Reborn As Papa Silva

Town Hall, Mayor's Office:

The acting office of the Wizard King was bathed in a brilliantly blinding yellow light tinged with a whitish hue, which flickered away to reveal three figures.

The 26th Wizard King, Alden Arcana, calmly plopped down at his desk, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he took in Sebastian and Acier's disoriented forms. The two nearly slipped and fell upon arrival, their footing unsteady.

Blinking rapidly and rubbing their eyes in pain, they struggled to clear their blurry vision, which was now filled with motes of light and polka dots. Slowly, they straightened, fixing the Wizard King with glares so pointed it was plain as day how annoyed they were. Arms crossed and frowns heavy, their irritation at the abrupt, unwarranted, and unconventional method of travel was palpable. They wore their displeasure openly.

Rather than take offense at the "egregious disrespect," Alden's smile only grew brighter.

He would have been thrilled if the duo had taken things a step further and cussed him out. Not that he thought it would happen—at least, not anytime soon. Still, he couldn't resist trying to elicit a bigger reaction. His lips curved further upward as he waited.

A moment passed in an invisible standoff. Alden sat behind his desk, smiling up at them, while they stood before him, their frowns deepening with each passing second. As his expression brightened, theirs darkened.

But that was all they did. Neither Sebastian nor Acier said a word. They didn't voice their frustration, believing their expressions were enough to get the message across.

Neither of them was in the mood to talk—Acier, due to her earlier fruitless conversation with Sebastian, and Sebastian, because his moment with Acier had been interrupted. He felt like the Wizard King had stolen his perfect chance to turn things around with her, to make things up to her. Now, I'll be lucky if she even lets me sleep in the same tent tonight… he thought grimly. And if she does, it'll be with her back turned to me.

Slightly disappointed, Alden let out an inward sigh of resignation as his smile softened, and he gave a small nod.

"First off, Sebastian, Acier, I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to both of you. Leaving the safety of the Royal Capital to come all the way here, to the edge of the forsaken realm, and risk your lives for the kingdom—it is no small thing."

Acier straightened up, about to salute, but Alden raised a hand to stop her.

"Let's keep things as casual as possible. Like I said, I'm here to reward you, not intimidate you. This is no official meeting or visit. If it were, I'd be calling you Princess Acier…"

Alden trailed off, shooting a sly look at Sebastian. "And Prince Sebastian…"

Sebastian, who had been just about to roll his eyes, froze mid-thought. If you want us to be casual, maybe don't speak so formally… The words died in his mind as Alden's choice of address registered. His eyes widened, and he flushed a deep red. Hands rising to wave off the notion, he opened his mouth to vehemently deny it—but froze once again.

An arm had tightly linked itself with his own, and a body pressed warmly against his side.

Naturally, it was Acier. Her earlier frown had vanished, replaced with a radiant smile as she turned to Alden with a slightly chiding tone. "Young Lord or Young Master Silva would be more appropriate for my Sebby."

She tilted her head up to Sebastian with a sweet expression that was anything but. The dark glint in her eyes said it all.

"Isn't that right, my love?"

Sebastian blinked. From her tone, he could tell she was daring him to contradict her. I'm not throwing my chance to please her out the window, he decided, swallowing hard.

So, he mustered what little courage he had left, fixed Alden with a strained smile, and nodded.

"That's correct…" I don't know how, but it seems… "…I'm the… Young Master of House Silva."

Sebastian trailed off, raising his left hand to reveal a ring. Acier mirrored the motion with a beaming smile, showing off a matching one.

Alden didn't show any surprise at the declaration or the reveal. Instead, his smile grew increasingly sly as he shook his head.

"Well, putting all that aside, Sebastian and Acier, it's reward time."

Sebastian and Acier blinked in unison, glancing at each other before Sebastian pointed to himself and asked in an unsure tone,

"Wait… both of us are being rewarded?"

Alden nodded. "I brought both of you here for a reason, after all."

Sebastian blinked, his mind momentarily blank. That did make sense, but that wasn't the problem here. Unable to keep his thoughts to himself, he hesitated before parting his lips.

"But… I haven't done anything…"

He trailed off, his brow raising slightly, earning a soft smile from Alden, who then adopted a contemplative look.

"Truthfully, I was planning to reward both of you as soon as you arrived, as your circumstances were different from others from the start."

Watching the pair cock their heads in bewilderment, Alden suppressed a laugh and continued.

"Unlike other volunteers, neither of you had any reason for coming here. You don't lack money, wealth, or shelter. Your life back home is perfectly fine and quite luxurious. Coming here is nothing but a risk and a disadvantage to you. So I wanted to reward you. But I knew that doing so, when you had yet to attain any achievements, would frustrate the masses—it would look like blatant favoritism."

He paused to take a breath before finishing,

"So, I decided to wait until you built merit. And what do you know? Acier here made grand contributions, dealing a devastating blow to Diamond in her first deployment. No one should argue now if I reward you—"

"With all due respect to Lord Wizard King, Acier's accomplishments have nothing to do with me."

Alden paused as Sebastian cut him off, his tone slightly pointed and icy.

"The only one who should be rewarded here is her. Moreover, bestowing us some boon simply because we come from high backgrounds is beyond disrespectful to the other volunteers who've come to Kiten. Many of them have lost their lives or, at the very least, sacrificed their livelihoods to serve the cause and the kingdom."

Sebastian thought of Owen. In his eyes, Owen—perhaps only a year or two older than himself—was by far the most talented and accomplished healer in the medical ward.

Through conversations with Owen and his colleagues, Sebastian had learned that Owen, too, was a volunteer. He had been one of the first to come to Kiten to support the war front, back when there was essentially no reward for doing so. Owen was a true volunteer.

A medical genius like Owen, despite being a commoner, could easily have set up his own clinic in the noble realm or the Royal Capital. He could have lived in luxury and comfort, perhaps even become one of the head healers in the inner court. Yet, he had chosen to come here to Kiten, enduring sleepless nights, the constant risk of death, and the trauma of war, all to save lives.

How many in this town—citizens, volunteers, and Magic Knights—owe their lives to Owen?

Especially the Magic Knights, who had fought a two-pronged war against Heart and Diamond at the same time.

Even though Owen hadn't achieved a sweeping victory like Acier, his contributions over nearly eleven months of service surely far exceeded what Acier had accomplished in a single mission.

If Acier had helped wipe out 160 enemies, Owen might have treated and saved ten times that number by now.

And yet, Sebastian hadn't heard a word about Owen being rewarded for all his service.

So how could I accept one, when I've done nothing?

"He's right."

Sebastian turned to Acier, who furrowed her brows in displeasure, unlinked their arms, crossed hers, and shot Alden a slight frown.

"I came here as Acier—not Princess Acier, not heiress to House Silva, not daughter of Nathaniel Silva, not as a royal—but just someone who wants to fight and contribute to the war effort. A subject of the Clover Kingdom and nothing more."

"I only want to be rewarded for my achievements in Kiten and on the battlefield, not for my standing. And if you're justifying rewarding me for the victory from this morning, then I must ask, Lord Alden: what about my squadmates? Most of the Diamond army was decimated through the joint efforts of Kaiser, Glacius, Chloe, and Marcel."

"And if you're rewarding me for individual kills, then I must say Lily has nearly double the kills I do. I can't accept a reward when none of my squadmates have received one either—"

"I have rewarded them," Alden cut Acier off, making her blank as he continued. "I've been doing my rounds. I came to see you last because your contributions were the least."

Acier took a moment to register the words, flushing red before freezing like a statue—one that was swiftly crushed to bits and scattered in the wind.

Alden then turned to Sebastian and scratched his head. "I've also rewarded Owen several times… why would you think I haven't?"

Sebastian stiffened. How did he know what I was thinking?!

Alden carried on, unperturbed and unaffected by Sebastian's expression. "Owen's a humble person. He's not the type to brag or boast about his achievements and rewards to the world. Perhaps that's why he hadn't informed you or anyone else about the medical reward."

"I also respect his desire for discretion, so I don't typically make a grand show of rewarding him. Instead, I summon him here covertly or have his reward sent directly to his tent, notifying him through trusted subordinates who know how to keep quiet."

Sebastian flushed just as red as Acier, wanting to curl into a ball from embarrassment—or at the very least, apologize. But Alden beat him to it.

"That being said, the two of you are correct about something. The desire to reward you simply because of your origins is unbecoming of me and, quite frankly, shameful. As such, to offer an apology, I will retract Sebastian's reward until he's earned it. Is that satisfactory to you?"

Alden raised a brow.

Acier and Sebastian snapped back into focus, the former looking at the latter, who bowed respectfully to Alden.

"Yes, Lord Alden, that suits me just fine. Thank you."

Alden smiled, shifting his eyes from Sebastian to Acier. He raised two fingers similar to a peace sign and spoke softly.

"Enough wasting time. You have two choices for your reward. The first is the right to leave Kiten and this war whenever you please, with no consequences. Meaning you can do so even on the battlefield, during a mission of any kind, no matter how important it is to the war effort. Essentially, it's the right to flee from this madness."

A moment later, he added with a wry chuckle, "Although I hope you don't use it during such important circumstances, you are free to do so. The rest of your squad has chosen this option."

Acier blinked and, without commenting, nodded her head in understanding. "I see. What is the second option, Lord Alden?"

Alden dropped his hand, his smile fading slightly with it. "Well, to answer that, first I must explain my magic, somewhat."

Sebastian and Acier shared a look as the Wizard King began absentmindedly spinning his red royal scepter like a stick in his hand, then parted his lips.

"You've no doubt seen my magic in action several times now, be it in the capital during the civil war, yesterday when you first arrived in Kiten, or even just a few minutes ago."

The duo nodded curtly, earning a somber look from the old man, whose green eyes bore into them with some mysterious intensity as he questioned them steadily.

"And because of that, you should have a clue as to what my magic is, or at the very least what it has to do with. Right?"

The duo nodded in unison once more, and this time broke their silence.

"Tarot cards." They spoke softly.

Alden beamed. "Precisely. My magic, Arcana Magic, allows me to produce varying abilities based on each and every Tarot card, be they the Major Arcana that represent significant life events or Minor Arcana that govern day-to-day lives."

"I have 78 spells for 78 cards."

Acier and Sebastian blanked. 78 spells?! Merely having 10 or so was already impressive, but the man in front of them had 78. Their surprise wasn't finished.

Alden smiled as his red three-leaf grimoire, with a cover pattern that looked like a deck of cards, floated out in front of him and rapidly flipped pages. Each one showed a picture of a tarot card in order, with the Major Arcana followed by the 4 Minor Arcana suits. It continued on for a moment, passing the 78th page corresponding to the King of Wands, and revealed several more filled pages until it reached the end.

Alden Arcana had nigh inconceivably filled his entire grimoire with spells. Not a single blank page was left—a feat that neither of them had ever heard of.

The Wizard King shot them a slightly smug look. "Naturally, I have more than 78 spells. Those 78 just tie to the cards as individuals, but tarot cards also have effects when put together as an entire deck, and that brings us to your other choice."

"Throughout the lands, there are people who sport the guises of fortune tellers, seers, and prophets, using tarot cards, dowsing rods, pendulums, or other such tools to read their own or others' fortunes. But frankly, most of the time, they're just phonies and jesters."

"However, divination is one such power of my magic, allowing me to gain quite accurate insight on events in the future and past. As such, I've developed a spell related to the principle of cartomancy, where we use decks of cards to foretell possibilities."

"Acier, your other choice is me performing this divination on you and giving you an answer to any single question, yearning, or curiosity you hold deep in your heart. The choice is yours."

Acier didn't even hesitate. "I choose option 2."

She had come here to fight till the very end, be it to victory or death. Acier would not be leaving, especially since Sebastian, who she brought here, didn't have the same option.

She didn't know what Sebastian's reward would be—if Alden would even give him the right to leave as an option, especially with how desperate they were for healers right now.

Moreover, even if he did, that was all dependent on Sebastian being able to complete a task of enough magnitude to earn that reward.

Acier didn't doubt his abilities, but she didn't hold confidence that he could make such an outstanding achievement as fast as her—especially because there was a lot less you could achieve in the safety of the hospital compared to the unpredictability of the battlefield.

Frankly, killing many was easy. Saving many, especially when they were on death's door? Not so much. It was safe to say Sebastian wouldn't be getting rewarded anytime soon.

As such, she wouldn't ever take up Alden on option 1, the same way she turned down Captain Vortigarn, until Sebastian had the same choice.

Sebastian looked at her, chewing his lip bitterly as he saw straight through her thoughts. He wanted to convince her to be wise—just because she took option 1 didn't mean she would be leaving now.

It just gave her the right to leave Kiten whenever she pleased. If things ever got too dangerous, she could do so. But he knew it was pointless. She was stubborn like that, and he would do the same if their roles were reversed, so he remained silent.

Alden mirrored that silence, showing no surprise. He already knew what her choice would be, after all, and he didn't need any foresight to do so. So he smiled and pointed his scepter at her as his grimoire flipped to around its 80th page.

"Think about your question, and my magic will do the rest."

Those were the only words he left Acier as her brows shot up. His scepter was bathed in wisps of mana, all colors of the rainbow.

"Arcana Magic: Fortuna Divinatio."

Just like that, a blinding light engulfed the room. Around Acier, a swirl occurred—a swirl of cards, tarot cards, revolving around her like a dome, similar to Kaiser's wind vortex.

The cards linked up into a sphere and completely encased Acier inside a large floating ball, cutting her off from the rest of the room.

Sebastian blinked, his gaze staying on the ball for a moment before he looked back at Alden, only to freeze as he noticed the man's gaze was on him now.

Compared to his playful or mischievous smile from before, Alden's face was impassive and indifferent. He looked cold, heartless, and emotionless—exactly how one might expect a military commander in a war zone to look.

Sebastian stiffened as a cold chill ran up his back, and he abruptly straightened up, performing a three-point salute.

"C-can I help you, Lord Alden?"

Sebastian tried to keep the trepidation and fear out of his voice, though he could feel sweat running down his back.

"Sebastian." Alden called his name icily.

Sebastian swallowed an inaudible gulp and curtly nodded. "Y-yes?"

Alden showed no reaction to his trembling figure and opened his mouth.

"Your confession. Don't do it yet."

Sebastian froze, his face contorting into a bewildered mess that bypassed his fear.

"Pardon? Lord Alden, what do you mean—"

"Your confession to Acier, delay it."

Alden coldly cut Sebastian off, making him freeze again. The fear immediately returned in droves as Alden carried on.

"It's not time yet for you to say those words you wish to say and to give her that ring. Do you understand?"

Sebastian's blood ran cold. How does he know that—

Sebastian cut himself off as his pupils dilated. He matched Alden's gaze as his constricting pupils slowly settled, and his fear was replaced by an equally passive expression as he had a sobering realization.

Perhaps caught up with how fast things were going, he hadn't realized the significance of Alden's words, which practically declared him a seer to them.

That meant some of the strange things, decisions, or coincidences from Alden's actions over the past few minutes were no longer coincidences.

Like Alden appearing just at the moment Sebastian finished messing with Acier and was about to, in essence, pop the question—calculated.

Perhaps Alden was outside, waiting for Acier's mood to sour before interfering. When he warped them here, called Sebastian Prince, and goaded Acier into forcing him to agree, it was likely another calculated move to shift her mind away from seeking a reward from him as he gave him the opportunity to satisfy her in another way.

Perhaps he always knew Sebastian would turn down his reward, and Acier would choose this one, banking on this moment where they were isolated to lay out this demand.

Sebastian didn't know if he was overthinking things, nor did he want to think about it much further. Suppressing the desire to question what makes giving Acier that ring so important, knowing that question wouldn't be answered, instead, he looked at Alden steadily and opened his mouth to ask a different question.

"...When is the right time…?"

"When you no longer have to worry about me stopping you," Alden answered him emotionlessly, making Sebastian's cold blood run even chillier.

Sebastian bit his lip and clenched his teeth. "Alexander's death… the civil war that followed, and all the suffering going on in the common realm right now… had you foreseen all of that?"

Alden nodded nonchalantly. "More or less."

Sebastian's eyes turned red as the ghosts of two little boys frozen to death haunted his mind—specters that had tormented his dreams since February.

He parted his mouth hoarsely. "Why did you not stop it from happening?!"

The question seemed to give voice to many unsaid ones, carrying the bitterness of countless grievances. If Alden knew what was going to happen, why had he done nothing?

Why didn't you have King Octavian crown a prince before his passing?! Why did you let Nicklaus and Lux kill Alexander?! Why didn't you put Augustus on the throne after his father's death?! What game are you playing?! What did Jack and Jonas die for?!

Sebastian's veins bulged as his fury surged, his face reddening with anger while Alden's cold, detached gaze remained fixed on him.

The Wizard King straightened in his seat and answered in a near-bored tone.

"I'm not a saint. I'm not a hero. I'm a king, and my duty is to preserve and protect the Kingdom and its future. I can't save everyone. Loss and sacrifice are inevitable in war—always imminent and bound to come in some form. So I won't try to delay or avoid it. I'll accept it wholeheartedly and guide this Kingdom toward its most ideal future and result."

Sebastian stepped forward and slammed his hands down on Alden's desk in unbridled fury. Yet strangely, none of the objects on the desk moved an inch, as if they were bound by some invisible force. Ignoring this, Sebastian pointed rudely at the Wizard King.

"Ideal? Ideal?! What the fuck is ideal about countless commoners and peasants freezing and starving to death?! What the fuck is ideal about the people of Kiten enduring their hometown being bombarded day in and day out?! What the fuck is ideal about the Magic Knights—your Magic Knights—dying and living like dogs here on the battlefield?! Tell me!"

He slammed his hands down again, his voice cracking as he begged for an answer.

Alden looked at him in silence for a moment before closing his eyes and sighing softly.

"It's a better alternative when compared to the Clover Kingdom being wiped out."

Sebastian froze, his expression morphing into one of incredulous disbelief. "I-it's that bad?" he asked, his voice trembling hysterically.

Alden nodded plainly.

Sebastian stepped back, bringing a hand to his mouth as he bit a nail. Then, with a strained smile, he retorted almost desperately.

"B-but that doesn't make any sense! W-we've been able to hold on with merely two squads for 11 months! As soon as the Silver Eagles and Crimson Lions reinforce us, there will be nothing to worry about! Right?!"

Alden, who had let Sebastian ramble without interruption, shook his head once the young man finished.

"That's not really the problem here. And even if it were, I don't know where anyone got the impression that Diamond has used its full strength. We're not the only ones who've been holding back."

Sebastian stiffened, trembling as his pupils dilated. "W-what does that mean—"

This time, Alden cut him off with another shake of the head. "All will be made clear in the coming days."

Sebastian went speechless, his mouth hanging open as he struggled to form words. But before he could, Alden struck first.

"It's as you've surmised: this war will be over in a few days."

Paying no attention to Sebastian's disbelief, Alden smiled again—his mischievous smile from before—reappearing like nothing happened and pointed to the floating sphere of cards that encased Acier.

"This conversation is over. It's not to be shared with anyone. Now wipe the sweat off yourself and smile for your lover; she's almost done."

Sebastian bit his lip. He had so much more to say, but he obeyed, wiping his forehead with his sleeve and forcing a smile.

Alden's grin widened as he watched Sebastian stiffly turn toward the sphere, suppressing his thoughts and focusing on the glowing structure as it began to shimmer again.

—

Moments Before, Inside the Sphere

Acier blinked, finding herself floating in an astral blue expanse. She could move her limbs and turn her head, but her body remained suspended in place. Twisting and turning, she marveled at the countless glimmering stars, celestial bodies, and other breathtaking sights surrounding her.

A moment later, an ancient voice filled the space. It sounded like Alden's, yet at the same time, it didn't.

"Voice your question." The voice reverberated powerfully, echoing in her ears before fading away.

What kind of spell is this? Acier wondered inwardly in amazement, but didn't voice that thought.

Acier hesitated before opening her mouth. "What can I ask—"

"Anything," the ancient voice cut her off indifferently, then repeated, "any single thing."

Her heart began to race. A year ago, she might have asked about her grandmother, wanting to understand the woman everyone claimed she resembled so much. But now, a more pressing question weighed on her mind.

With a slight blush, she whispered softly, "My and Sebby's love… is it real and sincere… from both sides?"

It was a question Acier had kept buried deep in her heart. She didn't doubt Sebastian's words when he told her he loved her, but she doubted whether either of them truly understood what love meant.

Did they genuinely love each other as they believed, or had they mistaken their boundless affection and gratitude for being each other's first real friend, and saviors in a way, as romantic love?

Moreover, Acier knew she had often forced her love onto Sebastian—pulling him into House Silva and practically forcing the title of its Young Master against his will. Worse, Sebastian had confessed that much of the intimacy and affection he'd shown her in recent months was an effort to keep her by his side, reluctant to let her go.

She carried insecurities about how sincere their relationship truly was but kept them to herself. Until now. Acier had always thought that even if their love wasn't perfectly natural or healthy, it was theirs. They could take their time to figure things out, letting their relationship bloom at its own pace.

But this was her chance to understand how real their love was, to find clarity on how to move forward with Sebastian and address whatever needed work in their relationship.

A moment later, her vision filled with two large cards materializing beside one another.

Her breath hitched as she recognized them. The first was titled VI at the top, depicting an angel emerging from a cloud, the sun shining above him as he watched over and blessed a naked man and woman standing before a pair of trees.

The second card was titled II, showing a lion's head with wings floating above a man and woman holding hands, exchanging cups, and radiating love.

The ancient voice spoke as the first card began to glow. "The Lovers card represents deep love and affection blooming between the two of you…" The voice trailed off as the second card lit up. "The Two of Cups represents that love is mutual. The synergy and chemistry between you both form a deeply linked connection."

Acier's blush deepened as the voice continued. "You may act differently and express your love in different ways, but you love each other all the same. Nothing needs to be changed or forced. Love isn't a formula; everyone experiences it differently. Just keep being yourselves. Continue to express and share your feelings with him, and he will do the same in return."

"He wouldn't tolerate the things you've done to him—even as a cherished friend—if he didn't feel the same way."

Acier's heart raced as the cards dematerialized into motes of light, swirling in front of her before solidifying into another card.

Her eyes widened as she took it in—a new Lovers card, this time without the trees, angel, or sun. Instead, it depicted the silhouettes of a man and woman resembling Sebastian and herself, their arms linked, with a floating heart above them.

She held the card in her hands and looked around, parting her lips to speak. "What does this—"

"That is your reward! The manifestation of your love and bond. Now, begone!"

Before she could react, the same blinding light she had seen upon entering engulfed her vision. Shielding her eyes with her sleeve, she braced herself.

When the glow finally faded, Acier lowered her arm and opened her eyes. She was back in the old mayor's office, with Alden seated at his desk and Sebastian standing before her.

Sebastian looked at her with concern and approached. "Acier, are you alright—ummph."

He was cut off as Acier charged into him, wrapping her arms tightly around his back and pulling him into a firm hug. She nuzzled her face into his chest, holding him close.

"A-Acier?!" Sebastian flushed red at the unexpected contact and turned even brighter when he caught Alden shooting him a sly look.

He tried to pull away, but Acier utterly overpowered him, and his attempts to squirm free were half-hearted at best. Seeing the look of contentment on her face as she leaned into him, he sighed and slowly wrapped his arms around her, returning the embrace.

They stayed like that for a moment before Acier tilted her head up, her radiant, beautiful smile making his heart race. Then she let go.

Sebastian didn't want to let go anymore, but he released her anyway, noticing something in her hand.

"What's that? Where'd you get it?" he asked, pointing to the object with a raised brow.

Acier paused, her cheeks reddening as she scratched her head sheepishly. She opened her mouth to explain, but Alden saved her the trouble.

"The two of you are familiar with creation magic, correct?" Alden asked.

They looked at him blankly before nodding. Who wasn't?

Alden smiled knowingly and shook his head. "Yes, using mana to create constructs and objects is a common and low-level feat. But, as with everything, there are extremes. Creation magic typically results in spells that vanish when the caster stops pouring mana into them."

"However, there are creations that can become permanent physical objects—artifacts that exist indefinitely, even if their creator perishes. Their functions and magical properties remain intact. They are essentially magic tools."

He let the information sink in before gesturing toward the object in Acier's hand. "My Arcana magic allows me to create customized tarot cards during readings. Apparently, Acier here drew a very special card—one that applies not only to her but to you as well, Sebastian."

Sebastian blinked, confused, before his face turned crimson as Acier held the card out for him to see.

She grinned slyly. "Wow, Sebby, you really, really, really loooooovvvvveeee me, don't you? You weren't even part of the spell, yet you still appeared."

Sebastian averted his gaze, mumbling bashfully, "Of course I do… Why did you waste your time on such a pointless question?"

Now it was Acier's turn to flush. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him close, her face mere inches from his. "Sebby, let's go make love—twack!"

"Ow!" Acier yelped, clutching her forehead, her eyes watering as she glared up at Sebastian. He stood with his fingers poised for another flick, his expression dark.

"Want another one?" he asked flatly.

Acier shook her head furiously.

"So, you'll learn some shame?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Acier froze and glanced over her shoulder, only now remembering they weren't alone. To her surprise, Alden seemed completely unfazed by the exchange.

I guess being Wizard King makes you see a lot of things. This probably doesn't even register.

Alden shook his head after a moment and pointed toward the tarot card, which suddenly floated out of Acier's hands. Both of them stared as it hovered in the air before splitting into two identical cards.

"Lovers come as a pair…" Alden began. "...and, as such, each of you should have a card."

The cards floated down, one landing in each of their hands. Sebastian and Acier examined their cards and immediately noticed a difference.

Sebastian's card depicted the silhouette of a man resembling himself, holding out half of a heart from the right. The top read I, while the bottom displayed ERS.

Acier's card showed the silhouette of a woman resembling herself, holding the other half of the heart from the left. Her card was labeled V at the top and LOV at the bottom.

They exchanged glances before looking up at Alden, who smiled warmly.

"Now you'll forever be linked," Alden said. "When you pour your mana into the card, you'll be able to feel and sense each other's presence."

The couple blinked and looked back at one another, blushing slightly.

Alden smiled lightly. "Look at that, Sebastian. You got a reward anyway. Isn't that great?"

Acier grinned and playfully nudged Sebastian with her elbow. He forced a smile and nodded.

To Acier, it was just Sebastian being his usual self—uncomfortable accepting something he hadn't contributed to. But Sebastian's thoughts ran deeper.

Was this always the plan? Coming up with an excuse to give us these cards? And for what?

Sebastian glanced at Alden, whose pleasant smile revealed nothing. He imperceptibly clenched his jaw.

—

That night, Sebastian didn't sleep. He lay in the sleeping bag, his eyes wide open.

It wasn't his earlier thoughts keeping him awake—it was Acier. She had latched onto him like a teddy bear, her arms wrapped tightly around him, her face nuzzled against his cheek, and her body pressed snugly against his side.

Acier slept soundly, a picture of peaceful rest. Sebastian, however, got no sleep at all.

June 17, 1601

Team Marcel wasn't out on the battlefield today. Instead, they were tasked with manning the and supporting the magical barrier. Caution and vigilance were paramount—they couldn't afford to become priority targets if their identities had been leaked after their recent achievements.

Until their security was verified, they wouldn't be allowed back into combat. Not that it mattered, because Diamond hadn't shown up that day.

The Clover side was beyond grateful for the extra day of reprieve.

June 18, 1601

Once again, Diamond didn't make an appearance. The people of Kiten and the volunteers were overjoyed, celebrating Team Marcel as heroes. They sang tales of Diamond retreating with their tails between their legs, proclaiming the war was finally over.

But the Magic Knights didn't share in the joy.

Dax, in particular, was on edge. He'd lost contact with all the scouts he'd sent to monitor Diamond's movements and report back.

Two cells—ten Magic Knights in total—had vanished without a trace. No signals, no reports, no signs.

Dax and Vortigarn exchanged uneasy looks as a chill ran down their spines.

—

In the mayoral office, Alden Arcana sat back in his chair, his legs propped up on the desk, his grimoire floating by his side. His sharp eyes were fixed on the scene before him.

Ten tarot cards hovered in the air, arranged in a specific pattern: the Celtic Cross tarot spread.

At the center floated the first card in a portrait orientation—it represented the present situation.

Directly in front of it, in landscape orientation, was the second card, symbolizing the challenge or conflict.

To the immediate right of these two cards—Alden's left—was the third card, representing the past.

On the opposite side, the fourth card hung, indicating the future.

Above the central pair of cards floated the fifth card, representing the goal. Below them was the sixth card, signifying repressed feelings. Together, these six cards formed the physical cross.

To the right of the fourth card, four additional cards floated in a vertical stack.

At the bottom was the seventh card, offering advice. Above it was the eighth card, representing external influences. The ninth card hovered next, embodying hopes and fears.

Finally, at the very top sat the tenth card, revealing the most likely outcome.

Alden's gaze moved across the cards in sequence, starting with the first.

The Tower. He showed no visible reaction to its ominous presence.

Next, he looked at the second card: The Five of Swords. His eyes flashed coldly at the sight of it before he moved on.

The third card was The Fool. Alden sneered. I've never underestimated Diamond for a moment.

The fourth card, Death, made his mouth quirk up into a crazed grin. Heh heh, I hope my death means something.

The fifth card, The Chariot, earned an eye roll. As if we'd lose to Diamond of all people.

Then his gaze landed on the sixth card: The Two of Swords. His expression darkened.

The seventh card was The Hanged Man. Alden froze for a moment, then shook his head and snorted lightly. Surrender? Ridiculous. You'd better be indicating self-sacrifice.

His eyes narrowed as he paused. Alliances... deals? He turned to look out the window, his gaze piercing through the distance, as though spanning the continent to the west. After a moment, his focus shifted downward, surveying Kiten's civilians.

Alden's expression grew cold and derisive, his lips curling into a sneer. Then he turned back to the cards.

The eighth card was The Emperor. Alden's sneer morphed into a smile, one brimming with anticipation. Let's see who's stronger: a King or a Saint.

The ninth card, the Ten of Wands, made Alden roll his eyes once again. The one thing I'm not feeling right now is burden.

Finally, his eyes landed on the tenth card: The World. Alden's features softened as he smiled faintly. Not the worst result.

June 19, 1601

Once again, there was no trace of Diamond's forces. The cheers within Kiten grew louder, many civilians weeping with joy, believing the nightmare had finally ended.

That fragile hope lasted until the afternoon. Countless magical projections lit up over Kiten, displaying Alden Arcana sitting solemnly in the mayoral office. Every pair of eyes turned to the projection as Alden began to speak.

"To the brave souls of Kiten," Alden said, his tone steady, "I would like to congratulate all of you for enduring and lasting this far. My thoughts go out to the fallen."

The people of Kiten, along with many volunteers, wept harder. Tears of relief flowed freely as they clung to the belief that it was truly over. Yet if they had glanced at the expressions on the Magic Knights' faces, their hope might not have lasted.

Alden's voice softened. "The war is all but over."

The cheers ceased. His words echoed in their minds: all but over. A collective tension swept through the crowd. Whispers and cries of confusion erupted. What did he mean? Their unspoken questions were abruptly answered as the projections shifted.

Now, the screens displayed Diamond's vast army, marching toward Kiten.

The Magic Knights felt despair clawing at their chests. They had believed Diamond's forces were depleted, thinking they'd lost three battalions and were out of reinforcements. But the image before them told a different story. Diamond's army was not only intact—it looked larger than ever.

Before they or the civilians could fully process the sight, Alden's indifferent voice cut through the chaos.

"Diamond's army will be upon us in three hours. So, I congratulate you once more for surviving this long and reaching the decisive battle. These ten months have nearly reached their conclusion. By tomorrow, it should all be over."

The words came out casual and nonchalant yet crushed their spirits all the same. Civilians and volunteers alike trembled as their knees buckled. Joy and relief twisted into cries of frustration and despair. Children who had only just begun to smile again fell silent, their eyes dull and lifeless once more.

The projections changed again, now showing the town square. Standing before two large, floating magical doors was a light-brown, chubby man wearing a calm smile. The doors swung inward, revealing a silvery-gray magical void like a piece of space shimmering with power.

Alden's detached voice spoke once more. "Because this is the decisive battle that will determine the fate of Kiten, your presence here is no longer required. To all the people of Kiten, and to all volunteers not tied to the medical ward, you are free to go. That gate will transport you to the Heart Kingdom, which has agreed to permanently shelter you should Kiten fall—and should you hold no desire to return to the Clover Kingdom.

"This gate closes in one hour. If you wish to leave, now is the time. Thank you for your service."

The screens flickered out of existence before anyone could fully process his words.

For a moment, the town was silent. Then the people of Kiten moved. Slowly at first, glancing at one another, and then with desperate urgency. They ran—to freedom, to escape, to hope.

They hurried to their tents and shelters, grabbing whatever possessions they still had. The squirming crowd surged like a mob, pushing and shoving. People stepped over one another, pulled at one another, or rammed their way through the gates in their desperate bid to leave.

The Magic Knights watched them flee. Their expressions were varying streams of emotions: some indifferent, others filled with envy and jealousy. Some glared with disdain, while others wept silently, already resigned to their fate.

In the mayoral office, Vortigarn bit his lip, unable to contain himself any longer. He jabbed a finger at Alden, his voice sharp and trembling with frustration.

"Sir?! What was that?! Isn't there a better way to handle this?! None of our soldiers have any hope, any morale, or will to fight anymore!"

He gestured toward the rushing mob visible from the window. "How many will die just trying to get through those doors?! What have you done?!"

Alden's gaze lifted to Vortigarn, his expression calm and indifferent. "My only concern is my Magic Knights. I will give them the will to fight. I will show them victory. As for those civilians…" His eyes flicked back to the window. "I don't care what they do. They no longer concern the Clover Kingdom. None of them have any intention of returning, even if we win. I've seen their hearts. I've seen their future. So I no longer care."

Vortigarn froze, stunned into silence as Alden continued in the same dispassionate tone.

"For old times' sake, I've given them a way out—to a land of peace. A beautiful, lush landscape rich with natural mana. A land without classism. That is all we owe them. What happens to them, and what happens to us, no longer concerns each other. Understand?"

Vortigarn blinked as Alden rose slowly from his seat, spinning on his heel to walk toward the balcony. He leaned lightly on his royal scepter, using it like a cane.

Gaze fixed on Alden's back, Vortigarn nodded, his emotions a tangled mix. He bowed. "Yes, sir."

Alden smiled faintly but didn't turn around. His voice softened. "Mikael, gather everyone who remains in the Town Square within the hour. I have some words for them."

Vortigarn bowed again. "Yes, sir."

The sound of the door clicking shut behind Vortigarn echoed faintly in the now-quiet office. Alone, Alden tilted his head up to the sky, his expression unreadable.

He sighed, murmuring softly to himself, "Lord Terran, don't blame me for what I'm about to do next."

His eyes grew cold. No matter who it is, I won't spare any enemy of the Clover Kingdom.

Author's Note: 

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