Chapter 48
The Shape of Shadows
Inside the Dark Room
Ferda returned to the sanctuary of the dark room. Instead of seeking sleep, he immersed himself in mana training. He practiced a technique known as the Shape of Shadows. Among mages, this method was considered advanced in its difficulty, but Ferda had already walked much harder and more dangerous paths. For him, the complexity was not an obstacle. All he required was the precise movement of his mana circle.
Finally, the circle began to rotate.
“The amount is terribly insufficient,” he muttered.
Ferda knew how to reach the 5th Circle immediately through the forceful extraction of mana, but he refrained. He understood the peril of allowing emotions to dictate his power. Controlling his impulses, he searched for a stable solution and found it. He closed his eyes, spreading the flow of mana throughout his physical form. Then, tilting his mind, he overturned his reality.
His consciousness sank into the world of shadows.
The flickering candlelight cast a wavering silhouette against the wall. Suddenly, that shadow moved on its own. It crawled upward, wrapping around Ferda’s body before sinking into his core to face the red circle within.
“Valdrova.”
At that name, Ferda’s mind began to envision her. He worked like a mad painter, obsessively rendering the same image over and over, never satisfied. He drew thousands of portraits only to destroy them all. This endless desire was more than thirst—it was an obsession.
“This is what I wanted to know when I reached the 3rd Circle.”
It was the question that had vanished when Valdrova lost control and went berserk. Now, he finally understood. There had been an empty space in the image of Valdrova he had been painting. That void contained two syllables: Tomorrow.
The mad painter within him moved again, but this time, frustration was replaced by passion. He painted her image on a larger canvas.
“Her tomorrow.”
But it was not just hers.
“A tomorrow where I exist.”
In the empty space, he placed himself. The painting transformed into a single sentence: I want to share tomorrow with her.
The moment the thought was completed, the illusions came to life. Ferda recognized the sensation. Innocence. Long ago, a weak boy had dreamed of a companion. That dream was now occupied by a beautiful woman with red hair and four horns. It was a moment of pure ecstasy—the peak of emotion.
The surge shook his mana circle violently. To prevent his own destruction, Ferda focused. The future he dreamed of was not a fantasy; it had to become reality. He took the form of the shadow and placed it within his mana circle. Dozens of shadowy hands gathered the turbulent mana and began shaping it.
“It’s easy.”
This was on a completely different level from gathering mana with a single hand. Even reaching the 1st and 2nd Circles had been more difficult than this.
“Too easy.”
The shadows compressed the mana from all directions. The rotation accelerated, the shape solidified, and a new shell formed around him.
With that, Ferda reached the 4th Circle.
He opened his eyes. The shadows moved, taking the shape of a hand. This was the 3rd-tier spell, Shadow Hand, but it was different. It wasn’t just a construct; it was a hidden part of his own body.
“The shadow is me.”
The hand split into more hands, which split again until the entire room was filled with black limbs.
“I am the shadow.”
The candlelight flickered, unable to withstand the encroaching darkness. Then, it went out.
The Magic Guild
A guild is an organization that provides identification and benefits, enforcing rules and unity for profit. However, the Serdes Magic Academy was different. Instead of proving abilities, it monitored them. Instead of providing benefits, it controlled them. This was the reality for magicians on the Serdes Continent.
The founder of the academy was Eldes Roton. One of the 12 Heroes who had defeated the Demon King in the Dragon War, she had created the academy 150 years ago. She remained active—the strongest magician in human history, a living legend, and a repository of knowledge. Despite her age, she appeared younger than most women.
“You have official work to do,” a voice called out.
“No!!”
Instead of a great scholar, Eldes pouted like a child. “I don’t want to work! Leave me alone!”
“The paperwork has piled up so much that I can’t even see your face!”
“I stacked it like that on purpose so I wouldn’t have to see yours.”
“This is serious! Just open the door and look!”
“If someone challenges me to a duel, I’ll open it.”
“Who in their right mind would fight you?! You’re the strongest magician alive!”
Eldes sighed. Her assistant, Lu, handed her a document. “Here is the list of attendees for the Grand Council meeting.”
Eldes skimmed the names. Suddenly, she froze.
“Is something wrong?” Lu asked.
“I thought I was seeing things.” She read the name again. She wasn’t mistaken. “Lu, did you mess up the records?”
“What? No! Everything is correct!”
Eldes pointed at a name. “This man’s last name is Valdrova?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Eldes narrowed her eyes. “That terrifying Red Dragon? Why is his name here?”
“Ah… You didn’t know?” Lu hesitated as Eldes’ expression darkened. “He’s the fiancé of the Red Dragon, Valdrova.”
“Fiancé?” Eldes leaned back and smirked. “Now this… is interesting.”
She stood up and stretched. “Alright. I was going to skip the Grand Council, but I’ve changed my mind.”
“Wait! Does this mean you’re actually attending?” Lu panicked.
Eldes ignored him, casting a 5th-tier teleportation spell with a flick of her hand. A glowing portal appeared.
“See you later, Lu! Take care of my cats!”
“Wait, what? No! You can’t just—!”
Before Lu could stop her, Eldes stepped into the portal and vanished.
10 Days Before the Grand Council
Ferda was ready to leave for the central continent, needing to depart immediately to reach Blancaros in time.
“Traditions are useless,” he mused. To nobles, having free time was a sign of dignity, but Ferda found the idea ridiculous in an age of mana-powered vehicles.
A voice called from outside. “Your Regency, may I enter?”
It was Jed, a soldier from Valdrova Castle, wearing the required red uniform.
“Count Concilius has sent Sir Arwen and his troops. They just arrived.”
“I see.”
“Our carriage is ready. We’re only waiting for you… huh?” Jed paused, looking at Ferda with confusion. “Are you going to dress like that?”
Ferda’s clothes were plain. While other nobles wore jewels and gold thread to flaunt their status, Ferda wore simple black garments with red accents. The fabric had a slight shine, but it was far from extravagant.
“I never liked gold.”
“Who in the world doesn’t like gold?” Jed compared their outfits. “If I removed the gold from my uniform, I’d look just like you.”
“Good. That means assassins are less likely to target me.”
Jed smirked. “With your face, I doubt they’d go for me instead.”
Ferda ignored the comment and picked up an object from the table. A shadow stretched from Ferda’s hand, grabbed the object, and passed it to Jed. The soldier was startled but kept his composure.
“What’s this?”
“What I promised you.”
Jed read the paper. “Ferda Valdrova, Regent of Valdrova, acting on behalf of the 12 Dragons, hereby appoints Jed Swallow as the King’s Sword and Shield of the People…”
Jed’s eyes widened. “A knighthood certificate? This is real?”
“Would I give you a fake? This is what we agreed on.”
“I knew you’d help me, but I didn’t think you’d make me a knight so soon.”
“Don’t worry. You proved yourself in the Imperial Warehouse.”
“No, that’s not what I mean…” Jed waved his hands. “Shouldn’t there be a ceremony? Music, drinks, a celebration? Skipping all that feels wrong.”
Ferda stared at Jed, who was pretending to drink from an invisible glass. Should I take it back? “Focus on your duties, Sir Jed.”
“Tch. Understood, Your Regency,” Jed muttered as he left. “My party…”
Ferda turned back to his preparations. Ruri usually helped him, but her assistance was no longer necessary. Black mist flowed from his sleeves, forming eight shadow hands. They buttoned his clothes and adjusted his appearance with perfect precision.
“Reaching the 4th Circle was worth it.”
With training, these shadow hands could cast spells and find enemy weaknesses. He only needed more experience.
“Shall we go?”
His footsteps echoed through the castle. At the gate, the soldiers stood waiting.
“Attention!” Arwen’s voice rang out. The soldiers knelt in unison. “Arwen Wolfheart, with a squad of thirty, ready to escort you!”
Ferda nodded to them. “Thank you for your hard work.”
“Yes! To your positions!” Arwen mounted his horse. The soldiers formed a protective ring around the red carriage. Jed, a knight of only one day, sat tall on his horse.
Ruri stood by the carriage door. “Please board.”
“Right.”
As Ferda stepped toward the carriage, he felt eyes on him. He glanced up at the balcony, but it was empty.
“Lord Ferda?”
“Let’s go.”
Ferda entered the carriage, and the ten-day journey began.
