Chapter 40
At Troy’s final words, one of Jade’s eyebrows lifted slightly. But without replying, Troy simply passed by him and walked up to Miel.
> “Then I’ll be in touch again, Lady Miel.”
> “Yes, please take care, Your Highness.”
Troy mounted his horse and swiftly rode off into the desert. Once his figure had completely disappeared from view, Jade finally spoke.
> “Miel, you must be tired. Make sure to rest well for the next two or three days.”
> “Ah… okay.”
> “And be sure to store Seolru properly. Use the enchanted box I gave you before.”
Miel slowly nodded. A while ago, Jade had given her a magical storage box that only she could open.
> “I will.”
> “Come on, let’s go in.”
Jade gestured, and they walked into the Magic Tower.
Though it had only been a short trip, Miel had stayed on high alert the entire time. So the moment she lay down, she fell fast asleep.
> “It was just a few days, but… why am I so exhausted?”
Even during past missions that had lasted months, she hadn’t felt this drained.
After quickly washing up and putting on her nightgown, Miel lay on her bed.
> “Maybe it’s because I was searching for a relic.”
The bright moonlight spilled through her window, and Miel closed her eyes, expecting a peaceful sleep.
But instead, she had a strangely vivid dream.
> “Wait… am I dreaming right now?”
In the deep darkness, her consciousness awoke — but it was a lucid dream. She knew she was dreaming.
Suddenly, the scene around her shifted. It was a familiar place, yet the atmosphere was different.
Yes, it was definitely the Magic Tower — but not the current one. The layout had fewer residences compared to the present-day tower.
> “Why does it look so outdated?”
Many things that existed in the present were missing here.
> “Could this be… the Magic Tower from the past?”
Miel couldn’t tell the exact time, but she quickly realized she was looking at a much older version of the Tower.
As she looked around, the dream shifted again.
> “This place…”
She recognized it immediately. It was the Magical Garden where she had meditated a few days ago, before setting out to find the relic.
A woman sat on the same bench Miel had used, but her face was obscured.
Even the bench itself was exactly the same one Miel had sat on.
The woman tilted her head up, gazing at the night sky.
A man stood nearby, watching her from a short distance. His face, too, was hidden.
Yet Miel could sense one thing.
> “Ah… back then…”
At that moment, the man fell in love with the woman.
He eventually gathered the courage to approach her. Miel couldn’t hear what they said or what expressions they had.
All she could understand was one thing:
The two had quickly fallen for each other.
Miel suddenly awoke from her dream. She blinked her eyes. It was still the middle of the night.
> “That was a dream… right?”
It had felt so vivid, as if she had tapped into someone else’s memory.
> “But who were they…?”
She had no idea who the man and woman in the dream were.
She was sure they weren’t herself — that much was clear.
And yet, it felt as though the two had truly existed once in the past — within this Magic Tower.
> “But why… did it feel so much like what happened to me recently?”
It reminded her of the day she met Jade by chance in the garden.
> “No… in the dream, the man clearly fell in love. That’s different.”
Still, for some reason, Miel’s heart began to beat faster.
Even though the people in the dream weren’t her or Jade.
She shut her eyes again to try and fall asleep.
Thump, thump.
But her pounding heart wouldn’t let her.
Eventually, she drifted back into sleep.
Deep within the restricted zone of the Magic Tower — while most mages were still asleep — something that had long slumbered slowly opened its eyes.
> “This power… it’s definitely the Great Sage’s.”
This being had sensed the arrival of Karlanden’s Relic at the Tower.
It was a special entity capable of detecting the magical aura leaking from the sacred relic.
—
The next morning, Miel stopped by the dining hall for a special dish made by Juke, then wandered through the halls.
She hadn’t slept well, so dark circles had formed under her eyes.
> “Of all things… why did I have that dream…”
Jade kept popping into her mind.
> “Ugh, so annoying.”
Even as she grumbled, her feet unconsciously carried her toward the Magical Garden.
But unlike the dream, it was now bright daytime.
As she entered, the garden felt different. There was no one else around, and the flowers soaked up the warm sunlight.
Flap, flutter—
Colorful butterflies danced in the air.
> “Today… feels nice.”
A gentle smile spread across Miel’s lips. The sunlit garden reminded her of Princess Revina — vibrant and elegant.
She looked at a pale yellow magical flower, thinking of Rubina.
Just then, someone appeared beside her. A large hand reached out to pluck a petal from her silver hair.
> “Now you’re even wearing flowers in your hair, huh?”
A soft, low voice reached her ears. When Miel turned her head, she saw Jade — standing surprisingly close.
> “Have I… ever seen him this close before?”
Her heart skipped a beat.
> “What is this? Am I dying?”
Surely something was wrong with her heart. She’d been feeling off for days now.
> “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Jade raised an eyebrow in concern and reached toward her shoulder, but Miel stepped back.
> “Ah, I just… had a bit of an upset stomach yesterday.”
> “Hmm. Is that so? I slept like a rock. You must be tired then.”
Jade nodded and turned to leave the garden.
> “Get some rest. We’ll be searching for the next relic soon, so regain your strength.”
He spoke nonchalantly but with clear concern — then left.
Left alone, Miel could feel her heart racing again.
> “I must be sick…”
—
Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace — Crown Prince’s Residence
Troy had returned late the previous night but had already been handling state affairs since early morning.
Because of his absence over the past few days, a mountain of documents had piled up.
He focused on his work, but Miel’s face kept intruding on his thoughts, making it hard to concentrate.
> “Lady Miel… she really was cute.”
Even those brief moments they’d spent together had become precious memories.
> “It would’ve been perfect… if it weren’t for the Tower Master.”
As Jade came to mind, Troy’s expression hardened.
> “Grand Mage Jade Swallowoff…”
He had observed Miel and Jade together long enough to know — their relationship was not just that of teacher and student.
> “I didn’t expect the Tower Master to act like that…”
Until now, Troy had seen Revina as his only rival.
But during their journey to find the first relic, he had come to a new realization.
He couldn’t help but admit it.
> “That man, who shows no interest in women, who treats everyone coldly…”
> “Why is he so gentle only toward her?”
Miel herself didn’t seem to notice.
But from a third person’s perspective, it was obvious.
> “There’s no mistaking it… the Tower Master’s gaze…”
It was a look Troy had seen before — one that was all too familiar.
> “It’s just like… mine.”
Unconsciously, Troy bit his lip. The documents in his hand started to wrinkle.
—
That evening, Miel finished dinner and returned to her room. But as she reached for the door, she sensed something strange.
> “What… is this?”
Unlike earlier when she had left, she now sensed a much stronger trace of her father’s energy.
She quickly flung the door open—
Thump! Thump!
On her bed, bouncing up and down, was a tiny, adorable white owl.
