CHAPTER 59: THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT A DATE!

"Really?!" Liam looks at Theo in disbelief.

A few minutes ago, he had only spouted nonsense because he was torn between his mother’s words, his own wants, and Theo’s obvious reluctance to spend more time with him.

But unexpectedly, Theo said yes when he asked if Theo would like to have dinner with him, just for the sake of asking.

Originally, he had thought that after buying the clothes, they would say goodbye and go their separate ways. He found that he didn’t really want him to leave, but he also understood Theo’s reluctance. Whatever he felt earlier, it was a firm no from Theo.

But Liam being Liam, he asked anyway.

"Thea, erm. I’m going back to the gym to take a shower. But, uh... would you wait for me, and then we can grab some coffee or something?" Liam looked into Theo’s eyes and blinked a few times, nervous.

Theo glanced at his phone screen.

"It’s the perfect time for afternoon snacks. Sure, why not? And if we feel like it, we can grab dinner later. I’m sure my mother won’t mind."

"Really?!" Liam looks at Theo in disbelief. "O-okay! Let’s head back to the gym. You don’t mind waiting for me inside the gym? I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to wait outside alone."

Theo nods. "Yeah. You’re right. I’ll wait inside."

Liam wants to do a somersault. Yes! Be cool, Liam. Be cool. You’re twenty-four for crying out loud!

Theo half smiling, half smirking He agrees to Liam’s invitation not because he wants to get to know him better... Well, I do. But not because I want to date him! He wants to test if Liam is suitable to learn magic.

Theo is currently in a dilemma. Being Aldriana had set him free, and he’s not ready to close that path. But if he wants to clear dungeons as Aldriana, he needs friends on the outside. The best candidate so far is Liam.

However, it comes with one disadvantage. Liam will ask to learn how to wield magic. Even if he doesn’t call it that, that’s essentially what it is: wielding magic.

Wielding magic is not a magical thing. Not at all. It’s hard, the amount of control and concentration one needs when wielding magic is no joke.

Learning to wield it is a brutal process. It’s not easy or glorious like some stories Theo has read. It’s a long, arduous, and lonely road.

In Caelthorn, even though Theo was crowned the most powerful mage, hence the title the Archmage, he didn’t earn it because he was the most talented. He earned it through work: literal years of blood, sweat, and tears.

Talent helps, but only about ten percent. The rest is discipline, diligence, tenacity, and dedication. Once Theo decided to become a mage, he never wavered. He kept pushing forward, even when everyone and everything around him seemed to cheer for him to fail.

The danger of wielding magic comes from one of humanity’s oldest flaws: greed. That feeling of power over others is intoxicating. Addictive.

If a mage cannot control that greed, it will control him. And if that happens in this world, a world with no one else to balance that power, Theo knows he would doom it with his own hands.

Problem number two: this world lacks magic energy or mana. Learning magic here would be even harder. Drawing too much from Heartstones might sustain a mage for a while, but it poisons slowly.

The Heartstones found so far hold impure mana, diluted and unstable. Like drinking from a polluted stream. It won’t kill right away, but it will. Eventually.

------------------------------

The people currently in the gym are mostly men. Liam painfully realizes it when every head turns toward Thea. He curses inwardly. Why didn’t I think of this earlier?! But now it’s too late. He has no choice but to take a shower at the speed of light and get Theo out of the gym as fast as he can.

Liam showers in record time and finally breathes a sigh of relief once they’re on their way to the car. He’s proposed the idea of going for afternoon snacks at a fancy coffee shop, knowing they’ll have their privacy there.

Now, they’re sitting in a quiet corner inside the café. On the table in front of Theo sits a molten lava cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top and a chocolate milkshake as his drink.

Liam watches this with amused disbelief. It’s refreshing to see a young woman who eats and drinks what her heart wants instead of counting every calorie. Right now, testing Liam has been pushed far behind the molten cake, ice cream, and milkshake. Theo enjoys them to his heart’s content.

Liam reaches for his black, boring, hot coffee when Theo suddenly says casually, "Why did you choose to be a Sentinel?"

Liam freezes. He answers automatically, "Because I can." Then he tries to explain, "I mean, because I have the abilities. My father was... still is a Sentinel. Every time he finished his job, he told me stories of how important a Sentinel is. Our first priority is the safety of the explorers."

Theo nods, continuing to eat his lava cake. "May I know why you like being a Sentinel?"

Liam smiles gently. "It’s because I get to contribute to making this world better. Heartstones are now vital to our survival. To mine Heartstones, you must clear the dungeon by killing the haelions. I’m better at fighting haelions than mining."

"And not because Sentinels are cool and powerful?"

Liam chuckles. "Maybe a tiny part of me feels that. Who wouldn’t? The job is dangerous, but satisfying. It fills my ego in all the right places."

Theo smiles. He’s such a pure-hearted man. So honest to a fault. How can that old fox have a son like this?

"And by learning to do what Aldriana can do, you’ll get stronger. And then you’ll be able to clear dungeons more easily?"

"Yes, and safely too. If I can clear a dungeon alone, the risks of other Sentinels getting hurt are lower, right?"

He sighs. "That double-headed serpent killed all of my team members. I’m the only one left. I know it’s a risk we have to take, but Thea, they didn’t even have a chance to fight back. I survived because I was slightly more trained than they were. Imagine if I had Aldriana’s abilities. None of them would have died."

He slumps back in his chair. His shoulders sag.

"And my father gave me a deadline until today to find Aldriana. If I can’t find her by midnight, he’ll take over. Believe me, he’ll find her."

Theo frowns. "Isn’t that the same thing? You finding her or your father? What’s the difference?"

Liam looks serious. "He’ll recruit her to be a Sentinel. He’ll contract her to be a Monfort Sentinel."

Theo raises his eyebrows. "And you? That’s not what you’re going to do?"

"No. I want to learn from her. That way, there’ll be two of us. We can do more. But if it’s my father, he’ll keep her away from me under the excuse of protecting me. I believe he truly thinks that’s what he’s doing. But Thea, I want to fight. I don’t want to sit back and do nothing. I want to fight at the frontline."

He looks at Theo without blinking.

Theo can feel his sincerity. Liam truly wants to fight. He reminds Theo so much of his students—

the students of Caellistra Magic Academy. They trained to be mages not because they wanted riches and glory, but because they wanted to fight. To fight for their survival in Caelthorn. To help and support those who were already fighting.

Waves of sadness cover Theo’s face like multiple sheets of blankets. He misses his students, his deceased students. They were supposed to be the future of Caelthorn, but instead, they had to pay for their ancestors’ foolishness.

Hearing Liam’s enthusiasm, he can see his students’ eyes in Liam’s. They had the same look.

If I could teach them the dangers of wielding magic, I’m sure I can teach Liam too. He’s much older than my students were when they started to learn, but it can’t be helped. Am I really going to do it again?

"Thea?" Liam calls him. His voice sounds a little panicked.

"Hmm?" Theo responds.

"You okay? You scared me a little. I called you a few times, but you didn’t respond."

"I’m sorry. This cake is too delicious."

Liam sighs in relief. "You sure? Mother told me you just woke up from a coma."

"What? You’re afraid I’ll relapse? That’s not how comas work, you know."

"Haha, very funny." Liam laughs dryly. "I was just concerned."

"I know. Don’t worry, I’m not a fragile little glass that can easily break."

"Yeah, please don’t break. I’ll have a hard time explaining it to my mom."

"Haha, very funny." Theo mimics his tone.

"Your cake’s gone. You want more?"

"No. I don’t want to lose my appetite for dinner."

"Oh my god, you’re already thinking about dinner?"

"Of course! How come you’re not?"

Liam laughs. He’s surprised to find himself enjoying his time with Thea. At first, he thought she would be a little spoiled. He never thought she’d be this easy to talk to.

Theo suddenly looks him straight in the eyes and says, "You’ll find Aldriana. In fact, you’ll meet her soon."