Kael's house was nothing like Vicky had expected.
From outside, it looked like a half-broken warehouse stitched together with old stone and metal plates. But the moment they stepped inside, the atmosphere changed completely.
Warm light crystals floated near the ceiling. The air was clean. Safe.
"Welcome to my humble palace," Kael said proudly, spreading his arms.
Arelia looked around and sighed.
"You mean this pile of junk?"
Kael placed a hand on his chest, offended.
"This 'junk' has saved our lives more times than I can count."
Vicky smiled faintly.
Luka stood near the entrance, silent as ever.
As everyone settled down, Kael brought out food—simple but hot. Eren stared at the plates like he hadn't eaten properly in days.
"Eat," Arelia said softly. "You're alive. That's what matters."
As they ate, the tension slowly faded.
Kael suddenly glanced at Luka again.
"…So," he said carefully, "is your friend always this quiet?"
Luka's eyes shifted slightly.
"I speak when necessary."
Kael laughed.
"I like him already."
Arelia turned toward Vicky, curiosity shining clearly in her eyes now that fear was gone.
"You and Luka… you're not normal travelers," she said. "I've seen mages, warriors, mercenaries. But that back there—"
She hesitated.
"That wasn't ordinary magic."
Vicky paused.
Then shrugged.
"I don't really know how strong I am."
Kael nearly choked.
"That's the most dangerous answer possible."
Even Luka looked mildly amused.
Eren, who had been quiet until now, leaned forward.
"…Then maybe it's better if I explain."
Everyone looked at him.
Eren's eyes glowed faintly blue as he spoke.
"In this world, magic doesn't grow randomly. It evolves."
He raised one finger.
Magic Evolution Stages
① Whisper
"Magic calls to you… but you can't touch it."
Mana is only felt.
Spells are unstable.
"Most civilians and beginners stay here."
Kael nodded.
"Basically useless in a fight."
Arelia elbowed him.
② Pulse
"Mana starts beating like a heart."
Stable mana flow.
Basic combat spells.
Elemental affinity appears.
"Soldiers and trained mages usually stop here," Eren continued.
③ Weave
"Magic and body weave together."
Instant casting.
Physical strength + magic synchronization.
Kael grinned.
"That's where I am."
Arelia rolled her eyes.
"He says that every chance he gets."
④ Resonance
"Your magic resonates with the world itself."
Area control.
Auras.
Barriers.
"Battlefield dominance begins here," Eren said. "Wars are decided by people at this level."
Vicky listened carefully, expression calm.
⑤ Script
"You don't just cast spells… you write rules."
Custom spells.
Magic circles without drawing them.
"City-level threats," Eren added quietly.
Kael swallowed.
"…That's terrifying."
⑥ Edict
"Your words become magic law."
Command-type magic.
Elements obey.
Nature distorts.
Arelia's voice dropped.
"Those people change countries."
⑦ Paradox
"Your existence itself becomes a contradiction."
Forbidden and divine magic coexist.
The magic system starts breaking.
Eren's tone became serious.
"This is where legends are born."
The room fell silent.
⑧ Origin
"You don't use magic… you are magic."
Creation.
Erasure.
Control over time, soul, reality.
Even Kael looked away.
"That's… beyond gods."
⑨ Null
"Where you exist, magic ceases."
Anti-existence.
Multiversal fear.
Unrecorded. Unknown.
Eren lowered his hand.
"Almost no one goes beyond Stage 7 — Paradox," he said.
"Even reaching that is nearly impossible."
Silence filled the room.
Arelia slowly turned toward Vicky.
"…So," she said carefully, "where do you think you stand?"
Vicky thought for a moment.
Then smiled.
"I'm still figuring that out."
Luka, standing behind him, closed his eyes quietly.
Somewhere far away, something ancient stirred.
But for now—
The night remained calm.