Grim, like a life perpetually shrouded by dark clouds.
A future devoid of hope, like merely walking among the living dead.
Perhaps, for her, that was just how it was meant to be.
Magicians, the most hidden profession in this world, researching "mysteries." They abandoned emotions, discarded kindness, and even cast aside their humanity. To pursue the so-called Root, let alone their own happiness, even their very lives could be cast aside.
It was only to bring their family one step closer to the Root, even if it meant a shattered future, it was considered necessary.
It was enough to be a Magus. If one didn't possess such qualifications, they could also be utilized as breeding machines. And if they couldn't even do that, then serving as experimental material was naturally to be expected.
Such cruelty, such utter lack of humanity, yet these were common things for Magi.
Once, that young girl also believed she would gradually come to accept all of this. As a Magus, a Magus and researcher belonging to the Archibold family, she was to dedicate her life to reaching the Root.
Until, that moment.
"You, there is no need."
Such cold words, spoken from the old man's mouth, devoid of any emotion. That tone perfectly and thoroughly portrayed cold indifference to the extreme.
"Even with the aptitude to be a Magus, compared to Kenice, you are still far inferior. Whether it's the quality or quantity of magic circuits, there is no comparability whatsoever."
As he said this, the old man gently flipped through the grimoire in front of him, extracting knowledge from it. She wasn't even qualified to be looked at directly.
"The subject for your arranged marriage has almost been chosen. Although he's a fellow with impure bloodline, the quality of his magic circuits is considerable. He can make up for the Archibold family's shortcomings. If you breed early, there might be a few failures, but you should also get quite a few qualified offspring."
Listening to such indifferent words, the girl gently bit her pale pink lips.
However, no one would care about the unwillingness on her face. It was merely the opinion of a breeding machine; there was no reason for it to be taken seriously.
"Go down, Reines El-Melloi Archibold. Don't forget your identity. Don't shame the Archibold family."
Such icy words, such a stern will, hammered relentlessly into the girl's already fractured heart. She was only fourteen years old.
However, no matter how unwilling she was, she couldn't refuse the command of this shriveled old man.
"Yes, I understand."
It was a voice tinged with a hint of gritted teeth. Even if she appeared unwilling, she still had to agree to such an order. She was a Magus of noble birth, a member of the Archibold family that had been passed down for nine generations, and she absolutely could not defy the family's will. This had been predetermined since her very birth.
However, perhaps what the girl thought was merely marrying those outwardly dignified wastes in the family to maintain the purity of the bloodline. But to be used as a consumable to draw in other bloodlines—this made it even harder for this proud girl to accept.
Responding to her like this, the old man seemed to ignore her completely, continuing to immerse himself in the world of magecraft.
She had no strength to resist, and even less qualifications to resist.
That old man was the Archibold family's only remaining 'Crown Designee,' and one of the few peaks of Magi in this world. He was several times stronger than her brother, who was like a good-for-nothing 'Color Designee.'
What could she do, being inferior to even Kenice?
Lamenting her impending, incomparably tragic future, Reines gently lifted her skirt, slowly performed a feigned curtsy, and then softly and quietly retreated.
However, in that magnificent Archibold family corridor, she encountered the person she least wanted to see. That was the person who shattered her future.
Kenice El-Melloi Archibold, a fellow called a genius, possessed an extremely strong political acumen, coupled with an excellent lineage. He was also the youngest lecturer in the Clock Tower, one could say he was a person of unparalleled arrogance.
And it was he, precisely such a favored child of heaven, who completely relegated the originally quite talented Reines to a lowly companion, even forcing her to exist merely as a breeding machine.
"Get out. Don't ever step into this house again."
Such icy words, spoken from that man's mouth, were directed at the girl who was much shorter than him, standing before him. In his eyes, there was no longer any hint of familial affection, not even the pretense of kindness or benevolence from the past.
Perhaps, she was simply worthless.
Reines felt a pang of heartache, but she still respectfully moved out of his way.
"Yes, Big Brother."
She once again gently lifted her skirt, bent her knees slightly, and bowed to Kenice.
Although her face bore a forced smile, her eyes were overflowing with bitter tears.
Perhaps, there was even a hint of something she herself couldn't detect in her eyes.
Kenice merely snorted proudly, ignoring this lowly breeding machine, and walked off into the distance.
The girl continued to walk slowly, without stopping, towards her residence.
Only, in her clear eyes, visible tears hung.
A moment later, she pushed open the exquisitely decorated, valuable-looking grand door. She looked at the room filled with grimoires and couldn't help but sigh softly. Perhaps, from now on, she wouldn't be qualified to research magecraft anymore. She didn't particularly like magecraft to begin with, and now she truly didn't know if she should still like it.
She gently pushed open the complex magic circle that had been prepared on the floor. Looking at the golden magic circle, laid with precious magic alloys using all her savings, a trace of gloom flashed in her eyes.
"As long as this succeeds, I suppose it will prove my worth."
Saying this, she couldn't help but sigh softly.
"But, how is that even possible?"
Saying this, a trace of disappointment appeared in her eyes.
That was the most complex type of legendary summoning, Spirit Mediumship research. What it summoned could be the projection of a Heroic Spirit, or it could be a Phantasmal Species, but successful cases were incredibly rare.
Or perhaps, this thing wouldn't be needed in the future either.
Holding such thoughts, Reines pushed open the grimoires pressing on it, and took out the prepared medium.
It was a dazzling golden key, representing a broken lineage. Even though it was a Holy Relic, it was obtained without any complicated methods. She gently placed the key in the center of the magic circle. Following that, she gently filled it with her own magical energy.
Faint white mist rose from the magic circle. The cold white mist made Reines' already frail body tremble involuntarily. But she still gritted her silver teeth, filling it with her magical energy. Until, that dazzling white light shone.
A figure appeared within it.
Could it be, it succeeded!
The girl suppressed the stinging pain in her eyes, looking at the figure in the magic circle, and tears streamed down her face.
Then, there was that supremely proud, disdainful tone.
"So, who summoned this King?"
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