Under the Oak Tree

Chapter 126 – Riftan’s Envy (1)

Max gave him a puzzled look as she handed over the bookcase.

“You think I came out because I hated the World Tower, don’t you?” He was able to discern her thoughts.

“I didn’t like the discipline, but I didn’t hate it by itself. In fact, there’s no other place in the world where hundreds of great wizards can gather to hone their skills like in that place,” he said in a faint longing voice.

Max’s curiosity had been piqued. Nornui was an unknown island with very limited access to outsiders. Only the wizards were allowed to enter and leave the tower while the merchants from the south and west were busy at the port. To and from knowledge had to go through the proper channels.

Without a doubt, this forbidden place exuded a mysterious aura. Countless minstrels had spread songs about the mysterious Nornui all over the continent, fascinated and enchanted by its secrecy.

It’s no wonder that Lady Calypse was enthralled by the tale of the runaway wizard. Since listening to the tales skillfully sung by singers, she had been lost in strange dreams about the World Tower for a long time. And now that she was in the company of someone best acquainted, she decided to learn everything she could.

“D-do all wi-wizards study at the W-World Tower?” Her eyes glimmered with curiosity as she inquired.

“What do you mean-do you want to study magic by yourself at Anatol?” Ruth shook his head as if telling her not to ask stupid questions.

“In order to master the magic’s properties, you must go into the World Tower and train. However, you don’t have to go too far to learn the universal magic you want to learn. Most of the wandering wizards in the mercenary corps are these non-affiliated wizards.”

Ruth scratched the back of his head as she tilted her head at the unfamiliar words, wondering if he had explained it yet.

“As mentioned in the introduction to wizardry, Mana is wind, water, earth, fire, light and darkness... There are a total of 6 attributes. Mana has these six kinds of energy in perfect balance... The very pure mana accumulated in the body by extracting only one attribute is called speed mana, and the advantage of this pure mana is the “magic attribute”. On the other hand, the ‘universal magic’ that we want to learn right now is not one attribute of mana, but an attribute of various attributes that we accumulate and use in our body.”

“Wouldn’t the various elements be better? I think it’s better to collect all the elements in the same amount,” he continued.

“No, the more unstable your mana is, the more powerful it becomes. The mana that is focused on only one attribute has 10 times the power of normal mana. Let’s say you have 6 bricks here. Isn’t it difficult to spread evenly on the floor? That’s for sure. However, you can simply knock them down by stacking bricks. As I said earlier, magic creates these dissonances in nature. It’s magic that breaks the balance and affects a well-calculated mess.”

Max nodded and recalled the explanation of the difference between ‘spell’ and ‘mana’ she had heard last time. Spells were against the laws of nature, but mana followed them.

“In the past, it was thought that if the body’s accumulated mana was inclined to a certain trait, the magical power would be greater as well.” Ruth revealed the inside of his wrist by rolling up his sleeves.

She smiled wide as if she was happy to understand. On the white skin with veins, a small enchantment, drawn in red ink, was inscribed.

“In order to master the attributes of magic, you need to be awarded this by the World Tower. Me.. Through this magic, I’m accumulating pure wind-like mana in my body.”

“Well, I-I don’t think so...” Max said, looking down at her wrist with a touch of anticipation. “Wouldn’t it be e-easier to learn ma-magic if you engraved it on your b-body?”

“The only people who can engrave this magic are the senior wizards who live atop the World Tower, and in order for them to be given the attribute magic, they have to live and be educated in the World Tower for atleast four years. They can’t get out of Nornui during that time.”

Max drooped her shoulders with a disappointed look. Ruth clicked his tongue as though he wanted to laugh as he looked down at the figure.

“What do these attributes mean for a new chick who has just started studying the theory of magic?... You’re worried about learning the basics aren’t you?”

“W-well, it’s just... ah! I only asked one question.” Max grumbled burying her nose into the book hiding her embarrassed face.

Ruth smiled and moved a few books beside Max before rising from his seat to light the fire. The sky was cloudy and a dim shadow hung over the library, despite the fact that it was still early.

With tongs, he removed small embers from the furnace and lit them on a candlestick and lamp. Max rubbed her tired eyes and kept reading before rising just in time; it was already evening.

“Are you going to the dining hall for dinner?” When he saw her packed books and parchment, Ruth asked mischievously.

Max shook her head. She couldn’t face the knights last night because she was too humiliated by her tipsy self.

“I-I’m going to e-eat in my room. I-I want to st-stay there re-reading all these books.”

“Calm down, Max. You haven’t made that big of a mistake. I don’t think you’ve ever seen a real drunkard, much less hear he gibberish they spew.” Ruth, who immediately saw through her excuse, spat out. He then went on to suggest.

“Oh, why don’t you take this chance to build friendship with the knights? Everyone seems to think it’s funny...”

“W-well.. I-I don’t want to be fu-funny...”