Chapter 4: Lessons from a Magician
Four years later.
The morning light, soft as watercolor, filtered through the stained glass windows of Argelion's castle, dancing on the walls in a kaleidoscope of scarlet and azure reflections. Romulus stood at the tall window, thoughtfully running his finger along the cold, tear-stained glass.
"Today is my birthday. Four years in this world..."
His childish clumsiness was gone. His voice had grown stronger, ringing clearer, though it retained its boyish ringing. But his thoughts, like sharpened steel, were sharper and more calculating.
Count Lucian appeared in the doorway, wearing an austere, dark blue doublet embroidered with silver thread. His brown hair, with a noble graying at the temples, was gathered into a perfect knot.
- "Son, let's go. Your gift awaits." The Count's voice was filled with quiet solemnity.
Romulus raised an eyebrow, wondering, "Is it a new horse?"
But instead of the stables, they headed for the north tower, shrouded in a shroud of mystery and oblivion.
The door creaked open as if reluctantly, letting them inside.
Master Karsten
Inside, there was an icy calm. The air was drenched with the bitter scent of spicy herbs and the dust of old parchments. At the window, with his back to them, stood the motionless silhouette of a man in a long, ash-gray robe, his face hidden in the shadow of a deep hood.
When he slowly turned around, Romulus saw the sharp edges of sharp cheekbones, thin, tightly compressed lips, and unnaturally pale eyes, as if faded by endless rains.
The system instantly gave out information:
[ CARSTEN VELEDESKI ]
■ Status: Mentor Mage
■ Level: 47
■ Specialization: Spiritual Magic / Energy Anomalies
■ Danger: High (can detect Reincarnation)
"Dangerous. This one will smell a fake."
- "Romulus, meet Master Carsten," the Count introduced him discreetly. - "Starting today, he will be teaching you the Basics."
Carsten, like a predator preparing to leap, slowly lowered himself to one knee so that he was level with the boy.
- "They say you already know how to move objects with your mind," his voice was quiet but enveloping, like honey poisoned by venom. - "Show me."
Time seemed to stop in the tower.
Romulus instinctively took a step back.
"Playing genius is one thing. But showing it all off to this type... is quite another."
But the Count nodded encouragingly, leaving Romulus no choice.
He cast a glance at the candlestick on the windowsill - and smoothly raised his hand.
The flame of the candle shrank, then separated from the wick and hovered in the air, circling slowly like a dancing spirit.
Carsten didn't even blink. His pale eyes didn't reflect the slightest bit of surprise.
- "And how many times can you repeat that?" - he asked, keeping his gaze on the hovering light.
- "Three... no, four," Romulus immediately lied, though he knew full well that his limit was seven.
A faint smile slid across Carsten's thin lips.
- "Interesting. Usually kids your age don't even feel the magical flow."
"It's tickling. Damn it."
The Count seemed not to notice the tension that hung in the air like a taut string.
- "Carsten is a specialist in rare talents. If anyone can unlock your potential, it's him."
Romulus swallowed convulsively.
"Exactly. It will. Everything."
First lesson
When the Count left the tower, Carsten silently closed the door and swept his hand through the air.
A thin veil of blue light instantly enveloped the walls of the room, as if woven from stardust.
- "No one can hear us now."
Romulus tensed up to his limit.
- "What are we going to...study?"
- "Don't pretend," the mage turned around sharply, sparks of silver flashing in his eyes. - "I know who you are."
Romulus' heart plummeted into the abyss.
But Carsten took no hostile action. Instead, he pulled an ancient folio from the depths of his robe and threw it on the table with a thud.
- "This is the Treatise on the Soul. Turn to page 84."
With trembling fingers, Romulus opened the book.
On the yellowed parchment was a picture of a man surrounded by a shimmering orb, and underneath the picture stretched lines in an obscure, ancient language that even the System could not recognize.
Carsten leaned over, looming over him with a shadow.
- "Its called Capomancy, the art of transmigration of souls. You're not the first person to get into someone else's body."
Romulus stopped breathing.
- "You... want to kill me?"
The mage let out a short, harsh laugh, similar to the cawing of a raven.
- "Why? You're a rarity. A real gem."
He held out his hand, and the darkness wrapped around his fingers like a living thing, pulsing in time with the ominous whisper.
- "But if you want to survive, you must obey me. Otherwise, I will tell the Count who really lives in his son's body."
Romulus' thoughts
"Carsten knows. Knows too much."
"He's not just a mage. He's looking for something... And I'm part of his diabolical plan."
"But why didn't he expose me at once?"
The system kicked into a panic, issuing a warning:
[⚠️ THREAT DETECTED ]
■ Carsten leads off with a double play.
■ His true purpose: The Soul of the reincarnate.
Romulus clenched his fists to white knuckles.
"So it's war."
But for now, he hid his fear behind a mask of submission and nodded.
- "Okay. I'll study."
Karsten smiled, and his smile did not touch his eyes. He removed the barrier, as if releasing prey from a cage.
- "Tomorrow we'll start with the basics of energy management. Now go - they're probably waiting for you at the party."
When Romulus emerged from the tower, he was overcome with chills.
Alicia knows more than she seems to
His sister was waiting for him in the hallway, leaning against the wall with a sly smile on her lips.
- "So, scary teacher?" - She giggled, watching his pale face.
Romulus looked at her and suddenly noticed a strange detail - her pupils were too light, almost white, like a faded sky.
- "Alicia... Did you see something?"
She smiled enigmatically and whispered:
- "He's scared. But not by you. It's that you might be stronger than he is."
"What...?"
But Alicia had already run off laughing, leaving him utterly bewildered.
There is a new entry in the System:
[ ALICIA VON ARGELION ]
■ Ability: Vision of Truth (!!! LIMITED ACCESS)