Jeanne Alter followed Olga Marie to her private office, puzzled.
As Chaldea's director, Olga Marie had a dedicated spot in the command room but also a personal office. It wasn't lavish, resembling a standard office, except for a wall lined with books, showcasing her role as director.
This reminded Jeanne Alter of something Morpheus once said.
"High officials love filling their public spaces with books. Whether they read them doesn't matter... it's about guests seeing them, flaunting 'erudition.'"
He'd said worse: some would have aides pick books, then recite titles like a menu to pose as scholars, even leading nations.
Morpheus's words dripped with scorn. Jeanne Alter didn't know who he meant, but his disdain was palpable.
As a general in the Franco-English wars, she'd met many people. Those Morpheus described were beneath even the lowest nobles.
Now, eyeing Olga Marie's bookshelf, Jeanne Alter wondered about her character.
Was she a fool using books to feign knowledge, or truly capable?
From recent interactions, Olga Marie seemed competent, managing Chaldea efficiently, improving it despite resource shortages. Without those, Chaldea might endure to its limit.
Pointing at a book, Jeanne Alter asked curiously, "That's…?"
Olga Marie glanced over, retrieving it. "Management-related, not magecraft. Before taking over Chaldea, I was just a magus studying magecraft. From a prominent family, sure, but clueless about management."
She looked at the book nostalgically. Jeanne Alter noted its clean cover but worn pages.
"To run Chaldea, I bought mundane educational texts. This is one. Non-magus can't study magecraft, but their other research is impressive. Mundane efforts built much of Chaldea."
"Mundane people? Humans write history, and most are ordinary. Magus are the minority," Jeanne Alter said, convinced Olga Marie actually read these books.
She even spotted novels on the shelf!
No one flaunting status would include novels!
But Jeanne Alter hadn't forgotten why she was here. "Director, why did you call me?"
Olga Marie fell silent, hesitating before clearing her throat. "I'm just curious about Morpheus's current state!"
"His state?" Jeanne Alter grew more curious, noting Olga Marie's evasive eyes. A mischievous grin spread as she realized something.
She wasn't Jeanne d'Arc but a copy crafted from Gilles's delusions, inheriting Jeanne's playful side yet amplified with aggression. Unlike Jeanne's kindness, she loved teasing.
Sensing Olga Marie's odd behavior, Jeanne Alter's playful side surged, though she feigned curiosity. "Tell me, I'll cooperate. It's for my Master."
Olga Marie, startled, asked, "You're worried about Morpheus too?"
"Of course! He's my Master, and we're very close. I'm his only Servant, you know!" Jeanne Alter turned her head, faking shyness, sneaking a glance at Olga Marie.
Olga Marie's eyes widened. "I-I'm sort of his Servant too!"
"Not really. You're a ghost, the director, his boss. He's only helping to save you, right? Unlike me, summoned by our bond!"
"Bond…"
Olga Marie deflated. Jeanne Alter's words were undeniable. Her summoning stemmed from her deep connection with Morpheus, forged when he took on her original sin, bearing her suffering.
Thinking of this, Olga Marie slumped, at a loss for words.
Seeing her crushed, Jeanne Alter pouted, finding it less fun. Muttering about Olga Marie's weak defenses, she said, "But Master's close to many. Like Artemis, Medea, Atalanta…"
Each name dimmed Olga Marie further, but Jeanne Alter added, "And you, Director. You made a contract, and he protected you when you nearly died."
"Y-Yes!" Olga Marie revived instantly.
Such an easy fix, Jeanne Alter thought.
She asked, "So, what do you want to know?"
"Ahem, nothing much. As his Servant, have you dreamed of him?"
"Dreams?" Jeanne Alter paused, then grinned. "Great idea. For Master's well-being, let's share our dreams and check for gaps. How's that?"
"I have to share too?!"
"Of course. You've dreamed of him, right? Two heads are better than one. Or is the Director not here for Master's well-being?"
Facing Jeanne Alter's skeptical look, Olga Marie took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine, we'll both share our dreams!"
"I'll start," Jeanne Alter said, recounting hers.
…
It was a bright, sunny day.
Morpheus rose from bed as usual, stretching lazily.
He was ten, a little adult.
Yawning, he went to the bathroom, cleaned up, and ate a simple breakfast of bread, bacon, and fresh vegetables.
Afterward, he grabbed his backpack and left home... alone.
A dull life, studying with other kids, ending early with the sun still high.
Returning home, he saw the other resident: his mother, a slightly weary woman.
"You're back, my treasure!"
Despite her fatigue, she smiled, waving a toy car. "Look what I got you!"
Morpheus, uninterested, put on a childlike grin. "Thanks, Mom! Love you!"
Her face lit up, hugging him and kissing his cheek. "I love you too, darling."
He didn't care for the toy but felt her love and wanted her to be happy.
Today, she seemed preoccupied, glancing at him during dinner, wanting to speak but holding back.
His mother, only twenty-five, had raised him alone, and he took care not to burden her.
Without Britain's child welfare and single-parent support, she might've been crushed by life.
"Something wrong, Mom?" Morpheus asked, as if seeing through her, giving her an opening.
"It's just… life here isn't great. I was thinking, maybe Academy City… you know, in Japan? It's full of espers. You love weird stuff like that, right?
"I heard students there live well, with advanced tech and a high standard of living. You'd probably thrive there," She said, guilt etched on her face.
She'd always wanted a good life for him but felt she'd failed. Sending him to Academy City earlier might've changed things.
Morpheus paused, seeing her exhaustion, helplessness, and pain.
He knew her love was genuine... not abandonment, but a wish for his betterment.
He shook his head. "I won't go to Academy City, Mom."
She sighed in relief but pressed, "I respect your choice. It was just a suggestion. Maybe look into Academy City? You might change your mind."
Morpheus shook his head again. "I've looked into it. It's famous... how could I not?"
He smiled. "I don't want to go because it's not for me. I think studying normally, improving myself, is best. Plus, I've got other plans for my future."
His mother knew he was bright, mature beyond his years, always easing her burden. It comforted her but pained her, blaming her incompetence for his precocity.
Still, she respected his choices, knowing he always had plans.
"So, what's your plan? Can you tell Mom?"
"Secret!" Morpheus grinned, waving it off.
Then, winking, he grabbed her hand, shaking it playfully.
He knew his strengths and how to leverage them.
"Mom, can I go to the British Library tomorrow? I want to read!"
"Sure, I'll take you."
"No need! I'll go alone. You've got your own stuff, right?"
Sighing at his refusal, she nodded.
The next day, in the library's religion and history section, a small figure in a tailored trench coat wandered.
Morpheus had no interest in Academy City... too troublesome and dangerous. Developing esper powers, without breaking artificial limits, would bar the path of magic.
Using magic as an esper could burst blood vessels due to cognitive restrictions.
Morpheus didn't see himself as gifted, just ordinary. To follow the talented, he'd study magic!
In the vast sea of books, he sought traces of magic, diving into religious texts and esoteric knowledge.
In a corner of the British Library, the young boy sat, engrossed in a book. Beside him, a stack of tomes... religion and occult studies... would daunt even a college student.
They'd put you to sleep in half an hour!
Yet this boy was captivated, diligently taking notes in a notebook.
Morpheus believed one thing.
Magic, hidden in the world, mysterious, omnipresent!
***
If you enjoyed this story, don't forget to drop 5 stars and your power stone. And if you want to read more than 70 chapters in advance, feel free to visit: pat reon . com / KangTL