I stared at my hands in the mansion's study.
"...Unable to use spatial magic?"
That was what I had been told after securing Yurik's help.
Yurik, after some contemplation, seemed somewhat convinced.
It made sense that I couldn't have learned spatial magic before attending the academy, and since I hadn't graduated yet, it was only natural that I couldn't use it.
The problem was that there was no way to learn it.
Ian had agreed to teach me, but that was only a nominal promise, a means to comply with the policies set by the empire in the last meeting.
It was as good as not keeping the promise, but I couldn't object.
Legal disputes could prove my point and earn proper treatment, but they took too long.
By the time they concluded, Ian would likely have become the head of the family.
"Then I'll teach you."
"Excuse me?"
"I too know how to use spatial magic. I can't use it now, but I can teach you the basics."
The secret of the Astria family.
Spatial magic related knowledge was a secret unknown to other families, even to the emperor.
Knowing it was the Astria family's Achilles heel, no one dared to learn about it.
Of course, even if they wanted to, the lack of related materials made it impossible.
"Spatial magic is a spell that anyone who has Astria blood has tried at least once. But once the head of the family is decided, all that ability is taken away."
Hearing this, I realized what my father's transmission meant.
The transmission of spatial magic was essentially a permission.
Permission to allow the use of spatial magic.
As my uncle said, the moment Ian becomes the head, this permission disappears.
And then, Ian would be the only one left who knows how to use spatial magic.
Anyway, I was able to gain basic knowledge of spatial magic from my uncle.
It was an unexpected gain.
But that didn't mean all my problems were solved.
My uncle could only teach me the theoretical aspects, not much practical help.
Now it was my turn to put in the effort.
I had to grow based on that basic knowledge.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})"...Let's give it a try."
I started gathering mana in my hands.
'The basics of spatial magic start with recognizing space.'
The words my uncle had said.
I mulled over those words.
"Points and lines... and then space."
Points come together to form a line, and lines come together to form a space.
This was the basic principle of spatial magic.
It was hard to understand what that meant.
But knowing something is different from knowing nothing.
I just had to try.
Even if I failed, by continuously trying, I might gain something.
Thinking of 'points, lines, space,' I moved the mana.
"Point..."
A small light emerged from my hand and floated into the air.
It was mana that would serve as a point.
I created a few more of these points.
I connected the dots in sequence, creating lines, and with 12 lines, I formed a cubic space.
"..."
I looked at the hexagon I had created.
"Is this right?"
Could this be considered a space?
It wasn't spatial magic, just a box made of mana.
It was a box created following the order of points and lines, but it was too ordinary.
I just stared at the box.
The next day.
"Is this how it's done?"
Today was the day Ian would teach me spatial magic.
Unexpectedly, Ian arrived at the mansion early in the morning.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Ian stared intently at the box I had made.
"What's this?"
"The basics of spatial magic."
"...This?"
Ian looked unimpressed.
As if to say, 'Is this what you call spatial magic?'
He made no effort to hide his disdain.
"I created points, lines, and space with mana."
If he's so dissatisfied, he should teach me.
I had made this space trying my best, and this is how he reacts?
Ian nodded after hearing my explanation.
"You understand the basics of space."
"My uncle taught me."
I didn't hide the fact that I had made a deal with my uncle.
Well, to be precise, my uncle and I hadn't fully allied yet.
My uncle decided to watch the situation before joining forces with me.
It was actually better for Ian to think that my uncle and I had decided to fully cooperate.
Putting some pressure on Ian was advantageous for me.
Ian frowned, seemingly uncomfortable with the fact that I was collaborating with my uncle.
"Why don't you learn from your uncle then?"
"It's been a long time since he used spatial magic, so I can't learn properly from him."
"Is that so? But I'm also getting busy and might not be able to come."
"What do you mean by that...?"
"You should understand what I mean by this much."
The rebels had started to move.
That seemed to be what Ian was implying.
"Let's be frank. Teaching you isn't important. Dealing with the rebels takes precedence over you. You would agree with that, right? You don't like them either."
"...Right."
The rebels were a common enemy.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Our fight is between the emperor's faction and the nobility.
Essentially, it's an internal dispute.
"If the rebels have started to move, it's natural that I can't teach you. I might not have come today at all."
If the rebels were on the move, it wasn't a problem if Ian couldn't teach me.
For both me and Ian, as part of the empire, the rebels come first.
"Then why did you come today?"
"To form a temporary alliance."
"Excuse me?"
"I'll teach you a bit about spatial magic now. In return, declare that we won't harm each other while dealing with the rebels. Then I'll also cooperate with you."
Ian is currently the commander of the Royal forces against the rebels.
If the rebels were on the move, Ian would be absent from the Royal capital for a while.
It seemed Ian wanted to prevent me from striking behind his back while he was away.
However, his offer to teach me spatial magic was surprising.
Spatial magic was Ian's greatest weapon.
Was he willing to use it as a condition?
"Aren't you afraid that I might betray you?"
"I prefer not to waste energy unnecessarily. I'd hate to see the empire crumble because of you."
"I wouldn't destroy the empire."
"Your actions could indirectly cause someone else to ruin it."
"The rebels?"
"Do you think my enemies are limited to you and the rebels?"
Ian's words made me laugh.
"Maybe you should try making fewer enemies."
"As someone aiming for the top, it's inevitable to have many enemies. Anyone I've suppressed becomes my enemy."
Ian was indeed my enemy, but I had no intention of destroying the empire.
In a way, he was purely ambitious for the top.
However, I couldn't support his methods.
I stood opposed to Ian's nature of eliminating anyone unnecessary to the empire or obstructive to him.
Yet, for now, it was right to follow his words.
"Fine. Let's form a temporary alliance."
We had a common enemy in Ian's words.
Dealing with the rebels took precedence over confronting Ian.
It would be difficult if Ian took over the family, but other paths existed.
However, if the rebels took over the empire, the situation would be hopeless.
The level of danger was different.
So, it was right to follow Ian's words.
Ian nodded at my response.
"We won't write a contract. We both know such contracts are meaningless."
There were contracts that bound the other party with mana, but they were essentially pointless.
We both had excellent wizards around us who could easily break any contract.
Ultimately, if someone betrayed the other, it meant mutual destruction.
So, we had to rely on each other's conscience.
"You know what will happen if you show any suspicious behavior, right?"
"Don't worry about that. Please take good care of Astina."
The most concerning thing, given the rebels' movement, was naturally Astina.
It seemed likely that the rebels' movement was aimed at targeting Astina.
After all, the most bothersome person to them would be Astina, who had killed the rebel leaders and rallied the Royal army.
I extended my hand to Ian.
Ian, with a displeased expression, shook my hand.
"Behave yourself while I'm gone, focusing on the rebels."
I smiled wryly and responded to Ian's words.
"If you teach me spatial magic well, there shouldn't be any problems."
Ian sighed and extended his hand.
"Alright. I'll teach you the basics of spatial magic."
Ian straightened his clothes as he walked down the corridor of the Royal army's building.
He thought a lot while walking.
He had heard about Rudy contacting his uncle, but he never imagined they would really collaborate.
His uncle was virtually non-existent in Astria.
Ian had thought his uncle could be a problem later, but being a well-known figure in social circles, it was difficult to deal with him quietly.
Though his uncle hadn't stepped into politics and didn't belong anywhere, Ian became anxious upon learning about his collaboration with Rudy.
After all, his uncle had a wide network and knew how to use spatial magic.
With the rebels starting to move and unusual activities around Rudy, Ian had to make a decision.
Which to deal with first.
He concluded that the rebels were the priority.
That's why Ian proposed a temporary alliance with Rudy, offering spatial magic as a condition.
Initially, he thought of threatening Rudy, but knowing his character, persuasion seemed more effective than threats.
It was a good card to play for persuasion.
The basics of spatial magic.
Once his uncle started teaching, Rudy would grasp the basics of spatial magic anyway.
His uncle, originally knowledgeable in spatial magic, wouldn't find it difficult to teach the basics.
But Rudy wouldn't go beyond the basics.
So, it was better for Ian to teach him the basics himself.
If Rudy was going to learn the basics anyway, it was more beneficial for Ian to teach him and get something else in return.
'Rudy is in check, at least for now.'
Ian reached the door at the end of the corridor.
He opened it.
'Time to eliminate the rebel scum.'
Upon opening the door, several people were inside.
People in uniforms.
Astina and the staff belonging to the Royal army were naturally present, along with other figures.
The owner of the Royal Magic Tower and the representative of the royal wizards, the Royal Chief wizard, Joaquin Lisderon.
Serina's father and the representative of the elementalists, the Head Elementalist, Keln Rinsburg.
The empire's Prime Minister, Jason Ophillius.
There were also the princesses Rie and Yuni.
And even the Emperor himself.
All the heavyweights of the empire were gathered.
Among these formidable figures.
There was one person sitting, pale-faced.
"Why on earth am I here..."
This was Gracie, the youngest professor representing the academy.
