Gunmage
Chapter 112: Permission to sin

Chapter 112: Chapter 112: Permission to sin

"Where do you think you’re going?"

Edrin’s voice cut through the corridor like a whip.

Lugh halted mid-step.

"Did I give you permission to leave?"

The man’s face twisted in disgust, as if he were staring at something beneath him. An animal, not a person.

Lugh couldn’t resist the urge to roll his eyes in exasperation. The gesture didn’t go unnoticed. Edrin’s fury doubled.

He raised both arms, fingers beginning a complex weave as he chanted under his breath.

The air around him shimmered faintly.

Before he could finish, a sharp snap rang through the hallway.

From the surrounding shadows, three human figures materialized with unnatural precision, agents hidden in plain sight.

They pounced, pinning Edrin to the ground before he could even react.

"Isolde! What’s the meaning of this?!"

Edrin roared, his voice muffled by the cold stone floor.

She stepped forward calmly.

"I’m sorry"

She spoke, voice firm but void of emotion.

"But I can’t let you finish what you were about to do."

Lugh’s gaze was distant, almost glassy, as he observed the scene with muted curiosity.

He recalled Edrin’s earlier words, how the man had called Isolde a disappointment, how he had called his very existence a sin.

And now, ironically, the same Isolde had saved Edrin’s life. Whether she meant to or not.

"Fine, fine"

Edrin’s muffled voice echoed from beneath his captors.

"I won’t do anything. Now release me, this instant."

Another snap of the fingers, and the shadowy figures vanished just as swiftly as they had appeared.

Edrin slowly rose to his feet, wincing as he rubbed his sore wrists.

Isolde turned to Lugh, her tone gentler.

"You must be drained. I think you should rest in your room."

Lugh gave a small nod of understanding and slipped away silently.

Isolde then turned to face her daughters, her gaze sharp.

"As for you two..."

Both girls flinched.

"...Never mind. I’ll deal with you in the morning."

They nodded grimly and dispersed to their rooms.

The rest of the night passed quietly.

...

Now that Lugh’s identity had been revealed to the key figures in the estate, there was no longer a need for the same strict confinement.

Still, his freedom was more illusion than reality.

He remained isolated, just as he had been since his arrival.

Which meant—

Bang!

His door flew open again.

Lirienne, the third daughter of House Von Heim, barged in with the urgency of someone who’d sprinted the entire way.

Her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was uneven.

"I heard from my elder sisters"

She said, skipping formalities.

"I see."

Lugh nodded, unconcerned.

"What do you want?"

His eyes flicked to the object in her hands, a thick, worn tome. A familiar one.

Force Control: Beginner’s Primer.

She held it out.

"I want you to teach me magic."

Silence fell between them.

Lugh turned toward her, his face unreadable.

"What makes you think I can use magic?"

But his mind was already elsewhere. For an art that needed to be shrouded in secrecy, these girls were throwing caution to the wind.

"I can feel it"

She replied without hesitation.

"Feel what?"

"The energy coming from you. I’ve sensed it since I was a child. But none of the tutors believed me. They said I was talentless. A failure."

Her voice trembled, but only for a moment. She quickly straightened, determination flaring in her eyes.

"That’s why I need you. I don’t know what happened to you this past year, but something changed. And I’m sure only you can teach me."

Lugh’s face remained expressionless. Then he asked.

"Why?"

She blinked.

"Why... what?"

"Why should I teach you? What do I get out of it?"

"I-I can..."

She faltered, trying to think.

"I can sneak you the secret magical tomes of our family!"

"I don’t need them."

He turned away, already losing interest.

"Please, wait!"

She cried, panic creeping into her voice.

"I’ll do anything you want!"

He paused. Then turned.

"Anything?"

She hesitated. Took a step back. Then—

"Y-Yes. Anything."

He stared, unblinking. It felt like his eyes could pierce through her very soul.

Finally,

"What kind of magic do you want to learn?"

Her expression eased into one of visible relief. She raised the book.

"For now, let’s start with this."

For now? he mused, but didn’t press further.

He took the book from her and flipped through the pages.

Force Control: Beginner’s Primer.

There was no author.

The opening lines were meant to inspire

"Force Control is the bridge between thought and motion. Let discipline be your compass."

It contained seven Chapters.

The deeper he read, the deeper his frown grew.

What is this?

He couldn’t understand how something so sterile and lifeless could be considered a primer to anything.

He had hoped to glimpse the evolution of arcane theory under suppression, but if this was any indication... perhaps he was better off blind.

He looked up.

"Have you read this book?"

"Yes"

She replied.

"More than ten times."

"Ah. I see."

He closed it, stood from his seat, and dragged a wooden chair to the center of the room.

"Lift this."

Lirienne frowned.

"I can’t lift a chair."

"How do you know what you can’t do if you haven’t tried?"

"I have tried!"

"To lift a chair?"

"...No."

Doubt crept across her face. Was this a mistake?

Lugh sighed.

"So, what can you lift?"

"Nothing. That’s why I came to you!"

His eye twitched. She quickly explained

"Beginners like me are supposed to be able to lift pebbles, or even a feather. Once we can do that at will, we pass the first stage and earn the title of Spark."

"Spark?"

Now that was new. Apparently, humans had invented their own magical tier system.

He leaned in slightly.

"You said ’first stage.’ So there are others?"

"Well, yeah."

Lirienne finally sat down on the edge of his bed, knees drawn together as she continued.

"There are five tiers in total. Spark, which my sister is already at. The two eldest have passed that."

A touch of sadness colored her voice.

Silence settled between them.

"And the next?"

Lugh asked.

"Right, after Spark is Stream. Selaphiel and Mirelle are at that level. All my sisters are gifted..."

Her voice trailed off.

"And after Stream?"

"Surge. Then Anchor. And finally, Crown."

She leaned forward, her eyes gleaming.

"Most people never reach Anchor. Not even Father. But..."