point of mental exhaustion. Even the most basic tasks in life felt meaningless.


    Mr. An! What kind of attitude is that?


    His mothers reprimand rang sharply in his ears. It was only natural, given theck of progress in his magical studies. Yet even amidst her scolding, Ans mind was simply numb. His mothers once-feared face now seemed worthless to himperhaps even pitiable. He knew all too well why the once-kind mother of his youth had changed so drastically.


    Mr. An, how about a walk to clear your mind?


    Concerned, Lirina made the suggestion. Always doing her utmost for him as his personal maid, An feltpelled to get up and move, despite his weariness.


    Passing a ce where the green trees caught his eye, An noticed a figurea girl with hair and eyes the light blue of clear ice. The girl, with a face as beautifully crafted as an ice sculpture, was seated in the bushes, engrossed in something.


    An involuntarily halted his steps. Not only did the girl catch his attention, but also the spectacle unfolding from her hands.


    Naturally. The girl was casting a spe rather frivolous one, creating tiny ice sculptures.


    Crack!


    Ah!


    In a moment, the sculpture the girl had been making crumbled due to a failed spell. Disappointment was in on her face, and An found himself unwittingly chuckling at the sight.


    Heh.


    Huh?


    The sound of hisughter reached the girl. An, embarrassed by his reaction to her failed magic, coughed awkwardly. It was rude tough at someone elses magical mishap.


    And perhaps realizing this, the girls expression turned slightly annoyed.


    Who are you tough at my magic?


    Ah, well, um, thats not what I meant.


    Feeling remorseful, An approached her.


    Would you like some help with that?


    Are you a magician?


    Sort of.


    Although An couldnt use me magic, he was skilled with other types. Thus, he demonstrated by crafting a small ice horse statue with the same ice sculpture spell the girl had attempted.


    Her eyes widened in amazement.


    Wow, youre really good at magic! I keep failing.


    Its nothing really.


    Does that mean Im really bad at it?


    She was quite self-critical.


    It looks simr to the magic I used. I wonder what went wrong.


    As the girl pondered over her own magic, it became apparent she had made several mistakes in the spells formtion. She seemed unable to sense what was amiss.


    Shall I teach you?


    Embarrassed about havingughed at her earlier, An offered his help, and her eyes sparkled in response.


    Really? Then could you teach me this and this, and also this?


    Seizing the opportunity, she quickly pulled out books from her bag. It turned out she was a first-year student at the Red Tower Academyfailing in magic despite attending the academy. But she was Dorothy: always enthusiastic about magic and brimming with ambition.


    That was the beginning of their acquaintance. And somehow, from that day on, An found himself meeting Dorothy every day. She would bring him food from a ce she frequented in exchange for learning magic from him, a direct descendent of the Igrit family. The idea might seem preposterous, but An didnt mind it that much. Hed rather be doing something than nothing at all.


    Ah, so this part of the spell was wrong.


    Its not just that one part. These parts were wrong too.


    Who made them wrong?


    Well, Dorothy, it would be you.


    Dorothy was, indeed, quite the unique failing student. Mostcking talent would grow weary. Who would continue striving despite no progress? She was even ostracized at the academy for being a failing student. For a magician, the inability to manage magic meant worthlessness. But Dorothy loved magicbringing new spells to discuss with An and delighting in them.


    An thought to himself while observing her. There he was, neglected by the Igrit family for being unable to learn one type of magic, yet Dorothy, unable to use magic at all, truly loved it. This realization often left him lost in thought, questioning what he truly sought in magic.


    Then came the day when An fell ill with a fever. Recently, hed been venturing out every morning, so it was no surprise his body sumbed to sickness. Lying there with closed eyes, he felt the heat coursing through his body.


    It was torturous.


    He longed for something cool, anything at all. And above all, the helplessness of lying there, doing nothing, was maddening. It was as if life was reminding him of its own futility.


    Dorothy.


    Was she waiting for him?


    Perhaps it had be part of his daily routine. With a rueful smile, An thought of Dorothy. He had promised to teach her magic at this time every day, and failing to keep his promise, he wondered if he would be unable to meet her again.


    So many negative thoughts.


    As An pondered, his consciousness began to fade. Then he felt something exceedingly cold on his forehead.


    Barely opening his eyes, he saw strands of nearly transparent blue hair. It was Dorothy. He wondered how she managed to enter his room, but there she was, using her magic to wrap ice in a handkerchief, trying to cool his fever.


    Do, Dorothy.


    Ah, An, does it feel cool?


    Its so, feels like my forehead might freeze over.


    Struggling to speak through the fever, An managed a response, and Dorothy puffed up with pride.


    Its the power of my magic. How about that? The magic I learned from An is pretty good, isnt it? My magic can be helpful to someone.


    As he watched her, An chuckled despite himself.


    Youre still a long, way off.


    At Ans teasing, Dorothy pouted. But soon, she propped her elbows on his bed, rested her chin on her hands, and grinned broadly.


    Then get well soon and teach me. I understand magic best when its An teaching me.


    The ice spell on his forehead was cold, but for some reason, it felt the warmest to him. That day he realizedmagic, depending on who wields it, can provide such warmth to others.


    My magic


    It was merely a tool for survival within the Igrit family. But that wasnt the true nature of magic. An felt as if hed gained a new understanding, and a thought crossed his mind that he mighte to enjoy magic again.


    A few dayster, when his fever had subsided, An learned that it was Lirina who had brought Dorothy to him.


    Mr. An, when a girlfriend stays by your side when youre sick, you recover faster, you know?


    What a ridiculous misunderstanding.


    An, his face flushing, scolded Lirina, who ended up with her arms raised high, kneeling and standing in punishment for a while.


    From that day on, Dorothy often visited Ans house. With Lirinas help, she entered the estate and tapped on his window toe in and learn magic from him.


    Why do you learn magic, Dorothy?


    One day, An asked her as she practiced wind magic, managing to control it with just a wisp of mana. She turned to look at him.


    Huh? Because its fun.


    Fun. Such a primal reason silenced An. Dorothys eyes were shining with pure joy. She was deeply delighted by magic.


    Why did you learn magic, An?


    Now it was Dorothy who inquired. Why did he learn magic?


    Because I was born into a family of magicians.


    An had never contemted why he learned magic. He was simply a direct descendent of the Igrit family.


    So he learned magic. No, he waspelled to learn.


    Ah, I dont think thats it. Honestly, magic is hard andplicated. Young kids dont like to do hard and difficult things. Even if everyone around them says to do it, a childs world revolves around themselves. Ultimately, they wont do what they dislike.


    Dorothy smiled as she said this, looking back at An. Her smile was as beautiful as an ice flower sculpture.


    Maybe you found joy in learning magic?


    An blinked. He had long since be tired of magic. And yet, joy?


    Was there ever a day when I actually enjoyed learning magic?


    Watching her run gleefully after the paper airne she had lifted with wind magic, An was reminded of his very early days.


    Our An, well done! This is the magic you can perform. And this will brighten your life ahead with magic.


    On the day he first seeded in magic, his mother had lifted him into her arms, smiling warmly at him. Its said that one reason children find their first interest and fun in something is the praise of their parents. Every day, Agatha introduced him to new magic, performing it before him.


    A fiery bird soaring through the sky, a rock beetle crawling on the ground, the whisper of a wind flute, the soft touch of a water orbher magic was always delightful and beautiful. Every spell was for An, and as he grew up seeing those spells, he cherished magic in his heart.


    An definitely knew the joy of magic. He had loved magic. More than anyone else in the world, he had reveled in it.


    An lifted his head.


    Dorothy, chasing after a paper airne lifted by her own wind magic, gleamed before his eyes. An involuntary smile escaped him. He had forgotten that there was a time when he had adored the magic he so loathed.


    An!


    Seeing the girl calling his name, An got up. And he began to rediscover the joy of magicall because of the girl named Dorothy.


    The wind blew.


    The breeze from Ans magic carried Dorothys paper airne high into the blue sky. The solitary paper ne soaring into the sky seemed as if it could take him to the heavens as well.


    Dorothy.


    Hmm?


    I think I like you.


    Without thinking, those words slipped out. The feelings that had been swelling up inside him demanded to be voiced. Dorothy heard him, and her eyes grew wide before she started iling her arms and backpedaling.


    Wha, wait!


    Her face was nowpletely red as a beet. Anughed. Thatughter was the brightest it had been after so many weary days.


    Can, can I answer a bitter?


    Dorothy replied, unusually timid. She was someone he just couldnt resist teasing.


    No. Answer now.


    Being the mischievous sort, An caught her wrist and looked her straight in the eye, causing Dorothys face to turn even redder, as if it might burst.


    I dont know! Ill tell you tomorrow!


    Having reached her limit, she used wind magic to blow An away and made her escape. In Ans opinion, that spell was one of the most aplished Dorothy had ever cast.


    Tomorrow, then.


    Amused by Dorothys inability to handle embarrassment, An decided to look forward to the next day.


    And the following evening, as was his habit, An woke upte.


    Mr. An!


    Startled by Lirinas urgent cry while he was still dressing, An turned to her with a puzzled look.


    The academy dormitory is on fire!


    The moment he heard those words, Ans eyes grew wide.