Surviving at the Magic Academy

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The opportunity came from an unexpected place.

Over the course of 10 years of research, I had created countless dolls. Some were used for commissions, while many fell apart due to their short lifespan. However, even more dolls began to pile up in my workshop.

So, I casually handed these leftover dolls over to the caretaker. I didn’t want them taking up space for no reason. At first, I simply gave her the extra dolls I had made.

But the caretaker said those could actually fetch a pretty penny. They were just simple dolls that wiggled a bit, but she was fascinated by them. Apparently, all the other servants bought the dolls I gave her.

Wait, can I really sell just dolls? So, next, I decided to create a more believable doll. One that could dance or perform swordsmanship. I even added a magical heart that allowed it to move for about a week.

And those sold like hotcakes. I never expected that at all.

Each doll I made flew off the shelves. Had word-of-mouth spread? Soon enough, people started requesting dolls. Since it was easier and more convenient than before, I eagerly accepted every request.

One person wanted a doll that resembled his younger self. After looking at the portrait he sent, I whipped up something that was roughly similar. He laughed heartily at the doll swinging an axe.

Another asked for a doll of his family. He paid a hefty sum for three dolls, so I made sure to create a cheerful family scene.

Someone else asked for a doll of his unrequited love. Uh, well. I was flustered but he offered an astronomical amount, so I nailed it.

Thus, I poured my utmost effort into crafting the intricate and personal requests they made. Perhaps because of my dedication, they didn’t hold back on payment.

So, a year passed, and I made hundreds of gold coins. I couldn’t believe I could make money so easily this way.

Previously, it took me about a month to complete a single request. Even then, I would get about one gold coin for it. But now, merely making a couple of dolls led to a fortune!

I couldn’t miss such a golden opportunity. Five thousand gold coins? It was right within my grasp. With that mindset, I solely focused on making dolls. This buzz grew and grew until it became a trend within my clan. That’s what the caretaker told me.

And how long had this rumor been circulating? My father called for me.

My father. It was the first time I had ever been summoned since my birth. Even when I became a mage, he merely sent his congratulations through a servant, and I had never seen him in person. There were very few in the clan who even knew what my father looked like.

With a slightly trembling heart, I headed to the rocky house where he resided. It was atop the tallest mountain of the island, within the vein of the most concentrated magical energy. The intensity of that energy took me by surprise.

Upon arriving at the entrance, the waiting servants bowed their heads and opened the door for me. The inside was larger than I expected. In a cavernous room that resembled a cave, the walls were decorated with trophies of various monsters.

And at the end, an old man sat in a worn chair, resting his arms on the table while staring at me intently.

Is that old man my father? I heard a legend that he was the one who raised our clan from a desperate state a hundred years ago to its current stature. A mage who led the clan and dominated the island, earning the title of island lord. And he made everyone on the island call him Father.

The father I imagined through that legend was a massive warrior. But the father I saw, for the first time, was a scrawny, frail old man. It was hard to believe that this was the hero of that legend.

But when his gaze met mine, I realized I was wrong. There was a flicker of malice and madness in his eyes. Facing the accumulated magic of a century, I could barely breathe. Magic flowed from the hollowed corners of his eyes like blood.

I quickly bowed my head, and the malice vanished. He silently observed me for a while. I didn’t dare lift my gaze and remained completely stiff. He tapped the table with his finger. Interpreting that as a signal to look up, I cautiously straightened my posture.

“So, you make dolls?”

My father spoke. His voice was oddly cracked, like metal scraping, sending shivers down one’s spine.

“Yes, I make dolls, though my skills are lacking,”

I replied, trembling. My father beckoned me closer with a flick of his finger. I carefully approached him. On the table was a pile of the dolls I had created over time. It seemed like he had already examined them as some were disturbingly disassembled.

“Upon inspection, they seemed alright,”

my father said, setting up a doll that held a sword. He infused it with magic. The doll began to wield the sword convincingly. They were dolls that absorbed surrounding magic to perform their assigned actions, an outcome of my previous research.

As I silently watched the doll moving, my father handed me a book from one side of the table.

“Try making the woman in here. If you do well, I’ll grant your wish.”

I cautiously opened the book. Inside were multiple portraits of a woman, from her youth to old age. It seemed to depict the passage of time of one woman. I carefully asked my father,

“Who is this person?”

“You don’t need to know,”

my father’s eyes glistened with a hint of sadness as he said that.

“I know you’re trying to escape this island. If you create a doll to my satisfaction, I’ll let you go.”

My father magically retrieved a thin piece of paper stuck in a corner. I stared at it, my mind swirling.

It was a boarding pass— a boarding pass for an airship!

It wasn’t surprising that my father knew I desired it. Ojo had told me that those from other clans he trained with had all managed to leave the island. Still, I never expected him to bring it up directly.

Nonetheless, it was an opportunity. A once-in-a-lifetime chance. I nodded eagerly. My father stared at the book in my hands before waving his hand. My body effortlessly lifted off and exited the cave. Such incredible magic! Just how far had he achieved?

Clutching the book to my chest, I exited. I shouldn’t think about my father’s level of power right now. The most important thing was to concentrate on this commission. This was a work I needed to pour my everything into!

I returned to the workshop and canceled all other requests. I then opened the book and studied the portraits closely. How could I make this woman look the most natural? My eye first landed on the pieces of wood sitting to one side.

Just some shabby wood I picked up at a market. It was old and sturdy, but without any magical qualities. I couldn’t settle for such subpar materials. Ultimately, wood was the most crucial element. What I handle best is wood, and this wood would form the basic structure of the doll.

Sure, previously, such wood would have sufficed. If I infused it with magic, it would last longer than the lifespan of weeds. But this time, my life depended on this request.

For whatever reason, this request came with a boarding pass as a reward. It didn’t matter. The most important thing was that I desperately needed this request. So, I couldn’t make a doll from ordinary materials.

I steeled myself and released all the gold I had earned up to now. As the coins flowed, various types of wood began to come into my possession. Hundreds of gold coins disappeared as I used a variety of kinds. And at the end of it, I finally found the most suitable wood.

It was some tree of an unidentified species growing by the seaside. The merchant said it was called blue wood. Because it had absorbed the sea breeze, it had taken on a green hue. They said someone had been trapped by a sea monster to obtain this singular tree. I didn’t care about that.

I was enchanted by the flow of magic contained within the wood. Its presence brought a refreshing scent of the sea, which was alluring. Using this wood, I could preserve the woman’s aura while capturing magic more completely.

But as I started to handle the wood, I realized a problem.

The sea magic seeping from the wood was quite heavy and not easy to overcome. When I tried to carve it with a magic-infused knife as before, the wood would splinter and break apart from the backlash.

So, if not a knife, then just the magic itself? I thought, and infused my magic, but the flow of magic within the wood died completely.

I tried various methods, but I couldn’t preserve the wood’s magic. After months of fruitless effort, frustration led me to wander out of the workshop.

Beyond the area where my clan resided, past where ordinary islanders gathered. As I walked towards the center, I came across a small market. I wondered why my steps had led me here. While pondering, I looked around at what they were selling.

There was nothing special. Just food, daily necessities, and clothes. Just as I was losing hope to leave, I spotted an old man setting up a stall. A frail body, a half-bald head, lacking a pinky and ring finger— a pitiful old man.

But for some reason, I couldn’t take my eyes off him. As I approached, the old man paused his setup and glanced at me. When I stood silently before him, he took a moment, then resumed arranging his stall. What he pulled out from his bag were various sculptures.

I couldn’t tear my gaze away from those sculptures. Look at them. They were undoubtedly made of cheap wood, yet they possessed more vitality than the dolls I made. Especially those depicting people, they truly looked like they were laughing and conversing.

“How much are these sculptures?”

“Hehe, two bronze coins each!”

As the old man finished displaying all his sculptures, he rubbed his hands together. Just two bronze coins? It was ridiculous. Compared to these, my dolls were nothing but junk. And yet, he sold them so cheap.

“Then I’ll buy them all,” I declared, plopping down in front of him.

“Oh my,” the old man blinked in surprise.

“They aren’t exactly exceptional. They’re made of cheap wood, so they’ll rot or break quickly,”

“That’s fine. Can I also watch you carve? I’ll pay for your troubles.”

“Oh dear, oh dear! What should I do with all this gratitude?”

The old man repeatedly bowed his head, casting furtive glances.

“Then how about your payment…?”

He hurriedly rummaged through his belongings. I had come out without a plan, and all I had were a few gold coins. I placed all of it on his stall. In my heart, I wished I could pay more, but funds were tight. The old man’s eyes widened in surprise at the gold coins, almost incredulously.

“I’ll give you all of this.”

I felt that spending this money to watch him carve was worth every coin. Those sculptures held the key to solving my dilemma. I had that gut feeling.

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