Bruno nodded.
“That’s correct. But what is it made from? Some sturdy metal? Iridium that resists monster blood?”
Arial sensed neither of these were correct.
Bruno continued slowly.
“None of the above. To harm a dragon, a weapon must contain… ‘something’ special.”
“What is it?”
Fixing her with an intense gaze, Bruno answered.
“‘A piece of a dragon itself.’”
‘…!’
Arial’s eyes widened in shock.
Bruno traced a spell in the air with mana, writing shimmering green words that seemed to dance in the air.
> Only a dragon can wound a dragon.
Bruno’s voice took on a quiet gravity.
“Only a dragon can harm another dragon. Just as you need a diamond to cut a diamond.”
To shape a rough diamond into a gem, iron couldn’t be used. Iron would crumple like paper before a diamond’s sheer hardness.
Thus, another diamond was used to cut it.
“To harm a dragon, one must use something crafted from the body of another dragon—something like a sword made with such a material.”
“Are there any swords like that left?”
Arial’s voice trembled slightly.
“No. A dragon slayer—a sword capable of killing dragons—no longer exists. There’s no weapon in existence now that could harm a dragon.”
“So…”
Arial felt her lips go dry.
Bruno gave a strained smile, as if he understood the harshness of his words.
“Yes. The only dragons left are the Grand Duke and his son. Just those two.”
In other words, only Lucian could harm Matthias, and only Matthias could harm Lucian.
It meant no external force could threaten the Lacartels.
“You’re saying that Lacartels are the only ones who can become weapons to each other?”
“Precisely.”
“Oh…”
Arial was seized by two powerful emotions.
The first was relief. She felt reassured that, as long as Matthias and Lucian did not turn against each other, there was nothing that could harm them.
And the second… was fear.
Even after four years, a cold distance remained between Matthias and Lucian.
Arial, who saw both men as family, wished to bridge the divide between them but was unsure of how to proceed.
‘Surely that would never happen?’
That one might try to harm the other…
Arial realized she had to ask Allen about this. Allen would know better than anyone about the delicate balance between Lucian and Matthias.
Arial thanked Bruno.
“Thank you, Bruno. I feel a bit more at ease now.”
“I’m glad to hear it. That’s my pleasure,” Bruno replied warmly, then added a curious remark.
"Lady Arial, remember this."
"Remember what?"
"There are many unpredictable things in this world. Sometimes, the missing piece of a puzzle appears where you least expect it."
Though Bruno's words were cryptic, Arial listened intently, knowing the wisdom of her learned master.
"Yes, Bruno. I'll remember."
As the tea in her cup warmed again by his magic, Bruno shared a playful grumble about Heath, making Arial smile.
In his adolescent rebellion, Heath had dared to show attitude to his elder and teacher, and as punishment, he was now on his second day of copying magical symbols across pages. Arial chuckled, glancing at the cramped, scribbled pages stacked on Bruno's desk.
The afternoon breeze danced among the lush leaves outside, welcoming the tender warmth of spring.
* * *
Some time later.
Arial consulted Diana about the rumors circulating in the capital.
Her name was gaining fame in relation to magic and magical devices, and she was uncertain about how to handle it.
After listening carefully, Diana thought for a moment before speaking.
"Arial, why not take this opportunity to start a business with magic devices?"
"A business?"
The suggestion was entirely unexpected.
Diana’s keen eyes sparkled.
"Yes. This rumor has spread everywhere now—everyone is talking about your magic lamp. Do you know why that is?"
"Hmm…"
Suddenly, Arial understood.
"Because there's nothing like it for nobles to buy?"
Diana smiled approvingly.
"Exactly. Clever Arial. The magical devices from the Tower aren’t designed for common use. They’re often dangerous, with overly intense functions. And the ones that are safe to use… well, let’s just say they lack any aesthetic appeal."
Diana had a point. In the empire, only the Tower dealt with magic devices, and those they produced were rarely suited for daily life. They were mostly intended for mages and often wouldn’t even respond to those without mana.
Diana continued.
"Imagine a fancy, beautiful, safe magical device. Something convenient, but that also showcases my taste. I’d buy it in a heartbeat."
Not stopping there, she launched into a stream of ideas.
"Take inspiration from your magic lamp—how about scented magical ink or a protective ring? You could offer custom-made options for VIP clients too!"
"…"
The ideas were fantastic.
There was always a demand for things that catered to noble vanity. More than that, the idea of making magic accessible to regular people, something that had been exclusive to mages, was appealing.
Items like a magic lamp that shone brighter than any candle, or protective jewelry, as Diana suggested, could be both practical and stylish. With careful planning, magic devices could become a new trend.
But then Diana, who had been passionately brainstorming, sighed with a hint of concern.
"Still, there are challenges. Running a business requires funding… and a trustworthy mage."
"Money isn’t an issue, Diana."
Arial briefly thought of the funds in her personal vault. She wasn’t sure of the exact amount, but she knew it was substantial.
'I never got around to using my entire allowance for internal affairs, so it’s just been accumulating.'
If she started a business, she could finally put that money to good use. However…
"As for mages, I trust only Bruno and Heath. But Bruno… has his own circumstances."
Bruno’s history as a former royal mage made it unwise for him to reappear in society. But Heath, on the other hand, could work.
Diana looked at her skeptically.
"You mean Heath, that mage boy you mentioned?"
"Yes, that’s right."
Fanning herself, Diana replied with cautious approval.
"I haven’t met him, but if you think he’s reliable, then I trust your judgment."
Arial beamed and hugged Diana tightly.
"I’ll talk to Heath about it. Thank you for brainstorming with me, Diana."
"Hmph, I was just expressing my own selfish desire!"
Diana hugged Arial’s slender waist with affection.
‘How could my dear one be so lovable?’
Hearts practically danced in Diana’s eyes as she looked at Arial.
Over the past four years, Diana’s admiration for Arial had grown to nearly obsessive levels.
Waving as Diana departed, Arial smiled.
‘I’m so glad I talked this over with her.’
But she wondered… what would Heath think?