Genius Prismatic Mage Chapter 151

#154. Narcissism (3)

Above the two rings surrounding the boy’s heart.

The point of mana that was orbiting to form the third ring began to race at an uncontrollable speed.

Woooo …

The pain was so intense that it was hard to breathe, making even a boy who was insensitive to pain frown.

The pain was getting worse each time.

As your awareness of emotions accumulates.

The more colors you put into the ring.

‘The sky blue mana is… flowing into the ring.’

A refreshing sky blue.

Unlike the blue mana that can be easily found in the slums, this was a mana of an extremely rare color.

But I’ve seen it before.

Because it was a color of emotion that Philip and Veronica always had.

Woooo …

The boy, who had been observing the two friends for a long time, had some guesses about the blue mana.

And now, a new holder of the sky-blue mana named Ain has appeared.

I was able to solidify that guess into certainty.

‘At first I thought it was simply related to a person’s cheerful or bright temperament.’

That wasn’t it.

“You must first know how to love yourself before you can give that love to others.”

The sky blue mana had a greater meaning.

“I’m good enough. Of course, I’m destined to be the target of your future endeavors.”

It didn’t just mean a bright and cheerful disposition.

What does the sky blue mana mean?

“This is me, what do you want me to do?”

‘What should I do?’

For a moment, the revolution of mana stopped.

Then it started to slow down.

‘Isn’t it?’

After thinking for a moment, I shouted inwardly again.

‘whatever.’

Mana’s orbital speed became turtle-like.

The boy, feeling a sense of crisis, came up with a similar but different resolution after much thought.

‘A heart that cherishes and loves itself.’

As Mana’s orbit speeded up, a cool breeze blew across the boy’s ring.

Hooo …

In reality, it was only a few seconds, but from the boy’s perspective, it felt like several minutes.

The end.

… … .

The mana point returned to its original speed and leisurely circled around the heart.

There were still two rings.

But I could feel that the completion of the third ring was imminent.

And another change is… .

‘The ring contains sky blue mana.’

Unlike regular rings where the type of element stored is permanently determined at construction time.

The boy’s ring constantly changed in the types and proportions of elements as he gained enlightenment.

The mana that has increased this time is sky blue.

But the amount was less than expected.

‘A little… no, a lot less.’

As I moved the sky blue mana in the air, I felt that it was much smoother than before.

The realization meant that it was accurate.

However, the story is that the amount contained in the ring is less than expected… .

‘Are you saying that I don’t love and care for myself that much?’

I think I’m quite a narcissistic person.

Ray thought as he ripped off the band-aid that was still dangling from the wound that was not yet healed.

Then Ain’s voice was heard.

“So I don’t care what anyone says. I am me.”

It didn’t seem to matter much if I lacked self-love.

Because you can absorb the secret from someone who has more self-love than anyone else.

“What do you want me to do when I was born like this?”

Ray nodded.

I took this proverb to heart.

‘What’s important is the mind that says what to do.’

In the story that followed, we could see why Ain was so sensitive to things related to her older sister.

“I’m not saying this because I’m the younger sibling, but isn’t my older sister pretty? There are quite a few guys who try to talk dirty. Dirty wolf cubs.”

Ain said with a scrunched up face, as if he was getting angry just thinking about it.

“That’s why I have to protect her. My older sister doesn’t have as strong a personality as I do, and sometimes I see her being a bit reckless and not taking care of herself.”

When I was young, I had no problem protecting my older sister.

But as she grew, Ayla’s appearance became more radiant, and the intensity of her teasing became unbearable.

“There was a time when some organization tried to kidnap me. Those crazy bastards. They even investigated everything to the point where they found out that my parents were not that far behind.”

Then, I met Binjin and he suggested that I learn magic.

“There was no reason to refuse. I needed more strength to protect my sister anyway. That’s why I am very grateful to the Master.”

“The teacher appeared right when my parents passed away.”

As they talked, various feelings blossomed in the siblings’ hearts toward each other.

Pure affection, interest, concern… .

Ray observed Ayla’s bowl more closely than Ain’s.

Since the blue mana on the younger sister’s side revealed the associated emotion, it was now time to analyze the blue mana on the older sister’s side.

The most noticeable emotion in Ayla’s bowl right now is.

‘White mana, emotion of worry.’

It was floating high above the bowl.

Unlike other emotions that are frozen or sliding on an ice sheet made of blue mana.

… Usually, white mana tends to lean most towards its owner.

‘Ayla’s white mana is tilted only towards Ain.’

Could this singularity have something to do with the creation of blue mana?

The volume was also larger than usual.

As Ray was making and combining various guesses and hypotheses, a thought suddenly occurred to him.

That white mana.

If you drop it on blue mana.

‘Then it seems like sky blue mana will be created.’

Ray quickly organized the colors of mana and the associated emotions in his head.

‘Sky blue mana.’

A heart that loves and cherishes oneself.

‘Blue mana.’

A mind that hates and loathes itself.

‘The one in the middle is blue mana.’

The associated emotions are not yet known.

‘However, blue can become two different colors depending on which colors are mixed.’

Mixing with white makes a cool sky blue.

When mixed with black, it becomes a gloomy blue.

‘White usually represents worry… and black is a mixture of negative emotions, representing malice and fear.’

Blue is the color between sky blue and navy blue.

If you add white and black to that… .

I feel like I’m going to realize something.

At that time, Ray’s excitement index and concentration level were at their peak.

“How’s your brother? My sister? She’s pretty, isn’t she?”

Ain’s voice broke my thoughts.

“Ain… Why do you ask that question to every guy you meet? Please stop.”

“Well, if you say I’m pretty, I’ll break your legs with a club… Ah, I’m losing. Anyway, answer me, hyung.”

Ain focused his eyes and glared at Ray with a look of caution.

So Ray opened his eyes wide and glared at Ain.

“… … .”

“… … .”

Ain averted his eyes.

Ray then turned his gaze and looked straight into Ayla’s face.

“No. You don’t have to answer seriously. Sometimes Ain asks strange questions like this.”

Even though Ayla said that, Ray had already begun to ponder the question.

‘Is it pretty?’

In fact, it was a meaningless question to Ray.

Because they had difficulty recognizing human faces and there was no standard for beauty and ugliness.

The only thing I’ve ever perceived as beautiful was Veronica’s sun.

‘It seems like your facial features are positioned more balanced than other people’s.’

But let me answer your question first.

“I don’t know.”

A color spread across Ain’s face at Ray’s concise answer.

“As expected of you, hyung! I could tell at a glance that you were different from other wolf cubs!”

In Ayla’s case, she just stared at Ray without showing any expression.

But in the bowl, a vivid curiosity and interest about Ray was arising.

After that, Ain seemed to be in a good mood and not only answered Ray’s questions with enthusiasm, but also told him things he hadn’t even asked.

“That’s why the teacher prefers to pour the sauce over his food rather than dip it in it.”

“… … .”

I didn’t even want to know that.

At that moment, a commotion was heard downstairs, followed by the sound of a door opening.

─Squeak!

A loud shout followed.

─You have arrived! Master!

─Did you have a good time doing your business?

It seemed like Binjin had returned.

“I think the timing is earlier than expected,” Ray said.

“I think I should go now.”

“Okay. It was nice talking to you. I heard that Matap is on vacation right now. Can we meet again tomorrow? I have a feeling that I can become close with you, hyung.”

Can I see you again?

There was a high probability that it would happen.

Because it didn’t seem like I could accomplish all my goals at the mansion in one day.

‘I guess I’ll have to go down to the first floor and meet Binjin to find out.’

Even if Ain didn’t know, he was sure that he would see Ayla again.

Because─

“Ayla.”

“huh?”

“I would like for the two of you to talk separately tomorrow in a quiet place.”

“Huh, huh?”

“Outside the mansion.”

─Because I will create the opportunity to meet you again myself.

Ain made a devastated face at Ray’s completely unexpected words.

“I took that wicked wolf cub as my older brother! You don’t know how pretty he is! You don’t know how to do it! You swindler!”

Ain, who had been screaming, ran far away when Ray threw the dictionary at him.

Ayla asked, her mouth slightly open in surprise.

“What… do you have to say?”

“It’s hard to talk about this inside the mansion.”

Ayla was lost in thought for a moment.

Soon, their lips parted again.

“I can see it from outside. But I have to see it briefly in the evening. I’m not in class A, so my free time is limited.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll tell Binjin.”

“That is not an easy request─.”

Ayla closed her mouth as she spoke.

This was because he remembered Binjin being extremely polite to the boy in front of him.

“Um… Okay. Then, after you meet Master, tell me again. I’m still at the mansion, so you can come see me again. You can also convey it through Master.”

Ray nodded.

I asked a few more questions and then walked up the stairs to meet Binjin.

Knock—knock—knock—

I felt Ayla’s gaze behind me.

“… … .”

There was only one reason to see the girl outside the mansion.

Because when a certain word was mentioned, extreme fear would fill Ayla’s vessel.

There were two words.

‘The mansion, and the empty house.’

A place to stay.

The teacher you serve.

Ayla was afraid.

I don’t know the exact reason though.

Because of that, there were several times during the conversation when I swallowed what I was going to say.

As if a sentence was stuck in my throat.

‘I guess I can do it outside.’

Ain’s sky blue mana.

Ayla’s blue mana.

The latter gained little from the conversation in the hallway.

Talking to Ayla felt like dealing with a masked person.

I had that gut feeling.

There are things that can only be known by reaching deep into the other person’s heart.

Approach the blue mana and touch it.

If you feel the texture and feel for yourself.

‘I wonder if I’ll learn something new.’

If you get too close to the blue mana you might get frozen, but it didn’t matter.

Because he himself was already frozen.

Then a voice was heard behind me.

“Sister, if you don’t want to see me go crazy, then turn down that dark-hearted wolf cub’s date request.”

It seemed like Ain had returned to her original place.

Ray suddenly stopped walking and turned around as a thought occurred to him.

Although Ain ran away noisily, Ray’s gaze was only focused on Ayla.

After a long silence─

“Mana waves to those who are honest with themselves.”

─said.

Looking at the frozen emotions in Ayla’s bowl.

Ray turned around again.

Knock—knock—knock—

“… … .”

Ayla didn’t move.

I just stood there, watching Ray’s back as he disappeared down the hallway.

For a long time, quite a while.

Even after Ray became invisible.

It was just frozen.