Chapter 10: Diella (3)
KL4va“Brother.”aCs29
JzPiTrIn a private room of the main house that Lady Diella used to occupy,bdW
QuljValerian sat alone, deep in thought, in a small space that hadn’t been visited for a long time but was still regularly cleaned by the servants.qzGG
gLJKmAThere he sat, sorting through his thoughts, long after Dereck had left.I16Ng
M2G7CAs he did, Aiselin crossed the corridor of the main house, guiding the servants inside.Y1D
cyu71YK“The butler reported that Mr. Dereck took Diella out of the pavilion…”tNBEY
kG7vw“…At this hour?”wih
K0bJE21‘Yes. Let’s try it.’1io
P8ssDereck had left the room with a determined expression. He seemed to have found something important.iOf3ZV
NEblmpPAt such a late hour, when most of the servants were asleep, Valerian felt a strange unease.UXINKoi
3Ai“I should instruct the butler to look into it.”hC7s3
1aoP“But, um… Mr. Dereck firmly warned us not to follow him… so the report came to me.”eYWmv3
ulBMZS“…What is he planning?”jAFj
QUM3Vi“Yes, exactly…”VyJ0w
4Ipvvs7Lady Aiselin also wore a worried expression. Dereck was the one she had sought and brought back.tcC
WZzNo one objected to her decision because the Duke of Duplain had granted him full authority, but still, there was something unsettling.KAii8zz
nV1XSRStill, if drastic measures were needed, as the Duke suggested… Aiselin could say no more.HklNw
Z1CO8w2“What were you doing in Diella’s room?”cbKh
kL4“Just sorting out my thoughts. I also took some time to look at Diella’s paintings after so long.”PZ5
fJdThe room was full of canvases. Diella’s last painting. It was an unfinished piece with many empty margins on the canvas, but only the painted portions displayed incredible talent.AuStdJ
PDqAiselin closed her eyes tightly as she looked at the painting and said:7Hfv
lib“I hope that one day Diella will finish this painting. I want to frame it and hang it elegantly in the hall…”ESg
uAoE“Indeed.”xeatVoj
6L8IRKBoth of them, with sad voices, could only lament in the middle of the night.nEtbF
Ejwc***JAI
zspEBang!GureEAY
IiR6REEven the darkness of night had abandoned Diella’s side.PGD
g40pQDDereck’s magical arrows, fully detecting the enemy’s position, chased after Diella, tearing through branches wildly.Ylr
WmBFfgnCrack! Bang!1UfN
sQ5szXThe twisting, snapping stream of magic seemed ready to shatter Diella’s bones at any moment.IkOwSv
W1Hb5hA single hit would be fatal for her fragile body. Knowing this, Diella covered her head and ran up the steep forest path.eFiaEwJ
BdPXYF“Ahh!”917E96
cEoflbrBang!9zgV8h
qNFEMAs Dereck advanced, Diella ran in the opposite direction. She climbed over a large log, slid across the ground, and scrambled up a slope. She wove through trees, ducked under a hanging zelkova, and leaped over a ditch.XEMr
unzBDespite it being midnight, she ran the forest path without hesitation. Diella was already familiar with the geography of the place. She had memorized the location of the forest, the vines that blocked pursuit, the position of fallen logs, and sharp rocks protruding from the ground to some extent.kkT
mhuIAKDereck wasn’t confused. He already knew she was very familiar with the forest’s layout.WJONbW
ORbswThe landscape paintings that filled her room were all of the mansion’s surroundings.ZxZI4jH
zQW1It wasn’t hard to deduce that young Diella had been a child who played in nature, running in and out of the estate. Her paintings clearly exceeded the level of a typical child.sfeVTe
hKcShe captured the world as she saw it, with precision. More than that, the numerous bluish lines she had drawn across the landscapes were astonishing.Ho3Eb
GIeSefhLines visible in the forest, the trees, the sunset, and the river drawn by a child. To the untrained eye, these blue strokes might appear to be a unique artistic style, perhaps shadow or texture.8eEuEt
rvpzoBut they were actually expressions of the magical flow she perceived in nature as a child.FTse
wBIaRrIt was the magical energy in the vast forest that every mage of the Wild Faction experienced at least once. To be able to see and express it meant she had unconsciously attuned herself to it.9gSI
iz5ODiella’s talent was more inclined toward the Wild Faction than the Regulated one.6iP
sY1pTDereck had suspected this when he saw her paintings. Instead of manifesting magic through rituals bound by rules, she felt the magic inherent in all things and used it freely—that was the essence of the Wild Faction. Though it shared some aspects with the Regulated Faction, it differed greatly in philosophy.gJM6q
uSwY8bThis girl was born with the noblest lineage but, unfortunately, the nature of a street mage.9KqqyR
LK81sMagical ability is greatly influenced by bloodline. However, in the end, the mental framework used to materialize magic often follows personal tendencies. Though most nobles followed the Regulated Faction, Diella was different.b4ba
SQxpZUYShe simply loved the world. She enjoyed wandering in and out of the mansion, observing, painting, and playing.pCWjFV
Q4kBgbEven when the servants scolded her, she would climb the mansion walls to explore the forest, sketch rodents in her small notebook, lift her skirt to wade barefoot into rivers, or lie in the meadow staring at the blue sky.lKXNh
Flb2She captured all those moments in her art. It was clear she found joy in it.Fb8yxH
gMY4Ft6Everything began to crack from that point. Unfortunately, in a world where the noble Regulated Faction was the mainstream, she was just a misfit.O5zxp
eKyBang! Bang! Bang!2VuZrA
O94smAs Dereck pressured Diella by firing magical arrows at strategic spots, Diella once again leapt between trees, desperately trying to escape.5fw
KWpRiEven in mounting terror, she crafted a strategy for survival. Her blood surged. Her breathing quickened. Her heart pounded.helVr7w
yejThe harsh reality that running away would change nothing tormented her mind. If she wanted to live, she had to resist. She had to fight with everything she had—and if she had nothing, she would fight barehanded until she broke.Z3mCaIa
UYn3Rg“Ha… Ha…”pbka
WAl7Panting to her limit, she crashed through a thicket. The steady pace of Dereck’s pursuit and Diella’s frantic escape were not far apart. Dereck, a wandering mercenary by trade, was always forced to fight in unfamiliar terrain.R6rSJ8r
aK5grvKnowing the forest like the back of her hand didn’t guarantee escape from Dereck.4TL
48yS7Bang!NMMln2
Vk3BrS“Aah!”4hHEJbB
VPVMMUAnother magical arrow flew past Diella’s back and exploded nearby. Startled, Diella tumbled down a gentle grassy slope. Her golden hair, already tangled and full of leaves, became even messier.5X2O
Bu3FCrack!Ztq
PdHSomehow, the girl stood back up. Her once-neatly styled hair now hung limp over her shoulders. Her lacy pajamas were torn, and her once-lustrous skin was scratched and dirty.Vauy
SGh2aEYet she gritted her teeth and rose again. Falling down the back of the long hill led her deeper into the forest. In the midst of the woods, in a wide meadow, stood a solitary majestic zelkova tree.LK07xKn
YCbuBq8Leaning on the trunk, Diella tried to stand. Gasping for air, she struggled to take one step at a time. But her strength was completely drained. Her breath heavy, her chest tight.Wc8J
foAf“Out of energy to keep running?”4eH
mg3Bk“…!!”8FueCKm
6YHwRrThe sound of a sword being sheathed rang out. Under the moonlit night, a boy approached the girl leaning against the zelkova.2Lekx
7TPbIDereck, smiling in satisfaction, closed the distance, but Diella, exhausted, slowly lost strength in her legs and collapsed to the ground.qdii7E5
GUGVmgThen, Dereck approached and looked down at Diella.QsEkXIU
vjC“Pant… Pant…”jKse
BJvnY“Anything else you want to say?”I7e0XT
GCL“Ugh… why ask…? Ha… Ha…”FEkn
JvtqPpBDiella, seated on the ground, lifted her head and met Dereck’s gaze. Her eyes still burned with life. Though her small body had no strength left to flee, her will to resist remained unbroken.csqREG
kOxFZ“Why? You think I’ll apologize? Beg? Say sorry, promise not to do it again… play nice, grovel?”mop
Hll“…”UWS28
jrpKra“You might as well kill me. I’ll never act beneath my lineage.”coMfSD
2YHJIEven as mere prey, Diella lifted her head with pride and looked Dereck in the eye.4BbUJp
Qed3TuhDereck calmly watched her.yKnM
CFnYf“Why are you so obsessed with bloodline and status?”WeG
lMfx“…What else do I have?”jg4aBAf
1hDi9EwDiella, her trembling fingers clutching at the grass, gritted her teeth and replied. Her voice was laced more with sorrow than anger.0bkfJ
V8rU“Magic, studies, painting… I’ve fallen behind in everything… After lagging so far behind… what’s left for me besides the authority of my lineage? If I can’t even protect that… then who am I…?”r9n
3MAfC“…”JVxpqA
JxsXThen Diella spoke through her tears. Dereck quietly listened, and after a while, he said softly:dm60B
tanRqO“I saw your sunset painting.”aac7D3
z99zh“…”IzOfOo
6LBx“It was very well done.”O47XiBA
0XY“…”VQBXt
SCDneVThe watercolor of the sunset Dereck had seen in her room. A painting of a young girl riding on a servant’s back, gazing at the red sky—it was Diella’s final piece.fu1
xsQTqBeautifully and delicately rendered, yet most of it remained unfinished, with the edges of the canvas blank.vjTZb
THjMost of Diella’s paintings were like that. Her brushwork was clean, her colors elegant, but large parts were left empty.kfQX
hnNh1Valerian had criticized them as incomplete. Even he, who adored her, said so. Likely the rest of the family felt the same. But from Dereck’s modern perspective, it was different. He felt the delicate touch leading into blank space conveyed aesthetic intention—preserving spatial impression.laP6
z0f0In short, it was the “beauty of emptiness.” A technique often seen in Eastern art, contrasting with the Western style of filling the canvas and layering bright colors, common among aristocrats.pLVnmLc
iIXDFDiella had developed her own style in such an era. Unrecognized by anyone, she was a girl born with true aesthetic sense. In short, she wasn’t just a girl with noble blood.LbE
gfO2qxl“What does that mean now…”guWYuN
V5iDiella began to say something but stopped. In her stunned vision, she saw the flow of magic—so intense it felt like the world might burst.IWsi
omCUDHer survival instincts triggered something deep within. The familiar forest where she had played since childhood merged with her vision.778
SC0UtjNOnly when pushed to her limit did the girl’s magical instincts awaken. At the edge of her heightened senses, the flow of all magic in the world became visible in an instant.cSBVa7
tBIdAt that moment, Diella couldn’t even close her mouth.AESERm
Alyvv“Ah!”ANav
OvwWithout a moment’s pause, Dereck’s sword flew toward her. Diella, startled, fell backward and raised her hands defensively. It was instinctive. Of course, her thin arms couldn’t stop Dereck’s forged blade.bhCAT
91J3NBut the sword never reached her.7WD8VM
0FHASwish!18A
OU6Clang!4AiS
QbXThe moisture in the air around the girl froze, blocking Dereck’s sword.g5SWrML
LCAWbThe fallen girl opened her eyes wide in shock. Pillars of ice, radiating cold, had formed around her—as if protecting her. It was her doing.ORJWwE
3TjGM2Still too crude to be called advanced magic, but it was at least basic elemental magic.EjCbHqM
Fk2RSwish, bang!nCJ
FgwLDereck calmly sheathed his sword again.oUCS1LV
l2XVzXThen he whispered quietly.dR45M
VLHFX“Well done.”Z1fFlds
OaMutleLooking at Dereck kneeling before her, the madness from moments earlier had vanished. As always, he looked like the calm, handsome mage she had seen at the mansion.bnLY91
gFqbDiella swallowed hard at his sudden change. The reason he had pushed her so far was to trigger her survival instincts.acl6id3
HkLUntil now, Diella had lived like a flower in a greenhouse, learning magic at a desk—never experiencing this. The feeling of all her senses sharpening just to stay alive.0YwW
JkQQNBNDiella looked around with trembling pupils. The ice pillars, frozen by magical energy, gradually melted back into water, soaking into the ground.lOA
gJvThen she extended her trembling hands and looked at them. What she saw was truly the core of magical energy. Diella’s newly awakened magic specialized in cold.NiFDF
HMxZuZbBluish magic, wrapped in cold, floated above her hands—like the ideals she had never been able to reach no matter how hard she tried. She had stayed up nights reading, practiced endlessly, and worked tirelessly, but it had never come. Only countless failures, pitiful looks, and quiet contempt followed.4aYP
9qBQMemories of frustration and disappointment piled up, consuming her, until she found herself isolated in a separate home surrounded by rose vines. Her spirit faded, buried under authority and status.ybnA6gL
AovyRThe magical power—so beautiful and radiant—made those long, repetitive years seem like nothing. Sometimes flowing like water, other times spinning like the earth… the source of power that moved by her instincts. That image was seared into Diella’s blue eyes.Cs1
vZbOf“…”jq6FHG
2b9E7IYoung Diella, still full of innocence, had imagined every night before sleeping how happy she’d be if she could learn magic and cast spells. She’d run to her family, grinning from ear to ear, bursting with joy. So she had studied magic diligently.DyUIPJA
HjjeFgBut contrary to those hopes, Diella didn’t move at all as she witnessed the magic manifest. For a long time, she just stared, and eventually, began to tremble slightly.1QUfJgS
1UIfxFS“Ugh, sniff… ugh… ugh…”p28WP9
QTkIEgHer overflowing emotions were more sorrowful than joyous.DVbdvo
XdNkcPiAs Diella hugged herself and wept quietly, Dereck silently looked up at the starry night sky.30fi
EC7The stars, illuminated by the moonlight, continued to shine.9OedS
gd7ov***ONAzn
IkbAnv“Did you really have to do it in such a miserable way?”vn46
THnB1d“As I said, it was a strong medicine, but necessary.”v3nB7
MO0kLQz“Don’t treat me like a patient.”nY6R
fMbV“…”XLeJvBk
D21Ne5FDiella was exhausted, as was Dereck, who had cast spells multiple times.gTK
lTiO3bThey were resting under the large zelkova tree, keeping a considerable distance, each leaning to rest.Xjb4
WtZniDiella hugged her knees while looking at her palms. She closed her eyes tightly, observing the flickering magic inside.LPxbxYr
Y0i5“You could thank me.”bdsJ26
NL0“I’m not grateful.”5If
QtEVRU“I know you are.”9rGbNa
KGp84z“If you know that, why are you asking?”sHnK9C
GN38Her tone was still harsh, but Diella’s attitude had softened. However, her bluntness remained the same.tnXDUwe
BAeS“I haven’t reached the realm of one-star magic yet, so I need more practice. A lot of time has been lost, so there’s much progress to make.”WHm1
ZsHzY“…”6FB
vf4X“Your magic is unstable at the moment. Starting tomorrow, you need to learn how to fully materialize it. It will be the foundation of all level magic.”bbV
gMfq“How do I do that?”fdI7a
mAKdIc“I’ll teach you tomorrow.”uDq6
FwKPDiella lowered her head.7RFdqUF
9XLShe was a mess. Her lush blond hair was full of leaves and dust, her body covered in mud—she looked like a beggar. Yet magic flowed through her entire body.Nv8
ID7d7OsThat single fact surfaced gently in her heart. It felt like hot lava flowing through her throat.j9SMeG
Z3zrpu3“Dereck.”nbx
m92The girl called Dereck’s name. When he responded indifferently, she stared at the nighttime forest and finally spoke softly. Though only the back of her head was visible, her calm words were clearly heard.vsm
li2e“Thank you.”WKa
C7S“…”peP8
QLrSDereck leaned his head against the tree trunk, silently observing the starry sky, and thought.LZcb
Ziw00yRIt wasn’t clear if he deserved thanks. In truth, Diella had almost learned the basic magical quality on her own. Dereck had only provided the catalyst. Since she was young, wandering through the forest, painting landscapes, observing the world, she had been honing her unique instincts through the Wild School.LfzqQz
PcXnLife was like an unfinished painting, and magic like the fundamentals she couldn’t grasp. And without any other outstanding talent, her life felt like a meaningless blank space on the canvas of her youth.Z1f7d
0SH8But Dereck, who came from the streets, knew. Not every moment in life can be filled. Whether sitting idly in the slums, hungry, or alone in her room reading magic books all day, the empty spaces in life were always with Dereck.kUDR
HCO16It’s only a matter of how early or late it comes, but the blank spaces in life will surely arrive.setz
dXW8Whether you lose your purpose, dreams, family, or friends. A period marked by prolonged emptiness and frustration will inevitably come.v458
V6hIMvWhen experiences accumulate and maturity begins to form, one learns to manage those voids skillfully. Even within that emptiness, meaning and purpose can be found. This, too, becomes accepted as part of life.1evUL
h5RHowever, a void that arrives too early—before maturity develops—can sometimes break someone’s heart. Because it feels like that’s all life has to offer. For a young girl like Diella, that was obvious.qXZ
tpJoBut wasn’t it already known during the days spent wandering in front of the canvas with a brush in hand?iDws
JBmOnly when the blank space is filled does it finally become a complete painting.BMDciWZ
I6XZIN“The sunset painting.”thh
Yn190That’s why Dereck asked softly.dLzi4
9eh“Was it your work?”AS0b
w4W0Cj“…Why are you asking that? I haven’t picked up a brush in ages.”W88oJM6
9n68ycF“Just wanted to ask.”xDMZSj
5vgDiella snorted as if questioning why he’d ask such a thing. The painting that the entire family cherished most, urging her to finish it soon, hoping to see Diella’s complete artwork. But sadly, it was already complete.ZHQkyNw
UDXihiwRemaining silent, Diella finally rested her head on her knees and murmured in response.XZ6bof
AUhw5“It was my masterpiece.”c7oH
OVdCjBSuch is life.ljpUZnz
lxrxRDereck, beside Diella, joined her in gazing at the moon.Tnq1M
VNVB***dQuEs
TgNJZCQThe next morning, the first thing Diella did upon waking in bed was extend her palms and let her magic flow.zEmKmQK
bRJrT7The barely visible stream of magic finally showed that the girl had crossed the threshold into becoming a sorceress.QvM
z3fTHowever, it still seemed too early for complete materialization. She wanted to use magic properly right away, but her level was still weak.d0CkF
KsFor‘Starting tomorrow, you need to learn to fully materialize your magic. It will be the foundation of all emergency magic.’gYY
CZ5mT‘How do you do that?’zzk9K42
QRleKVl‘I’ll teach you tomorrow.’UBZc
noHH3lj“…”NZLv2ED
53npwQxDiella, resting her chin in her hand, fell into thought. Her disheveled hair covered her eyes, so she blew it aside with a puff, making her look like a grumpy cat.hZF7FtS
JCCBLast night, Diella returned to the annex looking utterly disheveled, surprising the servants. She only slept five hours after being bathed and cared for.Pag
EfUVynAt the window, the newly risen sun chased away the darkness. The man named Dereck was probably sleeping deeply in the guest room of the main house.8809wZP
S0upLNSo what? He was the one who said he’d teach her tomorrow. From Diella’s perspective, if she was awake, it was already tomorrow. If that bothered him, he should’ve specified a time. Her itch to learn how to harness magic was growing.aRuYdl
biWC1Diella got out of bed, still in her pajamas.5bHpq
bo2That’s when she opened the door to step into the hallway.wK4
oHtA–Thump!v1I
S2BXdc“Ah!”kVA8czD
DwkThe servant fetching cold water from the well for cooking—after Dereck had emptied it—stumbled and fell. Not expecting Diella’s door to suddenly open, he lost control of the water jar.9FG5
EjOlWjd–Thump!jtRXCCv
mOV–Splash!OameZs
DWgThe jar rolled, soaking the tips of Diella’s sandals and her pajamas.OUNN
P42Jryw“…”30GIn0
WGLx8dK“L-Lady Diella! Ouch!”vxNQ
QR3ALoBDiella’s cold gaze fell on the fallen servant. Butler Delron, who had been giving instructions in the hallway, rushed over in alarm.27X
LaqXvwT“L-Lady Diella. Are you alright?”cK4y
MlGXR“O-Oh, my lady! I’m so, so sorry! Please, forgive me just this once! Please, just once…”6HHug
8WPThe fallen servant hurried to sit up, begging for forgiveness. Delron also swallowed nervously, on edge.Isc
lnLwW7It was obvious the servant would be beaten, and Delron’s mind raced for ways to intervene. If more servants left the annex, managing the workload would become extremely difficult.CBC
R40rHowever, Diella only looked at the servant with icy eyes and said:5u1TO9B
A0KK“Be more careful.”ukEM2OB
7LQd2With those curt words, Diella immediately walked down the hall briskly. Her intention was to summon the head maid to change clothes and head to the main house.fQd
3ScMNfSomehow, her steps felt almost excited—like a young girl eagerly awaiting an outing.sctlWN
1O4y“…”ipb
rKL05“…Huh?”5Ish
UF42No4Delron and the servant looked at each other, eyes wide with surprise.gxVp2h
HudjrIt was Diella, of all people. In a situation where it wouldn’t be unusual for her to stomp or beat someone half to death, she left with just a brief word. To first-timers, she might still seem rude, but for the servants who had worked beside Diella for half their lives, it was a hard scene to believe.tCCQWz6
GiSUnable to grasp what had just happened, they could only stare down the now-empty hallway Diella had left behind.zQP684
uYNYOnly a day had passed since Dereck had taken her hand and pulled her from that house.IVCF5He
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!