Chapter 406 - Isabella (2)
At the Academy, the most important thing was personal ability, and next came background. Social status did not affect academic records.
The head of the institution that trained talents from across the continent, the principal, held immense authority.
Isabella was different from other new students.
She could not reveal that she was from the Argyle family, and since the family itself had been excluded from the magic nation, her actual status was that of a commoner.
However, having been taught noble etiquette from childhood, she naturally carried herself like one, which led to rumors among her peers that she was the daughter of a fallen noble house from some country.
Her reserved personality made it difficult for others to approach her, but her outstanding performance in practical evaluations, along with the attitude she displayed that earned her professors' recognition, set her apart.
She was the very picture of an excellent model student.
"Would you mind stepping aside so I can pass?"
At Isabella's single remark, the students quietly moved out of the way. As they watched her walk away, one of the male students muttered under his breath.
"Just because she's the vice-captain? She's so annoying."
"Hey, just ignore her. There's nothing good in picking a fight with her. Rumor has it she's from a dangerous family."
"What, do you have no pride? What if I sneak up and smack her from behind and run away? What's she gonna do then?"
"The alchemy professor said she's a promising talent, that he's basically ready to take her under his wing. And you want to throw punches at her? If you want to get disciplined, go ahead."
"Ah, well, that's…"
Forming groups was human nature.
And students at the Academy were no different. They formed cliques, mocked others, and bullied as part of daily life.
Of course, there were exceptions like Isabella.
"..."
Her school life was smooth.
She was neither bullied nor did she have anyone she could truly call a friend…
'It's not like I'm lonely.'
She had come to the Academy in the first place to study magic and alchemy. A student's duty was to focus on studies, not socializing.
Isabella concentrated on learning.
On the other hand, for ordinary students who failed to blend into groups, life was anything but peaceful.
As Isabella walked through the Academy grounds, her eyes drifted to a corner.
"Hey! Hold him tight!"
"Please—urk!"
A group of early teens were beating someone in the shadows.
The target was Crodon Olentia.
The reasons he was beaten were several, but could be summarized into four.
First, he was older than his peers.
Among the students admitted under the commoner track, there were occasionally such cases.
Second, he was poor.
Other than what the Academy provided as basics, he carried nothing.
The same went for eating out.
Students who struggled to pay tuition were generally like that.
Third, his grades were low.
Although he had entered last place, his theoretical grades were relatively good. He had a head for studying.
But his practical performance was abysmal.
He struggled even with basic magic, so there was nothing more to say.
Fourth, his aptitude test had been abnormal.
In the magic world, aptitude tests were usually taken at thirteen to measure magical talent, but Crodon himself did not even know what his tier limit was.
A test error.
Unusually, his mana circuits had yet to fully form. This was also the reason mentioned earlier for his inability to properly perform basic magic.
───Could it be… a special trait?
───No, it doesn't look like it. He shows no magical abilities that resemble a special trait. It just looks like a congenital physical problem.
───It's rare, but not unheard of. Eventually, as he grows older, he'll likely settle into the normal course.
Thus, the aptitude test was postponed.
The professors believed that only after time passed could his tier limit be measured accurately.
But among the students, being deemed talentless was enough to bring scorn.
Older than his peers, poor, untalented.
What better target for bullying could there be?
Isabella frowned.
'Pathetic.'
But her sympathy ended there.
She lacked the upright sense of justice to confront wrongdoing. She also had no desire to disrupt her current peaceful life.
She lightly shook her head and tried to walk past, as she usually did.
But unfortunately, the weather that day was pleasant.
"Why don't you stop already?"
Isabella intervened.
***
Since professors returning from lunch happened to be passing nearby, the conflict didn't escalate. Afterward, there was no notable clash with the group of classmates either.
Apart from their openly annoyed glances and clicking of tongues.
'Tsk, what a nuisance.'
Her routine had changed.
Perhaps they might retaliate, so she decided it would be wise to stick to main roads for a while.
Isabella resolved to shield herself thoroughly with her grades, professors' favor, and Academy rules. She actually did so.
And there was one other change.
"Ah, hello, Isabella."
Crodon greeted her awkwardly.
Did he really think that helping him once made them friends? What a simpleton.
Isabella ignored him and walked past.
Yet—
"Um, thank you for helping me… They haven't bullied me since then."
In the cafeteria.
"Did you do the homework? Want to see mine? Your grades are higher, but…"
During breaks.
"Mm, I think my opinion's a little different."
During group assignments.
"See you tomorrow!"
After lectures.
"Isabella, what are you doing here?"
Just passing by…
Crodon kept talking to her whenever they met. Not once or twice, but every time, relentlessly. It was impossible not to get annoyed.
'This is driving me crazy.'
Unable to endure, Isabella snapped at him one day, telling him not to act like they knew each other.
But it was useless.
At most, he would quiet down for a few days, and then start greeting her again.
Quite some time passed.
As the saying went, even hate can grow into familiarity.
Days turned to months, months to years, and eventually she became accustomed to her altered routine.
Clatter.
Having passed the promotion exam and entered her second year, Isabella stepped into the lecture hall.
Crodon, seated at the front, waved his hand.
"Good morning."
"Oh, yeah."
They exchanged greetings.
To anyone else, they looked exactly like friends.
Crodon was still known as the Academy's failing student, but aside from practicals, he ranked among the top five in all other subjects.
And when spring gave way to summer vacation—
"Ugh."
Isabella packed her things, preparing to return home to her family.
But there was one problem.
The assignment given by her alchemy professor was not something easily completed alone.
'It's not something I can finish right away, either…'
It was the sort of task that required considerable time.
She was reluctant to seek help from Crodon, who stayed in the dorms even during vacation.
Above all, Isabella valued her time with family.
There was no choice.
"Crodon, if you've got nowhere to go, come with me."
"Huh? Where to?"
"To my home."
Isabella brought Crodon with her as she returned.
"Haah, welcome back, Lady Isabella… huh? A boy?"
"He's just an acquaintance."
The gardener, Carver, opened his eyes wide and let out a shrill cry.
"Lady Isabella brought a friend!!"
"What? Really?!"
Footsteps rushed inside the mansion.
The door soon opened, and her precious family hurried out to greet her.
"Isabella-unnie, you had a friend?! I thought your personality would get you bullied!"
Her younger sister, Xenia.
"Sis, welcome home! Hello, mister. But where's my present?"
The youngest, Kael.
"Oh my, it's the first time we've had a guest from outside the barony. You must be hungry. I'll bring you something to eat."
The only maid, and head maid, Marianne.
They were all Isabella's family, the people she must protect as the house's heir for the rest of her life.
That was her duty, and her wish.
Crodon murmured softly.
"They're all good people."
"Of course."
That evening's dinner was truly grand.
To Crodon, who had always lived in poverty, it was a feast.
Isabella's family sincerely welcomed him.
"So, what do I need to help you with, Isabella?"
"The professor gave me an individual assignment. I need to make a Snowflower of Dawn, but I don't have enough hands. The formula's over there. If it's too hard, focus on the Philem process first."
The two began working on the task. It was practically magic research.
Though their facilities couldn't compare to the Academy's, the magical equipment of the Argyle family was more than enough to produce results, and to satisfy a Mage's thirst for exploration.
"To read all of this would take forever. Can I come study at your place during winter break?"
"Do as you like."
During semesters, at the Academy, and during vacations, at Isabella's estate.
Because of this, Isabella's family grew used to Crodon without discomfort.
Xenia sometimes played pranks on him or learned magic theory from him, Kael followed him closely.
Crodon even helped Marianne and Carver with household chores from time to time.
Isabella and Crodon Were Together
Of course, not as lovers.
Their relationship was that of classmates, friends, and collaborators.
At times, they were even rivals.
"This book is incredibly difficult, yet profound… The author, Harkan Dazest? Do you know who that is?"
"He was a Sage, a Magus, and one of the founders of Black Hour. He's dead now. They say he was betrayed by his disciple."
"Ugh, the world of magic really is brutal."
"It's none of our concern. Turn to page 203 of that book. We'll be experimenting with that today."
Together, they put their heads down and earnestly applied themselves to magic.
As time passed, they worked more seamlessly, and in turn, they were able to conduct fairly advanced magical experiments with ease.
They even wrote individual theses to present to professors. Though crude and riddled with flaws as their first attempts, they were evaluated highly enough considering they were mere students.
"…A failing student getting cocky."
Now and then, groups of classmates would try to pick fights with Crodon. But unlike before, he no longer cowered, and faced them confidently.
Even when he took a few hits, he didn't flinch.
His consistently dull reactions quickly reduced the frequency of bullying.
And so, several years passed.
"Just one more year and we graduate. Why does time fly so fast?"
Crodon murmured as he lay on the mansion's rooftop.
Countless stars, in the summer night sky, formed a vast river.
The wind blew, carrying the scent of grass to the tip of his nose.
Suddenly, Crodon asked.
"Isabella, what will you do after graduation?"
"Out of nowhere?"
"Well, with your grades, you could get into almost any magic tower or institution you applied to. Besides, you're not even a graduate yet, but you can already use lower-tier 2nd circle magic. You've worked so hard, you must have a dream."
A dream.
After some thought, Isabella asked back.
"Then what's your dream?"
"I just… want to be someone who isn't looked down on, someone others look up to. Though, as a failing student, that's probably impossible."
Crodon's talent was still unproven.
Though he passed the promotion exams, with his disastrous practical skills, graduation would not come easily.
"But if I ever do rise, I'll help you. No matter what your dream is."
"..."
Under the starlight, Crodon made his promise.
There was no pretense. Isabella stayed silent, then stood up.
"Hm? Where are you going?"
"Follow me."
Isabella led Crodon deeper into the mansion. She pulled certain books in order, triggering a mechanism that revealed a secret place.
A place that, by rights, should never be revealed to outsiders. The treasure vault of her family.
But Isabella trusted Crodon. Her dream was here.
"What is… this?"
Before Crodon's eyes reflected three materials, exuding an indescribable eeriness.
The byproducts of a special entity, heirlooms of House Argyle.
"Researching this is my dream. It's also the Argyle family's long-cherished wish."
"A family. So you really were a noble."
"The title was stripped away long before I was born, so technically, I'm a commoner. Anyway."
For the first time, Isabella revealed her secret.
"I'm only telling you. Don't ever speak of this to anyone. Promise me."
"Of course, I promise."
Crodon nodded as though it were obvious.
"One day, I'll help you fulfill your dream. Just like you helped me."
The two of them made a vow.
It was pure sincerity. Back then, it truly was.
And that second semester, Crodon's talent was finally revealed through an aptitude test.
Tier limit, 7th circle.
The makings of a Transcendent.
***
From the Academy's failing student, to an overwhelming genius.
The broad strokes of that abnormal leap were widely known to the world, and naturally, Verden knew the story well.
Isabella spoke.
"Crodon became a celebrity on the continent overnight. Powerholders from nations and towers flooded into the Academy, just to meet him."
"Must have been noisy."
"Extremely. So I pretended not to know him for a while. I didn't want to get caught up in it. Crodon was flustered at first by the sudden attention, but I could see he liked it. Once his mana circuits settled completely, he even escaped failing grades in practicals."
She slowly brushed her dark-green hair back.
"And then, an incident happened."
An exalted life often invites jealousy.
All the more so, when someone inferior suddenly outshines you.
One foolish student bumped Crodon's shoulder, mocking him as the Academy's failing student.
Normally, he would have ignored it.
But Crodon did not endure this time, and unleashed a killing spell on the boy.
The hallway was drenched in blood.
───Stop it! Stop, Crodon Olentia!
───He disrespected me first. Tch, worthless wretch.
Recalling that shocking scene, Isabella narrowed her eyes.
"If I hadn't stopped him, that boy would have died. And the next day, the disciplinary committee convened. Since the other boy had provoked him, and considering the situation was impulsive, Crodon received only fifteen days of suspension. In reality, it was just a rest period until things calmed down."
"The magic world is usually like that."
The greater the talent, the greater the treatment. For Mages, especially.
"At the time… I just thought Crodon was venting the inferiority and resentment he had built up over the years. It wasn't incomprehensible."
Their relationship continued, more or less.
But when summer or winter vacation came after the semester ended, Crodon no longer went to Isabella's estate.
There were more important things for him.
"The next year, a few days before graduation, Crodon came to me."
───I'm joining the Bohemirn Tower after graduation, as a disciple of the Omniscient Transcendent, Balrog Bessias.
───Really? That's good.
───So come with me. Isabella, I'm sure even the Transcendent would welcome you. And with the facilities of the tower, you could advance your research. Both you and I would fulfill our 'dreams'. Together, like always.
Crodon fervently spoke of the benefits of joining the Bohemirn Tower.
"And I refused."
"Why?"
"Because it's my dream. What meaning would it have if I borrowed the power of the tower?"
Despite Crodon's logical persuasion, Isabella firmly shook her head.
And so graduation arrived, and both left the Academy.
"I didn't join anywhere. I returned home. I spent my time with my family, self-studying magic and research based on what I'd learned at the Academy."
"Is that when you learned to sing?"
"I just sang once, and Xenia loved it. So in my spare time, I learned it for fun… Hahaha, that's when I discovered I had talent for music."
Anyway.
"Every day was happy and peaceful. As my skills grew and my realm rose, I finally began research on the heirlooms I could never touch before."
It wasn't smooth, but it was fulfilling in its own way. Enough to never regret yesterday.
"I didn't see Crodon again, but our contact didn't vanish completely. From time to time, he sent letters. Just ordinary things, asking how I was, what I was doing… Sometimes, he asked about my 'dream'. I simply replied that I was doing well."
Time flowed again.
Isabella entered her twenties, becoming a fine young woman.
Occasionally, barony men came with proposals, but she naturally declined. She had no intention of marrying yet.
Then one day.
Crodon sent a letter, saying he needed her help. And a few weeks later, he came to her mansion himself.
───What's this about, all of a sudden?
───I need your alchemy.
It was an abrupt request.
"Crodon pulled out various materials from his spatial bag. Among them was the rare mandrake extract."
"A high-tier potion, a formula for a Mana Core."
Verden had once manufactured a Mana Core with an eccentric alchemist. Thanks to that, he had obtained special eyes known as demon eyes.
"Exactly. Crodon asked me to help him make a Mana Core. He said it was an assignment from his master… and it made sense. Even I wasn't confident in making one, so there was no way Crodon, whose alchemy was inferior to mine, could make it alone."
From Isabella's perspective, there was no reason to suspect anything.
But for Verden, it was different.
'Balrog wouldn't bother assigning something so inefficient. He'd just feed the Mana Core directly.'
Which meant Crodon's request was a lie.
And Verden's suspicion… unfortunately proved correct.
"There was no reason to refuse. It was a longtime friend's request, and chances to make a Mana Core don't come often… So I prepared, and headed to the appointed place a few days later."
Isabella brought along her current research, [Reviving Blood].
She wanted to show her friend her progress.
To prove that, even alone, she was still moving toward her dream.
"And I waited."
Isabella bit her lip.
The blood that welled up dripped, corroding the table.
"Like an idiot."
Isabella waited.
But Crodon never came.
You can read more chapters in organised way on my website:- https://revengernovel.com