Chapter 34: The Color of Magic

Black Wolf Castle, library.

Sunlight spilled through the gorgeous stained-glass windows, casting mottled light and shadows. The air was filled with a faint scent of books, and the layered bookshelves added a sense of tranquility.

"So-called magic power is a type of energy that exists in the gaps between the souls and bodies of all living things. Everything possesses magic power, but only a very small number of creatures can guide and unleash it."

Xia Mingyu sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, while a petite, silver-haired girl wearing a pale pink nightgown stood before him, explaining it in a serious, step-by-step manner.

At his request, Lise began by explaining the very basics of magic.

"Either magical beasts and elves who are born with the ability to perceive magic power, intelligent creatures who have broken through to the Morning Star Rank and awakened their own magic power, or mages who perceive and utilize magic power through meditation."

"However..."

Lise extended a slender finger, and a faint white light brewed at her fingertip.

"Before reaching the Morning Star Rank, the magic power utilized is, strictly speaking, not true magic power; it is symbolically called blank magic power."

"Because the first Great Mage in the world, Lord Bai Esi, once said that the base color of magic power is the will of the living being. Therefore, no two living beings' magic power is exactly the same; if there are ten million living beings, there will be ten million types of magic power."

"Only upon reaching the Morning Star Rank will one awaken their own unique, colored magic power in the gaps between their soul and body. Just like my father, Viscount Hughes, who awakened emerald-green magic power when he reached the Morning Star Rank."

Lise's voice was pleasant and clear.

Under her explanation, Xia Mingyu gradually gained a clear understanding of magic power.

Unlike the fantasy novels on Blue Star where knights use battle aura and mages use magic power, in this world, the power used by transcendents seems to be magic power.

Moreover, it possesses a strong personal color, and even the colors of the magic power are all different.

Wait, Xia Mingyu suddenly thought of something.

"Lise, does the color of magic power have anything to do with eye color?" he asked.

He remembered that Kalen's eye color was emerald green, and his magic power was also emerald green.

"Yes, some have said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. Many people's eventually awakened magic power is the color of their own eyes."

Lise nodded slightly.

"Your eyes are as beautiful as obsidian. I imagine that if you reach the Morning Star Rank, you will surely awaken an extremely rare black magic power."

Lise couldn't help but exclaim, a trace of envy appearing on her exquisite face.

This was not a pretense; she truly felt deep envy from the bottom of her heart.

If she also had such a pair of eyes, she wouldn't have been stuck at the Illusionist rank for so long, nor would she have reached seventeen without receiving a single invitation to a banquet...

"Lise, your eyes are also beautiful. When you reach the Morning Star Rank, will you awaken magic power mixed with red and gray-white?"

Looking at the silver-haired girl's beautiful heterochromatic eyes, Xia Mingyu asked curiously.

"Perhaps, but I will probably never set foot in the Morning Star Rank..."

Lise smiled bitterly, a trace of desolation flashing in her expression.

"Is the difficulty of promotion between an Illusionist and a Mage really that terrifying?" Xia Mingyu asked in shock.

Judging from her appearance alone, Lise should still be very young. Having set foot in the Transcendent Rank so early, she should be considered a genius by any measure.

But even so, she actually felt that she would never be able to reach the Morning Star Rank in her lifetime.

Xia Mingyu suddenly felt that he should be more cautious in choosing a profession. Although being a 'magic master' is cool, it would be bad if this world's magic was a trap like biochemical engineering.

"The difficulty of promotion for mages is indeed recognized as the highest among all professions, but that is not why I say this."

Lise shook her head, then hesitated for a moment, looking at Xia Mingyu and speaking slowly.

"Your Highness, you are not from this continent, are you?"

Whether it was his understanding of magic power or his praise of her beautiful eyes, this Highness was too unlike someone from the Western Continent.

At this moment, Xia Mingyu's heart beat rapidly, and even his palms seeped with fine beads of sweat.

Because previously, neither Village Chief Luo Bote nor Viscount Hughes had asked about his background, perhaps out of respect, so much so that he had almost let his guard down.

He didn't expect to be asked this question by Lise in the library today. Was it because he seemed ignorant of some common knowledge known to everyone in this world that aroused suspicion?

Xia Mingyu did not answer, only nodded slightly, his expression calm.

Loose lips sink ships; it was better to let the other party imagine it for herself.

"Your Highness, you really are from the Eastern Continent. After all, the total number of humans on the Western Continent might not even reach 1.4 billion. Your kingdom must rule the entire Eastern Continent to have such a large number of citizens!"

Lise couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

Then she took two steps back, slightly lifted the hem of her pink nightgown, and performed an elegant curtsy.

This was not her respect for Xia Mingyu, but her respect for the first super kingdom to rule the entire continent since the birth of the human race.

This scene made Xia Mingyu's face feel a bit hot.

Although Lise had tried her best to keep the hem of her skirt low, it still revealed two long, snow-white legs. Her skin appeared as delicate as congealed fat under the light, as if covered by a layer of faint halo.

Fortunately, there were pale white lantern shorts under the nightgown.

"Your Highness, perhaps heterochromia is nothing in the Eastern Continent, but here in the Western Continent, heterochromia is a well-known omen of misfortune. Once a baby with heterochromia is born in a commoner's family, they must be immediately cremated, and those who dare to resist are killed on the spot."

"I survived because I was born into nobility, but even so, I am subject to many restrictions. If I were to promote to a Mage and awaken dual-colored magic power, I fear even my father would not be able to protect me..."

Lise sighed softly.

She feared that the day after she broke through to become a Mage, a Bishop from the Church would come to her door to execute her on the spot.

If only she didn't have heterochromia, she could embark on the path of magic as she pleased.

Looking at the desolate silver-haired girl in front of him, Xia Mingyu was at a loss. He didn't know how to comfort her, so he could only say in a deep voice:

"Hoo, Lise, can you go and bring me the books about the Eastern Continent again?"

If she kept busy, she wouldn't be sad.

"My pleasure, Your Highness."

"... Stop, I permit you to not perform a curtsy when wearing a nightgown."

Seeing the girl about to lift her skirt again, Xia Mingyu hurriedly stopped her.

The first time, not knowing, it was gentlemanly; the second time, looking again, it would just be lecherous.

Ten minutes later, Lise struggled to carry a stack of thick books and placed them in front of Xia Mingyu.

"Your Highness, all the books about the Eastern Continent in this library are here."

The girl spoke while wiping the sweat from her forehead with her hand.

This scene made Xia Mingyu feel a bit guilty; he always had the illusion that he was using child labor.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 35 =====