After asking about Arrows, Alon immediately threw the next question.

It was about the story he had heard from the mysterious man in the mirror within the World Tree.

“…The technique that defies the heavens.”

“Do you know something about it?”

Even at Alon’s question, Kylrus, lost in thought, continued speaking to himself.

“Contemplate the anomaly.”

“Recognize it.”

“Perceive it.”

“Do not run away… huh.”

As if savoring the words, Kylrus muttered the sentence Alon had conveyed slowly.

Then, lowering the hand that had been stroking his chin, he looked at Alon.

“This… seems to be a teaching.”

“Is this how mages teach techniques and mental images?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Of course not.”

“? Didn’t you just say it was a teaching? Doesn’t that mean it’s a lesson about the technique?”

“…Good grief. Even with such power, you’re still a novice.”

Kylrus let out a sigh.

“I told you last time. Fundamentally, every mage possesses a mental image, but each takes a different form. Therefore, the methods of obtaining a mental image and their types all vary.”

“Hm.”

“In other words, it’s rare for the training methods to overlap when acquiring a mental image.”

Kylrus continued explaining.

“Despite that, the reason I judged this to be a teaching is that I believe there’s a hidden meaning in those words.”

“Then can’t you tell me what it is?”

“…Let me ask just in case. Do you think that if I explained those words to you, you would obtain a mental image?”

“…Wouldn’t I?”

Kylrus did not answer.

Instead, Alon could see it. What it meant to curse someone with your eyes.

After a brief silence,

“Before anything else, I want to ask whether this technique is necessary for you, or rather, whether it’s something you can even learn.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why do you think the man in the mirror left his teachings in such an obscure manner? Do you think he twisted the words just to mess with the learner?”

“That wouldn’t be it.”

“Then? Why do you think he conveyed it in such a convoluted way?”

Alon pondered for a moment before answering.

“…If, as you say, this is a teaching, then maybe it’s because I need to realize it on my own?”

“At least you’re not a complete novice. That’s a relief.”

“…”

“But one thing to keep in mind is that what’s important in obtaining a mental image is not just the realization, but the process of reaching that realization itself.”

“So, the process of arriving at the result is more important than the result itself?”

“Exactly. A mental image is built up from the ground. The goal isn’t to attain realization, but rather, the process itself is what matters. A mental image is ultimately formed through the process of realization, and as a byproduct, you naturally reach enlightenment.”

“So in the end, I can’t receive your help.”

“Correct. However—”

Kylrus let out a thoughtful hum before adding,

“It’s a bit strange.”

“What part?”

“The talk about ‘against the heavens.’ That part is certainly—”

As if something didn’t quite fit, Kylrus pondered over it several times.

“If you truly wish to obtain a mental image related to going against the heavens, go to the north.”

“The north?”

He offered new advice.

“Yes, to the coldest place at the center of the north. You might find some help in your process there.”

“Do you know something about ‘against the heavens’?”

“Not exactly.”

He left it at that, saying he had only heard about it.

“Now then, novice, if you’re done asking questions, let’s begin the lesson.”

Kylrus stood up in front of Alon.

Alon also faced him.

“Got it. But how will the lesson be conducted?”

“Obviously, through combat.”

“…Combat?”

“Yes, from now on, you will fight me.”

“Wait, you haven’t taught me anything yet—”

“You’ll start learning now. By seeing for yourself.”

With those words, Kylrus suddenly began forming seals with his hands.

Although his face remained expressionless, Alon was utterly flustered.

Still, he didn’t hesitate to form a counter-seal.

“From this moment on, I will try to kill you. So, fight me with the resolve to kill me in return.”

“…What if I actually die?”

“Don’t worry. This is the mental world. Even if you die, you won’t actually die. You’ll just be ejected from here.”

As Kylrus completed an unusual sequence of hand signs, just as he had demonstrated before,

“So grit your teeth and face me. Fight to claim what is mine as yours.”

He uttered those words.

“Spiritual Faith.”

Suddenly, shadows began creeping up, coiling around Kylrus’s body.

His figure was instantly swallowed by the darkness, as if sucked into the shadows.

And a moment later.

Kylrus emerged, looking completely different from before.

A mask, formed of black shadows, covered only the lower half of his face.

Whoosh—

His once-white robes turned black, fluttering in the air.

The fabric, rippling like flames, seemed to veil the ruined world behind him.

His eyes, now in the form of reverse pupils, gleamed with paradoxical dark light.

At that moment, Alon felt threatened.

His opponent hadn’t even moved.

He was merely standing still.

Yet, that alone was enough to completely overwhelm his entire body.

And then—

“…! Spirit Wood—”

Alon, belatedly regaining his senses, tried to chant a technique—

“?”

—But he couldn’t.

The next moment.

He was back in reality.

What in the world—

‘Don’t worry. This is the mental world. Even if you die, you won’t actually die. You’ll just be ejected from here.’

Kylrus’s voice echoed in his mind.

“Hah—”

Alon let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

He slowly looked down at the fading remnants of the Footsteps of the Past.

He had returned to reality.

Which meant he had died inside that world.

A fleeting sense of emptiness passed through his mind.

But only for a moment.

Taking a deep breath, Alon calmly replayed the recent battle—no, that futile death that wasn’t even a fight.

‘The moment Kylrus put on that mask covering his lower face, I chanted my technique, and then my memory cut off.’

The last thing he could barely recall.

Was that the shadows had spread widely beneath Kylrus’s feet.

“Hah.”

Alon let out another hollow laugh.

‘I expected that he wouldn’t last long.’

From the moment Kylrus mentioned that training would be conducted in the form of a sparring match, Alon had somewhat anticipated this situation.

He was clearly weaker than Kylrus.

But even so, he hadn’t expected to be killed this easily.

After all, he hadn’t just been idle for the past ten years.

“Hoo—”

Alon took a deep breath.

Now was the time to shake off his thoughts.

Instead of emptiness, he filled his mind with determination.

This wasn’t a battle, but training.

Winning or losing didn’t matter.

What mattered now was—

‘Using the same magic that Kylrus used. If I can absorb all the techniques he used to control the Shadow Dragon…’

The image of Kylrus in the mental world was vivid in his mind.

Standing there arrogantly with a black half-mask covering his face.

Just standing still, he exuded an overwhelming pressure that sent chills down Alon’s spine.

‘That means I can become like that too.’

Alon quietly clenched his fist.

***

A week later.

To keep his promise to Penia, Alon left the Marquisate of Palatio.

‘Hmm, first, I’ll visit the Magic Society, then stop by the Thunder Serpent Tribe in the Duchy of Luxibl, and after that, head north?’

As he mentally organized his travel itinerary while feeling the increasingly chilly weather, he heard Penia’s cheerful voice from ahead.

“A~D~”

She was so excited that she was even humming a tune.

Sitting beside her, Phelin watched his sister with an expression that was half understanding and half perplexed at her reaction.

At that moment, Evan spoke up.

“Marquis, this trip seems like it will take a while. Is that correct?”

“Yes, even if we move quickly, it will take at least four months.”

“…Huh? Four months? I thought three months would be enough.”

Alon clarified.

“There are a couple of additional places I need to visit.”

“Where?”

“There’s an item I need to find.”

Alon thought of Footsteps of the Past tucked inside his coat.

‘It takes way too long to recharge.’

Although the recharge time had always been long, he had never found it particularly inconvenient until now.

As long as he could enter the mental world once a month, it wasn’t a big problem.

But now that his training had begun, it was becoming a serious obstacle.

If one training session required an entire month, then he needed an artifact that could shorten that time.

At the very least, he had to be able to use Footsteps of the Past once a day.

‘I don’t know if things will go as planned…’

But he had to try.

Alon continued pondering for a while.

And exactly one week after they had set out, Alon arrived at the Magic Society.

Without even greeting the mages properly, he headed straight for the library.

In truth, he wanted to exchange greetings with the mages and listen to some of the strange rumors he had picked up on, but—

“Hehe—”

Penia’s eyes were sparkling like a puppy that had just spotted a treat.

Under the mages’ curious gazes, Alon went up to the library with Penia.

[Hmm? It’s been a while.]

A brief moment of hesitation— then, naturally, he encountered Heinkel, who greeted him.

“H-Hello~!”

Penia, stiff with nervousness, quickly bowed her head.

Though her gaze toward Heinkel was filled with admiration,

Alon, noticing the adoration practically dripping from her eyes, got straight to the point.

“I have a favor to ask.”

[Is it another request to learn magic, like last time?]

“Yes. And this time, I’d like you to teach someone else as well.”

[Someone else—ah.]

Heinkel tilted her head slightly and pointed at Penia.

[You mean your betrothed?]

In that instant, the excitement on Penia’s face completely froze.

She began nervously glancing at Alon.

Since Penia had already confessed everything to him, Alon wasn’t particularly flustered by Heinkel’s misunderstanding.

Still, Penia seemed to feel guilty as she darted her eyes around while looking at Alon.

With a casual shrug, Alon said,

“Ahem, first, let me correct that—she is not my betrothed.”

[…Huh?]

After clearing up the misunderstanding, he explained the full story.

A moment later—

[Hmm, so that’s how it is?]

“Yes. So if you accept, I’ll also share my magic with you, as you requested.”

At that, Heinkel turned to look at Penia.

Penia hesitated, subtly shifting her gaze away and pursing her lips.

“Ack—”

She bit her tongue by mistake, and tears welled up in her eyes.

But in those eyes, there was unmistakable anticipation.

However—

[No thanks.]

“…What?”

[I refuse. If this had been the offer from the start, maybe I’d consider it, but I don’t like people who lie.]

An unexpected response.

“Eh…?”

Penia was completely shattered.

***

Like a ghost whose soul had left its body, Penia turned pale white.

Watching her, Heinkel smirked to herself.

In truth, this was the exact situation she had been hoping for.

Of course, her primary goal was to study Alon’s magic.

But even so, the reason she had rejected his offer was simple—

Penia had lied to her.

She disliked liars.

But that was merely an excuse.

The real reason was far more practical—

She wanted to squeeze something extra out of this deal.

‘The thing trailing behind him doesn’t seem to be trying to cause harm. As long as I don’t ask about magic directly, it doesn’t even move…’

During her previous lesson with Alon, Heinkel had realized something.

As long as she didn’t show hostility toward Alon,

that ‘eye’ wouldn’t pose a threat.

So—

‘Now, what should I demand in return?’

As she pondered what else she could reasonably extort from him,

[…Hmm?]

Her gaze suddenly landed on Alon’s brooch.

A brooch adorned with a red gemstone.

Normally, she wouldn’t have given it a second thought— it wasn’t particularly flashy.

And yet, instinctively, her eyes were drawn to it.

At that moment—

A chill ran down her spine.

She met eyes with it.

The red eye that was staring directly at her.

And then—

[Spirit—]

A voice echoed.

[You should stop while you can.]

A voice that was both alluring and eerie.