Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 6 (Part 2)

The usually chatty kids were quiet today. Their eating pace slowed down gradually.

But time wouldn’t stop just because of that. Before long, it was time, and the kids gathered at the place the instructors directed them to.

Five 4-circle magicians were prepared in the central building to engrave the slave marks. The kids entered in groups of five.

Hedler, who was number 57, and Lant, who was number 58, were in the first group. They entered the building with three other kids, looking as if they were going to their deaths.

About 20 minutes later, the first group came out. The next five kids went in with their heads hanging low.

“How was it?”

Hedler and Lant came out with their back heads cleanly shaved. There was a complicated pattern engraved on the back of their heads.

“Is this the slave mark?”

“Does it look weird?”

“Well, if you wear a hat, it might not be visible.”

“Ah! Right. We have hats.”

The forced bright smile on Hedler’s face eased a little. The slave mark must have bothered him quite a bit.

Hedler was from a noble family. The slave mark must have felt more humiliating to him.

On the other hand, Lant looked the same as usual. His expression remained as blank as always.

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Let’s wear our hats until our hair grows back.”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

As groups of five entered one after another, it was finally Cory and Rodin’s turn. Cory trembled and grabbed Rodin’s hand.

“W-We’re the only ones left.”

“Yeah.”

Since there were 52 kids in the third class, Rodin and Cory were left for the last turn. They looked at the others who had their back heads shaved, then fixed their gaze on the central building.

“D-Do you think it will hurt? I hate pain.”

“You’re worried about that?”

“Yeah, you hate pain too, don’t you?”

“Let’s go in.”

As they entered the building, they passed by three magicians. These were the magicians who had just finished engraving the slave marks on the ten kids.

Rodin and Cory greeted the magicians lightly and passed by them. They were then guided inside and entered different rooms.

“Sit down. You’re number 108, right?”

“Yes, I am number 108.”

“There will be some pain. If you can’t bear it, bite on this.”

The magician handed him a rolled-up towel. It was already wet with saliva.

‘Did all the kids share this?’

Any thought of taking the towel disappeared. It was better to endure the pain alone than to bite on a towel soaked with others’ saliva.

“I’ll be fine. I can endure it.”

“It’s going to be tough for a young kid like you.”

“I’ve been told I’m good at enduring pain since I was little.”

“Well, do as you like.”

The magician took out a rod and showed it to him. It was a simple iron rod, the color of metal.

Rodin glanced at the rod and looked at the magician’s face, silently asking what it meant.

“This is your lifeline.”

“Pardon?”

“When the slave mark is engraved, this rod and your life will be linked. If the owner of the slave, or anyone, breaks this rod, bang! Your head will explode.”

“Ah!”

Rodin couldn’t help but stare at the rod. His body trembled, and his mouth went dry.

“Lie down. Let’s start.”

“Yes.”

Rodin lay down on the cot and clenched his teeth. As he waited for the pain, he felt a snip on his head.

‘Oh! They’re cutting my hair first.’

The magician snipped away the hair at the back of his head with a small pair of scissors. Long strands of hair fell beside his face.

‘This is the first time I’ve cut my hair.’

It was the first time he had ever had his hair cut. It didn’t feel special. It just felt a bit cooler.

“Now it begins. Be careful not to bite your tongue.”

The back of his head was quickly shaved clean. Rodin clenched his teeth and waited for the pain.

“Spero, Haibiona, Cantas…”

He heard the magician chant an unknown spell. Along with the voice, a strange sensation tickled the back of his head.

‘Hmm? It doesn’t hurt.’

Contrary to the magician’s warning, there was no significant pain. He felt something touching him, but that was all.

‘Maybe it hasn’t started yet.’

He waited for the imminent pain, clenching his teeth harder. He clenched so hard that his jaw felt sore.

‘Why doesn’t it hurt yet?’

While he kept waiting for the pain, he sensed the magician stepping back. He also heard the magician let out a breath.

“It’s done.”

“What?”

“Young one, you endured well. The pain must have been intense.”

“R-Really?”

“You should be proud. You have great endurance.”

Rodin was just bewildered at the magician’s praise.

He hadn’t endured anything. It didn’t hurt at all. It just felt like something was touching his head.

“Go on.”

“Yes, sir.”

Rodin bowed his head and stepped outside.

After sending out the youngest kid from the third class, Magician Avren plopped down in a chair.

“Ha, I’m out of mana. Completely.”

He was so exhausted that he felt he could sleep right there if he had a blanket.

“Hopefully, it will be easier next time.”

Among the 4-circle magicians assigned to this task, Avren had the least experience.

He had only been a 4-circle magician for three months. Compared to those who had been 4-circle magicians for over ten years, he was practically a rookie.

Due to his lack of experience, he had used too much mana while engraving the slave marks.

If he had used the precise amount, he could have engraved the marks on over 20 kids and still had mana left. But he didn’t gauge it correctly.

As a result, when he cast the spell on the last kid, he was almost out of his mind. He had been in a half-dazed state, just squeezing out the remaining mana.

“At least it’s done. Time to rest.”

Fortunately, the spell hadn’t failed. The slave mark was clearly engraved on the back of the kid’s head.

—

Rodin came out, marking the end of the slave mark engraving process.

The 52 members of the third class stood in four-column formation. The instructors walked around, checking the marks on the back of their heads.

Occasionally, parts of the slave marks would fade or get smudged. It was rare, but they still had to check.

Once all 52 were checked, the instructors nodded lightly. It meant all the marks were clear.

“Do you see this rod? This is your lifeline.”

One of the instructors opened a box and showed it to the kids.

Rodin consciously stared straight ahead, not wanting to look at the rod.

“Your lifelines will be taken to the palace today, right now.”

“Ah!”

“Anyone thinking of sneaking in to steal them, forget it. The palace guards are not something you can handle. Thinking of breaking in by force? The rods will break before you breach the outer wall.”

It was a threat. They hadn’t even thought of stealing, but it still made them feel intimidated.

“Consider it fortunate. Your lifelines are kept in the safest place in the kingdom. No one can steal them. Albrecht, sir.”

“Yes.”

“Please take them.”

“Understood.”

The instructors brought a carriage. They loaded the box containing the rods onto it and wrapped it with chains. It was a show to demonstrate the safety.

Then, the committee member named Albrecht sat on the driver’s seat. When the committee head nodded, Albrecht drove the carriage away.

“When you return to the dormitory, your schedules will be posted. Do not be late for your daily training. Dismissed.”

The instructor’s declaration of dismissal relaxed the tension. Many kids slumped to the ground.

‘Today has been especially tiring.’

Rodin also felt exhausted today. Physically, the first day at the dormitory had been the hardest, but today had been the most mentally draining.

Hyung_Otaku2

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