Academy’s Genius Mage

“The Mysterious Mage.”

Ian had been sitting in his study for days, deep in thought.

On the desk lay a book left by a man named Mist, open and waiting.

After the sudden disappearance of the unexpected visitor, Ian had tasked Wilson with finding the mage named Mist.

However, there had been no success.

Despite spending money from their limited budget to post announcements in the Adventurers’ Guild, no news had come in yet.

Ian’s gaze fixed on the book once again.

“This book is just an ordinary one.”

He had just finished his third thorough reading of it. Ian had carefully examined it without damaging it.

“There was nothing special. While it does have value as an ancient text, it doesn’t describe any particular magic. You could find plenty of such books in a library.”

All Ian could do was to reinforce the faint preservation magic already placed on it.

“Why on earth did Mr. Mist come to see me?”

Ian no longer thought the visit was merely to have an ancient text appraised.

Most of all, the last thing Mist had said haunted his mind.

“That statement was the answer?”

It had been a response to Ian’s declaration that he would handle his matters on his own. Ian twirled a black crow feather he had accidentally found outside the mansion.

“It was almost like he was urging me to join the Academy. Or maybe he was just envious because he’s a wandering mage?”

His thoughts began to drag on.

Just as he contemplated a fourth thorough read, he heard someone outside the door.

Knock, knock!

“Young Master! I’m coming in!”

With a cheerful voice, the door to the study swung open wide.

A cute girl wearing an apron entered, carrying a tray with various items. She was Dorothy, the adoptive daughter of the butler Wilson and a maid of the Oracle Family.

She always exuded energy and beamed confidently.

“Were you studying?”

“Just sitting around. But what do you have there?”

“I’ve prepared some tea for you, Young Master. And I baked some cookies for the first time in a while!”

“Cookies?”

“They’re the best for lifting your spirits!”

As Dorothy confidently entered, she accidentally nudged a book on the floor.

“Huh?”

Unfortunately, the book was connected to another one, and the impact caused a stack of books standing upright to shake violently.

“Oh no, oh no!”

Crash!

In an instant, the stack of books collapsed.

“Ahhh!”

Out of habit, Dorothy hugged the tray tightly.

She was a devoted maid who prioritized her Master’s snacks over her safety.

Of course, the books didn’t end up falling on Dorothy.

Ian had extended his hand, subtly using his magic.

It wasn’t full-blown magic but a simple application of magical energy.

“Dorothy, are you okay?”

With a wave of his hand, the books, guided by his magic, scattered to the side. Dorothy, who had almost started crying, suddenly frowned.

“Please, put the books back in their places!”

Ian flinched.

He recalled Dorothy’s nagging from a few days earlier.

“How many times do I have to tell you?! If you’re going to stack them, at least do it properly! Stacking them upright in a line is dangerous! Are you playing a Jenga game with books? Geez, do all mages do this?”

“Sorry. I forgot I was going to organize them.”

“Young Master, you’re really high-maintenance!”

Ian bowed his head too easily.

“Sorry for being high-maintenance.”

“It doesn’t mean you should apologize so quickly… Ugh! I can’t deal with this!”

Fuming, Dorothy placed the tray on the desk. She irritably set down the teacup and poured the tea.

It would have shocked anyone who saw this.

Ian was a noble while Dorothy was an ordinary maid.

However, Ian considered Dorothy family. Having lost his parents at a young age, he had grown up with Dorothy. It was the same for Dorothy as well.

“You’re not hurt anywhere, right?”

“Maybe my feelings are a bit hurt, but it can’t be helped. It’s already in the past. How about trying some time-reversing magic? If you can, that is.”

“Hmm.”

Even for someone as usually logical as Ian, dealing with the now-grown Dorothy wasn’t easy.

Perhaps this is what it would feel like to have a younger sister.

“Quickly, try the cookies.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Ian picked up a cookie and put it in his mouth.

The sweet and savory taste pleasantly stimulated his mouth.

“It’s delicious.”

“…….”

“Why?”

“Is that all?”

“It’s very tasty. Really. It’s the best cookie I’ve ever had.”

“Whew, being a maid isn’t easy.”

Ian wanted to ask if it wasn’t the opposite.

“So, why the change of mood?”

“It seemed like you’ve been worried about something lately. I begged Father for some ingredients and decided to make these.”

“You didn’t need to go that far.”

The Oracle Family was a barony without a fief and consequently had almost no income. Even a cup of tea was a significant luxury.

“You’ve seemed really worried these past few days, unlike the carefree Young Master you usually are.”

“Isn’t there too much truth in your words?”

“Oh dear! Did I say something wrong?”

Dorothy smiled brightly. She was someone impossible to hate.

‘Well, it’s true, after all.’

Since Mist’s visit, Ian’s days were no longer as peaceful as they used to be. The thought of it being his last chance spurred Ian on.

“Actually, I’ve been troubled by something.”

“Is it related to that book?”

“Book?”

Dorothy pointed to a book lying on the desk. It was the book left behind by Mist.

“Not exactly… or maybe it’s not entirely unrelated.”

“That’s interesting.”

“What is?”

“It’s the first time I’ve seen you ponder over the same book for days. Usually, you read multiple books a day, but you don’t dwell on one. Because you’re so smart.”

Dorothy knew well that her Master was a genius.

Ian smiled.

“It’s just an old, ordinary book. But there’s something else that’s been on my mind.”

“Tell me about it. I may not be able to solve it for you, but I can listen.”

“The Academy.”

“Oh.”

Dorothy let out a soft exclamation. She thought it was something worth worrying about.

“A guest who visited recently mentioned how regretful it was not to enroll in the Academy, saying they wished they could but never got the chance.”

“The Royal Academy is a place everyone dreams of. It’s understandable they would say that.”

“You too, Dorothy?”

“Of course!”

Dorothy nodded vigorously. Although she was more interested in people than in studying.

“But it might be simpler than you think.”

“Simpler?”

“Think of the past. Father often said that you wanted to enter the Academy since you were young.”

“Did Wilson say that?”

“Oh, was that a secret?”

“No, not really.”

Memories he had momentarily forgotten resurfaced.

Those innocent days when he dreamed of enrolling in the Academy, listening to his parents’ school days stories. His parents had studied at the Royal Academy as well.

“Moreover, if your parents had returned safely, you wouldn’t have these worries, would you?”

“Is that so?”

“I don’t know why you’re hesitant about the Academy, but I believe you would do well anywhere.”

Ian smiled but thought it wasn’t going to be easy. His magical power wasn’t enough to endure Academy life.

And he didn’t want to choose the “Natural Sciences” department, which studied general academics.

That would be akin to ending the Oracle Family’s history, renowned for theoretical magic.

“The real reason is different.”

Dorothy began earnestly. Ian also wiped his smile and seriously listened to her.

“If your parents return safely… wouldn’t they be thrilled to see you in the Academy uniform? I believe they’ll come back someday.”

Ian felt his heart warm.

Some had told him to give up. Others had wished him to pray for peace.

But Ian had never given up on his parents, not even once.

Dorothy hadn’t either.

“Thank you, Dorothy.”

“I didn’t overstep, did I?”

“Not at all.”

It felt like the fog was lifting.

He found answers in the most unexpected places. The phrase ‘knowledge does not equate to wisdom’ felt real.

At that moment, Dorothy seemed much wiser than him.

Ian felt ashamed of himself.

“I’ve been too scared without even trying.”

Ian closed the ancient book. He then carefully slid it back onto the shelf.

“And this is a bit of a different topic, but you are the kingdom’s most handsome Young Master, aren’t you? Good-looking people tend to have everything work out well!”

It was clear she was trying to lighten the serious atmosphere.

“That sounds more like teasing than a compliment.”

“That’s because, Young Master, you don’t know how handsome you actually are. You don’t have any friends! Not a single one!”

“You don’t need to emphasize it that much.”

Ian had rarely ventured outside.

He had always been cooped up in the mansion, reading books. Though he had a few opportunities, he chose not to go out.

His clear skin and sharp features were inherited from his mother.

Therefore, from a young age, Ian had garnered much attention, not only for his intelligence but for his appearance as well.

Although it was now a thing of the past.

“Why don’t you go out to the salon and dance a bit? You might find new concerns. I can teach you how to dance.”

“I detest noisy places.”

“You’ve come of age this year. You shouldn’t act like this. The Oracle Family lineage cannot end with you. Ah! Could it be… a grand plan to woo the Princess at the academy?”

“Hahaha.”

Ian took out a pen and paper and, as he sat down, spoke to Dorothy.

“Call Wilson right now.”

“Ah, your father? You’re not going to scold me, are you?”

“I’ve made up my mind.”

“Really?”

With a bright smile, Dorothy swiftly ran outside.

It was the moment the long winter of the Oracle Family ended and spring arrived.

* * *

It was dawn, the early light slowly seeping into the curtains.

Ian, having risen from his bed, summoned his mana.

Buzz!

His hand traced an elegant curve in the air, and a bright light appeared at his fingertips as the magic unfolded.

『Light.』

However, the spell was unremarkable.

Despite studying and practicing diligently, his magical power had remained the same from birth until now.

‘It seems I’ll have to solve it gradually.’

He had learned that one didn’t need powerful magic to become a great mage. Yet there were moments when he craved more mana.

At that moment, he sensed a presence outside.

“Young Master. Excuse me.”

The door opened.

Dorothy, opening the door with her lively expression, was startled to see Ian awake.

“Ah! Young Master, you’re already up? Today you woke up really early. I thought you’d still be sleeping.”

“I haven’t slept at all. Not a wink.”

“Not a wink? You’re not feeling unwell, are you?”

Ian shook his head with a smile.

“Don’t tell Wilson. He’ll only worry.”

“Still, today is an important day!”

“It is indeed an important day.”

Recently, Ian had decided to enroll in the Royal Academy.

And today was the day.

As Ian removed his bedding and got up, Dorothy quickly set a basin of water on one side.

“The more important the day, the more you should act as you usually do to ensure nothing goes wrong.”

“It feels a bit lonely.”

“You’re not a bit relieved? You won’t be stacking books for a while.”

“As if!”

Chuckling, Ian dipped his hands into the basin.

The water was suitably warm.

He knew how to manipulate mana.

Yet, he had never changed the temperature of water. That showed Dorothy’s keen sense.

Thanks to her, Ian washed up pleasantly.

“Here you go, Young Master.”

Receiving the towel, Ian dried his soaking hair and face. Then, he stood before the mirror.

A handsome young man appeared in the reflection.

Dorothy, serving by his side, had a face that brightened up.

“Young Master, you look splendid! At the academy, you’re really going to be a big hit! Ah! Just imagining it is exciting!”

“Why do your thoughts always go in that direction?”

“Going to the academy isn’t only for studying, is it? Everyone has their own reasons, after all.”

At the Royal Academy, many brilliant talents gathered.

‘They’re not just brilliant. There will be royalty, and many children from prominent families.’

Thus, it too was a place of politics.

Children learned by observing their parents.

As Dorothy mentioned, children with various goals and ideals would gather at the academy.

‘It won’t be easy, but I’ll do it. For the honor of my family.’