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Chapter 112
For a while, I had been doing fine, so I temporarily forgot that my body—this pathetic body—was that of a sunfish.
Was it carelessness?
But I didn’t want to pay the price for being careless in this way.
“Ugh.”
A sharp pain in my chest, and my ears started ringing as if something was wrong with my hearing.
The murmuring of the crowd faded, and in my blurry vision, I saw the hem of an antique robe.
“Are you alright?”
Before the archaic way of speaking even registered, my eyes were drawn to the white robe. Stars embroidered in gold thread on the vintage fabric.
A mage. There was no doubt—it had to be a mage.
Hic… cough, cough.
Just the other day, I had turned the mage tower upside down, and now I ran into a mage here? Could someone be this unlucky?
I drew a startled breath, and suddenly a gentle touch rested on my back.
“Slowly.”
Hah, hick.
“That’s right. Breathe.”
Even though my mind was panicked with the urge to flee, my body refused to obey.
Thankfully, the mage didn’t seem to recognize me or try to capture me and only concerned themselves with my condition.
By the way, their voice was nice.
“Yes. One more time like that.”
I wondered how it would sound if they sang. Hearing a voice so enchanting it could fill a stadium solo, even singing a children’s song, I took slow breaths.
White light shimmered at the fingertips of the man stroking my back, and my breathing became much easier.
This familiar energy was…
‘A vitality spell.’
Breathing grew easier, but my mind felt uneasy.
My thoughts, which had felt distant and almost cut off for a moment, returned, and my dulled senses came back. The pain in my chest vanished as if it had never been.
That sudden fit almost made me collapse in the street.
“Th-thank you!”
As soon as my body felt better, I bowed my head in thanks.
The mage nodded instead of speaking. The hood of their robe fluttered, revealing a glimpse of their face.
‘Pointed ears?’
Are they a different species?
“Th-then I’ll take my leave.”
Anyway, it was best to part quickly. I tried to distance myself, but…
“Aiya.”
I was stopped again.
“Yes? N-ne?”
I swallowed hard. Could they have noticed? That I was the protagonist of the flyer!
The mage, who had been bowing slightly while dealing with me, stood up. That revealed just how tall they were.
Maybe it was because they were another species?
I also realized they were astonishingly delicate and beautiful.
Thin features, yet tall—it was strange that someone so tall could give such a fragile impression.
‘From below, the hood doesn’t cover the face.’
Golden eyes fixed on me… for some reason, they reminded me of someone.
The persistent gaze was burdensome.
‘Could it be… they saw the Aether?’
I had tried so hard to keep it hidden, converting it into an ornament and carrying it with me, yet… had it been discovered?
Their cold, emotionless gaze examined me as if dissecting me. The ethereal aura, like something unreal, added to an indescribable pressure.
I should run… even now.
“Would you show me the back of your hand?”
“Huh? The back of my hand?”
Before I could respond, my hand was grabbed, and I flinched. My eyes landed on the back of my hand, where the “Falling Star” was drawn.
The mineral-like eyes were silent, lost in thought.
What? Could they actually see it?
“…”
“…”
I had forgotten myself that there was a mark on my hand—it had been so long since anyone had noticed.
‘How did this mage figure it out?’
A strange thing. The mage of the Grand Duke’s estate had not noticed.
Despite the stinging gaze on my hand, my curiosity overpowered the instinct to close my mouth.
“Can you see it?”
The calm golden eyes met mine.
“Do you know what this is?”
“A protective charm.”
Not a tracking device?
“It’s a charm that hides and protects your energy…”
“Uh…”
I had assumed it was bad, but the unexpected answer made me blink.
So, my stalker had actually been benevolent?
“Who left this for you?”
“Uh…”
How was I supposed to explain a mysterious, persistent stalker who could not be perceived by others?
“You probably haven’t seen it, right?”
The mage sighed deeply, as if aware of my predicament.
Whether to let it go or to speak—
I hesitated, blinking, when suddenly the mage’s long fingers rubbed my hand.
“Uh…?”
The mark that had refused to disappear faded instantly.
Just like that?
“‘Forget whatever you’ve seen.’”
The low voice carried power. It flowed gently, breaking inside me—I was surprised by its effect.
Why… doesn’t it work?
“Mortals intertwined with immortals are always bound to misfortune.”
Their deeply set eyes carried a bitter undertone. A gentle hand stroked my head.
I froze, unsure how to respond, when the mage suddenly stared off somewhere.
“Arel!”
A familiar voice.
Reflexively, I turned my head, and saw Phaesion running towards me, pale with surprise. Behind him were the twins and Harun.
“Ah.”
When I turned back, the mage who had filled my vision was gone.
“Well, well.”
That dazed feeling, almost like being hypnotized, reminded me strangely of my stalker, leaving me staring blankly in reflection.
What just happened?
“Are you okay, Arel?”
The voices of the rushing children scattered my thoughts.
“I found you!”
“What happened?”
“Why are you sitting down?”
“Are you hurt?!”
Hearing their joyful voices, I couldn’t help but smile.
Relief washed over me unconsciously.
“Master.”
The red-haired mage, anxiously pacing, came running, delight on his face.
Robert, the formerly reckless mage.
He was currently punished with the unprecedented task of serving the great mage Marcedes for failing to properly handle the incident in the tower during duty.
“Robert.”
The problem was that this great mage was unpredictable.
Just now, the master disappeared without warning and reappeared, making my heart jump back into place.
“I was startled when you suddenly vanished. Where did you go?”
Age unknown, gender unknown, nationality unknown.
The only known fact: they had lived a very long time. This great mage could even outmaneuver the emperor of Albrecht.
In the mage tower, they were practically godlike.
“You know you shouldn’t move recklessly. The master is a great mage the whole world is watching, yes?”
Marcedes looked at Robert pleadingly, then opened and closed their hand once.
“I saw something… fascinating.”
“Ehh? Something fascinating, Master?”
Robert’s impudent expression flashed briefly, but the mage did not reprimand him.
Instead, they seemed lost in thought, silent.
A rare dragon corpse had come up for auction, so they visited out of curiosity.
Feeling a strong energy, they moved instinctively, and saw a small child.
‘It was peculiar.’
Yet, a blended energy held Marcedes back—a well-hidden something.
A subtle crack that could be missed if not observed closely.
Even so, even a great mage who “knows all” could not discern its true nature.
Above all:
“Robert.”
“Yes, Master.”
“I am issuing a Level 1 caution across the entire mage tower.”
“Huh?”
Robert, momentarily confused, tilted his head.
Unfortunately, Marcedes did not care. Their mysterious, ethereal voice warned Robert:
“The sealed ‘Nightmare of the Stars’ has awakened.”
The Halbern mansion was turned upside down after a long while. The cause: the young lady’s health issue while out.
“Oh dear, our young lady!”
“Next time, at least one member of the childcare team must accompany her.”
“They said the children wanted to play, so I was careless. We will never let her go alone again.”
The childcare team even wept.
“Please… stay away…”
And Mehen…
“Doctor.”
“Please, forgive me! It’s my fault!”
Mehen, whose maternal energy rarely surfaced before, swept through the Halbern mansion with fierce intensity.
