Chapter 151: The Star Festival

Today was the Star Festival.

The central square of the Royal Capital was packed so tightly you couldn’t even squeeze a drop of water in.

Magical ribbons hung from all the surrounding buildings, and alchemical fireworks exploded into clouds of colored smoke even in the daytime.

This was the Magic Association’s annual grand ceremony, as well as the award ceremony for newly promoted high-circle mages.

Lia stood on the high platform.

She was wearing the gray everyday mage robes Klein had brought back, covered by a black cloak representing the Tower of Truth.

The wind was a bit strong, making the corners of her cloak flap loudly.

Below the stage was a sea of heads.

There were wandering mages in tattered robes, nobles in splendid attire, and students holding up banners that read “Long Live Particles.”

Augustus stood before her.

The Ninth Circle Evocation Archmage was dressed very formally today, his white beard meticulously combed, and in his hands, he held a red velvet tray.

On the tray was a badge.

Seven silver stars surrounded the Eye of Truth in the center.

“Lia Farrien.”

Augustus’s voice, amplified by a magical array, spread throughout the square.

“In recognition of your pioneering contributions in the fields of kinematics, mathematics, astrology, the periodic table of elements, the photoelectric effect, black-body radiation, and Compton scattering, and by the unanimous decision of the Magic Association’s Supreme Council.”

Augustus picked up the badge.

“You are hereby awarded the certification of a Seventh Circle Archmage, and the lifelong honorary title of ‘Truth Seeker’.”

He pinned the badge to Lia’s collar.

His fingers were steady.

A massive cheer erupted from below the stage.

The young apprentices, in particular, shouted until their throats were hoarse.

Lia looked down at the crowd.

She saw Adèle waving frantically, still clutching a handful of unthrown confetti.

She saw Horace and Laplace sitting in the VIP section, the two old men raising their wine glasses to her.

She also saw Bernard.

The old professor, who had always insisted on the wave theory, was now standing in the very front row of the crowd.

He looked much older, his back slightly stooped.

But he did not avoid Lia’s gaze.

The award ceremony concluded.

Lia walked down from the high platform.

Bernard pushed aside the student supporting him and walked over.

The surrounding noise quieted down a little.

Everyone was looking at these two nemeses.

“Congratulations.”

Bernard extended his hand.

That hand looked much more withered.

Lia took his hand.

“Thank you.”

“I saw Compton’s data,” Bernard’s voice was hoarse. “You were right. Light does have particle properties.”

“The data doesn’t lie.”

“But I wasn’t entirely wrong either.”

Bernard straightened his back. “As long as interference fringes and diffraction still exist, light must be a wave.”

“I know.”

Lia nodded.

“I will continue to search for the answer.”

“I’ll be waiting.” Bernard released her hand. “Don’t make me wait too long. I don’t have many years left.”

With that, he turned and left.

His departing figure was stubborn.

Lia watched his back, feeling no sense of victory in her heart.

This was what it meant to be a researcher.

They only recognized hard facts.

“Make way, make way!”

Horace pushed through the crowd and rushed over.

He was still holding two plates.

“Here, freshly roasted turkey legs.” Horace shoved a plate into Lia’s hands.

“Eat up, you’re still growing.”

“She’s already done growing.” Laplace looked Lia up and down. “Horace, she’s so tall now, with this build, any taller and she’ll be hitting doorframes.”

“Go, go, can’t you say something nice for once.” Horace glared at Laplace, then turned back to Lia. “That paper on the Compton effect was beautifully written. The mathematical derivation was simply a work of art.”

“That’s physics,” Lia corrected.

“Physics is just a variant of mathematics.” Horace took a bite of his turkey leg. “By the way, I heard you blew up that kid Klein’s training ground the other day?”

“I only penetrated a target.”

“That was Magic Spirit Crystal!” Horace exclaimed. “I begged the Association for ages before they approved one piece for me, and you poked a hole through it with one finger.”

“The power was indeed a bit much.”

Lia admitted.

She had tested it a few more times since that day.

As long as she had enough magic, she could even break down the molecular structure of the air.

“Alright, enough with the academic talk.”

Laplace handed a wine glass to Lia.

“Today is a festival. Come, have a drink.”

Just as Lia was about to reach for it.

A large hand reached out from the side and took the wine glass.

He was wearing a formal, pure black mage robe today, the collar buttoned up tightly, and the cuffs embroidered with silver dark patterns.

“She doesn’t drink.”

Klein placed the glass back in Laplace’s hand.

“Just one glass. It’s fruit wine, no alcohol content,” Laplace protested.

“No.”

Klein’s tone was flat.

“Minors are prohibited from drinking.”

“She’s eighteen! And a Seventh Circle now!” Horace pointed at the badge on Lia’s chest. “A Seventh Circle is an Archmage. An Archmage is still being told not to drink?”

“In my eyes, she is still an apprentice.”

Klein stood half a step to Lia’s side.

Perfectly blocking the nobles and young mages who were trying to swarm them.

Those people were holding name cards and invitations, but upon seeing Klein’s cold face, they quietly retracted their hands.

“So domineering,” Horace grumbled.

“Let’s go.”

Klein ignored the two old men’s complaints.

He looked down at Lia.

“Are you tired?”

“A little,” Lia said honestly.

Standing all morning while maintaining a smile had made her face stiff.

“Let’s go back.”

Klein reached out his hand.

It rested naturally on the small of her back, not quite touching.

The two of them passed through the crowd.

***

Night time. The Mage Tower.

The revelry outside was still going on, and the sound of exploding fireworks occasionally drifted in.

It was quiet inside the tower.

Adèle had had too much to drink and had gone straight to her room to sleep after coming back.

Lia finished her shower, changed into a loose nightdress, and sat at her desk drying her hair.

The Seventh Circle badge lay on the desk.

Its silver luster shimmered under the lamplight.

Seventh Circle.

In this world, this represented absolute power and status.

She finally no longer had to hide and be cautiously secretive.

A knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Klein walked in.

He hadn’t changed, still wearing the formal suit from the daytime.

It made his posture seem very tall and straight.

In his hand, he held a black velvet box that looked very luxurious.

Klein walked to the desk.

He placed the box next to the badge.

“This is a reward to celebrate your successful promotion to the Seventh Circle.”

Klein said.

Lia put down the towel.

“What is it?”

“Open it and see.”

Lia reached out and opened the box.

A black, flowing light spilled out.

It was a dress.

Made of shadow-flow chiffon, it looked like the flowing night sky under the light.

It had intricate lace and frills, and a daring cut.

A plunging back.

A fishtail hem.

Two thin shoulder straps looked as if they could snap at any moment. Lia was stunned.

She looked up at Klein.

“This is… for me?”

“Mmm.”

“Can this be worn outside?”

Lia lifted a corner of the dress.

There was pitifully little fabric.

If she wore this to the Association, the next day’s headline would probably be “Shocking! Newly Promoted Seventh Circle Mage Indecently Exposed.”

“You don’t need to wear it out.”

Klein looked at her.

His gaze fell on her wet hair, then slid down her neck.

“Wear it here.”

Lia’s hand trembled.

The dress slipped back into the box.

The air in the room became somewhat thick.

Klein walked around the desk to her side.

He leaned against the edge of the desk, his long legs crossed.

The distance was very close.

Lia could smell the faint scent of cedar on him, mixed with a hint of wine from the banquet outside.

“You are a Seventh Circle.”

Klein spoke.

His voice was very low, sounding exceptionally clear in the quiet room.

“Mmm.”

“According to the Association’s regulations, a Seventh Circle Mage is qualified to establish their own tower and accept apprentices.”

“I know.”

“Therefore.”

Klein leaned down.

He propped his hands on the arms of the chair, boxing Lia in.

A sense of pressure instantly washed over her.

“From today onwards, you are no longer just my apprentice.”

Lia shrank back a little.

Her back pressed against the chair.

“Then what am I?”

“A colleague.”

Klein looked into her eyes.

His blue pupils reflected Lia’s slightly flustered face.

“An equal.”

“I… no longer need to treat you as that little girl who needs protection.”

His fingers rose.

They gently touched the still-dripping ends of Lia’s hair.

His fingertips were warm.

“You’ve grown up, Lia.”

This sentence was spoken very slowly.

Every word seemed to carry a hook.

Lia felt her ears grow a little hot.

She turned her head, avoiding Klein’s gaze.

“I… I’m still your student.”

“That doesn’t conflict.”

Klein withdrew his hand.

He made no further moves.

He stood up straight.

The oppressive feeling of being about to be devoured vanished.

“Try on that dress.”

He said.

“Now?”

“Next time.”

Klein adjusted his cuffs.

“Next time, when it’s just the two of us.”

He turned and walked toward the door.

His hand rested on the doorknob, and he paused for a moment.

“Sleep well.”

The door closed.

Lia sat in her chair, listening to the click of the lock.

She looked at the black box on the desk.

Then she looked at the Seventh Circle badge beside it.

Her heart was beating a little fast.

With a kind of panic she couldn’t quite name.

Klein’s gaze just now.

It was the look of a hunter who sees that his prey has finally fattened up.

Lia grabbed the towel and messily dried her hair.

“What ‘colleague’…”

She muttered.

“Clearly it’s…”

But she didn’t throw the box away.

Instead, she reached out and caressed the cool, smooth fabric inside.

***

Outside the door.

Klein didn’t leave immediately.

He stood in the corridor, leaning his back against the wall.

The light in the corridor was very dim.

He raised his hand and glanced at the fingertips that had just touched Lia’s hair.

A damp sensation lingered there.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He suppressed the surging restlessness within him.

He had endured for so long.

Watching her blossom bit by bit.

Watching her go from her initial reserve to her current familiarity.

The memory of her nervously telling him that chlorine gas was poisonous was still vivid.

Finally.

She stood at nearly the same height as him.

Seventh Circle. It was enough.

Klein opened his eyes.

His eyes were a bottomless, dark blue. He strode toward his own room.

The sound of his footsteps echoed in the empty corridor.

Since the net had already tightened.

There was no need to rush now.

In any case.

She couldn’t escape.

And, it seemed, she didn’t want to run either.

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