Chapter 272: The So-Called Night Off
On the top floor of the Magic Association Tower, in Serie's private chamber.
Behind her were magic books piled up like a small mountain. Because the materials used were all of the highest quality, they did not have any rotten smell, but instead had a faint fragrance that permeated the room.
Serie sat cross-legged on the large chair, one hand supporting her chin, her knee pressed against her thigh. An open magic book rested on her lap, though the pages remained unturned.
But at this moment, the elf's attention was not on the magic book at all.
Her brows furrowed slightly as she looked out the window. The sun was setting, casting an orange glow across the sky, a scene as familiar as ever. But her mood was not as calm as usual.
It's been a whole week.
Her fingers tightened almost imperceptibly on the book's edge. That guy disappeared for another whole week.
Kurtz.
To put it in human terms, her husband is an enigmatic man who has been appearing and disappearing mysteriously lately. Moreover, these disappearances are occurring more and more frequently and for longer and longer periods of time.
Each time he returned, his magic power was greatly depleted. He even carried a trace of teleportation magic clinging to him. His eyes were also fatigued, shadowed with exhaustion.
In the past, he would occasionally leave, either to run errands or handle other matters, but he never stayed more than a day and never stayed out all night.
Yes! In human terms, it's staying out all night!
Serie shifted slightly in her seat, her movement betraying her agitation.
She was now living with Kurtz. They would sleep in the same bed, and every night the man would hug her like a pillow, and even touch her. At first, Serie wasn't used to it, but as she slept with it more and more often, she got used to having this comforting scent by her side.
But lately, I'm alone again.
She pulled her gaze from the window and looked down at the magic book, though she still wasn't reading it. This made the elf very unhappy, and it was definitely not because she felt lonely or anything like that.
At the same time, a strange unease quietly welled up in her heart, settling there like ice. That guy has been disappearing lately. Is it because of the increasingly tense situation in the north? Or is it because of that prophecy about his future?
She continued to prop her head up, her golden eyes occasionally drifting back to the window. She was waiting for the man to return. The sunset faded into twilight, and twilight into night, but still she remained, unmoving.
When the door to the room was gently pushed open, and Kurtz walked in under the moonlight, he saw Serie sitting in the chair. Her golden eyes were quietly watching him, fixed and unwavering, as if she had been waiting for a very long time.
"You're back?" Her voice was emotionless, as calm as ever. But beneath the stillness, something else lurked, an undercurrent of something unspoken.
"Hmm," Kurtz responded. He could feel her gaze upon him like a weight. Instinctively, he turned to move toward his room. "I'm a little tired, I'll go organize my notes first—"
"Kurtz," Serie suddenly called out to him, her voice carrying a note that stopped him mid-step.
Kurtz stopped in his tracks immediately, his entire body going rigid.
He turned around slowly, forcing a relaxed smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "What's wrong, Serie? Does the association have some trouble that needs to be dealt with?"
"You've been disappearing quite often lately." Serie didn't respond to his question. She leaned forward slightly in her chair, her gaze piercing and direct as it held his. "It's been another week since I last saw you. Where have you been?"
"Well...it's just some old personal matters that need to be dealt with." Kurtz tried to be vague, his shoulders tensing as he subconsciously avoided her gaze.
He turned his head slightly away. "You know, Norn is unreliable; there are always some legacy issues."
Serie didn't speak. She simply looked at him quietly, her entire posture still. But her calm gaze was more oppressive than any interrogation could ever be. It seemed to cut through every excuse.
Kurtz's smile gradually faded, replaced by a weariness that manifested openly on his face.
He knew Serie well. She usually seemed indifferent to many things, but once she got serious, any perfunctory words or lies were meaningless. They crumbled before her steady observation like ash before wind.
He sighed heavily, the sound carrying resignation. He had planned to inform her once he had news, but it seemed he would have to do it sooner. The burden of his secrets had become too heavy to carry alone.
"Okay..." He rubbed his temples with both hands, then moved to sit on the armrest of Serie's chair. He settled there, his weight causing the furniture to shift slightly. He was silent for a long moment, as if he was thinking about where to begin, gathering his thoughts into coherent words.
Serie waited patiently without urging him. She remained, watching, listening.
"I'm looking for something, or rather, a sword." Kurtz finally spoke, his voice quieter than before.
"Sword?" Serie's question was simple, but her posture shifted slightly, indicating her interest and concern.
"Yes. The legendary sword of the hero, Esterian," Kurtz explained slowly. He ran his hand through his hair, a gesture showing his anxiety. "Do you know it?"
Serie nodded. She knew the name. She leaned back slightly, her golden eyes narrowing in thought. "There are scattered records about it in the ancient elven texts. It was said to be a divine artifact forged by the gods, or rather, the will of the world, long before the demonic calamity. It was a true sword of salvation."
She paused, her brow furrowing slightly. "However, its existence is too ethereal and elusive, and no race has ever possessed it; it is more like a symbolic legend."
"Why are you suddenly looking for it?" Serie realized that things were not so simple. She turned to face him more directly, her voice taking on a sharper edge. "This isn't about simple research, is it?"
Kurtz took a deep breath, steeling himself. "My research on the nature of life magic is progressing much slower than expected. At the current pace, it would probably take at least another hundred years of research before we could even touch upon its core mysteries."
He gestured slowly, as if weighing invisible burdens. "After all, it is magic related to gods. Even with my talent for creating magic, it would take me nearly a hundred years to completely break through this magic."
His tone carried a hint of anxiety that didn't hide well. "If it were before, I would have had plenty of time. Reincarnation magic could have allowed me to continue my research until the day I succeeded, but things are different now."
His gaze fell on Serie, and the weight of his attention seemed to ground her in the present moment. "A new Demon King has appeared, and that prophecy—"
He turned away, his jaw tightening. "I cannot pretend it doesn't exist. The thought of that possibility makes it impossible for me to sit here peacefully and wait for hundreds of years to slowly pass."
"So you need power, right now." Serie understood his intention immediately. She straightened in her seat, her mind already working through the implications. "You want to rely on external means? Do you think Esterian can fight that demon king?"
"It's not entirely about confrontation." Kurtz shook his head, turning back to her. His eyes held a determination mixed with something that looked almost like desperation. "What I want to do more is seal, to completely seal away that terrifying, catastrophic, corrosive divine power within her."
He paused, seeming to gather his thoughts. "With just Orger, Athos, and the El sword, we might be able to do this, but I want to be more sure of things, so I'm going to add Esterian's power as well."
He looked at her intently, as if willing her to understand the magnitude of what he was attempting. "Using the power of the four holy swords to construct a large sealing magic circle to seal that demon king completely is the fastest solution I can think of right now."
Serie looked at Kurtz and understood everything in that moment. Her entire expression shifted subtly, becoming softer, more vulnerable.
It turns out that he had been traveling and taking risks for this matter all this time.
Not for himself, but to deal with the impending threat, and even more so for her future death.
The slight displeasure she felt from being kept in the dark vanished instantly, replaced by a complex mix of emotions that washed over her like a tide. She felt warmth settle in her chest, mixing with the fear and gratitude that suddenly overwhelmed her usual composure.
She let out a soft breath, breaking the silence that had fallen between them. The sound was almost like a release of tension she hadn't known she was holding.
"I understand." Serie nodded, her voice softening noticeably. She reached out and placed her hand on his arm, the gesture both comforting and grounding. "I'll help too. There might be some truth to the legends of Esterian among the elves; I can go and investigate."
"Don't go over there, let Ayla go." Kurtz said quickly, his hand immediately covering hers on his arm. His voice carried an urgency that belied his concern. "Using teleportation magic won't take too much time."
His gaze met hers directly, and in his eyes she saw the fear, not of failure, but of losing her to the very future he was trying to prevent.
Serie knew what he wasn't saying. Kurtz was worried that her going out would make the future come true. She wanted to argue further, to insist on her own agency and strength, but looking at his face, at the exhaustion and fear etched there, she found she couldn't.
She exhaled slowly, a gesture of acceptance mixed with reluctant agreement. "Alright."
Her fingers squeezed his arm gently. Let's go with this man. For now, let's trust in his plan.
[End of Chapter]
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