Chapter 02
Derek (1)Derek (2)
Ebelstein is a city with a thousand faces.
It was one of the things that the romantics at the tavern would say when they were heavily drunk.
But it couldn't be dismissed as just drunken babble. A city of this size, housing hundreds of thousands of people, was hard to find even across the entire continent.
When you're stuck in the gray, suffocating slums, it's easy to feel like this city is one massive prison. But once you step out and walk around the city, you begin to think that maybe the drunkards at the tavern weren't entirely wrong.
Derek left the slums and walked past the commercial district, heading towards the bustling docks. Watching the lively activity there, it felt like a completely different city from the quiet, decaying back alleys.
The shouts of laborers, the creaking of ships swaying with the waves, the early morning activity of workers hauling crates filled with fish and other goods — all of it created a vibrant atmosphere that was miles away from the stillness of the slums.
As Derek moved through the dock area, he climbed the steps leading deeper into the city, passing by grand buildings and finally reaching the alleyways where mercenaries gathered.
In the damp morning mist, rugged mercenaries, ready to kill for a few silver coins, roamed the streets. The sight of their numerous weapons created a threatening atmosphere, deterring any decent citizen from coming near. Despite being a developed metropolis, Ebelstein still had its wild side.
*
Derek's second teacher was a widow named Katia Flameheart.
She was the former mistress of the Flameheart family, a baronetcy that had fallen from grace after rebelling against the empire. Now in her late years, wrinkles had started to appear on her forehead, and strands of gray had begun to show in her hair.
Fallen noblewomen often met tragic ends, unable to adjust to the drastic changes in their lifestyle. Though beautiful, their noble status had been reduced, and their fates were usually similar.
However, those with strong willpower found ways to survive. They might become teachers, teaching commoners how to read and write, or they might learn to trade. If lucky, they could become tutors in well-known noble families. Having lived as noblewomen themselves, they were ideal candidates to teach young noble ladies.
Katia was an unusual case among those 'lucky' noblewomen. She didn't take up a pen or bow to other noble families.
A third-level wizard, she chose to live as a mercenary, slaying monsters for bounty money. Instead of a dress, she wore a worn cloak and carried a dagger instead of a quill, navigating the rough world of mercenaries. Her small frame belied her ability to thrive in such a harsh environment.
"Hey, you know magic, don't you?"
It was by chance that she met Derek, who was munching on stale oat bread in a corner of the tavern. Derek had been working in the mercenary world for about four years by then.
Covered in dust, his white hair and piercing red eyes looked up at Katia. The faint aura of magic in his eyes was different from that of the nobles.
Katia narrowed her eyes, looking at Derek with curiosity.
"...Yes? Are you talking to me?"
"Yes."
Derek stared at Katia, who had suddenly spoken to him.
There were a few reasons Derek had entered the mercenary world.
First, he needed to survive. No matter how low his origins were, if he risked his life, he could find some work in the mercenary world. Tasks like catching rats in an old warehouse or killing minor monsters on the city outskirts were manageable for someone with Derek's understanding of first-level magic.
Second, he had to meet people. The old man who taught him the basics of magic was dead. While some magic could be self-taught, having a good teacher was far more efficient.
Even in the mercenary world, individuals who knew magic occasionally appeared. People with desperate circumstances who needed to rely on taking commissions to survive could be found anywhere.
Derek hoped to learn some magic from such individuals if they appeared, but most mercenary mages weren't altruistic. His initial plan to meet a decent person within a year had stretched to four years.
The boy, now starting to look more like a teenager, was still a child in the eyes of the experienced mercenaries. Sometimes beaten by thuggish mercenaries, and other times using his meager magic skills to fight back, Derek had developed a tenacious streak.
"How old are you now?"
Katia seemed to understand Derek's obvious past and spoke calmly.
She was a veteran of the mercenary world, having rolled in its muck long enough. Helping others was rare in this environment. She had seen too many pitiful people and usually ignored them. Everyone in this world had their own story.
However, the biggest difference between Derek and the many troubled people in the mercenary world was his age.
Derek was just too young.
She remembered her deceased son, who had once played innocently in the manor's courtyard. He would have been around Derek's age now. Seeing this boy struggling to earn a living with his limited magic skills was more poignant than admirable.
Though she thought it was a thing of the past, Katia couldn't escape her maternal instincts. Even if she had lost her child, she remained a mother till death.
*
"Magic is no different from other disciplines. Theory and practice are completely different. You must value both theoretical depth and practical experience."
Katia would occasionally meet Derek at the tavern and evaluate his magic. Initially, Derek was hesitant, but he soon began absorbing Katia's teachings, learning proper magical theory that he hadn't learned from the old man.
"You need to know your level clearly to improve."
There were many schools of magic, but the most mainstream was the noble's school of discipline. They categorized magic into levels. Katia was a third-level mage by their standards.
Even noble mages struggled to reach the third level. Occasionally, geniuses would reach it around their coming-of-age ceremonies, but they were rare. Most had to see wrinkles start forming before they reached the third level.
If it was tough for nobles, it was nearly impossible for commoners to reach the third level. A third-level mage was called an 'advanced mage' for a reason.
In other words, finding a teacher like Katia was rare.
"How much magic have you used in actual combat?"
"I haven't used any particularly great magic. Just small things like lighting a dark place or detecting directions."
"That's not very powerful by first-level standards, but considering your age, it's impressive."
The noisy tavern wasn't an ideal place for magic lessons, but both Katia and Derek were used to such chaotic environments.
"However, you won't even reach the beginning of the second level with just that. You don't need to master all second-level magic, but learning the basics will be enough to secure your future. At least aim for that."
"I'll try."
Katia didn't have grand ambitions. She intended to offer a bit of maternal kindness and sympathy and then move on.
It was impossible for a commoner child without noble blood to fully master second-level magic. Showing him the basics would give him a significant advantage in life. That was her small act of kindness.
For a while, Katia took Derek along, teaching him various spells and techniques.
*
The combination of a magical prodigy from the slums and a fallen noblewoman was rare, even in the mercenary world. Occasionally, people would show curiosity, but Katia and Derek's relationship was not as close as it seemed.
Katia, having spent a long time in the mercenary world, knew that excessive affection caused unnecessary problems. Derek also understood her values and didn't try to burden her.
"You may have honed your magic through experience, but you also need to know the basics. Magic is divided into five branches. Do you know them?"
"Combat, transformation, illusion, summoning, and detection, right?"
"Correct. It seems the old man taught you the basics. Each branch has spells of various levels. Mastering even one second-level spell makes you a second-level mage."
Katia continued to teach in the busy tavern.
Even among second-level mages, there's a hierarchy. Mastering just one second-level spell or many makes a difference in status. But the symbolism is important. Being able to cast even one second-level spell changes your status.
While second-level mages are common among nobles, it's a rare achievement for commoners. It requires significant effort and talent.
"As a mage, you’ll naturally want to improve. Most focus on mastering high-level spells in their field rather than learning a variety of spells."
"So, mages tend to specialize in certain fields?"
"Exactly. It's important to quickly identify your strengths."
"I want to learn everything."
Katia put down her mug and looked at Derek with weary eyes.
"Excessive ambition can slow your progress. Remember my words."
"Okay."
Katia was a third-level illusion mage. While she knew a few third-level spells, she had mastered many second-level ones.
She couldn't immediately elevate Derek's abilities, but she could guide him in the right direction.
"From the second level, you need to sense and control your internal magic constantly."
"I had a rough idea. Using magic feels like manipulating an internal energy."
"That's right. Your practical experience will help. Try to mimic the flow of magic I’m sending you."
Katia placed her hand on the wooden table, manipulating her magic. Derek followed her lead, sensing his internal magic.
He had a substantial amount of innate magic. It was a waste for him to rot in the slums. He had learned the basics of first-level magic from a braggart old man and understood magic control through rough experience.
'If he had noble blood... his life would be completely different.'
Katia had seen too many mediocre mages pretending to be great just because of their noble blood. Derek's magical potential gave her mixed feelings, but it was no surprise.
The world was always unfair. Katia knew that well enough. Being sentimental would only hinder her survival.
While teaching various magic techniques, something happened.
- Whoosh!
Derek suddenly had a look of realization and unleashed his magic.
Katia's brow furrowed.
- Whoosh! Bang!
A massive explosion filled the tavern.
"What the...!"
"What happened...!"
The mercenaries grabbed their weapons, looking around in confusion. The sound was like a building collapsing, shaking the tavern.
The mercenaries were ready for combat, but nothing seemed amiss. Outside, the world was peaceful, and nothing had changed in the tavern.
"What the hell...? We heard a huge noise!"
"Hey! Check the surroundings! There must be something!"
Katia looked down at Derek amid the chaos.
Derek also looked up at her.
"Master. I just..."
- Smack!
Before Derek could speak, Katia grabbed his arm and quickly led him out of the tavern.
*
Katia dragged Derek into a secluded alley in the mercenary district. Her pace was so fast that Derek had to half-run to keep up.
She gripped his arm tightly, leading him far from the tavern where the explosion had occurred. They turned several corners and entered dark alleys filled with the smell of food waste.
The tension in the air made Derek hesitant to speak. Katia had never been this serious before.
When they finally stopped, Katia knelt and looked at Derek.
"Derek."
Her expression was complex. Derek couldn't guess why she looked so serious, only that he felt a growing sense of worry.
Katia closed her eyes briefly, collecting her thoughts.
In her youth, she was a noble lady and later the mistress of the Flameheart family. Now, she was a wandering mercenary. Though she had been a minor noble, she knew the ways of high society well. This knowledge made her expression grim.
"Listen carefully, Derek. The spell you just cast was an illusion spell called 'Echo.' It creates sounds within a certain range to confuse and distract enemies."
"I kind of imagined that."
"Yes. And it's... a second-level illusion spell."
Talented commoner mages were admired even by nobles for their effort and determination. However, there was always a ceiling to their achievements.
This was the era of nobles. Magic was a privilege and a source of pride for them. There were boundaries that shouldn't be crossed.
"..."
Inborn talent was seen as a blessing, but extraordinary ability beyond one's station could be dangerous.
Katia's expression grew serious as she realized Derek's potential.
[Translator: IamCr1nge]
[Proofreader: AshK]