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Chapter 128
Valler swallowed hard as he took in the dark, crimson scenery.
The runaway of a star-ranked mage occurred when the polluted energy of a star shattered its vessel and burst out.
“[The Darkly Burning Star]…?”
The star energy building up like a bomb had already reached dangerous levels.
“Ughhh…”
“Hhhh…”
Ordinary people unlucky enough to be caught up in it were unable to withstand the star energy, their bodies going limp. Even if they survived, they would be left with lasting mental scars.
Those gifted with special abilities weren’t much better off. They could barely hold on to their sanity, tormented constantly by fear and despair.
He had to find Arelin immediately, but the warped space made it no easy task.
Unfortunately, Valler stumbled upon Pession’s group before finding his daughter.
“Duke Halbern?”
Surprisingly, Pession greeted Valler with relief.
“Did you come to rescue us?!”
“No, I’m trapped as well.”
“……”
The people of the Sperom clan looked at him, demanding an explanation about what was going on, but Valler flatly ignored them.
“Your Highness, where is Arelin?”
“I don’t know. She was nearby, but I can’t find her. We searched too, but…”
It seemed they couldn’t bring themselves to abandon their guards and attendants.
Valler checked that Pession, the twins, and Harun were all present, then turned his gaze to the scenery growing ever more chaotic.
Where should he go?
Where could he go to find his daughter?
Perhaps that desperate yearning reached its mark—
Ziiing—
From the distance came a chillingly beautiful aria.
A soft sound spread outward, as the corrupted landscape whitened and crumbled.
“Purification…”
He hadn’t been mistaken after all.
“Huh?”
“Wha—?”
Those who had been trembling with fear and sobbing, those who had lost all reason in terror, those hyperventilating in panic—all of them stared blankly, spellbound by the gentle melody flowing in from afar.
“Ha… well then.”
Should he be grateful that it revealed her location? Or thankful that it confirmed what he suspected? He couldn’t decide.
As he thought—his daughter possessed a gift no Halbern bloodline had ever known.
An ability that was salvation itself, coveted by every mage.
Valler pressed his forehead, overcome with the urge to weep.
“Ah… sister…”
This wasn’t in the story.
* * *
“R… run…”
The dried lips of the runaway mage muttered the same word again and again.
His last memory was visiting the Halbern estate with his partner mage.
Then his vision had suddenly gone dark. When he came to, he was in an unfamiliar place.
And Muti realized—
“It’s coming. The runaway.”
He had vaguely thought such a day might come someday, but never that it would strike so soon.
The end of a fire-attribute mage was a massive explosion.
All of one’s mana turned into fuel, sweeping the surroundings in flames.
“R… run…”
Muti prayed no one else would be unlucky enough to be caught in his runaway.
That he alone would die.
His own death was already set in stone. Once the premonitions of runaway began, there was no turning back. Just like countless senior mages before him, he would die the same way.
Tears welled up as he struggled to suppress the polluted star energy clawing its way out of his body.
If he could delay the runaway even a little, maybe more people could be saved.
Though his vision was dark, a parade of memories flashed before him.
From a penniless orphan on the streets, to the day he was first discovered to have magical talent and admitted to the Tower.
The joy of no longer worrying about food or shelter.
The happiness of making friends his own age.
The pride of helping senior mages in research, growing his mana, and finally being chosen by a star.
Hot tears spilled forth.
The truth was, he didn’t want to die.
Though he had accepted his fate, he didn’t want to perish like this—having achieved nothing.
Kwoooong—
At his despair, the polluted star energy rampaged harder. The runaway loomed right before him. Breathless with terror as death closed in—
Ziiing.
A refreshing melody tore open the senses he had shut tight to suppress the corruption.
Muti gasped.
The majestic yet gentle music caressed his panic with warmth.
Like light.
Like salvation, it pierced into him.
“Ah…”
Waves of unfamiliar energy drenched his body.
His whole being shivered as though washed clean.
The runaway… stopped.
“Hah… haha…”
The overfilled corruption was quickly purified. The rampaging energy calmed, becoming docile.
Just like when he had first become a mage.
Just like being reborn.
His body, sensing it had been pulled back from the brink of death, shed tears of its own accord.
Muti opened his eyes.
The darkness was gone; his vision filled with light.
“Just… just a little more…”
* * *
Playing like this always reminded me of my old practice sessions, alone in the rehearsal room.
The days I clung to practice day and night.
When suffocating loneliness and pain made me wish stray thoughts would vanish.
Ziiing—
Smooth bowing sent a beautiful melody ringing out.
Just as it once comforted me in my solitude, now the music pouring from my fingertips comforted others.
The low tones of the violin’s G string offered peaceful rest.
Perhaps because Bach had written this piece during his happiest time, it carried the power to bring peace and joy to those who listened.
“It’s so… so beautiful…”
“Hh-hhhk…”
So this was the power of music—to sing of life and soothe hearts.
Even if I was clumsy with words, I could express everything through music.
When the piece ended, the mages stared blankly at me.
“Ah…”
I clenched and unclenched my hand, feeling strangely different.
But… why was I so exhausted after just a five-minute piece?
My hand trembled as though something had drained my energy dry.
Wuuung—
Even Aether trembled, as though fatigued. At that moment, the glazed eyes of the mages regained their focus.
“Huh? Isn’t that…?”
As I wondered whether I should hide Aether, one of the mages suddenly staggered toward me.
W-what?
“Wait, Sir Muti?!”
“That’s right—wasn’t he about to go into runaway?!”
“We’re doomed!”
The atmosphere instantly sank back into gloom, erasing the effect of my playing.
But then—
“Huh?! But… why are his eyes normal?”
The mages voiced their confusion.
“Haa…”
The mage they called Muti grasped my hand tightly.
“P-please… one more piece.”
“……?”
An encore request? In this situation?
As I reeled in surprise, dazed mages murmured in disbelief.
“The runaway…”
“…stopped?”
In this unprecedented situation, the only star-ranked mage present pleaded with me.
“If I hear just one more piece… I think I’ll be able to use my magic again.”
There was no way I could refuse.
I lifted my bow again.
Bach’s Partita No. 3 for Solo Violin – Gavotte en Rondeau.
“Hah…”
Muti raised his hand, his face now peaceful with restored rest.
Mana streamed from his body, quickly tracing multiple magic circles.
The scenery blurred with the light and lively notes—
The strange landscape vanished, and at last, we returned to the business exhibition hall.
“Wow!”
“We’re saved!”
The mages embraced each other in joy.
Ordinary people, still confused and overwhelmed, stared blankly.
And I…
“I’ve done it now.”
I realized I could no longer hide my identity from the Tower.
Should I… run?
Maybe if I bolted right away, I could still manage… As I toyed with the reckless thought, a shadow fell across my face.
“…?”
I reflexively looked up—and locked eyes with sharp green irises.
Long silver hair, green eyes that looked like embedded emeralds.
Who…?
“Ha.”
The man’s lips twisted.
“So this is what happened. I wondered where my daughter suddenly appeared from.”
“Wha…?”
My hand was seized. Before I knew it, I was pulled into the man’s arms.
H-huh?!
As I struggled to make sense of what was happening, the man gave an order to his subordinate.
“Let’s go. We’re returning to Phaital.”
Wait, no—I’m supposed to go home!
