Chapter 292

Volume 2 Ch 32: Who Was There

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍garden had been exquisitely designed, each step revealing a new view. There were broad lawns and splendid pergolas meant for large open-air banquets, but also quiet corners like this one, where winding paths led into secluded stillness, ideal for solitude or private conversation.

Under ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the moonlight, he could make out many magical plants so rare that even Saint Roland Magic Academy’s botanical garden would count them as treasures. Some gave off a gentle glow, while others bore natural droplets of Mana-rich dew upon their leaves. Even the fragrance in the air carried a faint magical effect, calming the mind or lifting the spirit.

This ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was not merely a royal garden. It was a living treasury of luxurious magical flora, the likes of which ordinary nobles might never fully behold in their lifetime.

Moonlight ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍draped itself over the grounds like soft silver gauze, covering the quiet fountain, the winding gravel paths, the neatly trimmed hedges, and the many rare plants that still bloomed in strange colors and faint luminescence even in the night.

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍blended fragrance of flowers and herbs in the air sharpened the senses.

Ryan ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍even recognized several rare magical plants he had only ever seen in illustrated magic texts. They had been cultivated here with great care, serving not only ornamental purposes, but perhaps also as material reserves for the court mages.

He wandered along the moonlit path, letting his thoughts drift.

How long would the halo brought by the Elven ruins last?

Once he returned to the academy and dealt with the final matters there, he would have to face the chaos in the North head-on.

Marquis Wilier... that petty king of the North, entrenched there with heavy military power and deep ties to the Second Prince, was the true obstacle waiting on the road home.

Personal strength alone could achieve only so much against armies and a tangled web of power. And then there was the interior of House Velt itself—the old bastard William, whose attitude toward him was maddeningly difficult to read, and the unknown currents hidden within the family...

Trouble from within and without. Every step would have to be taken as though he were walking on thin ice.

Without realizing it, he came to a flowerbed blooming with luminous roses. Clear moonlight poured unobstructed over him. He stopped and lifted his eyes toward the deep night sky and the bright moon, forcing down those restless thoughts for the time being.

The moonlight washed away the deliberate coldness and sharp distance he had been wearing on his face. His blue-green eyes, which in lamplight usually seemed deep and unreadable, now reflected the moon with a gemstone-like clarity. They looked almost transparent.

His lips relaxed ever so slightly. For once, his face revealed a kind of peace woven from fatigue and faint bewilderment, something belonging to someone of his actual age.

His silver hair flowed with a soft luster beneath the moon, and the lines of his handsome profile appeared exceptionally clear and gentle in the pale light. The fierceness that usually pressed upon others was gone, replaced by a quiet youthfulness, as though he were simply some beautiful young man next door lost in thought beneath the moon. Only that extraordinary hair and those unusual eyes cloaked him in a glow both pure and mysterious, too unearthly to belong to the mortal world, stirring the heart of any who beheld him.

And then, at the exact moment his guard was at its weakest, when he had fully sunk into that fleeting peace—

“Ah!”

A tiny cry came from the shadows not far behind him.

Whoosh!

It was like being doused with ice water. Every muscle in Ryan’s body locked tight in an instant, all trace of relaxation vanishing without a trace.

He spun around almost entirely on instinct.

As his left arm swept out, five layers of translucent magical shields of different elements and forms bloomed into existence in an instant, stacking over one another until he was sealed behind a perfect wall of defense.

His right hand was already raised, index and middle fingers pressed together. A muffled sound burst from the center of his wrist, so low that it almost seemed beyond the range of ordinary human hearing.

Not one magic circle, but more than a dozen intricate formations exploded into being from beneath the skin of his wrist.

Ice-blue, deep violet, pale green, dark gold...

The arrays, each bearing a different attribute and function, did not unfold one after another. They sprang open all at once, like springs compressed to the limit and then violently released, layered over one another and spinning in reverse with manic speed.

Every circle held different runes, each flashing with dangerous light. Between them crackled fine arcs of lightning and scattered flecks of frost.

More frightening still, the air around his wrist seemed seized and compressed by some invisible force.

Visible currents of frosty white cold, hissing violet lightning-snakes, howling pale green wind blades, and even the thin elemental traces lingering in the surrounding environment were all drawn in, devoured, shredded, and transformed by the wildly rotating compound magic circles into pure destructive energy, rushing madly toward his fingertips.

Ahead of his fingers, the air twisted. Light itself seemed to collapse inward.

A sphere of energy formed and swelled at terrifying speed, violently unstable, white-hot at its core, its edges constantly spitting black-red fractures and blue ice crystals. It emitted a scalp-prickling crackle and low whine.

Every array screamed. Every current of power ran wild.

The attack had not yet been unleashed. Yet the destruction contained within it had already become a tangible weight, crushing the air around him.

“Who’s there?” he demanded in a low voice, his gaze sharp as a hawk, every part of him poised in full alert.

Beyond the ornamental rock, there was only silence, save for the soft rustle of leaves stirred by the night wind.

Ryan’s eyes turned colder. The Mana at his fingertips surged harder as he slowly stepped forward, his voice dropping even lower.

“If you don’t come out now, I’m going to strike.”

“D-Don’t! Please don’t attack! I... I’m coming out! I’m sorry!”

A soft, melodious female voice rang out in panic and apology.

Then the bushes rustled, and a figure clumsily pushed her way out from behind them—yes, pushed her way out. The hem and sleeves of her pale yellow evening gown were inevitably stained with bits of grass and dirt, leaving her looking a little disheveled.

The moonlight clearly illuminated her face.

The instant Ryan saw who it was, his pupils contracted uncontrollably.

It was a cascade of dazzling golden hair, flowing with a faint radiance even in the night. It fell softly over her shoulders.

She raised her face, and her rose-red eyes shone like the purest rubies beneath the moonlight. They were so clear it was almost unbelievable. At the moment, widened by fright, they were full of helplessness and alarm.

Her features were beautiful and delicate, as perfect as a doll’s. But more striking than her face was the aura surrounding her.

Warm. Pure. Holy.

It was as though she could wash away all shadow and dust. To be looked at by those eyes alone filled one, for no reason at all, with peace and quiet.

Saintess Alicia?!

What was she doing here?!

A storm broke loose in Ryan’s heart. That unique sense of light and purification, seeming to arise from the very essence of the soul, could not possibly be imitated.

But he reacted immediately. This was the highest-ranking court banquet in the Empire. There was nothing strange about the Holy Church’s Saintess being invited.

It was only the manner and place of the encounter that were so unexpectedly absurd.

Just as Alicia was fumbling to brush the grass from her skirt, the bushes behind her rustled again.

A few furry squirrels, two or three brightly feathered birds, and even a snow-white rabbit from who-knew-where came tumbling out after her.

They gathered around Alicia’s feet, staring at Ryan with round eyes, timid and wary at once, letting out tiny little cries, as though trying in their own way to protect the girl and condemn Ryan as the frightening villain.

Ryan: “...”

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