The Magician’s Memorial - Chapter 11



Only Krnovel

Episode 11

Screams, blood, shouts, laughter.

And the pupils.

“Quil?”

Quilbian flinched and looked at Twella standing next to him.

The sound that had stopped was heard again. The cadets who had finished eating were filing out.

“are you okay?”

It was Twella who looked at me with concern.

“Oh, uh.”

A muffled voice came out. Quilbian tried to smile and continued speaking.

“I’m sorry, what were you talking about?”

I couldn’t forget what happened that morning. It was like a nightmare floating around in my head. It was a memory that became clearer the more I ignored it.

“You know.”

Twella stopped walking.

“Aren’t you going to stop learning magic?”

“Quit? What are you talking about? You did the same thing last time.”

Magic was the solution, Altera said. The power that brought into existence the sun and other ‘things’ was magic.

If you understand magic, if you master magic, you may be able to escape this terrible world.

Give up your only means?

He demanded an explanation with his eyes.

“I, I will study harder. I think it would be better for you not to study.”

“Why are you suddenly saying that?”

Quilbian opened his eyes.

“Are you saying that I can’t move the talisman? I understand that you doubt my talent. But does that mean I should give up? We’ll always be together… … .”

“That’s not it!”

Twella’s voice grew louder. The cadets approaching from behind snorted as they passed by.

They won’t care what Twella does. He’s a human who will soon be eliminated and disappear.

“That’s not it? Explain it clearly.”

“I saw it.”

“what?”

“therefore…….”

Twella furrowed her brow as she spoke. Her head dropped with a groan.

“what’s the matter?”

When I reached out my hand out of concern, Twella coldly pushed my hand away.

“I think it would be better to go our separate ways from now on.”

It was such an abrupt attitude.

“Twella, if there’s a problem, tell me. I need to know what the problem is so I can solve it.”

“I can’t solve it. It’s that kind of problem.”

“No matter what, you have to tell me… … .”

Suddenly, I felt embarrassed at the thought of the distance between us. We promised to be together forever.

“Do you remember the saying that it’s better to disappear than to be left alone?”

Twella’s face started to tear up when she heard those words.

“Tell me what’s going on. You know that the two of us can do anything. When we ate the fish, when we found the apple. When the two of us… … .”

“That’s why it can’t be done.”

Twella swallowed her tears as if she had made up her mind, and grabbed Quilbian’s wrist.

“Follow me.”

I headed to the bench in front of the friendship house.

“Sit down.”

We sat side by side.

Quilbian glanced at his wrist. Twella was still holding it. The warmth that was transmitted through his skin made him smile without realizing it.

“It’s about to start.”

“what?”

“If you wait, you’ll know. And you, no matter what happens, you have to stay here. You mustn’t move at all. If you stay still, I’ll take back what I said earlier. We’ll continue to be together.”

“Is it okay if I just stay still?”

“huh.”

“It’ll be cleaning time in 30 minutes. Then too?”

“No, it will start before that.”

What is the beginning?

“Anyway, I guess I just have to stay here until cleaning time?”

“That’s right. That’s all.”

Quilbian took a deep breath and looked around. It was break time after lunch, so everyone was freely moving around the open space.

A daily routine no different from any other, with no signs whatsoever.

What on earth is Twella worried about?

Drich was caught in the guarded gaze. He was already preparing a broom to use during cleaning time.

The mad laughter I saw that morning was superimposed on my friend’s innocently smiling face.

It was when I looked up with an uncomfortable feeling.

On the fourth floor of the Friendship House, I noticed the window frames shaking in the wind.

It was ominous. The window frame twisted and lurched forward as if it was not tilted. The wall connected to the window frame also bulged.

It looked like it would break and fall to the floor at any moment.

Drich below.

If you get caught in the debris, you will die.

“Drich!”

It was when I was about to stand up and shout loudly.

Twella shook her head, still clutching her wrist.

“What, what are you doing!”

“You promised me that you would stay here!”

“Can’t you see that? Drihi is in danger!”

I turned my head and called out to Drich. Drich started to look around as if he had heard my voice.

Because of that, it became more dangerous.

Above the stopped Drich, the fourth floor wall began to crumble.

“no!”

Quilbian shook off Twella’s hand and ran. He kept calling out to Drich along the way.

Please, please!

But it was too late.

The collapsed outer wall fell off and fell.

thud!

A cloud of dust rose. Quilbian ran, screaming.

“Drich!”

Just before arriving at the scene of the accident, Quillbian saw Drich emerge from the hazy dust with an indifferent expression, dusting himself off.

The strength that had been supporting his knees suddenly disappeared. Quilbian staggered toward Drich.

As the noise spread, other cadets also approached.

The one in the center said with a cheerful smile.

“Who am I? I’m the guy who always wins first place in physical tests, that’s what I’m talking about. Something felt strange, so I lifted my head and that’s when I saw it fall.”

Drich said, pointing to the mess.

“So you’re saying I just jumped in! Did you see that? Did you see that? Me dodging with a slap.”

Drich, who had been speaking proudly, clasped his hands together and assumed a praying posture.

“Of course, it wasn’t by my ability. It was all thanks to the care of the Seer. You saw it too, didn’t you? The Seer prayed for us this morning. That’s proof that His love is protecting us!”

Drich pointed at himself with his thumb.

“This is a healthy body.”

The cadets nodded and repeated “Yes, yes.”

Soon the ascetics appeared and looked around. They were talking about building maintenance or something, but it wasn’t something I was interested in.

Quilbian approached Drich, who was smiling brightly among the cadets.

“Are you really not hurt anywhere?”

“The flying debris stung my face a little, but it was nothing special.”

“I know what will happen to you… … .”

Drich said with a grin.

“I saw it already. He came running to me, calling out so earnestly. I was touched. Our friendship is truly special.”

It was Drich who smiled refreshingly while putting his arm around her shoulder.

A moment of relief was lifted. My stiff mind began to work again, and soon I thought of Twella.

I looked at the bench in the distance.

Twella, who was supposed to be sitting, was nowhere to be seen.

“Why? Who are you looking for?”

Drich asked.

“Twella.”

“I think he’s going towards the warehouse?”

I remembered Twella urging me not to move at all. Why on earth did she ask me to do that?

“By the way, you’re persistent too. Don’t you get tired of hanging around with him all the time? I’m not even talking about giving you any special points, so just give up now. It’s a waste of time.”

“Drich.”

“huh?”

“Talk to Twella later when you have time.”

“I?”

Drich gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“Even if it’s a favor for a friend, I don’t like it. What do I have to talk about with someone who’s about to drop out?”

“You might not be eliminated.”

“Well, a kid who isn’t interested in learning and doesn’t even clean properly? I don’t think so.”

“… … If you look closely, you’ll see something different.”

The ascetic asked him to clean up the area. Quilbian thought of Twella as he cleared the debris.

If you go to Altera’s room, you’ll be able to meet her. I’ll have to meet her and ask her why.

Why did you tell me not to learn magic, why did you tell me not to move?

She said it was an unsolvable problem, but Quilbian believed that every problem had an answer.

The worries that Twella is facing can also be resolved through dialogue and reflection.

It’ll be okay.

I don’t know why, but I felt like I could overcome anything with Twella by my side.

I wish Twella felt the same way, Quilbian thought.

*

In front of Altera’s private room.

The appointed time arrived, but Twella did not show up.

Did something happen?

As I was turning to go look for it, the door opened and Altera popped her head out.

“If you’re here, you should come in. Where are you going?”

“I can’t see Twella. She’s not the type to break appointments, but I think something’s up. I’ll go look for her… … .”

“If it’s Twella, I’ll meet you first. So, come in with confidence.”

Did you meet first and leave?

Quilbian entered the room, feeling uneasy but not showing it. As always, the room was littered with books.

“I see you have a lot of worries.”

“Because we promised to come together.”

“But Twella broke her promise without saying anything?”

“… … He said something similar. He said he didn’t want me to learn magic. I couldn’t understand what he was saying. It didn’t make sense to tell me to give up magic.”

The words came out more and more quickly.

I am aware that I am easily showing my emotions. I know that I should remain calm, but I become anxious when something related to Twella comes into view.

“Come on, don’t get excited.”

Altera smiled faintly.

Quilbian found the word ‘interest’ in his eyes. His eyes were openly observing.

He was a person I could trust, no, I couldn’t help but trust, but I still had to be wary.

Quilbian thought back to that morning.

The monsters that looked at the dying cadets with languid eyes.

Monsters disguised as humans.

Of course, Altera stood with the monsters, but she was not a monster in human form.

At least that’s what it seemed to Quillvian.

“great.”

“yes?”

“Those eyes, that cautious attitude. You know you should trust me, but you still have doubts. I’m not a ‘goblin’, but Quilbian probably can’t tell the difference yet.”

goblin?

The moment I heard the word, my body trembled.

There was something stirring at the bottom of my memory. When I concentrated and tried to look into it, my eyes went dark.

Tinnitus set in and his sense of direction completely disappeared. Quilbian gasped for breath and flailed his hands.

“It’s still dangerous to recall that memory. The remnants of the magic still remain and you’ll be shocked. But don’t worry too much, it’ll be okay soon.”

Altera’s hand touched her head. Her vision, which had been darkened, quickly recovered.

Quilbian let out a nervous sigh and sat down.

“Thanks to the visionary coming and showing us the show, we have four days of rest. Quilbian, I’m going to hammer basic knowledge into your head in these four days. You’ll learn quickly. You’re excellent.”

“… … Twella?”

“I think that’s really terrible. You don’t have to worry about that kid. He’s already learned a lot. I’ve learned a lot from him too.”

Altera pointed to the floor with her index finger.

“If Quilbian’s talent is here.”

The index finger that was pointed at the floor was bent toward the ceiling.

“Twella’s talent goes up there and reaches the sky. So, don’t worry about Twella and worry about yourself. Oh, and.”

Altera continued speaking, patting her forehead.

“Now that we are full-fledged priests, I will speak to you more freely.”

The ascetic took a step closer.

“You understand?”

(Continued in next episode)