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Chapter 39
The carriage gradually slowed down and finally came to a stop. It seemed we had arrived.
“We have arrived.”
The coachman informed us through the window connecting to his seat. Soon, he opened the door.
Ains was the first to step out, then he helped Master Belle down by holding her hand to ensure her safety. Once she was on solid ground, Ains extended his hand toward me.
I hesitated, seeing his hand reaching out.
“Take it. It’ll be hard to get down otherwise,”
Ains suggested in an indifferent tone.
It was true; getting out of the carriage in this dress would be difficult without assistance. Plus, since Ains had just helped Master Belle, his gesture could simply be kindness.
Finally, I took Ains’ss hand, and he helped me down from the carriage.
As soon as I was on the ground, Ains quickly released my hand. I glanced at my now empty hand and turned my head.
“Now, let’s go inside.”
The Magic Tower comprised two buildings: a smaller tower for external affairs and a larger one where mages stayed and practiced magic.
Master Belle stood before the door of the larger tower. As Ains and I followed closely behind her, the door swung open as if enchanted.
I walked behind Master Belle, filled with wonder, while Ains walked beside me, matching my pace.
The interior of the tower was simpler than I had anticipated. Since it was a training ground for mages rather than a noble residence, there was no need for elaborate decorations.
However, from the moment we entered, I felt an indescribable pressure surrounding me, prompting me to regulate my breathing carefully.
“The Magic Tower feels different inside. I didn’t sense this kind of energy in the neighboring tower. This one must be made of special materials.”
Ains spoke, frowning as he addressed Master Belle. She nodded with a casual smile.
“That’s correct. The primary material used in this tower is mana stone. It’s necessary to protect the tower from the magic wielded by the mages inside; otherwise, the building would be damaged daily.”
Master Belle continued her explanation and turned to check on me.
“By the way, Cecilia, how do you feel?”
“What do you mean?”
I asked, confused. Master Belle shrugged slightly.
“Can’t you feel the mana around you? Many people here use magic freely, resulting in a high concentration of mana. You should be able to sense various individuals’ mana. Do you notice anything different?”
I finally grasped her words and nodded.
“Oh, so the pressure I’m feeling must be that.”
“Pressure? Well, since you’re still a beginner, you might perceive it that way. It’s a fresh expression I haven’t heard in a while.”
Master Belle’s eyes sparkled with amusement.
“You’ll be able to sense it more clearly when we reach the training ground, so look forward to it.”
As Master Belle finished speaking and turned around, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.
“Master Cesare.”
Ains was the first to spot him. Even from afar, he recognized Master Cesare, who approached us with long strides.
“Master Versena. What brings you here?”
Master Cesare greeted Master Belle with a smile.
“Well, a friend’s beloved child was unwell, so I came to check on them. It turns out you know them too, which is why I decided to come by.”
As she spoke, Master Belle glanced at me. Only then did Master Cesare notice Ains and me, his eyes widening in recognition.
“Viscountess Marves? …And Duke Graham.”
His voice dropped slightly when he addressed Ains. I greeted Master Cesare warmly.
“Hello, Master Cesare.”
“Yes, welcome. I heard you couldn’t train today due to an appointment, and it turns out you were meeting with Master Versena.”
“I didn’t know either, but that’s how it turned out.”
I replied with an awkward laugh, and Master Cesare nodded. Then he turned his attention to Ains.
“Good to see you here.”
Master Cesare extended his hand toward Ains for a handshake. After a moment’s hesitation, Ains took it.
“Nice to meet you, Master Cesare.”
“…Yes. Nice to meet you too.”
The two held onto each other’s hands for a moment longer, as if engaged in an unspoken conversation.
Ains glared intensely, while Master Cesare maintained his characteristic gentle smile.
“So, I was giving a tour inside. Cesare, do you have some time?”
Master Belle placed her hand over the two clasped hands, prompting them to release their grip. For some reason, their hands appeared slightly flushed.
‘Are they having a power struggle?’
The Graham Trading Company and the Magic Tower had been long-time partners. Even though I had no direct connection to the Magic Tower, I was able to receive mana stones from Master Cesare during my time as the Duchess of Graham.
But now, seeing these two seemingly in a power struggle was confusing, leaving me perplexed.
“I’m fine. In fact, I usually assist Viscountess Marves with her mana training around this time, but since she had other plans today, I found myself with some free time.”
“That’s fortunate. Then, let’s go together.”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
Master Cesare, smiling brightly, began to lead us inside.
Ains, appearing displeased with Master Cesare’s guidance, walked with an eyebrow raised.
I wondered if their tension was due to me, but I decided against jumping to conclusions. I had spent years making such futile assumptions and resolved to stop guessing at others’ thoughts.
Master Cesare guided us through the interior, where mages were experimenting, using, and competing with their magic.
The most fascinating aspect was that despite the explosions caused by magic, the tower remained completely intact. Just as Master Belle had said, the special construction using mana stones kept everything secure.
“Now, shall we head to the training ground?”
Master Cesare suggested after explaining the interior.
“Yes.”
“Let’s do that.”
When I agreed, Ains didn’t object.
Upon arriving at the training ground, we found several mages already present. Some were practicing their mana usage, while others demonstrated their self-created spells in front of onlookers.
“This is the training ground of the Magic Tower. You could think of it as a playground. Here, no one cares what you do.”
Master Cesare’s description proved accurate. Despite being strangers, no one in the training ground paid us any attention.
Previously, when I had visited with Master Cesare and Master Belle, some mages had noticed us and paused their magic, but that wasn’t the case here.
“So, Viscountess Marves, may I ask if you sense anything special here?”
Master Cesare inquired cautiously.
“Me? I…”
I hesitated before starting to feel the overwhelming pressure around me. Realizing that all these various energies surrounding me were forms of mana made my breathing feel labored.
“I sense an energy that burns hot like fire, and on the other hand, an energy that’s cold and calm like water. There’s also a solid, hard feeling, and in some places, it even smells like earth.”
I began to untangle the mixed manas one by one, starting to perceive the different energies. Thanks to the help I had received from Master Cesare before, sensing mana wasn’t too difficult.
However, it was significantly different from when I had practiced with Master Cesare. Here, the mana flowed and moved chaotically.
The mana he had shown me before was controlled, but now it felt like I was in a bustling public square.
“That’s correct. Those are the manas you can feel in this Magic Tower. Generally, they are categorized into five attributes.”
Master Cesare praised me for my observations. I felt pleased by the compliment, but Ains crossed his arms beside me.
“That’s not surprising. It’s all basic theory.”
I had just described the mixed energies I sensed, but Ains seemed to dampen my enthusiasm. I glanced at him, noting how he had a talent for making everything sound irritating.
