I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 34
“I’m not saying that to hurt you.”
Zachary followed his words in a softer tone.
He did in fact want to hurt her a bit.
Perhaps she even deserved it.
Nonetheless, Zachary sincerely regretted saying so as her eyes were slowly turning red.
“Better late than never, right?”
As Erna had her face down, Zachary brought his hand and gently raised her chin.
“That’s why. Now, after 7 years. I want to know you.”
Leaving a light peck on her drenched lashes, he continued.
“So give me a chance.”
Looking into his eyes, the red lips hesitated.
“Father!”
Instead of her answer, a grumpy cry came from behind the door.
The two of them turned their heads towards the direction where the voice had come.
When Jonas entered the room with seemingly upset stamps, Zachary bitterly fell back from his position.
✰✰✰✰✰
“Mother, too… Why did you ask me to wait if you were going to forget about me.”
Jonas stood at a distance puffing his cheeks as he complained.
“I didn’t forg- Ahem.”
Erna let out a small cough as her voice sounded hoarse.
“Of course, I didn’t forget about you.”
She then slipped away from Zachary’s side and walked towards her son.
Reaching him, Erna pinched his cheek with a smile.
She asked in a slightly apologetic tone as Jonas was still sulking.
“Did you wait for long? I didn’t mean to take that much time.”
Slightly pleased by her sincere eyes, Jonas shook his shoulders as if it couldn’t be helped.
“Didn’t you have homework to work on?”
“I finished it quite a while ago.”
Jonas answered his father proudly.
“Alright then, let’s head back.”
Saying so, Erna affectionately brushed where she had pinched earlier.
“Let me just gather my things.”
She walked back to the table, gathering her books.
Erna then turned towards Zachary.
“… Can I still borrow this one?”
She asked hesitantly.
“You don’t have to ask for my permission.”
Zachary replied, unsure if her docile attitude resulted from her hurt feelings or the fact that what she asked to borrow was a book of magic.
Magic books, same as mana stones, were restricted to licenced individuals only, because of the possibility of ill practice.
The most dangerous one was the use of Black Magic.
A crime punishable by death, even if the user was the king himself.
Fortunately or unfortunately, ordinary humans who possessed no mana were still able to perform it using mana stones and the information recorded in magic books.
As such, all magic records were written in an ancient language taught to few trusted individuals.
One of the reasons that had Zachary surprised that Erna knew how to read it.
“Everything in this mansion is already yours.”
Erna avoided his eyes as he said so.
Frustratingly, whether he wished to please her or hurt her, Zachary had his way with words.
“However”
Zachary took the pile of books she held in her hands and carried them in her stead.
“Don’t attempt to use magic before your mana is completely stable.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
Erna reassured him with a lighter attitude, and they left the library together.
On their way, the three of them chatted along.
It was mostly Jonas and Erna who did the talking, but Zachary still felt satisfied that his son was acting his age.
His wife had also regained her bright expression before he saw her off.
✰✰✰✰✰
Halfway to Jonas’ room, Zachary slowed his steps.
His mind hovering around what he had neglected.
‘I think it only manifests when I try to use magic.’
A frown appeared on his forehead.
‘If so, then did she use magic at the time she lost her mana?’
Although Zachary hadn’t found a direct way for one to completely lose their mana, there was one particular case that could lead to the same results.
One which he did not want to associate with his wife.
‘…That still wouldn’t explain how she got it back.’
Zachary buried his suspicions with that thought.
The truth remains that there was a big chance that his wife had performed a magic circle back then.
One unrelated to her own ability.
As performing a magic circle and using one’s ability were two different things.
A natural magic user was a person with a special ability that manifested through the use of his internal mana. Always circling inside and around the body.
On the other hand, if not using a mana stone, performing a magic circle required mobilizing a great amount of mana out of the system.
That however, could lead a person with a mana intolerance condition to collapse.
As breaking the already unstable flow of mana, caused the body to become even more hostile towards it.