Chapter : 24
An anonymous benefactor recognized Calante’s talent when she was young. Thanks to this benefactor, she could devote herself entirely to her work, and her skills were eventually acknowledged enough for her to open her own shop in the capital.
It was only after arriving in the capital that Calante realized her benefactor was Akilan.
“Even that, I had to beg persistently to finally find out.”
Rider had arranged a meeting for her to discover the identity of the person to whom she owed a lifelong debt. Seeing Akilan appear there was shocking enough. And when she learned that he secretly supported many children—and kept it a secret—she was even more astonished.
Akilan wanted no connection between himself and the recipients of his support. That was the very reason he secretly helped children. And yet here he was, openly protecting and supporting someone in public. That someone was Themis.
Akilan squinted his eyes and murmured,
“This much, I can do.”
He must have sensed the doubt mixed in the way she was staring at him.
“She’s your disciple.”
“…Yes.”
Since it was a question with an obvious answer, Calante gave him the response he wanted. For a man who had lived so long and seemed like a god from another world, he looked, for the first time, like someone just like her. Even after living for hundreds of years, he had apparently never experienced something like this.
“Maybe living as an archmage for so long has left him emotionally dry as a human.”
Akilan was the only mage who had successfully extended his lifespan by perfectly controlling his Mana Core. Yet even he could not avoid the pain that came with using magic. Eventually, he contracted with the royal family to borrow the power of the temple—essentially giving the royal family the leash on his life. At that time, he was only twenty years old.
From then on, he had been, and would remain, “Archmage Akilan.”
“By the way, this is the first time you’ve brought Miss Themis here.”
“She never asked to come.”
Crossing his arms, Akilan turned his gaze toward Themis, who was speaking with the coachman. Underneath her lowered eyelashes, his gaze was intense.
“Lately, she’s changed almost completely.”
Although Calante had known Akilan for quite some time, this was the first time she had heard his inner thoughts.
“Do all girls her age go through that?”
“Well, it depends on the person… but a late bloom of puberty is possible.”
“Ah, puberty.”
His attentive listening surprised Calante more than she expected.
“Makes sense.”
Seeing Akilan nod seriously while looking at her, Calante felt a strange pressure, as if she should say something more.
“I should know something about Miss Themis…”
Calante’s mind raced.
“Ah, or maybe…”
She tried to recall the young ladies who visited her shop—her mind flipping through memories so quickly that a cold sweat broke out on her back.
“Could it be that she’s developed feelings for someone?”
“Feelings for someone?”
Akilan looked surprised for a moment, then nodded.
“Could be.”
His calm expression gave nothing away.
“Ah, I’ve doubled this month’s donation. Add it to the children I’ve been supporting personally.”
“Ah… you’ve been found out.”
“It’s better to do it openly. It even improves your shop’s reputation. Why insist on anonymous support?”
Calante felt embarrassed at his teasing remark. And Akilan…
“Isn’t it the same with you, Archmage?”
“Even if I told people I did this, I’d only make enemies.”
It was the self-awareness of someone who knew their position all too well.
Hearing this, Calante couldn’t help but ask a question she had long been curious about but never dared to:
“Then why do you keep doing it?”
That day had been full of unusual events: Themis’ visit, Akilan’s request, Calante’s question—it all felt like the whimsical magic of a fateful day. Perhaps the fact that Akilan answered a question he normally would have ignored was part of that magic.
“I’m trusting.”
He spoke with a faint smile.
“In people.”
Having witnessed the depths of countless people, the archmage…
“I’m still alive, after all.”
He turned his back, wearing his usual calm mask, as if nothing had happened.
Now, Calante recalled that day while staring at the door through which Themis had left. She silently prayed to the unseen gods that those two would reach a good ending. Then she brushed off her seat and stood up energetically. She needed to work through the night to deliver the outfit Themis had ordered in time.
Time flew, and the day of departure arrived. Luggage was packed, and Calante had received her outfit. The clothes fit perfectly, were comfortable, and durable. The only problem…
“Ugh… still no revelations today…”
Her mentor’s interrogation continued. She slipped in among the other mages waiting in front of the crystal spheres. She wanted to leave without saying anything, but…
“How could I possibly do that to my mentor?”
No matter what, she couldn’t leave without even a word. It was the duty of a disciple. This was her last chance before leaving. With no other way to see her mentor directly, she planned to undergo the interrogation like the others. Not with the mentor’s projection, but with the mentor himself.
“Talking to a projection isn’t the same…”
Her mentor’s projection, made of light, was linked to his consciousness but wasn’t him. She wanted to say goodbye to him directly. She was determined. Until Rider rushed in frantically, pounding on the sphere where her mentor resided.
“Emergency, Archmage!”
It seemed something had happened. A bad feeling rose in her chest.
“You really need to come out!”
At Rider’s words, the sphere finally opened.
“Why?”
Her mentor, hair disheveled and a couple of shirt buttons undone, leaned crookedly at the entrance. With that lazy aura, it looked like he had just taken a break from interrogations. But she knew better.
“He must be at his limit…”
That two undone buttons meant his patience had reached its breaking point. Yet Rider whispered urgently, unfazed, as if the matter were extremely pressing. Calante had the feeling he might leave at any moment.
“…This time, I really have no choice. Sorry, mentor!”
Normally, she had no interest in eavesdropping on him, but this was an exception. She quietly summoned her staff, letting shadows flow into Rider’s figure. It happened so fast that other mages didn’t notice, but she did. She knew her mentor immediately noticed.
“Is this something I shouldn’t hear?”
She stared at him, and he only furrowed his brows, not stopping her. Under his silent permission, she began to eavesdrop.
“It has been discovered that the royal family brought in banned substances. You need to enter the palace immediately.”
“…What?”
Her mentor frowned at Rider’s words, who was nearly in tears.
“The emperor has been continuously using banned substances! Since these were strictly regulated, the impact is huge.”
Rider sighed deeply. …Substances?
Calante recalled her mentor saying the emperor’s unusually weak state might be related to substances.
“So that really was because of the substances?”
Her mentor had already noticed the connection between the emperor and the drugs. At moments like this, she felt proud to be his disciple.
“Nn—”
She wanted to praise him but kept silent. Now was not the time.
“…The nobles will rise up.”
Even his sigh alone indicated the uproar to come.
“Princess Aria is going to be busy.”
The royal family would surely place Princess Aria at the forefront. She had recently entered the palace and was likely uninvolved, making her perfect to represent the royal family in dealing with the nobles. Perhaps there had never been a need to ask her mentor for help—the plan would involve Aria perfectly intertwining with him anyway.
“…We’ll continue the interrogation later.”
The mages peeking out in anticipation sighed in relief.
“We’re going to the palace.”
As her mentor commanded, Rider hurriedly handed him his coat.
“Are you really going to enter the palace like that?”
Rider began adjusting his mentor’s appearance. Calante watched silently. His messy hair was roughly combed, and his buttons fastened. He shone brightly, like the first time she had seen him—a distant sun, forever unreachable, yet fully aware of her gaze.
He turned his head. Their eyes met. His gaze narrowed, if only for a moment.
“Let’s go, Rider.”
“Yes.”
Her mentor turned his back to her.
