Chapter 188: Side Story 7 The Connecting Link (2) (THE END)

188

8th Cla.s.s Mage Side Story 7 The Connecting Link (2)

The boy, while Ian knew that he should not think such things

Isnt he ugl

Ian pushed down the thought since judging others by their face was the wrong thing to do. Ian had not been surprised because of the boys face, but because of the color of the boys hair, his shoddy appearance, and the fact he was a mage reminded him of someone except for his age and weak mana heart.

Its a coincidence.

Ian had the power to read the essence of a person now and was certain that the boy was an ordinary child. While he was still a mage, in Ians eyes, he was plain as vanilla.

I know that its time for you to sleep, and it should be impossible for you to come out of your bed.

Ians question was sensible, as living as a student in this academy was quite a severe experience, and the hours for sleep were strict. However, this student was crying outside, which was quite unexpected.

That

The boy hesitated like he had a burden in his mind.

You can speak. If you were treated badly, I could fix it for you. Im quite powerful, you know.

You are?

Yes.

Higher than professors?

Of course.

The Dean

I appointed him.

Ian was not lying, as no one in the academy or the Tower was in a higher position than Ian.

Then, are you

The Ivory Tower.

Yes?

Im at the top there.

!

Ian revealed his ident.i.ty as the Lord of the Ivory Tower, and the boys eyes widened in surprise. Why was the Lord here in this garden at this time?

Its a lie

Look at me. You learned about me in a cla.s.s and have seen my portrait. The greatest Lord who has the same hair color as you and always wears a blue robe. Hes younger than one would expect and has countless achievements under him.

Ian was praising himself, but the problem was that he was speaking the truth.

Thats me.

What do you think?

Its quite something, right?

The boy shut his lips, as he had learned about Ian in cla.s.s. Ian Pages name came up quite often, but he had expected Ian to be a more stoic person.

If this man was really the Lord of the Ivory Tower, the boy would need to rethink the image he had of Ian Page beforehand.

Hmm!

Ian cleared his thoughts at the boys quiet response. Had he gone too far? Ian found it necessary to move on to another subject.

Well, since I introduced myself, I want to know who you are.

Ah! Im

The boy opened his mouth with some difficulty, and it seemed that he had a habit of covering his mouth with one hand when speaking from some sort of a complex or trauma.

My name is Narf, and I pa.s.sed my mana response test two years ago. I entered the academy last year and am now on my second year.

Narfs name was rare in the Greenriver Empire.

Narf, thats a nice name.

Ian found the name easy to p.r.o.nounce, which was a plus.

Narf, I will not question how you came out of your room, but I am curious why you were crying.

Ian spoke in a dignified manner that fit his position as the Lord.

I did not come out.

Oh?

Iwas sleeping here.

What? Here?

Ian concentrated on the boys unexpected answer.

They would not let me in

They, do you mean your friends?

Narf nodded carefully. He did not think of them friends but did not want to explain in length who they were.

Why?

They said that I smell

Smell?

Ians brow furrowed, as he could not smell anything, and even if there was a smell, it was no reason to chase another student out of the dormitory.

They dont like me.

Your friends?

They say that Im ugly, smelly, and stupidI dont know how to move mana in practice

The boy was being bullied. How could students in this academy, who would be the greatest elites of humanity, do something like this?

What is the world coming to?

Ian shook his head and observed Narfs face at the same time. He could tell that the boy spent his life in fear, and his swollen eyes were probably the result of crying all night long.

His natural talent lacks something

The boys mana heart and mana brain were below average and had little room for development.

However, even if so

Ian could not let this slide by, and the boy spoke on, having someone hear him.

I can bear them teasing me, even if it annoys me. However!

Narf stopped talking to fist his hands, as their teasing was not the thing that angered him.

No matter how hard I try, I cant.

You cant what?

What we learn here in this academy. I try my best to listen to cla.s.ses, review, and practice!

Magic required talent, and hard work had its limits. Therefore, Narf had tasted failure, as he could not achieve anything despite working harder than anyone else. Could a thirteen-year-old kid bear such frustration?

Hmm.

However, Ian was surprised by the boy placing weight on his failure rather than teasing.

So, youre saying that while you understand what you learn here, youre angry because you cannot apply it. Is that right?

Narf nodded as an answer to Ians question.

Is that so

Ian thought things over, as even being the Lord, he could not really fix such problems before students. While he could scare those who bullied Narf, he could not solve a fundamental level.

One good thing is this boys personality.

If he was angrier at his meager talent rather than teasing, it meant that if he gained the power to fulfill his understanding, the boy would be able to beat the bullying.

Even I cant change his inborn talent

Ian thought it impossible until a memory flew into his mind.

Come to think of it

Ian remembered the gift he had received from the dragons when he had allied with them. Reseesee Radenju had given him an orb made of her mana, which had been useless for Ian.

It would be in my pocket.

He had completely forgotten about it, but a student would be able to reap great effects by digesting the orb.

Eating this wont instantly make someone a great mage.

The orb would not increase magical powers but enhance the boys potential in his mana heart and mana brain.

Should I give it to him?

The problem was whether Ian could give such a gift to this strange boy. Ian could think of more than six who would receive this gift with the utmost grat.i.tude. So, was there value in giving this kid the orb?

Ian would not have even considered the matter, as he was not benevolent enough to give such a gift to a stranger.

However, the boy was too similar to Fran Page, who Ian both loved and hated.

I feel strange.

However, Ian was not wary of the boy and instead found himself looking at him.

h.e.l.lo, sir?

I really am the Lord, you know.

Ian answered briskly at the boys careful question, which was heavier than lead for a boy who just began his path as a mage.

Lord! I am sorry

I did not say that to make you apologize.

Ian waved his hand, and he had decided to give the orb to the boy. It was simple. Reseesee Radenju would give him another orb if he asked for it, so Ian decided to follow his heart.

Hey, Narf.

Ian called the boy and put his hand to his other-dimension pocket to bring out the orb he had completely forgotten about. He took out a small red orb and checked if it was still effective, which of course, it was.

Eat this.

Yes?

While it wont be tasty, swallow it to find a miracle.

A miracle?

Yes.

Narf received the orb and pressed it with his finger and the tip of his tongue. There was no flavor.

What is this?

A dragons...o...b..

Yes?

Narfs eyes widened at the situation.

Are you really the Lord of THE Ivory Tower?

You said that you studied hard. Then youll know who I am.

Thats truebut

Then, thats enough.

Ian added a word at Narfs hesitation.

Kid, while I am giving you a huge gift, I will take it back if you dont want it. That may be your fate.

While Ian had handed out the orb in an unexpected moment, he also had no intention of forcing it on someone who did not want it.

If you dont want it

Ill eat it!

Narf opened his mouth in a determined manner to swallow the red orb. He closed his eyes, and every inch of his body tensed. If it was part of a dragon, the boy thought he would need to be prepared for whatever dramatic change that would come.

However, the strange thing was that nothing happened.

?

Narf remained in the same pose for a while and then opened his eyes to look at Ian. The man was laughing playfully.

Lord?

There was no change and the guy who called himself the Lord was laughing.

Nothing changed.

Of course, I was lying.

Lying?

It was just pigs liver rolled into a ball.

?

Narf was confused, and Ian added on to that with his words.

Kid. How can you expect such a windfall in your second year when you need to push yourself further!

Narf blinked since Ians voice was not threatening. He actually smirked.

Since I cannot ignore such a student, I will come once a month to check on you unexpectedly. If I find you had not been faithful to your studies, I will remove you from this school!

What

Then, I have to go since Im busy!

Ian did not let Narf question him, as he disappeared with a teleport spell right after his speech.

Narf was left alone, and he now tilted his head.

What?

Narf was certain now that he was the Lord of the Ivory Tower, as the mans face, attire, and his teleport spell were all evidence to that claim.

What was that?

Narf asked himself the question again, as he felt like he had been hoodwinked.

I dont know what happened.

The sun had risen completely, and the students would be called to check morning attendance. Narf went out of the garden and decided that he would think about what had happened today when there was time.

ButI feel good.

Was this because he had met that man? He was feeling relieved, and his steps were light as he headed back to the h.e.l.lish dorm. He thought that things would become better if he managed to feel like this today and tomorrow.

Yes, that man was right. I should just work twice as hard each day. Then, I would be able to succeed. Im a student that had entered here after pa.s.sing that test. I can do it!

Did Narf know that the orb he had swallowed was actually from a dragon? A long time from now, he would be the succeeding Lord of the Ivory Tower as a new eighth-cla.s.s mage and overcome many obstacles.

Proofread by FlawFinder. The End

And is it just me, or is Narf an anagram for Reseesee Radenju?