Chapter 18: 018 The first mentor
Rephia Vireidis.
This was the elven girl who followed Ais like a follower that morning.
Although she was not present, in the minds of the family clan executives and leaders who were, the status of that elven girl was actually quite significant.
The reason was simple.
As a junior member of the Loki family clan, this elven girl had already received a formal education in the academic district. When she joined the clan, she had already become a recipient of favor, unlike Reiger who joined as a commoner with nothing to his name.
This elven girl was a legitimate Magic Guide, possessing not only extremely excellent "Magic Power" and magic, but also skills that specifically enhance the power of magic. As a rear guard Magic Guide, she was considered perfect, and although she was only Lv.3 for now and not a first-class adventurer above Lv.5, with the assistance of her skills and excellent "Magic Power," she held firepower comparable to a Lv.5 first-class Magic Guide.
In other words, Rephia was a magical prodigy with maxed-out talent points, and even as a junior member of the family clan, this Elf Mage was highly valued by the clan leaders and executives.
Especially Revilia, who was also a Magic Guide and of elven descent, had already started to cultivate this junior as her successor.
And who was Revilia?
A royal of the elf race, the strongest Magic Guide of Ora L'Aire, and also the vice-captain of the Loki family clan, she was adorned with many laurels.
As the successor to such a persona, Rephia's future achievements would at least make her the clan's second in command, and she might even become the strongest Magic Guide following Revilia, renowned throughout the world.
As a magic genius, Rephia not only owned magic in all three slots, but one of her magics was also very special.
She could activate magic limited to the elf race, and with complete mastery of the magic's effect and chant, she could wield any kind of elf magic—Summoning Magic known as "Elf Ring."
The special individual who theoretically could use all types of elf magic among the Loki family clan members, who were mentioned earlier as being able to cast more than three kinds of magic, referred to Rephia.
Now, Loki was saying, Reiger's magic was sort of similar to Rephia's "Elf Ring"?
Didn't that mean that this newcomer, like Rephia, possessed magic that could cast others' magic as long as he fully mastered the effects and chants of magic?
"This is really surprising," Grace couldn't help exclaiming.
"Indeed," Revilia also sighed, "I didn't expect there to be another Magic Guide like Rephia."
"Magic Guide? Him?" Loki couldn't help but draw his lips into a sneer, "Don't joke. This kid is nothing like those who stay safely in the back casting magic!"
Thinking about Reiger's rapidly growing ability values, Loki felt a twinge of discomfort.
"I think, this kid is probably like Ais—absolutely will not settle down unless he charges into a crowd of monsters and wreaks havoc, a problematic child indeed."
Loki's statement made everyone look at Reiger with a somewhat intriguing gaze.
"Like Ais?"
"Is that even possible?"
The Amazon sisters murmured among themselves.
Even Bert frowned, and Finn rhythmically tapped the surface of his desk with his fingers, deep in thought.
Meanwhile, Reiger and Ais caught each other's gaze once again as if by mutual understanding, then one immediately averted their eyes while the other remained expressionless with golden pupils shimmering faintly.
"Like me...?"
Ais remembered the look in Reiger's eyes that morning, mirroring her own in a strangely similar way.
A strange and eerie silence fell upon the sacred chamber for no apparent reason.
"Alright, stop daydreaming, kids," Loki clapped his hands to regain everyone's attention, "First, let's help solve this kid's problem. Who among you will teach him magic?"
No sooner had the question been asked than two people immediately withdrew.
"Don't count on me," Bert retorted coldly, "I don't have anything to teach such a small fry."
Saying this, Bert seemed to touch on a sore spot and no longer stayed, departing from the sacred chamber straight away.
Seeing this scene, everyone said nothing.
Clearly, as members of the same family clan, they also felt it was best to let Bert leave without interference.
"I can't either," the second to announce her withdrawal was Theona, cheerfully lively by nature.
However, her reason differed from Bert's.
"I don't have magic, so even if you ask me to teach, I can't teach anything, right?"
Theona looked dejected, her face full of frustration.
Magic is such a power that some awaken it from the start, while others may never find the opportunity to awaken it their entire lives, and thus never do.
Theona was clearly the latter, and even as a first-class adventurer at Lv.5, she was still purely melee, unable to use even a single magic spell.
"So that leaves Finn, Revilia, Grace, and Theone to teach, right?"
Loki was confirming this detail.
"I'd better pass," Finn considered carefully and ultimately shook his head, expressing with regret, "My magic has too obvious side effects; it's not suited for a newbie adventurer. It's best he doesn't learn from me."
"If the captain says so, I'll pass as well," Theone immediately followed Finn's lead, saying, "After all, my magic isn't very powerful. It's better to let Revilia teach than me."
"Yes, let this stubborn elf do it," Grace laughed heartily, "She loves to fuss over juniors like a mother anyway; let her do the training."
"Who is a mother!?" Revilia glared at Grace but didn't refuse the suggestion.
If she could add another powerful rear guard Magic Guide to the clan, she certainly wouldn't refuse, not to mention that the other party was of the same type as Rephia and apparently had fewer restrictions than Rephia, a genius newcomer.
After all, Rephia's "Elf Ring" was ultimately limited to the elf race, only capable of learning and using elven magic.
Reiger's Magic was undoubtedly available to those of all races, as could be seen from Loki's attitude of inquiring everyone present on the spot.
Among those present were elves, dwarves, Amazons, and members of the Beastman Clan, each possessing their own racial magics. If Reiger could learn the magic of everyone here, it would be nearly equivalent to being able to learn all the magic in the world.
This potential, this talent, was considerably greater than Rephilia's.
Consequently, Revilia naturally could not ignore such a promising individual.
And as the strongest Magic Guide in Euler, known as a member of the royal Elf family and one of the Nine Demon Princesses, if there was a way to learn Revilia's magic, it was believed no one would want to decline.
Just as everyone was thinking this, Reiger suddenly spoke up.
"Can I learn magic from Miss Ais?"
Yes.
Not only had Reiger refused, he had set his sights on the doll girl Loki and the rest hadn't mentioned at all.
"Me?"
Ais was momentarily stunned.
"..."
The rest of the crowd first fell silent collectively, then frowned almost in unison.
Loki did the same.
"Kid," Loki began, looking as if he wanted to say more, "I think you should choose someone else."
"That's right," agreed Finn, calmly saying, "Ais' magic is somewhat special, and even if your magic has the ability to learn and use the magic of others, it's still uncertain whether you can successfully learn Ais' magic."
The others also looked at Reiger with peculiar faces, then glanced at Ais, exchanging glances with each other.
Only Theona seemed puzzled as she spoke up.
"Isn't that great? Ais' magic is so powerful, if our new brother can learn it, our clan will then have two exceptional combatants in the future."
Theona had hardly finished speaking before she was muffled by Theone next to her.
"You better say less," said Theone, ignoring Theona's struggles and dragging her away.
"Let me teach you," Revilia said, watching Reiger, "Ais' magic is quite dangerous to use in some respects, and even if you could learn it, I don't really recommend using it."
"Moreover..."
Moreover, Ais might not necessarily want to teach.
Ais' magic was extraordinarily significant to her.
Revilia did not voice these thoughts aloud but instead turned to look at Ais.
Ais had already lowered her head, making it impossible to discern her expression.
The atmosphere in the divine chamber subtly shifted once again.
Reiger wasn't surprised but instead muttered to himself.
"As I thought, this matter is a bit sensitive, isn't it?"
As someone who knew the original storyline, Reiger of course understood why everyone reacted the way they did to his request to learn Ais' magic.
Theona and Theone were perhaps ignorant of the underlying intricacies.
But as the leaders of the clan and the chief deity Loki, they definitely had an understanding of Ais' situation.
Reiger was aware of this and yet still put forth the idea.
The reason was simple.
"I've heard about Miss Ais' type of magic and believe it to be the most suitable power for me to use at this stage," he said.
Reiger shifted his gaze, directing his eyes sincerely and straightforwardly onto Ais.
"Though it may seem abrupt and perhaps a bit presumptuous, it's important to me, so could Miss Ais please grant my request?" he asked.
As he spoke, Reiger hesitated for a moment before adding another sentence.
"I really want to become strong quickly."
The weight of those words was easily perceived by anyone there.
"Want to become strong quickly..."
Ais was finally moved and lifted her head.
The two locked eyes for the third time that day.
The others fell silent, ceasing to say anything more.
Silence permeated the divine chamber.
It wasn't until much later that Ais slowly began to speak.
"I'll teach you."
When Ais' words were heard, Reiger bowed to Ais, offering a gesture of gratitude.
And thus, Reiger obtained his first mentor in life.