Was it possible to be reduced to this state merely by her killing intent?
Melkith rubbed her forearms. She could feel goosebumps. Despite her fear of recalling the moment, when she thought about it again, Melkith felt as if it had been more than simple killing intent.
When their eyes met, something... something happened. How could she explain it? It wasn’t an entirely unfamiliar feeling. She had experienced it once before.
‘That's right,’ Melkith thought.
It came back to her while she was still calming her pounding heart.
Years back, when she first entered Akron, ascended to the top floor, Sienna's Hall, and saw Witch Craft and the Eternal Hole for the first time, Melkith felt completely overwhelmed. She had felt as if she had beheld something transcendent, something not meant for her eyes, something beyond her comprehension and her current capacity.
She had felt something similar in that brief moment she met Sienna’s eyes. It wasn’t just the killing intent that overwhelmed Melkith. Instead, for an instant, Melkith had glimpsed into the essence of the wizard called Sienna Merdein. That was what had caused her to crumple to the floor.
‘Magic?’ Melkith pondered.
Was it some kind of magic? She couldn’t be sure. It had only been for the briefest of moments, after all.
What was clear, however, was that this Archwizard, the Wise Sienna, had transcended beyond Melkith’s wildest expectations. While she was tumbling around in the sands, the Wise Sienna must have pursued something to reach such heights.
‘Still, I've made progress since then,’ Melkith reassured herself.
She felt a sense of pride in herself, along with awe for Sienna. She fainted when she first came to Akron and saw Witch Craft. But this time, she managed to stay conscious. Though her legs had given out under her, she had avoided further embarrassment.
“Uh-hum…” Melkith cautiously lifted her head and looked forward.
This was the top floor of Akron, Sienna's Hall. It was a place lined with the portraits of Sienna and Akasha, as well as her comrades from three hundred years ago. Now, several things had changed from before. Melkith observed Sienna, who was sitting in the main seat with her chin resting on her hand.
“Sis... are you angry?” asked Melkith.
No response came. Sienna kept gazing ahead, not even sparing a glance at Melkith. Melkith felt her heart pounding with anxiety as she spoke again.
“Sis, it was really just a joke! Do you think I would seriously do that to you? It was just... just... that’s right! I wanted to show you the latest prank trend since we haven't met for a long time! Yes! You wouldn’t know being in Aroth, but in Nahama, this kind of prank is trendy. Everyone from kids to the elderly enjoys it.”
It was a desperate and obviously flimsy explanation, but Melkith clung to it fervently.
However, there was still no response.
Lovellian kept glancing at Melkith from his seat near Sienna, but Melkith was too preoccupied to notice his gestures.
“I've suffered so much in that scorching desert for you and Eugene! Yes, yes, I know I was wrong. I won’t play such pranks on you anymore. So please, sis, let go of your anger. Relax your face! Please respond to me,” pleaded Melkith.
And who are they? Melkith took notice of some unfamiliar faces in the midst of her desperate pleading.
Among them were Herington Carage, the chief court wizard of Kiehl, and Rynein Boers, the hermit. Though she had never met these two new Archwizards, their presence in those seats clearly marked them as such.
‘I’m kneeling on the floor while these juniors sit comfortably in chairs?’ Melkith thought indignantly.
She couldn’t believe the audacity. How could they remain sitting when she was on the ground? The least they could do was to stand. Despite boiling inside, Melkith maintained a servile smile.
“Sis…,” she called out once more.
“Ahem!” Unable to bear it any longer, Lovellian loudly cleared his throat. Only then did Melkith turn her head to look in his direction.
He met Melkith's gaze and immediately placed his index finger on his lips. Even in her distracted state, Melkith recognized this overt gesture. She stopped her jabbering and just pouted.
"Quite impressive," Sienna finally spoke after a long period of silence. Her lips curved into a smile. She stretched out the hand that had been propped under her chin. "Is your mental strength exceptionally strong? Or is it a privilege of Incarceration’s dark power?"
Balzac couldn’t reply in his bound form mid-air. He managed to stay conscious, but that was the best he could do. Even relaxing in the slightest would have made him lose his mind.
The gaze fixed on him was so fierce and powerful. It might be an odd comparison, but Balzac felt a power similar to the Demoneye in Sienna's green irises. However, humans could not possess Demoneyes; they were characteristics manifested only in some high-ranking demons.
Therefore, he was sure this gaze was not a Demoneye but magic. Even so, understanding it wasn’t easy.
Could magic artificially create such demonic charm? Sienna’s eyes drew out many emotions from Balzac, including awe, admiration, and a sense of enchantment. But they all culminated in one thing.
Submission.
“…..” Balzac rethought his position. Unknowingly, he had shattered his own ‘frame’ of magic.
Was such a thing possible with magic? That question itself was wrong. Nothing was impossible in magic. While Balzac himself might not be able to pursue or reach such a realm, she was the Wise Sienna. She was the wizard whom all wizards respected, the wizard of wizards.
"Ha ha…," Balzac chuckled involuntarily. He was worried that she might take this laughter as rudeness or insult, but now, having the freedom to speak, he couldn’t help but laugh.
How could he not laugh when he saw the figure he admired since childhood with his own eyes?
"My mental strength is not particularly strong; it's more likely due to the power of His Majesty, the Demon King of Incarceration," Balzac answered.
"Presumptuous." Sienna's eyebrows twitched. "Calling the Demon King of Incarceration His Majesty in front of me, of all people."
"I understand it's disrespectful, but I can’t help it,” retorted Balzac.
"He wouldn’t punish his minions for not using honorifics, would he?" countered Sienna.
"I also believe, Lady Sienna, that you would understand a humble person's need to be cautious in their speech,” said Balzac.
Everyone was surprised at Balzac's response. It was especially true for Hiridus, the Blue Tower Master. He had known Balzac since their youth, and he felt restless.
He respected and admired Sienna, but on a separate note… sometimes, Sienna could be incredibly emotional. What if Sienna genuinely felt offended by his words and killed Balzac? Who could stop that?
Moreover, it wouldn't be wrong if Sienna killed Balzac. He was a black wizard contracted with the Demon King of Incarceration. As such, he was an inevitable enemy and could never be an ally.
"Right," Sienna smirked while moving her finger. She drew a circle towards Balzac with her index finger. "I can understand completely. Balzac Ludbeth, Master of the Black Tower. You know, I simply can't harbor any good feelings towards black wizards, especially those contracted with the Demon King.”
"I understand,” he answered.
"I believe I have the right to kill you. You might feel it's unfair, but that's not my concern,” Sienna said.
"I understand," Balzac responded.
"But I won't kill you,” Sienna stated.
Swoosh!
The magic binding Balzac disappeared. Sienna watched Balzac fall to the ground before continuing, "I won’t kill you. I've heard about you several times. From the Red Tower Master, the Blue Tower Master, and, of course, from my proud and beloved disciple, Eugene. Balzac Ludbeth, I heard you treated my disciple very well."
"It's a question I find difficult to answer myself,” responded Balzac.
"I heard you played a significant role in the Samar Forest. Without you, things could have gotten very troublesome,” continued Sienna.
"I simply did what had to be done—" Balzac said.
"Such an answer feels too cliché,” Sienna interjected.
Balzac smiled awkwardly at her words. When he didn't continue, Sienna chuckled with her arms crossed, saying, "I like your aspiration.”
At the mention of 'aspiration,' Balzac's expression stiffened slightly. Unsure whether his upcoming expression was a smile or a tear, even Balzac couldn't tell. Perhaps it was both.
"You want to become a legend? The greatest wizard in the world. A wizard like me, who will be remembered in the history of magic for hundreds of years,” asked Sienna.
"…Yes,” responded Balzac.
"I heard you were once a promising wizard in the Blue Tower, even considered for the position of the next tower master. I heard about why you formed a contract with the Demon King and became a black wizard,” continued Sienna.
"Because I am not you, Lady Sienna." Balzac composed himself before answering.
The Wise Sienna was loved by magic. She was a wizard who could threaten the Demon Kings. No wizard like her had appeared since.
Balzac was not Sienna. Once, he thought himself a genius, beloved by magic, capable of becoming a legend. But reality betrayed his expectations. That was why he became a black wizard — to become a great wizard, to leave his name in the annals of the history of magic.
"I do not think my choice was wrong. I had ideals that I couldn't reach with my potential. To walk that path, I had to sign a contract with the Demon King of Incarceration,” explained Balzac.
Most wizards dreamt of becoming the greatest wizards in their youth. But as they aged and faced reality, dreams changed. They compromised or gave up. Balzac chose compromise over surrender.
"I have a few things to ask you,” said Sienna. Her face lost its smile as her eyes calmly settled on Balzac. "I heard your aspiration is pure and earnest. And your obsession. You want to remain purely human and become a legend?" she asked.
"Yes. Because I am a human,” answered Balzac.
"Can you swear it?" Sienna stood up. She slowly approached Balzac, continuing, "I won't force you. Even if you don't swear, I won't kill you right now. Since you've contracted with the Demon King of Incarceration, there will come a time when I must kill you."
"…I understand," Balzac answered after a moment.
"If you cannot swear, then I'll consider you... as just a black wizard. It won't bother me too much. But I would prefer you to disappear from my sight right now,” Sienna said.
"What happens if I swear?" asked Balzac.
"I think your aspiration is splendid,” said Sienna, “If you're truly pursuing it and prove your sincerity with a vow, then I… will consider you not just a black wizard but a wizard."
"I will swear." Balzac didn't hesitate. He placed his hand on his chest, infusing his words with magic and mana. "I will never abandon my humanity."
Only after hearing his vow did Sienna finally give a sly smile. She stopped in front of Balzac. He was still sitting on the ground.
"I will surpass humanity,” declared Sienna.
Balzac felt the same transcendence in Sienna's eyes as before. The light swirling in her eyes created stars. Her eyes, twirling with light, formed galaxies.
Balzac looked at Sienna with a stunned expression. She wasn't joking. He shuddered and nodded. "…Yes."
"I won't involve you in research. The Demon King of Incarceration might use you to spy,” Sienna continued.
"Though I don't think he would do such a thing... but yes, I understand,” responded Balzac.
He was disappointed, but Balzac didn't ask for more. His aspiration was acknowledged. He heard the words that he wasn't just a black wizard but a wizard. To Balzac, these words were as precious as salvation.
"…I thought I could be of help with the Nahama issue, Lady Sienna,” said Balzac.
"I received the memories extracted from Harpeuron. Not much help, though,” came Sienna’s response.
"So it seemed," said Balzac before glancing outside to the vampire familiars. "I thought I had identified all vampire clans active in Aroth... seems like I was mistaken,” he admitted.
"You probably did," Sienna chuckled, also looking outside.
The vampire watching the meeting at Akron and spying on Sienna belonged to the Odoth Clan. But at some point, the owner of the gaze changed.
To act or ignore? Should she look into it or leave them untouched? But before she could come to a decision, the vampires dared to reach out first.
Betrayal.
Though contemptible, there was no need to refuse when enemies betrayed each other and offered information. Thanks to this, Sienna knew what was happening in the depths of Nahama. She knew which demons had crossed over, as well as what was being prepared.
"Sis..." Melkith pleaded pitifully, seeing Sienna chuckle, "If you're acknowledging a black wizard, can't you do the same for me?"
"Don't call me sis, Miss Melkith," Sienna snapped coldly.
Melkith crawled on her knees to Sienna's feet, clinging to her legs. "Sis! How can you do this to me? Sis, please, I worked so hard for you!"
"Shall we go outside?" asked Sienna.
"Sis! I already told you it was all a joke! Why would I go outside with you?" Melkith wailed while shaking Sienna's leg.
Sienna considered kicking her away but sighed. After all, Melkith had struggled in the desert for almost a year.
"If you mess around one more time…," Sienna warned.
"Never again! Sis, sis, but what was that earlier? The thing that made me fall! No matter how much I think about it, it felt like magic. Is it your new Signature?" asked Melkith.
"It's a secret,” was Sienna’s answer.
It was still incomplete, so Sienna wasn't ready to boast about it yet.
"As I thought…! I never imagined in my wildest dreams such magic existed,” said Balzac.
"Right! It was like sis herself became magic. That's what it felt like,” Melkith chimed in.
Sienna didn't respond, but Balzac and Melkith continued speculating about her Signature. Listening to their guesses, Sienna's lips curled up, her shoulders shrugged, and her chest puffed out with pride.