6 Years Prior to the Current Situation, Kaiser''s Perspective:


    I could feel the weight of the books pressing against my arms like they were lead bricks. Twenty. How did I even manage to carry twenty books down from the second floor? My legs wobbled with every step, my arms felt like they would give out, but I refused to drop them. If I couldn''t even carry a few books, how could I ever hope to pass the Yearly Assessment?


    "One step at a time," I muttered to myself as I descended the last stair. The grand library of Valerion Magic Academy stretched before me. Rows of polished wooden shelves packed with tomes, scrolls, and ancient manuscripts. The scent of aged parchment mixed with a faint trace of lavender from the librarian''s enchanted candles. It was peaceful—until I stumbled, nearly dropping the entire stack.


    The thought of being here—at the highest-ranked Valerion Magic Academy—still felt surreal. Only the best of the best made it here, and even then, only a few were chosen. Most students were scouted for their talents, handpicked by the academy itself. For the rest of us? Well, we had to prove ourselves through rigorous written exams.


    Luckily—or not, I somehow passed. Though sometimes, I wondered if I really belonged here. My peers were practically walking spell books, mastering magic with ease, while I spent every waking moment trying to grasp even the basics.


    Still, here I was, arms shaking under the weight of too many books as I finally descended the spiral staircase to the library''s ground floor. The librarian gave me a startled look the moment she saw me.


    "Kaiser Everhart, what on earth—"


    I glanced forward to see the librarian rushing over, her kind face lined with equal parts shock and concern.


    "Who in their right mind carries this many books at once?" she exclaimed, reaching out to stabilize the pile before it toppled.


    "Motivation, miss!" I replied with a nervous laugh. "I''m, uh, just really eager to study today."


    "Eager to get yourself hurt, huh? You could''ve just asked me for help."


    "I didn''t want to bother you miss," I said, averting my eyes.


    She shook her head with a sigh. "Next time, Kaiser, just ask. Now, let''s get these to a table before you crush yourself."


    With a sigh, she grabbed part of the stack and helped me carry the books to a nearby table. Together, we carried the books to a corner table by the window, the sunlight pouring in like liquid gold. As we set the stack down, she smiled at me, her tone softening.


    "If you need anything, just let me know, alright?"


    "Thank you, miss. I will," I replied, grateful.


    As she walked back to her desk, I let out a long breath and sank into the chair. My arms throbbed, but at least I could finally get to work. The librarian was always kind to me. It was refreshing, given how most people here treated me like an outsider—like I didn''t belong. Maybe they were right. The Valerion Magic Academy prided itself on producing the best mages in the world, and I couldn''t even cast the simplest spell.


    Still, that didn''t mean I wasn''t going to try. The New Year''s Festival was tonight, and this time, I promised myself, I''d have at least one spell mastered before it—no matter how long it took.


    The academy itself revolved around two main disciplines: sword skills and magic. But while sword skills were mandatory and straightforward, magic was the heart of the curriculum. Every spell ever recorded was categorized into three major branches: Elemental, Cursed, and Celestial Magic.


    Elemental Magic was the most common. Fire, water, wind, earth—spells that manipulated nature itself and many more. It was the first type of magic I tried to learn. I still remembered reading about a basic nature spell in one of my books—a gentle incantation that could make flowers bloom even in the harshest environments.


    It sounded simple enough. Too simple, in fact. Back then, I thought it would be the perfect way to make things right with Elfie after breaking our promise to visit last year''s Elemental Showcase Festival. I thought growing a flower for her, something beautiful to show how sorry I was, would be the right way to apologize.


    But what I didn''t understand was that "simple" for others wasn''t the same as "simple" for me.


    The Elemental Showcase Festival was always a highlight at the academy. Mages would use their magic to create all four seasons, blending them seamlessly within the academy grounds, locked in by barrier magic to preserve the effect for hours. Elfie had been especially excited about it. She''d told me how much she wanted to see a Stellar Bloom, a rare flower that only bloomed under moonlight, its petals shimmering like stars. It only grew during spring times around Aura Kingdom. I promised her I''d get it for her, but I failed.


    Before going to the festival with Elfie, I had planned to spend my time studying and practicing Cursed Magic. I''d been at it for hours, and after over eight hours of intense study, I thought a quick nap would do me good. But I ended up oversleeping. By the time I woke up, the festival had already ended.


    Elfie had been waiting for me the whole time, alone. She didn''t go with anyone else; she just waited for me, all night. I regret it so much, leaving her there without a word. I should''ve been there with her, but instead, I was careless, and I made her wait for something that never came.


    I thought I could make it up to her by casting a simple nature spell to grow the flower myself. It seemed like the perfect way to apologize, a way to show her how sorry I was for breaking my promise.


    That day, I spent hours in the academy''s courtyard, repeating the incantation over and over. My mana surged through me, but the spell wouldn''t take shape. I was trying to grow a Stellar Bloom, a rare flower known for its radiant glow under the moonlight, something Elfie would love. Its petals shimmered like the stars themselves, and I thought it would be the perfect gesture. Yet no matter how many times I chanted, nothing happened.


    Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into hours. The sun sank beyond the horizon, but the flower refused to bloom. My throat became sore, my arms heavy from the endless motions, until finally, I collapsed, staring at my hands in defeat.


    By the end, I could do nothing but stare at my hands in defeat.


    It wasn''t just Elemental Magic. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn''t cast even the most basic Cursed or Celestial spells. And worse than all of it, I still couldn''t gift that flower to Elfie. I had failed at the one thing I thought would make her happy, the one thing I thought would truly show her how sorry I was for letting her down.


    The next day, I met Elfie. My heart sank as I approached her. I was pretty sure she was going to be very angry at me. With a deep breath, I looked her in the eyes and said, "Elfie, I''m sorry... I wanted to apologize to you for breaking my promise of going to the Elemental Showcase Festival with you. I know you really wanted a Stellar Bloom, and I worked all night yesterday trying to cast the spell to create it. But I couldn''t even cast the simplest spell. I know you wanted to go and get the flower there, and I''m truly sorry."


    The words felt heavy on my tongue. I never liked admitting failure, especially not to someone as kind and understanding as her. My head lowered in disappointment. I hadn''t been able to keep my promise.


    But Elfie, ever the calming presence, smiled at me softly. "Kaiser, you don''t need to apologize," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "You tried. That''s what matters. You really wanted to give me something special, and I can see that in your eyes. Don''t worry about the flower, I''m happy that you tried for me."


    I couldn''t believe how easily she understood me. Despite my failure, she didn''t see it as something to be ashamed of. She saw the effort, the intent, and that was enough for her.


    I felt a small smile tug at the corners of my lips. Maybe I hadn''t been able to give her the perfect flower, but in that moment, I realized that Elfie''s understanding and kindness were worth far more than any spell I could cast.


    Back in the present, I closed my Elemental Magic book after finishing most of the sections. Satisfied, I turned my attention to Cursed Magic, which I knew the least about. By "least," I meant I''d only gone through the book six times. It wasn''t much, but it was a start.


    Unlike Elemental Magic, Cursed Magic was powerful but dangerous. It demanded sacrifices from the caster—whether physical pain, injuries, or even worse. The only way to use it without those sacrifices was to possess cursed energy within you. Because of this, only a handful of students dared to study it, and even fewer managed to succeed.


    On the other hand, Celestial Magic was the complete opposite. It relied on pure, divine energy, requiring clarity of purpose and a strong spiritual connection. Known for its healing and protective qualities, it was seen as the embodiment of balance.


    Unlike others, though, I had neither cursed energy nor divine affinity. I couldn''t channel the chaos of one or the harmony of the other.


    And yet, here I was, flipping through pages I''d read a dozen times before, hoping for a breakthrough that never came.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.


    The door to the library suddenly slammed open, and I barely had time to glance up before I heard a familiar voice calling out my name.


    "Oh Kaiser! Looks like you''re taking your sweet time studying again."


    It was Elfie, my best friend. She barged in, her cheeks flushed with irritation as she walked into the library with an unmistakable loudness.


    "Hey! Who''s there?" the librarian called out from across the room.


    "It''s Elfienia, ma''am! Sorry for barging in like that," Elfie quickly apologized, flashing a sheepish grin.


    The librarian raised an eyebrow. "Elfienia, it''s rare to see you in the library! You''re our highest-ranking student after all."


    "I''m not here to study," Elfie said with a teasing smile, stepping closer to my desk. "I''m here to drag Kaiser to the New Year''s festival."


    Her eyes locked with mine, a playful glint sparkling in her blue eyes.


    "Kaiser, remember? You promised you''d go with me!"


    I sighed, glancing down at my textbooks. "Well, I did promise, but... I really need to study for finals."


    "Oh, come on!" she interrupted, her voice light yet firm. "You''ve gone through those books a hundred times already. You''re just wasting your time."


    She wasn''t wrong. I had memorized most of these books, practically word for word.


    "Besides," she added, placing her hands on her hips with a confident stance, "what''s even fun about reading books with thousands of pages? I would die just reading twenty."


    I chuckled, despite myself. It was a bit awkward hearing that from the academy''s top-ranked mage. She alone was capable of taking out armies and other high ranked mages yet she was so casual.


    "Hey, could you two keep it down? This is a library, after all," the librarian added with a smile, clearly used to Elfie''s antics.


    "Sorry, ma''am, we''ll be quiet," I quickly apologized. For some reason, Elfie looked at me in shock.


    "Thank you, Kaiser," the librarian said with a kind smile, "Also, please tell Miss Elfiena to keep it down. She''ll take your request to heart more than mine."


    Elfie rolled her eyes and snorted. "Excuse me? Keep quiet for what? There''s literally no one else here! It''s just Kaiser, alone in the library, while everyone else is out at the festival."


    "Well… you have a good point," the librarian replied, chuckling softly.


    "Sorry about her rudeness, ma''am." I apologized for her, giving Elfie an apologetic glance.


    "No, no, it''s nothing," the librarian said, dismissing my concern with a wave. "Before you came, most students hardly ever set foot in the library. They relied solely on their practical skills to pass their exams, leaving me here to clean the dust off the books all year round."


    "Yeah, written exams only count for 20% of the total grade," Elfie chimed in, looking at me with a smirk. "They''re better off practicing magic than burying themselves in textbooks."


    I could tell she was one of them—practical skills over theory.


    "At least Kaiser comes here to study," the librarian continued, turning back to me with a soft smile. "I can see how hard he works every day."


    "Kaiser''s my partner," Elfie said, her voice bubbling with pride and confidence. "He''s going to be a Mage Saint one day, and this is just the begining!"


    I shifted uncomfortably, embarrassed by her confidence. "Thanks, Elfie," I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck. "But yeah, I guess you could say that."


    Suddenly, Elfie leaned in, her voice light but expectant.


    "Oh, by the way, Kaiser! Do you notice anything different about me today?" Elfie asked, her voice light with a teasing tone.


    I blinked, caught off guard. What was she getting at now?


    I took a moment to really look at her. Elfie''s pink hair was as beautiful as ever, a rare shade even at the academy, and her blue eyes—just like mine—were soft yet bright. She was already known for her beauty, and with good reason. But today... she looked absolutely stunning.


    She wore a traditional kimono-style outfit in soft white, adorned with intricate blue floral patterns that gracefully complemented her pink hair. Her braids were delicately pinned back, accented by ornate floral accessories, including white and blue flowers intertwined with ribbons that trailed elegantly. Around her neck was a pendant shaped like a tiny star, its sparkle matched by the subtle glow of her earrings and bracelets.


    I couldn''t help but stare for a moment, completely mesmerized.


    "Honestly, Elfie... you look amazing today," I said, a little breathless. "Are you heading to the festival with your friends?"


    She flushed slightly but quickly smiled, though I caught the glimmer of worry in her eyes.


    "Is that supposed to be a joke?" she laughed lightly, though there was a teasing edge. "I have no interest in going with them. I''m here to take you with me."


    I frowned, hesitant. "Why? They''re nobility like you, and you''re on a much higher status than I am. If I go with you, your reputation could take a hit. I don''t want that for you."


    "I don''t care about them or my reputation," Elfie said, shaking her head firmly. "What I care about is experiencing the festival with you!"


    "Elfie, I…"


    "Come on, don''t be like that," she said, pouting slightly. "You promised!"


    "I really need to study, though. Finals are right after the festival," I said, feeling the weight of my responsibilities.


    "You''re stressing too much, Kaiser," Elfie shot back, a playful glint in her eyes. "Don''t worry about the exams. You know we can handle it together. You''ll get full marks on the written assignments, and I''ll ace the practicals. As my partner, you''ll get the full score!"


    "It''s not about that, Elfie," I said, looking down at my books. "I want to pass on my own skills this time, without relying on you."


    She was quiet for a moment before responding softly, "Kaiser, don''t you trust me?"


    I glanced back at her, meeting her eyes. "It''s not that," I muttered, frustration creeping into my voice. "I just... I don''t want to keep dragging you into everything. I don''t want to be the one who''s always relying on you."


    She stepped closer, her smile warm and understanding. "Kaiser... you never have to carry everything alone, you know that, right? I''ve got your back, always. You don''t need to be perfect; you just need to try. I''m here, no matter what."


    Her words hit harder than I expected. I realized how much she cared, and it made me feel guilty for trying to shoulder everything alone. Refusing her now would hurt her feelings, and I couldn''t do that.


    "I... I know, Elfie," I said softly, my voice quieter than I meant. "I guess I just don''t want to disappoint you again."


    She smiled, her eyes softening. "You won''t, as long as you''re being true to yourself."


    I sighed, my resolve weakening. "Alright, alright… I guess I don''t have much of a choice. But let me finish this section first."


    Elfie grinned, a playful sparkle in her eyes. "Finally!" she said, nudging me lightly. "But don''t take forever, okay?"


    I quickly skimmed through the cursed energy manipulation section, which detailed the toll cursed energy took on the caster''s body. It also warned of the dangers of summoned creatures, how they would turn hostile if the caster ran out of cursed energy.


    Elfie watched me intently, clearly impressed by how fast I was reading.


    "Wait, Kaiser," she said, her voice filled with wonder. "Why do you bother memorizing all this extra stuff? Just knowing the incantations and what they do should be enough. Why bother with energy costs or consequences? Seems like a waste of time."


    "I just love magic," I said, putting the book down and meeting her gaze. "I want to understand everything about it—the spells, their properties, the consequences. I''m not just memorizing them. I want to master them."


    Elfie''s smile softened, her voice full of encouragement. "I know you''ll become the strongest mage there is, Kaiser. You work harder than anyone I know, and soon you''ll be a Saint of Celestial Arts—or even Cursed Arts!"


    "Well, I wouldn''t go that far," I said, rubbing the back of my neck and trying to shake off the compliment. "I just need a bit more time to study before finals."


    Elfie wasn''t having any of it.


    "Come on, Kaiser! Let''s go to the festival already! I''ve been telling you about it all week! They even invited a Celestial Saint!"


    "I can''t yet, Elfie. I need to return these books back to their bookshelves before I can come. I spent 30 minutes just finding these books!" I glanced at the librarian, who quickly turned away, pretending she hadn''t overheard our conversation.


    Elfie crossed her arms and tilted her head, a playful smirk forming on her lips. "That''s it?" she teased, raising an eyebrow. "Watch this!"


    With a swift flick of her wrist, Elfie''s mana pulsed through the air. The scattered books on the table lifted, weightless, and began to drift upward. Each one rotated slightly, moving with precision as they floated gracefully toward the shelves. In mere moments, they were all neatly arranged, slotting into place one after another. The room fell silent, the magic settling into the air.


    She turned to me with a triumphant smile, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Now, all you have to do is come with me. No more excuses!"


    The librarian and I were both stunned.


    I grabbed her shoulder, shaking her lightly. "Do you have any idea how much effort I put into organizing those? It took me forever!"


    She shrugged playfully. "Eh, you can thank me later. But hey, I''ve been working on that spell recently—mixing Celestial Float magic with Wind Magic. Helps control the wind to make things fly."


    I blinked, still in disbelief.


    "Now stop worrying so much and let''s go to the festival!" she added, her mischievous grin spreading even wider.


    Before I could respond, she grabbed my hand, gently but firmly, and began pulling me toward the exit. Her touch was warm, and I could feel her energy bubbling with excitement. The librarian''s soft chuckle echoed behind us, but I barely noticed.


    All I could focus on was the feeling of Elfie''s hand in mine, leading me forward with such simple, genuine joy. It was moments like this that made everything else feel so insignificant.


    It was hard to believe she was the strongest mage in the academy. I had known her since childhood, but sometimes, it still amazed me how someone like her could care so much for someone like me—someone with no real talent or noble status. Yet, there she was, always by my side.


    And then there was that flying magic she had just used. To create a new spell—especially one that combined Celestial Float and Wind Magic—must take an incredible amount of talent and dedication. The fact that she could do it flawlessly, like it was second nature, only made me admire her more. It was something only a genius like her could pull off, and yet, she never once acted like it was a big deal.


    I knew I wasn''t like Elfie, and I probably never would be. She was special—destined to become the Empress of Celestial Magic, a title only granted to those who reached the pinnacle of magic. The strongest in Cursed or Celestial Magic were the ones bestowed with such prestigious titles, and Elfie was already on that path. Meanwhile, here I was, a weakling who hadn''t even learned how to cast a basic Elemental Magic spell after a year at the academy.


    But despite all that, I couldn''t help but want to be worthy of standing by her side. To be worthy of being called her partner.


    Some might say memorizing and studying magical spells in such depth was a waste of time. But that didn''t matter. I might''ve been talentless, but over the years, I had developed a flawless memory. Sooner or later, I would memorize every single spell there was—how it worked, how it could be countered, the consequences of using it, and how to deal with the caster. I will use my knowledge in whatever way I had to, but I wouldn''t stay weak. Being born weak was something I couldn''t control, but remaining weak was something I would never allow.


    I didn''t realize at the time just how useful this knowledge would be in the future.


    Present Time, Kaiser''s Perspective:


    Kiel and Ronan, you think you''re invincible, don''t you? You''ve always underestimated me—just a talentless adventurer, incapable of even casting a simple spell. But now, look at you. Puppets, controlled by someone like me. You still haven''t realized the gravity of the situation you''re in, but don''t worry. I''ll make sure you feel every ounce of it. Every second. Every agonizing moment.


    I''m not a hero. Nor will I try to be one. I''m nothing more than a coward. A coward who left Elfie when she needed me the most. I abandoned my one true friend, and that''s a pain I''ll carry with me forever.


    But not anymore. Not this time.


    Now, I''ll show you both what it feels like to face the depths of hell. You''ll understand, soon enough, how it feels to be crushed under the weight of your own sins. What you did to Celia won''t go unpunished. No, it will be judged by me.


    And when I''m done with you two... you will regret every single thing you''ve done. You''ll pay for everything. It''s time you face the price for every sin you''ve committed.