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    • by Cristae Episode 179 I left the archives and took a light stroll through the palace gardens with Licht. Perhaps because I’d been buried in documents for so long, I suddenly felt dizzy. “Just looking at all those letters makes me feel like I’m going to be sick.” But a breath of cold air quickly cleared my head. In the distance, I saw the children of noble families who had come to the palace with their parents, each claiming a greenhouse to themselves and enjoying teatime. My eyes…
    • by Cristae Episode 155 Delcan Ruins, underground. “Damn it!” The Mage King panted heavily, unleashing a surge of magic power. The fortress, tangled like a complex ant nest, quaked with a resounding crash. “Calm down, please. If it collapses at this rate…” “This isn’t all of it?” The great inner chamber of the underground ruin. When the mass of Dark Beasts filling the space was cleared away, a magic circle drawn in blood was revealed, covering floor, walls, and…
    • by Cristae Episode 115 Around the time my adoption papers were being prepared. Out of the blue, Father asked me, “Ruby, when's your birthday?” “I don't have one.” “…….” “Is it important? Oh, it’s the day you eat cake, I suppose. But now I can have cake anytime, even without a birthday. Why do you ask?” The Mage King certainly never bothered to tell me my birthday. I was too busy surviving to ever be curious about it myself. Ah, at the orphanage in my previous life,…
    • by Cristae Episode 171 Then, with a heave, I sat up, and our view flipped in an instant. “Really?” “Uh, uh, uh, no!” “I can’t tell if that’s a yes or no…” Khalid muttered, scratching the back of his head. For some reason I was suddenly overcome by embarrassment and bolted away as if fleeing across the training grounds. “Wait up! Didn’t you come here to see me?” Fifteen-year-old Kal… Had become more shameless than I could have imagined! Thump, thump, thump, thump.…
    • by Cristae 122A cluster of blue hydrangeas filled the windowsill, flooding my vision. Petals heavy with moisture shivered now and then, as if waving a greeting to me. What is this… So this was what you were doing in front of my room? “I’ll move them.” “Huh?” My dazed mind snapped back to focus. Khalid mumbled gloomily from behind me. “I didn’t realize you were upset, and I overstepped. I’m sorry.” “No… Why flowers all of a sudden?” “You used up all the magic stones,…
    • by Cristae Episode 159 That evening. “Huuuuhhng!” The unfamiliar sound of crying filled the parlor. ‘What should I do?’ My eyes rolled restlessly. It had been an overwhelming day. Meeting the Second for the second time wasn’t enough; I had even suffered an attack from the Mage King. Upon assessing the situation, the Emperor declared Arcadia an enemy, and carrier pigeons bearing this news soared in unison toward each of the allied nations. The Academy was nearly…
    • by Cristae 132Havan gave the order. I hid behind my picture book and swept a glance around. “What are you waiting for? I told you to bring the pen!” “All right…” Resigned, I answered quietly and stood up. Then, moving slowly, I picked up the pen and turned around. Heading straight to Havan’s desk, I dumped out his pencil case with a crash. “What do you think you’re doing?! You crazy? Touching other people’s things?!” What a splendid self-introduction. “You said to bring you…
    • by Cristae Episode 117< The Heart of the Empire! … > Somewhere… those words… Just then, a familiar voice echoed in my mind. "If necessary, aim for the heart." Ah. The words Leviathan had spoken in the original story… 'But why did that suddenly come to mind?' Was it simply because the words overlapped? "Hmm. How cryptic." Frowning in frustration, I pressed my fingers to my brow. At that moment, the door opened and Hazel walked in. "Huh? Miss, why are you standing there like…
    • by Cristae Episode 105 The count straightened his spine and swallowed hard. The tracking mage was staying in one of the Ipsen mansions prepared by Count Camellan, in accordance with the imperial command. Leviathan had secretly ordered the count to investigate that bedchamber. "The security was extremely tight, but it's not as if he stays cooped up in the mansion all day." Ssshhh. Hastily copied notes were placed on the table. "I wrote down the mage's memos exactly as they were left. Please take a…
    • by Cristae Episode 123 Because of the mana-restricting collar around my neck, this place felt even more oppressive. Of course, it was thanks to that collar that I had managed to cross the border and reach the capital of Babylon without being exposed as a mage. ‘The Duke of Zevert is definitely here… I should take a look around first.’ Muttering to herself, the woman quickly left the Academy and slipped away into the crowd. ‘Seventh, you won’t escape me.’ Her green eyes glinted. She…
    • by Cristae Episode 119 “They say he’s the Fourth Prince?” “Oh.” Come to think of it, he did ask if he could write to me. I paused, my hand reaching for the letter. “But… what is…?” How extravagant is this?! Gold embossing was just the start—when I tore open the envelope, a pleasant fragrance wafted out. As I unfolded the slightly creased paper, it released a symphony of floral scents… It was, in every sense, spring itself. Hello, Rubian. It's Licht. Are you doing…
    • by Cristae 154 The ‘second one’ jerked her head up. ‘Mana.’ It was faint, but this was clearly a mage’s presence. Narrowing her eyes, she spotted a small party taking place near the large lake in the distance. ‘Is the seventh one over there?’ She hurried her steps. Just then— “Excuse me.” A youthful voice sounded from behind. “That way isn’t toward the library, you know.” “……” Turning slowly, she found herself face to face with a boy whose…
    • by Cristae Episode 118 ‘Mister Maddix?’ “I’m heading home for the day!” She darted out the shop’s back door with a whoosh. At the same moment—bang! The door flew open. “Asha!” The blacksmith, his long green hair tied back anyhow, flexed his impressive, sinewy muscles as always. “Mister Maddix!” It had been a while since I’d seen him. I hurried over to greet him. His bushy eyebrows danced. “Miss Ruby? Long time no see.” “What brings you here……
    • by Cristae 102 “Shh.” Leviathan pressed a finger lightly to his lips. Hazel and Adolf, who had come out to greet them at the front of the mansion, quickly took the hint and quieted their footsteps. Leviathan climbed the stairs to the bedroom, carrying the child in his arms. The sleeping face was deeply at rest—he must have been quite exhausted. “I’m starting to wonder if Asha Drukan and Rubian might have known each other from before.” The youthful prince’s voice echoed in his ears.…
    • by Cristae Chapter 153Ch.16 An outdoor tea party by the shores of Lake Reim! “All right, for the grand finale of the autumn camp—we’re having a treasure hunt!” “Wowww!” The excited children shouted in delight. While the adults enjoyed their tea and conversation around the party tables, the children gathered in a circle around the supervising professor. “Search for the treasures hidden all over the academy! It shouldn’t be difficult if you’ve explored the grounds so far, right? Well…
    • by Cristae 177Click. Clack. Khalid, out of habit, loosened and fastened the golden ringed bracelet on one wrist as he walked slowly forward. “That monster bastard…” Allen, in a hurry, pulled a waterproof sheet from his breast pocket and wrapped it around his shoes, muttering under his breath. Allied Forces? They can go to the dogs. This battle was nothing more or less than a hunting ground for that brat’s rapid growth. While Khalid single-handedly cut down a hundred magical beasts, the…
    • by Cristae Episode 113It was the voices of Void and Liam. Startled, I sprang up quickly. “What are you doing? Are you awake?” The door creaked open, revealing the faces of my two brothers. Father sighed, as if he simply couldn’t deal with them. “I told you not to rush over to Ruby’s room the moment you opened your eyes. Are you finished getting ready to leave?” “We’re not bothering her, and it’s not even right after waking up, and besides, it’s already noon! Father!” Void…
    • by Cristae Episode 103 “How can that portal break after just a few uses? And even if it was damaged, with a mage of that caliber…” Shh. Khalid brought a finger to his lips. I clamped my mouth shut and began stacking blocks again. “Who here could possibly know more about this than you?” “…I suppose Asha couldn’t say much in front of the kingdom’s watchers.” “Right. That mage tried to pull something to search this place further, but… we’re heading back to Zelox tomorrow…
    • by Cristae Episode 125 When he opened it, the chest was filled to the brim with gleaming magical devices. They belonged to the Imperial Family. “Acceleration devices?” “Absurd, isn’t it? Here we are, plotting to bring down the Mage Kingdom, and we’re using the very tools they created.” “Well… I doubt they ever imagined their creations would be used like this. It must be a bitter pill to swallow.” The Emperor murmured as he peered into the box. “Yes, with this much… let’s…
    • by Cristae 178 When I turned around, I found a pretty face with dazzling blonde hair, wearing a gentle smile. “Licht…! Your Highness!” Since we were at the imperial palace, I made sure to address him with care. Licht laughed aloud and placed the book in my hand. “Yes, Lady Rubian.” He replied playfully, then leaned in close and whispered quietly. “There’s no one else here right now.” His cotton-candy-soft blond hair lightly brushed my cheek as he moved past me. “Oh.” So…
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