TPM 02

Chapter : 2

That day marked exactly ten years since I became my master’s disciple.

During that time, I had devoted myself to research more diligently than anyone else so as not to tarnish my master’s reputation. Yet the reason I became known throughout the Mage Tower was actually something else entirely.

“Please, Themis. You know you’re the only one who can make the Archmage move.”
“You have to sign this contract yourself, really.”

The desperate, pleading eyes of the mages staring at me were unbearably heavy.

The situation was that my master hadn’t returned to the Mage Tower lately due to external affairs, leaving work piling up. They needed me to fetch him, but no matter how much the other mages urged him, he refused to budge.

“Where is he?”

One of the mages hesitated at my question, then spoke cautiously.

“The Imperial Palace…”
“The Imperial Palace?”

My head ached the moment I heard the location.

I had been planning to visit anyway, since I hadn’t seen him in a long time. But of all places, the Imperial Palace? Even if I missed my master, I didn’t want to go to such a complicated and troublesome place…

“Themis, please… I’m begging you. You’re the Archmage’s only disciple!”

…And yet, the moment I heard that, my body moved as if under a spell.

The words that I was the Archmage Akhilan’s only disciple always made my heart flutter.

“Alright, I’ll go.”

I tilted my head slightly and scratched the back of my neck.

…I felt both pleased and embarrassed, as if I were someone special to my master. But I was just his disciple.

When I arrived at the Imperial Palace, the steward was already there to greet me.

“Welcome, Themis.”
“Nice to see you.”

I returned the greeting politely.

“And the master?”
“He’s staying at the western palace.”

He must be lying down inside. The steward, smiling gently at my sigh, gestured for me to follow.

“I’ll guide you.”

When I meet him this time, I thought, I should tell him how upset I’d be if he didn’t show his face next time. That’s the only way he’d even slightly notice. I was picking questions to ask him, one by one.

“…Ah. It’s difficult to go through the garden right now. Sorry, but is it okay if we take a slightly longer route?”

Huh? Why would the garden be blocked? Is there some kind of banquet?

The steward noticed my puzzled expression and explained with a kind smile.

“The garden is being redecorated to welcome the princess entering the palace this time.”
“Ah…”

I remembered. It had been in the newspapers constantly since last month—I couldn’t have missed it.

“Princess Aria Ednesa, said to have been wrongfully killed during the palace uprising, discovered to have lived in an orphanage…”

The story of a girl who manifested her magical powers late, only to be revealed as a princess, had shaken the entire empire.

“You’re of the proud royal bloodline,” I said.

The steward’s content smile in response seemed genuinely happy. Every face we passed was filled with smiles.

I became curious. What kind of person is this princess, loved by everyone?

‘Could it be why my master has stayed at the western palace for several days…?’

The princess was a rare case of awakening as a mage later than usual, even later than me. Could my master be taking her as a disciple?

‘He’s already so busy that it’s hard to even see his face…’

If that were the case, then just as he took an interest in me and I became his disciple, he could take an interest in the princess as well. The thought made me uneasy.

“Now, you may enter.”

The steward’s whisper brought me back to my senses. I swallowed hard and quietly opened the door to enter.

“Master?”

I called softly, but there was no answer. I stepped toward the sofa in the open room.

As expected, my master was lying across the sofa, sleeping. He wore only a light robe. Through the slightly open collar, his well-defined muscles were visible.

I forcibly tore my gaze away from his chest and looked at his face.

His golden hair sparkled like jewels, contrasting with the elegant red sofa. Just as when I first met him.

‘He really hasn’t changed a bit.’

The shadows along his facial lines and his unguarded posture gave me a strange tension—an emotion even I couldn’t understand.

‘Is this awe?’

Was this the natural reaction a person should have toward someone as perfect as my master?

“Themis.”

My master spoke, eyes closed.

“Yes, I’ve come to see you.”
“I don’t know why I keep sending you.”

He frowned slightly as he opened his eyes.

“For a mage like you, your actions are unbearably cowardly.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off his languid face as he rose and brushed his hair back. It was the image I had always wanted to see.

I wanted to see him when we were apart, but it seemed he didn’t feel the same. That stung a little.

“Then if you went willingly before I arrived, there would be no need for me to come.”
“Hmm, that’s not wrong…”

My master smiled as he rose.

“Then it wouldn’t be fun.”

…Every time he said something like that, I wanted to ask why he treated me differently from others. Was it because I awakened late like him? Or was it because I was a woman?

I didn’t dare ask. I already knew the answer: for my master, who has no interest in worldly matters, there are no exceptions. I held back, fearing it would hurt to hear that he wasn’t treating me specially.

“It’s been so hard seeing your face, Master.”

I expressed my disappointment openly. My master gazed at me silently—a gaze I could never read, even after all these years.

“There was no choice. The emperor kept pestering me.”
“…Because of what?”
“This must be about the princess entering the palace. He’s worried already.”

Hearing the princess’s name, my chest fluttered with anxiety again.

“She’s certainly a curious case. You were late, Themis, but she manifested her powers even later.”

It seemed my master was interested after all.

‘I’m nervous.’

…I couldn’t protest my master’s decisions. I was a good disciple. But the thought that I might no longer be his only exception made me anxious.

“Tomorrow, I’ll meet the princess, assess her abilities, and return.”

It stung to hear him refuse to come with me as he usually did.

“Yes…”

I stood up with a sulky face. My master placed a hand on my shoulder and met my gaze.

“You seem disappointed not to be going together.”
“No.”

I mumbled. It wasn’t that, but I didn’t have the courage to speak honestly.

“I see. Then stay here. We can return together tomorrow.”
“…In the Imperial Palace?”
“If you don’t want to, go alone.”

Honestly, I wasn’t fond of the palace…

“I’ll stay!”

I nodded quickly. I didn’t want my master meeting the princess alone.

“I’ll be here.”
“Good. I haven’t eaten anything yet. Shall we have breakfast together?”
“No, I’ll tidy up my room.”

I shook my head at the papers and books scattered across the floor with magic circles drawn on them. A mage’s room is easiest to clean by its mage. No need to bother with unfamiliar etiquette.

“Thank you, Themis. I’ll go now.”

My master seemed to understand and let go of the doorknob.

“Oh, and go see Everett soon.”
“…Father Everett?”
“It’s about time you get treatment.”

My master left after closing the door. I knew I needed treatment, but…

‘…Still, that priest is too overwhelming.’

I sighed and began cleaning. My master’s room, off-limits to outsiders, was always messy.

‘For someone who seems so fastidious…’

There were many hidden sides to my master that only I knew. Feeling the sudden warmth in the air, I opened the window connected to the balcony. The breeze felt refreshing.

Enjoying the wind, I suddenly felt my body hairs stand on end and opened my eyes wide.

An unknown energy was approaching. Perhaps it didn’t know the Archmage was staying here, or maybe it did and aimed for him. Either way, I wasn’t going to fall for it easily.

“Darkness.”

I summoned my staff of darkness and cast a spell. Darkness swelled like a sphere, protecting the room and swallowing all the approaching energy.

“Ugh…”

A sudden pain pressed against my heart, and I frowned.

‘Huh?’

When a mage uses magic, their heart bears some strain from channeling mana. But the force I used shouldn’t have made my legs tremble this much…

The next moment, my knees buckled and my vision went white. Darkness engulfed my sight.