The Master of Language - T.M.L Chapter 19 (Part 1):

Outside the boundary, I was holding a magic book in my left hand and a staff in my right.

“Haap.”

With a shout, I thrust the staff forward. A spark emerged from it, and flames burst out, shooting forward.

“Wow, well done! That’s it!”

Speria, who was inside the boundary, had a proud expression on her face.

Anyone watching would think she was my master.

I closed the magic book and unsummoned it. But I had no choice but to keep holding the staff.

The magic book can be freely summoned and unsummoned because it’s connected to the soul, but the staff is just hastily made from a common elm branch.

Master Abana said she’d get me a mage’s robe, and only then will I be able to carry the staff around.

Or I could make my own staff.

“Now I understand perfectly. Fire magic. But is there no way around this spark? It seems like it won’t work without the spark.”

Speria nodded.

“Fire was given to humans one day. Humans didn’t create it. They just learned to use it. So magic works the same way.”

“Is it the same for you?”

“I’m fine because I have a fire familiar. Having a fire familiar makes a big difference in fire magic. Why don’t you get a fire familiar too? You don’t have a familiar yet, right?”

To become a full-fledged mage and leave apprenticeship behind, one needs a magic book, a staff, and a familiar. Each of these greatly affects magical power.

In fact, with just the magic book, I became able to use magic other than psychokinesis.

If I were to get a familiar, how much stronger would I become?

I sighed.

“I don’t know.”

“What?”

I walked into the boundary, leaving the spark outside, and said:

“Ever since I made the magic book, more spirits have been talking to me. Even from the wind and trees that I couldn’t feel before.”

Speria poked my waist and said:

“That’s because your talent is that exceptional. Usually, an apprentice needs to go to highly intensified environments to hear a familiar’s voice.”

“Highly intensified environments?”

Speria nodded lightly.

“Places like an actively dividing volcano, the middle of a flood caused by heavy rain, or inside the eye of a storm. That’s where you can barely hear the spirits’ voices. Originally, you’d have to follow your master’s guidance to such places several times to even attempt a contract. It can take years.”

“…”

Come to think of it, Master Abana had taken me to a battlefield full of death so that I could meet a death familiar.

I regret refusing that now.

Speria crossed her arms and muttered more:

“But you can hear the familiar’s voice in stagnant water, a small spark, or just a random breeze. Do you know how ridiculous that is? Even I, to get Phoenix… Ah, never mind. Anyway, think carefully and get a good familiar. You can literally just pick and choose.”

As we entered the cabin after practice, Psyche was just setting food on the table.

Speria naturally walked over and sat down, starting to eat the water herbs one by one as if she owned the place.

Just then, Master Abana appeared from the lake.

“Ran.”

“Yes, Master.”

“It’s time. Come inside.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she went back inside.

I couldn’t help but look at Speria.

“What? Why are you looking at me like that all of a sudden?”

Well, because my future depends on how I act now.

“It’s nothing. Keep eating.”

After saying that, I walked to the lakeside.

Master Abana was standing by the lake, looking at me with a serious expression.

Right now, I need to show that I’m capable enough to participate. If not, Master will participate instead, and she won’t be able to leave Speria as she is now.

No, surely she won’t kill Speria. Master must be afraid of Kalasta’s retaliation too.

“To be employable by the human kingdom, you should be at least at the level of someone who’s just left apprenticeship. Considering it’s the sea, you need to be at least that level to win easily. If you’re not at that level, I’ll participate directly.”

“I know. But if you participate, what about Speria…?”

Master cut off my words.

“I’ll kill her. We can’t keep her as a hostage anymore.”

Wait, Master.

Really?

I couldn’t help but ask.

“If not, can’t we just refuse the Count’s request? Do we really have to think only about killing Speria?”

Master Abana spoke stiffly.

“What do you think I’ve been doing for over two months? I’ve prepared so that there won’t be any consequences even if we kill her.”

“M-Master.”

“Speria has eaten water herbs for a long time, so she’s in a state where her fire magic is completely gone. Even if Kalasta comes directly, he won’t be able to find her trace. So we can really kill her now.”

“…….”

Master smiled faintly.

“The only reason I’m still keeping her is that she’s having a good influence on you. But I heard you’ve learned all the fire magic now? Right?”

I admitted it honestly.

“Yes. I’ve learned it all.”

Master Abana looked at me deeply.

“Speria is beautiful. A beauty that far surpasses human standards. Well, it must be because of such specialness that she reached the same level as me, who has studied for over a hundred years. At just fourteen, it’s natural to have your heart stolen by her. Anyone would have their heart stolen by that beauty.”

“No, Master. It’s not like that.”

“Then is it okay if I kill her?”

You’re really determined, aren’t you.

I thought for a moment, trying to understand Master’s feelings, and I realized one thing.

“Master. Are you worried that I might neglect Psyche?”

“Yes.”

An immediate answer.

As expected.

When I didn’t say anything, Master added:

“You’re both humans, right? Since they’re both at an unimaginable level of beauty, you’d probably choose a fellow human, wouldn’t you?”

“It’s not like that, I’m telling you.”

“Then why are you holding off on getting a familiar? Is it because of her?”

“That’s…”

When I couldn’t give a clear answer, Master’s voice became colder.

“Is the reason you want to save Speria really just fear of Kalasta’s retaliation? Or is it because you’ve fallen in love with her?”

I can definitely say this.

“It’s absolutely not that.”

“Then perhaps it’s because you might join Kalasta later and don’t want to burn the bridges between you.”

Dangun

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