-chapter 82-
The first place where the audience’s cheers gathered was on Kaiden’s drawing paper.
“Oh…?”
“The magic circle is definitely….”
“It looks like a musical score…!”
Professor Caroline stroked her chin thoughtfully.
‘As expected…’
The magic used by those of the Rigwind type differs from other sorcerers in the way it is invoked, hence their magic circles are constructed differently as well.
‘They have already captivated the audience with that uniqueness.’
Thanks to Kyle’s clairvoyance, the situation was magnified and projected, allowing everyone to examine the magic circle closely.
“The spell he prepared is a Level 4 spell… Does he plan to create a symphony?!”
Logan muttered with a sigh.
A symphony typically consists of four movements, but when it comes to the Rigwind type, the meaning slightly changes.
Professor Owen nodded.
“It seems that brat is aiming for that! The richness of tone when the four movements resonate simultaneously is… just like a masterpiece from the best orchestra.”
At that moment, Chaihak’s student, Illin, tilted her head slightly.
“But that means four tones will sound at once; it would just be chaotic if one doesn’t have the skill, wouldn’t it?”
“Well, you’ve thought quite well for your rather dull head. Indeed, if one doesn’t have the skill, it could be seen as a gamble.”
Marhena, seated in the judge’s area, had similar thoughts.
“High risk, high return. Although it feels like the top three have already been decided anyway, is he trying to aim for the first place with a secret weapon…? How amusing.”
No, that’s not it.
The young elder from the Harimun faction, Lorelei, shook her head at those who shared similar thoughts with Marhena.
‘Kaiden is a musical genius.’
Would it be more accurate to say he was born for music, or to say he lost his voice for music?
“Kaiden, do your best! Go for it!”
Just then, a middle-aged man with a pleasantly plump face shouted enthusiastically, and the people around him erupted in cheers.
Lorelei turned to that direction and smiled warmly, nodding lightly.
“Father, you’re here!”
“Oh my, Elder! It’s been so long. You still look beautiful, haha!”
The middle-aged man grew even more exuberant, his belly jiggling with excitement.
Their relationship ran deeper than one might expect.
Kaiden’s father was a well-known merchant in the southern Empire.
If there was one issue in his life, it was that his son, just weaned, was mute.
– My lord, how can the young lad become a merchant if he cannot speak?
– The family must pass down their legacy to the children yet to be born; let the firstborn find a different path.
He feared raising his son as a knight would lead to injury, and pushing him into the priesthood might sacrifice his future to religion.
While he was lost in thought, he heard that the Harimun faction was holding a city tour performance, so he attended, hoping to calm his restless mind…
However, what he heard was far beyond excellent. As he went backstage to thank them and promised financial support, that was when…
– Kaiden, don’t! If you touch their instruments carelessly…?!
What happened then?
His five-year-old son perfectly mimicked the piece played by the Harimun students right there on the spot.
The most excited person at that moment was none other than Lorelei, who was then a diplomat of Harimun.
– Oh, father… Would you not give me your son?
– Huh?
– Your son is a genius! A musical genius! He must be immersed in music! If you leave him to me, I will certainly raise him to be a wizard and performer who will leave his name in history, so please!
Thus, Kaiden became a disciple of Lorelei and entered the Eight Factions of Magic.
His growth was indeed steep; by the time he turned thirteen, he was already regarded as one of the top candidates in the faction.
Kaiden became not just Lorelei’s prized pupil but also a source of pride that surpassed his own children.
‘Our faction seeks to pursue the beauty of magic; in this regard, not a single peer magician can surpass Kaiden.’
However, contrary to Lorelei’s conviction, gasps began to rise from various corners. They were directed towards Krista Warden.
“The magic circle certainly looks like…”
“It resembles a work of art…”
“That’s the magic circle of bloodline limits…!”
Krista chose a Level 3 spell.
Despite being a Level 3 spell, the peculiarities of the bloodline limits and the girl’s graceful strokes created a strange harmony that rendered the magic circle to appear like a piece of art.
“And what about Rain Ludwig?”
When Rain’s drawing appeared… there were divided reactions. Some gasped in awe, while others blinked in disbelief.
“Five magic circles…?”
“Does that mean…?”
“Is it Level 5 magic…?!”
Even if Level 5 magic was based on Penn Mountain, the number of mathematical formulas to unravel increased exponentially, thus slowing down the calculation speed considerably.
‘For someone at Glados’ (Level 4) level like me, Level 5 magic is still burdensome… He’s already beyond student level.’
Madelia Page looked at Rain with mixed feelings of astonishment and concern, while Kassena beside her noticed the expression.
“Why? Isn’t using high-level magic good? Rain uses the strongest magic, so he’s probably going to win, right?!”
“No, it’s not that simple. That could be a self-inflicted wound.”
“What? Why?!”
Level 5 magic requires calculations that are much more precise than Level 1 or 2 magic—not to mention even Level 4 magic.
“Coordinate calculation, power adjustment… Yet I wonder if there’s room left to add aesthetic beauty.”
“…!”
“This exam does not simply reward a high score for using large and grand magic. That’s why I’m worried.”
Rain Ludwig….
Even with his skill, is he bound to be cornered in this round?
“Perhaps there was no other choice.”
Lillian Karain, watching the match alongside her peers from the Rivendel faction, spoke up.
“If he wants to stand against Warden and Harimun.”
Elin Ludwig, seated in the opposite VIP room, shared the same thought.
“Rain’s distinctive skill compared to the others lies in magic that doesn’t suit his age… and that’s the only way to utilize it to the fullest.”
But, even so, it’s Level 5 magic. Is it feasible to pack all intended aesthetic effects into it and finish within 60 minutes?
“Are you serious about this?”
There was no doubt Krista could share that same concern, furrowing her brow. Rain Ludwig did not respond, but…
To be precise, he could not respond.
In a state of extreme concentration, he pulls it from the recesses of his mind… the scene he witnessed that day, vividly, perfectly clearly.
* * *
“The first one to complete the magic was from Harimun’s late bloomers!”
Having finished constructing the magic circle and mathematical formulas, Kaiden approached the judges’ area.
The judges were comprised of Marhena at the head and ten senior professors responsible for the second and third years.
Each professor could award a minimum of zero points and a maximum of ten points, so the closer to the total score of 100, the closer one would be to first place.
“Oh ho?”
“This magic circle is literally a work of art.”
The judges’ eyes sparkled with interest as they examined.
The magic circle was elegantly interlocked, with the four attributes unfolding in their respective directions.
Professor Kyle studied the magic circle closely, nodding.
“The north is square, the east is circular, the south is fan-shaped, and the west is triangular… The sequence corresponds to earth, water, wind, and flame.”
Does the order carry any meaning? Or is it just for aesthetics…? Just then, Marhena placed a hand upon the magic circle.
“Let’s see how well you perform, shall we?”
As she spoke, magic power flowed from her fingertips, and as light spread along the lines of ink on the paper, for a moment, all the audience’s minds ceased.
A celestial vision descended upon this earth.
As the square magic circle glimmered with light, the earth swayed gracefully, accompanied by the serene sound of a flute that painted spring patterns in the air.
‘Spring…’
‘The sound of spring… is audible…’
When the circular magic circle lit up, a new wave of sound arose from the flute’s end.
‘Summer, with stars shining as if spilling from the sky…’
‘And the sound of the river reflecting those stars, quietly breathing…’
When the fan-shaped magic circle shone, it evoked the solitude of autumn through the sounds of wind and string.
Finally, when the triangular magic circle illuminated, the crackling fire’s sound mingled with the cold winds, resonating like a beating drum in the heart.
Until all the sounds of the seasons concluded, there wasn’t a single audience member who dared to utter a word.
“What is this…?”
“An echo…?”
After a long while, a low applause began to emerge from various parts of the audience, which eventually erupted into a roaring ovation.
“Wow!”
“Incredible! Is this magic? It can’t be performed by an orchestra?”
“I want to hear it again!”
Amidst the clamor, Lorelei looked at Kaiden proudly, trying to stifle the overwhelming swell of emotions in her chest.
‘Kaiden cannot speak.’
Though he had lost his voice, he had expressed his feelings through music since he was a child.
No.
It’s not that.
It was precisely because he couldn’t speak that he was able to express his emotions through music, transforming all that he saw, heard, and felt into melody.
“That was truly amazing. Those of the Rigwind type usually derive magic through music, but to draw forth music so perfectly from magic…”
“The runes and mathematical formulas he utilized to create that melody are so elaborate that, as a professor, I can barely rate them…”
“Truly harmonious! A harmony of the world!”
Head Professor Marhena examined the magic circle again, slowly.
The rune representing spring was Zhan (潺).
The rune for summer was Wi (褘).
For autumn, it was Se (逝), and for winter, Yun (沄).
To convey the cheerful feeling of spring and summer, advanced mathematical formulas were employed, while autumn was prolonged using a basic equation to capture its melancholy.
“And for winter… to bridge the gap between the two tempos, the formulas were segmented, artificially extending the equations… The runes and mathematical knowledge are simply perfect.”
“Indeed, Master. It truly represents the culmination of the fusion between magic and music.”
“Exactly, Deputy Professor! This was something that could be done seamlessly by an orchestra!”
With such praise, after the professors wrote their scores upon the drawing paper for Kaiden, they simultaneously raised their hands.
[8]
[9]
[9]
[10]
[10]
[10]
[9]
[9]
[10]
[10]
The total score was a staggering 94 points.
Cheers erupted from the excited audience.
“That’s an incredible high score! The head professor, known for not giving points, even awarded 8!”
“Isn’t 95 the highest score so far in this exam?”
“That’s the record! Students who scored 94 also typically emerged as winners!”
Is this match already heading towards Harimun school’s victory…?
Such murmurings spread throughout the arena.
However, completely undeterred by the commotion, a dignified woman strode confidently past Kaiden to stand in front of the professors.
The noble lady of the Warden family, Krista.
‘I’ve faced off against those with overwhelming talent multiple times.’
And I’ve won every time.
With my own weapon.
Except for one. Today, I will defeat that person and stand at the pinnacle as Krista Warden.
“Are you ready to witness the kind of magic that demands the top seat?”
