Disciple of a Disciple
"I'm tired of this helplessness... I don't want to be protected anymore. I want to be the protector."
A calm, clear voice resonated through the air.
The boy with hair the color of the night sky was articulating his intentions with unwavering conviction.
However, it was evident that he couldn't completely suppress his wavering emotions.
Each word he uttered was tinged with a profound sorrow.
Droplets of blood trickled down his lips, a consequence of biting down hard to contain his emotions, only to end up breaking the skin.
"I want to be like Master."
Korn silently observed the boy.
Her gaze was ice-cold, but the boy met her eyes with unwavering determination.
"He protected the Academy, ensured the safety of others, and became a pillar of support for everyone... I want to be strong like that."
A spark flickered in the boy's eyes.
Although faint, Korn could see it.
A fragment of a star, radiating pure resolve.
The boy's gaze evoked a sense of déjà vu, prompting Korn to murmur silently to herself,
'...He resembles him.'
The thought escaped her lips before she could stop it.
The boy bore a striking resemblance to her beloved student, who was no longer by her side.
Indeed, Lucas had once spoken similar words.
Even after all this time, the memory remained vivid in her mind.
Korn found herself lost in reminiscence.
-Master... In the end, I was the only one who survived.
Ten years ago, the Empire was ravaged by a devastating civil war.
It was known as the "Lukria War of Conquest."
At the tender age of fourteen, Lucas had swept across the battlefields.
People hailed him as a weapon of war sent by the Goddess to aid the Empire, but the truth was far from it.
No matter how extraordinary he might have been, he was still just fourteen.
He was far too young to endure such horrors.
-They're all gone.
-Uncle Sven, who always teased me for being a kid, Sister Aria, who always looked after me with such warmth, Brother Jairo, who acted indifferent but always lent me his shoulder... and Kyle, who promised we'd survive together.
-Every single one of them... gone.
What sins could he have possibly committed in a past life to deserve such a cruel fate?
Even now, the mere thought of it sent a pang of sadness through her heart.
They were the pillars that had helped him endure the relentless onslaught of grief.
Yet, the world had mercilessly ripped them away.
Before the lifeless bodies of his comrades, a boy with emerald green hair wept uncontrollably.
-Why must I always lose everything?
-All I wanted was to protect those dear to me... but I couldn't do anything.
Despair was not merely pain.
It robbed one of the will to envision a future.
It planted a seed of longing for death, a desperate hope that this agonizing misery would finally cease.
That was despair.
Those who had lost their tomorrow were condemned to live a life devoid of meaning.
Like trampled flowers by the roadside, their existence would wither away, devoid of vibrancy.
-Master...
When she heard her name whispered, a realization dawned upon Korn.
Lucas must have felt the same way.
Just like countless others who had faced despair, he too would succumb to his sorrow and crumble.
He had every right to.
Despite his best efforts, he had met with nothing but tragedy.
Even if he were to collapse and never rise again, no one could fault him.
-I want to be strong, Master.
However, her assumptions proved to be utterly wrong.
-I don't want to lose anyone else.
-I want to be strong enough to protect everything I hold dear.
Lucas was a radiant soul.
Even a thousand layers of darkness couldn't extinguish his brilliance.
Instead of succumbing to his pain, he chose to carry it with him and move forward.
His eyes shone with an unyielding spirit.
A decade had passed, but Korn couldn't erase the memory of that unwavering gaze.
"I will inherit the will of the Guardian."
And now, the remnants of the past resurfaced.
Standing before her was a boy with a gaze that mirrored Lucas's.
Although his eyes were black instead of green, the resolve that burned within them was as bright as ever.
Korn clenched her fists beneath the table, her heart overwhelmed with a strange mix of emotions.
"I will honor his noble sacrifice... I will grow stronger, expand my influence, rise to a position where I can protect everything and everyone I hold dear."
-"I will honor his noble sacrifice... I will grow stronger, expand my influence, rise to a position where I can protect everything and everyone I hold dear."
Raiden and Lucas.
Their voices intertwined in her ears, creating a bittersweet symphony.
It was an odd sensation.
Sadness, relief, resentment, longing—a whirlwind of emotions surged within her.
"Please, grant me your strength."
Raiden bowed deeply.
Korn watched him in silence.
"...Raiden."
The child who called Lucas his master.
Unlike other students, he had received not only personal instruction but also the mantle of Lucas's Unique Magic.
Did that make him her disciple's disciple?
Frankly, she was weary.
The pain of losing her beloved student had driven her to the brink of madness.
To face a gaze so similar to his only served to reopen old wounds.
Part of her wanted to simply cast him away, but the phantom voice that had been haunting her whispered insistently.
- Master, you know it too.
- I don't have much time left. Maybe four years at most.
- So, I have a favor to ask.
- It might sound cruel, but when the day comes that I breathe my last...
Her foolish student's final request.
- Please, take care of the students.
He truly was hopeless.
Not only had he left her behind, but he couldn't even bear to let her give up.
Korn let out a shaky breath.
"...What is it that you desire from me?"
Very well.
This would be her final act.
Fulfilling the wish of the last vestige of Lucas's legacy would be her final farewell to the world.
With that silent vow, Korn rose to her feet.
Her movements were fluid and silent, betraying no hint of the turmoil within.
Her crimson hair swayed gently as she stepped in front of the boy.
"Look at me."
"Yes."
His black eyes met hers, unflinching.
For a moment, she scrutinized his face, her gaze lingering on his bloodied lips.
"You're a foolish one, aren't you?"
Clicking her tongue disapprovingly, Korn extended her hand.
A soft, mana-infused touch grazed his lips, erasing the bloodstains and healing the wounds.
It was a simple healing spell, amplified by her mastery of regeneration magic.
Her eyes, still devoid of their usual spark, settled on Raiden.
"Since you call Lucas your master... I shall treat you as my disciple's disciple."
"Understood."
"You may address me as your second master. From now on, call me Grandmaster."
"Yes, Grandmaster."
"You really are like him, answering so readily."
A ghost of a smile touched Korn's lips as she turned away.
With a flick of her wrist, mana surged through her, smoothing her disheveled hair and straightening her wrinkled clothes.
She looked composed, if only a little.
It was the closest she had come to her old self since Lucas's passing.
"...So, tell me. What would you have me do?"
Her voice was flat, devoid of emotion.
***
When I first devised the plan to bring Korn on board, I was apprehensive.
I wasn't sure if I could convince her.
How could I possibly reach out to someone drowning in such profound grief?
I spent countless hours agonizing over this, but no clear answer emerged.
I knew firsthand the devastating effects of losing a loved one. It wasn't something that could be resolved with mere words or gestures.
But giving up wasn't an option.
Korn was indispensable to my plan.
For the sake of my late master and for her own well-being, she had to live.
So, I decided to take a leap of faith.
I would approach her with unwavering sincerity and persevere until my message reached her heart.
To my surprise, Korn responded favorably.
I was taken aback.
She wasn't one to mince words or offer empty platitudes.
Her acknowledgment of me as her disciple's disciple brought a lump to my throat.
However, I couldn't afford to get caught up in sentimentality.
There were more pressing matters at hand.
Pushing aside my emotions, I proceeded to explain my plan to Korn.
She listened intently, her expression unreadable.
After a moment, she nodded in understanding.
"So, it's not just a vague goal of protecting people... You've actually envisioned a structured future."
"Indeed."
"To create a 'system' that can serve as a shield. An admirable ambition."
"Implementing this plan within the Academy requires your approval, Grandmaster. Will you lend us your strength?"
"Very well, I will."
To my relief, Korn agreed.
Although she still carried an air of lifelessness, her promise to help felt genuine.
"Is that all?"
"I have one more request."
"Speak freely."
"I believe there's a memorial ceremony in a few days for the victims of the recent invasion."
"Yes... Professor Sharon mentioned it."
A ceremony to commemorate the fallen.
It was meant to be a somber occasion, a stark reminder of their helplessness in the face of tragedy.
But I wouldn't allow it.
This ceremony would mark the first step towards realizing my vision.
For those who were lost.
For those who remained.
It was a small act of defiance, a testament to my unwavering resolve to heal their wounds.
"Just like at Master's funeral… I request that you allow me to stand in your place at the memorial ceremony."
"You mean the Headmistress's position?"
"Yes. And this time, I don't just want to stand there. I want to lead the ceremony."
"...I must confess, I don't quite understand your intentions."
Korn looked at me with a mixture of curiosity and confusion.
I offered her a faint smile.
“There is something that must be done.”
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