‘Can't be helped.’
The skull principal thought to himself, completely unaware of Yi-Han's inner thoughts. Seeing how things were unfolding, it was clear that Ogonin, who was not the type of mage to teach willingly under threats or humiliation, must have been truly moved by Yi-Han's polite behavior.
It was regrettable that he couldn't embarrass him further, but if he was willing to concede that much, it couldn't be helped. After all, it wasn't just anyone teaching; it was Ogonin, a great mage himself, offering instruction.
This was a precious opportunity that even the mages of this tower would not easily receive.
"Tch. Ogonin. Let's call this a repayment of debt. Teach well."
“I will… do my best.”
The skull principal then floated out of the room, knowing it was impolite to remain while another mage was teaching.
"Are you okay?" asked Yi-Han.
"Uh?" Ogonin slightly smiled at the question. It seemed Yi-Han was wondering if it was alright to receive one-on-one instruction from a great mage like Ogonin without any recompense, a natural reaction for someone his age.
"It's fine. I'm doing this out of my own will, not due to any coercion or threat. Don't worry," reassured Ogonin.
"It's not that, I'm worried the principal might harass those outside..."
"Well, it should be fine. Probably," Ogonin replied, slightly taken aback by Yi-Han's objectively realistic concern.
Hearing about the illusion magic Yi-Han knew, Ogonin nodded and remarked, "The Farhait series of illusion magic. Farhait. That guy is quite a decent illusion mage."
'That’s a bit rude,' Yi-Han thought, unaware of the relationship between Ogonin and Farhait.
"The magic, based on the fire element, is easy for beginners to learn and apply. Its only drawback is reduced effectiveness in cold environments."
"But... I used it in a cold place, and it worked well."
"Ah, probably because of your abundant mana," Ogonin realized, nodding understandingly, but Yi-Han's eyes held a hint of skepticism.
"Farhait's illusion magic is good, but I'll teach you something different. It's a bit rough around the edges but quite useful," Ogonin said modestly. What he planned to teach was his own creation, an illusion spell known among other illusion mages as 'Ogonin's Arcane Illusion Magic', respected for its elegant structure, sharp concept, and excellent effects. However, Ogonin hadn't widely shared this spell, unlike his other creations, because of its complexity and his uncertainty about it being properly passed on without his direct instruction.
'But this boy is worthy of learning it,' thought Ogonin. It wasn't just about fulfilling a promise to the skull principal. Ogonin recognized that Yi-Han was a courteous and considerate boy, evident from past events at the magic academy and today's duel. Coupled with his magic talent, Yi-Han was indeed a suitable candidate for learning Ogonin's secret magic.
"What kind of magic is it?" Yi-Han inquired curiously.
"Well, I haven't named it specifically... but the other mages call it Ogonin's Arcane Illusion Magic. You can call it that too."
Yi-Han inwardly expressed his perplexity, having never heard of such a thing before. It was a given that the Empire's magic system was vast, and there certainly existed peculiar magics that even Yi-Han was unaware of. However, he couldn't help but feel more trust in the magics he had heard of, as opposed to those completely foreign to him, regardless of their purported greatness. ‘It should be fine, right?’ he mused to himself, trying not to be overly pessimistic.
Calmly contemplating, Yi-Han considered the mage Ogonin, who seemed competent despite some reservations. Ogonin, who managed such a tower, earned the respect of other mages, and had authored various books, must have been a formidable mage in his prime, despite the less impressive demeanor he displayed before Yi-Han. Yi-Han realized that it was natural for one's abilities to rust somewhat after retirement.
Unaware of Yi-Han's thoughts, Ogonin, who had never retired, continued speaking. "Farhait was not only proficient in illusion magic but also excelled in the application of the fire element, developing several magics combining these two realms. As I said, these magics have clear advantages."
Yi-Han knew that the Empire's magic, like any other field of study, evolved over time. It was natural for subsequent generations of mages to refine and improve upon the magics of their predecessors, focusing on convenience and efficiency. If a magic required a great deal of effort or power to cast, newer versions were developed to lessen these demands, thus replacing less efficient magics and setting new trends.
The Farhait illusion magic that Yi-Han had learned was of this new breed, easy to learn and apply due to its incorporation of the fire element. But as Ogonin pointed out, every advantage came with a drawback. "Farhait's illusion magic, though efficient, is not ideal for mastering the essence of illusion magic. This is true for all magics that utilize other elements in their casting."
If one created illusions with fire, ice, or earth, the difficulty of learning the magic might decrease, but it became far removed from the essence of illusion magic.
Ogonin believed in the value of confronting the inherent challenges of pure illusion magic. Attentively listening, Yi-Han inquired, "Then, how should one ideally summon illusions?"
"With pure mana alone," Ogonin replied, acknowledging the difficulty and unpredictability of this approach. "It's a challenging and hard-to-control path, but it's the most direct one." As he spoke, he gestured towards a chair beside him where, almost imperceptibly, a second Ogonin was seated.
"Touch it," Ogonin suggested.
Yi-Han reached out to the second Ogonin, amazed to find it solid and unyielding, unlike the illusions of Farhait he knew. "It's an illusion materialized from the concept of myself," Ogonin explained.
"Remarkable," Yi-Han admitted, genuinely impressed. He wondered if true skill remained intact despite retirement. "You'll be able to learn it soon," Ogonin said, looking at Yi-Han with a fond expression, as if foreseeing a great mage in the making.
"What circle does this magic belong to?" Yi-Han inquired.
"…5th Circle…"
Ogonin realized his mistake only after seeing Yi-Han's incredulous look. He had forgotten that the boy before him was a novice, having spent too much time among the tower's more experienced mages.
"It's not something you need to learn right now. Consider it something to master in the future."
"Aah, yes, I see."
Ogonin hastily changed his tone, but Yi-Han's gaze had grown slightly colder.
"The magics I teach aren't all difficult ones like creating a physical illusion of oneself. There are many relatively easier ones too."
"Is that so? Wait, but why didn't you start with those..." Yi-Han's question trailed off as Ogonin tactfully avoided it.
Indeed, creating a corporeal illusion was an advanced spell, and there were much simpler spells in illusion magic. For instance, the 1st Circle magic, <Ogonin's Emotion Perception>, was almost a necessity for illusionists, allowing them to read emotions emitted by living beings around them. The type of illusion magic used could vary depending on the target's emotions.
Then there were 2nd Circle magics like <Ogonin's Rising Anxiety>, <Ogonin's Approaching Fear>, and <Ogonin's Oncoming Despair> - mental interference spells that directly influenced the emotions of others.
To progress to higher-level mental interference spells, one had to first master these.
The 3rd Circle spell, <Ogonin's Mist>, created a veil of illusory fog around the mage, disrupting the focus of distant enemies and making it difficult for them to aim accurately. When cast properly, it could protect a wide area of allies from long-range attacks.
'...Something feels off.'
As Yi-Han listened and practiced each spell, he sensed a discordance. The magic was too... difficult. Even within the same circle, the difficulty of spells varied greatly, but the ones Ogonin was teaching were exceptionally challenging, to the point that Yi-Han felt it keenly.
"Hmm, perhaps they are a bit difficult?" Ogonin cautiously inquired, noticing Yi-Han's thoughts.
"Yes, they're quite challenging, perhaps due to my inadequacy."
"It's not your fault, lad. These spells are inherently difficult."
"No, it must be my lacking."
"No, truly, they are difficult spells."
Ogonin, sensing Yi-Han's misunderstanding, kindly explained. Like he had critiqued Farhait's illusion magic, Ogonin was not a fan of incorporating other elements into illusion magic. He preferred pure illusion magic without any compromise or modification. Although this approach made the spells more challenging, he believed that in the long run, this was the shortest path to mastery.
Naturally, Ogonin's illusion spells were uncompromising, pure illusion magic. For example, a different illusion spell might have utilized elements like eye movement, muscle contractions, or body temperature changes. However, <Ogonin's Emotion Perception> focused solely and intensely on the soul of the target, increasing its difficulty.
“...”
Yi-Han's expression became ambivalent upon hearing this explanation. It seemed fitting for a mage who had retired and been out of practice for some time…
"Have you learned well?"
"The teachings were so challenging that I feel like I've just begun."
"That figures. Ogonin is a purist, after all. But not many in the Empire adhere to such pure, classical illusion magic like him. Mastering it will be beneficial in many ways."
"I'll give it a try."
While Yi-Han responded affirmatively, he was doubtful about delving deeply into the magics he had learned that day. With so many other spells to learn, adding such challenging ones seemed daunting.
“But still, it’s your good fortune.”
"?"
"It's clear Ogonin has taken a liking to you. He's offered to make time every week for teaching. Come every weekend, and I'll connect you with him."
“...”
Yi-Han's expression hardened.
“Even though learning magic on weekends might be irksome, you need to endure it. This is indeed a great opportunity, not a matter of being petulant.”
"I didn't say anything."
His eyes betrayed his true feelings, though he remained silent.
As Yi-Han was about to board the carriage, illusion mages from within the tower rushed out to bid him farewell. The sight seemed to make the skull principal grimace, as if the display of friendship was nauseating to him.
"Today's duel will be unforgettable. I certainly wish for your grand success."
"Someday, I hope to hear your name in the dueling world. By the way, what is your family name and given name?"
"I am Yi-Han of the Wardanaz family."
"Wardanaz family's Yi-Han. As expected of a distinguished knight, the family is also... Huh?"
The illusion mages hesitated, puzzled.
What?
Meanwhile, the skull principal closed the door of the carriage.
"Wait, just a moment, Mr. Gonadaltes."
“Don't be bothersome and just go.” The skull principal was ready to wield his whip before any further interruption.
"You just said Wardanaz family... Aaah! To wield a whip over such a trivial matter!"
“A great mage doesn't make empty threats. Leave now!”
