52.
Naturally, I didn’t get any response from the child. I was the only one exhausting myself. The red mark still glowed before my eyes.
An unsettling fear crept in—the fear that this child might be a reflection of my own future. It was the first time I had met someone with the same mark, so I couldn’t help but feel a sense of kinship.
‘No. No.’
I had to find out what connection this child had with Eon and why he ended up like this. At this point, it wasn’t because of Eon’s orders—I truly wanted to talk to the kid, desperately.
Even after shaking him and yelling, the child didn’t open his eyes. It became clear that no ordinary method would wake him. In the end, it meant I would have to rely on magic.
* * *
“I have something I want to know.”
The person I went to was Selli. I could’ve found the kind of magic I needed by searching the bookshelves, but that might’ve taken days. My patience had already worn thin—this was no time for that.
“Sellinia?”
She greeted me like it was perfect timing.
“Did the shadow contract work?”
It was a natural thing for her to be curious about, but for me, it brought back painful memories—just like the situation with the invisibility potion.
“It worked.”
“I knew it! You really have an amazing talent! So, what about the contracted shadow?”
As if expecting me to be followed by it, she glanced around me.
“It disappeared after the contract ended.”
“That’s it?”
Even I had to admit it was a disappointing answer. But I had nothing else to say to her. Explaining the truth would’ve required far too much.
“You should’ve at least shown me.”
She pushed up her glasses, a look of slight disappointment in her eyes.
“The Tower Master doesn’t like it.”
“Ah, the Tower Master… Well, that makes sense.”
Eon made the perfect excuse. I didn’t even know what “makes sense” meant, but the moment she heard his name, her expression relaxed immediately.
“Anyway, what is it you want to know?”
Finally, the words I’d been waiting for. I spoke at once.
“A magic that lets you read someone’s memory—or enter their dream. I’m not sure what the exact name is, but something along those lines. Can I learn that kind of magic?”
The moment I asked, I felt like I was acting as though she owed me something. I was the one in a rush—not her. Even if she was being more cooperative than before, she wasn’t obligated to teach me anything.
“I thought you might know, since you’re a senior with a deep knowledge of magic.”
I added a sweet line, a little too late.
“Hm, sounds like you’re talking about mental penetration magic. I have a book on that.”
Selli rose from her seat and walked to the bookshelf. I followed her.
“I’ve been thinking about something you said before. Remember? About gaining various experiences.”
“You remembered that nosy advice?”
“I’m ready to accept any advice—anyone’s—as long as it helps me improve.”
“That’s the attitude of a model researcher.”
I responded appropriately, but in truth, I wasn’t really listening. My mind was consumed with thoughts of the child. Selli’s resolve went in one ear and out the other.
Her finger paused on a thick book.
“Come to think of it, you always want the dangerous magic.”
The red cover seemed to warn me just like her words. But I didn’t have the luxury to worry about danger. I just wanted to find out about the child in the most effective way.
“Is any magic truly dangerous? As long as the caster uses it safely, it’s fine.”
“Ho~ You’re not wrong.”
I reached out to take the book she offered—but the moment my fingertips touched the edge, she swiftly pulled it back into her arms.
“Why do you need mental penetration magic? I’m really curious.”
Her green eyes sparkled with interest, as if she wouldn’t hand it over unless I answered.
“It’s related to what’s in the Forbidden Room, right? Isn’t it?”
There was a reason that room was forbidden and sealed.
Eon wouldn’t want anyone else to know about the child’s existence. Even my entry had only been forgiven under the condition that I try to wake the child.
‘And I’m going to blurt it all to Selli?’
I already knew what that would lead to. Still, the reason I hesitated was the thick book in her hand.
“You’re holding it hostage because it’s the only mental penetration magic book with a clear name, right?”
“As expected, sharp as ever. This is the only one clearly labeled. Some vague titles like Turanro’s Grimoire might contain a chapter, but who knows.”
The sharp gleam in her eyes, beyond her glasses, urged me to spill what I knew. In the end, if I wanted to get what I needed, I had to strike a deal.
“You were right in your guess.”
Her eyes lit up even more.
“So you want to use mental penetration magic on something in the Forbidden Room?”
I nodded.
“Please don’t ask any more. That’s as much as I can tell you.”
Fortunately, Selli wasn’t a liar. My answer seemed to satisfy her enough, and she placed the book in my hands as promised.
“All right. I respect my brilliant junior. I’ll help however I can.”
The heavy weight settled in my hands. I opened the red hardcover and quickly scanned the table of contents.
‘Definition and History of Mental Penetration Magic.’
Important academically, but not needed right now—I skipped it.
‘How to Cast Mental Penetration Magic.’
This was the page I wanted. As I read, Selli added helpful, if unsolicited, commentary.
“You’ll see, but mental penetration magic can only be used on someone you’ve formed a bond with. There’s even a case listed where someone used deception to gain trust first.”
My fingers froze on the page.
‘Only on someone you have a bond with?’
“No matter how powerful the mage, there are no exceptions. Mental penetration forces entry into someone’s mind. If they resist, the spell will bounce off.”
“So it’s useless unless there’s a bond.”
“Exactly. And since it’s mental magic, it can harm both minds. In extreme cases, it can lead to brain death.”
“Brain death…”
“Now you understand why I called it dangerous magic?”
She meant well. But regardless of her kindness, the method I had pinned my hopes on had just collapsed. What kind of bond could I possibly have with that child?
‘At best, we’re linked by a subordination spell through Eon.’
Then, as if reading my thoughts, Selli added:
“I heard that in cases of magical contracts, you might be able to bypass the bond restriction. But contracts are even harder to form, so it’s not a very useful method.”
‘A contract!’
This must be what it feels like to swing from hell to heaven. The despair from moments ago was blown away. The child and I might not have made a contract directly, but perhaps Eon had bound us together.
‘If that damn contract can be useful in this way…’
“Oh? Did you just think of something good?”
Maybe I failed to keep my expression neutral—Selli noticed immediately. I was sorry, but I couldn’t tell her the truth this time either.
“Well, now that I know there are exceptions, I feel more hopeful that this book will offer some hint.”
I smiled and turned my eyes back to the book. Selli seemed to understand and didn’t ask further.
* * *
I blinked my dry eyes and gulped down an energy potion. After a night of reading, I was finally on the last page.
‘Good. I’ve got the theory down.’
But did that mean I could succeed? Not necessarily. I wouldn’t know until I tried. I had no choice but to test it on the child. I headed for the Forbidden Room.
Bathed in the clear morning light, the child’s face looked even paler. Still lying there, as if dead, I greeted him and gently sat beside him. I reached for the wrist that bore the mark of the subordination contract. There was no real need to touch it—but I hoped it would help activate the contract.
I slowly closed my eyes and focused on the child’s faint breaths. I synced my own inhaling and exhaling to match his, like harmonizing in a song.
Then, a maze appeared before me. Or maybe it wasn’t a maze—floating objects filled the air, and the floor swayed. I might need a different word for this place.
A single misstep and I could fall into the brilliant white abyss below. So bright that it obscured everything—just like darkness.
I didn’t even know where I was going as I moved cautiously.
Thud.
Something struck the back of my head. My body lurched forward. The abyss drew close in an instant.
“No!”
To keep from falling, I had to awkwardly balance on the narrow ledge. Flailing my arms desperately, I barely managed to regain my balance.
“Huff, huff.”
Clinging to the platform like a four-legged beast, I caught my breath—and turned to see what had attacked me.
