Black magic was considered a forbidden art capable of accomplishing almost anything.
With it, the dead could be resurrected, minds could be controlled, and even gravity itself could be manipulated.
Logically speaking, such feats were impossible for any human to achieve alone—not even the most powerful of mages.
But with black magic… it was possible.
Only—
Only at a price that could not be ignored.
Hearing this, Anna's eyes widened.
The black magic her grandfather had used… was exactly what Nedris was describing.
Aster froze in place.
He had seen the dead walk again.
Slowly, he lowered his gaze to the book in his hands.
'It can't be… This is it?!'
Anyone could use black magic—so long as they possessed a small amount of mana, or a mana crystal, and the will to wield it.
But there was a problem.
Unlike ordinary magic, it could not be activated through imagination or spoken incantations.
To use it, one needed Essence.
Essence was a vessel—a substance that contained black magic within it.
As long as black magic resided inside the Essence, neither could be destroyed.
Realizing what he was holding, Aster understood how foolish his earlier threat had been.
'Flame mana won't burn this. No ordinary fire can harm it. I've already walked into a trap.'
Nedris laughed, looking at the two of them.
"Now you understand."
Anna, her mouth still bound, tried to say something to Aster.
It looked as though she was urging him to escape.
But that was impossible.
They were already surrounded.
Only Anna didn't realize it.
'Our only hope is Master.'
Aster raised his sword and pointed it at Ned.
"You know it yourself. You won't escape from here."
"You never know unless you try," Aster replied, slicing through the ropes binding Anna's wrists and ankles with a swift motion of his blade.
Nedris spread his arms wide, speaking cheerfully.
"Please."
Aster slipped the book back beneath his clothing and grabbed Anna's hand after removing the cloth from her mouth. Together, they ran toward the exit.
The warehouse doors had already been blown apart, leaving a clear path outward.
But just as they approached—
Aster slammed straight into a half-transparent green wall.
Anna stopped just short of crashing into him.
'What was that?'
He pressed a hand to his forehead.
Anna stepped closer and gently touched the green barrier.
"A mana shield."
A mana shield was one of the most basic spells taught to mages.
Aster concentrated his mana and scanned everyone inside the warehouse.
'Which one is the caster?'
None of them seemed to be mages.
Almost all of them were incomplete Elestars—their mana dispersed throughout their bodies.
At that moment, Anna spoke, looking past the wall.
"The mage is over there."
A short distance from the warehouse stood two masked figures, each holding a staff. They were channeling their core mana directly into the barrier.
'A shield like this consumes a great deal of mana. They won't last long. We just need to stall.'
Suddenly, Ned's voice rang out.
"Oh, I forgot to mention. I won't interfere. But they will."
Aster immediately turned and raised his sword, blocking a blade aimed at him.
"Anna, stay behind me."
She quickly moved behind him.
[Flame Mana]
Aster pushed the incoming blade aside and kicked the attacker, sending him flying toward Ned.
"It shows—you're the Flame Sage's disciple," Ned remarked casually.
One by one, the black-clad figures inside the warehouse began attacking Aster.
He fought with everything he had, trying to protect both himself and Anna. But they were outnumbered.
'Staying in one place won't work.'
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he failed to block one incoming strike.
The blade came straight for his face.
Aster lowered his head just in time to avoid it.
But Anna, standing behind him, couldn't.
The sword was heading directly toward her eye.
Without hesitation, Aster raised his left hand and struck the blade.
The black-clad attacker's sword changed direction and slammed into the mana shield behind them.
Aster pushed all the blades away and unleashed a horizontal slash, forcing the attackers back and carving out a small opening.
Grabbing Anna's hand, he ran along the warehouse wall, weaving between crates.
He wanted to buy as much time as possible.
But every second felt like minutes—like hours.
'I need to think of something.'
As they ran, another black-clad figure appeared in front of them and swung his sword down, aiming to take Aster's head.
At the last second, Aster ducked. The blade passed over him and carved a deep gash into the warehouse wall.
Without hesitation, Aster thrust his sword into the man's chest and kicked him aside.
No matter which direction they ran, someone blocked their path.
Soon, they found themselves cornered in the far end of the warehouse, trapped with nowhere left to flee.
Nedris raised his voice.
"Perhaps you'll come to me peacefully. That way, no one else has to get hurt."
Then he glanced at one of the bodies lying nearby.
"We still need to clean this place up."
Aster held his sword in one hand, preparing to grab Anna with the other.
But his left arm trembled violently.
The injury he had taken earlier was making itself known.
He slipped his hand inside his clothes and pulled out the book, handing it to Anna.
"Keep this."
Anna pressed the book tightly against her chest.
"Anna, remember the book we talked about in the library? The one about the knight and the princess?"
She looked at him, confused.
This was hardly the time for stories.
"Do you remember what the knight did when he fought the bandits?"
She gave a small nod.
"We'll do that now."
With all his strength, Aster slashed his sword into the wooden wall they were leaning against.
The old wood split easily under the sharp blade, creating an opening to the outside.
"Run with everything you have!" Aster shouted.
The black-clad figures did not simply stand and watch.
They rushed toward Aster, trying to seize Anna.
In that instant, Aster knocked down one of the oil lamps hanging from the wall with his sword and hurled it toward them.
The lamp shattered, spilling oil across the floor.
The flame caught instantly.
The oil ignited, and fire spread rapidly.
Seeing their clothes catch fire, the attackers scattered, desperately trying to extinguish the flames.
Aster had created an opportunity to escape.
But he didn't run.
It wasn't because he wanted to hold them back.
It wasn't because Nedris was the strongest here and could reach Anna in an instant.
The reason he stayed—
Was because he still hadn't learned the truth about his past.
Aster removed the cloth covering his eyes and stepped forward with a serious expression, approaching Nedris.
Surprisingly, Ned hadn't moved at all. He remained calm, as if none of this concerned him.
"Don't you need the book anymore?" Aster asked coldly.
"You stayed to learn who you were, didn't you?" Ned chuckled.
They stared at each other.
Then, at the exact same moment, they answered—
"Yes."