Duncan

Biodata

Background

Duncan grew up in Weise and studied magic under Macht, who later transformed the city into the Land of Gold. Because Macht was unfamiliar with the human system of magic, Duncan studied its theory independently while preparing to join the Court Mages 8 43.

His wife, Lecktire, died early, and Duncan carried regrets about his hesitation and his reaction to receiving a decoration when she died. He hoped to return to Weise to pay his respects and harbored the goal of restoring the city 11 35 43.

Appearance

Duncan is a young man in his thirties with a refined, scholarly bearing 11 44.

• Carefully groomed yellowish-brown hair and deep, sorrowful eyes 8.
• Wears a monocle, which he often adjusts 11 17.
• Wore a plain blue robe chosen by Lia and later a khaki scarf from Galan 34 47.

Personality

Duncan is generally calm and impassive, but he is observant and quick to reassess a situation. Against Charas, he recognized that the demon’s arrogance and desire to prolong the fight could give his opponents an opening 8 9.

He is a diligent and demanding teacher. Although Galan maneuvered him into tutoring Lia, Duncan took her education seriously, from daily instruction to a dangerous final duel designed to give her combat experience 15 19 45 46. Lia reminded him of Lecktire, giving him a personal reason to care for her 21.

Duncan’s grief also informs his advice to Galan: he urges him not to ignore Lia’s feelings and risk a lifetime of regret 35.

Abilities & Skills

Offensive magic

Duncan combines rapid spellcasting with elemental and concentrated attacks, adapting his tactics to his opponent 8 9 46.

• Judgment Light Magic: Attacked Charas from the blind spot of his mana barrier, though the demon blocked the spell 8 9.
• Tornado Magic and Gale Inferno Transformation Magic: Combined wind and fire into a towering vortex against Charas 9 10.
• General Attack Magic: At Galan’s suggestion, used successive attacks to pierce and kill Charas while Galan distracted him 10.
• Compressed mana beam: Shattered Lia’s hurried defensive spell during their duel; Galan intercepted the beam before it struck her 46.

Earth-Controlling Magic

Duncan learned Earth-Controlling Magic from Reed after the battle with Charas. He could use it in combat quickly, though not as proficiently as Reed 45.

• Raised stone walls and pillars to block Lia’s attacks and obstruct her view 45.
• Enclosed himself in a stone bunker against her tornado, then lifted the hollow structure while remaining on the ground to set up a surprise attack 46.

Flight and defensive magic

• Used Flight Magic to escape Charas’s spreading Demon Swamp and later taught it to Lia 10 20.
• Raised a rock barrier against Charas’s opening beams and used defensive magic to withstand part of a later magical impact 8 10.

Teaching

Duncan assessed both Lia’s talent and her weaknesses. He identified her long-range mana control as a bottleneck and believed she could become the fourth Great Mage if she overcame it 17.

• Taught her offensive, defensive and Flight Magic, as well as magical theory 16 19 20.
• Tested her mana concealment, precision and combat instincts in a final assessment 44 45 46.
• Annotated her copy of History of Magic with explanations and his own insights 43.

Equipment & Items

• Staff — An ancient-looking staff used to cast magic during his duel with Lia 46.
• Pen — A gift from Lecktire that Duncan keeps and sometimes contemplates at night 15.
• Suitcase and khaki scarf — Carried and worn when he left Galan’s cabin 47.

Relationships

• Lecktire — Duncan’s deceased wife. She supported his studies, taught him to make Weise’s caramel cookies, and remains central to his memories and regrets 11 35 43 48.
• Macht — Duncan’s childhood magic instructor and the demon responsible for turning Weise into the Land of Gold 8 43.
• Galan — A friend who fought Charas alongside him, invited him home and persuaded him to teach Lia. Duncan later encouraged him to respond to Lia’s feelings 10 14 15 35.
• Lia — Duncan’s student, whom he cared for and trained in magic. Before his departure, she gave him caramel cookies for the road 21 43 48.
• Reed — A fellow mage who fought Charas beside Duncan and later taught him Earth-Controlling Magic 9 10 45.
• Charas — A great demon Duncan fought and killed with Galan’s help 8 10.

Story Role

Charas and the Red Mirror Flowers

While traveling in the Northern Countries, Duncan encountered Reed and the great demon Charas. With Reed badly wounded and Galan drawing Charas’s attention, Duncan killed the demon using General Attack Magic. Galan then saved Reed with a healing potion 8 10 11.

Duncan offered to help Galan gather Red Mirror Flowers to treat Glenn’s poisoning. After Galan collected the flowers from a dragon nest, Duncan fled with him from three pursuing dragons; Reed helped them escape. Duncan then accepted Galan’s invitation to stay near Rogley 12 13 14.

Lia’s tutor and departure

At Galan’s request, Duncan began teaching Lia magic. He helped her develop control and assessed her through concealment and precision tests, followed by a serious duel. Galan blocked Duncan’s final attack, after which Duncan declared that Lia had passed 15 17 44 45 46.

A secret letter from the Empire required Duncan to leave earlier than planned. Before departing, he finished annotating Lia’s magic history book and received a box of caramel cookies from her. Galan and Lia saw him off with a merchant caravan bound for Eisberg 35 43 48 49.