Special Story 3

Time passed, and Hayden reached adulthood.

After much deliberation between becoming the successor to the Grand Castle or the new Master of the Magic Tower, he finally chose the latter. With the former Master and his successor having vanished due to the actions of a warlock, the Magic Tower faced a crisis. The internal factions collapsed, and the golden age of the Tower—which once shone brilliantly through its name alone—began to fade. The overwhelming success of Roseanne’s General Magic Academies also contributed to the Tower’s decline.

Seeking to save their remaining influence, the fragmented factions of the Tower decided to appoint Hayden. As the owner of the Oracle, he could wield Holy Power, Black Mana, and the power of spirits simultaneously.

Having been the strongest mage in the Empire, Hayden had already been clearing monsters across the land without condition. The citizens now looked to him, rather than the Tower, whenever disaster struck. While the Tower had been busy with internal power struggles, Hayden had appeared alone to annihilate monsters and erect barriers with his Holy Power, earning the absolute trust and admiration of the people.

However, Heiji found herself deep in thought because of her brother’s decision.

“Why would he take over something like the Magic Tower and leave the North behind?”

She grumbled about Hayden entrusting the Dukedom to her while he went off to fix the crumbling Magic Tower. Blizzan, who had followed Heiji like a shadow since she was a child, spoke to her tenderly—or rather, with his signature smirk.

“Isn’t it because your brother trusts you that he took the Tower?”

Blizzan playfully twirled a strand of her golden hair—identical to her mother’s—around his finger.

“I think this every time, but you’re so greasy, Blizzan.”

“Whoa, how harsh. I’m just being normally affectionate to you.”

When he added that she was too young to understand, she snorted. “Don’t you know that ‘affection’ like this toward a ten-year-old girl invites misunderstanding?”

“You’ve turned eleven since the new year, Heiji,” Blizzan corrected her in a smooth voice. Then, he let out a short sigh and muttered to himself, “Seriously, when are you going to grow up?”

Heiji glared at him. “Whatever. Just change your form. You look less greasy when you’re younger.”

Without hesitation, Blizzan shifted into the form of a beautiful youth of about fifteen. Over the last decade, with Hayden’s help, his power had grown. While he couldn’t quite match Graum’s level, he could now personify himself at a younger age.

“Don’t look at me like that, Heiji. Every time you give me those eyes, I’m reminded of your ill-tempered father and it sours my mood.”

“How unfortunate. Everyone says I took after my father’s personality more than my brother did.”

“You’re pretty, though. So having a bit of a bad personality is fine.”

“Hah.” Heiji let out a dry laugh as Blizzan winked at her. “You know, if you get caught trying anything with a minor, you’ll go to jail. Do you know how dangerous a criminal you’d be?”

“I’m technically not an adult either?”

“Only in appearance!” Heiji snapped, and Blizzan just shrugged. He tilted his head with an innocent expression.

“But when did I try anything? When?”

“Just now! You did the eye thing—the wink—trying to seduce me. Don’t deny it.”

Heiji mimicked his wink, and Blizzan let out a pleasant laugh, clearly finding her adorable. He rested his chin on his hand, beaming at her until Heiji’s brow furrowed in annoyance.

“Why are you acting like this?”

“Acting like what?”

“Smiling so… greasy—”

“Heiji,” Blizzan interrupted. His voice was suddenly steady and serious, causing her to stiffen slightly.

“What… what is it?”

“When you become an adult… can I actually seduce you then?”

“…What?”

As her scowl deepened, Blizzan added, “I really don’t want to give you away to anyone else. Of course, I can’t help it if you hate me, but I don’t think you hate me that much.”

“I don’t like you either.” Heiji muttered under her breath, “I’m just used to you.”

“Being ‘used to me’ is enough for now. Once you’re an adult, I’ll do my absolute best to win you over.”

“So seduction is the only option?”

“Like I said, I’ve cherished you as you grew up. I don’t want someone else snatching you away.”

“You didn’t raise me.”

“I have a significant stake in it.”

“My goodness… do you think you can handle my father and my brother?” Heiji worried for a moment if Blizzan could ever overcome the two men who would surely foam at the mouth if they knew. But she soon shook her head, focusing back on the succession. “Anyway, the fact that my brother became the Tower Master instead of the Duke gives me a lot to think about.”

“As I said, there’s nothing for you to worry about.”

“Worry about what?” Silri asked, entering the drawing room.

“Why are you here now?” Blizzan raised an eyebrow as if looking at an uninvited guest.

Ignoring him, Silri sat down next to Heiji. “So, what’s the worry?”

“My brother is becoming the Tower Master. Did you hear, Silri?”

“Ah, I heard. But why is that a worry?”

“What do you mean ‘why’? My brother should be the successor. He’s stronger than me and can use Black Mana like my father. He’d protect the North better than I could with just Holy Power. The citizens must want him as the Duke, and I don’t want to let them down.”

“Heiji, why do you think you’re weaker than your brother?”

“Because I don’t have Black Mana.”

“Black Mana isn’t everything,” Silri said.

“Exactly. Who cares about Black Mana? It just goes berserk all the time anyway,” Blizzan added. The two spirits glanced at each other, startled by their rare moment of agreement. They both looked like they didn’t enjoy being on the same page.

“You weren’t born with Black Mana, but you received more elemental attributes than Hayden did,” Silri noted.

“Right. The fire attribute I gave you allows for the strongest offensive magic among all elements,” Blizzan claimed.

“Wind is stronger. Why are you sneaking the word ‘strongest’ onto fire?” Silri snapped.

“Wind being stronger than fire? The sleeping gods would laugh at that,” Blizzan scoffed.

“What?”

The conversation devolved into an argument over whose element was superior. Heiji watched them blankly before twitching an eyebrow.

“Why don’t you two just date? You’re a perfect match.”

The faces of Blizzan and Silri twisted simultaneously as if they had swallowed something bitter.

“How could you say something so cruel!”

“What? That’s disgusting!”

Watching the two of them react with such excessive horror, Heiji shrugged and stood up. “I’m just going to go talk to Graum.”

Blizzan immediately frowned. “Why do you only like Graum? Is it because we look similar now? I look like this too!”

“I don’t only like Graum. I like Windel, Undy, and Lonn too. And Silri and Eva, of course.”

“Wait, why am I the only one left out?” Blizzan asked, sounding genuinely wronged. He didn’t mention Panz, who was Hayden’s exclusive spirit anyway. “Why do you only hate me?”

“I don’t hate you.”

“You don’t?” Blizzan’s face brightened instantly.

Heiji started walking toward the door and waved her hand over her shoulder. “I just don’t like you, either.”

“Whoa, that’s cold.” Blizzan let out a small laugh as he watched her walk away. He turned to Silri, who was staring at him. “Don’t you think she’ll be an incredibly charming woman when she grows up?”

“She will.”

“I can’t let a treasure like that be stolen by someone else.”

Silri’s face contorted. “What a thief’s heart you have. Don’t even set your sights on her; Heiji isn’t someone a guy like you can aim for.”

“What do you mean ‘a guy like me’?”

Silri opened her mouth to point out his flirtatious nature and past reputation with women, but then she stopped. Come to think of it, Blizzan didn’t actually have a “history.” He acted light and flirtatious with everyone, but he had never actually caused a scandal. In fact, he had never been in a serious relationship with either a spirit or a human. He flirted with everyone but drew a surprisingly hard line whenever someone actually approached him.

‘I used to think he saw a lot of women…’ Silri thought. Thinking about it that way, there wasn’t a specific reason to dislike him, yet his naturally flighty personality made it impossible to truly like him either.

“What? Are you going to say I’m handsome? I know I am,” Blizzan smirked.

Silri’s face twisted in annoyance.

“But you’re not my type, so please don’t fall for me, Silri. For the sake of our long friendship, keep your heart in check.”

Silri couldn’t take it anymore. She conjured a small gust of wind to muffle Blizzan’s mouth. Blizzan countered it with his fire, and soon the drawing room was a battlefield of flames and wind as the two spirits fought to get the upper hand.