Camille (7)

After that day, I quit drinking.

Of course, I didn’t quit completely.

Alcoholism isn’t resolved that easily.

However, I at least didn’t touch it during my daily life.

“It’s hard to explain this in words.”

Instead, what I did with my free time was study magic.

Ah, of course, it wasn’t for my personal development.

I am a Dragon.

It was no exaggeration to say there was no magic I couldn’t wield.

This was a study on how to teach someone.

“How do you explain breathing?”

Magic was something I wielded as naturally as breathing.

That was precisely the problem.

It was difficult to establish it as a theory and explain it.

“Helix-nim!”

“Hello, Vivian.”

The reason I was going through all this trouble was to make Vivian a Magician.

I had been pondering in various ways.

How Vivian could escape her political marriage.

How she could live a life entirely for herself.

No matter how much I thought about it, only one thing came to mind.

‘Vivian acquiring power herself.’

To be more specific, it was for Vivian to become a being more valuable than a political marriage.

More than marrying an old noble and contributing power to the Imperial Family…

Vivian just needed to become an important figure to the Imperial Family.

So, I intended to make her the most precious person in the Empire.

“Your Magic sensitivity is quite good. You have the minimum conditions to become a Magician.”

“But… I don’t know anything about magic, do I? Can I really do well?”

Vivian seemed somewhat lacking in confidence.

I asserted to her.

“Vivian, who am I?”

“Helix-nim… You are a Dragon, isiyeo.”

“Yes, as you said, I am a Dragon. Even the greatest Magicians in your country look like children playing tricks in front of me.”

“Ah…”

Only then did hope appear in Vivian’s eyes.

“Don’t you want to live freely? You don’t particularly want to dedicate your life to the Imperial Family of the Empire, do you?”

“That’s right… I want to live my own life. And of course, I don’t want to marry an old man.”

That was enough.

If she had the will to resist her fate, that was sufficient.

“Two years, I’ll make you Magician-level in exactly two years.”

“Two years…? That’s impossible. I don’t know much about magic, but even talented Magicians need decades of training to reach that level.”

“Yeah, they would. Because those ‘talented’ Magicians didn’t get lessons from a Dragon.”

“…”

I handed Vivian a book.

“What is this?”

“An introductory magic book. I wanted to find something easier to explain, but this was the best I could find.”

“Hmm… It looks difficult at first glance.”

“It’s fine. Just memorize it all. Memorization is the easiest thing in the world. Application is what’s hard.”

“…”

Vivian’s eyes seemed somewhat distrustful.

I flicked her forehead.

“Ayat! Why did you hit me!”

“Because you were looking at me with distrustful eyes.”

Vivian teared up, clutching her forehead.

Distrusting a master like the heavens, she was doomed from the start.

“Just trust me, even if it feels like you’re being fooled. I’ll change your life.”

“Really…?”

Vivian clutched the book tightly to her chest.

Having made such a grand boast, I absolutely had to make her a Magician.

If I crushed her hope, I felt I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.

‘I can teach her somehow. The problem is…’

It was time.

Although she was a hostage, Vivian had no value as a mere captive.

If a political marriage was immediately needed in the Empire, she would have to return to the Empire right away.

Therefore, I had to make her talent blossom as quickly as possible.

“Let’s live as if we’re dead for about two years.”

“Yes, I’ll work hard.”

Magic lessons began after that day.

Fortunately, Vivian followed along more diligently than I expected.

She passionately devoted herself to magic practice, even saving time for eating and sleeping.

Vivian was desperate, as if failure here meant there was no turning back.

‘She had grit, after all.’

Some might call Vivian’s challenge reckless.

Because a Magician cannot be made overnight.

They are highly skilled individuals who must be selected for their talent from childhood and trained over decades.

Even with such relentless effort, only a very small number manage to fully develop their talent.

‘If anyone saw this, they’d say I was crazy, and I’d have no argument.’

And to raise her to Magician-level in just two years?

Even a novel written like this would be criticized.

But…

‘I am a being more fantastical than any novel.’

If ability isn’t enough, then compensate in other ways.

And the answer was…

Within myself.

In the past, there was a saying that killing a Dragon could save a kingdom.

That’s how rare every single thing that came from a Dragon’s body was in this world.

A sword made from a Dragon’s fang could cut through anything in this world,

and armor and shields made from Dragon scales were sturdy enough to withstand even a Magician’s magic bombardment.

But among them, what Magicians coveted the most was…

‘Dragon’s blood.’

My blood was truly an incredibly pure mass of Magic.

If processed well, it would lead to an explosive increase in Magic quantity.

Until now, I hadn’t given it to anyone except Camille, fearing it might be misused by greedy individuals…

But for now, I had no choice.

Once I decided to help her, I intended to go all the way.

“I guess I’ll have to visit the Magic Tower after a long time.”

Dragon’s blood was priceless to Magicians.

I could ask them to make an Elixir in exchange for some of my blood.

Of course, the feeling of having my blood drawn was not pleasant, to say the least…

But until I saw Vivian find her freedom, I intended to do everything I could.

******

Three days later, I returned to the temple.

I had secretly visited Magicians and had an Elixir made in exchange for my blood.

“Helix, where have you been for three days?”

Camille was waiting for me with a very displeased look.

Well, it was understandable, as I had left without a word and hadn’t returned for three days.

“I had something to do.”

“What was it?”

Ah, I’m a bit tired right now.

The feeling of having a metal tube stuck in my body all day wasn’t exactly pleasant.

“I went to the Magic Tower to meet a Magician.”

“A Magician? For what?”

“To make some Elixir.”

At those words, Camille’s expression became ambiguous.

Camille certainly knew what its purpose was.

“Who is it for…?”

“An acquaintance.”

“What kind of acquaintance?”

Camille was unusually persistent in her questioning today.

Had she ever shown this much interest in me before?

“An acquaintance I was indebted to before.”

“That Holy Knight from back then?”

“Derek? Derek would be disgusted if I mentioned my blood.”

“Then who is it?”

One would think she’d give up by now, but Camille was determined to find out the identity of my acquaintance to the very end.

“Someone from the Empire.”

“The Empire? If it’s someone from the Empire in this Alesia… is it an envoy from the embassy?”

“No, why would I get involved with such troublesome people?”

“Then what is it? Why are you beating around the bush so much today?”

“Why are you so persistently questioning me today?”

Our voices grew louder.

The atmosphere was gradually turning hostile.

At least Sera and the other Dragon’s Priestesses intervened.

“Helix-nim… Saint-nim was very worried, thinking something might have happened to Helix-nim.”

“That’s right… Please calm your anger.”

“I’m not angry. Camille is the one who’s angry.”

I also felt it was a waste of time to argue with Camille like this.

I had a lot of things to do anyway.

‘I also need to test for side effects.’

This Elixir could have tremendous effects if used well, but its side effects were equally considerable.

It might even act as a poison to Vivian.

Therefore, I had to conduct at least dozens of tests beforehand.

“Camille. I’m really tired right now, okay? Can’t we talk after I get some sleep?”

“No, and what did you do that made you not sleep?”

Camille, truly determined to confront me today,

grabbed my wrist tightly and pushed me against the wall with her small frame.

Annoyance surged within me for a moment, but…

I let out a patient sigh, “hoo-,” and told her the truth.

“Listen, Camille. I’ve decided to take on a disciple this time.”

“A disciple? You, a Dragon, taking on a disciple?”

“Yeah, it’s my first time teaching someone too, so my head feels like it’s going to explode.”

Camille seemed a bit flustered, as if she hadn’t expected this.

“Was that disciple why you were running around all this time?”

“Something like that.”

“Who exactly is this disciple?”

“The Empress of the Empire. A woman brought to the Holy Dominion as a hostage.”

“A woman…?”

The last word was what Camille reacted to.

“Helix, don’t tell me… you like that woman?”

“Yes, I like her. As a friend, and as a disciple.”

“…”

I gazed steadily into Camille’s eyes.

Dragons do not lie.

They speak only the truth, even if it means death.

No matter how much Camille doubted me now…

She wouldn’t be able to deny that.

“Hoo, fine.”

After exchanging glances with me for a long time, Camille sighed.

“I know it’s not a lie. But don’t focus too much on that woman and neglect us.”

“That won’t happen.”

“Then at least come back promptly at night. Don’t stay out if you don’t want to hear complaints.”

“Alright. I’ll be careful.”

I answered casually.

My mind was already filled with thoughts of experiments.

“Helix.”

“What now?”

“You seem to have changed lately.”

My steps, which had been turning, stopped abruptly.

This was something I couldn’t help but refute.

“I haven’t changed, Camille.”

“…”

“I’m always the same. I’m greedy, jealous, possessive, and narrow-minded.”

She was mistaken.

She was afraid that the current relationship might change with just one variable, Vivian.

“So, Camille.”

I whispered as I brushed past her.

“You don’t have to worry. I will never prioritize anyone over you.”

“…!!”

“Even if you don’t consider me the best, I will.”

Camille’s eyes trembled fiercely.

Was she flustered that I had seen through her anxiety?

Or did the last words sting like a thorn?

Well, either way, it didn’t matter.

“Ah, and one last thing.”

“Do you still have something to say?”

“Yes. Just in case, I hope you don’t say anything strange to her.”

At those words, Camille’s eyebrows twitched.

“I wouldn’t. What do you take me for?”

“I’m telling you to manage the Dragon’s Priestesses well, not just yourself. Their loyalty is sometimes too strong, and that can be a problem.”

“…”

Camille didn’t bother to deny it.

It was true that the Dragon’s Priestesses could act extremely depending on the situation.

“Just as you pity the Dragon’s Priestesses, I pity her. That’s all it is.”

“Because that Empress is a hostage in a foreign country?”

“No, because I feel sorry for her plight of not being able to decide her own fate.”

“…”

“In that respect, she’s similar to the Dragon’s Priestesses. They can’t decide their own fate either.”

In a way, Camille and I were in similar positions.

We felt compassion for someone and wanted to help them.

But our methods were clearly different.

“I’m going to bed now.”

“Wait.”

Camille grabbed me again.

“We haven’t done it for a month now.”

“…”

“I’ll go wash up. Don’t sleep yet, wait for me.”

I was really tired.

But at Camille’s unusually anxious expression…

I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.

It was partly my fault for making her uneasy.