The fake world with the white tower did not experience the setting or rising of the sun. There was no day or night. Rensley, for the first time in his life, was discovering how the absence of the sense of the passage of time slowly and steadily wore down a person’s nerves.
Rensley was someone who loved the night. Sometimes he would socialize with people from dusk till dawn, and at other times, he would find himself alone, lost in a contemplative mood, gazing out of the window and embracing the night. With Gezell, who enjoyed reading until late, he would engage in conversations both physically and verbally until dawn.
However, for someone who enjoyed napping during the day and staying awake at night, enduring days without nights was an agonizing experience. Unable to bear the fatigue, Rensley slumped over the table, and the sorcerer sitting across from him scolded him.
“Get up.”
“Just a little…”
“Really… Rensley Maelrosen, you exaggerate too much. You’re still far from it. At this rate, it will be difficult to align with Lord Felix’s plans.”
When he made mistakes as a child, he would sometimes be punished by being confined to his room and having an entire book torn apart. It was the worst punishment—boring and painful for both the hands and the head. He would have preferred getting hit on the calves or palms rather than being stuck in a narrow space, repeating a single task. And now, to endure such days without the night was a painful ordeal.
“My head hurts too much.”
“Take this. It’ll help.”
The sorceress offered him a potion. Rensley looked at it and shook his head.
“No. If I take that, my head will become even fuzzier later.”
“Don’t worry and take it. I wouldn’t give you a potion that impairs your mind. You’re supposed to be a cleric.”
Rensley sighed and swallowed the potion. He couldn’t remember how many of these mysterious potions he had taken by now. Initially, he suspected it might be a strange potion that made people intolerable, but as the sorcerer said, there were no symptoms of his mind deteriorating or his memory fading. The headache improved, and his sensitivity to sounds increased, making it suitable for this ‘training.’ However, the problem was that after the time for the potion’s effect passed, his head felt even fuzzier than before.
“Can you do it now? Is your head still hurting?”
“I’m fine. Let’s get started.”
Rensley took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Initially, the rushing sounds that came like waves were nothing but pain, but now, little by little, he could distinguish the voices, and he could somewhat understand their pronunciation. Concentrating on one of them and following it without missing a beat was Rensley’s first exercise.
Swish, swoosh, swip, ha, hoo. Rensley imitated the voices more like breathing than pronunciation. Of course, not everyone spoke in this way. However, rather than imitating unfamiliar pronunciation, it was easier to mimic this style.
In doing so, there came a brief moment when the voices and breaths synchronized. Rensley didn’t feel the need to explicitly tell the sorcerer when that moment arrived.
The sorcerer recorded Rensley’s speech and interpreted the language of the spirits by searching through several thick books. After a while, Rensley, who had transcribed their words, was finally granted permission to listen.
“Have you rested enough? Is your head still hurting?”
“I’m okay. Let’s continue.”
Rensley looked at the sorcerer while still lying down.
Being trapped in the white tower was irritating, and the forced training was indeed demanding. However, as Rensley gradually aligned with their words and breaths, there were moments when he felt a certain level of interest. Although he couldn’t understand the meaning yet, having experienced moments where he could predict and synchronize with their voices even before hearing them, Rensley had a strong intuition that continuing this way would eventually lead to understanding their meaning.
“You’re still training because they told you to… Is there any possibility in this?”
“I’m faithfully following the remaining records for training. If the records are correct, it should naturally improve over time.”
Since the existence of an Elementalist was said to be nearing extinction, those knowledgeable about training Elementalists would likely be extremely rare. Rensley, too, had no knowledge of how to raise a spirit, but somehow, he vaguely felt that the sorcerer’s method was stumbling. Knowing that the language of the spirits differed from human language, he realized that even if he spent a hundred years searching through books, he wouldn’t fully understand their words. The sorcerer showed no intention of providing guidance.
At that moment, an entry-exit magic circle appeared. It meant that a visitor was about to arrive at the tower. Rensley, who was lying down, twitched his shoulders.
“Is the lesson going well?”
“Yes, Lord Felix. So far, there haven’t been any significant issues.”
“He’s still sprawled out like that. Probably still exaggerating, I guess?”
“There’s nothing I can do. Training Elementalists is an arduous task, so he needs occasional breaks.”
Since being trapped in the tower, Rensley hasn’t been able to sleep properly despite being exhausted. The dreadful sounds occasionally haunted his dreams like hallucinations. Even when he managed to fall asleep, he would wake up startled, eyes wide open. In this bizarre world without the distinction of day and night, where he filled his rest time with shallow sleep and drowsiness, Rensley was visibly more weakened than when he was first confined here.
‘You pervert.’ With eyes all puffy, Rensley muttered curses inwardly, glancing at the new visitor. Since Felix had learned about Rensley’s relationship with Gezell, he had been fixated on Gezell’s appearance every time he visited the tower.
It had been quite some time since Felix discovered Gezell’s identity. Rensley had endured numerous instances of receiving the brunt of Felix in Gezell’s guise, whether it be physical assault, having his hair grabbed, or enduring insults and humiliations. It felt like reliving the events of the past twenty years in the Royal Capital of Cornia.
Rensley closed his eyes, shutting out the endless pouring sounds, the chronic headaches, and the mental fatigue from encountering Felix in Gezell’s disguise. Despite knowing that it was an imposter, facing Felix with Gezell’s appearance was far more painful than enduring the recurring mental blows. Although he couldn’t deny the doubled emotional impact compared to facing physical abuse or verbal insults.
“Originally, he was a guy without perseverance. If he had the potential to become an heir, your father wouldn’t have rejected him like that. Yeah, how much longer do you think you’ll have to wait?”
The sorcerer hesitated in his response, and Rensley snickered quietly. Even if he tried his best, the day when he blossomed into a spirit according to Felix’s plan would never come. The ingredients to create an Elementalists were prepared, but the chef to complete the precious Elementalist was nowhere to be found.
“How’s the situation outside?”
“Not bad. The forces are being reorganized, and the world is peacefully quiet. As long as you’re here, no matter how many heads the Marquis has, they’re useless. The military is always training, and above all, as long as we control the space, we won’t lose.”
Felix cast a cold gaze at Rensley.
“Of course, the ‘Maelrosen Sphere’ needs to become more usable before we can start the work. Haven’t I mentioned that it’s challenging even for a genius like you to constantly draw in magic?”
Rensley pretended not to hear, closing his eyes and getting lost in his own thoughts.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
What could Gezell be doing right now?
He had decided to trust and wait for Gezell to come find him, but a considerable amount of time had passed even within this tower. Despite his dulled senses, he was aware that a significant amount of time had elapsed, awkwardly counting days like years. If the ratio of time inside the tower to the outside world truly matched, it could have been several years outside. In that case, Felix should have aged accordingly. However, every time he visited the tower, Felix appeared with the same Gezell’s appearance flipped, making it impossible to discern anything from the outer appearance alone. It was a disguise that couldn’t be distinguished, whether it was a sadistic hobby or a calculation to deceive.
Several years. It was a long time, considering how quickly time passed. However, if he seriously considered seizing the throne, it was an investment-worthy period.
“If you give me a little more time… Still, it’s gradually improving.”
When the sorcerer responded cautiously, Felix sighed and approached Rensley. Despite sensing his presence, Rensley kept his eyes closed. Then, a large hand forcefully grabbed the back of his head, lifting it abruptly.
Rensley swallowed his breath and opened his eyes.
“Does pretending to sleep change the situation?”
Ah, he’s going to cause a scene again today until he’s satisfied.
Rensley, sensing Felix’s irritation in his voice, sighed inwardly. Prince Felix of Cornia was someone who couldn’t tolerate situations not going his way from the moment he was born. At such times, he would vent his frustration on Rensley and other ‘useless’ subordinates.
Living with an ill-fitting royal imitation might be quite uncomfortable in various ways. Trapped, avoiding people’s eyes, Rensley was the perfect outlet for his venting tools.
“Since you were resting anyway, go out for a while. I need to spend some time alone with my brother.”
The sorcerer hesitated in his response, glancing between Rensley and Felix. Initially, he blindly sided with Felix, but as time passed, he began to notice that Rensley was being tormented by Felix.
“But Lord Felix, resting is essential now so that he can go back to training immediately.”
“Who said anyone’s going to disturb him? Besides, you need to rest as well. Go out for a while. Training this guy is important, but you are the most crucial person in our plan.”
Rensley bit his tongue upon seeing Felix’s smiling face. Whenever Felix mimicked Gezell’s expression, it felt like his insides were being twisted. This was something he could never get used to.
The sorcerer quickly recovered his mood. He obediently smiled and replied as a loyal servant.
“Understood. Rensley Maelrosen, listen to Lord Felix’s words. Your frequent exhaustion is due to your laziness and not addressing Lord Felix properly.”
For a moment, it seemed like the sorcerer was going to support Rensley, but he quickly changed his tone. Rensley, not expecting any support, let out a sigh mixed with a bitter laugh. It seemed the sorcerer, who initially sided with Felix without much thought, had come to realize that Rensley, tormented by Felix, was not entirely without merit.
With these words, the sorcerer seemed to finally release the tension. She left the tower, leaving Rensley and Felix alone. Once they were alone, Rensley spoke.
“How long do I have to go through this useless effort?”
“Useless effort?”
“When do you think my abilities will be fully developed? Isn’t it about time you stopped wasting that fancy transformation skill on teasing me and used it more intelligently? Shall I suggest a good way? Instead of me, kidnap the emperor. Then transform into the emperor and take control of Pheraira. That way, you can achieve your goal without wasting time on this arduous training.”
Felix sneered.
“You’re just a lowly guy with foolish thoughts. It’s not possible to rule the empire just by imitating the emperor. Can I deceive all of Aldrant’s people just by having this appearance? As you said yourself, even fooling you alone was a failure. I have no intention of risking my life with such a dangerous prank.”
“…”
“And what I want is not to take on the role of that old man but to become the Emperor Felix Elbanes, ruling the continent.”
Felix sat back in his chair, gazing silently down at Rensley. His face showed no expression, but there was an unmistakable irritation in his hidden eyes.
“I heard from Amin that your tongue has started to loosen. How is it? Is there anything else?”
“Nothing else.”
“Amin might be a genius as a sorcerer, but the problem is he’s still young and doesn’t know how to handle people. I need to teach him that accommodating your every whim is endless. You shouldn’t just take literally what you’re told to bring; with a bit of skill, you can understand more than what’s being said.”
Even in the midst of the worst situation, Rensley considered himself not an unlucky person. However, there were days when things went wrong.
Whether it was his limited patience hitting a wall or some unpleasant incident outside, Felix seemed even more uncomfortable today. The sorcerer, who usually tried to dry Felix off once in a while, had left the tower. Even in good condition, it seemed challenging to endure today’s foul mood, and now, the aftereffects of the potion he had taken earlier were starting to show.
His head felt numb. His vision shook hazily. Rensley, unable to muster the strength to respond to Felix’s words, staggered while seated, then thudded back onto the table.
Trying to regain his composure, Rensley blinked his half-closed eyes slowly. When alone with the sorcerer, he would let him rest a bit when the side effects of the potion surfaced. But expecting such consideration from Felix seemed unlikely.
So far, there had been no occasion where Rensley, under the influence of the potion, sobbed when Felix visited. Whether that was fortunate or unfortunate, Rensley couldn’t discern at the moment.
“Are you asking for attention by whining like that?”
Felix, shooting a scornful glance as if to say, ‘Are you seriously acting like this?’ surprisingly did nothing else and just stared down at Rensley.
Whether to strike or insult with words, doing nothing during this time was more irritating. But having no energy to argue or explain the side effects of the potion, Rensley gathered the remaining strength just to prevent himself from slumping too much.
“Hmm… I guess so when I think about it.”
Felix muttered to himself with an absurd tone, sounding as if pondering over something from Rensley’s muddled head.
“Living in the palace, you must have learned how to endure things like this. If you’ve finally decided to compromise with reality, it’s a welcome development from my perspective. Admire me now, it’s not too late. Didn’t I tell you? I have my own affection for you.”
Saying this, Felix gently placed his large hand on the back of Rensley’s bowed neck. The hand that swept down his nape slipped inside the collar of his clothes, sending a sensation that froze even the dizziness.
Even if it resembled Gezell’s hand, the feeling on the skin was completely different. Rensley recoiled in horror, jerking his body backward. Though the place where he fell from the chair and hit hurt, he paid no attention, quickly pulling himself back up.
“Are you out of your mind…?”
He cursed metaphorically, but never had Gezell done something like this. Rensley, bewildered, could only manage a weak smile.
Felix, who had learned all the bad deeds from his father, the former prince, had used them once, but they parted ways a few years later due to the father’s death. By then, Felix had already gained everything he could from his family, so there were briefly some dark rumors circulating about the prince’s death. It didn’t last long.
After that, Felix sprinkled his charm on various women close to the harem, even amid such circumstances. However, there had never been any rumors joking about his interest in men. What he said about making Rensley part of the harem was just an insult; there was no sincere intention behind it.
For Felix, it might have been just a new form of mockery, a fresh prank. But for Rensley, it was lethal. How could he endure it, no matter how indifferent he had become to insults and taunts? What if he didn’t yield, even in such a situation? It wasn’t easy to withstand humiliation and mockery, especially when it came from Felix.
His usual indifferent reaction to insults and mockery, which had been like a rock, had seemingly pleased Felix for once. He smirked and clenched his fist.
“Why complain so much with a body that’s been rolling around with that magician? Besides, you won’t meet that man again. If you plan to live your life alone, wouldn’t it be less lonely if you went to the underground prison and threw yourself to the hungry prisoners there? There are people without scruples; after going there once, they’ll be careful and try to deceive others without making a fuss. Amin worries about you, saying if he handles you too roughly, it might be dangerous, but do you think I don’t know you? If I decide, I could throw someone like you into the underground prison anytime. I’m not the kind to hesitate over trivial matters.”
In the face of direct intimidation, there was a limit to pretending to be tough. Rensley’s breathing became increasingly rapid. Would it have been better to act insane rather than follow the magician’s instructions?
“…What nonsense is this now? I originally… never intended to be with anyone for my entire life…”
Ah, right. In the midst of answering, Rensley realized it. Felix had never thought about Rensley’s situation.
Born from a relationship between a commoner and royalty, but not officially recognized by the royal family, a prince who was not able to love properly, date, have children, or get married and build a family. Felix had no interest in such stories, and the value of a message that a female horse in the royal stables or a mare raised in a stable had given birth was no more than a joke.
Felix approached again, grabbing Rensley’s neck as if to strangle him. There was no longer any mischief in the chilly expression.
“Listen well, Rensley. If you decide, I can throw someone like you, who acts cheeky, to the hungry prisoners in the underground prison at any time. If you’re not sincere, it will be troublesome for you.”
No. If that were the case, he might have been buried in the ground long ago, judged to be useless. If he had tried to deceive him and got caught, he might have actually thrown me into prison. With a clouded mind, Rensley couldn’t make clear judgments. Without affirming or denying Felix’s threat, he looked at him with trembling eyes, not avoiding his gaze.
Thunk…
At that moment, a strange sound came from a distance. A noise like something collapsing or the air vibrating with the potential to fly.
Was it because of his mood? Rensley, glancing away from Felix, who seemed to have heard the same sound, saw a familiar magic circle. The magician who had promised to stay away had hastily revealed himself.
“Felix, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. What’s going on?”
Only then did Felix release Rensley. While Rensley coughed and cleared his throat, the magician looked at him with an expression of incomprehension.
“It seems we need to examine the walls for a moment.”
“Did someone notice this place, by any chance?”
“Impossible. Perhaps there was an error in the sustenance spell. I will call the magician guild here for now. Felix, it would be better for you to return.”
Felix frowned and shook his head.
“I need to observe a bit. This place is the foundation of our plan. As the leader, I need to properly assess the situation, don’t I?”
“Understood. Then, Felix, if you feel any danger, you should get out of here immediately.”
Despite pretending to be nonchalant, the magician quickly hid himself again.
Rensley took a step back and stood in front of a large window. There were no doors, glass, or curtains blocking the light on the windows of this tower. Perhaps to mock Rensley, the magician had pierced a large hole through the thick stone wall and placed nothing more than a window there.
Rensley looked out through the window. The tower’s unfathomable height was impossible for a human to descend.
Rensley stared outside. A pale, faded gray sky, a clock tower pointing to meaningless time, and uninhabited buildings. The world, frozen as if made of wax, remained unchanged.
Kukugung…
This time, the sound was closer. The two people inside the tower, instead of speaking, listened attentively to the external noise. It was unmistakably a sound as if something were breaking or collapsing. What could it be in this world created with only prisoners and captives?
“What’s happening… Is it okay to be at ease?”
“Amin went to check; he will resolve it. That child has never disappointed me until now.”
Rensley silently nodded and fixed his gaze outside the window. It was a rare moment of silence between the stepbrothers who always tried to get on each other’s nerves whenever they met.
The silence didn’t last long. Rensley, who, for the first time, shared the same concern with someone who had no common interests, looked at Felix without turning his gaze away and suddenly opened his dry lips.
“Do you remember when I said I felt sorry for myself?”
It was a murmured question. Felix raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘Why are you suddenly talking nonsense?’
“No, I’ve never felt sorry for myself. Even if I lived in poverty, I’ve never experienced hunger or suffered greatly. I can’t consider a life like this pitiful.”
Rensley then turned his gaze back to Felix. The dull eyes that had become clouded were regaining some vitality, perhaps because the effects of the potion were gradually fading.
“Of course, in your noble eyes, I might look pitiful… There was someone who used to say that people in high positions see everything below them as the same. And you, Felix. My life is better than yours. At least I know what affection among people is like.”
“Why are you suddenly talking so much nonsense? Do you think you can leave here just because Amin is busy?”
“Ah… right. I guess I wanted to tell you something like this at least once. You’ve never experienced affection for anyone in your entire life. Do you even know what affection is? You don’t have any feelings for your parents, companions, siblings, or even the horses and hunting dogs you raise. You only think of using Amin. Why is that? You’re the pitiful one, Felix. You can only live a life like this, climbing to the throne.”
Felix’s expression only contained a cold smirk. However, seeing that he didn’t immediately lash out, it seemed he was somewhat curious about what Rensley was trying to say. But Rensley didn’t start this conversation expecting a particular reaction from him.
Although he had suffered all kinds of insults and both major and minor violence from the man in front of him from childhood to now, he had only resisted a handful of times. Whenever he resisted, retaliation came back several times, affecting not only him but also other nearby servants and sometimes even unrelated people. Since realizing that Felix was the only one who could provoke even other royal family members in addition to himself, Rensley hoped that Felix would quickly shift his attention elsewhere and live quietly, bowing his head.
Having restrained himself and kept his mouth shut for about twenty years, the desire to pour out everything he wanted to say once in a while inevitably grew. Why now? Rensley didn’t stop speaking.
“The Grand Duke sincerely favors me, and I also miss him. The northern frontier? The Aldrant Grand Duchy’s assets are several times greater than the Cornia royal family’s. Do you dare to make me a government official? You should know your place, Felix Dimora Elbanes. Living a life where you, who have never truly loved someone, imitate someone else’s lover poorly and prattle about it, is just pitiful. In my eyes, lately, you seem to be the most ridiculous jester in the world. Aren’t you embarrassed in front of the young Amin? If I were Amin, I would have asked my lord to refrain from such clownery, finding it shameful to pledge allegiance.”
“….”
“You probably think the reason I used to bow down before you was because I was afraid of you, right? No, it’s not that. You’re too insignificant. You’re nothing more than a grown child. Not only are you unfit to be friends or companions with or be the king, but you also lack the qualifications to be friends or companions with the most wretched person. Do you think there’s anyone who would fear you, knowing all this? If I looked pathetic in your eyes, consider it an act of mercy, receiving the behavior of an uneducated child who hasn’t learned anything.”
“Is there anything else to say?”
As the rather long conversation ended in mockery, Felix seemed to have no intention of continuing the discussion.
Just as the approaching steps seemed to culminate in another swing of the whip, the loud noise became even closer.
“Felix, sir!”
At that moment, the magician appeared again in the tower. This time, he was not alone. Several magicians in similar robes were with Amin.
Felix lowered the arm he had raised and turned to them. The magicians were all panting, and some of them already showed signs of injury.
“What in the world is happening today?”
“We need to avoid it immediately. There’s something wrong with the wall. There’s an intruder!”
“An intruder? Is it the Crown Prince, or perhaps, could it be the Grand Duke of Aldrant?”
“No.”
Amin’s face turned pale. The situation of reporting such news to the master seemed extremely humiliating, as indicated by the magician’s expression and voice, which seemed to be swallowed up.
“…I… don’t know the identity for sure.”
“What?”
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The sound, as if trying to shatter the world, intensified. Felix, Rensley, the magicians—all the people inside the tower simultaneously turned to look out the window. Only Rensley’s expression seemed to predict this moment, looking calm.
The sky, like a gray sand desert with no trace of rain, was splitting into fragments under the sudden silvery rays. A giant lightning bolt flashed incessantly, piercing through the world like a radiant pillar.
The sound that had intermittently been heard and getting closer was thunder.
“Hurry, Felix, sir!”
“We’ll take him with us. We can’t leave him here when there’s an intruder.”
“No, if the attention is divided, the risk of missing something will increase if Lord Felix goes outside with Rensley. I’ll take the Elementalist, so please, Lord Felix, first!”
While they argued among themselves, Rensley took a light step, climbed onto the window ledge, and held onto both sides of the window frame as if he were about to jump. The wind that blew in made Rensley’s wide, beige shirt billow and flutter.
It was a precarious sight as if he were hanging from the window frame with only his hands and feet. With just a slight slip, he could plummet down in an instant.
“Rensley Maelrosen! What are you doing?”
Amidst the struggle with Felix, Amin, momentarily distracted, was shocked. Ignoring everything around him, Rensley gave a cheerful smile and stuck out his tongue as if to tease Felix.
“Felix! The reason I suddenly poured out such words to you is first because it seemed like a hill of insults had formed even towards me, and secondly, because now might be the only chance to speak like this. It seems like the heavens have given us another chance to meet so that I can sincerely speak to you.”
Before Felix could respond, Rensley, who was barely holding onto the wall, spread his hands wide. Those inside the tower wouldn’t have seen the gleaming gold from his wrists.
The startled magician hastily began casting a spell, but it was too late. Rensley tumbled towards the abyss like a broken thread. His body swayed in all directions.
“Rensley!”
The magician’s shout echoed afterward. Rensley, who used to enjoy jumping from high places during his childhood, was experiencing the sight of falling from such a perilous height for the first time.
Despite the seemingly vast distance, the ground was rapidly approaching. The wind hitting his face felt like it would blow away his skin. The wind rushing against the falling figure was as harsh as the unforgiving northern wind.
However, Rensley felt no fear at all.
The wind had always been Rensley’s closest friend. After a vigorous sword practice session, it was a refreshing touch that cooled his sweat and brushed his hair. When he opened a window in the corner of the library and read a book, it was a mischievous companion flipping through the pages and fleeing. In the sweet fruit wine, it was a partner toying with him, and in the lively night market, it was a companion that cooled his flushed face.
In his childhood, they were even closer. When he couldn’t endure the teasing and bullying, the wind gently wiped away the tears streaming down his face. In a dark attic trapped due to a bee sting, it was a companion making sure he wasn’t alone. When he ran along the riverbank or through the woods, it was a playmate joining him in impromptu running races.
Why hadn’t he thought about it strangely until now?
Even after jumping several times from high places, surprising others to the point of screaming, Rensley Maelrosen had never been injured.
Even after directly being struck by terrifying thunder and lightning, not a single strand of his hair had been singed.
Thank you! I really like this one:)
Is he here??? Will he be rescued??? Will he hit the floor?😵💫