"Seriously, you're a magus and your stamina's this bad?"
On the mountainous path to Separation Castle Adler, Daniel Davis couldn't help but complain as he watched Lord El-Melloi II rest by the roadside after barely walking a few kilometers. He had known the man was physically weak—but not to this degree.
Rin Tohsaka, once incredulous, had by now grown used to the sight. For magi, even the weakest ones—those with only a single magic circuit—were leagues beyond ordinary people. The difference was qualitative. But even by normal standards, El-Melloi II's physical endurance was horrendous.
He opened his mouth as if to retort, but no words came out. Not for lack of a response, but because he was too winded to speak. He could only sit there, gasping for breath.
"Haha! Seriously though, magi this weak are rare!" came a snarky voice—one that wasn't Gray's, though it came from her direction.
"Add," she muttered with a warning glare, furiously shaking her left hand.
"Ahh! Stop! Stop! Gray, stop!"
The voice was silenced as she spun her hand several times in annoyance. Add—the sealed Mystic Code Add, also known as the restraint upon Rhongomyniad—loved nothing more than teasing Gray.
Now that Daniel was familiar with both El-Melloi II and Gray, he'd already learned about Add's nature and behavior.
"Ugh, what kind of terrain is this?"
After a bit more rest, the group of four continued. El-Melloi II kept grumbling—not about the castle's remote location, which was normal for magi who needed access to ley lines—but because the road was so poor that even a car couldn't traverse it. They were forced to walk.
At one point, Gray had offered to carry him on her back, but El-Melloi II adamantly refused. That was the last sliver of dignity he had left. No matter how many breaks he needed, he wouldn't let his student carry him. It was simply too humiliating.
"Enough complaining. We're almost there."
Turning a bend, they finally saw it—a grey castle perched across a cliff. El-Melloi II immediately collapsed onto a nearby boulder to catch his breath, wanting to compose himself before meeting the others. After all, as a Lord, he couldn't very well show up wheezing like a dying man.
Five minutes later, he stood and led the way across a suspension bridge to the castle's gates.
"This place... looks nice, I guess. But it's also kind of disgusting."
To be fair, the castle's setting was beautiful—cliffs in front, a forest and lake on either side, and a garden in back. Angel statues lined the suspension bridge all the way to the massive doors. With sunlight filtering down on the marble, it looked like something out of a fairy tale.
Angel sculptures were everywhere: on the walls, roofs, banisters—even the door handles. If one were judging purely by appearances, it seemed like a perfect vacation retreat.
But Daniel could sense something far more sinister beneath the surface. El-Melloi II merely frowned at the abundance of angels. He didn't see anything truly wrong, but Gray had been trembling the moment they entered the grounds.
"Stay calm. Don't look at the angels," Daniel said, gently placing a hand on her shoulder to steady her.
As a gravekeeper, it wasn't surprising Gray could sense the abnormality here.
"Sorry, but this invitation only admits one guest."
When El-Melloi II presented his invitation at the gate, a servant stopped them. He frowned at the restriction.
"I've got one," Daniel said, stepping forward. He pulled a fake invitation from his coat and handed it over, subtly tracing a rune in the air—magical suggestion.
Of course he didn't really have an invitation. They were pre-issued and accounted for. But the servant was a mundane human—easy prey for suggestion magic.
The four of them were promptly let inside.
The grand hall was dazzling, adorned with gold trim and more angelic decor. From the spiral staircases to the walls, everything was covered in divine imagery.
"Long time no see, Lord El-Melloi II."
A young man descended the staircase opposite them. Following closely was a little girl, maybe eight or nine, with flowing golden hair. She approached and bowed respectfully.
Even if El-Melloi II didn't care for his title, others did. As one of the Twelve Lords of the Clock Tower, he held significant status.
"Just call me 'Second'. Carrying that full title feels a little too heavy."
"You're too humble. Your contributions to the Clock Tower more than justify the title."
In truth, El-Melloi II had done more for the Clock Tower than Kayneth ever had. Many believed his Lordship was well-earned. He simply couldn't forgive himself enough to accept it.
"You're being modest. But you're the one favored by the Clock Tower's upper echelons, Heine Istari."
Daniel, Rin, and Gray didn't recognize the young man, but El-Melloi II clearly did. He was a rising star among the younger generation.
Technically, El-Melloi II was also part of the "younger generation," but as a Lord, he wasn't counted as such anymore. And frankly, if it came down to raw power, he wouldn't make the cut anyway.
"This is my younger sister, Rosalind Istari. And this is Lord El-Melloi II."
He gently pulled the golden-haired girl forward. She curtsied with practiced grace, then quickly retreated behind her brother.
"Even the new Lord has arrived, I see."
As they were talking, a grating metallic sound echoed from the other staircase. An old man in a wheelchair, pushed by a boy, appeared.
Aside from the main entrance, the grand hall had three spiral staircases, each leading to a different part of the second floor.
"Mr. Oroc..."
El-Melloi II tensed visibly. He knew the man—and that was exactly why he was nervous.
"El-Melloi II... you're a Lord and yet still stuck at the Ritual rank. You've got some nerve showing your face at a friend's castle."
Oroc's words were blunt, offering no respect.
They hit their mark. El-Melloi II looked down, saying nothing. It was true. Without the power to qualify for Ranked or Color rank, Ritual was his ceiling—and even that was awarded based on merit, not ability.
Gray clenched her fists in anger, but she knew it wasn't her place to speak.
"Oho, now here's a rare sight—some real beauties."
From the third staircase came a flamboyantly dressed young man. His gaze was brazen, immediately making Gray shrink back behind El-Melloi II. Rosalind clung tightly to her brother's side.
"You're scaring my sister."
Heine's tone turned sharp, his protective instincts flaring.
"Don't smother her, or she'll grow to hate you."
"Rosalind would never hate me."
"Confident, aren't you? And you, young lady—may I ask your name?" The eccentric youth's eyes now locked onto Rin.
"None of your business," Daniel cut in, his glare cold.
"Your girlfriend, huh? My apologies, then."
Only then did the youth look at Daniel.
"Who's his girlfriend!? Don't spout nonsense!" Rin snapped, her cheeks flushed with annoyance and embarrassment.
"Come on, kid. If she's not your girlfriend, why so possessive?"
As he spoke, he suddenly stepped back and tossed something—a small object hurtled straight at Daniel. Heine tried to intervene, but it was too late.
"A bowl?"
Daniel caught it with one hand. It was a small, palm-sized metal alms bowl.
Everyone's attention snapped to him. They could all block the attack—but to catch it so casually? That was something else.
"A flying bowl technique," Heine explained.
The eccentric youth practiced a sect of Buddhist magecraft. The bowl, typically used for begging, had clearly been modified into a magical weapon.
"What's wrong with you?! Attacking someone out of nowhere?!" Rin was clearly upset.
"Just a bit of fun. We're magi—there's no such thing as a sneak attack."
In the Moon World, magi were like ninja—if you got hit, it meant you weren't good enough.
"Fun, huh? Then let's play."
Daniel casually tossed the bowl back. As the youth caught it, a red gemstone appeared on Daniel's finger. With a flick, he sent it flying toward him.
He chose to use gem magecraft—a nod to the customs of this world. In the Moon World, gem magecraft was synonymous with wealth. Only the Tohsaka and Edelfelt families were known for it, as it was outrageously expensive.
But for Daniel, money wasn't an issue. His powers from the Ope-Ope Fruit let him cut and shape gems effortlessly—perfect for spell prep.
For gem mages, cutting the stone to the right shape was crucial.
If anything, the artificial Mystic Eyes used in the Moon World were even more suited to his abilities.
"Flow."
Just as the ruby closed in, Heine intervened. With a quiet chant, the floor shifted—rising into a stone wall that shielded the flamboyant youth.
Boom.
The ruby struck. A searing explosion shattered the stone wall, the force sending the youth flying backward.
"Whoa, that was dangerous."
He twisted midair, kicked off the stairs, and flipped up to the second floor, his eyes wide as he stared down at the ruined wall. Had that hit directly, he would've been seriously injured—maybe not dead, but definitely down for the count.
"That's enough. Don't forget why we're here."
After a brief silence, Heine finally spoke. Even he was startled by the ruby's power. If it had hit him, he doubted he'd have escaped unscathed.
"Is this your new apprentice?" Oroc asked, his expression shifting just like Heine's.
"Something like that."
El-Melloi II's tone sounded defeated. And who could blame him? Daniel and Rin were born geniuses, capable of what he could never accomplish in a lifetime. That kind of talent evoked jealousy, admiration, and a sense of hopelessness all at once.
"So lively here. Looks like I'm late to the party."
A crisp sound of footsteps echoed through the hall. Everyone turned to see three figures entering through the main doors—but all eyes landed on the girl in front.
Clad in a stunning blue dress, her golden French curls tied with matching ribbons, she held an ivory-handled parasol and exuded the aura of nobility—elegant like a swan.
Even though Rin was also a beauty, this girl completely overshadowed her in presence and grace. This was the aura of a proper noblewoman.
Rin might have noble blood, but she had the temperament of a tsundere more than a lady.
"…Her."
The moment she saw the newcomer, Rin's eyes narrowed. It was the look of a long-standing rivalry. The other girl stopped as well, their gazes locking. Then, in perfect synchronization, they both turned away with a cold "hmph."
"Oh, it's her. No wonder. It's Muscle Devil Rin versus Lady Crane."
Daniel had never met her before, but she was instantly recognizable—there was only one girl with such a distinctive look in the Moon World.
Rin Tohsaka's eternal rival: Luviagelita Edelfelt.
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