Wendy’s mind went blank as he stared dazedly at his own hands.
‘I’m not a failure? I’m… a Mage Bane?’
The reversal happened so quickly that he found it difficult to process for a moment.
“Since Prince Wendy cannot use magic and even devours it,” Aurelia turned toward Layana, the smile on her face deepening, “then according to the Academy’s regulations, he doesn’t seem… suitable to stay in your Magic Division, does he?”
Layana’s expression shifted, and she immediately retorted.
“Who says that! A unique constitution like this, unseen in 10,000 years, must obviously stay in our Magic Division for thorough research! This is a massive contribution to the search for magical truth!”
“Research? Layana, what do you take him for? A lab rat in a cage?”
Aurelia shook her head.
“What he needs is guidance, not dissection. He needs to learn how to control this power he was born with.”
“Then I should be the one to guide him!”
“You? A Grand Mage, teaching a student who can make all your spells useless?”
Aurelia let out a soft chuckle.
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
She stopped paying attention to the fuming Layana and turned her gentle gaze toward Wendy, extending a hand to him.
“The path of magic is closed to you, but the gates of faith are always open.”
“Prince, come to our Holy Studies Branch.”
“Here, you will learn how to use another type of power — one that doesn’t rely on elements, but originates from your own will and conviction.”
The Headmistress of the Holy Studies Branch looked completely filled with divine inspiration.
“And that is the Power of Faith!”
Power of Faith?
Wendy blinked as he looked at Headmistress Aurelia’s kind and gentle face, which looked as though it could save all sentient beings.
However, he didn’t feel even a spark of inspired excitement.
Was she joking?
The Holy Studies Branch sounded grand and lofty, but to put it bluntly, it was just a training base for the Church’s reserves.
Once inside, he would be praying, chanting scriptures, and studying religious canons every day.
He would be learning auxiliary abilities like healing, sealing, and blessing spells.
That had absolutely nothing to do with the power he wanted.
More importantly, once he was marked by the Church, he would have to practice celibacy and dedicate his life to the “Gods.”
His actions would be restricted everywhere.
How would he be able to have any “fun” with Astreia?
‘I’m not going. Not even a dog would go.’
Before Wendy could speak up to refuse, Layana exploded first.
“Aurelia, stop trying to poach my student!”
The Headmistress of the Magic Division raised her eyebrows and pulled Wendy behind her like a mother hen protecting her chick.
“What ‘Holy Power’? That’s just nonsense! Prince Wendy’s constitution is a treasure unseen in 10,000 years. He should stay in our Magic Division and contribute to the exploration of truth!”
“Contribution? You mean as your experimental material?”
Aurelia’s smile remained, but her words were filled with sarcasm.
“Old friend, drop that rhetoric. You want someone who can’t even sense magical elements to stay in the Magic Division? Do you plan on having him learn how to clean the floors every day?”
“You!”
Layana’s chest heaved with anger, but she couldn’t find the words to argue for a moment.
Seeing the two Headmistresses about to fight over his ownership on the spot, Laxana quietly leaned close to Wendy and whispered in his ear.
“Are you moved? Two legendary figures are fighting over you like jealous lovers~”
“I’m so moved I’m about to piss myself,” Wendy responded expressionlessly, his mind racing.
“I appreciate the kindness of both Headmistresses. However…”
He cleared his throat and poked his head out from behind Layana, his face wearing a perfectly crafted expression of difficulty and apology.
“I can neither use magic nor do I possess such steadfast and sincere faith. I… do not want to become a burden to anyone.”
These words were spoken with deep sincerity, rejecting both Headmistresses while painting himself as a weak, pitiful, and helpless person.
It instantly triggered the protective instincts of Astreia and Laxana.
“Who said you were a burden!”
“Don’t you dare say that about yourself!”
The two women spoke in unison. Laxana went even further, grabbing Wendy’s arm and pressing it tightly against her soft curves.
Seeing this, Astreia raised an eyebrow. She wrapped her arm around Wendy’s waist from the other side, pulling both him and Laxana into her embrace.
“Wendy is my guardian, so naturally, I will be the one to protect him!”
Layana and Aurelia watched this scene — which could be described as a masterpiece — with subtle expressions.
This kid… seems to have something going for him.
Knock, knock, knock!
Just as the atmosphere in the office was becoming increasingly strange, there was a knock at the door.
“Come in,” Layana answered with a frown.
The door was pushed open, and a figure as hulking as an iron tower stepped directly into the room.
The newcomer was an elderly woman with graying hair and a face etched with the marks of time and weather.
She wore a sharply tailored brownish-red military uniform, with badges representing a General’s rank on her shoulders and a standard longsword at her waist.
Just by standing there, an aura of iron and blood washed over everyone, causing the active magical elements in the office to stagnate.
“General Beota?”
Layana and Aurelia were both surprised.
“What are you doing here?”
The Dean of the Military Branch, Beota Nord, was a legendary commander who had emerged from the battlefields of blood and fire.
But Beota ignored them both.
Her hawk-like eyes bypassed everyone and locked onto Wendy, who was sandwiched between Astreia and Laxana.
She didn’t speak; she just rested her chin in her hand and sized the Prince up from top to bottom.
Wendy felt his skin crawl under her gaze and shrunk behind Astreia.
The woman’s eyes made him feel as though he were being seen through, inside and out.
“Not bad,” General Beota finally spoke after a long silence.
“What’s not bad?”
Layana asked irritably.
“He’s good potential,” General Beota grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
“This kid — our Military Branch is taking him.”
The entire room fell silent in shock.
“General, are you joking?”
Layana was the first to object.
“Prince Wendy’s frame is so frail a gust of wind could knock him over. If he goes to your Military Branch, he wouldn’t even survive the first day of physical training!”
Aurelia also shook her head with a smile.
“Beota, we appreciate your kindness. But the Prince has a unique constitution; he is better suited for guidance in a quiet environment.”
“Quiet? Guidance?”
General Beota scoffed at those words.
“Have you two stayed in your ivory towers for so long that your brains have gone soft?”
“Wars have never been won by flashy magic or pious prayers.”
“True power originates from here.”
The old General extended a calloused index finger and tapped her temple.
“And this kid…”
Her gaze fell back onto Wendy.
“…His mind is more dangerous than any Forbidden Spell you’ve ever seen!”