chapter 36

Heinz Blake.

At least in 'Frey's memory, he was no different from Isaka, Mischael or his mother Eini.

Of course, he couldn't be sure.

Frey could be called a late child. Mischael was twelve years older and Heinz was ten years older so there was a possibility that something happened during his childhood that Frey couldn't remember.

Shepard let out a bitter laugh, perhaps realising that Frey's expression had become a tad more distant.

"I know how your family treated you. I have no intentions of defending Heinz in that matter. But I do want to tell you that he is different from Earl Isaka and Mischael. It may sound like nonsense to you, but there is a story."

"What story?"

"It is not something that I should tell you about. But I trust you because he guaranteed your identity. Just keep that in mind for now."

It was unexpected information.

The fact that Heinz Blake belonged to a circle and that he had guaranteed his identity.

Shepard continued with a serious expression.

"In the future you will probably become entangled with the circles in some way or form. But I don't think you intend to do that right now. Right?"

"That's right."

Shepard's words were true.

Frey thought about coming into contact with the circles after reaching the 7 star level in the magic tower.

He had heard that they were a group against the Demigods but he could not be sure until he saw it with his own eyes.

He had to find out how much power they had at their disposal. In truth, he was looking forward to it.

He wondered if there were any great talents among them.

For example a wizard with potential to reach 9 stars, or a knight who could rival Lucid or a magic warrior who could surpass Kasajin.

"How much does Peran know about the circle?"

"He knows a little more than you do."

Shepard's eyes narrowed slightly. There seemed to be a slight hint of disapproval in his eyes but when Frey looked at him in askance, he simply waved his hand and continued.

"Well. He…it seems that he is trying to get into the Traumen Rings. It is a circle that is falling apart but it doesn't seem like he will change his mind."

"Is there any specific reason?"

"I'm not too sure about that. I know that he idolizes Lucas a lot but…"

"…"

"Anyway that was all I had to say, I apologize for calling you here so early in the morning."

"It's fine."

Frey felt that it was time to leave the Jun Family home.

Instead of returning to his room, he requested Daphgon to call Peran.

After a while, they met each other on the bench in the garden.

"If you are absent without reason for more than a week, you will be automatically expelled from the school. Are you okay with that?" "Yeah."

That place no longer held any importance for Frey.

He looked at Peran and brought up the reason that he'd asked to meet.

"I'm leaving the family tomorrow."

"Are you determined to go to the tower?"

"Right. The Duke said that the 3rd Magic Tower is fine so

I'm going to go there."

"The 3rd Magic Tower. It is a good place."

Peran hesitated for a moment.

"Did you learn about the Demigods in the mountains?"

Frey had no choice but to go along with this convenient excuse. "That's right."

"My father didn't ask you to join the Strow Necklaces?"

"He didn't,"

"Yeah? I was sure he'd want a talented guy like you."

Maybe it was because he knew that Frey wouldn't accept the invitation.

Shepard seemed to be a quick witted man.

"I'm glad. I wanted you to join the Traumen Rings. Ah, it's just a wish, I wouldn't force you."

"I heard that it's not a good place right now."

The circle had inherited his name, but Frey didn't feel any attachments to it.

"That's right. But we can't let the Great Mage's legacy crumble."

As he said this, Peran clenched his fist which caused Frey to look at him strangely while an awkward smile came on his face.

"Because Lucas is my hero. But I don't like Lucas because he is a Great Mage." "Then?"

"A great teacher."

Peran's expression became serious.

"Lucas said that he would never reject a disciple one he had accepted them. Even those who would have become wicked and evil became noble heroes under his hands." Legends always tended to get misinterpreted because a lot of the information was bluffed or exaggerated.

Frey didn't do anything so grandiose. He simply comforted, advised and guided.

That was all.

"Do you want to be like that?"

"Huh. I don't have a good enough memory to be a teacher."

Peran's face looked a bit sad as he said this.

When Frey kept looking at him without saying anything, he laughed bitterly.

"I feel at ease whenever I talk to you. Like the weight on my shoulders was lessened."

Frey gave him a level of comfort that even his family never did.

He never rushed him. He didn't try to pry further.

Whenever he released the heavy problems that were bothering him within, Frey only looked at him with his deep gaze.

There were moments when he needed such things.

"I first felt mana when I was five years old."

"…!"

Even Frey could not help but be surprised at that fact. He looked at Peran in a new way.

'He really is a genius.'

Even Schweiser and him only felt mana for the first time when they were about seven years of age.

Of course, he could not say that Peran could become an archmage with certainty, but to call him a true genius was no exaggeration.

"And when I was seventeen, I became a 4 star wizard. Though it was revealed externally that it was at the age of twenty…at that time, I had a teacher."

"A teacher?"

"Right. He was the wizard in charge of the 5th Tower. He was a 6 star wizard who had a long white beard growing down his chest."

Frey without for him to continue his story without hurrying him.

"He was a very knowledgeable person. He had a smile as if he was able to answer any question that I could ask. Everytime he answered a question, he would pat my shoulder, and I don't know why, but it made me happy to the point where I even asked some unnecessary questions."

It was an ideal master/student relationship. At least from what he had heard.

But Frey was able to discern from Peran's tone that the story came with some kind of twist.

Peran hesitated for a long time before forcing himself to speak.

"I was the one who ruined the relationship. I was too excited. I didn't consider my teacher's position and went too far asking questions…One day, my teacher couldn't answer my question."

"…"

"He yelled at me in anger. Monster! You are a monster!"

Peran laughed bitterly again.

He sighed and forced himself to brighten his expression.

"You are the first person I've told this to. I didn't even tell my father."

"You've been afraid to progress since then?"

"…"

Peran was silent as the answer was obvious.

"Learning magic is still fun. And I know that my aptitude for magic is high. But…I'm not sure."

Peran looked distressed. His face was twisted in pain.

"The moment that I truly immerse myself in it, my teacher's face keeps popping up. Am I really a monster?"

"You overestimate yourself."

"Huh?"

At Frey's words, Peran looked up with wide eyes, but Frey kept talking in a calm tone.

"And you're underestimating magic. Listen, Peran. Even when labeled by the word genius, if a person does not work hard enough, even to the point of vomiting blood, then it is impossible for them to unlock the true meaning of magic, even if they have the most luck in the world."

"…!"

"Your talent is obviously excellent. That man who was your teacher was afraid of it and maybe he was even jealous. He knew that sooner or later you would surpass him."

Such creatures could not be called teachers. Frey looked at Peran with a calm gaze.

He knew how to deal with this type of personality.

"What are you going to do now?"

"Huh? I…first of all I will return to the Westroad Academy."

Peran responded while wondering about the sudden change in topic.

Westroad Academy's education was essential for him to carry on the family that he would inherit one day.

"Then?"

"I was thinking of entering a circle."

"Then it looks like it would be a very long time before we meet again. I assure you, by then I will be several times stronger than I am now."

"…"

"Don't you understand yet? What I want to say."

Frey kept looking at Peran.

"I want to continue an equal relationship with you."

"…!"

"Of course, such a relationship is not necessarily determined by your strength. I also don't make friends for things like that. What I'm truly worried about is your level of thinking. If the gap widens much more than it is now I believe that you yourself would not be convinced."

Peran was speechless.

He was right.

Peran was unexpectedly a very proud person. He knew that Frey was stronger than him now but he did not think that it was at a level that was completely different than his own.

But what if it kept going on like this?

What if the next time they met, Frey was much stronger than his current self while he had made no progress at all?

He would not be able to accept that and would end up suffering from self-loathing.

Peran hesitated.

"…can I really face it? I."

"I assure you, the world is very large. There are many other geniuses. If you enter a proper magic tower and pretend to be a genius then you can continue living as you are now. But if you want to face the Demigods and the other transcendent beings then the current you is not good enough."

"…"

Peran's eyes shook violently.

Then he closed them and muttered softly.

"…you're right." That was the end.

There was no conversation afterwards.

How Peran took his words, what he was thinking and what conclusions he had made. Frey didn't ask him any of that.

Looking at a flowing stream of water, he didn't know why but he felt like it wouldn't be much longer before he met Peran again.

And the next day.

Frey left for the 3rd Magic Tower.