Seren 40
Forever and for All Time
✦ ✦ ✦
IT’S adorable how Lord Kenrude treats Lord Viol just like when he was a little boy.
This kind-looking old man with a charming smile was the head of the Third Mage Guild before Lord Viol. His pure white hair and beard make him look like the textbook definition of a mage. He’d led the Third Mage Guild for many, many years, long before even Lord Viol or I was born. He’s pretty much a living legend. The people say that the modern conveniences we enjoy are due in large part to Lord Kenrude’s life works.
From what Lord Viol had told me before, the only reason he decided to become a mage was because he was scouted by Lord Kenrude. He was Lord Viol’s mentor. Lord Kenrude also seems very fond of Lord Viol. He must be kind-hearted indeed to know about Lord Viol’s fondness for sweets and bring him that tasty-looking gift.
Lord Viol’s eyes sparkled as he drooled over the cute array of tasty-looking raw marshmallows.
The king chuckled, watching Lord Viol, and then explained: “The other day, Lord Kenrude came to visit and told me many amusing stories. I, in turn, told him all about the magical energy source and the development of a magical device that could replace the Wall casters. Lord Kenrude was delighted to hear it and wanted to celebrate, so we set up this little meeting.”
“I heard that today was the roll-out of this new magical device. I wonder, could I take a look at it later?” Lord Kenrude requested.
“Of course. I’d be delighted to have you look it over. And perhaps if you notice any areas that could be improved…”
“You don’t need my wisdom anymore, my boy.” Lord Kenrude chuckled happily. I could sense how much trust existed between them. The sight of them together warmed my heart, too.
His Majesty and Lord Borden looked most pleased, while Prince Helios appeared surprised as they all observed the interaction between Lord Viol and Lord Kenrude. Prince Helios didn’t know about Lord Viol’s sweet tooth, and he probably never dreamed Lord Viol had a cute side to him, so one could hardly blame him for being taken aback.
“Well then, please have a seat.” Half-laughing at Lord Viol, who was taken in by the marshmallows, the king invited us to sit. He looked quite at ease as he lightly sighed. “I never thought we could create a magical device strong enough to perform the same barrier-casting work as multiple High Mages.”
“See, what did I tell you? What he lacks in people skills, he more than makes up for in magical advancements that can benefit this land.” Lord Kenrude spoke as if Lord Viol’s achievements were his pride and joy. I was so pleased to see how highly he thought of my husband.
Then, Lord Kenrude directed an intense stare my way. As our eyes met, I blinked in alarmed realization. The pleasantries so far had been so jovial and natural that I’d completely missed my chance to greet him.
“I’m so sorry, I should have greeted you sooner…” I bowed my head low, and Lord Viol’s chin snapped up in a panic.
“No, no, I’m so sorry, my fault… I was engrossed in those sweets…” Lord Viol muttered softly so that only I could hear, then he gently placed his hand on my shoulder and turned to face Lord Kenrude.
“I’m sorry for the late introduction. This is my wife, Seren. She’s a talented High Mage working hard on research with the rest of us in the Third Magic Guild.”
“I’m Seren. It’s a pleasure and an honor to meet you.” I was both happy and embarrassed that Lord Viol was introducing me to his mentor as his “wife,” and I felt my cheeks grow warm.
“Oh yes, of course, you’re Arthur’s daughter; I know about you.”
Arthur is my father’s given name. Surprisingly, it seemed Lord Kenrude knew my father well enough to refer to him by name.
“Yes, Lady Seren… You’re a talented lady known throughout the land. Still, it’s amazing to think that the daughter of Arthur, that magical device maniac, would give up her position as princess consort to become a High Mage. But I have seen your battle projection in the sky. You are indeed talented. I look forward to observing your future career.” Lord Kenrude chuckled with amusement.
He seemed to know a lot about me, including that I was once Prince Helios’s fiancée. He looked me straight in the eye, nodded firmly, then turned his gaze to Lord Viol and grinned.
“I never thought Viol here would get married… Let alone to such a fascinating young lady. But how cruel that he didn’t even bring you to visit me. I couldn’t control my curiosity any longer, so I thought I’d visit the king and bring a little gift.”
“I’m… I’m terribly sorry!” Lord Viol looked truly apologetic.
Lord Kenrude grinned, the wrinkles around his eyes growing deeper. “Lady Seren, as you can see, he’s not the most socially savvy of men. Please, do take care of him.”
“I’m still young and inexperienced in many areas, but I’ll do my best to be a good wife,” I said.
“Don’t go losing patience with my boy here, all right?”
“I’ll do my best!”
Lord Kenrude looked at me and Lord Viol, then nodded, satisfied. I wondered if I’d passed his evaluation. I was a little anxious since he obviously saw Lord Viol as a grandson. But Lord Kenrude seemed to move past the whole issue smoothly and was now switching up the mood. The calm, guardian-like demeanor disappeared, and his face lit up with curiosity, like a young boy’s.
“Of special note, Lady Seren…”
“Yes…?”
“That flying magic was excellent stuff.”
“Thank you very much.”
“Since the days of my generation, we’ve been wondering about having wind mages achieve flight, but we always dismissed it as an impossibility, and none would volunteer to try. To think that a girl who didn’t even go to the magic academy would manage to do it… You never do know what’s going to happen in this world.”
“It’s not that I discovered it or anything…” I said. “It’s just that until now, it was considered too much trouble and inefficient, as so many magic output adjustments need to be made. But we worked on perfecting it to better investigate the magical energy source, and as a result, everyone learned to fly.”
“The important thing is to take that first step. In fact, it may have helped that you didn’t attend the academy, Lady Seren. You had no preconceptions.”
Perhaps that was true. If so, perhaps there were other spells and magical devices that I could develop because I’d lived a different life from a typical High Mage.
I know I cause a lot of trouble and hold-ups for people because I didn’t go to the academy and learn the basics of magic. If I could turn that into something that helps others, that would be wonderful.
“Magic output control difficulties aside, if humans can utilize the power of flight, it will dramatically increase the scope of what is possible for us. When I saw the videos of the flight… I thought… Gosh, they’ve finally gone and done it! I was quite struck.”
“Indeed… A lot of people dream of developing flashy attack spells, but this kind of everyday-applicable magic is much more useful to everyone.” Lord Viol nodded, agreeing with Lord Kenrude.
Come to think of it, even though I wanted to learn intermediate-level magic, Lord Viol encouraged me to master everyday-applicable wind magic instead. I’m sure he had the same idea in mind.
“Hmm, well, earlier, His Majesty was bragging about all sorts of stuff, like how you flew a rescue ship to the aid of a trading ship manned by Arthur’s sailors. And how you flew over the vast forest and reached that magical energy source in the blink of an eye. It all sounded like dream talk to me at first.”
“Master Kenrude, I was as shocked as you, but it’s all true.”
“Ah, Prince Helios.”
Prince Helios smiled at Lord Kenrude, who looked even more taken aback.
“You wouldn’t think something as big as a trading ship could fly, but it can.”
Just like Prince Helios said, even I didn’t think it was possible to levitate something that big at first. But as it transpires, sometimes things do work if you just try.
“I was also blown away when I heard that Archmage Viol and Seren rescued that trade ship in just two days when it was deemed the effort would take a month at least. That sparked their development of a magical device to help the ships navigate the oceans more smoothly. While we were all still reeling from those accomplishments, they discovered the source of concentrated magical energy and developed a device that would work to prop up the barrier wall. They’ve been breaking down barriers and shattering conventional wisdom in rapid succession.” Prince Helios smiled at me and Lord Viol. “I now see why High Mages are known as our national treasure.”
I was so happy that Prince Helios thought of us that way. It made me feel really seen and warm inside.
“Seren.”
“…Yes?”
Prince Helios suddenly turned to me, and I jerked in my seat. He looked me in the eye and said, “I heard the flying magic you developed played a major role in discovering the source and retrieving the magic stone ore. I think that you becoming a High Mage was the best possible choice you could have made.”
“Thank you…!”
The wind mages learned to fly by themselves. All I did was observe. I really didn’t do anything special this time. But I sensed Prince Helios wasn’t talking about small things like that. The warmth in Prince Helios’s eyes as he spoke filled me with happiness.
Though I knew he’d made peace with our relationship, I’ve never shaken the feeling that I behaved disloyally towards Prince Helios and the king and queen. I thought I would carry that feeling with me for the rest of my life.
But now, I could feel the true kindness in Prince Helios’s heart… In a way that I never saw when we were together. Internally, I bowed my head low before him over and over again in gratitude.