Volume 03, Chapter 89

  Unwanted Attention

  Célestin and I walk back to my house, our footsteps soft against the cobblestone sidewalk.

  The silence between us feels comfortable—a quiet companionship that does not need words.

  My eyes wander to the multicolored flower fields stretching out on either side of the path. The sight is breathtaking, even more so than the lavender fields I wake up to every morning.

  No matter how long I have been in this world, its beauty still amazes me. Having grown up in Tokyo, where fields like this are a rarity, I cannot help but marvel at the vibrant hues and the serene atmosphere.

  “You’re still not used to seeing the flower fields, are you?” Célestin asks suddenly, breaking the silence.

  I turn to him, startled. “Do I look that obvious?”

  He smirks, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Yeah, you do.”

  I feel heat rise to my cheeks and scratch my head. “W-well… Tokyo does not have anything like this.”

  “Tokyo?” he repeats, tilting his head curiously.

  “It’s a megacity in a country I lived in—Japan,” I explain.

  “Japan, huh? What’s Japan like?”

  I stroke my chin, trying to condense my thoughts. “Japan is big. Tokyo is the capital city—a concrete jungle filled with skyscrapers, parks, high-tech infrastructure, and so much more.”

  Célestin nods thoughtfully. “To think civilization in your world advanced that much without magic… How did your people manage it?”

  “It was thanks to our brilliant scientists,” I say, a sense of pride creeping into my voice.

  “Scientists?” He raises an eyebrow. “Are they like Magitists but focused only on science and not magic?”

  “Exactly. They made discoveries and inventions that changed the world. People like Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton, and Galileo Galilei.”

  Célestin’s eyes sparkle with interest. “What did they do?”

  I smile, enjoying his curiosity. “Einstein developed the theory of relativity, revolutionizing physics. Newton’s laws of motion laid the groundwork for modern mechanics, and Galileo was a pioneer in astronomy—he proved that the Earth orbits the Sun.”

  Célestin lets out a low whistle. “To think such brilliant minds shaped your world without magic. That’s impressive.”

  “Yeah, they were extraordinary.”

  The conversation trails off after that, the silence between us settling in again as we continue walking.

  As we approach a bend in the path, I notice someone walking toward us from the opposite direction. The man looks like he is simply passing through.

  But as his eyes land on me, his expression shifts. His eyes widened—a mix of recognition and fear flickering across his face.

  I frown, confused by his reaction. Before I can say anything, the man suddenly leaps over the stone fence bordering the path and bolts into the multicolored fields.

  I watch him retreating into the distance, his figure disappearing among the flowers.

  “Weird…” I mutter under my breath.

  Célestin turns to me, an amused glint in his eye. “You scared him off.”

  I stare at him, bewildered. “I didn’t even do anything!”

  Célestin chuckles, shaking his head. “No, it’s not what you did. It’s Umbra magic. Remember?”

  Umbra magic… then it hits me.

  Magic attributes define the type of mana someone generates and the aura they emit. A person’s magic attribute influences how others perceive them.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  For instance, someone with a light attribute, like Arthur, might feel warm and welcoming to others, exuding a sense of justice and brightness. Lumi, with her ice attribute, often comes across as distant and cold—her presence sharp and aloof.

  Dark magic attributes, like mine, tend to have the opposite effect. People instinctively feel uneasy or even frightened.

  I sigh, glancing at the fields where the man vanished. “I guess I’ll need to get used to that, huh?”

  Célestin smirks, clapping a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t worry too much about it. It’s just part of who you are now. Besides, it’s kind of useful—imagine how many fights you could avoid just by walking into a room.”

  I roll my eyes but cannot help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  With that, we keep walking.

  ════ ?★? ════

  After a while, we finally arrived in the familiar town I always passed through on my way to middle school.

  The cobblestone streets buzz with morning activity, but as we walk through, I begin to notice the townspeople’s stares. Their gazes are not just curious—they are uneasy, almost fearful.

  “Isn’t that Dominic?” someone whispers, their voice barely audible over the hum of daily bustle. “Why do I sense Mana in him?”

  “Wasn’t he supposed to be Manaless? What happened? Did Mayor André finally pay for the Manaficial procedure?”

  “As expected of Sir Mayor,” another chimes in. “He always cares for his son.”

  “But… why am I scared to approach him?”

  “Maybe his magic attribute is similar to the Mayor’s?”

  “That must be it…”

  Their murmurs reach my ears as if they are standing right beside me. My jaw tightens, and I keep my eyes fixed straight ahead.

  “Well, looks like you’ve attracted some unwanted attention,” Célestin says beside me, his tone light, laced with amusement.

  I let out a low grumble, refusing to look at him. “Yeah, no kidding…”

  We continue walking, ignoring the whispers that trail behind us. Eventually, we reach the familiar sight of my house. The tension in my chest coils tighter.

  I stop before the door, taking a deep breath to steady myself. How is Celine going to react?

  “Come on.” Célestin places a reassuring hand on my shoulder, giving me a small nod.

  I exhale slowly and push the door open.

  No sooner do I step inside than a sword flashes toward me. My instincts kick in—I sidestep just in time, the blade missing me by inches.

  Heart pounding, I turn toward the attacker, and my eyes widen in shock.

  It is Celine.

  She stands frozen, sword in hand, her eyes wide with disbelief. The weapon slips from her grasp, clattering to the floor.

  “D-Dominic!” she exclaims, her voice trembling.

  “H-Hey, Mum,” I stammer, raising my hands in a placating gesture.

  “Why do you have mana?” she asks.

  I open my mouth to explain, but my throat tightens. “Well, I—”

  She raises a hand, stopping me mid-sentence. Her expression softens, catching me off guard. “Wait,” she says gently. “Let’s talk in the dining area. There’s no need to explain everything here.”

  I glance back at Célestin, who gives me a quiet nod and a reassuring smile.

  “Okay,” I say, swallowing the lump forming in my throat.

  Together, we follow Celine into the dining area, the air thick with anticipation as we prepare for the inevitable conversation ahead.

  We settle into the room, the silence almost deafening.

  Celine sits across from us, her gaze steady but unreadable. There is a stillness in her demeanor—calm yet guarded, touched by something softer I cannot quite place.

  “Dominic,” she begins, her voice gentle yet firm. “Can you tell me how?”

  I nod slowly. “Mum, do you remember the artifacts I brought home?”

  Without waiting for her answer, Célestin carefully unwraps the bag he brought with him, revealing the Mirror of Lysandra, the Chalice of Merging, and the Scepter of Binding. Each artifact gleams faintly under the dim light, radiating an aura that feels almost otherworldly.

  Celine’s gaze moves over each artifact, lingering on them before returning to me.

  “Well…” I begin, the words catching in my throat. “I lied about how I got them.”

  The admission hangs in the air like a stone dropped into still water—silent but impactful. Guilt twists inside me. Why is this so hard? I told myself it was necessary to lie to Celine and André—to keep them from worrying, to avoid attention. After all, I am not the real Dominic. But now, sitting here under her unflinching gaze, that excuse feels hollow.

  To my surprise, Celine’s expression softens. A faint, knowing smile touches her lips.

  “Your father and I suspected as much,” she says quietly.

  I blink, taken aback. Of course, they had suspected. My story had been flimsy at best.

  “So,” she continues, still calm, “how did you get these artifacts?”

  I hesitate. Where do I even begin? Do I start with the duels? The temple raids? Should I mention the purified demon orb or the ritual I just completed? My thoughts spiral, words scrambling to take form.

  “Well—”

  -BANG! CRACK! THUD!

  The tense moment shatters as a sudden crash echoes through the house.

  The front door bursts open, slamming violently against the wall.

  “Celine! Dominic!” André’s voice booms—sharp, urgent, and laced with fear.

  My heart leaps into my throat. Panic surges through me as I twist toward the source of the noise.

  André stands in the doorway, his broad figure framed by the morning light pouring in behind him. He holds a dark sword, its edges faintly glowing with ominous energy. But it is his disheveled appearance that seizes my attention—his clothes are torn and filthy, streaked with dirt and blood. It is the unmistakable aftermath of a brutal, drawn-out battle.

  His piercing eyes sweep across the room—taking in the artifacts on the table, Célestin at my side, and finally, me.

  When his gaze locks onto mine, something in his expression shifts. His eyes widen, his grip on the sword tightening instinctively.

  I freeze, breath caught in my chest. Crap.

  André has just returned from what must have been an exhausting and dangerous Stargate raid. And now he comes home to this? First, Celine’s quiet interrogation, and now this strange reunion?

  I cannot even begin to imagine what he is thinking.

  The guilt that has been steadily rising in me now crashes like a tidal wave. They do not deserve this—my lies, my recklessness, my silence. They have protected me, believed in me. And now, I am forcing them to face truths even I have not fully come to terms with.

  André’s eyes burn into mine. I can feel the weight of his presence pressing down on me like a mountain.

  How do I even begin to explain this?