Chapter 12.1, This Breath Is That Breath

 

Lengthy months and years had the power to corrupt humans. Tinassha knew that well. 

 

No matter how strong one’s emotions were, once enough time had passed, everything would just be duties. Even pain would be forgotten. That was an essential element for humans to be able to keep on living. 

 

But… What about her?

 

She had been relying on only her strong emotions to pass these lengthy times.

 

Did those emotions still exist? Had they changed?

What if those emotions had only existed in her delusions?

 

Then, they would have become nothing more than duties.

 

She should have died when that time came. Just like she should have died that day long ago.

※　※　※　※

 

Tinassha had had a fever that night.

 

According to Lucresia, who had nursed her, it had probably been due to mental fatigue.

 

Lucresia had healed Meldina despite complaining about it. Then she had given Tinassha herbal medicine and stayed with her all night.

 

What the two witches had talked about that night, Oscar didn’t know. But Lucresia had returned to her place, and Tinassha had seemed to be completely back to her old self after waking up the next afternoon.

 

“We apologize for it. We are willing to take whatever punishment you give.”

In the office, Art and Meldina bowed to Tinassha, who looked awkward. Meldina still looked pale, probably due to the manipulation’s effect. Tinassha glanced at her contractor, who was sitting at his desk, and shook her head.

 

“No, please don’t apologize for it… Nearly no one could escape from such manipulation. I should apologize instead, as I didn’t notice it. I’m sorry.”

 

Tinassha said and bowed deeply. Meldina’s tears almost fell down at that. She didn’t remember anything after falling asleep in the courtyard yesterday. After hearing the details from Art, she wanted to disappear because of her carelessness and the mess she had made.

 

As if sensing Meldina’s thoughts, Tinassha raised her head, looked at her and took her hands.

“I’m sorry, really. Even if it takes time, I will make sure that the one who manipulated you will pay an appropriate price for it.”

 

Meldina couldn’t form any words; she just bit her lips and nodded.

 

“So, we don’t know the whereabouts of that disgusting messenger?”

 

“It seems like he left the castle city yesterday.”

 

After Art and Meldina had left, Oscar crossed his legs and asked Razar, who was waiting beside him. He clicked his tongue at the expected reply.

“I’m 90% sure that he’s guilty, but there’s no proof.”

 

It had been a truly unimaginable parting gift. He couldn’t think of any reason except that the guy revelled in hurting people. Oscar spat out with annoyance:

 

“We should investigate Kuskl.”

 

“Let’s send my familiar. It’ll be easier to repel their magic than using humans.”

 

Tinassha smiled wryly while making tea. Razar watched her with concern; she had looked so pale last night that he was worried.

Oscar accepted the cup she gave him and looked up at the witch.

 

“You should rest a bit more.”

 

“I’m alright, I’m alright. I’m actually quite strong.”

 

“That’s not very persuasive.”

 

The steam tickled his face. He took a sip; pleasant aroma filled his lungs. Tinassha still stood by his side, watching him intently. Feeling like her gaze wanted to tell him something, he raised his head.

“What is it?”

 

“No, just that, could you keep me company for about two hours after finishing your work?”

 

It was the first time she had said something like this. Oscar wondered what turn of events this was, but didn’t say it out loud.

 

“What for?”

 

“Venting my anger.”

 

“……”

“Please bring Akasshia.”

 

“…Understood.”

 

The witch smiled broadly and turned away, and Oscar sighed a little, not understanding what was going on.

 

In a corner of Tinassha’s chamber was a magical transportation diagram, drawn since who knew when.

 

Just as she had said, Oscar was transported to a familiar, spacious circular room. Its walls were made of smoothly polished, faintly blue crystals. He could see a ceiling-less atrium when looking up, but nothing beyond that was visible.

 

“Your tower?”

 

“Correct.”

Tinassha waved her hand lightly, and the transportation diagram disappeared. He looked around and asked a simple question:

 

“Why here?”

 

“The walls here absorb magic if hit, and the barriers I have set up nullify your protective barrier. Besides, I don’t want to attract attention.”

 

Tinassha, who was wearing a black magician robe, said and walked a bit away from Oscar. She waved at Oscar at the same time, signalling him to get some distance. He stepped back obediently.

 

“For a month from now on, keep me company for two hours everyday. Be careful not to die and do your best, please.”

 

She suddenly grasped at the air with her right hand, and a sword appeared in her palm.

 

After half a beat, a stunned Oscar finally understood the situation and smiled nervously.

Tinassha extended her left hand next, and a blue flame fared up in her pale palm.

 

“So, I’ll start.”

 

The witch said and lightly kicked at the floor.

 

Her ‘venting anger’ was fierce.

 

She had said that she hadn’t really gone easy on him during their mock fight, but when she fought against him for real this time, he realized how difficult it was to go against her when she kept her distance and attacked from afar.

 

“Well, so that’s how the first time goes.”

 

After transporting them to the tower’s top floor and healing the wounds of an exhausted Oscar, who was sitting in a chair, the witch said as if it was nothing.

He accepted the water Litora had brought. Holding the cool water in his mouth, he felt the fatigue subsided a bit. Oscar took a breath and looked up at Tinassha, who was wiping his face with a wet towel.

 

“Can I hear the reason for this?”

 

She laughed and nodded.

 

“There are a number of them and I cannot tell you all in one go, but roughly speaking, I want you to have more choices.”

 

“Choices?”

 

“From now on, if anything happens, I don’t want you to have such regret like ‘If I was stronger, I could have taken another path’. I want you to be able to choose a path you wish for from as many options as possible. That’s the reason.”

 

She said and caressed his face, just as he himself had usually done towards her. The slow movement of her hand was as gentle as that of a mother.

 

Maybe she had had a painful experience in the past due to the lack of choices. Oscar vaguely thought, and felt that his guess was correct for some reason.

He silently closed his eyes. Her fingers combing through his hair was pleasant.

 

From then on, Oscar received daily training from the witch.

 

It was only for two hours, but he was struck with a considerable amount of magic everyday; for that reason, he slept dreamlessly to heal the fatigue. Of course his wounds were healed, but even the witch couldn’t do anything about the fatigue.

 

He went along with this harsh training because of a single‐mindedly desire for strength which he had held even since his boyhood, when he had just learned about his curse. She thoroughly taught him how to respond to long-range magical attacks that carried powerful forces, as well as middle-range attacks that allowed the magicians to move around to some extent. There were times she was his only opponent, but there were also times where her familiar would join her as a vanguard, making for very diverse attacks.

 

“You should have been able to see magic in the first place.”

 

When Oscar was able to break away from an invisible vine that was winding about his leg, Tinassha stopped and said with a sigh.

 

“Didn’t you see it during our mock fight? It seems to be influenced by your state of mind; not good.”

 

“Or so you say… I felt it rather than saw though.”

“By all rights, you do have the makings to become a magician… Well, you’re not suited for it, so you probably won’t become one, I think.”

 

“So can I become a magician or not?”

 

Tinassha shrugged and undid her spell.

 

“It’s already been two hours. Let’s finish here. You should have something sweet, then sleep.”

 

Once she had pointed that out, weariness once more advanced on his body. Drowsiness suddenly attacked his whole body.

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“Ah, wait, don’t sleep here.”

 

He could hear the witch’s panicked voice, but Oscar had shut his eyes without being able to give a reply.