Chapter 49: Would You Become a Mage for Me? 5

“Haah… Haah…”

Breathing heavily as she leaned against a pillar, Dust was still vividly reliving the electrifying sensation she had just experienced.

‘It went inside… My essence entered Brother’s body…’

The lingering feeling in her palms.

The act of awakening her brother’s mana with her own.

For Dust, who had performed the Mana Unlocking for the first time, it left a profoundly intense impression.

‘I created Brother’s first experience! And he even thanked me in the end! Ah… I’m so delighted. I’m glad I requested this task from Father.’

Viewed simply, it was merely an educational procedure, with Mana Unlocking considered a rather mundane act among mages.

However, for Dust, whose affection for her brother bordered on obsession, it held immense significance.

She had drawn the one who had initially walked the path of a Holy Knight into the realm of magic.

Naturally, this meant that in Dust’s eyes, she had gained an advantage in her ongoing rivalry with that ‘lowly wench’ for her brother’s attention.

‘I won’t let anyone take him… That uncouth woman who crawled in from who knows where is unworthy of Brother! Brother’s partner can only be me or ‘that person’!’

With these thoughts, Dust took a deep breath to calm her elated heart.

As the intense excitement subsided, her focus shifted to the peculiar sensation she had experienced during the process.

‘But… What was that?… Brother’s mana seemed… slightly strange, almost foreign in nature…’

A natural question arose in Dust’s mind regarding the unique feeling she had perceived while awakening Santana’s mana.

According to her father, the caster of a Mana Unlocking should not experience any significant sensations, apart from perhaps a faint sense of repulsion as the recipient’s mana awakens and pushes back – a relatively minor occurrence.

However…

The sensation Dust had felt while awakening Santana’s mana was entirely different.

‘It wasn’t a sense of repulsion. It was more like… a momentary pull, as if drawing my hand inward. What could that have been?’

While not an unpleasant feeling given her affection for him, it was nonetheless perplexing from a mage’s perspective.

Yet, Dust could not offer any clear explanation or interpretation.

This was her first experience performing a Mana Unlocking on another individual.

Moreover, the circumstances surrounding her brother Santana were far from ordinary.

She had awakened the mana of someone who already possessed a significant level of Aura cultivation.

Had his Aura been more potent, she might have prioritized ‘precautionary measures’ first.

However, given the time constraints and her father’s assurance that his level would not necessitate such drastic precautions, she had proceeded with the task.

Thus, there were countless variables at play, and any minor anomalies during the Mana Unlocking process were likely not cause for major concern.

‘Still, it does leave a lingering sense of unease… Oh well, it shouldn’t matter. After all, Brother will continue learning magic under my guidance.’

With the opportunity to closely observe her brother’s progress, she could gradually unravel any lingering doubts.

As such, Dust found herself filled with eager anticipation for the ‘lessons’ she would impart to her brother starting the following day, her joyful demeanor returning.

Enveloped in a warm, mist-like sensation.

Focusing all her attention upon it, she slowly guided its movement.

Beginning from her chest, the currents of power flowed throughout her body in a gentle embrace.

Concentrating it at a single point, then gradually dispersing it once more.

Expansion and diffusion, followed by concentration and consolidation.

Repeating this process numerous times, she continued until it became second nature.

And finally, upon reaching the limits of her stamina…

“Phew…”

Accompanied by a profound weariness, she slowly withdrew the mana circulating through her body, exhaling deeply.

The power that had permeated every inch, from fingertips to toes, receded back within.

Observing this, Dust nodded slowly and spoke.

“Well done. Your progress is undoubtedly swift, Brother.”

“It’s all thanks to you, Dust. I’m truly grateful.”

“…Ummm…”

Flushing slightly at my expression of gratitude, Dust’s initial awkwardness had gradually given way to an endearing quality in my eyes.

Moreover, her unexpectedly capable ‘instruction’ had allowed me to rapidly acquire the fundamental skills befitting a mage.

However, separate from these positive aspects, my current situation remained far from ideal.

‘Even considering my rapid progress, the conditions are still far from favorable. Not only do I possess the lingering Aura, but more crucially, time is severely limited.’

While awakening one’s mana and learning basic magic could be achieved within weeks for those with talent, true growth and cultivation only began after this foundational stage.

‘My current level, having completed the basics, is Grade Zero… Once I attain Grade One, the truly arduous and protracted phase will commence…’

Upon advancing from the foundational stage to the novice level, mages were then graded based on their mana reserves and proficiency in wielding it.

The grading system comprised twelve tiers in total.

Grades One and Two were classified as novice mages, Three to Five as intermediate, Six and Seven as advanced, and Eight and above as Archmages.

In contrast to the basic stage, which could potentially be completed within weeks for prodigies, progressing through these tiers – even for those of exceptional talent – required months or years of dedicated cultivation.

Moreover, as magical aptitude played a significant role, mages of average talent often reached a plateau around Grades Five or Six, no matter how many lifetimes they devoted to training.

Consequently, Grade Eight Archmages were exceedingly rare, with only a handful present within the entire Holy Imperium.

Count Turen, one of Bohemia’s strongest mages, was a high-Grade Seven advanced mage.

General Tilly, the Imperium’s preeminent mage and the one soon to march upon Bohemia, was a Grade Nine Archmage.

Even Dust, instructing me at the tender age of seventeen, had already attained Grade Four.

In essence, the path ahead as a mage stretched endlessly before me.

‘And amid all this, I’m only just beginning after wasting time as a Holy Knight, having barely completed the Mana Unlocking… My future struggles are laid out crystal clear.’

While not my choice, I could not help but feel vexed by the original Santana’s pointless pursuits as a Holy Knight.

‘Truly, aside from Cazeros, that Holy Knight nonsense has been utterly useless…’

In other words, with my current abilities as a mage, it was virtually impossible for me to contribute meaningfully in the battles looming within the next few weeks.

While regrettable from the perspective of having undertaken magical studies, it ultimately mattered little.

I was well aware that my role in this war transcended mere combat prowess.

Of course, this did not mean I would participate as a Holy Knight relying on my incomplete mastery of the Aura.

The addition of a novice mage or mediocre Holy Knight would be inconsequential in altering the predetermined outcome of this doomed war.

To truly overturn it, I needed to secure something beyond mere magical training – something I had to obtain at this juncture.

‘War is not waged single-handedly. While this world does possess monsters capable of such feats, none will be involved in this conflict. Ultimately, what matters is how the available forces are utilized.’

While Grade Twelve mages could singlehandedly annihilate entire nations, with one exception, their spheres of influence were strictly defined.

The otherworldly beings that never cast a shadow in the original work had no reason to suddenly appear here.

In the end, what mattered was not my individual prowess but the maneuvers of the army as a whole.

Reaffirming this reality, I swiftly set off toward a particular destination as soon as my training concluded.