Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Anti-magic

    Gasps rippled across the training grounds as all eyes turned toward the source of the shout. It was the male mage in crimson robes, his arm outstretched in alarm. Following his gaze, everyone saw the fireball streaking through the air, its fiery glow unmistakable as it headed directly toward King Arthur Jr.

    For a heartbeat, the world seemed to hold its breath. The mages and knights stood frozen, caught between shock and disbelief. A fireball, so blatantly aimed at their king, was an unthinkable mistake.

    Arthur himself could only watch as the flames closed in, his body rigid with the realization that there was no time to react. But just as the fireball was about to strike, it vanished—snuffed out as if it had never existed.

    The abrupt disappearance left the air heavy with confusion. Whispers broke out among the onlookers as they tried to comprehend what had just transpired.

    "Did you see that?"

    "It just... disappeared!"

    Klein and Odette rushed through the murmuring crowd toward Arthur, concern etched on Klein face.

    Klein reached Arthur first, his voice tight with worry. "Your Highness, are you alright? What happened? I saw a fireball coming straight at you. Was this an attack?"

    Arthur, still frozen in the lingering shock of the moment, was jolted back to reality by Klein''s urgent tone. He took a deep breath to steady himself and replied, "I''m fine. It wasn''t an attack—it was just an accident. One of the spells was unintentionally redirected toward me."

    Klein''s brow furrowed, his concern giving way to anger. "Who cast that fireball?" he demanded, his voice rising above the crowd.

    The male mage in crimson robes stepped forward, his expression pale and nervous. "It was me, Your Majesty," he confessed, bowing deeply. "I''m so sorry. It wasn''t intentional. I never meant to harm you."

    Arthur held up a hand, silencing Klein before his temper could flare further. "It''s alright," he said firmly, his voice calm but authoritative. "It was no one''s fault. I was standing too close to the battle, and the fireball was redirected unintentionally. I couldn''t dodge it in time. No harm was done."

    Klein reluctantly nodded but still shot a sharp glance at the mage.

    Odette, who had been silently assessing the situation, spoke up. "Your Majesty, if I may ask—how did you make the fireball vanish? It disappeared into thin air as if it never existed."

    Arthur silently reflected on Odette''s words. If even someone as knowledgeable as her doesn''t recognize this phenomenon, then anti-magic must truly be an alien concept in this world. Could this ability be unique to this body—a strange anomaly linked to my inability to wield magic? Whatever it is, I have to uncover the truth. If it really is anti-magic, it could be an invaluable hidden weapon.

    Arthur cleared his throat and spoke firmly, "If someone truly intervened, then we need to find out who and thank the person. Odette, I''d like you to investigate this matter. Let me know if you discover anything about what happened here."

    He paused, then added, "As for the two mages involved in the incident, there will be no punishment. It was unintentional, and I accept responsibility for putting myself too close to the mock battle. Everyone, please return to what you were doing before."

    The training grounds fell into stunned silence. Even Klein, who had noticed Arthur''s recent change in demeanor, seemed momentarily taken aback. Arthur Jr., the volatile and unpredictable king known for his harshness, was now speaking with measured authority and letting the incident pass without any punishment.

    The knights and mages exchanged hushed whispers, their surprise evident. A fireball had nearly struck the king—an offense that, under normal circumstances, would have been met with severe repercussions. Yet here Arthur stood, calm and composed, showing leniency instead of fury.

    Arthur ignored the murmurs, his mind already moving ahead. If I had punished them, it could have further damaged my reputation. Instead, this may be a chance to rebuild trust and foster loyalty. A king respected by his army is far more valuable than one feared by it.

    Turning to Klein, Arthur said, "Klein, I''ll be leaving the training grounds for now but I will start training tomorrow. However, I need you to accompany me to my chamber now. There''s something I need to discuss with you."

    Klein nodded and followed Arthur to his chambers. Once inside, the valet closed the door, leaving the two alone in the quiet room.

    Arthur turned to Klein, his gaze steady. "I think I have a clue about why the magic disappeared."

    ---------

    not part of the story

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