Return of The 8th Class Mage

 ­ Distinguish to the Empire (2)

“Then tell me. What had happened at the night?”

By the request of the Emperor, Ian took a breath. He started his report, which only contained a story that would be of benefit to Ian. A perfectly manipulated story that wouldn’t cause any suspicion about Ian.

“At night, it was right after the sun had set. Suddenly, continuous explosion sounds were heard. Since one of the sound had come from the ballroom, I rushed to the room and protected the Crown Prince, princess, and my mother with my shield. Soon, Sir Oliver and I found something suspicious. Firstly, the scale of explosions were too small to damage the royal palace directly. Secondly……..”

Ian continued his story. Most of his story was based on facts. Except he already knew of the existence of the Coldwalkers. Without that critical fact, he summarized the situation.

“…… Although we had suspected the situation, we couldn’t decide any further actions. When I said it to the Crown Prince, he ordered me to chase the suspicious clues……”

It wasn’t on the previous report. Suddenly, everyone looked at the Crown Prince.

‘D- did I?’

The Crown Prince also looked embarrassed. He never did it.

‘Did…….. I order him to?’

The night was full of confusion. Maybe he forgot that fact due to the confusion?

“Prince.”

‘Did I really d…….?’

“Prince!”

“Y- yes! Father!”

“Is it true?”

“Yes?”

“I am asking you, did you order Ian to do so?”

It had to be confirmed by the Crown Prince. Every talk in this council was recorded as a document. Numberless liege men were listening. Naturally, they would say what they heard here outside. Which meant, it was chance.

‘An easy chance which was given to the Emperor.’

A good chance to solidify the relationship between the Crown Prince and Ian. With a shiny eye, the Emperor looked at the Crown Prince. With a short hesitation, the Crown Prince opened his mouth.

“I- I thin- Y- yes, that’s right!”

With the Crown Prince’s reply, the council room was swayed for a moment. It wasn’t a negative reaction though. They were just surprised. That Crown Prince really did?

“Stop.”

The Emperor had let them talk to each other for a moment. Then with his order, everyone became quiet again.

“Although the Crown Prince had ordered Ian to do so, obviously it was Ian Page who distinguished himself to the empire the most. Without him, we would let our unknown enemies steal our precious information, and we would be laughed at by the whole world.”

When the liege men were listening the word ‘laugh’, they turned down their head for shame.

“Since Ian Page has prevented such tragedy at an early stage, I will never forgot what he did for us. For this time, I would like to reward him by my very hand.”

It meant the Emperor wouldn’t ask Ian to name his own reward.

“The reward I will give is.”

Quickly, maids and servants started to move. Ian already had been rewarded gold and a mansion before. Since what he distinguished himself with last night was quite the huge one, he would be rewarded with something better. With that Ian was excited.

“This.”

It was a robe. New, the robe with cobalt blue color had no wrinkles on it. It wasn’t decorated luxuriously, but it had some precious aura.

“The robe is my ancestor’s, who was the only mage of royal blood, Michell Greenriver’s only inheritance. Originally, It is not supposed to be given to non royal blood. Actually, I better say I lend it to you, rather than give it to you.”

As he explained. Even Ian wouldn’t have that much chance to see it in former life. The first and last mage of royalty. The one who was talented in magic, and so became the Tower Lord.

‘ The robe of Michell Greenriver.’

In former life, Ian had received various treasure of royalty. Nevertheless, he couldn’t have ever had a chance to see it directly. It was a testament that they didn’t reward it to non royal blood.

“Duration of lending will be, until Ian Page is deceased. Or, until you don’t want to possess it anymore.”

But the Emperor broke the testament, by the excuse that he was ‘lending’ it to Ian. It was an unusual reward.

“Try it on. You wouldn’t need to take off your clothes since its robe.”

With the Emperor’s order, maids helped Ian put it on. The problem was its size was way too big for Ian. The size of the robe was designed for an adult, but Ian was still a young boy. Nevertheless, the Emperor still wanted him to put it on.

“It’s okay, please just put it on to me.”

It was hilarious to watch Ian with an unfitted robe. It looked like a kid who tried his father’s clothes. Liege men turned their face away to stop laughing.

“It’s quite big for you. How long will it take to fit on your body?”

The Emperor joked to Ian. Soon Ian realized the true meaning of his joke. After he wore it, he could feel it. One of the spells that was cast on Michell Greenriver’s robe.

“I will fit it straightly.”

Ian injected his mana to the robe slowly. Soon, a surprising thing happened. The robe, filled with mana, started to stick to Ian’s body. In addition, it started to worm around by itself. As if it measuring the scale of its new owner’s body.

Whirr – !

With a small noise of extracting mana. Michell Greenriver’s robe started to change. Its length, width and size, and everything else was changed for the young owner.

“Wow…..”

“How could it happen…….?”

Without dignity, the liege men started to admire it. The Crown Prince stood up straight and watched Ian as well. It was such a rare scene.

“It suits you better than I had thought. Especially its blue color.”

A light impression from the Emperor. Ian now could feel something clearly. Every power of the robe of Michell Greenriver. It was much more than Ian had ever imagined.

‘So this might be the reason why he left a testament to not reward it to a stranger.’

Satisfied, Ian fixed his sleeves and collar. While bowing to the Emperor, Ian said.

“I appreciate your grace, your majesty.”

Ian’s second meeting with the Emperor. The council meeting ended well.

‘It is an amazing robe indeed.’

The robe kept whispering to Ian. Ian wanted to check its power quickly.

‘I can feel a few formulas.’

Clearly, it had some specific formulas. It tempted Ian greatly. He couldn’t help himself but to test its power.

‘It has been long since I felt excitement.’

It was an unexpected luck. For a while, he would focus on investigating this robe. A mysterious robe that he hadn’t seen in his former life. There must be many things to investigate.

“Hmm?”

At the moment, there was someone who was caught in Ian’s eyes. A lady who was watching Ian from far distance. It was the princess, Hyree Greenriver.

‘It seems she still feels uncomfortable.’

Yet, nobody knew she was a mage. When the mages of the Ivory Tower had arrived, she had already spent her whole mana, so the shield was gone. It was too high class a spell for her to maintain it for long.

‘And injecting mana isn’t that much of an attention grabbing action.’

The room was full of confusion. Nobody found out what exactly the princess had done. Even the Crown Prince and Vanessa who were next to her.

‘It is not my business.’

The reason she was watching Ian was obvious. The princess hid her magical talent on purpose. She was learning magic, while hiding it from the Ivory Tower. If it was revealed, it was one of the most heavy crimes. And Ian knew the fact. The boy who was one of the Ivory Tower’s members. The 12th arch mage.

‘She chose to be.’

Ian had no idea why she had hidden it. Of course, he wasn’t interested in it. It was time wasting for Ian to care about what happened to the princess.

‘But,’

Ian gathered mana on his right finger. With index finger, Ian drew something on the air. Since it was quite small gesture, no one realized it.

‘I can do this for her, at least.’

By his gesture, the mana was shimmering. And Ian sent it to the princess. By riding the wind, a chunk of mana had been sent to the princess. Soon, it had been released on the princess’ face. It was blue letters, formed by mana.

[You don’t need to worry about last night.] The biggest relief that Ian could give her. The princess looked more comfortable. It seemed to be enough for her.

‘Now what I have to do..’

Of course, testing the robe of Michell Greenriver. With excitement, Ian left the royal palace. Suddenly, a few people blocked Ian’s path. Ian expected the Crown Prince and his knights.

“You did very well.”

Ian’s expectation was wrong this time. It wasn’t the Crown Prince.

“Good job, sir Ian.

A young, but familiar voice. A unique gentle manner. The royalty, who Ian didn’t want to confront yet.

‘……..?’

By instinct, Ian turned up his head. To check the source of the voice. It was a boy who seemed around two years older than Ian, who had the blond hair of royal blood.

‘Ragnar.’

It was the bastard.

Ian had avoided confronting him intentionally.

If he could avoid him, he avoided him, and if he could hide, he hid. Today, he didn’t pay attention due to the new robe. If he knew about it, he would’ve chosen a different path.

“Thanks to you, the royalty and the whole empire’s peace were kept. As my father told you, you were the hero of the event. I was looking forward to meeting you and saying thank you, as a member of royalty. Ah! I forgot to introduce myself. I’m sure you already know me, though.”

A confrontation with Ragnar earlier than in his former life. In his former life when Ian became 14 years old, when the academy started to call him a genius, he came to meet Ian. So 2 years earlier than before.

“Let me introduce myself. I am the 5th prince of the mighty Emperor, Ragnar Greenriver.”

A worried about moment had finally come. Ian used to worry about this moment.

‘What should I say to Ragnar?’

‘Would I be able to hide my killing intent?’

“I want to serve a meal for our hero, do you have time?”

However, Ian’s body reacted in an unexpected way. He became more calm than usual, rather than his heart beating anxiously. Ian could clearly see Ragnar’s white face. His offer sounded dry to Ian. It wasn’t killing intent that Ian had to hide; He had to prevent himself from laughing.

‘He’s such a kid.’

30 years later, Ragnar Greenriver would become a mighty and cold blooded Emperor.

However, look at his current appearance.

He was just a young prince who had to hide his ambition.

A boy who didn’t have much power, but wanted it.

A young boy who was living his daily life by enduring his desire for power.

‘How puny.’

That was all what Ian had thought.

Not anger, not anxiousness, nor love and hate.

A puny 5th prince.

A boy, whose life could be ruined by Ian at any time.

Now Ian finally concluded his method of revenge.

“No thanks. I already have a schedule.”

Ian refused Ragnar’s offer without hesitation. Still, Ragnar was smiling.

“I don’t mind to have a meal with you later. So when will you be…….”

“Sorry, not in future as well.”

Now, Ragnar’s face lost its smile for a moment. He quickly rearranged his facial expressions though.

“May I ask you for a reason?”

“Too busy. I am.”

Although he was 5th prince, he was one of royalty members. If others reacted so, it was an unforgivable arrogance.

“Busy….. a lot?”

“Yes. Many things to do.”

However, Ian was Archmage. In addition, the Archmage who was favored by the Emperor and the Crown Prince. Although Ragnar was a prince, he couldn’t punish him.

“……….. I guess I wasted your time for nothing.”

“Yes you did. Excuse me then.”

After short bow, Ian passed by Ragnar.

His body guards grumbled, and Ragnar was watching Ian’s back.

Although Ian could feel everything, Ian didn’t care about it.

‘This time, I will be on your very opposite side.’

In former life, Ian was ally of Ragnar. An ally who was the strongest and the nearest. However, this life will be different. Ian decided to oppose him.

‘You won’t able to proceed any single step.’

All those plans of Ragnar.

Ian will block every single one of those plans, by his hand.

Every time Ragnar failed, he would hear the name, Ian Page.

At last, he would curse Ian and fall.

‘Until he desperately wanted to erase my very existence in the world.’

But Ian would be one who couldn’t be defeated by Ragnar.

The ‘ultimate evil’ to Ragnar.

‘Only for you.’

After Ian passed by Ragnar and his bodyguards, Ian cleared his mind. Ian started to assemble his mana. The first formulae that Michell’s robe whispered to Ian. Ian wanted to see what would happen.

‘Fly.’

Originally, fly was inefficient spell. Short duration, extremely slow flight speed. The robe whispered such formulae. Why?

*Flap!*

As he activated the formulae, the robe flapped roughly. There was no wind blowing.

‘Can it be real?’

Normal fly spell was supposed to let Ian fly with a slow speed. That was the standard theory.

*Whirrr – !*

And the theory was just broken. Ian raised to the sky rapidly.

‘More than I have imagined.’

An artifact that he couldn’t have had a chance to see. The power of Michell Greenriver’s robe, although he only tasted a portion of it, his heart started to beat.

‘There must be more artifacts like this.’

He wasn’t just limiting to the area to the empire. In the whole world, there must be some. Unknown makers, unknown creations to date. Legendary artifacts must be out there somewhere.

‘No more former life.’

In former life, Ian was crazed about magic, and he was satisfied by what Ragnar had provided. However, the situation had changed. If he wanted, and decided,

‘I can find it.’

And he could possess it. An artifact that has similar power to the robe of Michell Greenriver, or maybe even stronger ones.

‘I can be even stronger than I used to be in my former life.’

In magical power, but also in political power as well. It would take some time, but it was possible.

‘But.’

On the other side, he had question. Would he need such overwhelming power? To survive in this life? For revenge? During the time Ian was thinking about these answerless thoughts, his body had arrived at the mansion. Through the window, he could see familiar faces. Mother who had passed quite early in former life. Ledio who was supposed to be killed by raids. Douglas who was supposed to be Ian’s vital enemy.

‘No one was waiting for me in my former life.’

There was no one who waiting for Ian, nor anyone Ian had to protect. However, It was different this time. There were some people who were waiting for him. In addition, there were some people who he had to protect.

‘A power to protect.’

A power that could save his people from any circumstance Even if the world began to fall, or an unimaginably strong enemy appears.

‘There is never enough for such power.’

That was Ian’s conclusion. The more power he yields, the safer his people will be.

‘I will be stronger, until my body cannot hold on, until the maximum.’

An even more determined decision than he used to have right after he just rewound the time.

Since then, 5 years had passed.

Re-edited by FlawFinder