Chapter 90

“But… hmm. The god of sand, you say.”

“I heard it’s a god hardly anyone knows about.”

“Not anymore. But back when Chitrum’s influence was strong, it was practically a state religion. Of course, Preseria didn’t have any desert regions in its territory, and most coastal townsfolk worshiped the sea god.”

“Then why would that god appear in the Cult of Fire?”

The god of sand. It felt a bit odd to mention such a deity while staring at snow piled up—if not as heavily as in the Grand Duchy—in the heart of winter.

Though it was winter here, the desert was probably still scorched under a blazing sun. At times, the sands would create their own currents, flowing like rivers.

‘Ugh, I really hate the heat.’

As I imagined the deserts I’d seen in documentaries, the Apostle, who had been lost in thought, spoke again.

“They might have joined hands, or perhaps…”

Her voice dropped slightly, as if handling something unpleasant.

“It could be that the god is parasitizing the cult, replenishing weakened divine power, and maybe even trying to restore its divinity to its former glory.”

“Huh? Parasitize? Is that even possible?”

The world of faith only grew more mysterious the more I learned. Seeing my astonishment, the Apostle smiled knowingly.

“Minuelle, an Apostle is someone who will do anything for the god they serve. Or perhaps, it’s that the gods choose only such people.”

“Then I’m definitely not cut out to be an Apostle, haha.”

Trying to lighten the increasingly heavy mood with a joke, I returned home and immediately asked Juela to find a craftsman experienced in carving large gemstones.

Together, we sent a raw gem almost the size of a person to the Plendena Temple, and not long after, an enormous number of protective talismans arrived at the house.

[Just in case.]

Beautiful flowing script, tilted at a slight angle. It was the Apostle’s handwriting.

“Even if it’s a gift, isn’t this a bit much?”

I quietly counted the talismans. They roughly matched the number of knights we’d prepared.

Just how far ahead was she seeing? Suppressing a foreboding feeling, I gripped one talisman tightly in my hand.

‘I wonder how Esadien is doing.’

On the way to the magic academy, sitting across from me wasn’t Ramande—our relationship had grown awkward lately—but rather my escort knight, Clidane.

Now that the knights we’d scheduled had arrived in Roquate, he had some free time.

Gathering information on high society and the imperial palace was Juela’s job, so I had some downtime and was doing my best to push thoughts of Esadien away.

But unlike right after our broken engagement, I now lived where El had once been. It wasn’t so easy to ignore.

Especially since my escort knight looked so much like Esadien.

“Young Lady, we’ve arrived.”

“Ah, right.”

Once again, I’d been lost in thought. As I was about to step down from the carriage, Clidane held out his hand.

Thankfully, he didn’t make any unwelcome advances and faithfully did his duty as a knight.

With everything already so noisy inside me, if he had acted out of line with that face of his—resembling Esadien—I would’ve exploded, regardless of Juela being the one who assigned him.

“But what brings you to the magic academy, my lady?”

“Pardon?”

I reflexively replied without thinking, and Clidane gave an awkward smile.

“Ah, I apologize if that was rude.”

“No, not at all. It’s just that Sir Olce has never asked about my affairs before.”

So straightforward, really.

That thought barely passed when Clidane gave a textbook answer, as if reading from a knight’s manual.

“I believe knights shouldn’t pry into the affairs of those they serve.”

“I-I see. Were you perhaps once aspiring to be a mage?”

Maybe that’s why he was curious about the academy?

“No. But I once knew someone who dreamed of becoming one.”

His expression softened in a way I hadn’t seen before. Even though he didn’t say more, it was clear that person meant a great deal to him.

And suddenly, my heart stirred strangely.

‘Could Esadien ever make that kind of face?’

Has he ever looked like that while talking about me?

The thought came unexpectedly.

As soon as we entered Brassidas’s laboratory, a hearty laugh and greeting rang out.

“Long time no see, my dear pupil!”

Clidane’s eyes widened as if they might pop out.

“You’re joking, right? I don’t even have any magic!”

I quickly explained and apologized to Brassidas.

“I’m sorry for impersonating one last time. I was in a rush to evacuate the mages…”

“Now that half the mages in Roquate think you’re my pupil? At this point, why not just be one officially?”

“I don’t have any magic, though!”

“Exactly—an honorary student.”

I’ve heard of honorary professors, but this was a first. I was about to sigh, but a thought struck me, and I gave Brassidas a suspicious look.

“You’re not trying to experiment on me again, are you?”

I avoided mentioning the spirit since Clidane was present, but Brassidas caught on instantly and changed the subject.

“Experiment? Nonsense. By the way, who is this tall young man?”

Yup. Definitely wanted to experiment.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and introduced them.

“Brassidas, this is my escort knight, Sir Olce. Sir, this is the Archmage.”

Upon hearing “Archmage,” Clidane’s eyes widened again, but Brassidas just laughed casually and held out a hand.

“Archmage is too much. Just an old man.”

“It’s an honor to meet you!”

I suggested that Clidane take a look around the school while we talked. I figured, since he once knew someone who dreamed of being a mage, he might enjoy sharing stories of this visit.

“Would that be alright?”

His light green eyes sparkled like fresh sprouts in sunlight. Definitely more expressive than Esadien.

I smiled gently and nodded.

“You being here was for Brassidas anyway, so I don’t mind.”

“Oh, in case you need this—carry it with you.”

Brassidas handed Clidane a pendant with a large charm hanging from a chain.

“If you show that, you should be able to explore most areas freely.”

After many thank-yous and with visible excitement, Clidane left. I asked once the door closed:

“What’s that?”

“My faculty ID pendant.”

You gave that to an outsider?!

I stood up in shock, but Brassidas was nonchalant.

“No classes today. But more importantly…”

Returning to his desk, he laced his fingers under his chin. His gaze turned sharp, a complete change from before.

“You look much more alive than when I last saw you.”

‘Haha… terrifying.’

Only after recounting everything—from when I visited the cave where Gabbie had been sealed to when I unleashed all my powers because of Austin—could I finally breathe easy.

“After that, my connection with Gabbie deepened. I guess you could say the vessel inside me that holds the fire’s power got bigger.”

“I see.”

Phew. I gulped down water. I’d never talked that much at once. How do teachers lecture for an hour nonstop?

Brassidas waited for me to finish, then asked eagerly:

“May I see the spirit?”

“Huh? Uh…”

Normally, I’d ask Gabbie for his thoughts right away, but lately, our relationship has been just as awkward as with Ramande. I’d gotten angry when he didn’t tell me El’s true identity, and he replied nonchalantly:

— Didn’t I tell you to ask that beast yourself?

‘You know how ridiculous that is, right? How’s a person supposed to talk to a beast?!’

— That’s your lack of ability. The priest had no problem with it.

Comparing me to Ramande, no less. I exploded like a volcano, and after that, Gabbie also went silent and stopped speaking first.

So I thought he wouldn’t even show his nose this time either, but—

— What a fossilized human.

With his usual smug tone, he slowly emerged from the fireplace.

“Gabbie?”

Weren’t you mad?

— You’re the one who got mad. I just answered your question.

“But still…”

— You’re fiercer than that beast.

“Hey!”

I glanced at Brassidas and snapped briefly, but Gabbie didn’t understand why I was acting that way at all.

Ugh. Even as I covered my face in embarrassment, the spirit casually started talking to Brassidas.

— Fossils are unmoved by change.

“Haha.”

— But you’re different.

“How so?”

— You’re dying to look straight through me.

Oddly enough, even while saying that, Gabbie wasn’t annoyed. Even more oddly, his once-childish demeanor had completely vanished.

Brassidas chuckled.

“You’re as intense as Minuelle. But I’m just curious. So curious, I can’t stand it.”

— Curious, huh?

“About the elemental forces that make up this world.”

— Hmm.

With a long sigh, smoke trickled from Gabbie’s nose. They silently stared into each other’s eyes.

After a moment, smiles spread across their faces like wildfire.

— If you really want to understand me, I’ll give you the chance.

“What kind of chance?”

— I need to replenish my spirit energy. Come observe me.

“Oho.”

Brassidas looked intrigued, rubbing his chin and glancing upward, probably reworking his lecture schedule. Waiting until vacation clearly wasn’t on his mind.

‘The school principal would cry if he knew…’

I clicked my tongue inwardly and asked Gabbie:

“You’re suddenly going somewhere? You never mentioned this before.”

— Seeing that man reminded me.

“And what’s this about needing to replenish your energy? We’ve been pouring in loads of Yoshicho already.”

— Yoshicho is good, but limited. Haven’t you noticed the recovery slowing?

“Well… yes.”

He was right. At first, my power surged like a flood after each use. Now, it trickled in slowly, like a barely open faucet.

I had chalked it up to the same logic as leveling up in games—the higher the level, the more experience needed.

“But now’s a bad time.”

Sure, if Brassidas went with me, we’d survive even a volcano or undersea ruin. But with Austin still stirring things up in the capital, I couldn’t afford to leave so easily.