The Obsessive Regressor of The Academy

6. City of Wizards

“I’m so sorry!”

After hearing the entire story, Evelyn immediately slammed her head against the carriage floor.

The carriage, with its cleanly finished wood and magical enhancements, was even modified to make the floor feel soft. Evelyn admired the texture of the wood comfortably cradling her forehead, but quickly regained her senses and cried out again in a loud voice.

“I’m so sorry! Please, just one act of leniency!”

“…It’s alright, lift your head.”

A sigh escaped Ena’s lips as she lightly tapped Evelyn’s shoulder. Despite the feather-light touch, Evelyn flinched and quickly straightened up. Then, she stood at attention, watching Ena cautiously. A hint of undisguised fear lingered in her gaze.

Ena understood. She knew well the public perception of wizards.

Self-righteous, arrogant, and prone to tantrums when they don’t get their way. Those who diligently train and cultivate themselves in magic eventually learn humility, but only a few wizards reach that stage. In the current magical society, where the majority are not like that, it was no wonder the perception of wizards was scraping the bottom.

Besides, Evelyn, who grew up in the slums, would undoubtedly have an even worse impression of wizards. Wizards who made their way into the slums were usually there for illegal rituals or experiments, so it was only common sense for Evelyn to be wary of wizards, even if she had only heard rumors. And those rumors were mostly true.

‘Should I correct this misunderstanding?’

Ena thought so, but then shook her head.

Time would solve the problem anyway. Evelyn would be living with them while Asel was her apprentice, and magic wasn’t a discipline you could master in a year or two. They would be living under the same roof for at least a decade, so they could become close during that time. There was no need to dwell on it now.

“Um… hello….”

While Ena was lost in thought, Evelyn, who had been cautiously watching her, hesitantly spoke. Only then did Ena realize she had been staring at Evelyn, and she gave a wry smile.

“Ah, sorry. I was just lost in thought. Are you feeling alright?”

“Yes, yes! I was in terrible pain even yesterday, but now I’m completely fine!”

“That’s a relief. The medicine seems to have worked well.”

Ena nodded and glanced sideways.

She noticed that Asel, who had been fidgeting and watching the situation unfold, was now reading a book, seemingly as soon as he confirmed that the tension had eased.

The book was boldly titled ＜An Introduction to Magic＞. It was something utterly useless to Ena, but she couldn’t bring herself to throw it away, so she had packed it in the carriage. It seemed he had somehow found it.

She wondered if she should commend his resourcefulness. Ena chuckled softly and leaned back deeply into the seat.

She didn’t feel the need to interfere with Asel, telling him to do this or that. That was something to do after they arrived at the village, not now. He hadn’t even begun his formal training yet.

Besides, disturbing a wizard while they were reading was considered a major taboo. Although Asel wasn’t officially a wizard yet, she respected him as he devoured the book with sparkling eyes.

“……”

“……”

Silence settled within the carriage. Only the occasional sound of pages turning could be heard. Ena closed her eyes slightly and hugged her large hat, while Evelyn, watching Ena’s reactions, quietly stared at Asel.

“……Hmm.”

Unlike Asel, Evelyn couldn’t read. So, she didn’t even know the title of the book Asel was reading, nor could she know its contents. However, having heard that Asel had become a wizard’s apprentice just a short while ago, she could at least surmise that the book was related to magic.

‘A wizard’s apprentice, huh.’

Evelyn suddenly thought, looking out the window. A refreshing breeze blew past the rapidly passing scenery.

She had known since Asel was young that he was different from others. But she had never dreamed that it was evidence of his exceptional talent as a wizard.

Of course, it was something to celebrate. A child born in a nameless mountain village becoming a wizard’s apprentice was like something straight out of a novel. Evelyn felt joy and fulfillment at the fact that her brother was the protagonist of such a story.

But there was one thing that bothered her. It concerned Evelyn herself.

‘Am I becoming a burden?’

Asel had said that he couldn’t leave her alone in the slums, so he had become an apprentice on the condition that she could come with him. Evelyn was grateful for his words, but she also felt a twinge of guilt. A negative thought crossed her mind: Was she hindering his life?

“Don’t worry.”

Ena’s voice broke the silence. Evelyn startled and turned her head toward Ena. Ena, with one eye half-open, looked at Evelyn and moved her lips.

“I know what you’re thinking, but there’s no need to worry so much. I have no intention of letting you sit around and do nothing. It would be better for you too, considering how you see that as being a burden, wouldn’t it?”

“……How did you know?”

“It’s all written on your face.”

Ena chuckled softly and closed her eyes again.

“Anyway, I won’t treat you as a means to tie down our apprentice. And I will help you until you can hold your own, so don’t have strange thoughts and get along well with Asel. You’re old enough for that, aren’t you?”

“…Magician.”

Evelyn gazed at Ena, tears welling, her eyes brimming with emotion.

Was this what a mother was like? The thought struck Evelyn unbidden, such was the profound feeling Ena evoked.

Just how deep was her well of experience to possess such broad insights?

Abandoning herself to the surging tide of emotion, she opened her mouth unconsciously.

“How old are you, Magician?”

“Evelyn.”

Ena’s eyes flashed open, wide and sharp.

Evelyn immediately lowered her gaze.

A magician was, after all, a magician.

*

Wiharm, the homeland of the archmages.

The city of magicians governed by the Magic Concord, where Ena’s manor stood. A closed-off place where only those with explicit permission could enter, and outsiders were meticulously filtered out.

Ena explained this to Asel as they headed towards their destination.

“Receiving an entry permit is rather difficult. If you’re affiliated with a Magic Tower or the Witch’s Coven, it’s comparatively simpler, but still challenging. However, a magician belonging to the Concord can enter Wiharm at any time.”

Magic Tower, Witch’s Coven, Concord.

Asel tilted his head, unfamiliar with these names. Ena kindly elaborated on each. If one intended to dedicate themselves to magic, these were things everyone needed to know.

“A Magic Tower is an organization where magicians who research the same type of magic gather.”

Magic had many diverse attributes and branches. Elemental magic alone was divided into flame, water, wind, and earth, and besides that, there were countless other magics like pure-type magic, lightning, gravity, enchantment, all interwoven densely throughout magical society.

However, unlike the branches of magic, the number of Magic Towers was surprisingly small. It didn’t mean that there was a Magic Tower for every type of magic.

Just as there were mainstream and non-mainstream magics, those who mainly dealt with non-mainstream magic didn’t bother establishing a Magic Tower, instead forming other organizations to share information amongst themselves. Even if that wasn’t the case, there were magics exclusively handled by specific organizations other than Magic Towers, so the connection between Magic Towers and magic wasn’t a one-to-one correspondence.

One such magic was lightning magic. Transmitted solely within the Witch’s Coven, lightning magic’s unique nature meant a Magic Tower could never exist for it. Ena could use lightning magic because she was affiliated with the Witch’s Coven.

Hearing the term Witch’s Coven, Asel voiced a question that had surfaced.

“Are there only women in the Witch’s Coven?”

“That’s how it used to be, but not anymore. There are a few men, but not even ten.”

Ena spoke as she injected mana into the carriage’s engine. The mana-powered carriage, silently operating on magic, continued moving relentlessly day and night, free from the need to consider a horse’s rest.

Ena glanced at the darkening sky and continued.

“Unlike Magic Towers, the Witch’s Coven doesn’t exclusively handle specific magics, but comprehensively deals with most. Like the lightning magic I use, or floramancy which deals with flowers, or rhythm magic that manipulates emotions. Magicians who deal with unusual magics rarely seen elsewhere are also distributed throughout. There are also some who handle bloodline-inherited magic.”

The Witch’s Coven taught things like that.

As she said this, Ena conjured a lightning bolt in her hand. The crackling white sparks illuminated the inside of the carriage.

“Though, truth be told, I’m the only Electromancer around these days.”

Uncommon magic, as rare as it was, was notoriously difficult to learn. Those who sought to master the art of emotion-weaving often lost their minds in the process, and floramancy demanded a comprehensive understanding of life science, botany, and the effects of mana on plant life. Electro-magic, too, required prerequisites befitting its destructive power and potency.

That was why Ena alone could wield electro-magic. Many a mage had bravely, or foolishly, attempted to master it, only to be consumed by their own lightning, reduced to ash. Those who underestimated the infamy of uncommon magic met a similarly grim end.

“There are two conditions for joining the Witches’ Coven. Either a recommendation from a Coven Elder, or becoming a disciple of a Coven witch. I was the former, and you, Asel, will be the latter.”

“…Am I… Coven-affiliated, then?”

“Yep. Congrats. Once we get to Weiheim, let’s get you registered right away.”

Ena smoothed Asel’s rather unconvinced expression and continued.

“Lastly, the Federation… it’s a bit unique. It’s where all sorts of mages gather. Mages from the Magic Towers, mages from the Witches’ Coven. And quite a few from lesser-known organizations.”

“…”

“It’s due to the Federation’s peculiar nature. As long as you pass the entrance exam, you become a Federation member, regardless of your affiliation. You don’t even have to leave your original group.”

Double affiliation was possible, then. Asel nodded slowly.

“Are you part of the Federation, Master?”

“Yeah. But I didn’t take any exam. They just asked me to join, practically begged, because they had a vacant Archmage position there.”

“…”

“It was a hassle at first, but the benefits Federation-affiliated mages receive in Weiheim turned out to be quite generous. So now I’m enjoying myself.”

Ena added that even the carriage they were riding in was provided by the Federation.

A silent carriage. A privilege reserved for high-ranking Federation mages, and a symbol among bandits of something never to be touched. Asel realized that was why they hadn’t been attacked, even passing through the Night Forest, for the past day.

“Anything else you’re curious about?”

At Ena’s question, Asel paused for a moment before shaking his head. The only things he still wanted to know about related to magic. But that was to be properly taught in Weiheim, so there was nothing more to ask for now.

And so, the three continued towards Weiheim, engaging in occasional conversation. Asel spent his time reading, asking Ena about anything he didn’t understand, or chatting with Evelyn. Then, a day later, Asel woke up to the feeling of the carriage jolting to a stop.

“Awake?”

Ena asked, donning a tall, pointed hat. Asel greeted her with a “Good morning,” before looking at Evelyn, who was still asleep, leaning against the wall. Then, he drew back the curtains.

*Shhh.*

As the curtains parted, bright sunlight flooded the carriage. Asel squinted, then gaped at the sight that unfolded beyond the window.

“…Wow.”

Black ramparts, erected as if to reach the heavens themselves. The countless spell formations etched onto their surface and the waves of mana emanating from them were transmitted directly to Asel, who had only just begun to sense the flow of magic.

A colossal floating island suspended in the sky, pierced precisely by a long, slender spire. Multicolored starlight hung from its tip. Even the geometrical patterns that blanketed the sky.

Asel was speechless at the festival of unfamiliar wonders.