Great Teacher in a Defense Game

#42 Birds of a Feather

Nordilla hurriedly checked the notepad.

His earlier resolve was already forgotten.

He simply *had* to confirm it.

In the meantime, Enoch stepped forward.

He corrected Lacrimosa’s blunder in Nordilla’s stead.

“Lacrimosa. That is not how it should be.”

“Yes? What do you mean?”

“Your magic, I speak of that. Magic, in the end, is rooted in the wielder’s inner vision. But you are imitating the abilities of another, instead of forging your own.”

“Ah…”

“I appreciate you thinking of me. But this is not a wise decision. Walk your own path. Do not try to blindly follow another’s.”

A mage’s power, ultimately, stems from within themselves.

But Lacrimna, instead of forging her own path, chose to emulate Enoch.

This was never a good thing.

Enoch, concerned by this, brought up a past incident.

“Lacrimna, do you recall that separatist we encountered before?”

“Separatist…? The one who wielded the magic of word-spirit?”

Lacrimna dredged her memory.

Enoch nodded, as if confirming her answer.

“Indeed. He is a fine example of a poor mage. Even with the potent magic of word-spirit at his disposal, he merely resorted to defiling the bodies of others.”

“But, wasn’t he quite strong nonetheless? If not for you, teacher, it seems it would have been rather dangerous.”

“Even so, he was weak for a wielder of word-spirit. The very term, *word-spirit*, holds boundless power within it.”

“Hmm…”

Lacrimna wore an ambiguous expression.

Frankly, it didn’t quite resonate.

Enoch added, as if resigned to it.

“It seems a further explanation is required. Shall we consider an example?”

“An example?”

“Yes. Lacrimna, what is the first thing that springs to mind when you hear the term *word-spirit*?”

Word-spirit.

The spiritual power believed to reside within words.

“Well…? I suppose… ‘command’ perhaps?”

“Is that what word-spirit is to you?”

“Uh… was what I said incorrect, maybe?”

“No, not particularly incorrect. In truth, word-spirit is indeed akin to command. In that sense – “

Enoch pointed a finger at Lacrimna.

” – if you, Lacrimna, were to master the magic of word-spirit, its form would also be fixed as command.”

“Command?”

“Yes. Magic that allows you to enforce your will upon others. Roughly, that is the effect that would manifest. In contrast, that separatist associated violence with the term *word-spirit*.”

Lacrimna belatedly understood Enoch’s meaning.

The most crucial thing in awakening magic is aptitude.

And what is needed when progressing from there is the user’s inner vision.

But, Lacrina was straying from the path right there.

She wasn’t thinking for herself, awakening on her own accord.

She was merely obsessed with imitating Enoch.

“The reason I disparaged your magic a moment ago is precisely for that reason. Conjuring a colossal ice serpent with magic. The precision is commendable enough. But, it ends right there. If you cannot think beyond that, your level will ultimately be no more than that of a jester.”

A jester-level mage.

A mage of a shallow caliber, whose talents amounted to nothing more than a talent show act.

That explanation, ironically, pinpointed Lacrina’s current problem with accuracy.

“I understand. What mistake I made.”

Lacrina murmured quietly.

An attitude quite different from before.

Enoch chuckled softly and nodded.

“You can do better next time, yes?”

“Yes!”

Lacrina exclaimed confidently.

Following that, she closed her eyes and entered meditation.

To prove it was no empty boast.

Enoch quietly watched Lacrina.

In the meantime, Nordilla approached.

Enoch spoke belatedly.

“My apologies.”

“Whatever for?”

“Those were originally words Nordilla-nim should have said, but somehow, I ended up saying them.”

“Ah, that? It’s quite alright. It seems they would resonate more deeply in her heart coming from you than from me.”

“Surely not? The specialist in Ice magic is not I, but the Master of the Magic Tower.”

“Perhaps…”

For some reason, Nordilla trailed off.

Enoch felt a question arise within him.

Why is he like this?

“You appear to be troubled; is there some problem?”

“Hm? No, it’s nothing. Hehehe…”

Nordilla chuckled, shaking his head.

His expression belied a rather troubled heart.

‘Tsk, tsk, what is the world coming to?’

Nordilla stared at the notepad, utterly shaken.

It was an abyss.

An abyss manifested in the human heart.

That such a talent, a child with such potential, harbored such depths…

What, indeed, was the world coming to?

Nordilla, lost in mournful imaginings, clicked his tongue in vain.

‘Eing, tsk tsk…’

@

The meditation continued, long and deep.

Lacrina, eyes closed, continuously contemplated her own inner self.

Two hours had slipped by unnoticed.

Lacrina, finally emerging from her concentration, belatedly spoke.

“Master Magus.”

“…Hmm? What is it, child?”

“I have a question. Would it be permissible to ask it?”

“Of course. As much as you like. Questions are always welcome.”

Nordilla readily granted permission.

The privilege of questioning the Magus, virtually the master of all magic.

At any other time, he would have refused, no matter the price.

But not now.

Lacrina was a pristine ore.

If he could assist in awakening such precious talent, what were a few questions?

Of course, the ore was somewhat clouded…

But such a thing could be easily dismissed with a laugh.

“Thank you, Master Magus. Then, I shall venture to ask something.”

“Yes, what is it you wish to know?”

“If the inner image is the most important thing in manifesting magic, then the object of the manifestation is of little consequence, yes?”

“Subject? …Aha. So, your inner image is a substance, not a phenomenon, I see.”

“Substance…? Yes, for now.”

Nordilla swiftly grasped Lacrina’s intention.

Freezing magic fundamentally focuses on immobility, or cessation.

It possesses the quality of freezing, and furthermore, stopping something.

But what Lacrina mentioned wasn’t a phenomenon, but a substance.

Lacrina was concentrating on materializing something through freezing magic.

‘For a mage, it’s the most conventional choice. Instead of taking unnecessary risks, this might be better.’

Nordilla clicked her tongue, almost unconsciously.

She felt a certain disappointment.

With her talent, she had hoped Lacrina would show something more extraordinary.

However, it wasn’t exactly a wrong decision.

It was ambiguous to point out any flaws.

‘Still, I should tell her what needs to be told.’

Nordilla dismissed her stray thoughts.

Now was the time to share knowledge for the sake of a prodigy, not to indulge in personal desires.

“There’s something I need to tell you, Lacrina?”

“Yes?”

“You’re trying to materialize a substance right now. I don’t quite know what you’re trying to materialize yet, but there’s no need to be so afraid already.”

Nordilla said, spreading her palm.

Upon it, an arrow made of ice appeared.

“I’ve just materialized the substance of an arrow with freezing magic. Is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Then, how about this?”

Nordilla altered her magic.

In an instant, the arrow crumbled, transforming into a dagger.

“This time, I made it in the shape of a dagger. You see?”

“Yes.”

“Then, is this dagger a different magic from the arrow a moment ago?”

Nordilla asked, testing the waters.

Lakrina hesitated a moment, then shook her head slowly, side to side.

“No, fundamentally, it’s the same magic.”

“Correct. Only the form has changed, the nature of the ice itself remains. What you intend to do is the same. The form can change as much as you wish. Don’t limit your imagination with such a triviality.”

The appearance or shape of the magic doesn’t matter.

In the end, only the essence must remain unchanged.

After all, a mage’s rank is determined by how well they understand the magic itself.

And in that context, mere appearance…

It wasn’t a topic worth agonizing over.

“That’s enough explanation, wouldn’t you say?”

At that moment, Enoch, who had been watching, interjected.

“Show me, already. I’m eager to see the fruits of your pondering.”

“Yes! I’ll show you right now!”

Lakrina answered brightly.

Brushing off her knees and backside, she rose from her seat.

She drew the longsword from her hip and grasped it firmly with both hands.

“…”

– *Shhhk* –

Lakrina closed her eyes and concentrated.

A blue aura shimmered around her, almost imperceptibly.

Ice magic.

Being brought into reality according to its master’s will.

– *Swish* –

A frigid chill permeated the sword.

Before anyone could quite comprehend it, the sword’s blade had transformed.

The standard-issue steel was gone.

Replaced by a high-density ice blade, imbued with biting cold.

“I see. Her mental image was a sword, then.”

Nordilla was visibly impressed.

In truth, manifesting magic in the shape of a sword wasn’t particularly rare.

On the contrary, it was one of the most common forms.

But, Lacrina’s magic now… it is not ordinary.

The root lies in her precision.

The magic Lacrina weaves now… it is a quality hard to believe comes from a novice.

‘The blade’s edge is keen. Common folk focus only on form, missing the minor things.’

The sword’s balance. Its weight. And the details.

Lacrina perfectly realized the weapon that is the sword.

Even the tuning, she achieved with subtlety.

Made carefully, presuming she herself would wield it.

Truly, a divine artifact wrought of swords.

Magic only one familiar with the sword could conjure.

“Not bad. To be honest, I thought some kind of 『Sword Magician』 had appeared.”

“Should you not refer to 『Knights』 thus?”

“What can I do? That is the truth. Just because they dislike it, does not mean the truth changes.”

Nordilla grumbled idly.

He does not enjoy fighting.

However, that does not mean he wishes to consider them even in their absence.

“Anyway, halt it soon. I have seen enough as is.”

“No, not yet.”

“Hm? Not yet? Has the implementation not been completed?”

Nordilla asked with a hint of doubt.

Enoch quietly refuted.

His gaze remained fixed upon Lacrina.

“Better to witness it directly than to waste time explaining. Observe first.”

“…?”

Nordilla followed his instruction for now.

A moment later, he understood the meaning of Enoch’s words.

-Shirr…

“…Diffusion?”

A change had come.

The sword that Lacrina held.

A chill, born from that single point, spread outward with alarming speed.

Soon, it utterly enveloped its master.

Finally, it transformed, becoming like a garment.

Lacrima, mistress of magic.

In the blink of an eye, she was clad in robes of pristine, absolute white.

– Swish –

“…Cloak, raiment, armor, the spread of magic.”

Nordilla savored the words, turning them over in her mind.

In that space.

Lacrima was already adorned in icy, snow-white vestments.

“…Ah! So that’s it!”

“You perceived it?”

“From the start, it wasn’t a sword! An image! That was it!”

Nordilla expressed her admiration with all sincerity.

Just moments before, she had felt a stirring of disappointment within.

That the question posed was merely the manifestation of a sword… something felt amiss.

But the reality was entirely different.

Lacrima was imagining nothing less than herself.

The ‘most perfect mage’ she would become, a distant future self made real.

“She means to forcibly drag her desired future, through magic, into the present!”

Nordilla cried out, mouth agape.

“Arrogant! Truly arrogant! But, for that very reason, it holds worth!”

She couldn’t conceal her excited tone.

Witnessing a seed such as this was a first in her life.

Come to think of it, Enoch had been certain from the start that Lacrima would become the Ice Magic Tower Lord.

At the time, she’d simply laughed it off.

But now, it seemed, his words were not mere boasts.

This child was truly a talent worthy of such a fate.

– Whisper –

In the meantime, the weather shifted.

Was it that the surrounding environment attuned itself to her?

Tiny snowflakes were already dancing from the sky.

‘Lacrina’s magic isn’t much different from the original. Even with me here, the core of it remains unchanged, I see.’

Enoch quietly let the snow fall on him.

His gaze was fixed on the ice sword Lacrina held.

‘Her magic didn’t just materialize matter. It materialized the very phenomenon itself.’

He silently scrutinized the area around the sword.

The snowflakes falling from the sky.

They no longer fell.

As if time had stopped, they hung suspended around the sword in unison.

The properties of ice magic: immobility and stasis.

That was the result, manifesting through the sword.

The sword Lacrina had created possessed the effect of temporarily halting the thoughts and actions of its target.

‘The effect seems to be exactly as in the original.’

The Dongbingjeolgeom (凍氷絶劍).

Frozen World Severing Blade.

A lone sword, left amidst a world frozen still, where all connections are severed.

That was the name of the sword Lacrina used in the original story.

That very sword was now before his eyes.

And, *that* was the hidden card Enoch had been anticipating.

The situation settled down after a short while.

“Hahh… hahh…”

Lacrina, showing signs of exhaustion, caught her breath.

She then collapsed onto the snow-covered field.

She had pushed herself far too hard.

“A sword that halts action and thought, is it…”

Meanwhile, Nordilla analyzed Lacrina’s magic.

Finally arriving at the information regarding the sword.

He couldn’t hide his intrigued reaction.

“Interesting. Very interesting indeed. However, I cannot help but be wary of its effects.”

It was true, I glimpsed both interest and possibility.

Yet, neither did I forget its danger.

Enoch, who was listening, agreed as well.

“I concur. It’s far too perilous a magic to wield now.”

“Indeed. Dangerous. In more ways than one, mind you.”

“It’s alright. Time will resolve it, after all. It might strain the body now, but someday I’ll be able to handle it alone.”

“Hm? What are you going on about? That wasn’t what I meant at all.”

“Pardon? Then in what sense did you deem it dangerous?”

Enoch, feeling perplexed, questioned again.

He was certain I’d been referencing the magic’s inherent risk.

If not that, then what in the world was hazardous?

“……”

“Lord Nordilla?”

“…Damn it, don’t you dare say I told you this anywhere.”

Nordilla, for some reason, averted his gaze.

Then, clearing his throat, he produced something.

None other than a scrap of parchment.

“This is…?”

“Balto gave it to me. And don’t say I said anything.”

“Aha. So that’s what it was.”

Enoch chuckled to himself as he examined the note.

There wasn’t really anything all that different about him.

Even after beholding the abyss of Lacrima, his consciousness hadn’t wavered in the slightest.

“…You, are you alright, truly?”

“In what regard do you mean?”

“Lacrima’s assessment, that’s what. I thought it was naught but a malicious ghost story. Does it not frighten you to see it?”

“On the contrary, isn’t it rather… endearing?”

Enoch tilted his head.

He genuinely seemed to not comprehend what the problem was.

“……”

Noldrilla held back her words.

It felt like nothing good would come from speaking.

‘Birds of a feather, then.’

She merely sighed softly.

Ehyu.