Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 109 (Part 2)

Most mages were narrow-minded and held grudges for a long time. Even the smallest slight would stay in their hearts, and they wouldn’t rest until they repaid it with something even worse.

“Am I like that too?”

Rodin reflected on himself. He wasn’t sure. After all, it’s difficult to know your own personality well.

One thing was certain: Elder Kendrick would surely make a move.

So Rodin walked along the wall surrounding his house and added a few spells appropriate for a 6th-circle mage.

“I knew they’d come.”

Around midnight, the mages attempted to scale the walls of Rodin’s house. After more than four hours, they finally managed to escape.

Rodin had set his traps in such a way that if they were smart and put in enough effort, they could get out. He didn’t want to injure them and escalate things into a full-blown conflict.

“They took longer than I thought.”

He had expected them to escape within an hour. After all, though Cedria Tower wasn’t considered a grand institution, it was still a respected organization with a long history.

Yet, the mages, including Elder Kendrick, had been trapped for much longer than anticipated. If they had taken any longer, they might have run into Matthew, who would be out practicing horse training at dawn.

“It’ll be quiet now.”

As expected, after the small commotion in the middle of the night, the mages from Cedria Tower didn’t return. Even after sending Jito to scout the area, there was no sign of them lurking around.

Margaret had rapidly grown weak after becoming aware of her aging body. It became harder for her to move, and speaking for long periods left her dizzy.

Seven months passed like that.

Rodin found Margaret basking in the morning sunlight.

“Ma… Margaret.”

“Ah! Has the time come?”

“She won’t last more than three days.”

Rodin didn’t want to deliver this kind of news. He wanted to say that she could still live much longer, that she would bounce back soon. He wanted to offer hopeful words.

But he couldn’t. He knew too well how much greater the disappointment would be if he gave false hope.

“I see… Mages are truly remarkable. Knowing even when someone will die.”

“I’m sorry, Margaret. There’s nothing more I can do.”

“No, don’t be, Master. My final days have been happy thanks to you. Didn’t you see? I smiled every day.”

Margaret beamed, and her smile looked so joyful that Rodin couldn’t hold back his tears.

“I was the one who should be thankful… Thanks to you, I enjoyed delicious food and met good people. Everything was just… wonderful.”

“You’re a good man, Master. You even know how to comfort an old woman.”

“It’s not comfort. I truly mean it. I only wish I had met you earlier. I regret being so late.”

“No, you gave me such wonderful memories to leave with. Thank you. You treated both me and my son with such kindness.”

Rodin couldn’t continue speaking. He simply stood there, tears streaming down his face.

Margaret carefully reached out and wiped Rodin’s tears. Her touch, rough and warm, grazed his cheek.

“Hhng…”

“Master, please don’t cry. Let me leave with a smile on my face.”

Margaret’s voice was gradually growing fainter. It seemed like she was struggling just to remain standing.

“Ma… Margaret.”

“Smile. For the others. You’ll promise, won’t you?”

“Yes. I’ll smile. I’ll keep smiling. I won’t cry again.”

Even though he forced a smile, the tears continued to flow.

Rodin had never experienced the loss of someone close in person before. His entire family, except for his older sister and second brother, had died, but those events had occurred when Rodin wasn’t there.

This was his first encounter with an eternal farewell. The grief was so overwhelming that he couldn’t control his emotions.

“Go ahead. I’ll prepare lunch today.”

“Alright. I’ll look forward to the meal. It’s sure to be delicious… really delicious.”

“Of course. I’ll do my best.”

Rodin wiped his tears and left Margaret’s cottage.

Margaret, whose eyesight had dimmed, burned the image of Rodin’s retreating figure into her heart.

‘Thank you, Master Rodin. Truly, thank you.’

Margaret had known for some time that her days were numbered, even before Rodin had told her. Still, she felt no fear.

She was confident that Master Rodin would never abandon her son, Matthew. As long as Matthew didn’t leave first, she knew Rodin would always be there to look after him.

That was enough for her. She was ready to depart. She had already taught Matthew everything he needed to know.

Three days later, Margaret passed away peacefully in her sleep. Matthew was by her side when she took her last breath.

Matthew clung to Margaret all night, crying as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.

Rodin also felt the weight of Margaret’s passing.

Since sensing that her end was near, Rodin had spent many nights pacing around her cottage. Every night, he wished it wouldn’t happen, but that wish went unanswered.

“Goodbye, Margaret. If there’s another life after this, I hope we can meet again and continue this bond.”

Margaret’s death was announced to Larry and Bianca the next morning.

Larry shed silent tears, gazing up at the distant sky. Even though he had vaguely anticipated her death, the sadness didn’t diminish in the slightest.

“Sigh, Big Brother Rodin.”

“Yes.”

“Why does God always take the good people first?”

“Maybe because they’re good. Maybe God wants to keep them close.”

Unlike Larry, who was holding in his grief, Bianca couldn’t accept the news. She rushed to the cottage and, upon seeing Margaret’s cold, lifeless body, broke into uncontrollable sobs.

“Waaah! Margaret! Why did you leave?! You promised we’d live together for a hundred years! You promised! How could you break your promise?! Waaah!”

To Larry and Bianca, Margaret was like a mother. After losing their entire family to raiders, she had entered their lives like a gift, a warm and caring figure.

And now, that mother had left them forever. It felt as if the sky had collapsed.

(T/N: Hello, everyone! This is Hyung Otaku. I’m excited to announce that I’ve launched a Patreon for Embracing Magic! If you’d like to support the novel and help it grow, I invite you to join the Patreon community. Your support means a lot and will help bring even more content to life! Here!)