Chapter 29 - Letting Go

"What if I make a mistake and my identity is revealed?"

Human affairs were unpredictable, and there would likely be many sharp-eyed students at the academy. It might be somewhat difficult to hide everything with just one artifact. I needed an appropriate contingency plan for any unforeseen situations.

"I was just about to talk about that."

Erzsebet spoke without preamble.

"We'll erase their memories."

For a moment, I doubted my ears. Memory manipulation was a well-known taboo in the magical world, even to laymen like me.

Erzsebet continued, "That is, if we judge them to be a threat to you."

It wasn’t easy to accept. Instead of just persuading them or giving them disadvantages if they disclose information, they'd erase their memories?

Is the Masters Class that important? Important enough that serious problems would arise if its existence became known to outsiders?

Moreover, I heard that Eternia had many children from prestigious families and noble aristocrats.

Did they intend to manipulate the memories of even these people without hesitation?

"Will you erase the memories of anyone? Without exception?"

Erzsebet nodded.

"Even if they were royalty."

Carelessly interfering with royalty could cause major problems. In the worst case, it could even lead to war.

She was saying they would protect the Masters Class even at the risk of all that.

She stood up. Then, as she walked towards my desk, she slowly looked around my room.

She continued speaking, "Of course, it's best not to create such situations. If it's someone trustworthy and helpful to you, we might make an exception."

"...Could I also have my memory manipulated?"

She picked up and observed the items scattered on my desk one by one. There were flower petal candies whose recipe I had inherited from Liria and crafts made of cloud iron.

"The Masters Class is an exception."

That's a relief, but...

Thinking about memory manipulation, Eternia seemed scary in a way.

If they were willing to use forbidden magic even on royalty, how powerful of an organization was Eternia?

I even doubt whether this academy was really established just for education.

While I was lost in thought for a moment, she was still carefully examining my belongings.

She seemed detached while telling such frightening stories.

She didn't seem to care much about what I was thinking.

"You're good with your hands."

"...?"

Without asking me, she put one of the flower petal candies in her mouth.

After savoring the taste for a moment, she said, "This is a taste I'm experiencing for the first time. Did you make these yourself?"

"I made them after inheriting the recipe."

A faint smile spread across Erzsebet's face.

She seemed to like the candy, one way or another.

"Good at alchemy too... You'd probably adapt well to the Magic Engineering Department."

"...You're too kind."

I didn't even know what Magic Engineering was. I was worried that one wrong word might get me dragged off somewhere strange.

I observed her carefully for a moment. The atmosphere itself wasn't too bad.

I got off the bed and opened a drawer. There was a small gift box with a ribbon in it.

Inside, flower petal candies were carefully packaged.

I had prepared them in advance because I heard an esteemed Magic Engineering scholar was coming, but I thought I wouldn't be able to give them because she seemed like a difficult person to approach.

My intuition was telling me there wouldn't be another chance besides now.

I approached her and politely handed over the gift box. I couldn't help but tremble before such an esteemed person.

Her eyes widened slightly at the sudden gift offensive.

"May I ask what this is?"

"It's the same candy you just tasted. I heard you came a long way, so I made these for you to have as a snack on your way back. It might be sudden, but I felt like I had to give them to you now because I wouldn’t get the chance later."

Erzsebet fell silent for a moment.

She didn't take the gift.

My mouth went dry.

During that brief silence, all sorts of thoughts raced through my mind.

Is it too sudden? Did I go too far? Did I make a mistake? Is this really the right thing to do?

"I'm in a position where I shouldn't receive anything from students."

"..."

I've messed up. I acted too presumptuously.

She looked at my face for a moment, and suddenly, Erzsebet covered her mouth and laughed.

As if she had seen something amusing to herself, she laughed quietly for a while and then said, "You have a cute side. I think I understand why your teacher cares for you so much."

"..."

"Since you haven't officially enrolled yet, it shouldn't be a big problem to receive something."

Is she teasing me because I was so tense?

This person, who looked so noble that people might not even dare to speak to her, was more playful than I expected.

After saying that, she started writing in the air with her finger.

Swish, swish, swish

Soon after, rune letters appeared in the air, sparking with bright yellow flames.

"It shouldn't matter what you give."

Erzsebet waved her hand in the air again, and those letters flew towards the cloud iron bracelet I had made for practice and started embedding themselves one by one.

What? Is that an enchantment? Can you make an artifact this easily?

Erzsebet handed me the cloud iron bracelet. Due to the aftermath of the enchantment, the area where the letters were engraved was glowing red as if heated by fire.

"A good gift deserves an equal response."

To be honest, preparing the candy like this came from a somewhat calculated approach.

Even so, I thought it would be enough to leave just a bit of goodwill or a good impression.

"This seems like too big a gift in return."

"It wasn't much effort for me, so don't worry. Just keep it a secret that you received it from me."

"..."

I'm not sure. For now, I'll accept it since it seems good.

I received the bracelet and put it on my left wrist.

"That will protect you from various curses. It's nothing special, but it has good synergy with cloud iron."

"...Thank you."

I wasn’t sure why, but Silveryn's advice seemed to have been effective.

***

I asked the butler about Silveryn's whereabouts.

I was told she had gone out for a short walk.

I came out to the lakeside and walked on the sandy beach.

The sun was bright, and the wind was pleasantly cool.

I could see Silveryn in the distance.

She had spread out a mat and was sitting modestly in light clothing, looking at the waves on the lake.

She didn't seem to notice me approaching.

As the wind blew, she held her flying hair, seemingly enjoying the refreshing breeze.

It made me feel good too.

I stopped for a moment and watched her.

It was like a painting, and it felt as if my intrusion would be like defacing it.

Silveryn suddenly looked to the side and gestured to me.

"When did you get here? Come here."

She patted a spot on the mat with her palm as if telling me to sit next to her.

As I walked over and sat next to her, she resumed admiring the quiet lakeside.

Silveryn looked different from usual. Her body was devoid of all the flashy accessories she usually wore.

No large earrings. No rings or necklaces with big jewels.

Because of those accessories, Silveryn always had a strong "mage" vibe no matter what she did.

But seeing her in this simple appearance, she just looked like a beautiful, noble young lady.

"Teacher."

"Yes."

"When will we go to Eternia?"

It took a few weeks to get to the academy. I think we need to start preparing now to arrive without any problems.

"You've accomplished something so difficult, and you're already thinking about what comes next. Soon. We don't have many days left to see this lake, so enjoy this moment now, my disciple."

Silveryn looked happier than usual.

I don't know how to enjoy life. I've just lived that way. I've just endured day by day to get here.

I followed her gaze to look at the lake. The scenery was beautiful.

"We won't come back here even after the entrance exam is over, right?"

"That's right."

It took a month just to travel back and forth between the academy and Wiesel. Once we left, we'd stay at the academy until the entrance ceremony.

After that answer, she was silent for a while.

Then, she suddenly brought up a different topic.

"Did you know? Vampires loved this lake too."

"...That's a bit creepy."

Come to think of it, Silveryn's mansion was also said to be a place where vampires used to live. 

Is Wiesel deeply connected to vampires?

"Vampires live forever and remember everything. They considered it a curse. They had to live forever with memories they wanted to forget."

She continued, "Do you know what they called this lake? 'The Lake of Oblivion.' They said this lake was so beautiful that if you stared at it absentmindedly, painful memories would melt away, and you'd solely focus on the present moment."

"How does it feel to you, Teacher?"

"Hmm, I think that saying is right. What about you?"

"I'm... not sure."

Well, to me, a lake is just a lake.

"But it's true that my old memories have become faint since coming to Wiesel."

If I had stayed in Haman, I probably would have remembered everything like the vampires.

I would have kept those who abandoned me in a corner of my heart and resented them.

But many things changed after meeting Silveryn.

Without realizing it, the past that weighed me down gradually faded, and I stopped resenting anyone.

I felt less bound and a bit more free.

"That's enough. Let go, empty the space in your heart bit by bit. That's how new people can be let in."