45. 2-25 A Forgotten Past, a Lingering Shadow
A Memory Stirred by Chance
Night deepened.
The streets of the city bustled with those hurrying home late and merchants still calling out to lingering customers.
Ian walked slowly along a familiar road—until, without meaning to, she stopped.
Her gaze landed on an ordinary-looking home.
Through the window, she could see a mother and daughter sitting together in a small living room.
The mother gently stroked her daughter's hair with a warm smile, while the child waved her hands excitedly, telling a story only they could hear.
And in that moment, something stirred in Ian's mind.
She had once lived in a home like that.
A Lost Family, a Sister Not Saved
As a child, she'd lived in a warm house.
A cozy fireplace. A tidy table set with care. A family that smiled just for her.
But more than anything—she had a little sister.
"Look, sis! I made this!"
The girl held up a tiny wooden carving with pride, beaming.
Ian would always laugh, tousling her sister's hair.
"You're amazing. You really are."
But then—
Everything collapsed in an instant.
The fall of their house.
The execution of her father.
The death of their mother.
And then, just the two of them—on the run.
They fled together.
Stole food to survive.
Hid in alleys from those who hunted them.
But in the end...
She couldn't protect her.
That day, Ian had held her sister's hand one last time.
"Wait here, just for a little while. I'll be right back."
But when she returned—
Her sister was gone.
And she never found her again.
Her fingers trembled faintly.
Ian closed her eyes for a moment.
Then opened them again.
She smiled—as she always did.
A Thief's Road, a Vanished Mentor
After that, all that mattered was surviving.
Having lost everything, she joined a thieves' guild.
She learned to move through the shadows.
To hide in plain sight.
And there was someone who had helped her then.
A woman. Also a thief.
But not like the cold-hearted criminals Ian had imagined.
"If you want to live, running isn't enough," the woman had said.
"You have to know how to vanish. Blend in. Disappear when it counts."
She taught Ian more than technique.
She taught her the essence of concealment.
Ian followed her. Trusted her. Leaned on her.
But then—
She died.
And once again, Ian was alone.
That bright laugh.
That playful voice.
All of it—gone.
And Ian buried her sorrow under a lighthearted smile.
She believed that the only way forward was to keep walking.
A Quiet Talk with Damian
"Ian?"
The familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Startled, Ian turned.
Damian stood behind her, watching.
How long had he been there?
Ian quickly put on her usual mischievous grin.
"Boss, you can't just sneak up on someone like that. I almost jumped."
But Damian had seen it.
He'd seen the way she'd been staring at that house for a long time.
"What were you thinking about?"
She hesitated—just for a moment.
Then she shrugged lightly and smiled again.
"Nothing much. Just... saw a warm scene. It's been a while."
Damian said nothing.
He only looked at her.
And he didn't press.
He knew she would speak when she was ready.
"It's late. Let's head back," he said simply.
Ian waved her hand playfully as she followed.
"Fine, fine~ You never know what might happen at night. I'll need your mighty protection, Boss."
But as she walked, she turned her gaze once more to that house.
The light in the window glowed warmly.
But that light was no longer meant for her.
She turned away—
And disappeared into the darkness.
**
Chapter : Anomaly and Strategy — The Ones Who Disrupt Magic
The Square Before the Storm
In the heart of the city,a great bell rang—announcing the opening of the Grand Magic Tournament.
The stands were packed.
This was no mere duel.
Hosted by the Wizard Guild,this was an official magical competition—and for the first time, Sorcerers and Wizards were to face off on a formal stage.
Damian and his companions stood poised.
Opposite them, the Wizard team waited.
Today's match wasn't just about magic.It was a collision of two philosophies:
Wizards, who learned through scholarship and structure.Sorcerers, who wielded innate power and instinctive control.
Here, one question would be answered—Which form of magic is stronger?
Sorcerer's Speed vs Wizard's Analysis
The referee raised a hand. The match began.
A Wizard lifted his arm to prepare a spell.
But Raen moved first.
"Fireball!"
The flame burst into existence at frightening speed.
The Wizard countered at once.
"Cancel Magic."
The fireball vanished—but the moment he blinked,
"Thunder Strike!"
Lightning fell from the sky like judgment.
The Wizard flinched.
"Too fast!"
He tried to cast a shield,but before it could form—the thunder struck.
He staggered backward.
Now he understood.
Sorcerers use speed as a weapon.
Unlike Wizards, who cast through structure and theory,Sorcerers used raw instinct.Their magic was immediate, unpredictable.
And it disrupted the Wizard's calculations entirely.
Disruption – Ian and Cain Move
The Wizard regrouped, preparing to retaliate.
But something was off.
"…Where's the rogue?"
Then—"Kh…!"
Their cleric—a healer—suddenly flinched.
A dagger grazed his side.
He tried to raise a protection spell,but his hand shook.
Ian had struck from stealth.
Each time the healer attempted to cast,her blade moved to interrupt.
"Damn it… I can't focus!"
And then, a distant sound—
Thwack!
An arrow.
Cain had taken the shot.
The Wizard ducked, but too late—the arrow clipped his fingertips.
His spell fizzled.
He cursed under his breath.
"My spell—interrupted?!"
Ian disrupted healing.Cain targeted hands to delay casting.Together, they shattered the Wizard team's rhythm.
Their organized strategy began to collapse.
Wizard's Retaliation – Endurance Tactics
But the Wizard wasn't inexperienced.
He steadied himself.
"Sorcerers are powerful… but they burn mana fast."
He slowed his attacks.
Used minimal spells.Forced Raen to keep reacting—to wear her down.
"Magic Homing Shot!"
Rather than cancel her spells,he launched a barrage, forcing constant defense.
Raen's breath quickened.
"...Damn it."
Sorcerer's Weakness:Explosive power, but poor mana efficiency.They struggle in prolonged battles.
The Wizard smirked.
"You're fast—but once your mana's gone, you're done."
He raised his hand.
"Flame Wave!"
A wave of fire surged toward Raen.
Damian's Intervention – A Blade Against Magic
But then—
Shhhh—
The fire vanished in midair.
The Wizard's eyes widened.
"…What?!"
Damian stood, sword drawn.
He had just cut through the spell itself.
The Wizard stared in disbelief.
"You… severed it?"
Damian calmly swung his blade again.
"You think magic is absolute?"
"Then I'll just sever the flow."
Damian's Strategy:Rather than block magic,he twisted its flow—disrupting the structure at its source.
The Wizard froze.
For the first time, he saw magic cleaved by a sword.
Raen looked at Damian.
His intervention bought her time.
She whispered—
"Arc Light!"
The air turned blue.
Chaotic lightning surged through the battlefield.
The Wizard tried to cast Cancel Magic—but the irregular pulse of the spell broke his timing.
CRACK—!
The Wizard hit the ground.
Victory and Reflection
The referee's voice rang through the arena:
"Victory—Team Damian!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
The Wizard Guild sat in silence.
Lessons from the battle:Sorcerers wield chaotic, fast-reacting magic.But suffer from mana limitations.Without Ian and Cain's interference, Raen might have lost.
The Wizard clenched his fists.
"This… wasn't just a Sorcerer's win."
"They covered each other's weaknesses."
For the first time,he had faced tactical Sorcerers.
Teamwork had ruled the battlefield.
And this—was only the beginning.
The Wizard Guild had to admit defeat.But they knew:
This was more than a match.
The Sorcerers' status was rising.The Guild was preparing to push back.Even the royal court began discussions—Would Sorcerer factions be formally recognized?
Within the Wizard Guild,resentment boiled.
They finally understood—Sorcerers were no longer outsiders.
"We can't let this continue."
They began to prepare.For something far more political than a duel.