"Have you arrived, Crown Prince?"
Niel turned from the bookshelf, his hand still holding open the book he had been reading when he sensed Matthius's presence. He saw that Matthius was doing fine now. His cold expression and sharp gaze confirmed his suspicion. Niel had once been confused as to why a ten-year-old child like him had such an intimidating gaze.
"Grandfather and Mother were so worried about me that they almost forbade me from coming," Matthius answered. "I was saved by Father." He glanced at Arneld standing beside him.
Niel walked toward the table as he asked, "How is your body? Is there any pain?" He set the book in his hand down on the table.
"I'm fine."
Arneld, who stood next to Matthius, folded both his arms in front of his chest. "What about the results of your investigation?"
Niel walked closer as he answered, "Matthius is the one I've been searching for over thousands of years. A human blessed directly by the Goddess of Light to be sent as the light of the world. That human is the spirit of the goddess, who turns light into his weapon." He now stood before Matthius. "Matthius. You are the emissary of light capable of defeating the darkness."
"But I..." Matthius clenched both his hands tightly. He knew what he had done after losing control of his light elemental power yesterday.
"You won't be alone. I will have other elemental mages accompany you to defeat the world's darkness that will soon arrive."
"That's not what I mean..." Matthius looked away. "Isn't it that I can't control it? I'm afraid of hurting someone."
Niel stepped back slightly from Matthius. What he worried about was indeed true. Matthius's power level was no longer that of a human, but of a demigod. Moreover, he had seen for himself how terrifying its power was yesterday. Niel, who had possessed pure light mana since long ago, wouldn't be able to get close to him, or even ordinary people.
"How are the conditions of those I injured?" Matthius asked, breaking the silence.
"They've been able to return to their activities and attend class."
Matthius breathed in relief. Though cold, he had a sense of care that no one else knew about. "Can you just seal it? I don't want to have this power if it can hurt others, especially Mother and Vivi."
"But, only this power holds hope for the day the Demon King comes to the surface. However, if you truly wish to seal it, I will do it." Niel decided with a heavy heart.
"How can I do that if you say it like that, Ancestor."
"That was my goal." Niel smiled triumphantly.
"So, what is your decision, Grandfather?" Arneld, who had only been listening silently until now, asked.
"Leave it to me!"
The three of them looked toward the door. Beyond it, a faint voice could be heard. Niel did not move from his spot. Who dared to enter the highest magic tower without permission and cause a commotion? As he recalled, all forms of meetings with the instructors had been canceled for today.
"Let me in," Louis requested, the person who fearlessly barged into the highest magic tower. "I want to meet the Head of the Academy because there's something I need to discuss."
One of the door guards who had crossed his weapon with his companion's glared fiercely at Louis. "This isn't a public room that anyone can enter as they please."
"I already promised my brother I wouldn't cause a commotion, so let me in," Louis requested again, his voice sounding slightly soft but pressuring.
"You can't!" the other door guard replied firmly.
Louis sighed softly. "This world really keeps testing my patience," he muttered inaudibly. "Brother, forgive me for not keeping my promise."
"Hey, you—"
Brak!
The door was thrown open violently inward after Louis's face no longer showed his sweet expression. His face bore a suppressed, angry expression. For the first time, he felt this angry. He didn't care how the people inside the room would react.
"Excuse me. Sorry for causing a bit of a commotion." Louis was now smiling sweetly again as he looked at those who held the highest positions in Luminaria.
"Where are the guards?" Arneld asked with his piercing cold expression.
"Your Majesty need not worry, they're just asleep for a moment and will wake when it's time." His eyes glanced toward Niel, who stood between Matthius and Arneld. "Are you really the Head of the Academy? Sir Niel? How impressive!" he exclaimed softly.
Niel walked closer with full charisma. "What important matter brings you to seek me, someone this busy?" he asked after standing directly in front of Louis.
Louis's hand pointed at Matthius as he said, "Let me teach him."
Niel's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
Louis lowered his finger. "Hand the stu—ah, no. His Highness the Crown Prince to me. Let me teach His Highness to control the light elemental power."
Matthius didn't know who Louis was, so his expression was more confused than Niel's. "Who is he?" he asked.
"Ah, forgive me for forgetting to greet you." Slowly, Louis pulled one foot back, and his body bowed with his right hand supporting his chest as he said, "A formal introduction. I am Louis De Artar, a first-year student of the academy."
"Why did you come here?"
"I want to teach His Highness to control the light elemental power."
"Don't talk nonsense!" Niel retorted. "How could you, with your low rank, teach His Highness to control the light element?"
Louis straightened his posture to face Niel again. "Didn't you see for yourself how I stood alone and endured during yesterday's commotion?"
"Is that true?" Matthius asked Niel.
"It's true. I won't deny it."
"When Father was overwhelmed, Father saw how that child stood as if he were watching something amazing," Arneld added.
"So, what do you say, Your Highness?" Louis looked sweetly at the cold prince standing behind Niel.
Matthius looked suspiciously at Louis because he could see what lay behind that sweet smile. "If possible, I ask for your help." He decided to accept any small possibility from the child three years younger than him.
"Very well. I feel very happy." Louis smiled until wrinkles appeared from the eye-covering cloth that always adorned his face.
"Matthius..." Arneld called in a whisper.
"Calm down, Father. There's no harm in trying first, then judging." Matthius dispelled his father's worry.
Arneld sighed very softly, then stared sharply at Louis. "Can I see what's behind the cloth covering those eyes?"
"Ah, this?" Louis touched the area around his eyes. "Before that, can Your Majesty withstand one attack from Sir Niel?"
Arneld frowned, not understanding. "This isn't a request, but a royal decree. You must do it." His tone was full of pressure.
Louis looked at Niel before him, who had the same desire as Arneld, before bowing his head, then answering in a polite tone, "Forgive me, Your Majesty. These eyes have been closed for a long time. I cannot remove the covering if Your Majesty does not grant my request."
"Forget my selfish request. Now, answer how you can teach the Crown Prince when you yourself cannot use magic?" Arneld asked.
"I said I intend to teach him, Your Majesty, not fight him. Forgive my earlier words that sounded ambiguous."
"Tell us how."
"His Highness the Crown Prince needs to die first."
"What do you mean?" This time Niel asked with a shocked face.
"Sometimes, humans realize something great after death. The realm of death has no limits, no sensation, only emptiness, making one reflect, until light illuminates the path to truth. It is in that place that all truths will be seen," Louis explained solemnly.
Niel was stunned. "That sentence... isn't it one of the fragments from the ancient stone tablet that holds the forgotten secrets of the world? How could you know it? There is only one such stone, and it is stored in the Elf village's treasure room."
"How should I put it, Sir..." Louis scratched an itch on the back of his neck. "Do you think it's just a meaningless sentence? After finding a worn page in a book, I interpreted it as a clue to something. And now, I know." He looked toward Matthius.
"A meaningful sentence?"
"As a honorable and intelligent Elf, you must have the same opinion as me regarding the ancient sentence written on the tablet. I even wish to know the next sentence," Louis quipped.
"I can't. Even if you were an Elder Elf. The tablet is sealed by an immense power, as if someone wanted to keep it away from someone. That sentence fragment has been passed down orally through generations to Elf descendants."
"You can discuss something that secret with an untalented first-year student, huh." Louis smiled amiably.
Niel realized. For a moment, he felt as if he were speaking with a ruler until Louis's rebuke brought him back. "My apologies." He looked at Louis. "Return to your class. You can meet the Crown Prince after today's lessons end."
"I'll take my leave then."
"I will also go to class." Matthius followed Louis, who had already vanished beyond the door, leaving his father and Niel without saying another word.