Chapter 182
Chapter 182
Chapter 182
### Chapter 182: Inspection (3)
The fixation with mystical arts is a more common phenomenon than one might think. In an era where the mastery of magic dictated power and hierarchy, it became an inseparable shadow for those who aspired to greatness. However, the majority perceived it simply as a tool to achieve their ends; it was extremely rare to find someone who viewed it as the ultimate purpose of their existence.
That was the norm of the era.
Even so, even under those structures, exceptional individuals emerge. Beings who fall under the absolute spell of magic and decide to dedicate each of their days to unraveling its mysteries.
In the most opulent room of the Ravenclaw Academy dormitory, the princess observed the man who had shaped those lands. To Princess Roselyn, Derek did not seem to fit the conventional mold of a 6-star mage, but at his core, he was no different from Kohlera. He was a prodigy so consumed by arcane study that the rest of reality lost its sharpness. In that fundamental aspect, Kohlera and Derek were reflections of one another.
What could generate such extreme devotion? For Roselyn, whose stance is contrary to the exaltation of magic, this was incomprehensible. However, she knew that only fanaticism of that caliber would allow someone to give credence to her risky theories about 6-star chaos mages.
“After the incidents related to you, Princess Roselyn, I initiated my own inquiries. Many see you simply as a childish conspiracy theorist who is delusional.”
Who would accept such a thesis lightly? Sustaining the existence of something invisible and unprovable is usually the fastest way to be branded a madman.
“You must feel very alone in your stance.”
“Not especially.”
Crossing her arms, the princess settled into the ornate chair with a natural elegance. The days of lamenting that no one believed her or complaining about the ignorance of others were behind her. Society demands evidence before faith. Maintaining the same thing for years without proof only guarantees that you will be isolated under the label of madness.
However, there are “madmen” who share that vision. Both Kohlera and Derek possessed those uncommon characteristics. It is precisely for this reason that Roselyn keeps her guard up, even with those who seem to trust her.
“I know perfectly well that my words sound like they were taken from a fairy tale.”
Spreading these ideas put her legitimate right to the crown at risk, a position she worked hard to secure. Did she really look like someone who would act without careful thought?
“That is all.”
Derek had left Delbritton and Elfin outside the room, staying alone with his closest collaborators; it was a clear gesture to speak without restrictions.
“You must feel alone,” he insisted.
“… Not too much.”
Evoking her early years did not generate nostalgia for her. All of that was in the past. The important thing now was: Did he really believe in the witch of confusion? Did a 6-star mage feel the impulse to track her down?
“Without a doubt. If someone of that caliber exists, it would be a mistake to ignore it. Losing their trail would be a tragedy for the history of sorcery.”
“Every time you speak, you remind me more of Kohlera.”
“It is an honor.”
“I did not say that as a compliment.”
Roselyn kept her gaze fixed on Derek, holding her face between her hands with a neutral expression. Despite the similarities to Kohlera, and even though he was the main guardian of Gremfort Palace, he was not an exact copy.
Derek lacked that sinister vibration that emanated from Kohlera. The latter possessed a disturbing madness, capable of betraying his loved ones without blinking in order to reach the 7-star grade.
Derek represented a different kind of fanaticism. He was followed by students who admired him and respected by his peers, not only for his talent as a young elite mage, but for his personal integrity. The high opinion of Melberot and the respect of his subordinates were proof of that. If Kohlera was an obsessive specimen, Derek retained a much more human facet. However, his fire for magic was just as intense.
Possessing a solid 4-star rank at his age and living dedicated to magical progress betrayed his obsession. Baron Derek Raidof of Ravenclaw was, in his own way, a monster similar to Kohlera, but with his own nuances.
*<>*
Roselyn swallowed and readjusted her opinion of Derek. With a radiant smile, she continued:
“It is hard for me to believe that you actually give credence to my words. As an imperial heir, I have seen many pretend to approve just to gain my favor. What assures me that you are different?”
“If I truly thought you were lying, I would not have received you here.”
Derek appeared serene, as if he were reading the princess’s intentions. He was not a man easily broken, which reminded her of Melberot’s attitude.
*<>*
Roselyn stopped any attempt at emotional persuasion. Men of that mettle are not convinced with feelings. If conviction fails, they must become partners; it is the golden rule of politics. However, she was not sure she could count on Derek. He was an enigma. What was his true intention? How should she act in front of him? Everything felt like a labyrinth with no exit.
“You, Princess, have said a thousand times that the world changed, but you have never said exactly what changed.”
Roselyn let out a scoff. That lack of clarity was what sank her credibility. She never gave public details about those supposed changes.
What was the secret? What had been transformed? Being someone immune to magical arts, what cracks in reality had she detected? That information was vital, perhaps the direct route to the 6-star witch of confusion. But she had remained silent for years, as if revealing the truth were a forbidden act. She never detailed that crucial point, and she surely had powerful reasons not to do so.
Derek needed that answer.
“Do you really think I am going to spill a secret that I have kept for years to a noble I just met?”
“How do you expect the world to support you if you hide the core of your truth?”
“Exactly. That is why I kept quiet. I preferred to be seen as a conspiracy-obsessed madwoman.”
“But I need to know. I have said it: I believe in the existence of the 6-star mage of confusion.”
Derek’s pupils dilated with a feverish intensity, similar to that of an explorer facing an unexplored summit. Roselyn stiffened upon noticing that look. There was no doubt about his sincerity.
“What did that 6-star mage alter? How does that affect the world and this kingdom?”
“Haven’t you stopped to think that I have compelling reasons to remain silent?”
“I ask knowing that you have them.”
“What arrogance!”
“I know.”
Although Derek’s power was vast, it did not compare to that of the Gremfort Palace royalty. Even so, his frankness denoted uncommon courage.
After a brief laugh, Roselyn regained her seriousness. She knew that, in the end, no one would believe what she was about to say. A prolonged silence followed, broken only by the distant murmur of the servants. Finally, after deep reflection, she spoke:
“Perhaps being called crazy is for the best, because the truth could bring me a worse punishment. You, who love magic and live for it, might feel offended hearing this.”
Roselyn stood tall with an expression loaded with unusual melancholy. What was that so dangerous? Could Derek digest the answer without filters?
He did not look away. She began to speak, although at first her words did not seem to connect with the subject.
“Magic is the pillar of nobility and what makes the world progress.”
It was the doctrine of the Great Adelbert School of Magical Discipline. That historical genius who organized magic into ranks and stars. That is the foundation of the current hierarchy. Derek listened attentively as she reviewed the history that every noble knew.
“Isn’t it ironic?” she continued. “That legendary genius who understood the truth of magic, challenged the divine, and gave us this power… Do you really think someone like that ever existed?”
Derek held his breath. He had grasped where Roselyn was going and why she had hidden it for so long. With her red hair glowing, she sentenced with words that deeply impacted him:
“Do you really believe that person existed in reality?”
The silence was absolute. It was as if the room had emptied in an instant. Derek was left speechless. “The thorn rose of Gremfort.” Melberot’s warning about staying away from Roselyn took on a new meaning. She was challenging the very foundations of his reality. According to her words, his entire era was nothing more than a lie woven by a mage to sow confusion.
—
“Let no one interrupt until dinner time.”
In the Velos Hall of the Ravenclaw Academy, the building that served as quarters for Emperor Gertrel, the sovereign sought isolation. After being attended to by Aiselin, Derek granted him the most luxurious room in the complex. The old emperor dismissed his aides to be alone. His hands, marked by time, took a pen with a slight tremor. With patience, he began to write on a clean parchment. His story was that of a man seen as a tyrant and a wise man at the same time; a life that only divine judgment could evaluate with justice.
Under the flickering candlelight, Gertrel wrote.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
“Your Majesty, the preparations for the welcome banquet are ready. The staff is waiting to assist you.”
As evening fell, the butler knocked on the door, but silence was the only answer.
“… Captain, what do we do?”
“He must be exhausted from the trip. We will return later; it is better to delay dinner so he can rest.”
“Should I inform the Dupleins? Should we reinforce the guard?”
“It is not necessary. The imperial guards cover every access, from the windows to the roof. Let us not bother him.”
Behind the imposing doors, the silence remained absolute.
—
“The banquet has been postponed. The emperor requires more time before appearing.”
Tricia let out a sigh upon hearing the butler. She looked stunning in a dress and jewelry chosen by Aiselin, who had also taken care of her hairstyle. Aiselin’s skill had turned Tricia’s natural beauty into something dazzling, surpassing any work of a common servant.
*I am a bundle of nerves… I cannot believe I am here…*
Tricia, not used to wearing her hair up, touched her neck with shyness but also with pride.
*Well… since I am ready, I will look for Baron Ravenclaw…*
In the distance, she spotted Derek with his entourage. She prepared to greet him with a smile, but upon seeing his face, she stopped in her tracks. He looked transformed: he was covering his mouth, his eyes were unusually wide, and his gaze possessed a terrifying sharpness.
“What… what has happened?”
That expression, never seen on him before, made Tricia hiccup from the shock. Derek’s usual calm had evaporated, leaving a palpable tension in the air. Tricia swallowed, trying to stop her heart from beating so hard at that unsettling sight.
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