Chapter – 25
Firancheva used the late hour of the night to secretly approach the Count’s Castle. Evading the eyes of patrolling soldiers, he circled around to the back of the castle.
He slipped into the castle through the small hole he had used whenever he needed to sneak in and out unseen.
Once inside, Firancheva carefully made his way toward the annex where the underground prison was located.
Whenever he spotted soldiers patrolling with torches, he hid himself using the darkness. If there was nowhere to hide, he cast an invisibility spell to evade their sight.
The forces sent by the Emperor included knights and soldiers, but no mages. That made it somewhat easier to deceive them.
“Well, it’d be awkward to dispatch a mage to surveil a mage family, wouldn’t it?”
From the perspective of the investigative mage, it would be unpleasant—sent on an assignment involving conflict, hostility, and likely ending in sour feelings. No one would volunteer for such duty.
Moreover, Count Armand was one of the imperial mage families and was greatly respected by his people and fellow nobles. Investigating someone like him would put the mages in a difficult position.
Avoiding the soldiers, Firancheva reached the annex that led to the underground prison. He hid his body in the shadows of the building and observed the knights and soldiers guarding the entrance.
After watching them for a long while, he discovered that there was a brief opening during their shift changes. He waited for the next one.
When he saw the relief guards approaching, he cast invisibility.
Knights could handle mana, so even with magic, he had to be careful around them.
“Why are you so late?”
While the guards conversed, Firancheva slipped past their attention and quickly moved through the annex leading into the underground prison.
At that moment, one of the knights turned his head toward the annex.
“What is it?”
“No, it’s nothing. It’s just so boring. Nothing comes this way—not even an ant.”
“Of course. Would anyone with half a brain research black magic? And why would Count Armand risk summoning demons into his territory?”
“You’re telling me.”
“But those people up there keep arguing back and forth, insisting the territory should be taken from him…”
“I don’t know where this country is headed… anyway, take care.”
When the shift ended, the knight who was now on duty felt some suspicion from the earlier moment. He ordered the soldiers to stay alert, then entered the annex toward the underground prison.
The prison was empty. Familiar with the place, he walked straight to Count Armand’s cell. The Count sat inside with handcuffs on—handcuffs made of a material called spell-dampening stone, which prevented mages from using mana.
“My lord, are you uncomfortable anywhere?”
“No, not at all. You’re all working hard for nothing.”
From the knight’s tone and behavior, he seemed quite sympathetic to Count Armand.
“How is your mana circulation? If it’s uncomfortable, I can remove the cuffs.”
“No. If someone sees you do that, you will get in trouble. Leave it as it is.”
“Please tell me if anything hurts.”
“I will.”
“Everyone in the Empire knows you are innocent, my lord. But the circumstances seem so clear that even His Majesty cannot hastily make a judgment. So please, endure for a little longer. His Majesty will surely clear your name.”
“That is why I offered no resistance when they arrested me. Just make sure the people of the territory and those living in the castle do not suffer for this.”
“I will, my lord. I must return to my post.”
Once the knight left, Count Armand turned his gaze toward a particular spot.
“Who is visiting me at such a late hour?”
From where he was looking, someone revealed himself—Firancheva, who had been using invisibility.
“It’s me, Dad. Your youngest son.”
Count Armand stared at him for a moment, surprised at how different he looked from four years ago.
His body had grown strong, but his face still held traces of the child he once was.
“You’ve grown this much? I wouldn’t have recognized you if we met outside.”
Firancheva grinned widely.
“I came because I was worried since you were imprisoned, but I guess it’s not something to worry too much about.”
Count Armand made an exasperated face.
“I told Elina to tell you to go to the cabin in the Silent Forest, did I not?”
“I did hear that, but I wanted to check the territory myself—and see if you were okay.”
His unexpectedly calm manner made Count Armand ask,
“What happened to you these past four years?”
“I learned swordsmanship, formed a mana hole, formed mana circles, became a 3rd-circle mage, and learned to use mana as a swordsman.”
Hearing that he could use both swords and magic, the Count found it unbelievable.
“Is that true?”
“I told you, I was going to establish my own mana theory. I worked hard to keep my promise to you—and I managed to make some progress. Looking at this, I might really be a genius like you said.”
“You seriously became a 3rd-circle mage and a mana-using swordsman?”
“I’m smarter than you think, Dad. And I’ve got great stamina too. Look, I grew a lot, right?”
Seeing Firancheva brag like this made Count Armand laugh.
“But Dad, people are saying Count Rossman is trying to suck up to Duke Durand so he can take your territory since you’re aligned with Duke Frazka. Is the territory safe?”
“That is not something you need to worry about.”
“But I’ll only feel relieved if I hear it from you.”
Count Armand nodded.
“Why do you think His Majesty sent troops to hold me rather than punish me?”
“Because our family is a mage family. You have many mages loyal to you, and the people of the territory respect you.”
Count Armand was impressed by the answer.
“Correct. A mage is the strength of any kingdom or empire. Training a proper battle mage costs tens of thousands of gold. And as you know—”
“If a proper battle mage unleashes their power in war, the enemy can be wiped out before they even react.”
“Exactly. Our family alone has over a hundred full-fledged battle mages. If something happened to me, those mages would turn their backs on the Empire. His Majesty would lose far more than he gains.”
“Couldn’t another noble manage the mages?”
“If mages were the type to be managed, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
Firancheva nodded in agreement.
“Duke Frazka and Marquis Eastern will not allow our territory to be given away. So stop concerning yourself with such matters and go to the cabin in the Silent Forest.”
But Firancheva asked again, wanting confirmation,
“So the territory won’t fall into Count Rossman’s hands, right?”
The Count nodded, and Firancheva looked relieved.
“Good. I won’t have to fall from a diamond spoon to a dirt spoon.”
“What?”
“It’s just an expression. Anyway, where’s Mom?”
“She went to the Silent Forest with your brothers.”
“So everyone’s safe and sound.”
“Yes. So you must leave and head to the cabin as well.”
Firancheva shook his head.
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t think the Silent Forest can help me grow.”
“What?”
Firancheva explained his reasons.
“The mana system they use is different. They won’t be able to teach me.”
Then he took out a book from his pocket—a full book.
He had placed a magic storage pouch inside his pocket and stored the book inside that pouch, allowing him to pull it out from even the small pocket.
“The way things look now, you won’t be getting out anytime soon. If you get bored, read this and do some research.”
Count Armand looked at the book’s cover.
“The Unified Theory of Mana?”
“It’s the mana theory I developed. It’ll be useful for you too.”
“Firancheva… I know you’re a genius, but to properly grow that talent—”
“That’s why I tried to enroll in the Academy. But that’s not possible now, so I’ll hide my identity and go from tower to tower learning magic and developing my theories.”
Of course, he had no intention of doing that. He only said it to reassure his father.
“A magic tower?”
“Yeah. I want to compare my own mana theory with theirs—see what’s different, what needs improvement, and complete my magic.”
Firancheva had always been stubborn. That stubbornness let him swing a sword for two years straight, and then train swordsmanship in Marquis Loren’s household for four years.
Count Armand knew that even if he opposed it, Firancheva would do as he pleased, so he nodded.
“Fine. But promise me one thing.”
“What promise?”
“You must write to Debra at least once a month to let her know how you are doing.”
At that, Firancheva smiled brightly.
“Okay. I’ll write to Mom once every month—no, every two weeks. I knew you’d say yes.”
Count Armand looked at him with an exasperated expression and shook his head.
“Who did you take after to become so headstrong?”
“You, of course. You’re acting way too calm for someone in your situation.”
Sometimes he seemed like a child, but when they talked, he sounded like an old man.
“What did Marquis Eastern do to turn you into this?”
“I went to the Eastern estate and…”
Firancheva explained everything he had done as if a child eagerly reporting to his father.
Sometimes he seemed like the same young Firancheva from the past, yet his words were full of adult-like cunning.
“So that’s what happened… They say geniuses resonate with each other—Elina must be similar to you too. She’s a 3rd-circle mage and is learning swordsmanship.”
“Elina?”
“Yes. Haven’t you seen her?”
“No, I snuck out the moment I heard about you.”
“I see. Elina has great talent. You two share many similarities. If you get the chance, talk to her.”
“Okay. I’ll be going now.”
“Where to?”
Since he wasn’t going to the Silent Forest, the Count wanted to know.
“I’ll go to Count Ivandov’s territory. There’s a Melrn School tower there.”
Count Armand nodded.
“You must hide your identity for now.”
“I will. And if anyone recognizes me, I’ll use Face Off to change my appearance. Don’t worry.”
With how he behaved like a cheeky little old man, no one would think he was Firancheva anyway.
“Go to the territory and find old man Deff on 32nd Street.”
“Old man Deff?”
“Yes. Tell him you need a new identity. He’ll issue you a new ID. Then go to the mercenary guild on 29th Street and register. With a mercenary badge, it’ll be easier to approach mage towers for learning.”
“A mercenary?”
“Mercenary is the easiest identity to travel with.”
Firancheva’s eyes sparkled.
“Okay, I’ll do that.”
“Firancheva.”
“Yes?”
“Getting along with people is good, but always be wary of someone who treats you well without expecting anything.”
Firancheva smirked.
“Don’t worry. I’m not a little kid anymore. I’m eleven now. Eleven!”
That was precisely why Count Armand was worried, but Firancheva didn’t seem to realize it. The Count couldn’t help but laugh.
“Haha… yes, you’re already eleven. Old enough to go out into the harsh world.”
The way he spoke made it clear how similar father and son were.
“Dad.”
“What is it?”
“Stay healthy. If these guys hurt you, write to me. I’ll come beat them up.”
“That won’t happen. Now go.”
Firancheva nodded and vanished from sight before his father.
Count Armand narrowed his eyes slightly.
“There was no mana flow… And invisibility is a 3rd-circle spell—impossible without sufficient mana. Yet he cast it so easily…”
He opened the book Firancheva had given him. As he read, his eyes lit up with excitement, and he showed a strong eagerness to study.
He was, without a doubt, a true mage at heart.
“I won’t be bored while I’m here.”
