When Magnus revealed that he could create money out of thin air, the decision on whether to accept the chest full of coins he had set down or use it to pay for their things became a lot more complicated.
It wasn't that they were exactly comfortable with it. It was like being offered a large sum of money from someone you knew was wealthy. No matter their situation, getting too much for free would make anyone uneasy. Hisel was still unsure, her eyes flicking between Magnus and the chest full of coins. The same hesitation showed on Tola's face. Celia, however, seemed to move past it the quickest, probably because she had already asked Magnus to use his ability to create things when they were snacking in his room earlier.
"Hmm... fine, I'll take it," Hisel muttered reluctantly, then added, "But! I'm payin' ya back. Even if you can just make more money with a snap of your fingers or whatever, I don't like bein' in debt. So, when this business kicks off, you better be ready."
Magnus didn't argue, just raising his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, if that's what you want. So, can I assume this is enough to cover their stuff too?" he asked, gesturing to Celia and Tola.
Hisel laughed at that.
"Enough? As far as I'm concerned, 'til I pay ya back, you and those girls can take anythin' you want from my store. It's on the house."
"Huh? Wait, seriously!?" Tola's voice was a bit higher as she processed what Hisel had said.
"Yeah, wouldn't that hurt your business?" Celia asked, but Hisel just shook her head, chuckling.
"Hurt it? The money in that chest's worth more than my whole store right now. I'll be fine even if y'all walk out with everything." The girls stood there, holding their items, as it sank in that Hisel was telling them they could just take whatever they wanted.
"Huh, I guess you two won't need to go shopping for a while," Magnus commented, causing Celia to sigh and nod.
"Yeah, I guess so."
They spent a bit more time at Hisel's place, getting everything sorted. Hisel needed to find somewhere to store the huge chest of money, and Magnus had to help carry it upstairs. By the time they left, everything they needed had been neatly packed into bags, and not a single coin had been spent, at least not in the traditional sense.
"Well, that was definitely one of the weirdest shopping... trips? Sprees? Whatever it was, it was weird," Tola said as they walked down the street.
"Yeah, that's why Magnus and I don't go out much. Every time we do, something happens," Celia sighed, glancing over her shoulder at Magnus, who was a step behind them.
"Hold up, that's not true," Magnus protested.
Celia raised an eyebrow and said to him, "Magnus, it's been months, and I'm still waiting for that dinner you promised me. You know, the one before Luen showed up and whisked you away?"
Magnus fell silent at that, prompting Celia to narrow her eyes skeptically.
"Did you forget?"
Immediately, Magnus shook his head.
"What? No, no. Celia, I don't forget things. I have a perfect memory. It's just that sometimes... I'm not thinking about stuff, so I don't remember it unless I want to."
"That... sounds like forgetting," Tola said, her voice filled with confusion.
"No, it's not. I remember everything, I just have to go fetch the information- You know what? Never mind. How about we just go get dinner now?" Magnus suggested.
But after a second of thought, Celia shook her head.
"Can't. Tola and I need to take all this stuff home," she said, gesturing to the bags in their hands.
"Not to mention, didn't you have to go somewhere after this? Or did you 'remember' that too?" Celia added.
It hit Magnus right then—he did have to go visit Seraline as Cain.
His expression froze for a moment before he muttered, "You know, I don't like how sassy you get when you hang around Tola. But you're right, I do have something to do."
"See?" Celia said, turning to Tola.
"Hmhm, classic Magnus," Tola agreed, her voice dripping with sarcasm as if this wasn't her first time hanging out with Magnus.
As they stopped at a corner where they would split, Magnus looked at them in disbelief.
"So this is how I'm treated after securing you two practically a lifetime of free clothes. Dream come true for some, by the way," he said, crossing his arms and shaking his head.
"Ah, and now he'll hold that over us forever," Celia teased.
At that, Magnus realized he wasn't getting anywhere and threw his hands up in defeat.
"Fine, whatever," he muttered, starting to walk in the opposite direction from where Celia and Tola were headed. The two of them smirked at one another, waving him off as they began heading home.
Yikes. Even Wendy wasn't as bad as those two together... Actually, more like a different flavor of catty.
Shaking that thought off, his attention shifted to Seraline. He'd never been to Seraline's house—or, he supposed, the Sostenza Family's house. He didn't even know where it was originally, so when he had time, he asked Luden. It wasn't too far. On the opposite side of Arlcliff from Takerth Academy, still in the Upper City like most noble properties. It would be a trek on foot, but not so much if you took a carriage.
But the distance wasn't a problem for Magnus. He planned to fly.
After parting from Celia and Tola, he ducked into an alley, making sure no one was around. Then, in the blink of an eye, Cain, fully masked and cloaked, flew into the sky.
Soaring through the sky, Magnus scanned the ground below like a bird, looking for buildings that matched Luden's description. As he flew, he clicked his tongue, taking in the view of the places below him. Flying over the Lower City felt like navigating a compact, intricate maze, teeming with people and the hustle of everyday life. The Upper City, on the other hand, was a stark contrast. Here, people didn't usually walk; the streets were almost empty.
The few who were out were mostly noblewomen, chatting business or gossiping while pretending to enjoy a leisurely stroll.
Everything about the architecture seemed like more of an artistic project than something practical. It was designed to impress, meant for those who valued luxury and quality over cost-efficiency. Small parks looked more like ornamental gardens than spaces for recreation. Shops had glass so clear it could double as a mirror, unlike the foggy, impure glass common in the Lower City.
But at Magnus's speed, the commercial area of the Upper City quickly faded from view, giving way to the sprawling mansions that dominated the core of the city. In the distance, the tall spire of City Hall marked the very heart of Arlcliff.
That's when Magnus spotted it.
That must be the place.
It was a mansion, exactly like the one Luden had described as belonging to the Sostenza Family. It wasn't as grand as the other noble estates in the area, but it had plenty of land surrounding it, with the mansion occupying only a part of it. Most of the land was grass, bordered by hedges that ran along a stone wall marking the property. Two areas in front had the grass stripped away and replaced with packed earth. It was hard to make out from his height, but Magnus was pretty sure he saw groups training on those fields, moving through forms under the watchful eye of what he assumed were instructors.
Hmm, I guess it would be rude to land directly on their property.
With that thought, Magnus started descending toward the gated entrance.
On the ground, two guards stood on either side of the gate. They weren't wearing full armor—just gambesons, heavily padded tunics thick enough to absorb blunt strikes. The crest of the Sostenza Family, a black-and-white lion, was embroidered on the chest. Normally, the weight and heat of all that padding would be unbearable, especially in the daytime, but these guards were Apprentice-level knights.
As such, they immediately sensed something approaching fast from above.
"What in the world?" One muttered, glancing up at the sky. Boosting his vision with his aura, his face turned serious.
"Mage! Adept-level—no, Master-level? They're coming in fast."
The other guard's expression darkened.
"What's a Master-level mage doing here? Is it a professor from the academy?"
The first guard shook his head.
"I'm not sure. Doesn't look like it." Both of them kept their hands near the hilts of their swords, though they hesitated to act. Even several Apprentice-level knights would have trouble handling an Adept-level mage, let alone a Master-level one. Not to mention, they didn't want to risk offending the mage if they didn't have hostile intentions.
Within moments, the figure above had reached the ground, hovering just a few centimeters above the earth before gently landing.
"Is this the Sostenza Family's residence?" Magnus asked, his voice muffled by the modifier in his mask.
One of the guards stepped forward and nodded.
"Yes. May I ask who you are?"
"Cain. I'm a student at Takerth Academy," Magnus replied.
The guards exchanged a quick glance. A student? Had they made a mistake? But that didn't make sense—flying spells that moved at the speed Magnus had just demonstrated were usually Master Class.
Cautiously, one of the guards asked, "I see. Can we ask why you're here?"
Magnus gave a slight nod.
"I'm here to meet Seraline." At the mention of her name, the guards exchanged another look.
The second guard spoke up.
"I'm afraid the Young Lady was injured recently during an excursion and is unable to take visitors."
Magnus nodded in understanding.
"Yes, I was there. I was the one on the assignment with her. We have things to discuss." The guards' expressions shifted with surprise. They had heard about the Young Lady's injury—everyone in the Sostenza Family, along with their allies and enemies, knew. An heir losing a limb was a significant event, which was part of the reason why Seraline had been summoned back home from the academy.
Given the situation, they were being extra cautious about visitors. The two guards were now at a crossroads. This 'Cain' claimed to be a student but appeared to be at Master-level. Turning him away could risk offending him and anyone who supported him. But they also didn't have the authority to let someone like him onto the grounds without consulting someone higher up. They weren't even sure if he was who he said he was.
Just as the guards were about to explain their dilemma, a voice broke through the tension.
"M- I mean, Cain, is that you?" Magnus and the guards turned to see Mulvin approaching, just as surprised as they were.
He looked between Magnus and the guards before walking closer.
His expression shifted to something more neutral as he asked, "What's going on here?"
"Sir Mulvin!" The guards stiffened and greeted him, but he waved them off and asked again.
"What's going on?"
The guard who had noticed Magnus spoke quickly.
"Sir, this... person here is saying they're a student from Takerth Academy and here to see the Young Lady, but..." The guard trailed off as Mulvin sighed and nodded.
"I see." Mulvin raised his hand, signaling for the guards to step aside.
"He's a student, in fact. He's in the same class I teach. You two can go back to your posts. I'll take it from here." The guards didn't hesitate. They nodded without a word and returned to their positions beside the gate, relieved to be rid of the situation.
With the guards out of the way, Mulvin turned back to Magnus, offering a slight smile.
"Well, this has been an unexpected surprise. You're the second person from the academy to visit Seraline."
"Hmm? Who was the first?" Magnus asked, though he already had a guess the moment Mulvin spoke.
"Luden. Charming kid, though a bit... odd. But I suppose now's not the time to discuss that," Mulvin said, his eyes narrowing as his gaze swept the street with an increased intensity.
Noticing Mulvin's change in demeanor, Magnus glanced around, asking, "What is it?"
Mulvin hesitated for a moment before responding, guiding Magnus through the gate and onto the mansion grounds.
"Someone or someones are watching us... I can't tell from where or how many, but they're good at hiding. Judging from your reaction, though, you're not too surprised," Mulvin said, noting how undeterred Magnus was by the news.
Magnus followed with a casual stride, answering, "Well, I've been getting a bit popular lately."
He doubted it was Alwen and Kolten that Mulvin had sensed. Those two were Master-level knights, after all—if they wanted to stay hidden, even another Master-level knight would have trouble finding them. Besides that, Magnus wasn't sure if they were even monitoring him anymore. He hadn't run into them in a while. That left him assuming it was Nightshade, the organization Zeth and the vampires were a part of.
I wonder if it's those Ravens Arbarth mentioned. They're supposed to be Nightshade's intelligence branch, right? If they followed me all the way here, then that means they know Magnus and Cain are one and the same. That could be an issue in the future, but for now, it's a good thing Luden gave me that other mask.
The thought lingered in the back of his mind as Mulvin spoke again.
"Whoever they are, you don't need to worry. Since I'm letting you on Sostenza Family Property, you're officially a guest. They won't risk getting any closer, or they'll be detected immediately."
Magnus nodded.
"I appreciate it. And sorry for the trouble." As they walked along the well-carved stone path leading to the mansion, Magnus looked around. The training fields were closer now, reminding him of the Academy Arena. There were even weapon racks off to the side, loaded with training gear. About thirty people were on each field—one group seemed to be taking a break, while the other was running drills, with an instructor shouting commands loud enough to be heard even from where Magnus and Mulvin were walking.
It was then that Magnus realized the instructors of both groups were looking his way. In fact, not just them—some of the people taking a break, sitting on the ground or leaning on their weapons, were also staring at him, and not just out of curiosity.
"Do they not like strangers?" Magnus asked, glancing at Mulvin, who was walking a couple of steps ahead. Mulvin nodded at a few instructors before turning to look at Magnus with a strange expression, as if trying to peer past his mask and read his thoughts.
"Well, what do you expect? The Sostenzas come from a military and knight-based background. Everyone you see here is a knight, so it's natural for them to be on edge when something suddenly flies in at high speed toward the mansion," Mulvin explained, then added, "Why do you think I was at the gate?"
Mulvin let out a deep sigh, one Magnus recognized immediately as signaling a shift in tone.
"I know you're still a student, and your background is... unique, to say the least. You've got a lot of eyes on you, a lot of people interested in you, but no official alliances. Because of that, I can't expect you to know everything. Even the academy doesn't teach you all you need to know. But you need to be more aware of yourself in the future."
"What do you mean?" Magnus asked, confused, though his voice didn't give it away.
"You're a Pseudo-Master level mage, Cain. One of the few at Takerth Academy, and out of all of them, you're the youngest with the most potential. Becoming a Master-level mage in the future is practically a guarantee for you. I didn't tell you this, but some of us professors are even debating whether you'll go beyond that. But I digress. The point is, your movements carry weight, whether people know who you are or not. There's a reason you don't run into many Adept-level mages or knights out in the world. It's not about rarity—it's because we're existential threats." Mulvin stopped, turning to face Magnus as he casually pointed behind him at the mansion.
"Tell me something—do you think you could destroy that entire building with a single spell?" Mulvin asked, his tone almost nonchalant, as if he weren't pointing at the home of a noble family. Magnus was taken aback by the question but thought for a moment. Considering the spells he had at his disposal, he nodded.
"Easily," he replied.
Mulvin grinned slightly.
"Exactly. It's not something you get used to easily when you've grown up on your own, without a family or teacher to explain it. It was the same for me. When I reached Master-level, I realized I was no longer what people considered human. At least, that's how they saw me. And to a degree, they were right. If I'm not careful, even just standing around can cause damage to the things around me."
Those words reminded Magnus of something Eveline had said after his encounter with Zedem.
Right, even when unmanifested, a Master-level knight's will is so powerful that it influences the mana around them. If I remember correctly, the broader name for it is... Intent.
Intent—the ability to shift the world with pure willpower, making the mana that flows through everything adapt to a person's powerful desires.
Magnus recalled two types of Intent he had encountered. The first came from when Mulvin and Lazitha were introduced as his professors alongside Eredim. Lazitha had used it against Nithra. In that moment, it felt and looked as though Lazitha had transformed into something monstrous—fear welling up from somewhere deep within him, to the point where his body went limp, and that was from indirect exposure.
If I had to compare it to something... I guess it's a mix of illusion magic—no, more like a perception-based spell—and something that affects both the mind and body?
Intent wasn't magic, but it was similar. It was like a raw, uncontrolled spell that could only be directed, strengthened, and weakened based on one's will.
The other example was when Magnus felt an invisible pressure crushing him, locking his body, and making breathing difficult. If Eveline hadn't saved him, he would have either passed out or suffocated from the pressure alone. If Magnus had to name it, he'd call it Fighting Intent—not born from mana adapting to the malicious desires of a person's will. It came from one's fighting spirit and found a way to manifest.
Mulvin noticed Magnus's silence and continued, "It seems you understand what I'm talking about. An Apprentice-level mage could destroy a three-story building as long as they know a destructive enough spell. An Adept-level mage, if given time to compress mana and focus on destruction over an area, could bring down a whole village. And at the Master-level... even a city wouldn't take too long. Weapons, Cain. That's how the world sees knights and mages, no matter how much of that is dressed up in respect. You'll be joining those ranks soon, and your presence in a city—even this one—will be seen as a silent, yet very real threat."
There was a brief pause before Mulvin's expression softened a bit.
"Anyway, just keep it in mind next time you show up unannounced at a noble family's house, alright?"
Magnus didn't respond verbally, but beneath his mask, his expression shifted slightly, and he gave a subtle nod, signaling that he understood. In fact, it was something he'd been thinking about ever since he and Basker had created [Velocity Breaker].
Mages. Knights. Glitches... Magnus.
Living weapons.
In the end, the only thing keeping them from exploding was self-restraint.