Chapter 50 The Final Lesson

“…Why’re we all the way out here?” He asked.

It was just a couple weeks out from the end of his time with Celly. Though it was supposed to be just a normal day of magic lessons, he could feel there was something different–not only by the chosen location, in the most vast and empty field in Yullim, between two mountains, but by the demeanor of his tutor.

That day, Celly seemed more serious than usual.

“I can’t issue anything officially, but…if you pass this test, I’ll recognize you as a proper mage,” Celly told him.

“Huh?” He looked at her.

It came out of nowhere, but the young, demure woman wasn’t playing around as the gentle breeze brushed her silver locks.

Celly brushed her hair behind her ear, “It’s the same bar that is set to gain entry into academies like Willeria: you must be able to summon an Emperor-class spell. If you can’t do that, you won’t even be welcomed through the front doors.”

He was a bit confused, “…I’m not entering any academies, though.”

“You want to become an adventurer, don’t you?” Celly asked.

“Well, yeah…”

“Then this is the level you need to be at,” Celly told him.

It was a jarring change of pace for her to talk sternly with a certain strictness to her voice, but he followed along.

…It’s kind of hard to imagine the cute, gentle Celly is actually kind of scary when she’s serious…He thought.

They were both standing under a colossal tree that towered high in the center of the flourishing field like a pillar of nature; it had a name–his mother had told him about it when he was little: “The Grandfather of Yullim.”

Celly looked forward, “…Those who can use magic are valuable in the eyes of adventurers. Mages are sought after–but, that means there is a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. You’re not aiming to solely be a mage, are you?”

He shook his head, glancing down at the sword he wore at his hip.

“Swordsmen are as plentiful as grass. It’s something that anybody could pick up–poor or rich. Magic is not; it’s inherent. What I’m saying is…become the best mage you can be; that’s how you’ll get far in this world,” Celly told him.

“I see…” He nodded, “Why is an Emperor-class spell necessary, though?”

“It’s not just the mage academies that’ll test your capabilities, Emilio. If you’re aiming to be a world adventurer and not just a regional one like your father, your test will be difficult,” Celly informed him.

It was a lot packed onto him, but he listened closely and nodded, understanding that she was only trying to help him.

“…Alright, understood,” he said.

He was already confident in the usage of Emperor-class magic anyway, as he had gained the usage of “Greater Storm”, so he planned to use that.

But, before he could step forward, Celly walked forward instead.

“–?” He watched her.

“Watch closely. I’ll show you the spell you’ll need to cast–listen carefully and keep your eyes open, Emilio,” Celly instructed with her delicate voice.

…I’ll have to replicate it after one watch? He thought.

With that restriction set on what seemed to be his “final exam” of sorts, he made sure to watch his tutor like a dutiful hawk, keeping his amethyst eyes on her as she raised her staff to the air. There was always a certain grace to the way Celly wove her spells; stepping forward as if beginning a dance, and raising the catalyst of hers as if calling for the heavens above.

“Great spirit of the torrents; wrath of the rivers, lakes, and vast seas, flowing never in rest, but seeking; through my body, the stride of water roams free…”

As Celly invoked such words that held mystical power in their sound, the air grew noticeably more cold as a layer of mist settled in. Moisture accumulated on the blades of grass that stretched on like a verdant sea, resembling morning dew in the light wetness to it.

What the…? This is just from…the invocation itself? He thought.

Returning his gaze to Celly, he was even more awestruck by the sight of the caster herself; rings of crystal clear water surrounded her, coalescing and running along the fields all to encircle her and gather at the summit of her raised staff.

I can taste it, he thought.

Parting his lips, he subtly held his tongue out as droplets of moisture formed on top of his taste-sensing organ.

It’s not just that…He realized.

Against his whole body, he could feel a thin layer of water press against his pores, soothing them with their brisk touch as a wind began to pick up, forming from the origin of the spell being woven by his tutor.

The moisture in the air…What spell is she about to use? It’s something else…He thought.

Finally, the orb at the end of Celly’s staff illuminated with the pivotal words of the magecraft being invoked, “Awaken and soar through the world! Dragon Hurricane!”

A bountiful release of water flourished out from Celly’s position as the rings of water around her shaped into something new. Guided by her staff that was aimed for the sulking clouds above, the strides of water took the form of three serpentine dragons.

“…Woah…” He watched in complete awe.

They were completely formed of water, but resembled dragon heads nonetheless, roaring out in their see-through form, soaring through the air above the fields as they danced around one another amidst the moisturized winds.

“Epic” was the first word that came to mind to him when witnessing the grandiose conjuration of water magic; the dragon heads held a length of several meters, imposing yet beautiful.

Seeing such a sigh, it was ingrained in his mind from the very moment he laid eyes on it.

…Stuff like this…this is why I came here. I abandoned that previous “life” of mine for this! I don’t regret it–not at all, he thought.

After allowing the trio of water-formed dragon heads to soar in the air above the field for a minute, Celly swayed her staff, causing the serpentine summons to dissolve into a brief fit of rain before turning back to her student.

“That was ‘Dragon Hurricane’–an Emperor-class water spell. You were paying close attention, I assume?” Celly asked.

He nodded fervently, “How could I not?!”

It was his turn now to step forward and replicate the high-class water magic shown to him by his teacher.

As he stood there with the emerald eyes of his teacher watching him, he felt the soothing briskness of the light layer of mist pressing against his skin; he breathed out calm breaths as he gripped his staff between his fingers.

Usually, something like this would probably freak me out–being put on the spot like this to perform something so elite. But…right now, my mind is clear. It’s as if I’m peering through a clear window; my thoughts are unrestrained but focused. I can do this, he thought.

Celly watched him closely as the boy held his wooden staff up to the sky just as she did; a focused breath was inhaled through his lips before he began.

In his mind, he embodied the state of water to its utmost, feeling almost as if his physical form itself was blending with the moisture in the air.

Shapeless…Formless…That’s “water”–if you hope to manipulate an element, you should first know what it’s like to be it. That’s what I’ve learned, anyway, he thought.

“Great spirit of the torrents; wrath of the rivers, lakes, and vast seas, flowing never in rest, but seeking; through my body, the stride of water roams free…”

As he ushered in the invocation of the Emperor-class magic while visualizing its existence throughout his body, he was taken aback by the sudden manifestation of mana that arose from him.

“–!”

All around him, droplets of water conjured in the air as if rising from the morning dew that stretched on. There was no need to imagine it anymore–it indeed felt as if he was one with water as it soothed his skin and fluttered around the wind, swaying in the air unlike rain that only fell downward.

This is…It’s nothing like what I’ve used before…It’s amazing, he thought.

As he glanced around, strands of water danced around him, circling around him and eventually focused on the summit of his staff.

Even Celly was left shocked at the sight; it was clear that he had grasped the high-level magic just after one showing.

“–” Celly watched quietly with her lips slightly agape.

Focusing once more, he let out the final words of the invocation, “Awaken and soar through the world!…Dragon Hurricane!”

He stumbled backward as the water-formed dragon heads unleashed into the sky above, nearly falling back as he was left in awe, watching the creatures of aqua soar in the winds.

It was his own creation; seeing it flourish in such a grand form was nothing short of inspiring to his dazzling eyes.

Almost as surprised as him, Celly looked up as well with a small, melancholic smile, catching him by the shoulders as he had nearly fallen over backwards.

“…I did it–I did it!” He let out with a surprised smile.