Chapter 5
I was scared.
Terribly scared.
“No magic detection!”
That was because, right after dinner, Teacher Yuris had suddenly appeared and announced that all the new children had to undergo a magical ability test.
“I can’t let them find out I’m a mage here.”
I quickly hid in the bathroom, using a stomachache as an excuse.
Sitting on the toilet lid, I recalled what Teacher Yuris had muttered almost to herself:
“They’re looking for a female mage… Do they really need to go this far just because she crossed the border?”
Luckily, they didn’t seem to have an exact description of me. Besides, I had accidentally been mistaken for a boy.
“Thank you, Leviathan, for abandoning me.”
Tsk. I hated to admit it, but thanks to that cold man, I had plenty of excuses ready to cover myself.
“Wait… Has the kingdom already learned I’m alive?”
I had thought they’d find out eventually, but I hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
“No… They’re probably not sure yet since the pursuit isn’t serious.”
The “magic detection” Teacher Yuris had mentioned was probably using a magic detection device.
“If they were really after me, they wouldn’t send a mere device—they’d send a tracking mage.”
In other words, this was likely just a probing attempt.
They had no certainty about my life, my location, or anything else. They were just casting a net to see if I would show up.
That meant that once I got through this, I’d be safe for a while.
“Time to run.”
My decision was simple. Without hesitation, I left the bathroom and headed for the backyard. And then…
“Huh?”
I saw a thief-like figure jump out of a large window.
“What the—man?”
“Out of the way!”
Thunk! I stumbled under his merciless shove. But I bounced right back up like a toy.
The thief had a heavy bag in his arms.
“Was he really a thief?”
It looked like he had stolen the donations…
No matter how tough life was, stealing money meant for the children?
“Some things are just unforgivable.”
I glanced around, thinking.
What should I do?
“Hmm.”
I decided to tweak my plan.
“If everyone’s attention is on the thief, escaping will be easier, right?”
I remembered the small path I had spotted earlier.
Yes. I’d follow after the man. Even if I grabbed the hem of his pants, he probably wouldn’t kick me away!
“Alright.”
I placed my palms on the ground and quietly infused a little magic into it.
The earth shuddered and shifted.
“Ugh!”
The thief, stumbling along, hit a suddenly protruding stone and went flying with a loud crash.
The coins in his bag poured out like a waterfall.
And the nearby stacked boxes tumbled over him as well.
“What’s going on? What’s that noise?”
“Thief! Thief!”
I shouted quickly and ran.
“A thief? Knights!”
“Call the city guard!”
The commotion in the shelter faded behind me. I crawled through the grass and into the small hole I had scoped out earlier.
Outside, the rain had begun to drizzle.
I hurried, worried I might be caught.
Had Leviathan gone to the palace? Or the knights?
“Huff… huff…”
Soon, I had to stop in a dark alley. I was out of breath.
“This… magic-poor country… is so exhausting.”
Honestly, I was flustered.
I had only used a tiny fraction of my magic…
“This place is seriously bad for mages.”
My magical strength had dropped to less than half, and the ambient magic I could use in the air was almost nonexistent.
Or had I just used too much trying to reach Leviathan?
“Ugh…”
My head spun and my energy drained rapidly.
Thunder boomed, and heavy rain pelted me, making my eyes sting.
“First, the knights…”
I moved along the wall, pressing on.
But what if they refused me again?
“…”
It felt like the dark clouds kept following me.
“Ugh.”
I shook my head quickly. When the body weakens, so does the mind!
“To the knights!”
I clenched my fists bravely. I concentrated and untangled the chaotic magic channels inside me.
“If they kick me out again, I’ll curse them.”
A mage in a tight spot is scarier than any dark creature.
Finally, I emerged from the dark alley and saw…
“Uncle?”
He was there! No way!
“You…!”
The man, pale and ghostly, looked at me and widened his eyes.
Why did he look so terrifying in just a day?
I stepped forward, curious.
“What are you… ugh!”
In an instant, I was pulled into his large arms. Warmth enveloped me.
Huh? I was supposed to cling to him!
Startled, I just blinked.
Smoke-like wisps rose from his solid body. His breathing was rough, his heartbeat thundering like a drum.
“Could it be he found me?”
Ah, no way.
“Rubian.”
I froze. The name I hadn’t told anyone left his lips, and it felt strange.
“Rubi.”
He brushed my back, as if concerned about my cold body.
His rough touch was so gentle.
I forgot my resolve to cling and relaxed in his arms. My body, which had been held together by sheer willpower, crumbled instantly.
“…Mm.”
My treasure. My jewel.
A voice overlapped like a hallucination.
“…Wait. What’s wrong with you?”
Through the distant haze, I realized suddenly:
“Rubi, Rubi? Snap out of it!”
The only thing I could hide from him… was this name.
And then darkness.
When I opened my eyes, the ceiling was unfamiliar and blurry.
Ah, where am I?
“Not bad for a barracks…”
Then I remembered sharply.
“Uncle!”
My eyes bulged and collapsed again. More importantly…
“Clothes, clothes!”
Regardless of my gender, I couldn’t show my bare body to anyone.
“I have the mage mark!”
It was on my lower right waist. It marked me as a mage loyal to the Arcadian Magic King.
“If they see it, it’s over!”
I looked down in panic. My body was wrapped snugly in a large, soft towel.
Had they seen it? My mage mark? That I was a girl?
“Yeah, you need to change, kid.”
A brusque voice called out.
It was Leviathan.
I swallowed hard.
Feeling my cocooned body, it was still uncomfortable. Luckily, it seemed I hadn’t lost consciousness long.
“You were shaking so much, I wrapped you up… Tch, why doesn’t the knight squad have any children’s clothes?”
Wouldn’t having them be weirder?
“No choice. Wash up with warm water and then wrap yourself again.”
“I-I’ll do it.”
I quickly took a dry towel. A small tub steaming faintly sat nearby.
“You, what are you going to do?”
Leviathan paused, his previously harsh voice softening.
“Come here. This is serious.”
Lying on the large sofa, I inched back.
“I get you’re angry, but now, please…”
Angry? Me?
He didn’t look so good either. Still soaked like a drowned rat.
“Rubian.”
“I have big wounds on my body…”
I answered vaguely. My swollen throat hurt with every word.
“I don’t like being touched…”
I closed my eyes tight. If he got closer, I’d have no choice but to use magic.
Memory magic? Illusion magic? But… I didn’t want to cast magic on him.
He roughly ruffled my hair as he stared at me.
“I’m going mad.”
“…”
“…Can you manage on your own?”
I quickly answered:
“I’ve always managed on my own! I’m fine!”
For a moment, a strange emotion flickered in his violet eyes, but I couldn’t focus on that.
“Got it. I’ll turn my back then.”
I quickly changed my clothes. My hands shook, but it didn’t matter.
I needed to finish quickly and rest. He was starting to look like three people…
“All done!”
In fresh, dry clothes, I felt much better.
“Such a temper.”
He carefully placed me on the soft, cozy bed. Magic gently flowed around me as promised.
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and watched him. The memory of him clutching me in the rain surged back.
“But why were you in that alley?”
My head throbbed, but I had to ask now.
“Could it be… you were looking for me?”
