"Take what you need. We're leaving on a journey."
The sudden announcement left Aster momentarily confused.
"A journey? What kind of journey?"
Valorant hoisted his bag onto his shoulder and looked at his disciple.
"Duke Alaris has summoned me. I have to go. I can't leave you behind, so you're coming with me," the old man said as he began searching for his belongings.
The Duchy of Alaris was one of the two duchies located within the territory of the Blackwood Empire. Duke Alaris himself was a member of the imperial family—the late emperor's older brother. For that reason, he bore the Blackwood family name.
Because he was both a duke and a member of the imperial family, a summons from Alaris carried the force of law.
Aster didn't know this.
But Valorant's concern lay elsewhere.
"Why would he summon you?" Aster asked jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.
"You're retired, aren't you? Or did you steal something before retiring?"
Valorant paused, bag in hand, and looked at Aster for a second.
"Very funny. Now hurry up and pack your things. We're leaving immediately."
'Judging by how rushed he is, this must be urgent,' Aster thought.
"I'll explain everything on the way. We need to move quickly—otherwise the snow might get worse," Valorant said as he finished packing.
Hearing his master, Aster quickly gathered his belongings. He put on thicker clothes and draped the black cloak Valorant had given him over his shoulders.
Then Valorant retrieved both his own sword and Aster's from where he had secured them.
"We'll need these," he said, handing Aster his blade.
Once they were ready, they left the hut in haste. To avoid freezing in the bitter winter cold, they activated fiery mana and ran.
Outside, snow had already begun to fall. The fine snowfall reduced visibility and made movement difficult.
Valorant and his disciple rushed through the forest as fast as they could, weaving between trees and leaping over branches.
Running behind his master, Aster watched him and pondered.
'Why would they summon someone who's retired? And if it's the duke himself… this sounds serious. I should ask him directly.'
Catching up to Valorant, Aster ran beside him.
The wind howling through the forest carried snowflakes with it, as if deliberately blowing them toward Valorant and his disciple. As a result, the old man's vision became increasingly obstructed.
Fortunately, his disciple didn't share that problem.
"Master Valorant! You said you'd tell me why you were summoned."
"Yes. Duke Alaris wouldn't summon me without reason. I believe he has an important task—something related to the Elven Kingdom."
Pulling his hood lower, Valorant continued,
"Elves don't trust just anyone. They only place faith in those they deem worthy. I'm one of those people."
Aster asked,
"What do we do once we leave the forest?"
The old man held up a piece of paper.
"According to the letter, a horse-drawn carriage should be waiting for us."
It took some time, but eventually they made their way out of the forest.
Just as the letter had said, a carriage was waiting for them.
It was clearly one that belonged to an aristocratic family. Standing in front of it was a man watching the surroundings. As Valorant and Aster approached, the coachman immediately dismounted.
"Good day! My name is Dan. One of the Seven Sages—Sir Valorant. Duke Alaris sent me to escort you."
Standing to the side, Aster froze.
'One of the Seven Sages?'
The Seven Sages was a special title granted to Elestars—those who had mastered their element and played significant roles in politics and warfare.
Valorant waved it off.
"It's been a long time since anyone called me that. Just call me Valorant."
The coachman bowed respectfully.
"Then I shall address you as Sir Valorant," he said, then glanced at the boy beside him.
"I thought you would be alone. Who is this child?"
Valorant replied proudly,
"This is my disciple. His name is Aster."
"Pleased to meet you," Dan said to Aster, then turned back to Valorant.
"I hadn't heard that you had taken a disciple."
"I hope he won't be a burden," Valorant said, resting a hand on Aster's head.
"Not at all. The duke's only order was to bring you safely. The rest doesn't matter. Please, make yourselves comfortable. We'll depart immediately."
Once both of them were inside, the carriage began to move.
The interior was even more luxurious than it appeared from the outside. Leather seats, gold-trimmed decorations—everything made Aster tense.
'If I damage anything in here, I'd probably spend my whole life working to pay it off…'
Looking around nervously, Aster wiped the sweat from his forehead.
'I think I might be allergic to wealth.'
Noticing his disciple's discomfort, Valorant said,
"Relax a little."
After some time, Aster finally calmed down and asked,
"He called you one of the Seven Sages. Why?"
"There's a reason. I am one of them," Valorant replied.
"It's a long story."
Unsatisfied, Aster muttered,
"If I get the chance, I'll learn who the Seven Sages really are."
"If you ever go to the Chronos Magic Academy, you might find plenty of information about mages—and perhaps even about me."
"The Magic Academy?!" Aster's eyebrows lifted in surprise.
"Yes. Just as I taught you magic and swordsmanship, they teach gifted children like you."
In truth, every nation in the world had its own magic academy—including the Blackwood Empire. However, the Chronos Academy was famous for its exceptional geniuses and opportunities no other academy could offer.
Hearing this, Aster stared at his master in awe.
"Would you like to study with other children?" Valorant asked.
The unexpected question made Aster hesitate.
"No," he answered firmly.
That wasn't the response Valorant expected.
"Why? Because you stand apart from others?"
Aster remained silent.
Understanding his disciple's feelings, Valorant said nothing more.
The Chronos Academy was located in a neighboring allied kingdom. Each year, it gathered children with magical talent from all over the world.
The academy was named after its founder, Chronos—one of the three Archmages and a hero who had defeated the Demon King single-handedly. After the war, Chronos lifted three islands into the sky and transformed them into a sanctuary of knowledge.
After that conversation, silence filled the carriage.
Although Aster had said he didn't want to study there, the truth was different. Growing up alone without friends had made the idea appealing. But at the same time, he feared being looked at the same way the villagers once had.
That was why he had said no.
Trying not to dwell on dark thoughts, Aster turned his gaze toward the window.
Outside, snow continued to fall, covering everything in white and steadily reducing visibility.
At the front, Dan squinted into the snowfall, struggling to see ahead.
Then—
In the distance, something lay in the middle of the road.
A red liquid was spreading around it.
As the carriage approached, Dan realized the object was an animal—and the red liquid was blood.
This was not a good sign.
An animal wouldn't simply die in the middle of the road on its own.
Fear crept into Dan's heart. He stopped the carriage before getting any closer.
Sensing danger nearby, he turned toward one of the Seven Sages.
His voice trembled as he called out,
"Sir Valorant!"
"What is it? Is everything alright?"
"For now, yes. But… I fear trouble is about to begin," Dan said, swallowing nervously.
"Forgive my rudeness, but could you step down and check what's ahead? For some reason… my heart senses danger."