LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 5
“I might as well reintroduce myself since I’ve been caught. My name is Nordila. I’m a boundary-level mage responsible for ice, and I also happen to be the master of the Frost Tower.”
Enoch’s eyes widened slightly.
The master of the Frost Tower, Nordila.
He was a mage representing the ice attribute and a high-ranking NPC character.
To develop any ice-related towers, units, or heroes, you absolutely had to meet him.
The face of an entire element.
That was Nordila.
‘A boundary-level mage. I didn’t expect to meet him this quickly.’
In Eoin, a mage’s hierarchy is generally divided into five categories.
In order: Fool, Scroll, Dominion, Essence, and Boundary.
These are comical metaphors for a mage’s skills.
A Fool-level mage has skills no more impressive than that of a clown.
A Scroll-level mage can at least be likened to having the use of a single book.
Dominion means they have taken full control of a part of a specific element’s magic.
Essence indicates they’ve reached the fundamental core of that element’s magic.
And finally, there’s Boundary.
Boundary indicates someone who precariously balances between human and magic.
It basically means a living embodiment of magic itself.
Its strength is said to be at the continental level.
With a mere thought, they could topple an entire nation in the blink of an eye.
Nordila was not just a powerful mage; he was the living embodiment of Frost magic.
“Hmm…”
“Master…”
Enoch, organizing his thoughts, murmured softly.
Lacrina nervously stepped back from the suddenly changed demeanor of the mage.
“Hehe, I apologize if I startled you. Was it too sudden?”
Nordila chuckled awkwardly.
It’s rare to find someone who possesses both talent and good manners.
Just by chance, he’d encountered someone who had both.
If only it had stopped there, but he had unwittingly revealed his true identity.
Enoch, observing Nordila, spoke politely.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Master of the Frost Tower.”
“Save the formalities. I’ve already got a rough idea of what kind of person you are. Right now, I have something more pressing to ask.”
“It’d be rude not to comply with your kindness.”
Maintaining his composure, Enoch respectfully inquired.
“First, I’d like to ask one thing. What brings you here in person?”
“What a way to put it; you’re gilding the lily.”
“Well, you are a boundary-level mage, so the position naturally demands a bit of decorum.”
“Fair enough. To answer your question, as you heard just a moment ago, my errant disciples called for me urgently. They said someone appeared who they couldn’t grasp even with devices. Hearing that piqued my curiosity, and so I came to see for myself. I’ve had quite an interesting experience, thanks to you.”
Nordila exclaimed with a hearty laugh. It seemed he genuinely found it amusing.
“Anyway, given the circumstances, I’ll get straight to the point. There’s that girl, Lacrina?”
“Ah, yes!”
Lacrina responded sharply like a soldier.
Nordila smiled gently like a kindly grandfather.
“First off, you’ve already passed.”
“Passed?”
“Yes. Your talents have piqued my interest. You’re more than capable of receiving the knowledge of the tower. Come find me whenever; I will be waiting with pleasure.”
“Ah… Thank you…”
Recognition from the pinnacle of humanity.
Lacrina bowed her head in a daze.
Nordila watched her warmly, almost like a granddaughter, then turned back to Enoch.
“By the way, did you already know that this child has talent for ice magic?”
“Roughly half of me expected it.”
“Heh, and how did you come to that conclusion? Has she been tested in other towers?”
“Not at all. It was just my intuition.”
“Intuition?”
“Yes. My heart directed me that way. Following this hot heart led us to a cold tower. Ironical, right?”
Nordila shook his head at Enoch’s words.
“You’re quite the odd one; you summon a noble girl just for that reason?”
“I think you might have a misunderstanding. Lacrina is not a noble.”
“What? My disciples said she was…”
Nordila glanced at Lacrina. She shook her head, as if to say that she wasn’t a noble.
“…Those ignorant fools. I told them over and over again to observe their actions rather than their appearances.”
“She’s still young; isn’t this an age where mistakes can be virtues?”
“Anyone might mistake you for an old man. Anyway, sorry for the misunderstanding. I’ll give my disciples a talking-to later. They’ve been raised to a Scroll-level, yet they still can’t shake off their Fool-ish habits…”
Nordila muttered briefly before continuing.
“Well, considering I’ve already received the greatest gift, nothing particular comes to mind.”
Meeting you is already a gift in itself.
With that subtly hidden meaning in Enoch’s words, Nordila chuckled again.
“You certainly know how to make an old man happy. Damn, is one gift not enough for you? It sounds suspiciously like you want to form a connection with me.”
“Whether that’s true or not, it seems prudent for me to keep silent right now.”
“Alright then. I yield.”
Nordila laughed heartily and turned his gaze to Lacrina.
“Young lady, you’ve met quite an amusing person. Do you treat him as your master?”
“Ah… Yes. For now, I’m calling him teacher.”
“I see. Well then, don’t let that meaning slip away. And remember, when dealing with others, follow your reason, but when it comes to family, follow your heart.”
Nordila’s advice echoed in Lacrina’s ears.
What exactly does that mean?
It’s a phrase full of meaning, depending on interpretation.
Lacrina quietly bowed her head, trying to understand the mage’s words.
“Thank you for the advice.”
“Yes, yes. Now I should be taking my leave—”
“Wait a moment!”
Just as Nordila was about to leave, Enoch called out to him.
“Hmm? What is it?”
“Please hold on. The introductions aren’t finished yet.”
“Introductions? There are only you and the girl here. Is there more to say?”
Nordila questioned, puzzled.
Enoch turned his gaze and gestured to Lacrina with his finger.
“Nordila, I believe the girl over there must have the talent for ice magic. Don’t you agree?”
“…? Of course, she must have the aptitude.”
“Then, your thoughts are mistaken.”
“…Mistaken? You mean me?”
“Yes.”
Enoch spoke firmly, almost with certainty.
Nordila waited a moment without questioning.
It’s foolish to ask unnecessary questions without coming to a conclusion yourself.
The Frost Tower master had no intention of mimicking the actions of commoners.
After a brief pause, Enoch pointed again at the rigid Lacrina.
“Nordila, that girl over there isn’t just someone with the talent for ice magic.”
“…Just someone, hmm? Your words have a sharp edge. What do you mean by that?”
“Indeed. I believe that girl is the only mage who will succeed you.”
“Oh?”
This was surprising. Nordila’s eyes widened slightly.
“!!!”
Lacrina, who had been quietly observing, felt as if her breath caught in her throat.
What on earth is he saying all of a sudden? What does he believe to justify that claim?
“The only mage to succeed me? Do you have any idea what that means?”
“Of course. I can even assure you. You will be remembered as a mage from the Golden Age. And…”
Enoch silently gazed at Lacrina.
As if piercing through her skin to her soul.
He looked as if he could see her fate.
Lacrina trembled inadvertently at that gaze.
“…And that girl over there will sustain the Silver Age after you.”
Enoch turned his gaze back to Nordila.
“That roughly sums it up. Your only heir. The next master of the Frost Tower and a boundary-level mage. I hope you’ll keep this fact in mind going forward.”
“How foolishly bold. The affection for your disciple is rather intense. But, what evidence do you have for such confidence?”
“You speak like a true mage. I have two pieces of evidence. Firstly—”
Enoch raised two fingers in a gesture that pointed to himself.
“Firstly, one is time. Time will prove my words true. And the other is…”
Enoch’s fingers traced across his chest.
Like unlocking a secret.
What’s that supposed to mean?
Nordila observed carefully, quickly catching on to changes.
-Swoosh
‘This is… magic? No, rather…
His gaze contemplated the man before him.
Standing at the boundary between humanity and magic.
He assessed the man’s prowess in a flash.
‘Whatever it is, his energy isn’t wavering. He’s completely in control.’
In other words, Dominion.
‘And, he seems to know exactly what he’s handling.’
This pointed towards Essence.
‘And…’
Energy surrounding Enoch began forming a single shape.
It looked almost like a snake, or maybe a dragon, or perhaps even a giant.
In that instant, Nordila’s gaze shifted to the watch on his wrist.
The strange sensation he felt from the man centered around that spot.
‘He’s mastered magic, understood its essence, and bent it to his will. This is…’
This was indeed Boundary.
Only then did Nordila quietly inhale.
The identity of the man before him.
He finally realized that he too was a boundary-level mage.
“The other is, simply put, myself.”
“……”
“Now, do you believe me?”
Enoch’s voice reverberated softly.
Nordila fell silent, while Lacrina tilted her head in confusion.
It was inevitable.
The recent event transpired in an area where mere mortals couldn’t grasp how the criminals acted.
It might be something pondered in the far-off future.
Right now, Lacrina was unable to comprehend the situation at all.
“Huh.”
Eventually, it was Nordila who broke the silence first.
“This feels like I’ve been swindled. Just who are you? I haven’t been keeping up with the news lately, but did a new tower sprout up in a matter of days?”
“You’re being overly flattering.”
“Stop beating around the bush and tell the truth. I’m curious to the point of madness.”
Enoch shrugged, as though resigned to the situation.
“To be honest, I can only say it’s a bit inflated. Unlike others, I’m mixing luck with trickery.”
“Damn, so you don’t want to say.”
Nordila sighed in disappointment.
He wanted to chew on the matter for days.
But sadly, there were no negotiations to be had right now.
“Anyway, that was fun. Looks like I’m taking home a bunch of unexpected gifts today.”
Nordila said, then pinched his thumb and index finger together.
“Don’t forget. Come visit the tower headquarters if you have the chance. I’ll be waiting with snacks prepared for you.”
The tower master announced, snapping his fingers.
-Snap!
-Crackle!
In an instant, the mage’s entire body froze.
Then, it transformed into water and melted away in an instant.
“This is…!”
“Ice. We’ve been talking to a clone all this time.”
“A clone? You mean from the tower headquarters all the way to here?”
“Absolutely. For a boundary-level mage, this is a trivial feat. It’s probably easier for him than a simple sneeze.”
Lacrina stared in shock, her mouth agape.
The distance to the tower’s main headquarters is over 3500 km from where they are currently located.
Even by car, it would take days to traverse that distance.
And yet, he can remotely control magic from that far away?
Not even discernible from a real person?
“I feel like… I just had a dream.”
“If you were dreaming, you should’ve stopped there. What just happened is undeniably reality—and you should grasp that especially well.”
Enoch remarked, gently pinching Lacrina’s cheek.
It would be fine for an ordinary person, but for Lacrina, destined to inherit his legacy, it was of no benefit to feel overwhelmed by barriers.
“By the way… I have an odd feeling about this.”
Was it due to unlocking the earlier constraints?
It felt as though something else had snagged onto the bait laid out for Nordila.
“Let’s head out. It seems like we have guests.”
“Ah, yes!”
Lacrina hurried to follow Enoch.
As Enoch walked, he solidified his resolve watching Lacrina follow behind.
‘It may seem a bit early, but there’s no helping it. On the contrary, it wouldn’t be all that bad for me to put a person to the test right now.’
The conclusion formed swiftly. The man’s mouth opened automatically.
“Lacrina. You’d best pay attention to what I’m about to do.”
“…Huh? What are you referring to?”
“What else? It’s hunting time!”
Enoch cracked his knuckles.
The watch on his wrist had loosened without him noticing.