The Reincarnated Archmage

"Master Veron, we'll be taking our leave!"

"If we get tons of Phoenix Tears, promise me that you'll teach me how to make a blue fireball, okay?"

"Don't worry, Ms. Veronica! We'll surely be back without any injuries."

"Please relax and take a rest while we are away, Master."

I let out a chuckle hearing the cheerful voices of these apprentices of mine. It's already morning and just like what I instructed them, they'll be leaving today to go Terra Divia to gather the Phoenix Tears. Since it's too far away, I'll just use my teleportation magic on them.

"Since you are all my apprentices, I know that all of you will be okay."

"Yes, that's right! We are your best pupil so of course it is expected that we will exceed in everything we do!" Rufis said with his usual boyish grin.

With that statement, I ruffled Rufis's crimson hair. He grew tall so much in the past years that I really need to raise my arm just to ruffle his hair. Rufis is always pouting whenever I touch his hair. He never complains, but I knew that he hated it whenever I treat him like a child.

"Ms. Veronica, is it really okay if we leave you here alone? It feels like you are just pushing yourself right now." Janus asked full of concern on his voice. Among these four, Janus is the most attached to me. I never asked him why, but I guess he's thinking that I am the one who saved him from his miserable life before. It was a nature of human being to cling to someone or something that gives them hope and reason to live.

"Of course, I am alright. Even though I'm not using my magic often unlike before, it didn't mean that I become useless and weak."

"That's right! Master Veronica is just preserving her magic powers since she got us with her now. Right?" Silvi said to Janus before clinging to my arm. If Janus is too attached to me, Silvi is the one who is always clinging to me. Ever since I saved Silvi's life, she became so clingy to me. She also loves it whenever I hug and pat her head. Silvi is always acting like an obedient girl whenever she's with me too. I guess she truly treats me as her mother.

"Silvi, you are bothering Master now." Rei said to his twin sister, which she answered with a 'hmph!'. If there is truly a m.a.t.u.r.ed one among these four, it would be Rei. He is always acting like the understanding and reliable big brother to these three. The only moment I saw him panicked is when he asked me to save Silvi's life. After that, he is always calm in every situation.

"Alright, stop this ruckus now." I calmly said. I looked at each of my apprentices with gentle gaze. "Who would have thought that I'll be seeing the four of you to grow into a great magician. I wouldn't wonder if you all you will surpass me someday." I said with a laugh.

"That would never happen. After all, you are the strongest Archmage and our master. We are standing in front of you like this is because you truly took care of us." Rei said as a matter-of-fact.

Chuckling, I stand in front of them and suddenly give them a hug. My action caught them off-guard, but nevertheless, they also hug me back.

"What's with you, Master Veron? Don't tell me you'll miss us while we are away, especially me?" Rufis said teasingly.

"Who will miss you? If there is someone that Master Veronica will miss, of course it would be me!" Silvi cheerfully announced before snuggling against me.

"Ah, no way! Ms. Veronica will also miss me for sure!" Janus said before looking at me as if silently asking me 'Right?'

"Stop it now." Rei calmly said. "Of course Master will miss us all."

As expected to the calmest and m.a.t.u.r.e from all of them. Giving them an encouraging pat on their backs, I stepped away from them and give them a smile.

"I knew that I always said this, but let me repeat it again. I am really grateful and proud to be your master. Thank you for being a part of my journey."

Silence befall between us. I gave them a sweet smile while the four of them look at me with concern in their eyes.

"Really, Master Veron. What's with you?" Rufis asked. "You are really weird today."

"Maybe because I've not been going to see you four for a while. Maybe it's the feeling of those mother birds whenever their baby chicks are leaving the nest?" I said and tilt my head as if I'm really thinking about it.

"But we'll be back in a few days and see you again. So don't fret too much about it, okay?"

"Of course." I said with a smile.

After that, I started to make the mana flow in my body and a huge teleportation circle suddenly appear on our feet. It's time for them to go to Terra Divia. Before they go, I gave my pendant to Rei.

"If you feel something weird, just crack the crystal on that pendant." I said. Rei didn't ask more information about it. He's thinking that I'm just usually giving my protection to them while they are away.

Stepping away from the teleportation circle, I faced my apprentices one last time. They were smiling to me and saying that we'll see again each other after a few days. I didn't respond to that. Instead, I smile at them and wave my hand.

"Bye."

As I mutter my simple goodbye, the teleportation circle emits a huge amount of light. In a blink of an eye, my apprentices were now gone. Since I can't feel their presence anymore, my legs suddenly become like jelly and drop on the grassy land. Janus's hunch was right all along. I am not preserving my magic, but I am just pushing myself so that I'll avoid making them worry about me.

I'm almost at my limit. I also feel sleepy that anytime soon, my eyes will surely close and I'll enter my eternal slumber. Heaving a huge sigh, I used the remaining mana on my body to make a transportation circle around me. With a snap of my finger, I have safely arrived in front of a huge cave. This place is not ordinary. This cave produces a small wavelength of magic every second. I forced myself to stand up and enter the cave.

Thanks to the wavelength of magic inside this place, I can somehow manage to get to the deepest part of the cave. There is a huge block of ice in the center of the cave. I walked slowly towards the ice and lay my body on it. Even though it's ice, it doesn't possess any coldness. This ice will take the remaining magic on my body and transfer it to the whole cave. This process will also make my death painless and peaceful.

As I wait for my own death, different memories run through my mind. My memories of how I learn magic for the first time, the memories when Gerard and I meet for the first time, my hardship and pain when I chose to do my mission as the Archmage, my memories with my precious apprentices...

Ah. I can definitely say that I don't regret my choices in life. The decisions I made are the one who built me for the past years of my life. If I chose a different path, I'm pretty sure that I'm not gonna feel satisfied in life just like how I am feeling today.

I wonder what will be the expressions of my apprentices if they learn the truth? The reason why I send them to the Terra Divia is that I can die peacefully on my own. If those children are with me in this crucial time, I'm pretty sure that they'll just cry and persuade me to keep on living. And that is what I'm trying to avoid. I am contented with my current life, but I'm also tired. I decided to have an eternal rest as an exchanged to what I've done with my life.

Rufis... Rei... Silvi... Janus...

I'm sorry. Your master is a selfish person. That's why I gave my pendant to Rei. That pendant will not bring protection to them, but it contains my last words for each one of them. The moment I die, they will surely feel the absence of my presence since we have connections with each other. As their master, I influenced the magic they have so they will surely notice something weird when I'm gone. But I know that you all will do well. I'm confident that the current person you are now will give you a rightful decision in life. You are my apprentices, after all.

But I wonder if I die, will I ever meet Gerard in the afterlife? It's the most silly question that I can think of right now, but I can't help but wonder. Is Gerard now at peace? Before Larzul came, Gerard is the first one who exists and became dear to me. Wherever Gerard is, I hope he's now happy.

A sudden feeling of sleepiness hits my body. Ah, so this is it. I slowly closed my eyes and calmly waits for my death. I don't feel any pain right now. In fact, my mind and body is too peaceful. I took one last breath before putting a smile on my face.