85 – Shadow(8)

Does the boy named Damian know about the person who drew this picture?

For Georgia, painting was a spiritual, private and personal realm. If there are paintings that you want to show off to others, there are also paintings that you absolutely want to hide from others.

I could feel that this picture was not drawn to show off to the neighborhood without asking. It is a very personal attachment. So there was no reason for Giorgia to go to him in person and inform him of the existence of such a painting.

I couldn’t tell if it was an old lover or a girl’s one-sided crush. A desire to dig into the story behind this painting rose in Georgia’s heart, but she thought it would be better to just keep it inside.

One day he would stop by this warehouse, and then he would naturally know.

***

The first class of the art department is at 3:00 PM. There is also an art room, but he said there are very few classes held there. Giorgia said that because she doesn’t like routine, classes are usually held in the Pensions Department’s conservatory or outdoors. Because the class location changes every day, he advised me to check the delivery information.

When I came out after completing the art department registration process, a silver stitch flew in front of me as if I had been waiting for it.

There was a piece of paper written to me.

It was Ella’s message to come to the forbidden forest through the labyrinth.

The Forbidden Forest was originally the place where my master’s class entrance ceremony should have been held. Are you trying to show me something?

I moved on without delay.

The librarians were waiting for me in front of the Guardian Tree. They took me to the Forbidden Forest.

The fog was unusually lifted in the labyrinth. The librarians said this would remain in place until the situation was restored.

After going on for a while, they entered the Forbidden Forest, and after going deeper, a large clearing appeared.

And there was an altar built by stacking long logs in a square shape. I had seen an altar like this when I was in an orphanage. Just like when you’re having a funeral.

On top of it, corpses dressed in white clothes were lying neatly. I could immediately sense who the people lying above were. They were the librarians who were killed by the black magician.

Around fifty people, including Ella, had gathered there. Some wore masks, some took off and held them in their hands.

It was the first time I had seen such a large number of people gathered in the labyrinth.

I approached Professor Ella silently. I knew what the position was for, so I didn’t bother asking miscellaneous questions.

Someone recited a prayer in front of the altar. After the prayer, people put flowers on the altar one by one.

Soon after, two men run around the altar and spill oil.

Then solemnly draw the sign of the cross, and finally light a fire. The oil-soaked log catches fire, which spreads and burns the bodies.

Only the crackling sound fills the silence.

There are no cries and whimpers that we often hear at funerals.

There is only solemnity and restrained sadness in people’s gestures.

As if it had been expected and prepared for a long time ago.

On the one hand, such a resolute and calm appearance was unfamiliar to me.

Ella stared at the gray smoke rising into the sky before opening her mouth.

“The Masters Class takes its first step here and welcomes the entrance ceremony. Your entrance ceremony… I’m sorry it turned out this way.”

Ella’s words radiated sincere sadness.

“it’s okay.”

I am not alone in fighting for my life. All I can do is just accept the situation.

“And… What’s even more regrettable is that nothing has ended despite the sacrifices of so many people, including you. No time to grieve… Not too many.”

“… .”

Ella looked helplessly at the roaring flames and continued.

“While you were lying down, there was a rain of letters from the Magic Society asking for support. The surprise attack wasn’t limited to Eternia. Ghouls raided sanctuaries across the continent at random. Some have been successfully defended, while others have been irreparably destroyed. Even if I tell you what this case is about, you still don’t fully understand. All I can say right now is… I mean, this is just the beginning.”

What the hell is going on. Could it be that Silverin’s departure as a saint had something to do with it?

“Isn’t there just one warlock?”

“Under the circumstances, it is very likely. However, in this situation, you are the only one who directly confirmed and testified about the black magician.”

This could be interpreted as saying that everyone who saw the black magician died except for me.

In fact, I was in a terrible state, almost dead. Surviving like this is almost a miracle.

“Did the warlock save me?”

Ella’s eyes deepen. After thinking deeply for a while, she opened her mouth.

“You can’t be sure of anything. Did you defeat the warlock, or did he back off when he could have killed you for sure? Perhaps, as you have heard, it is intended to be used as a sacrifice.”

Why? she knew about me As if I’ve been watching you for a long time… .

Was there anything you wanted from me?

It is an unanswered question.

Leaving behind my strange displeasure, I turned my gaze to the blazing altar.

***

After the funeral, Ella took me to the Pilion Magic Research Institute located in the Labyrinth.

Ella said she looked after Luna right there.

As we moved to the research institute, we heard more about the current state of the guardian tree and what Luna had been through.

“Does Luna know about the Labyrinth?”

“As long as we come into contact with the warlock, we will have to manage it. He is an incredibly sensitive child. He had a vague intuition about the existence of Master’s Class, and even though he was wearing a mask, he could see through everything. Even if she doesn’t make it to Masters Class, Luna will learn our work in the future when things get better.”

“… Then you know about me too.”

Nya had faced Luna while wearing a mask.

“right. Luna knows about you too. He told me everything. He recognized your true identity after seeing all the spirits and thought bodies disappear.”

“… .”

“And he said something meaningful. Did you know that a child with a talent for magic can see the future?”

“Yes, Master told me before.”

Regarding my precognitive dream, Silverin once mentioned it. It was said that a child with a talent for magic can see the future, but that ability gradually disappears as he acquires human language and knowledge.

“Okay, then the conversation will be fast. Because Luna had little interaction with humans, her ability lasted longer than the other children. Although that ability has mostly deteriorated now, it seems to remain in a dim form of intuition.”

“…”

“And that ‘intuition’ seems to be telling you that Damian has something. The spirit of the other world, who is trying to rule Luna and the Guardian Tree right now… is extremely afraid of you. He thinks you can change something.”

what are you expecting from me Even so, there was nothing I could do right now. It doesn’t feel like it exists at all. What do you do with something you can’t see or touch?

“… Can you guess why, Professor?”

“perhaps… I wonder if it has something to do with your sword. There are very few swords in the world that can cut lace. It is impossible to catch a race even if you use sword skills. They are not bound to our world. Neither dead nor alive. If it is possible to cut lace… Your sword might even be able to kill beings from other dimensions.”

“Perhaps… Are there any stories from the past about my sword? A sword that kills spirits and thought bodies… .”

Ella shook her head resolutely.

“There is not a single one. At least not yet. Perhaps it is in the archives of the elves, cut off from human contact, or it may remain undiscovered in the Northern ‘Land of the Dead’. All we can do is explore the land of the dead.”

“The land of the dead… What kind of place is it?”

The archives of the elves and the land of the dead in the north were unfamiliar to me.

That it is impossible to find the original purpose of my sword in an ordinary way. One thing I know for sure.

“There is no need to rush to find out. As long as you are in the masters class, you will know it naturally. Because the very existence of this labyrinth was created for that purpose.”

Ella picked up her pocket watch and checked the time.

“first of all… Go check Luna’s condition.”

***

Ella led me to where Luna was sleeping.

It would be more accurate to describe it as a sealed place.

It was said that the ‘black spirit’ that cursed Luna and the Guardian Tree was still in control of Luna.

It was a state similar to the state in which the governance structure between the spirits and the spirits was reversed. They exercised dominion over Luna, and put a curse on the Guardian Tree, using her magical energy as an energy source. It seemed certain that the true owner of the ‘black spirit’ was a black magician.

Eternia only stopped the progress of the curse by depleting Luna’s magical power and sealing her power, but nothing was fundamentally resolved.

Luna’s physical condition improved and her consciousness recovered, but she had to be in a state of ‘magical exhaustion’ that caused extreme fatigue, so she could only maintain her consciousness for about an hour during the day.

When I went to visit her, she was in a deep sleep.

In the basement of the research institute, a place like a prison with layers of translucent barriers and white iron bars blocking all sides. There is only one bed in the middle.

Lying on top of it, Luna’s arms and legs were restrained with chains that glowed blue.

She did nothing wrong, but she was bound like a criminal.

My heart sinks heavily as if a weight has been placed on my chest.

“How long do I have to stay like that?”

“Even if the research progresses quickly, I will have to spend this semester doing nothing.”

I heard that the soon-to-be joint class would be very advantageous to the Elementalist. Perhaps it could be Luna’s solo stage.

Show off your talents and blow away the opportunity to be noticed.

“Luna… … Were there any special activities that you particularly wanted?”

Ella answers my question somewhat puzzled.

“Luna’s butler said… He is reluctant to contact people, but he said he really liked watching plays. Why?”

“I’m just curious.”

“I always read the play ‘The Canary and the Clown’ over and over again when I come back to consciousness. Why are you thinking of bringing me a book?”

“… … Nope.”

I had no intention of becoming friends with Luna. I knew very well that it was difficult to get close to me because of some kind of scar she had.

There was something I just wanted to check, and I was just asking for a hint.