How a Wizard Lives 17

Chapter 17- Next, goodbye.

Before I knew it, it was early dawn.

I had woken up but didn’t get up right away.

I lay in bed for a while to meditate.

It’s my habit to start the day that way.

After finishing my meditation, I got up and went out to the terrace.

The cool touch of the terrace floor under my bare feet and the refreshing air brushing against my skin washed away the last remnants of sleep and fatigue.

The dawn was breaking on the horizon.

Leaning against the railing, I quietly watched the sunrise, feeling the greatness of the universe once again.

No magic in this world could ever be greater than that.

A maid knocked on the door.

She brought in water for washing.

I washed my face with the clear water, so clear that my reflection was visible, and rinsed my mouth with the saltwater she handed me.

“Are you well today, Miss?”

I simply nodded.

Everyone says I have no emotions.

That I don’t get surprised, happy, or sad.

But that’s not true.

I do feel surprised, happy, and sad.

I just don’t express it as much as others.

It’s just a habit.

Yes, a habit.

I brushed my hair and got dressed.

I dressed as comfortably as possible.

I’ve been told it’s not befitting of a noble lady, but I don’t pay much attention to it.

I went to the dining room and had a simple meal.

A bite of bread, a spoonful of soup, and two grapes.

That’s all I ate before preparing to go out.

I was heading to the southern branch again today.

Lately, I’ve been going to the southern branch every day.

Ever since he arrived.

In fact, it’s the first time I’ve visited a place this frequently.

He is extraordinary.

The person who improved the barrier magic of the southern front in just three days.

It’s probably right to call him a genius.

His understanding and interpretation of circuits are original and groundbreaking.

I meet him briefly every day to exchange knowledge and information about circuits.

I often visit the garden when I need some fresh air.

There’s a beautiful spot that only I know about.

But one day, he was there.

He was drawing a picture.

“It’s such a beautiful place, miss. I wanted to capture it in a painting.”

He paints.

He paints many beautiful pictures.

“If I get the chance, I’d like to paint you too. Would that be alright?”

I said it was fine.

I was curious about how he would depict me.

Every day, I study and research circuits in the research building.

Through this experience, I’ve decided to revisit the circuits that were dismissed as outdated.

I’ve heard that the number of mages like me has increased significantly.

“Miss, if you study how the existing runes have been improved over time, it will be very helpful.”

So, I studied the history of runes by referencing numerous magic books.

And it was truly astonishing.

Our ancestors had already shown us the direction of progress through runes.

It was enjoyable.

Days filled with joy that I could count on one hand in my life.

I looked forward to meeting him.

Sometimes, watching him paint was truly delightful.

“Miss, would you like to go to the square with me? Have you ever seen the market stalls?”

It had been a long time since I last went to the square.

I had only heard about the market stalls but had never seen them.

I agreed.

When I returned to the castle and told the maids, they said it was a date between a man and a woman.

I told them it wasn’t like that, just the two of us visiting the square, but the maids just smiled mysteriously.

After hearing the word ‘date,’ I strangely couldn’t sleep.

I kept thinking about him.

His image lingered in my mind.

I said it wasn’t a date, but the maids’ sly smiles kept coming back to me.

And then the day came.

I dressed neatly.

I stopped the maids from overdoing my appearance.

I emphasized again that it wasn’t a date.

“Yes, miss. Of course.”

I said we would discuss magic circuits at the square.

I was determined to do so.

I had to.

The maids pinned a pretty hairpin in my hair.

One that I liked.

I met my brother in the hallway.

He asked where I was going all dressed up.

I said I was going to study.

His eyes curved strangely.

“Alright, study well and come back.”

I headed to the southern branch first.

In front of the small fountain in the garden, he was painting.

A flower bloomed beautifully in his hands.

It was like magic.

I intended to wait until he finished painting the flower.

But my escort cleared his throat.

He couldn’t even wait for this.

No sense of romance.

No wonder he keeps losing ladies.

His eyes widened as he looked at me.

He wiped his charcoal-stained hands.

“You’re here, miss.”

Yes, sorry for interrupting. Shall we go now?

We walked side by side.

He looked at me and spoke.

“You look beautiful. The hairpin is lovely too.”

Strangely, my back tingled.

It was hard to respond.

But it’s impolite to say nothing.

I thanked him and said he looked handsome too.

We kept walking.

But we walked in silence for a long time.

Still, it was nice. My heart was strangely racing.

The sky was clear without a single cloud.

The warm sunlight felt good on my skin.

It had been so long since I last came to the city.

So long that my memory was hazy.

I forgot my resolve to talk about circuits.

The weather was just that good.

“It’s peaceful and nice. I wish times like these would last forever.”

I said I wished for that too.

He looked at me and smiled.

I ended up looking at the ground.

I looked at the patterns on the stone path.

We soon arrived at the square.

The square with the towering clock was incredibly peaceful.

He took me to a corner.

He suggested we sit there.

He laid out a few sheets of paper on the ground.

I sat on them.

“May I draw you?”

I agreed.

He sat in front of me, placed paper on his board, and started drawing.

His occasional glances made my face and chest strangely warm.

The drawing didn’t take long.

He handed me the paper.

The harmony of thick and thin lines couldn’t have been more beautiful.

I stared at my portrait for a long time.

“Do you like it?”

Of course, I like it.

I wanted to give him something too.

But I hadn’t prepared anything.

I realized my mistake.

We started walking again.

This time, we headed to the market stalls leading from the square.

It was a crowded street.

People were shouting everywhere.

All sorts of items were spread out on the street.

My eyes were drawn to the fascinating objects.

Weapons, statues, jewels, decorations, books, herbs…

there was nothing you couldn’t find.

He suddenly stopped in the middle and bought something to give to me.

“It’s a charm that brings good luck.”

I’m sorry, but I don’t believe in superstitions.

But when he said it, it somehow felt like it might bring good luck.

I wanted to buy something for him too, but I had no idea what to get.

After wandering around for a while, I bought a statue.

My escort whispered that I might have overpaid.

I gave the statue to him.

It was an owl statue.

In the magical world, owls symbolize wisdom.

It’s a good meaning.

He smiled gratefully.

This time, I didn’t avert my gaze.

We walked side by side through the streets. And then we returned to the branch.

That day ended like that.

We didn’t talk about circuits at all.

It didn’t even cross my mind until the end.

After that, I felt much closer to him.

He gave me gifts, and I gave him gifts too.

I liked his paintings.

I framed them and hung them in my room.

Sometimes, while reading a magic book, I would stop and just look at the paintings.

Then his face would come to mind.

His smiling face too.

Every day, I go to the branch.

I meet him.

I talk to him.

I stroll through the garden with him.

I look at his paintings.

I am with him.

Yes, I am with him.

At some point, Yes.

—

“Miss, I’m leaving tomorrow.”

For a moment, I couldn’t think of anything.

Really, nothing came to mind.

“It’s been so much fun being with you.”

No thoughts came to mind.

“You treated me, a nobody, like a friend. Thank you.”

He said friend.

Friend. Yes, we were friends.

“I’ll definitely visit again. Next time, I’ll bring more paintings and stories.”

I couldn’t say anything. Like a fool, I just hung my head low.

Why hadn’t I realized it until now?

He was a wandering mage.

Someone who had to leave.

I lifted my head as if nothing was wrong.

And I told him to take care.

Yes, that was the end.

I returned to the castle a bit early.

I felt strange.

My mind was blank.

During dinner, my parents asked several times if I was okay.

I said I was fine.

My brother came to see me.

“Angel, are you okay? Are you feeling unwell?”

I’m fine. I’m okay. I’m not bothered.

I’m not bothered.

Night came.

I couldn’t sleep.

I closed my eyes.

My breathing became rough.

I opened my eyes again.

Strangely, I couldn’t bear it.

I stayed up all night.

I lay in bed but couldn’t sleep a wink.

It was already dawn.

He must have left early in the morning.

Suddenly, I felt suffocated.

I called the maid.

I hurriedly changed my clothes.

“Miss? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

And I left.

I headed to the branch.

But he wasn’t there.

He had already left.

In the end, I returned to the castle.

And I went into my room and slumped into a chair.

That’s when his painting caught my eye.

Ah.

On the walls of my room, his paintings, yes.

His paintings were hanging everywhere.

His paintings.

The paintings he made filled my room.

Only then did I realize.

Yes, that’s right.

Yes.

What this was.

I finally understood.

—

He left.

But his paintings remain.

In my room.

In my heart.

Yes.

That’s the end of the story.

Yurik.

Next time, goodbye.