Chapter 289 – Traits of Magical Power

“The nature of magical power varies from person to person. One can deduce the characteristics of one’s magic through aspects such as color, talent, and physical changes. Even among individuals of the same species, the traits can differ.”

The sage slightly bowed his head and gazed at both of us.

“The characteristics of this magical power can be similar, but they can never be exactly the same. There are always traces left after using magic. Unless one forcibly distorts or changes these traits, it is possible to find the owner of the magical power by following them. You often see scenes in movies where they chase criminals with magic, right? This is the source of that idea.”

With these words, she flicked her fingers and brought three stones before us. Each stone had distinct blue geometric patterns etched into it.

“Each of these three stones contains a different type of magical power.”

Having said that, the sage produced another stone from his pocket. Distinct from the others, it bore no markings. Nevertheless, a faint magical energy emanated from within.

It seemed that among these three stones, one was to choose a stone housing the same nature of magical power as the one held by the sage.

“If you’re a mage, you already know what I’m going to say, don’t you?”

It was a theory once imparted to me by Zodiac. Almost simultaneously, Marronnier and I extended our hands, each pointing to a stone on our respective tables. I chose the first, while Marronnier opted for the third.

“Both of you are correct.”

No sooner had the sage spoken than a surge of black magical power erupted from the stones we had indicated.

“Magic, mana, is the fundamental essence of all things. Whether it takes the form of a line or a particle is a matter of debate, and even with Sephirot’s knowledge, it is impossible to make a definitive judgment. With mana alone, one can achieve anything—electromagnetism, quantum gravity, space-time, quarks. All of these concepts remain within the realm of theoretical mana studies for the time being.”

The composition of the body, too, is comprised of magical power. Seen from another perspective, the abilities wielded by myself, the World Tree, and Marronnier can also be considered a type of magical power. Why mana is unable to produce the same force as these abilities remains a mystery.

From the beginning, it is said that only a minuscule portion of all mana consists of magical attributes that can be directly utilized by humans. It is, in essence, a power shrouded in mystery.

“As a scholar, I implore you not to blindly believe in the knowledge I have provided. Knowledge is born from an endless pursuit of inquiry.”

Magic, one could say, deals with a single phenomenon.

It is about invoking an event directly beyond one’s fingertips or body parts.

To grasp it, hundreds of pages would not suffice. In the case of Zodiac and me, we wield magic purely through intuition, making it relatively easier for us to invoke spells compared to other mages.

‘That doesn’t mean I don’t study the theory, though.’

The amount of study is similar, whether one invokes magic intuitively or painstakingly constructs it piece by piece. It’s merely a difference in aptitude.

“As I mentioned, this trait varies from person to person. To exaggerate a bit, it’s said that you can discern someone’s personality by observing their mana.”
“Their personality?”
“Yes. Of course, it’s quite rare for someone to possess their own unique color. It’s because the ‘color’ of mana is only carried by those with an exceptional birth, unusual fate, or who have experienced extraordinary events, akin to awakening.”

The sage’s eyes gazed at me.

“For example, Lee Si-heon has black.”

With a single gesture from her, the mana was drawn out of my hand. At the tip of my nail, black mana emerged like a thread.

“Dominance, oppression, freedom. It’s a unique magical power that embodies such desires. The most recent figures from the past would be King Mokryeong and the Heavenly Demon.”

“…King Mokryeong?”

Marronnier casts a sidelong glance at me.
Then, he turns his gaze back to the sage.

“Um…”

There’s a hint of discomfort in his voice.

“Even so… Comparing a normal person like that is a bit much.”
“Ah.”
“Our generation is sensitive. I know it’s just a simple analogy, but that person… I believe the sage knows well.”
“I apologize, Marronnier. I’m sorry as well, Lee Si-heon.”

The sage, offering his apology, steals a glance at me.
Damn it, Marronnier, you’re too kind for your own good.

It’s not easy to react when I am King Mokryeong.

“Cheer up…”

Perhaps noticing the slight nuance in my expression, Marronnier pokes my arm gently with his fingertip.

“No, it’s fine. Please continue with the explanation.”

King Mokryeong and the Heavenly Demon.

Indeed, there has been a significant amount of black magic throughout history. The reason Cheondo passed on her techniques to me while searching for black magic was because the martial arts of the Heavenly Demon were founded upon this dark power. Due to its formidable force and oppressive nature, black magic has long been regarded as evidence of the Heavenly Demon.

However, the magic I learned from the past is somewhat different. To merely describe it as having a different color would be insufficient. It is a bizarre and ferocious force that one might hesitate to even call magical power.

‘It is the ability that definitively delineates the boundaries of the Black Sword.’

The Black Sword’s origin traces back to when I first entered the academy. It was the manifestation of black magic. I wonder if it first emerged while observing the training of the new students. When Azalea’s adoptive father, Lee Seong-Han, and I fought, he considered it the pinnacle of fighting spirit. Indeed, when enveloped by black magic, my body exhibited an entirely different performance compared to basic magical power.

The Black Sword, born from that black magic, first took form in the inferno of its creation.

At that time, the power of Heukdo contained a feeble demonic energy that manifested unknowingly; however, by today’s standards, it was laughable. It was used during the midterm exam, but it was hard to consider it as fully developed.

The completion of Heukdo occurred during the eighth secret technique, which neither Cheondo nor Baekdo had disclosed to me. The Heavenly Demon himself taught me this power in the past, and now, it is not easily revealed due to the risk of being discovered. It was there that it took on its final form.

Having enhanced my original power even further, one might call this the second form of Heukdo, but I wasn’t keen on fixating on a particular designation. Lately, whenever I felt my strength was insufficient, I quickly drew upon the black magic, reaching a new level of prowess.

“Lee Si-heon?”
“Yes?”
“You seemed to be lost in thought for a moment… If you can’t concentrate, shall we take a break?”

My mind had wandered momentarily.

I waved my hands.

“No, please continue. However, I am curious about the qualities of other magical powers. What type of power does the sage possess?”

“Oh, right. The nature of my magic power is… Well, first, shall we examine Blanche’s magic?”

“My, my magic?”

As the sage reached out, a faint sky-blue magical power emanated from Marronnier’s body. A delicate shade, like a touch of blue mixed into pure white paint.

“It’s somewhat unusual. Magic power has a set nature, and even if it changes through acquired traits, there are no cases in which it possesses two natures. However, there is occasionally magic with the potential to split into two distinct aspects.”

The white and blue magical essence.

“Usually, this is referred to as a blessed body, one that no others could ever possess. Adored by the spirits and granted permission by the God of Mana… One could call it the embodiment of limitless magic potential.”

“Yes, yes?”

Marronnier, taken aback, responded as if she had been unaware.

“It’s rare, perhaps one person in a century might possess this. The reason Blanche became the national symbol of France is undoubtedly related to this aspect.”

“…Ah, um, over there.”

She shyly averted her gaze.

Undoubtedly, possessing magic of two distinct traits is a rare occurrence. Marronnier is considered a remarkable genius among wizards, and this assertion seems accurate.

The sage initially pointed to the blue magic. This magic exhibited a deeper and more vivid hue than the basic blue magic inherent to wooden beings.

“Blue magic represents romance and yearning. It manifests when one desires to pursue something they covet.”
“…Are you analyzing my character now?”
“Typically, that’s the case. However, it doesn’t always hold true.”

People who possess this type of magic generally exhibit these qualities. It feels akin to observing the MBTI of the wizarding world.

I subtly glanced at Marronnier’s magic. At the edge of the sky-blue magic, blue and white energies intertwined, revealing a considerable amount of compressed power.

This was the magic Marronnier hadn’t used when battling me. Clearly, most of their abilities had been concealed during the first trial.

“What about the white magic?”

The sage clapped in response to my inquiry.

“That’s right. I was about to tell you about the nature of my magic. I, too, possess white magic.”

The sage promptly conjured a pure white magical orb in his hand and displayed it. The brilliance of the orb was so dazzling that it instantly concealed the light of the Marronnier. The brightness was extraordinary, as was the power nestled within it, which defied standard measures.

“However, this white magic carries a multitude of meanings.”

I pondered whether I had met anyone who wielded white magic. As it turned out, there were several. White Peach and Plum; one was my master, and the other was a fight-loving Chinese contender whom I encountered at the climax of my first trial. Additionally, Mugung, who was rumored to have traversed the Yangdae mountain range alongside Heavenly Demon, was also known to be a bearer of white magic.

‘…Sigh.’

Oddly enough, it seemed as though white magic and I were not compatible. What could this mean? Was it truly accurate? Could I trust this Magical MBTI?

Despite their lack of scientific validation, such tests posed numerous questions that were peculiarly persuasive.

In truth, these words seem fitting for a considerable number of people.

I awkwardly chuckled at the knowing smile in the sage’s eyes.

“What does it mean?”
“Pure. Unchanged, retaining its original white hue. Positively speaking, it manifests as a desire to preserve the status quo, or characters who unwaveringly adhere to their convictions and never change possess this kind of magic.”

It’s the epitome of inflexibility.
That’s precisely how White Peach is. Her personality is truly repugnant, and she never yields to her obstinance.
And the White Peach of the past was no different.
She wished for Do-won never to change. When Heaven felt threatened in her position by the Heavenly Demon, White Peach trembled, fearing her familiar world would crumble.

“And negatively speaking?”
The sage sighed softly.
As if admitting his own shortcomings, as if he were chastising himself.

“Conservatism.”
“Hmm.”

“When trying to make a decision, I can be radical and action-oriented, but once I’ve made up my mind, I don’t attempt to change it. You could say I’ve become stubborn, obstinate, and distant. Purity doesn’t always have a positive connotation. It can also represent the color of revolutionaries.”

The color of revolutionaries.
Upon hearing these words, Marronnier suddenly trembled.

“….”
“What’s wrong? Oh.”

She only realized after asking. Marronnier hails from a family of revolutionaries. He had been an influential figure at the core of the group that ousted and killed the queen, ultimately standing above everyone else. It was a fitting description of the Marronnier family’s current standing.

She could roughly grasp the situation.
Indeed, the white ones had a slightly tainted quality.
Conversely, she had never encountered a clear-minded person like herself among the dark-skinned individuals.

If there were any exceptions, it would be Heaven.
Her adorable mentor had no connection to magical powers.

‘… Then, what about Cornus?’

Yellow magic.
As the discussion of colors continued, her curiosity piqued.

“What kind of qualities does yellow magic possess?”

“Yellow…”

The sage, perhaps sensing my intentions, traced a crescent moon across his lips.

“Protection. It’s a color that manifests when one desires to guard something.”

Protect. But what? When I had heard about the power of white, I had believed it to be a compelling analysis in its own right. However, I couldn’t help but furrow my brow at the explanation of the yellow magic. Cornus. The very notion that this carefree creature would seek to protect something seemed absurd. Did it wish to maintain its current situation? That would be far too presumptuous.

“Is that so?”
“Yes. Would you like me to explain the other colors as well?”
“…Let’s save that for another time.”

As I listened, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being drawn into some kind of magical MBTI. I halted my thoughts and immediately proceeded to the next lesson.

The classes continued unabated until the evening.