There is a term called "reverse scale."
Ian knew it referred to a scale that grew against the natural direction on a dragon's body, usually located under its jaw in this world.
It was said that touching it would enrage the dragon, turning everything around into scorched earth.
Thus, people often used "reverse scale" to metaphorically describe "an absolute taboo."
Though women don't have scales, they too have their own "reverse scale."
For women, that reverse scale is—age.
Most men don't mind being called "uncle," but for women, being called "auntie" is a devastating blow.
Exaggeratedly speaking, it's like telling them their time as a girl has ended.
"...Auntie? Me?"
Even from a distance, one could clearly see the woman's shoulders trembling slightly.
Ian's sister, however, looked utterly clueless, completely unaware of what she had done wrong.
"Hey, little one over there."
The woman forced a twisted smile and beckoned to Ian.
Her expression was eerie yet somehow pitiable.
"Hmm?"
"Who's that 'tiny thing' next to you?"
Ian was shocked.
Was she seeking revenge just over being called "auntie"?
"I'm not tiny!"
Children generally hate being looked down on by adults—similar to how elementary students despise being called "brats."
"Hehe, I'm not an auntie either! How about trying to call me 'big sister'?"
The woman extended an "olive branch" to the little girl, a typical adult approach to conflict resolution.
But to a child—the concept of "forgiveness" doesn't exist.
"No way! Auntie!"
With that, Ian's sister ran off to who-knows-where. There was no need to worry, though; she knew these areas like the back of her hand, roaming them daily.
Let her go snack on some wild strawberries for now.
Ian turned his attention to the woman before him.
"Are you a traveler? May I ask your name?"
The woman looked slightly surprised at Ian.
His polite tone, uncharacteristic for his age, was worlds apart from the little brat from earlier.
"I'm Eledis, a wandering mage."
"A mage?"
Ian was astonished.
Though he had never seen one, he knew this world wasn't an ordinary medieval era—but a fantastical realm of swords and magic, dragons and knights.
And here, "mage" was synonymous with "war."
Where there was war, there were mages.
This was Ian's first time seeing a mage in person, but he immediately felt an indescribable fear.
The existence of mages was too vague and mysterious.
Naturally, he had never encountered such beings in his past life either—fear of the unknown was only human.
Why would a mage come here?
Ian recalled this world's common knowledge:
Mage = War.
'Is a war about to start?'
But he quickly shook his head.
This village lacked the resources to hire a mage for war.
At best, they were minor nobles clearing out bandits—how could they possibly afford a mage?
Of course, bandits weren't to be underestimated; organized bandits were an army, and their leaders often ended up declaring themselves "lords."
That said, if a war were to break out, this village's nobility was utterly unprepared.
"I came to this village to find a black-haired boy."
"Huh?"
The mage who called herself Eledis stared intently at Ian's hair.
"Are there any other black-haired boys besides you?"
Ian shook his head.
He was the only black-haired boy in the village—otherwise, how would he have earned the illustrious nickname "Raven Ian"?
"Just me."
After studying Ian for a moment, Eledis suddenly broke into a delighted smile.
"As expected of a Chronomancer."
'Chronomancer?'
Ian was utterly confused.
Eledis Manskar was a wandering mage.
On this continent, mages were broadly divided into two categories: (secular mages) and (truth-seekers).
Secular mages were the common type—they learned magic to gain worldly wealth and power, like battlefield mages or academy professors.
Truth-seekers were entirely different; they traveled endlessly, pursuing higher realms of magical understanding.
The line between the two was often blurred.
A truth-seeker yesterday might settle down today due to a noble's patronage, and vice versa.
Eledis leaned more toward being a truth-seeker.
Her purpose in life was to become a great mage, leave her legacy for future generations, and advance the world.
At twenty-nine, she was already somewhat renowned in mage circles.
Just as humans naturally desire children after stabilizing their lives, Eledis, after achieving certain magical accomplishments, gradually felt the urge to take on an apprentice.
Coincidentally, another mage approached her—an old acquaintance named Gerald.
"Heard you've been thinking about taking an apprentice lately?"
"Where did you hear such nonsense?"
Aside from anything else, it was strange for a wandering mage to be tracked down, given their unpredictable movements.
But Gerald was different—he was a notorious Chronomancer.
These manipulators of time and space loved unraveling threads from the distant future and playing games with "prophecies."
Who knew what bizarre future he had glimpsed this time?
Gerald gave her an absurd suggestion:
"Go to the Feldenberg territory in the Kohlbrent region and find a black-haired boy. If you take him as your apprentice, something good will happen."
Eledis scoffed at this.
Chronomancers' prophecies always followed this pattern: "If you do something somewhere, something good will definitely happen~"
She also knew that Chronomancers shared information about the "future" among themselves and often held debates about "what constitutes a better future."
To achieve their so-called "better future," they wouldn't hesitate to manipulate living people like puppets.
That's why Chronomancers were always criticized—who did they think they were, acting like gods deciding the future?
Eledis figured this guy had probably seen some strange fragment of the future and now wanted to use her to "complete the puzzle."
Of course, Chronomancers never revealed specifics—partly because they couldn't be sure if that future would happen, and partly because they were bound by an oath not to disclose the future.
So Eledis could easily ignore Gerald's advice.
He'd probably just say disappointedly, "Then I'll look for another future," and leave.
But then again, the temptation of Chronomancers was undeniable.
They loved manipulating others to change the future, and to make people act, they needed promises like "do as I say, and something good will happen."
The annoying part was that they were often right.
Yet, the thought of "being a manipulated puppet" was infuriating.
That was the second reason Chronomancers were hated.
'I've been too bored lately—maybe a trip wouldn't hurt.'
Eledis thought to herself. Gerald had only made a suggestion; the choice was still hers.
No need to take it too seriously—just treat it as a diversion. Go if she felt like it, skip if she didn't.
With her magical research hitting a bottleneck lately, she was suffocatingly bored. So why not go?
Traveling had always been a lifelong habit anyway.
Thus, Eledis immediately set off for Kohlbrent.
And just as the damned Chronomancer had said, she indeed found the black-haired boy.
The first button of fate had been fastened.
"Little one, what's your name?"
"I'm Ian."
Eledis gently ruffled the boy's hair.
His eyes held a mix of curiosity and fear, yet sparkled with innocent cleverness—utterly adorable.
'Gerald, you annoying Chronomancer...'
'You said taking this kid as my apprentice would work, right?'
"I'll cut to the chase: I'm here to take you as my apprentice."
"Huh?"
Ian was stunned.
A woman he'd just met today suddenly wanted to take him as her apprentice?
Could "apprentice" be a euphemism for "lab rat"?
"You mean you want me to be your apprentice?"
"Exactly! I want to teach you magic. What do you think?"
Ian was speechless, his mind as if struck by lightning.
In both his past life and this one, knowledge was power.
And to gain knowledge, one had to pay a price—whether in money or connections.
Ian never dreamed of a profession beyond farming precisely for this reason.
He had no money, no appealing qualities except his black hair.
Who would bother teaching him anything—unless it was to use him as experimental material?