Book 1 Chapter 999

999.

The Plaza of Stars.

This room, located at the highest point of Seirun, was used for important meetings.

And currently, two elves were using this place.

One of them was Seirun, the very person who created this place and the founder of the school.

Seirun stroked his chin as he looked at the magic circle Lunia had spread out.

"Um, how is it?"

Lunia asked cautiously.

Seirun glanced at Lunia, who was clearly tense, and said,

"It's amazing."

"What?"

"It feels like… the crystallization of magic in the current era."

This morning.

Seirun had read books related to the magic of the current era in the library.

Seirun's speed reading was so fast that even Lunia was astonished.

Seirun quickly read through several modern magic papers and succeeded in catching up with the magic theories of the current era.

Seeing that, Lunia understood why Seirun was the successor after Luna.

Wizards, surprisingly, are not good at accepting new things.

Yet, Seirun bridged the gap of thousands of years in an instant.

He looked just like Luna.

As Lunia realized how much of a genius Seirun was.

"You're a genius."

Seirun admired Lunia.

The basic framework of Lunia's magic formula was the magic of stars systematized by Seirun.

However, the magic theories Seirun left behind were merely the foundation.

The magic Lunia built upon it was very similar to Luna's magic, which Seirun had aimed for.

'Lady Luna.'

The destination Seirun had aimed for.

Moreover, it wasn't just a imitation of Luna.

Luna's magic was also just a process for Lunia.

Seeing the essence of the magic Lunia had built, Seirun could tell.

That Lunia was forging her own path.

"It seems the sun is your goal."

If what Luna aimed for was the countless bright stars in the night sky.

Conversely, what Lunia was pursuing was the sun.

A flame that burned endlessly, driving away the darkness of the world.

"Is your goal… a flame that can stand against the flames of disaster?"

"Yes."

Lunia nodded.

"As you know, Seirun-nim, only Leo has the power to defeat Erebus right now."

The only natural enemy of the primordial evil, possessing the power of purity.

That meant one thing.

"Whether Leo wanted it or not, he was bound to carry many burdens in the fight against Erebus."

During the era of disaster.

The reason Luna ultimately sacrificed herself to save Kyle on her final journey.

It was not just because Kyle was more precious than her own life, but also because Kyle was the only being capable of defeating Erebus.

"Whether Leo wanted it or not, it was inevitable that he would be left alone."

"That's true… We also couldn't defeat Erebus because we ultimately lacked the power of purity."

Seirun gave a wry smile.

The heroes of creation had indeed saved the world against Erebus.

However, they had failed to defeat it.

Hearing Seirun's words, Lunia said,

"I don't want Leo to carry so many things alone anymore."

Lunia looked at the essence of the magic she had constructed, spread out in the air.

White Flame.

A flame that Luna had created, but which could not blossom in Luna's hands.

That pure white spark was inherited by Lunia through Leo.

This magic was Luna's heart itself, not wanting Kyle to bear everything alone.

'It's the same for me. I don't want Leo to bear everything alone.'

That's why she was perfecting this incomplete magic.

'My goal isn't simply to defeat Erebus. It's to lose no one.'

Lunia wanted to fulfill Leo's wish, to lose no one anymore.

That's why she aimed to become the natural enemy of the black flame herself.

She wanted to become a person like the sun, brightly illuminating the world even after the primordial evil disappeared.

'I want to live in a new era with Leo.'

Lunia's magic was magic for that purpose.

Seeing Lunia's resolute will, Seirun smiled faintly.

"That's a wonderful conviction."

"What?"

"A person who can move forward believing in themselves can shine alone, like the stars and the sun."

"You too, Seirun-nim."

"No. I cannot shine alone."

Seirun's eyes became cloudy.

"What is our school's motto?"

"Believe in yourself."

"That's right. But I couldn't believe in myself."

"What?"

"Lunia, what is magic to you?"

"……"

At Seirun's question, Lunia fell into thought.

Magic.

It's infinitely complex to define.

Perhaps the answer would differ for each mage depending on their perspective.

After a moment of thought, Lunia spoke what she thought.

"I think of it as a torch that illuminates the path I must take."

For Lunia, magic was a tool to find the path she wanted to take.

In that sense, Lunia's perspective on magic was completely different from Luna's.

For Luna, magic was possibility.

It was a vast world that satisfied her boundless curiosity.

Seirun smiled bitterly at Lunia's answer.

"Magic is a means to help you achieve what you want, right? In that regard, you're similar to me."

Seirun looked at Lunia's magic.

"Of course, your dream is incomparably bigger than mine."

"What?"

"You see, I wanted to become like Lady Luna."

"That's what all elves… "

"It's different."

"……"

"I simply wanted to become Lady Luna herself."

Seirun calmly looked down at his hands.

"I was fortunate to have a talent for magic and was called Luna's reincarnation. I conquered Luna's world several times… and when I started being called the second Lady Luna, I was proud."

Seirun closed his eyes and recalled the past.

For her, magic was a means to become like Luna.

"So, when I had the chance to defeat Erebus, which Lady Luna couldn't ultimately achieve… I was genuinely happy. I thought it was an opportunity to fulfill Luna's wish on her behalf."

However, after facing Erebus, Seirun realized.

She, who believed she shone brilliantly without a doubt, was a being who could not shine on her own.

"I couldn't think of any way to defeat Erebus."

"Well, it's because you can't confront Erebus without the power of purity…"

"Did Lady Luna think so too?"

Lunia, who had spoken cautiously, could only remain silent at Seirun's words.

Luna found a way to defeat Erebus even without the power of purity, and Lunia was walking that path.

"My dream… my ideal… my light was just borrowed from Lady Luna. And that was my limit."

"……"

"When Lumern suggested sealing Erebus in the world of heroes… I agreed without hesitation."

Seirun gave a self-deprecating smile.

"I couldn't trust myself, let alone my companions."

When faced with a great wall, finding a way is the responsibility of a mage, not anyone else.

Luna would have found every possible way.

She would have tried to find a solution somehow, leaving the seal as a last resort.

But Seirun gave up on finding a solution.

"I'm glad it's an elf like you, not an elf like me, who is Luna's successor."

"That's not true."

Lunia said firmly.

"I'm the same as you, Seirun-nim. I've received so many things from Leo that I am who I am today. It's worse than you, Seirun-nim. Without Leo, I would have just been a pesky elf #1."

"Considering your rebellious streak, I don't think that would have been the case?"

"Ah, anyway! Lady Luna was the same! She was able to shine so brightly because she received so much from others! Moreover!"

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong with shining with the help of others? The important thing is that you can shine."

The moon in the night sky cannot shine on its own.

But no one denies that the moon shines.

"You say it's fortunate that Luna's successor is someone like me and not someone like you? Lady Luna didn't say that! She said that she was glad Seirun-nim was her successor after seeing the magic Seirun-nim created!"

Luna said.

The magic of stars reinterpreted by Seirun was undoubtedly magic Seirun had created, but it was a completely different magic.

She rejoiced, saying it was amazing magic, like creating something from nothing.

"Lady Luna was so happy to see Seirun-nim's magic!"

"……"

Seirun's eyes widened.

"Really?"

"Yes! So please don't belittle yourself, Seirun-nim. Besides, you believed in yourself."

"What?"

"You left everything you had at this school because you believed that an elf capable of defeating Erebus would eventually be born. That's proof that you believed in yourself."

At Lunia's words, Seirun felt a flutter in his chest.

"Thank you, Lunia."

Seirun smiled faintly and said,

"By the way, Lady Luna acknowledged me as her successor? When?"

"Lady Luna appeared in the current era as a spirit."

Lunia smiled shyly.

"She even gave me the epithet 'Chaser of the Nebula.' It's a title too great for me, and I still feel burdened by it."

"Your epithet is 'Chaser of the Nebula'?"

"Yes."

"And Lady Luna gave it to you?"

"Yes."

"You… you… Yiiiik!"

"S-Seirun-nim?"

"You envious brat!"

"What?"

Seeing Seirun's sudden change, Lunia looked flustered.

"So Lady Luna herself gave you the epithet! Are you showing off now?!"

"Ah, no, it's not that I'm showing off…"

"How was it!"

"What?!"

"How did Lady Luna react after seeing the modern magic system!"

"Well… she created a lot of new original magic for us."

"Lady Luna herself created magic? Who are they! Those envious brats!"

Blinded by jealousy, Seirun grabbed Lunia and shook her violently.

Seeing that, Lunia realized.

Just like Ar and Dryana, her classes with Seirun would not be smooth sailing.