Chapter 111: Destroy Magic Circle
"Go ahead and eat," Solareth said to Eric, his son. Ash looked at the father-son duo, who were calmly talking to each other.
"Eat?" Eric asked, tilting his head with innocent curiosity.
"Yes, eat," Solareth replied, smiling and nodding his head gently.
"Food?" Eric asked again. This time, his eyes drifted to the blood flowing directly from Ash’s hand into a small basket below, collecting steadily.
His eyes sparkled.
Wait, are those eyes looking at my palm?
Ash thought, a chill running through him.
A while ago, Ash had made a deal with Solareth. In exchange for staying here for a month and feeding his son, Solareth had agreed to personally teach Ash the foundation of Runic Magic.
After the month ended, Ash would be allowed to leave and enter the Ruin he was originally planning to explore.
Solareth agreed, although he added that Ash would have to come back again in the future to feed his son. Surprisingly, Ash agreed.
Although the deal sounded generous and almost ridiculous, Ash could tell it wasn’t some kind of trap. It felt more like Solareth was offering him this kindness out of genuine goodwill.
Even Ash didn’t know why the Unicorn King was acting so nicely towards him.
Maybe it was because Solareth could relate to Ash, as someone whose daughter has died because he was not able to cure her, maybe he wants Ash to succeed.
Or maybe he liked Ash’s determination—choosing to leave alone at such a small age, looking for a cure for his loved one.
Ash didn’t know the exact reason why Solareth agreed so easily to teach him magic, after all didn’t he kill him because he was anomaly who disturbed the fate?
Ash didn’t knew the answer.
But what he did know was that this was a golden opportunity. A one-time chance to learn real Runic Magic, and he wasn’t going to waste it.
Ash knew, if he could get the Rune from the Ruin and also rank up, then with his skill creation power and the rune, fighting would no longer be a major issue.
He could just escape if needed.
Ash pushed those thoughts aside for now as his focus returned to the small glutton approaching him, his mouth slightly open and drooling.
Eric’s little steps were slow but determined, his fluffy white mane swaying with each movement.
Ash’s palm still had a small dagger stuck in it. He had intentionally left it there because if he removed it, the wound would quickly heal and the blood would stop flowing into the basket.
"Come on, hurry up and eat," Ash urged him to finish fast.
The tiny unicorn with his wide, glittering eyes looked up at him again and asked in an innocent tone, "Eat?"
Ash nodded with a weary expression. "Yes, eat. That’s what I’ve been telling you."
A short distance away, Solareth and Lumielle stood side by side, silently watching their son’s actions with pride in their eyes. Both of them were hoping he would grow stronger through this strange but important process.
The moment Ash’s words faded, Eric suddenly opened his mouth like a ravenous beast and—with no hesitation—chomped down on Ash’s entire palm, dagger and all.
GULP!
It all happened too fast.
Ash didn’t even have time to blink or react. One second, he was telling the kid to eat, and the next second, his hand was halfway inside the tiny unicorn’s mouth, the dagger completely gone.
He looked down at the half-healed stump of his palm, then at Eric, who was chewing joyfully like someone enjoying their favorite snack.
Oh my life... I should have said drink, not eat.
Why did I say eat?! What kind of idiot tells a magical beast child to eat a bleeding hand like it’s a sandwich?
I can’t even get angry. I don’t know how that bastard will react.
Ash silently clenched his teeth, pushing down the mix of pain, frustration, and disbelief, and simply prayed in his heart—
Let the month pass by quickly.
***
After the said breakfast, when Ash asked Solareth to teach him magic, the unicorn king simply replied that it would be better to start the next day instead.
Ash was clearly disappointed by the delay, but he didn’t argue. Left with nothing else to do, he spent the rest of his time swinging his sword in solitude, letting the steady rhythm of training keep his thoughts at bay.
He also fed the baby unicorn two more times that day. But this time, instead of directly showing his hand like before, he brought out a small basket filled with fresh blood and placed it in front of the creature.
This time, he didn’t leave room for confusion. He clearly instructed, "Drink."
Later, after sharing a rather normal dinner with the King and Queen, Ash retired to his room and went to sleep.
The food that evening had been simple—just ordinary meat—but it was rich with nutrients and infused with natural mana, which was surprisingly beneficial for his body. It left him feeling both nourished and recharged.
The next day, Ash woke up early, as usual. After preparing another basket filled with fresh blood for the unicorn child, he stepped outside, where Solareth was already waiting for him.
Today was the start of his first magic training session.
As he walked out into the open, Ash finally realized something he hadn’t thought about properly until now.
So this place really is inside a mountain.
Looking around, he noticed the clouds drifting close by, hanging at eye level like they were part of the land itself.
It was clear to him now—they were high above the ground, far from any normal landscape.
The surroundings shimmered faintly, coated in a radiant, rainbow-like energy that danced gently through the air.
Solareth, seeing Ash’s quiet awe, commented in a calm voice, "This entire mountain is covered in illusion magic. No one on the outside can see it. Well... except for those who are on the same level as me."
He spoke the last part with a slightly colder tone, one that carried a quiet but chilling edge.
Ash immediately caught the subtle shift and chose not to respond. He simply gave a silent nod, keeping his thoughts to himself.
They soon arrived at a wide, open space that looked like someone had forcefully carved it out to resemble a garden. Despite its artificial origins, the place was beautiful.
The sky above was a clear shade of azure, and the sunlight fell gently upon the ground, casting a warm glow across the area. The space was surrounded by soft rainbow light, while vibrant flowers and the fresh scent of nature danced in the wind.
Everything at that moment felt peaceful, pure, and untouched.
Walking to the center of the field, Solareth turned to face Ash and asked in a serious tone, "Are you absolutely sure that you want to learn this kind of magic?"
Ash didn’t hesitate. "Yes, I’m sure," he replied with confidence.
Solareth looked at him again, this time with a bit more curiosity. "But are you even capable of learning it? From what I know, humans usually have only one class. And earlier, I saw you practicing with a sword, which clearly isn’t related to magic."
Ash frowned slightly, already growing impatient. "It’s fine. Just teach me the magic," he said without backing down.
"Alright, alright," Solareth replied, slightly amused at Ash’s stubborn attitude. "Let’s start with the basics, then."
He raised his hand slightly, motioning as he explained, "The foundation of our magic—beast magic—is very different from what humans use. While humans rely on constructing magic circles to cast spells, we beasts don’t rely on any external structure or formation."
"Instead of using magic circle as a catalyst we use our body as a catalyst, which is more comfortable and beneficial for us."
"From what I know, there’s another branch of human magic too, the one they call Runic Magic."
Solareth paused briefly, frowning as he recalled.
"From what I’ve learned, Runic Magic is basically a poor imitation of our beast magic... and perhaps also of elven magic. Humans say it originated from the study of ancient runes, but in all honesty, there’s no actual mention of runes in any of our ancestral memories. So I can’t confirm if that’s true or not."
He crossed his arms and continued in a thoughtful tone.
"But it might be possible. After all, humans have been researching magic by digging up ruins and deciphering fragments. Still, their version of Runic Magic is incomplete—after all they’re trying to recreate something they barely understand. And because of that, their version has many flaws and strict limitations."
He looked at Ash, eyes narrowing slightly. "Can you guess what the biggest limitation is?"
Ash, recalling his research, replied confidently, "Humans can’t cast that type of magic directly. They need arrays, inscriptions, or artifacts to channel it. Their bodies can’t manifest it naturally like beasts can."
Solareth gave a small nod. "That’s part of it. But there’s an even deeper reason... one that’s often overlooked."
He stepped forward and pointed to Ash’s chest.
"It’s their magic circle. The one all humans form as the foundation of their magic."
Solareth’s tone was firmer now, the weight of his words sinking into the air.
"That magic circle creates a kind of interference that prevents the raw flow of our magic from manifesting properly. That’s why even though humans try to copy our Runic Magic, they can’t truly replicate it. Their own foundation clashes with the principles of our magic."
He exhaled slowly, his gaze steady.
"And here’s the thing—humans already know this. They’re aware of the issue. But still, they refuse to completely abandon their system. It’s not just stubbornness, though... Runic Magic, as they know it, is incomplete. What they’ve reconstructed from old texts is only a fragment of the full system. That’s why their attempts often end in failure or limitation."
He turned away slightly, voice softening.
"Beasts, on the other hand, inherit magic through our bloodlines. It’s passed down to us by blood itself. The same goes for dragons. That’s why our magic feels alive and seamless—we don’t need external tools to guide it. It flows through us naturally."
He looked Ash directly in the eyes now, his voice steady but serious. "So, if you want to learn this kind of magic, you’ll need to destroy your own magic circle first."
Hearing that, Ash fell silent. He hesitated because he knew what that meant. He understood the danger behind those words.
Destroying a magic circle wasn’t something done lightly. It could possibly end his ability to use magic entirely. It was a step that couldn’t be undone.
Ash thought about Elysia. While he was here, preparing to learn a new form of magic, she was out there—fighting for her life. Only he knew the urgency clawing at his chest because of that. But even then, he was here, focusing on the foundation of Runic Magic.
Because as Solareth had explained, even the Elves followed the Runic Magic system. That meant, if Ash truly wanted to learn it, he had to begin with the basics. He wasn’t wasting time.
Every step he took was after deep, deliberate thought. He didn’t intend to throw away a single moment.
Solareth watched him closely, then added in a calm but warning tone, "You should think about it very carefully. I can teach you the core principles, yes... but after that, you’ll have to figure out most of it on your own."
"I can’t teach you our ancestral magic after all. That knowledge is something that runs in our King’s bloodline, something only we can truly inherit. What I can give you is only the foundation. The rest... you’ll have to research, experiment with, and build up from scratch, step by step"
"There’s also the chance that you might not be able to learn it at all, no matter how hard you try."
His eyes bore into Ash’s, unwavering and sharp.
"This path is not easy. But it is powerful... if you can truly walk it. You can become the first human to walk a new magical path."
First human? I don’t think so. There were many who knew it in the past. So I believe I can do it, especially since I have the real Runes with me.
"I am ready. So... do I have to destroy my Magic Circle first?"
Hearing that, Solareth sighed, but didn’t say anything at first.
Then he replied, "Yes, you have to destroy it. Although destroying it may lead to various problems—like you might get seriously injured, your mana pathways could become twisted, and in the worst case... you may even die."
"But," Solareth added with meaning in his voice, "I don’t think you’ll face any of those problems."
He said that last part with intention, already aware of the regeneration and revival abilities Ash possessed.
And maybe... Runic Magic really is suitable for you. After all, I don’t think you’re human. Which human can regenerate like that and come back after death?
Solareth thought silently, but didn’t say any of it out loud.
***