Episode 4: Twilight (4)

◃'◤⌌ Kairen’s POV⌍◢╨▹.

Out of the blue, I received a letter from Glenn asking if I wanted to spend the term break at the Magic Tower. I barely knew the Glenn of this timeline, and considering the absence of any known interaction in our relationship, I struggled to understand why he thought it was a good idea to ask me along.

Whatever it was, since the invitation had already been sent, I had no reason to refuse. Lowe would be there, and that was all that mattered.

“Kairen! Over here!” I saw a strange person holding a cute briefcase waving at me.

It took me a couple seconds to realise that it was Lowe. She was wearing a cloak, and likely some kind of concealment artifact to disguise herself. Visually, I didn’t recognise her, and even her voice sounded different.

I would’ve continued to think I had the wrong person if not for the man standing right next to her.

Dogshit Soren, who unlike Lowe was in disguise, wore a white tunic with brown leather pants. A sword hung on his waist, giving him the appearance of a greenhorn mercenary in escort of a young lady.

He raised his hand to give me a heads up kind of greeting. I ignored it and came before Lowe.

In Glenn’s letter it was mentioned that we would meet outside the large quartz fountain near the academy gate entrance.

“Where’s Glenn?” I asked.

“Hm?” Lowe took a step back and oddly bounced her gaze between me and Soren. “Hm… did something happen between the two of you?”

“Ahem. While I may not understand what I had done to provoke your ire, please be rest assured, that I don’t have any intentions of harming you in any way. And if possible, I wish to get along.” Soren said, smiling awkwardly. He was sincerely, and unnecessarily trying his best to paint me in a good light despite the shitty reception I was giving him.

“I take it that you’ll be joining us to the Magic Tower, correct?” I raised my eyebrow at him. Between hate and compassion, I wish he would just get pissed already.

“It’s my duty to protect the saint.” He spoke as if trying to alleviate my worries.

“...” Sure thing buddy. As if I’d believe you.

Lowe tapped me on my shoulder. I turned to her and jerked backwards. Had I reacted a moment later, our lips would’ve touched.

‘W-What… why is she so close all of a sudden…’

“Kairen, um… I don’t know what happened between you two but please try to make a good impression okay? If you’re going to be my knight you need at minimum, the approval of the church, was what I was told.” Leaning into my ear, she pulled away and smiled shyly.

‘If I’m going to get the approval of the church, I might as well kill the Pope. There’s no way they’d accept someone like me.’

Unless some kind of miracle happens, I can’t imagine seeing myself donning the church’s holy armour.

I rubbed my ear, hoping that it didn’t appear too red or anything like that.

From the corner of my vision, I noticed Soren smiling brightly… as if hinting that he was my supervisor for the day. If I wanted brownie points, I’d better behave myself—

‘This dog shit bastard.’

I was about to say something when the sound of turning wheels caused me to turn around. At the entrance, a black-gloss carriage rolled in, adorning the Magic Tower’s brand. Pulling down the windshield, Glenn, who was seated inside, waved at us.

⌌✧ ⫺⪼▫◆▫⪻⫹ ✧⌍

If this were the modern world, then Glenn’s role would’ve most likely been some kind of supermodel. While all the main male leads had their own charm, Glenn’s appearance was just… unique. The kind of beauty which would make even men doubt their sexuality.

Instead of the usual academy suit, today he wore a simple white blouse, which in my eyes somehow highlighted the more feminine aspects of his features. His shoulders weren’t exactly broad, and sure, while he was flat chested, his arms were actually quite slender.

His long, mint-silver hair, normally tied into a low ponytail over his shoulders, was tied up as a bun today. And his long white eyelashes seem to flutter with the swinging of his hips, showcasing that odd androgynous charm that almost screamed: look at me I’m pretty!

‘Wait, what the fuck am I thinking?’

I shuddered at the realisation that Glenn was the embodiment of what an otaku would refer to as: the perfect trap.

If he really tried, no one would think he was a man.

Climbing the tower with Glenn in the lead, Lowe, Soren and I were brought to the office of the Magic Tower Master himself— Khiel Khors.

A renowned magician, philosopher, researcher, scholar, and director of the Magic Tower. He was the one who solidified the constitution of the mage association in the past decade. Having reached the zenith of celestial magic, in war, he was no different from the empire’s personal nuke.

Getting on this person’s bad side was a bad idea. I still recall, a wave of his wand could send a hundred blight monsters into oblivion. Unfortunately, his life ended quite early in the war as he fought until the empire’s fall.

That aside, the reason why Glenn brought us to meet him first on our schedule was because he was also his primary guardian. It was my first time stepping foot in the Magic Tower, and I didn’t know what kind of person the sage was, so I felt a little nervous.

“Master Khors, I’ve brought my friends.” Glenn knocked and before any response was given, pushed open the door with a smile as he introduced us.

Despite almost being a century old, the man Khors… he looked like a man in his prime. His aura was undeniable, yet he had an almost grandpa-like quality to him, which made him a comfortable presence to be around. He stood up to greet us.

“Ah, it’s an honour to meet all of you. My sincerity to the Saint who came to grace us with your presence.”

“T-The honour is mine Master Sage Khors.” Still not accustomed to being treated in such a manner, Lowe awkwardly greeted back.

A short self introduction for Soren and myself, after which Sage Khor asked us to make ourselves comfortable.

“Lowe, we’ve managed to arrange a room for you to stay here in the tower. So there’s no need for you to travel to and from the church every day.” Glenn remarked.

“Is that so?” Lowe looked surprised by Glenn's sudden mention of an accommodation.

“Then how about us?” Soren asked, feeling that something was amiss.

“...There’s only one room for the Saint though?” Glenn titled his head.

‘Yeah, I should've expected an answer befitting that of an airhead.’

“I believe the same applies to me?” I said.

“I had overlooked the fact that Lowe would bring a guard. Though, Kairen would be sleeping with me in my room.” Glenn explained.

‘Wait, what? Is he serious?’

“I see. In that case are there any more available rooms I could lodge in?” Soren asked again, sounding more awkward this time.

“There’s an inn nearby.” Glenn suggested.

“...”

Soren, being overly optimistic in nature, tried not to think too much of Glenn’s suggestion. Knowing that there was an inn nearby was better than not.

As for myself… I don’t think I bode too well with what Glenn had in mind. I would much rather rent an inn than to share a room with him.

For some reason, barely involving the main figure head in question, we left the Sage’s office very soon after that. Maybe it was because the sage was a man of few words? He looked amused enough being able to simply observe us kids get along.

Glenn led us to showcase Lowe’s room.

The Magic Tower appeared smaller outside, but inside it was akin to a labyrinth. By the fourth right turn and second stairwell, I had already lost track of where anything ever was.

There were many young and aspiring mages with established magicians which we came across during our walk. The halls were livelier than I thought, it reminded me of the dynamic atmosphere of Oben Academy. I realised that the Magic Tower the Sage had built wasn’t just a place people isolate themselves, but a vibrant community of die hard magic-practitioners in constant exchange of ideas and knowledge.

It was a far cry from what I imagined a Magic Tower to be. I expected shut-ins or mad scientists, not students following senior magicians like ducklings.

“...Hikh!”

“Ow!”

And then it happened.

As if a story was playing out in a direct sequence, a not-so-stranger side character bumped into the protagonist and dropped all her alchemic materials. Potion flasks, paper wrapped ingredients, reagents, books—everything splattered or rolled on the ground in a spectacular fashion.

“A-Ah! I’m sorry! Are you okay?” Despite being the one who was hit, it was Lowe who first got up to help the person who knocked her down.

“Ah!” The girl quickly saved the books before the spreading liquid touched its pages. As for the rest… there was nothing she could do to salvage what was already lost. “I-I’m sorry!”

“Y-Your injured.” Lowe noticed her bleeding cuts from glass shards, and tried to heal it using her magic.

A timid girl with brunette braids, freckled nose, and big round glasses. I had never seen her before, so I wasn’t sure what role she played in this newly developing arc. “I-I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. Calm down and take in deep breaths okay?”

“T-These are the professor's materials. W-What should I do now uwuwu…” The girl cried out.

“...You imbecile. What have you done?!” Said professor who had been following behind her lashed out.

Her mentor, a male magician who had a haggard visage. He glared at the broken items, then at her with a chilly gaze.

“Hikh… I’m sorry.” The girl in Lowe’s arms trembled. She lightly pushed Lowe away and stood up to face her mentor, apologising over and over again.

I expected Lowe to stand up for her, given her naturally kind disposition and nature of the incident. But no, she did not. Being surprisingly more cautious this time, she glanced my way with a look as if to ask what we should do.

Soren seemed to acknowledge that it was the girl’s fault and so didn’t think to stand up for the fault she should be held accountable for.

And Glenn… he was looking at the shattered materials in fascination. Wondering what was so interesting about them, I looked at the lost materials and thought these were rather specific combinations of ingredients.

“These are peculiar ingredients for making artificial blood, isn’t it Mr. Eugene?” Glenn asked with a spark of curiosity.

“!!!” The professor, Eugene, who had been lecturing the girl snapped towards Glenn. “Yes… but stay out of it.”

“There have been rumours going around that Mr. Eugene has been conducting some rather suspicious experiments. I hope this isn't what it looks like.” Glenn merely countered with a smile.

His expression soured, saying nothing in defence.

“I-I’ll clean it up.” The girl wanted to volunteer.

He scoffed at her. “Corin, don’t bother. Get to my office now. I’ll do it.”

“I-I’m sorry.” The girl, Corin, hung her head and quickly left.

“Tsk.” He raised his index finger, a vortex gathered around the mess. The shards and liquid were all picked up by the wind, then swirling into an orb, the broken materials carried floated behind him.

‘Wow, it’s not every day you see people use magic like that.’

With just flick, the mess on the ground which would’ve required a mop, broom and dustpan was resolved, not a spill or shard to be seen. This was a form of life-magic, convenient but unfortunately most people never reach this level of magic proficiency to actually apply it in their day to day lives.

“So what brings you here?” Eugene looked at Glenn.

“Me? I’m showing my friends around.” Glenn nodded. It would seem that despite the earlier mishap, the two had a more amicable relationship than I thought.

Eugene then turned to look at me, and Soren in turn. Nothing out of the ordinary… until his eyes stopped at Lowe.

“I, Eugene Croft, greet Your Honor, the Saint.” He placed one hand to his chest and bowed.

“Yes, nice to meet you Mr. Eugene.” Lowe performed a curtsy.

“…These are amazing people you’ve got to know, Glenn.” Eugene gave an odd compliment.

“They’re just my friends. I don’t see them as objects.” Glenn’s amorphous response was even more bizarre.

“I… see. Then, to the Saint, and the rest of you, I wish well for your stay in the Magic Tower.” Leaving those words, Eugene turned down the hall.

We were about to part ways when I felt a breeze pass over my ear.

… Take care of Glenn.

“Huh?” I turned around. But by the time I did, the man’s figure had gone.

“Kairen?” Glenn called out to me, noticing that I had fallen behind.

“Nothing… I thought he placed a spell on me.”

I didn’t have any personal experiences with this part of the story, so I had no idea what to expect in the next few days. The only pieces of information I had on it were bits from stories the old Lowe told me long ago.

It was queer. While I knew his arrival marked the start of this next scenario… her description of Eugene did not match the impression I got from him earlier.

I was told he was the villain.

A practitioner of taboo magic.

Someone who… will soon be executed.