Chapter 111: Press 1 to Have Leah See You Off
Erika had begun making her preparations early.
In the days leading up to this, she had been studying the Empire's northern frontier.
2 relatively powerful factions held sway in the northern frontier. One was the Delin Family—a Knight lineage charged with guarding the Empire's northern border.
The other was a faction composed of Mages and Mage-soldiers, known as the 'Pallid Mage Society.'
The Mage Society's territory lay even further north than the Delin Family's.
That region fell within the extre northern ice plains—a land of biting, unrelenting cold.
The land there was blanketed in snowfall year-round, and deep within it lived a group of tribal humans who showed no fear of the frigid conditions.
These tribespeople, whose physical constitutions far surpassed those of ordinary humans, were known as the 'Savage Beasts.'
The 'Savage Beasts' frequently crossed into the Empire's borders, pillaging and slaughtering the villages and towns on the frontier without rcy.
The Empire's northern frontier defense policy had been designed precisely against these barbaric raiders.
And the destination Erika was headed to was the Mage alliance at the far north, closest to the extre northern ice plains.
She would be undergoing 2 months of training there.
"Are you ready, Erika?"
Her father's voice ca from outside the door. Erika called back quickly.
"Yes, Father."
Erika had prepared everything.
During the Vision she had experienced previously, she had challenged Viktor.
The terrifying, all-consuming scale of Viktor's Magic Power had not plunged Erika into prolonged gloom or despair—instead it had kindled in her an even stronger drive to compete and an even deeper yearning to grow.
She hungered more than ever to beco a Mage as powerful as Professor Viktor.
"I'm ready to go."
Erika rode on horseback with her Cloak drawn around her, a heavy pack on her back, making her way as part of the Mage-soldier formation.
The orderly column of Mage-soldiers rode on horseback, surrounding Erika in a ring as they moved slowly northward.
The several dozen Mage-soldiers were all of considerable strength—Erika needed only to follow those seasoned veterans to reach the Pallid Mage Society.
Even taking the shortcut, the journey still covered nearly 1,000 kiloters.
So they would have to ride hard and fast.
And the harsh terrain of the shortcut made it impossible for Erika to ride comfortably inside a Carriage like a sheltered Young Mistress.
So Erika had learned to ride a horse.
In truth, it had been quite simple—for a prodigy like her.
Duke Livi had not co to see Erika off. This departure would itself be a challenge for Erika along the journey.
Though she had the protection of the Mage Corps and was unlikely to co to any harm, how to cope with the harsh conditions was sothing Erika would need to work out on her own.
The column slowly left the Royal Capital. When they had traveled about a hundred ters, Erika brought her horse to a stop. The column glanced at her for a mont and continued forward.
If this Young Mistress had second thoughts at this point, they would not coddle her for it.
Erika sat on horseback and looked back at the familiar Royal Capital, a glint of resolve and determination passing through her eyes.
'I will definitely beco stronger.'
She turned back around, pulled up her hood, and rejoined the column.
Clop, clop, clop...
The uneven sound of hooves grew more and more distant, softer and softer, until at last it faded entirely into the dense forest ahead and could be heard no more.
Duke Livi looked out toward the distant hillside, a group of personal guards standing behind him.
He watched Erika go, and his eyes held no reluctance.
"My child—she has grown up."
He had always understood what his child needed.
Beneath that ability far beyond what was ordinary, what she had always wanted was more recognition.
And so she constantly pushed herself to accomplish what lay just beyond her current reach.
She wanted to earn the acknowledgnt of everyone.
But this was not overreaching.
"You will find the opportunity that belongs to you—and claim that great power."
"For your sake, my child—I should no longer keep a low profile."
Duke Livi extended one hand. A stream of blue Magic Power coiled and spiraled around his wrist.
A current of air slowly took shape in his palm, and beneath the gentle wind, the Cloak behind him billowed with a whoosh.
The Formation for a 4th-Tier Magic was complete in an instant—every subordinate Mage present could see it in a single glance.
At this mont, Duke Livi was gradually letting his forr edge show once again.
***
Viktor had long since made his preparations to head north, but that plan would need to be put on hold for a mont.
Because Gwen did not want to go back.
Though she did not know exactly why, Leah couldn't explain the reason Gwen was unwilling to return ho either.
Viktor understood—if Gwen wasn't going back, then going to the Delin Family on his own would serve no purpose.
"So then—we're not going?"
Weija lifted its head and looked at Viktor.
"No. We're still going."
Viktor said it without expression.
Weija was genuinely puzzled. Because as Viktor had explained it, his entire reason for agreeing to the Delin Family head's invitation was Gwen.
But now it seed Viktor had sothing else in mind?
Naturally. Viktor explained in his unhurried way:
"The extre north—that is the territory of the Savage Beasts."
"But if one ventures deep into the extre north, all the way to the northernmost border, sothing I ntioned to you exists there."
Weija suddenly realized what he was referring to.
The Inheritance Temple.
"Oh, now that's interesting."
"You're planning to go there?"
Viktor said nothing—but his expression said everything.
Weija pecked at its feathers and offered a suggestion.
"Then just do what you did before—build a huge Teleportation Formation and go straight there. Why not?"
"You know where everything is anyway. Make the trip, co straight back—it'd practically be a quick little sightseeing run."
Viktor shook his head.
"That won't work."
"The Inheritance Temple is a place under divine protection. Those without qualification cannot approach the Temple directly."
"Teleportation Magic cannot reach it."
Weija narrowed its eye.
"Then how do you know whether you'll qualify or not?"
"It doesn't matter."
Viktor said it with complete calm, his gaze seeming to pass straight through the space between them and see the hidden Inheritance Temple beyond.
"If I don't qualify, I'll simply force it into thinking I do."
"I love the way you think."
Weija let out an amused chuckle and continued:
"But I do hope you're not running away because a little girl confessed to you for the first ti and you had no idea how to respond."
Viktor closed his eyes.
"Weija."
"What?"
"If you'd like to keep that plumage of yours intact, I suggest you close your beak."
"Hmph."
***
3 days later, early in the morning, Viktor stepped out of the Manor.
Leah followed behind him, asking with a touch of worry:
"You're just leaving like this? Don't you need to take anything else with you?"
Viktor looked at Leah and turned the question back on her.
"What's this—are you worried about ?"
"Don't get the wrong idea. I'm just afraid my Mage lord drops dead out there and collecting the body would be a hassle."
Leah muttered with a curl of her lip, turning her head away.
Viktor gave a small nod and let out a quiet laugh.
"This trip will take about half a month—I should be back then."
"I've asked Heni and Cocotte to keep more of an eye on the Manor here in the Royal Capital. You don't need to put too much energy into it."
Leah waved a hand and cut him off impatiently.
"I know all that without you telling —alright, alright, just go already."
"As it happens, I need to head back to the Territory these next few days anyway. I don't have much ti."
Viktor gave a nod.
"If anything cos up—then."
He reached out a hand and lightly touched the surface of Leah's glove.
The gemstone of the Mage's Hand glimred faintly, and the stored Magic Power within seed to grow a shade denser.
Viktor had replaced its contents with 3rd-Tier Magic—more powerful than what had been there before.
"Rember to use it."
"And then—I'll co back."
Leah withdrew her hand and studied the several gemstones on the glove, which now seed to shine with a brighter, more luminous glow.
"......"
She felt an inexplicable sting in her nose—an emotion she should not be having.
Viktor was only leaving for a few days, after all.
So she stubbornly turned her head away, refusing to look at Viktor any longer.
"Nothing's going to happen."
"Don't worry about ."
But there was no longer any reply from Viktor.
When she turned back and looked ahead—at the spot where Viktor had just been standing—
He was already gone. In the air, a faint trace of Magic Power seed to linger still.
Leah stood where she was for quite a while.
As if only then realizing that Viktor had already left.
She turned around and walked back toward the Manor.
In front of the crowded Magic Train platform, Viktor waited in silence.
It was extrely congested—whether because the platform was too narrow or because the flow of people was simply too great, it was hard to say.
The Magic Train: a massive vehicle powered by Magic and driven across the land, used to travel to other cities and regions of the Empire—and even to leave the Empire altogether.
This colossal marvel was a magical artifact crafted by the Mages of the distant Endymion, high above the world.
It had originally been proposed as a concept by a Dwarf Council mber. Once the concept was found feasible and put into practice, and after several more decades of laying tracks across the world, it finally beca the most convenient mode of transport between the Empire's cities.
That said, the kind of people who could actually afford to ride it remained a minority. Outside of long-distance travel, most people still chose Carriages.
Of course, in the ga, the Magic Train was simply a station for Players to travel to other cities—a fairly reasonable in-world setup. Otherwise, with a continent that vast, relying solely on Teleportation Formations to get everywhere would have been too much of a stretch.
The Magic Train was a sensible solution.
Before long, a train appeared in the distance, gradually slowing as it pulled toward the platform.
The Magic Power of burning Magic Stones served as its fuel, and the track rumbled with vibrations as it approached.
Whoooosh!
The train expelled a thick plu of white steam from its head, slowly coming to a stop before Viktor.
The train was black from end to end. Countless iron wheels were hidden beneath the massive linked carriages. A great smokestack stood tall at the locomotive's head, and red doors divided the train into segnt after segnt.
Anyone seeing this iron behemoth for the first ti could hardly be blad for thinking it was a great serpent capable of swallowing the sky and earth whole.
The ticket Viktor had booked was for the first-class carriage of this express train.
He had just prepared to step aboard when a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
"Hey, hey—Viktor!"
He turned. It was a familiar purple-haired woman.
Gwen's elder sister—Kavra.
Viktor naturally rembered her.
Viktor stood where he was and watched Kavra jog toward him, waving in greeting with a cheerful smile:
"You're heading to my family's place, aren't you?"
"As it happens, I need to go back too—and I'm on this sa train."
She gave her ticket a casual wave. Written on it was:
'Express Train, First-Class Carriage'
The sa carriage as Viktor's ticket.
"Looks like we'll be heading back together."
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