Chosen by the Northern Grand Duke

Chapter 18: Ios of the Ivory Tower (1)

The garrison was dark.

No presence felt.

The 1st Knights were on the wall.

The wall was dark too.

The Border’s chill and wind carried its nature.

Lanterns couldn’t withstand it.

Why fires couldn’t be lit at the Border.

Maybe that’s why Gullen’s eyes on me were strange.

“…Really refreshing here?”

My earlier wall comment stuck with him.

“I could light a fire if you want.”

“…”

Gullen’s face grew serious, unsure if he should believe me.

Instead of answering, he looked at the wall.

The 1st Knights’ commander, Gullen, and three injured aside, forty-five knights stood at intervals.

“The graffiti. No need to erase it. Probably one-time. If not, soon will be. Oh, it’s starting.”

I sensed creeping magic as I explained.

Gullen felt it only after I spoke.

It spread from the wall, specifically the graffiti.

“The graffiti’s bait.”

Gullen held his sword like a fishing rod, waving it.

“Lures beasts with magic.”

Magic was beasts’ food.

And mages’ sustenance.

“Beasts, blinded by hunger, will rush the wall.”

They already were.

“Glory to Serzila’s swords!”

A shout echoed from the wall.

Deputy Commander Derrick’s Aura, fading as he likely jumped off. He hated even beast fur touching the wall.

Not just Derrick. Sword swings and cutting sounds came from beyond, not atop. Most knights had crossed to the Border.

“Weak beasts. But many. The graffitist wants confusion, not annihilation.”

Indeed, no 1st Knights died in this chaos.

“Not going?”

“Wall guarding’s your job. Not mine.”

True.

Gullen nodded absently.

My task was identifying the graffiti, done. I could return to the Inner Fortress.

“Got it. Go safely.”

Gullen didn’t stop me.

Drawing his sword, he turned to the wall.

“Ever think why they’d cause confusion?”

“Should I?”

I grabbed Gullen’s shoulder as he moved to the wall.

“I said the graffiti’s bait.”

“Yes.”

“…”

I grabbed him again.

“You wanted to see a 4th Rank.”

“Don’t need to now. Glory to the sword!”

“You’re not human, you’re a dog.”

Gullen was driven by desire.

“What?”

“The beast Derrick just cut looks like a dog.”

“You see that? Beyond the wall?”

“I feel it. Follow me, there’s an Otherworld mage.”

His struggling stopped.

I released his shoulder.

“The one causing this chaos.”

“Where? Let’s go.”

“…”

I led Gullen, stopping by the stables for a leather-covered horse, and walked.

Opposite the garrison.

Gullen frowned, noticing.

“That’s the way to the domain.”

“I know. So does he.”

Soon, a small carriage appeared, the one I rode to the garrison, buried in snow like a mound.

My touch melted the snow.

The water evaporated, yet the carriage was unharmed. Impressive fire control to any onlooker.

I hitched the horse to the cleared carriage.

“Play along.”

A small figure approached from the garrison’s direction, surprisingly.

“Who…”

“His Grace’s secret order to gather Otherworld intel.”

I glared at Gullen, about to shout. He pursed his lips.

The figure slowed, clearly wary.

The carriage sat on a narrow path. Bypassing meant trudging through snow taller than a person—a suspicious, arduous route.

The hesitating figure chose to approach directly.

Smaller than expected, wearing Northern-style beast leather.

But clean-looking.

Lean, Gullen thought he resembled me. The figure spoke.

“Must be tough…”

“Welcome. Been waiting.”

I cut him off, offering a handshake.

“Don’t be wary. I’m from a mage tower too.”

I showed my other hand.

A fireball flared. His eyes widened.

“…Ios, 4th Rank of the Ivory Tower.”

“Harad, 3rd Rank.”

I clasped his hand, smiling broadly.

It looked joyful, but Gullen found it chilling.

* * *

The Otherworld had towers, many of them.

Built by mages dividing into factions. The Ivory Tower housed mages with art-related Origins.

‘Art…’

In Otherworld terms, it was art.

To me, a collection of Origins unfit for other towers.

Towers were usually divided by attributes.

That didn’t mean Ivory Tower mages were weak.

Magic was inherently vague, so any Origin had use.

“Ios, I saw your magic. Very elegant.”

The Ivory Tower liked artistic expressions.

I offered praise I’d never given in my previous life.

I waited for Ios’ reaction, reflecting on my ignorance.

Even when the Empire and Church fell, Otherworld info remained scarce.

‘Can’t open my mouth recklessly.’

A careless word could expose me.

‘Tattoo on his neck. A drawing, probably. On his heart too.’

Likely magic to protect vital areas.

Activated with magic.

I couldn’t confirm more.

Northern leather covered his body.

The neck tattoo was barely visible, stretching slightly to his jaw.

“What’s the knight?”

While I eyed Ios, he glared at Gullen.

His right hand was in his coat.

‘Loose coat strings. A pen or pre-drawn picture?’

The drawing was magic.

The tool or drawing itself was his Origin.

“A knight I recruited.”

“Recruited?”

Ios snorted, knowing Serzila knights’ habits.

“A continental mage seeking asylum in the domain. I borrowed his magic. His Origin was Ripple.”

“Ripple!”

Ios’ eyes wavered.

Ripple was an ambiguous Origin, intriguing to the Ivory Tower.

“Deceives people?”

“Exactly. Can even control like this.”

I tapped Gullen’s forehead.

He showed no reaction, thanks to invoking the Grand Duke’s name.

“Let me move near the garrison without suspicion.”

“Impressive. Illusion? No, you shook his reason. Like sleepwalking.”

“As expected of the Ivory Tower.”

I smiled broadly.

Typical mage, quick to understand.

Not pleasing. I wanted to kill him.

“Let’s talk on the way. That’s what this magic’s for, right?”

I pointed to the garrison.

Ios would want to enter the domain before the chaos ended.

“How’d you know I was coming?”

But Ios was cautious, like a mage.

His right hand stayed in his coat.

“Asking me to reveal the name of the one who infiltrated safely?”

“…My mistake.”

His hand left his coat.

“Fine. Let’s go.”

As I stepped forward, Ios matched me. Gullen followed.

“Lead.”

“Sure.”

I flicked my finger.

Gullen took the lead. Ios’ lips curled slightly, his guard lowering.

“You’re refined, unlike the Red Tower.”

Red Tower?

I forced my narrowing eyes to stay still.

Never heard of it in my previous life.

“How’d you know I’m Red Tower?”

“How could I not? Fire joins the Red Tower, paradise’s truth.”

“Sorry if I offended. Meeting you was a risk for me too.”

“No offense. I’m pleased. He sent you knowing your caution.”

Ios waved it off.

“Surprising. First time meeting a Red Tower mage. Fire’s rare, isn’t it?”

The Red Tower seemed fire-related.

‘First I’ve heard.’

I’d never seen or heard of an Otherworld fire mage.

“Here briefly? Or staying in Serzila?”

Ios’ tone grew friendly.

Meeting a compatriot in enemy territory was welcome.

‘Briefly. Briefly.’

I forced my stiff face to relax.

The Otherworld’s infiltration wasn’t just Serzila.

“Came to Serzila recently. Planning to settle.”

“Like me. Got a house? Decent?”

Ios even worried about my situation.

“Living in a quiet two-story mansion. Courtesy of the one who sent me.”

“Great. Mages like us doing great work shouldn’t live poorly.”

Ios nodded, pleased.

“Ios, you? I can help if you want.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got a place. Comfortable, they say.”

Ios kept talking, revealing another Ivory Tower mage’s residence before I asked.

“Snow’s heavy like the Border.”

Ios grumbled suddenly.

I raised my magic slightly. The snow and wind hitting his face softened.

“Oh, thanks. You’re suited for this land. Probably refreshing.”

“The Border’s refreshing. Serzila’s stuffy.”

“Incredible. Your Origin must be something.”

Ios was shocked the Border felt refreshing.

Rare even in the Red Tower.

“No wonder you’re out here. The Red Tower’s short on people, right?”

“Troublesome. Too few hands.”

“The Red Tower’s struggles pain our Ivory Tower. Any harvests?”

I grimaced, feigning distress.

I didn’t know what harvests meant.

“Search and prophecy. Unlike other towers, that’s the Red Tower’s purpose, right?”

“Hm.”

“What’s wrong? Who doesn’t know the Red Tower’s secrets? Not mocking. The Ivory Tower stays neutral, you know.”

“I know.”

I grinned mischievously, like joking.

My head spun.

‘Search. Prophecy. Unlike other towers. Neutral.’

Nothing clicked.

No matter how I searched my mind, no connections.

‘Probe more?’

No.

Asking details would make Ios suspicious.

“Sadly, no harvests. Found nothing.”

I feigned great disappointment.

“I’m starting to doubt if what our Red Tower seeks even exists.”

“Don’t despair. If I get time, I’ll lend a hand.”

Ios would hide in Serzila.

‘Search, prophecy. Something to do in Serzila.’

I spoke again.

“Thanks for the words. Big comfort.”

“Words? You’ll see how much I help.”

Ios jumped, as if we were old friends.

Glancing back, Gullen’s eyes were bloodshot.

‘If I hadn’t used the Grand Duke’s name, he’d have attacked.’

Remarkable restraint for a knight.

“Hope we find it soon. Or at least a clue!”

I clenched my fist.

“Don’t rush. It’ll happen soon. You’ll restore the Red Tower’s glory.”

Ios tapped my fist with his, smiling broadly for both of us.

I smiled bitterly.

“What’s with that face? The Red Tower would hurt seeing it. Isn’t fire loyal?”

“Right. You’re right. No place as loyal as our Red Tower.”

I forced a smile.

“I’ll pull myself together. Can’t worry our tower master.”

Then Ios’ smile vanished.

“You.”

“My turn again?”

I asked playfully.

“Who are you?”

Ios didn’t smile.

His face turned cold.

“Me, Harad of the Red Tower.”

“The Red Tower has no master.”

“Whoops. Didn’t know.”

My lips parted.

My body moved first. My loosely clenched hand cut through the air, tightening just before Ios.

A fire-sword flared.

Its arc, starting from my bare hand, sliced through Ios.