Chapter 102
He found it fascinating to hear someone talk like that for the first time. During his time as the Crown Prince, everyone had high expectations of him.
Given that, the constant attention from others had been tiring for him.
“My motherās family lost power rapidly as I grew up. To help my motherās family survive, I had to endure and do well.”
“…Edwin.”
“So, I worked very hard. To appear like a genius, I pretended to sleep at night while secretly reading books and practicing magic.”
Illein was intrigued by this story, as it was new to her and not covered in the original story.
“But it seems my efforts werenāt enough.”
“Thatās not true. That couldnāt be the case.”
He gave her a faint smile in response to her words.
“You really tell me everything, donāt you?”
“Isnāt it because I feel comfortable with you?”
“You feel comfortable with me?”
He chuckled at her comment.
“Not at all.”
“Oh, come on, you must be comfortable.”
Illein thought Edwin seemed quite at ease with her as Illenas, although she felt a bit hurt when he seemed to differentiate between Illein and Illenas earlier. However, she was okay with it now.
She found it strange how her emotions fluctuate with his words.
“Donāt you feel uncomfortable with me?”
“I like Edwin.”
“What?”
“Being around you, I learn a lot. Since I donāt get out much, Iām happy when you visit.”
“Ohā¦ is that what you meant?”
He appeared somewhat flustered but gradually regained his composure.
“Are you upset? Why are you frowning?”
“Youāre not focusing much on lightning magic.”
“Oh, right. Iāll focus now!”
Illein, feeling like she had heard enough, said this and placed her hands together as Edwin instructed.
He sighed deeply and began explaining the theory again.
“Think about the electric current flowing through your body.”
“…Okay.”
Illein concentrated on the electric current in her body as he instructed.
“And imagine moving it to your fingertips.”
“Like magic?”
“Try to infuse that current into your magic.”
“Hmmm.”
She attempted to follow his instructions, but her lack of imagination made it difficult. She was merely doing what he asked without much success.
“Then, imagine the magic circle on the wand.”
He said this and quickly drew the magic circle with a fountain pen, showing it to her.
“Try to picture this. Then, swing the wand.”
He swiftly set up a defensive magic circle around them. Along with it, he prepared a magic that could restore everything if a large lightning strike were to occur.
“Iāll give it a try!”
She said confidently and swung the wand.
– Zzap!
However, contrary to their expectations, a very weak spark emerged from the end of the wand. It was less than static electricity.
“This, this isnāt working very well.”
Illein said, flustered. Edwin, as if he had anticipated this, smiled.
He knew from the start that attack magic wasnāt easy for a water attribute mage.
“I guess Iām not talented at this.”
“If youāre not a fire mage, you could fill a personās head with water to attack them.”
“Are you saying to drown them?”
“Exactly.”
“But couldnāt they just evaporate the water and endure the burns? And what about wind attribute magic? They could just tear the space apart.”
Edwin realized she had thought more about water magic than he expected.
“And earth attribute magic works too. Summon earth to absorb the waterā¦”
“If water suddenly fills up around someoneās face, theyād naturally panic. You could use that to your advantage.”
He then thought of a competent water mage he knew.
“Alternatively, you could remove all the moisture from their body.”
“Really? But that methodā¦”
“It would likely be extremely dangerous for the opponent. But itās good to remember that such a method exists.”
At that moment, Illein felt she was uncovering a dark theory of magic she shouldnāt have known. But it was true.
She felt that she might be able to extract all the moisture from an opponentās body.
“Iāll work hard on mastering lightning magic.”
“Isnāt lightning just as cruel?”
“Wellā¦ if I control it well, it might cause less harm. And I can heal them afterwards.”
She said this cheerfully, and he nodded.
He then took her hand and said.
“Have you memorized the magic circle?”
“Yes? Oh, yes.”
“Then you should focus on feeling the current in your body properly.”
He said this and looked directly into her eyes.
“Tell me how you feel when you look at me. Think about the current you can sense in your body.”
Edwin was waiting for her response.
āEvery time I look at you, Brother I feel a chill down my spine.ā
āHow can you be so much like a wild beast? You seem like a heartless monster.ā
āYour eyes are really disturbing.ā
āIām sorry, Your Highness, but every time I see you, itās truly chilling.ā
āYour Highness, your eyes are the most horrifying. Theyāre like a bloodsucking monster.ā
Edwin had thought that Illenas was just forcing herself to compliment his eyes.
