Noble Lady Reformation Guide - Chapter 52

Most mages often find themselves consumed by an insatiable desire to grow stronger.

Magic is a field where progress is tangibly felt with each step forward, and this sensation of growth induces a euphoria surpassing all other pleasures. Once tasted, mages become spellbound creatures endlessly reaching for higher realms.

"..."

This thirst for achievement transcends age and status.

Even the Duke of Duplein, born of the noblest lineage, was no exception.

Yet humans cannot forever gaze upward.

After decades of striving toward greater heights, one inevitably hits a ceiling.

The Duke had spent over a decade attempting to reach 6-Star rank without success. The sixth tier represents a realm so extraordinary that only heaven-chosen geniuses among humanity's countless talents may attain it.

While intellectually understanding this, the emptiness of having no further magical achievements left occasionally hollowed his chest.

'She's pinpointing that vulnerability precisely. Truly a staff that makes you want to seize it once seen.'

Duplein Family's vault.

The Duke's expression darkened as he observed the staff Valerian brought from the White Zone with hands clasped behind his back.

Occasionally, magic weapons become imbued with"demonic energy."

Either some will or consciousness inhabits the weapon itself, or it manifests an aura that disturbs human minds.

Such was Valerian's staff. His grave demeanor when reporting had hinted at something unusual, but the Duke never imagined such a sinister artifact.

'So this is the legendary Staff of Rozin. A relic of Rozin, the 5-Star Summoning mage from pre-war times... But Rozin famously reestablished summoning magic's foundations, so what explains this ominous necromantic energy?'

The Staff of Rozin resembled gnarled, twisted wood.

Necromantic energy swirled around it, making it appear more like a necromancer's relic than a summoner's artifact.

Since necromancy is strictly forbidden, merely possessing it would invite imperial interrogation.

Some will within the staff seemed to whisper to the Duke.

It tempted him - wield me and reach 6-Star rank, embrace power to ascend higher.

This wasn't his first encounter with demonic artifacts. The Duke wasn't one to succumb to such vile whispers.

Suppressing the staff's aura with a burst of magic, he summoned Head Maid Katarina.

"We must notify the royal court. Rather than risk conflict by keeping this in Duplein custody, we'll transfer disposal authority through official channels."

"I'll dispatch a messenger immediately. What should the letter say?"

"Request the Head Magic Advisor be sent."

He intended to summon the empire's foremost magical authority - the longest-serving royal advisor.

Kochella Dainalt Elvester, 6-Star Transformation mage.

The old fox controlling the empire's magical history, oldest member of the Rontel Society's alchemy experts, greatest transformation mage from House Elvester, Drest Wolftail's longest-standing rival... Her accolades overflowed with superlatives.

But one title defined her above all - the royal court's longest-serving magic advisor.

An archmage so esteemed even the emperor sought her counsel personally. Only someone of her caliber could advise on handling this staff.

The impeccably maintained dueling grounds ranked among the most carefully curated spaces in Diela's mansion.

Diela held substantial ambition for magical achievement, having honed her skills alone without another instructor since Derek.

Honoring their lady's dedication, the staff resolved to provide training facilities surpassing even Evelstain's finest.

The result stood before them - a venue surpassing even the Noble District's central dueling grounds in quality.

Adjusting her attire on the dueling platform, Diela frowned upon meeting Denise's demure smile across the way.

This was Diela's mansion, Diela's training ground, surrounded by Diela's servants.

Everything here existed for Diela's benefit, creating an inherently disadvantageous environment for her opponent.

Yet Denise showed no discomfort, calmly gathering mana.

'Not an ounce of fear about losing. So that letter truly contained nothing but sincerity?'

Diela felt unsettled.

Denise had offered to deliberately lose their duel, saying Diela could name any wager.

If her goal was truly handing over Derek, Diela should welcome this with open arms. Their interests would align perfectly, just as Denise claimed.

But Diela remained wary.

Servants, Rosea Salon ladies, countless Noble District rumors all described Denise as genuinely gracious, refined and mature.

Yet Diela couldn't shake suspicion this might be an elaborate ruse to humble her pride.

Her distrust ran so deep some might question why she erected such defenses.

Diela took over a decade to open up even to Duplein household members. Earning her complete trust as an outsider bordered on impossibility.

"I hope we have an excellent duel. It's an honor facing Lady Diela, renowned for her freeform mana application and elevated magical prowess."

"Yes, likewise."

Diela's disinterested reply accompanied her gathering mana as she shook her head.

Regardless, clashing would reveal the truth. Diela had absolute confidence in magical duels.

However things unfolded, she simply couldn't lose.

- Whoosh!

- Ding!

A servant rang a rose-adorned bell, spreading tension across the platform.

The chime signaled commencement of the noble ladies'duel - ostensibly practice, but with both family pride and high stakes involved.

Diela wanted Derek.

She longed to learn again from the mentor who illuminated magic's path during her wandering childhood.

Born into House Duplein - the Discipline School's heart - yet a prodigy of the Wild School, she'd honed her unique magical path despite paradoxical origins. Having surely reached greater heights since their separation, Derek could teach her even more now. The mere thought made her pulse quicken.

Moreover, Derek possessed outstanding qualities as an advisor.

Unbound by status, always seeking truth's essence, never withholding blunt counsel.

In Evelstain's precarious social scene, having someone like Derek at her side would be an unparalleled asset.

"This won't take long."

Thus Diela poured her all into ending the duel swiftly.

Her first manifested magic specialized in freezing spells imbued with chill.

The wild magic she'd studied alone in the annex mostly involved plant-related spells, with Derek's influence gradually awakening her to confusion magic.

Despite being far younger than other noble ladies, her magical proficiency had reached nearly unrivaled levels.

- Whoooosh!

Massive ice spears erupted around Diela.

Compared to her initial manifestations, they'd grown larger, more twisted, and sharply honed.

Giant thorn thickets surged from the ground to ensnare her opponent while various confusing spells blanketed the arena to obscure mana detection.

'Already using multi-casting at her age.'

Denise marveled at Diela unleashing this magical barrage.

The younger mage had reportedly studied alone since Derek's departure.

Multi-casting of this caliber at her age was extraordinary.

Denise quickly backstepped, spinning gracefully to reposition, her skirt blooming like petals as she released mana.

She couldn't possibly counter all Diela's magic.

Truthfully, she never intended to.

- Kwa-kaboom! Crash! Thud!

As spells collided and Denise's defensive magic activated, the duel seemed decided.

Yet when the dust settled, Denise stood unharmed.

Still clutching her dress hem with elegant poise, she'd avoided every spell.

"..."

Diela frowned.

Denise had chosen evasion over defense against Diela's magic.

Dodging so many spells seemed reckless - like vowing to walk through rain without getting wet.

Yet not a drop touched Denise's dress as she calmly adjusted her stance.

She appeared to have predicted every spell's trajectory. This rendered Diela's efforts mere mana wastage.

'Her mana detection is incredible. Did she practice nothing but sensing all day?'

Denise was reputedly peerless among noble ladies her age in detection magic.

Months of extreme training with Derek had honed her senses to remain unflustered amidst magical chaos.

Her relaxed demeanor made it seem the duel hadn't even begun.

'...I can't touch her with conventional methods.'

Diela swallowed dryly.

She acutely realized Denise too was Derek's student.

She faced someone personally trained by him.

With Derek gaining renown in Evelstain's social circles, rumors spread about his students.

They said his rigorous training forged extreme mana sensitivity that rendered basic 1-Star magic useless against them.

True to form, Derek drove students to their limits, draining them physically and mentally - showing no leniency even to noble ladies.

Having endured months of this, Denise seemed to instantly read Diela's every magical fluctuation.

Her smiling face radiated utter composure.

'I can't even reach her normally.'

Diela needed to strategize.

Denise would counterattack soon. After evading initially, Diela would need advanced confusion magic to disrupt her movements.

Their magical exchanges repeated several times.

Each time, Denise gracefully dodged every spell with dancer-like elegance.

"Huff... huff..."

Meanwhile, Diela's breathing grew ragged from mana expenditure.

Her confusion spells and ice spears were either instantly shattered by Denise's arrows or evaded through predicted trajectories.

Even her surging thorn thickets and walls of flame wasted mana without touching a single hair.

Denise meanwhile used only minimal magic, maintaining the duel's rhythm.

Like a skilled dagger-wielder effortlessly controlling a greatsword knight.

Diela gritted her teeth, glaring, but Denise remained serenely beautiful.

"This won't take long."

Diela stomped, unleashing a wave of freezing energy across the platform.

Without incantation, she began flash-freezing the entire arena.

Denise had to retreat from the sudden magical outburst.

- Whiiine!

This freeform mana manipulation was the Wild School's hallmark.

Sacrificing some power for completely unpredictable results.

Within moments, the platform became an ice rink.

She'd altered the environment itself to restrict Denise's movements.

"..."

As Denise seriously surveyed the changes, Diela stomped again.

- Thud!

- Craaack!

Innumerable ice pillars erupted from beneath Denise's feet, assaulting her.

Denise quickly manifested a barrier, blocking Diela's magic but stumbling back from residual impact.

"Couldn't dodge that one, could you?"

Diela's golden hair floated amid the chilling mana.

She'd dropped all pretense of formality, single-mindedly focused on defeating Denise.

"All that talk about throwing the match, then dancing around my spells was pathetic. Is this how you play lady in Evelstain's social circles?"

A blatant provocation against House Beltus'daughter that made nearby servants gasp.

Denise pondered momentarily, not feeling wronged since she had reversed her stance.

"Hoo... hoo... heh..."

White mist poured from Diela's lips. Despite summer's approach, winter's chill permeated the arena.

Silent, she might resemble an adorable girl, but she always glared like this.

Most nobles would wilt under such intensity.

But Denise remained unfazed.

- Thud!

- Craaack!

Ice pillars assaulted Denise as Diela stomped repeatedly.

Denise melted ice with fire arrows while defending with barriers, but her mana consumption skyrocketed compared to efficient dodging.

With each exchange, Diela closed the distance.

Point-blank spells negated prediction and detection. She intended to end this at melee range.

"I knew from the start you were small-time. I accepted knowing full well."

Diela advanced like Winter's Queen, her icy pillars growing increasingly destructive.

Her furious mana threatened to pierce the heavens.

"Frankly I don't care how vile or scheming House Beltus'daughter might be. I didn't come to Evelstain for social games and false comfort."

Diela's gleaming eyes resembled a predator spotting prey in winter wilderness.

Her chilling aura inspired primal fear.

"So play your Rosea Salon power games if you want... Just hand over Derek."

Give me Derek and do as you please.

She announced this while unleashing mana.

"..."

Denise studied Diela quietly.

Her elegant silver-gray hair fluttered from Diela's magical outburst.

She understood why this girl wanted Derek so desperately.

Likely nostalgic for his teachings. Derek had a habit of intruding on lives, redirecting their course, then leaving without fanfare.

An enigmatic man.

Seeing Denise languishing in magical ennui, he'd pushed her to rise.

High nobility's internal affairs resembled unstoppable natural disasters.

Yet that man would shrug indifferently, mastering the art of playing hearts like instruments.

Underestimating drizzle leaves one soaked to the bone.

Finding herself instinctively accepting the hand that pulled her from dark art storage rooms, discussing embarrassing manuscript drafts without pride wounded.

Whenever that white-haired boy flickered in her vision, she'd think:

Life would feel emptier without him.

"Ahaha."

Thus Denise smiled at Diela.

Not the polite, noble smile she'd worn until now.

"Ahaha... hahaha... ahahaha."

A smile both candid and profound, almost mocking Diela.

Her gleaming eyes, mismatched with her angelic demeanor, radiated intimidation.

Even Diela's aggressive advance halted momentarily.

A young lioness baring fangs over Derek.

Regarding her, Denise spoke without erasing her smile.

"No?"

With that, the last thread of Diela's reason snapped.