Chapter 84

Chapter 84
## Chapter 84

The silence that reigned over the snowy fields of the north evoked different emotions depending on the observer.

Upon seeing the snowflakes, so white and pure, covering everything, some felt warmth, others cold, and others, loneliness.

The landscape of the world remains always immutable, but the feelings it evokes vary according to the heart of the one who contemplates it.

Melverot also experienced different impressions every time he gazed upon that unchanging scene.

For someone who has lived so long, that is possible. Even in a context that does not change, one can find new meanings each time.

However, for a young creature who has not yet left the cradle, this desolate and snowy land might seem like a prison.

“I plan for Siern to debut in the social circles of Ebelstein.”

Perhaps for that reason, Melverot spoke firmly before Dereck and Aiselin.

About four days had passed since they had begun teaching Siern in earnest.

When Siern truly began to control her killing intent, she started taking magic classes with Dereck and learned social etiquette, arts, and various texts with Aiselin.

“I see.”

Dereck, who was on the other side of the office with his hands behind his back, did not seem particularly surprised.

In fact, it was something he had already foreseen.

In the northern region of this continent, where almost the entire territory is essentially a battlefield, the unique and refined social culture of the nobility has not developed much.

Even within the Rochester territory, there are numerous labyrinths inhabited by all kinds of monsters, and going further towards the outskirts, many areas are directly uninhabitable for humans.

Although Siern was born and raised in this northern region, it seemed Melverot wanted her to experience the peaceful, warm noble culture of the southwestern region.

However, it was also an extremely risky decision.

The social circles of the eastern continent, centered on the County of Elvester, and those of the southwest, centered on Ebelstein, were the two places—excluding the imperial capital—where aristocratic culture flourished most on the continent.

If Siern failed to control her killing intent and provoked a massacre in such a place, no matter how much of a hero Melverot was for having ended the Dawn War, the disaster would be irreparable.

The safest option would be to lock Siern in the tower of the Rochester territory and never let her out.

But if that had been the goal from the beginning, Dereck and Aiselin would never have been summoned to the Rochester territory.

“Is it possible?”

Melverot never bothered to look his subordinates in the eye. As always, he spoke looking out the window, with his legs crossed.

Aiselin looked at Dereck. Her expression clearly showed tension.

Dereck shrugged calmly and answered Melverot firmly.

“We have to make it possible.”

***

“Go to the Ebelstein social circle…? Me…?”

Yes. Didn’t you say you wanted to leave the Rochester territory and visit the southwest of the continent, where the seasons are well-defined and the meadows are green? Congratulations. Lord Melverot has granted you permission to go.

“Oh, heavens…! I am so happy… So happy…!”

***

The next day, at the training ground of the Rochester mansion annex.

Dereck wiped his sweat while adjusting his boot laces.

Siern, on the other hand, lay completely flat on the floor of the training ground. Soaked in sweat and too exhausted to move, she couldn’t even lift a finger.

“I can’t… be happy… I have no strength left…”

“This is precisely the moment when you must push yourself to the limit, Lady Siern.”

“You said that thirty minutes ago…”

“I said it then just to say it, but this time it’s real. Now is truly the decisive moment when you must gather your strength.”

“Do you think… I’m going to believe you…?”

Despite her words, Siern managed to move and stand up. The dress with lace and ribbons seemed more appropriate for a ceremony than for combat. However, even that was a simple outfit for a lady of the Rochester family.

Siern woke up early in the morning to run with Dereck, ate breakfast with Dereck, practiced magic with Dereck, studied the history of magic with Dereck, practiced magical sensitivity with Dereck, and then dueled with Dereck.

She spent practically the entire day with him, but Dereck barely sweated and remained as energetic as at the beginning. Despite the age difference of about five years between them, his stamina seemed inexhaustible.

Dereck stretched his arms and continued.

“At this point, Lady Siern’s magical development is not the main thing. Being able to handle three-star magic at your age means it is more important to build a solid foundation than to aim for higher levels.”

“A foundation? What kind of foundation…?”

“Your magic is very chaotic and based entirely on intuition. While self-taught mages like me usually use magic that way, it is a problem if you have no knowledge of the star system.”

Siern could handle magic equivalent to three stars, but that was a figurative expression. Being free from the star system and having no system at all are two completely different things.

Using your magic without a system is like trying to hit a ball with a bat while blindfolded. If you have strength, reflexes, and a natural sense, it might work, but to truly progress, you need to perfect the basic system.

Dereck took out his staff, which he called the “Whip of Love.” Siern shuddered at the sight of the massive staff.

“Why are you doing this? When I see that staff, my heart races… Can’t you just not take it out?”

“Why would I hit you with that, Lady Siern?”

“You… you hit me…!”

“I do not use violence without reason.”

And that was also true.

Siern swallowed hard and made an effort to stand tall. Seeing her like that, Dereck concentrated magic into his staff and released it.

*Swish!*

“It is important to structure your magical system and integrate it into your mind. Do you like chess, by any chance?”

“Out of nowhere…? I know the basic moves…”

Anyone can play chess if they know the basic moves, but effective strategies and tactics are more systematic, right? Organizing the magic system is similar.

If every move is calculated one by one, anyone can become a chess master, but the mental burden is enormous. That is why it is necessary to establish efficient systems in advance.

The effective use of magic works the same way. You need to systematize and reflect on the most common magical methods and flows.

“If you systematize your magical methods and integrate them into your mind… you will be able to quickly understand the structure of any new type of magic.”

“Is it really that important? I already have a hard enough time using my own magic well…”

“Growth is always like that.”

Siern was the girl with the most magical talent Dereck had ever had. Diella had a free magical style and a great artistic sense, Ellen stood out for her leadership, and Denise excelled in all areas. But Siern, though weak in other fields, possessed overwhelming magical talent.

Her talent was almost equal to Dereck’s, making her the easiest to teach in magical terms. Most of her magical senses coincided with his.

“For example, let’s look at the flow of magic you use. Since you mainly use transformation magic, the enchantment is not long and you naturally convert the magic from your fingers into elements.”

Dereck’s magic enveloped the area, and from the tip of his staff, a cold light emerged.

*Swish!*

As he released his magic, a voice echoed in his mind.

[You have acquired the three-star combat magic ‘Freezing’.]

*Crackle! Crackle!*

The floor of the training ground froze. Siern opened her eyes in astonishment.

That magic, which had taken her years to master in the snowy fields, Dereck copied at a glance. He didn’t even seem tired as he analyzed the magical flow.

“W-what…?”

“It was something like that. The magical efficiency is not very good, but it serves to immobilize nearby enemies. If you increased the activation speed, it would be useful for ambushes.”

“You copied it just by seeing it once? That magic?”

“If you can understand the magical system just by seeing it once, implementing it is not that difficult.”

Dereck shook his staff, approached Siern, crouched down and said:

“Actually, it’s not easy. If you weren’t born with an innate magical sense, it’s almost impossible. You won’t find anyone else who can do it.”

“…”

“But you can do it, Lady Siern.”

Noir’s blood gave her that cursed killing instinct, but it also granted her another gift: magic.

Among demons, those who master magic possess exceptional power. Noir was the most extreme case. If Siern inherited all that power, she could reach a level unattainable for any other.

“I cannot guarantee you that you will be the best at everything. But in one field, I can assure you that you will be the most renowned in Ebelstein: magic.”

“Really… can I really…?”

Dereck nodded. Siern Alaina Rochester would become the most prominent mage among all of Dereck’s disciples.

«But she probably won’t get along with Lady Denise.»

Siern, specialized in transformation magic, and Denise, in exploration magic, would not click. However, Diella and Ellen, who were awakening to combat magic, would suffer the consequences of facing Siern.

In any case, if Siern appeared in the Ebelstein social circle, no one could ignore her.

She was a bomb in the social world.

When it became known that she was Dereck’s disciple, he would become the most requested instructor in the southwest. And once he obtained his title, he would have everything necessary to ascend to the four-star level.

It was an exciting idea, but there was still one thing to do: completely control Siern’s killing instinct.

“There is still much to be done. But soon everything will be resolved.”

Dereck looked at Siern firmly. Seeing his confident expression, Siern felt relieved and nodded.

***

After her magic classes with Dereck, Siern took basic etiquette or art classes with Aiselin. The schedule was not tight, but Dereck’s classes were so intense that she reached Aiselin’s completely exhausted.

However, her classes were more relaxed, so the body did not get as tired. And since Aiselin had such a warm character, being with her was like healing both body and mind.

“Sister Aiselin…”

“Yes, Lady Siern!”

Aiselin, who smiled with a radiant and almost ecstatic expression every time she was called “sister,” clearly enjoyed that a younger woman trusted her. Seeing that reaction softened Siern’s heart, and before she realized it, she was leaning on her emotionally more than she had planned.

“Could you… tie my hair… please…?”

“How could I not?!”

Aiselin, rolling up her sleeves and wrapping her arms around her shoulders, had a very special way of making others depend on her. In her arms, Siern relaxed and felt she could trust her with everything.

Guided by Aiselin’s energy and relaxing her body, Siern occasionally remembered the warm plains of the southwest that she longed for so much. She imagined fields that were always green, the warm sunlight, and the pleasant breeze that swept through the meadows.

Surely, Ebelstein must be like that.

In Siern’s eyes, Aiselin was like the personification of that idealized landscape.

And so, Siern let herself be enveloped by a strange sense of happiness as she returned to her room in the tower, just as the evening sky began to turn red.

Lying on a bed adorned with lace, she abandoned herself to its soft comfort. And while silently staring at the ceiling, she felt that everything she had learned during the day was settling in her mind.

Compared to spending an empty day, she now felt her heart full of satisfaction.

Then, suddenly, she remembered the image of that white-haired mage who had appeared like a calamity and had stared at her so intensely. The fear she had felt at first still persisted, making her heart skip a beat every now and then… but, in retrospect, it seemed that boy had always acted for her sake.

Seen from another perspective, it had always been like that. He was a man who did not hesitate to take on a bad reputation and did whatever was necessary.

His image, rolling up his sleeves and stepping forward without fear even in life-or-death situations, was deeply engraved in her mind.

However, when teaching magic, he was kind and an impeccable gentleman. The contrast between both sides was hard to understand, but over time, she realized that was Dereck’s true nature.

No matter how much she saw him, she never got used to him. Therefore, the image of that boy was burned into the heart of that young girl in the prime of her adolescence.

‘Dereck. Dereck. What a peculiar name. Dereck. De-re-ck.’

She repeated his name softly several times and then let out a giggle.

— Do not worry. I am stronger than Lady Siern.

Curiously, seeing his always rational attitude gave her a peculiar sense of security, as if he could resolve any situation.

She closed her eyes and imagined the warm plains of Ebelstein she had dreamed of, from that cold snowy field.

Gripping her coat tightly and following him closely, she imagined that one day she could walk through those meadows.

However, the memories of the massacres that occasionally resurfaced brought her back to reality.

The faint smell of blood that returned to her nose just when she was about to forget it.

“…”

Once again, Siern, caught in a pessimistic state of mind, murmured softly.

“They say… he was a very popular teacher in Ebelstein.”

Although Melverot had summoned him to stay at the Rochester mansion, he would eventually return to Ebelstein.

He was the most prestigious magic instructor, coveted by Duplain, Belmierd, and Beltus.

For Dereck, Siern was just one student among many others.

In fact, legendary figures like Diella, Ellen, and Denise also claimed to be his disciples. Even if Siern were added to that list, she would have no special relevance.

If Dereck returned to Ebelstein, it was obvious that all the families would try again, with all their might, to recruit him.

They could learn magic from anyone. They didn’t need Dereck specifically.

But for Siern, there was no one else who could treat her like Dereck.

“…”

*Whistle.*

In a corner of the tower, at sunset, Siern sat up slowly and lowered her head.

A lock of white hair fell over her forehead.

‘If it’s Dereck… could he change me…?’

In the depths of the heart of a young girl going through a turbulent stage, a new emotion emerged, one she had never felt before.

It was called “possessiveness.”

Siern wanted to monopolize the teacher named Dereck.