Book Eater

Chapter 178: Eye of the Storm (2)

The moment she spoke, a cold wind started blowing. The lethality notwithstanding, the phenomenon was unbelievably beautiful. It was a glorious silver storm! The white, snowflake-like particles glittered like crystals as they froze in the air. Even a strong vitality wouldn’t help. Theo would become an ice statue before he could even feel the cold.

“... This... Isn’t it really amazing?” Theo marveled at Sylvia’s genius.

Using Blizzard and then the mechanism behind Frozen Orb to compress the frost... That’s at least five types of ice techniques being used together to create this... That’s a task even a Prime would find difficult.

This was a unique spell, but Sylvia had not designed or developed it. She had just combined existing magic formulas in a way that no one else had tried. It was similar to the magic fusion theory which Theo had used to develop Volcanic Shell, but a few steps further.

Sylvia’s Diamond Dust had pushed magical research by decades. It wasn’t in the 7th Circle, but it was a spell that had surpassed the 6th Circle!

After Sylvia shouted Diamond Dust, she pointed her shaking staff at Theo and exclaimed, “Go...!”

The storm swirling above her staff followed her command. The high-density magic power condensed into a vortex that was visible to the naked eye and descended on Theo.

But as the storm descended….

Nothing happened.

Kurururung!

Theo didn’t move as Diamond Dust descended toward him, but shockingly, he didn’t even use defense magic.

“T-Theo...?!” A sharp scream burst out of Sylvia.

It was a spell that even a sword master had to take seriously, and yet Theo was defenseless? Sylvia wanted to be acknowledged by Theo, not kill him. She was flabbergasted. However, ironically, the only reason she was still standing was her training over the last year.

But her face had gone pale. She couldn’t stop herself from picturing the sight of Theo’s torn body.

Puhwaak!

At that moment, a flash of red appeared, as a frost covered crimson robe flew into the air. Theo bolted forward. Unlike Sylvia, Theo had calmly grasped the situation a while ago.

This is a power that can only be called a foul.

He had used Artificial Yin and Yang. Half of it was supported by Aquilo’s Blood Mark, and its power was a natural enemy of water magicians.

[* Understanding of water and fire magic has greatly increased, reducing the casting time of magic. Ignores attribute damage below the user’s level, and halves it if it exceeds the user’s level.]

Sylvia's unique magic was definitely amazing. Diamond Dust was perhaps the best spell underneath the master level, sitting on that boundary between 6th and 7th Circle magic. Even a 7th Circle magician like Theo had to be careful. He admired Sylvia’s talents and efforts which had created such a unique spell.

The problem was that her opponent was Theo.

If the spell had a physical element, like her Liquid Snake, It might be different. However, the pure water magic phenomenon was blocked by the water resistance given by Aquilo’s Blood Mark. No matter how comparable to 7th Circle spells it was, Diamond Dust wasn’t a 7th Circle spell.

As Theo sprinted forward, he called out to Sylvia, who was losing control, “Sylvia!”

“Ah.” Relief filled her eerily blank expression, and she held her staff like it was a spear.

She had already mastered the staff techniques Blundell had taught her. It wouldn’t be easy for even a knight to find gaps in her defense. In the finals of the tournament, Theo had almost lost to that very same staff technique.

... No, it’s different!

He was only ten meters away from Sylvia, but a few ice spears were now floating around her, gleaming menacingly.

Kwa kwa kwak. Kwack! Kwa kwak! Kwack!?

The spears pierced the ground of the stadium in quick succession. The strength of the spears, which was already at extremely low temperatures, was already above steel. Theo could defend against ultra low temperatures, but it wasn’t possible with physical force.

The spears shot toward him. Sylvia was well aware of Theo’s ability to use Battle Song so she didn’t let him use it. However, the discipline carved into Theo’s body was incredibly sharp. His ability to invoke Battle Song was amazing. Theo easily pierced through the wall of spears aimed at him. It almost seemed slow in comparison to Randolph’s strikes or the Aquilo’s water droplet.

Kiiiiiik!

Theo’s hand flowed lightly. An object moving quickly in a straight line was vulnerable to attacks from the side, like an arrow being deviated by a gust of wind. The strike from Theo’s hand shifted the staff’s trajectory just enough to slip through.

“Ah...!” Sylvia gasped.

As Theo’s fist aimed for that fatal gap, Sylvia foresaw the pain and couldn’t help closing her eyes. She could endure pain, but she was somehow afraid of looking at Theo. Sylvia tried to reduce the impact by tilting her head backward, but Theo had no intention of hitting her from the very beginning.

He brought his index finger and thumb together. It was an action that any child could’ve done. Regardless, Theo’s powerful flick struck the middle of Sylvia’s white forehead.

Ttaak!

“Kyak?!” Sylvia’s legs trembled at the unexpected pain.

Perhaps the mental shock of seeing Theo go through Diamond Dust had affected her, but the power behind the flick seemed like she was stung by a bee. Sylvia grabbed her forehead as she tried to deal with the absurdity.

Theo smiled at her and asked, “Have you calmed down now?”

“I’m angry!” Sylvia had been flicked in the middle of a serious fight, so she couldn’t help but complain, “A forehead flick? Why? I’m serious about this fight!”

“Ah, wasn’t that obvious with the spell you first used? It was definitely amazing. I would’ve suffered if I didn’t have a trick up my sleeve.”

“T-trick?! Theo, what trick?”

“I can’t teach you that,” Theo teased Sylvia mischievously while looking at her innocent face.

Perhaps it was the fact that Diamond Dust didn’t have an effect, or maybe she was surprised by the forehead flick, but a dark shadow appeared in her eyes. Theo realized that it was finally time for a talk and sat down beside her.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

“Huh?” Sylvia’s blue eyes widened.

“You were the one who always helped me when I was having trouble, so I’m sorry that I left without saying anything.”

“Theo?”

“It was me, not you, who was lacking in the relationship between us. I didn’t do enough for you compared to everything you did for me.”

Theo had always been reluctant about friends due to his time at the academy. Therefore, he hadn’t taken good care of Sylvia. He knew that he was her first friend, but he’d ignored how heavy a responsibility it was. He hadn’t been able to say goodbye, and he’d left without telling Sylvia anything.

Theo had left her alone... because his baggage was too heavy.

“I’m sorry, Sylvia,” Theo apologized again as Sylvia stared at him. It seemed like all his pent-up feelings were being released. “In the future, I won’t leave without saying anything.”

“... Sob.” Tears formed in Sylvia’s blue eyes. As the tears fell down her flushed cheeks, Sylvia jumped into Theo’s arms.

“Huaack, h-huaaang...!”

It would’ve been okay if she had been alone from the beginning. After all, a child who was already alone wouldn’t know about being with someone. However, Sylvia knew. She’d felt the warmth of someone by her side, as well as what it felt like to share emotions and joy with someone who wasn’t family. She had felt fulfilled, but she had also keenly felt the loss.

Theo patted her back and murmured, “Yes, I was wrong.”

He felt the front of his shirt growing more damp, but he didn’t know what to do. These feelings of warmth, moisture, and softness were completely unfamiliar. Theo hugged Sylvia on the floor of the Pentarium. He thought that the sobs had stopped, but it was probably his mistake.

As minutes passed...

S-So. How long should I be doing this?

Theo was confused from hugging a girl for the first time. He had experience with Veronica, but she had always initiated it. He had never once held someone of his own will. Theo also didn’t know how to comfort a crying woman.

At that moment, somebody’s voice rang out from behind him, “Oho...”

There was a saying from the Eastern Continent that fit this situation perfectly.

“I flew for three days and nights without sleeping, only to see you playing with this kid?”

Speak of the tiger, and it will come to see you.

Veronica revealed herself behind Theo and Sylvia.

“T-Tower Master...?!” Theo exclaimed.

“Hrmm... You are still calling me Tower Master...?” Veronica remarked.

Theo got an uncomfortable feeling as he looked at her, so he let go of Sylvia and rose to his feet. Veronica looked like a literal flame as her red hair danced in the air. The fact that she’d flown for three days and nights sounded ridiculous, but he could detect the scent of the cold night air coming from her disheveled robe.

Chiiiik!?

Heat spread from Veronica’s feet, quickly melting Sylvia’s ice. The speed was closer to evaporation rather than melting, but Veronica wasn’t using any magic. The temperature naturally went up when she was feeling agitated. So, the cold air warmed up as well.

Veronica’s boots echoed as she walked forward. “I haven’t seen you in a year, but this is much more than I expected...”

Theo couldn’t move, just like a herbivore in front of a predator, as Veronica’s golden eyes rested on him. She stretched out her slim hand and patted Theo’s cheek gently.

“By the way...”

Her fingers moved from his cheek to his ear…

“Why?”

… and descended toward his neck.

“Why is there a bad fishy smell coming from the body of my kid?”

Veronica’s fingers stopped at a certain point on his neck. She gently touched the area that Aquilo had bitten, and Dragon Fear started to roll off her body.