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Also, with Part One complete, I'm asking for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets～
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Lucian held the ring, listening to Natasha's unhurried narration. He sighed with feeling, "The Grand Duchess truly was a genius mage. She received the highest honor in the field of elemental magic at only twenty-three. She wasn't even a high-tier mage back then, was she?" It was a respect that welled up naturally from within him—yet such a genius had abandoned her own path of arcane magic for love.
Natasha's smile was serene and tranquil, as though she had drifted into memories of her mother. "Mother often said that everyone has their own strengths—it's simply a matter of whether you can find them. After the Holm Kingdom threw its support behind the Arcane Council, many scions of the royal family who couldn't awaken their bloodline powers suddenly had another choice. Quite a few children who were once mocked during knight training and combat drills went on to become exceptional mages. My mother had originally been physically frail, and her spiritual power was nothing remarkable. Even potions couldn't awaken her bloodline power, yet she still managed to leave her own mark on the path of arcane magic. When she received the 'Holm Crown' award, she was only an initial-tier mage."
"Sadly, her body and soul were corroded by all manner of strange arcane elements over the years, and the blow of my elder brother's passing—the Lord's calling him home—on top of that, after she failed in her attempt to advance to high-tier mage, she never rose from her sickbed again."
"Has the Grand Duchess been researching arcane magic this whole time?" Lucian was mildly surprised, though he supposed the Church would have turned a blind eye to someone with such symbolic significance.
Natasha wrinkled her nose and smiled. "If Father hadn't allowed her to study arcane magic, she might very well have taken my brother and me straight back to Holm. The strongest impressions I have of her from childhood, besides the way she and Father seemed to exist in a world no one else could enter, are those cold, dimly lit arcane laboratories and the scent of all those strange potions. As for the Church..."
"This ring must hold a special meaning for you, Natasha." Lucian glanced at the band.
Natasha lowered her gaze to the ring in Lucian's hand and smiled with an easy grace. "The ring itself isn't important. What matters is my feelings for my mother. Would I miss her any less if I didn't have the ring? Lucian, stop being so coy, like a girl. As a keepsake tied to arcane magic, it's the most fitting thing I can offer. But it may also bring certain troubles with it. If you haven't run into any truly dire problems, I'd advise you not to take it to the Elemental Will organization or anyone at the Holm Royal Magical Court. Once you've become a high-tier mage, it should be able to earn you an excellent mentor."
At Natasha's words, Lucian shook his head with a smile and tucked the ring away. "Thank you, Your Highness. Has the vampire blood's effect worn off yet? Shall I carry you back to Altor?"
"It's worn off. It only temporarily suppressed the aftereffects—I can make it back to Altor on my own. You should leave quickly, Lucian. I'm worried the Church could show up at any moment." Natasha waved a slender hand. "Don't worry about your identity. Leave it to me."
"I'll still be able to use the name Lucian Evans?" Lucian had been planning to change his name once he reached the Holm Kingdom, so as not to implicate John and the others. He couldn't help but be a little surprised by Natasha's words.
Natasha let out a sharp, mocking laugh at Lucian's expense. "Did you really think the name Lucian Evans was something unusual? There are plenty of people with that name in Altor alone. As long as you don't go around announcing yourself as the famous musician once you reach Holm, who would connect you to that? Besides, the identity of musician Lucian Evans is actually a decent cover. Perhaps someday, when you return to this side of the Storm Strait, it could still come in handy. As for how to keep 'him' alive long-term, just send me a few newly composed pieces of music now and then, and I'll handle the rest."
"I'll probably be dedicating myself entirely to studying and researching arcane magic from now on. Music will become very, very rare." Lucian knew that a well-known public identity could prove invaluable down the road, but he still hesitated.
"A single work every few years would be enough. I believe in your musical talent. Of course, if you're not willing, then forget it." Natasha said "forget it" dismissively, but her eyes shone with unusual brightness.
Lucian answered vaguely, "I'll do my best." He had already been planning to use music in his off-hours to balance out the exhaustion from arcane study, so he could probably ease his way toward composing original pieces.
After arranging how to send letters to Natasha, Lucian packed away the "Weaver of Flames Bracelet," Aylen's second-tier intermediate extraordinary weapon the "Enfeebling Dagger," the cold iron dagger, and other items. He slung the damaged "Vigilance" longsword over his shoulder and said his farewell to Natasha. "I hope we'll meet again, Your Highness."
The heavy three-headed flail was not only difficult for Lucian to wield but also inconvenient to carry, so he left it behind with Natasha.
Natasha showed no great sentiment at the parting, merely smiling. "Just call me Natasha. I'll take good care of your friends for you."
"Thank you, Natasha." Lucian's gratitude was entirely sincere.
He turned and had taken only two steps when he heard Natasha's voice from behind him. "Lucian..."
"What?" Lucian looked back at her in puzzlement.
Natasha's smile was gentle. "Remember—life shouldn't be only about arcane magic. There's also music, and friends, and laughter."
"I'll remember that." Lucian smiled and nodded in reply.
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Watching Lucian's silhouette dissolve into a faint glow and vanish into the Black Forest, Natasha's smile faded and her expression turned serious. "Come out. You've been listening for quite a while."
"Your intuition really is razor-sharp, Your Highness." In the dark air overhead, a transparent figure materialized without warning and slowly resolved into clarity: "the Canon Bearer" Salvador, clad in a white bishop's robe, a clean white handkerchief tied at the wrist of his black glove. "Lady Camille went in the wrong direction—she chased after Sir Wayne and the others. Fortunately, I arrived in time. Otherwise, how would I have learned from your conversation that the 'Professor' is merely an ordinary mage? Hmph—an ordinary mage, yet he dared to toy with and mock us in the Night Watch like this! He not only cost me every last member of my team, but he also became the three hundred fifty-ninth target on the Purification Sequence. Utterly humiliating."
His fury was plain for all to see.
Natasha regarded him with a composed expression. "You didn't make a move just now. It seems anger hasn't destroyed your reason. Perhaps you have something else you want to say?"
Salvador hovered in midair, looking down from on high in the direction Lucian had departed. "It's quite clear that you place great importance on the 'Professor,' Your Highness. That's why I'd like to propose a trade: I'll help you conceal the truth that the genius musician Lucian is the sinister mage known as the 'Professor.'"
His anger vanished without a trace. His entire body was bathed in scorching holy light. Though Natasha wasn't wearing her Blood Dragon Armor and had absolutely no way to fight in midair—giving him, who could fly, an overwhelming advantage—caution was never wasted. What if Natasha suddenly hurled the Thunderclap Sword at him?
"Your team was truly unfortunate," Natasha remarked flatly.
Salvador let out a soft chuckle. "My resolve to avenge them is unwavering. But vengeance can wait. An opportunity to cooperate with Your Highness, whom His Holiness the Pope himself holds in high regard—such an opportunity, once missed, is nearly impossible to recapture. This is the best path toward realizing the ideal world I've spent so long pursuing. The reason I gave up an honorable bishop's post to walk the shadows as a member of the Night Watch is because..."