Chapter 67 - Preparing to Leave

“I’ll do so. Do you have any other requests?”

“No, I don’t. That’ll be enough.”

“Okay, I’ll get one ready in two or three days. Would you like to rest in this house in the meantime?”

“No, I have things to do in Colte.”

“What kind of things?”

“I just want to finish up some things before I leave. I’m going to say goodbye to Maylie properly and to Grandpa Warden… oh!”

Azriel remembered the book she was translating. So many events happened that she had completely forgotten about it. It should be among her belongings in the well, but the well was filled up because of the rain and it must have been ruined. When she looked concerned, Rhema asked.

“Is there anything you need help with?”

“Umm, Rhema… can you fix a book that’s ruined after getting wet with repair magic?”

Repair magic was a magic that fixed broken objects. It was what Azriel had already learned. It was specialized in restoring broken objects’ original forms such as battered armors or broken carriage wheels.

For that reason, it did not work very well on objects polluted with other substances such as the ones that were stained with ink or filth. A wet book was closer to being polluted. Rhema shook his head.

“It won’t work well with repair magic.”

“That’s what I thought. How about the magic that dries out moisture?”

“The wetness will disappear, but if you want to restore the smeared letters completely, you will have to use restoration magic.”

“Is that difficult magic?”

“It’s mechanism is to rewind the time of an object. It’s categorized under dragon eye magic.”

“Dragon eye magic…”

She touched around her eyes. The two dragon eye magic that she unknowingly used before were quite destructive. She thought all dragon eye magic would be like that, but it seemed not all were destructive.

Rhema had told her not to use dragon eye magic. It was not because it might endanger others around her nor because it was destructive. Then what could have been the reason?

“Rhema, will you teach me dragon eye magic as well?”

“…”

He hesitated. Then he looked at the back of Azriel’s hands and her eyes in turn before speaking quietly.

“If you master all the magic, I’ll inform you exactly what it means to use dragon eye magic. Please don’t use it until then if possible.”

“You mean I shouldn’t touch mana?”

“Yes.”

“Is the reason still a secret?”

Rhema looked at her with a reluctant face.

“…Can I cast a spell of promise again on you?”

“The magic that notifies you if I touch mana? The thing like a white knot?”

“Yes. Then I’ll tell you the reason.”

She thought that he would not answer this either. Surprised a little, Azriel blinked her eyes and held out her hand.

“Fine.”

Rhema slightly lifted her hand. Stars gathered. Then a white knot pattern formed and smeared into her skin. Looking down at the back of her hand, he spoke.

“Azriel, do you know what the biggest characteristic of dragon eye magic is?”

“Do you mean directly moving the mana that constitutes nature?”

“That is correct too, but I’m talking about the characteristic that’s the most easily distinguishable when compared to general magic.”

He put down her hand. Azriel thought for a moment and answered him.

“The fact that it doesn’t require reciting spells?”

“Right. Dragon eye magic is magic you use without casting spells. Do you remember that I taught you what a spell is?”

“It’s a name you call your mana. It’s made of Lemm text…”

“Yes, and Lemm text is God’s legacy. It’s a method to restrain mana, the dragon’s legacy.”

She heard it when she was young. It was also the story that she did not understand fully back then. However, in this moment, she realized something all of a sudden as she meditated upon it.

The battle between God and the primal dragon. The magic that the primal dragon left for humans against God’s will. The leash that God gave humans to restrain that magic, Lemm text. In another word, spell.

“So, using magic without casting a spell… means that you are using mana without the method of restriction that God gave.”

“Yes. Accordingly, if you use dragon eye magic, it means going out of the fence under God’s protection.”

“Then what happens?”

“The more you use it, the more you will deviate from the worldly law that God made. The first law that goes against is usually the law of aging. You’ll go against the providence that all living things age.”

“You don’t get old?”

Azriel’s eyes were widened. Rhema’s expression slightly changed.

“Yes. And starting from that, you’ll gradually deviate from more laws.”

He had a faint smile looking like he was sneering at himself.

“Azriel, I hope you don’t touch mana until you realize what that means.”

He stroked her cheek gently. It was a very careful and affectionate touch. It seemed to be an involuntary action.

“…For yourself.”

His eyes looking at her seemed remote. It felt mysterious. Even though his hand was touching her cheek, it felt like they were in a completely different space. Azriel murmured as if she was mesmerized.

“Rhema you must be already… beyond God’s fence.”

Without responding, he took his hand off her. The sense of difference disappeared at the same time. Azriel reflexively caught his hand that was being pulled away.

“You don’t like that place? Is that why you don’t recommend dragon eye magic to me?”

“Azriel, this world was created by the conversations made between God and the primal dragon. So, language has a very strong influence.”

“What? Why are you suddenly…”

“It means there’s a huge difference between realizing it on your own and being verbally informed by me.”

It was an ambiguous statement. When Azriel fell deep into thought, he gently said.

“I’ll take you to the inn we were staying in. Where is the wet book you talked about earlier? I’ll fix it.”

“…It should be in the well. I left my belongings in the well where I met you.”

“I see. Noir, come here. You can stay with Azriel.”