Chapter Summaries

Ciprins focused on completing a magic-array experiment at the National Magic Research Institute while complaining about his assistants’ ignorance and their use of technology. He prepared to activate the array, having only mentioned that he had decided to break up with his boyfriend.

• Ciprins decided to break up with his boyfriend but postponed telling him so he could supervise his critical experiment.
• Ciprins scolded Moli for confusing golems with constructs and for questioning his strict laboratory standards.
• Ciprins inspected the completed magic array and praised its stable flow of energy.
• Ciprins angrily ordered Keweite to remove his communication device and banned all technology from the laboratory.
• Ciprins stepped into the array with magic powder as the assistants waited for his instructions.

The narrator’s ancient teleportation array experiment went out of control, forcing her and her assistants to escape as her laboratory burned down. With no one injured, she left the cause of the accident unresolved and faced the institute’s response.

• The narrator activated the ancient teleportation array, but its energy turned erratic and the magic crystals exploded.
• The narrator teleported herself and her assistants outside, then raised a shield as the laboratory was engulfed in magical fire.
• Moli yelled at the narrator for worrying about the experiment record after destroying a publicly funded laboratory.
• The narrator helped contain the magical flames until specialized fire engines arrived, and officials and onlookers gathered at the scene.
• Keweite told a peace officer that the group had been researching an ancient teleportation array, while the officer dismissed their work as useless.
• Moli restrained the narrator out of concern she might act impulsively, while the narrator said she still needed to determine what had gone wrong.

Ciprins Field faced institute official Doug after an explosion destroyed his laboratory, while Doug threatened to cut his funding and invoked Ciprins's former relationship with Reynold. Ciprins defended his research and clarified that his career predated that relationship, then Doug left without resolving the dispute.

• Ciprins saw five-star official Doug arrive and learned his name from Moli.
• Doug berated Ciprins for the laboratory explosion and accused him of wasting institute funds.
• Ciprins defended the value of knowledge even when research produced no income.
• Doug threatened Ciprins and mentioned Reynold, the Magic Council speaker, and a possible impeachment motion against him.
• Ciprins reflected that he had broken up with Reynold and had earned his institute position before meeting him.
• Doug stormed off, and Ciprins considered how others wrongly attributed his career to Reynold.

After telling his assistants that he and Reynold had broken up, the mage calmed them and sent them home, while his laboratory remained closed for an accident assessment. He returned to his temporary apartment with his research notes and reflected on the carefully scheduled relationship he had shared with Reynold.

• The mage told his assistants that he and Reynold had broken up, shocking them more than the loss of their phones.
• He reassured Keweite that Doug had disliked him for a long time and corrected his assistants' misconceptions about mind-reading and spellcasting.
• The mage used an Air Shield to cover the damaged laboratory roof, then caught Moli when his spell pushed her backward.
• After his assistants left, institute staff sealed off the laboratory and barred the mage from investigating the explosion until an accident assessment was complete.
• The mage went home with copied research notes and recalled how he and Reynold had scheduled dates and weekend visits.

Ciprins realized Reynold saw her as a substitute for someone else and decided to end their relationship despite losing access to his private laboratory. She told Reynold they should break up, and his anger faded as he began to understand her reason.

• Ciprins reflected that she valued her time with Reynold and his private laboratory, but neither could change her decision to leave him.
• Ciprins recalled that Reynold had drunkenly called another person's name and confessed his deep infatuation with that person while they were together.
• Ciprins returned to her apartment and answered Reynold's video call after he angrily demanded to know why he could not reach her.
• Ciprins told Reynold Scott that they should break up, and he first suspected people at the institute had caused trouble for her.
• Ciprins explained that their relationship was not true love and had no benefit for their academic work, causing Reynold's anger to subside.

After realizing Reynold had pursued Ciprins as a stand-in for the legendary Mephistopheles Madsen, Ciprins accepted their breakup and dealt with an unpaid suspension at the institute. The chapter ended with Ciprins watching news of Mephistopheles arriving in the capital for the International Magic Summit.

• Ciprins confronted Reynold about Mephistopheles Madsen, and Reynold admitted he had hoped Ciprins would not notice the resemblance and ended their call.
• Ciprins tried to review his experiment notes, then treated himself to a magical bath and fell asleep with a face mask on.
• Ciprins woke after dark, chipped the hardened mask off with spells, and found a message saying the institute had suspended him without pay.
• Ciprins saved money by eating conjured magic bread, then turned on the television while drinking potions.
• Ciprins saw a news report that Mephistopheles Madsen had arrived in the capital to attend the International Magic Summit.

The narrator recounted Mephistopheles Madsen’s rise to fame and the titles he earned for saving humans, elves, and dragons. Comparing herself unfavorably with the celebrated mage, she considered her suspension notice and feared being demoted to an assistant at the National Magic Research Institute.

• The narrator recalled how Mephistopheles first became famous after using shadow magic to defeat an orc force and prevent a war.
• The narrator explained that Mephistopheles’s reputation as a black mage was tempered by his service to humanity and his standing as an honored guest of the elves.
• The narrator recounted how Mephistopheles saved blue dragon eggs from a volcanic eruption, earning the title Light of Nature.
• The narrator questioned why Reynold had mistaken her for a stand-in for Mephistopheles, noting their similar ages and long names but very different careers.
• The narrator looked at her suspension notice and feared that the Federation would demote her to an assistant, potentially provoking her to destroy the National Magic Research Institute.

The narrator hurried to copy restricted spells before losing academician access and went to the Central Grand Library to study more ancient texts. On the way, the narrator passed the preparations for the International Spell Exchange and Discussion Summit and hoped the library would be quiet.

• The narrator spent two nights copying a restricted spellbook, fearing demotion or becoming a demon king would cut off access to such texts.
• Reynold sent the narrator an extravagant takeout meal, leaving the narrator puzzled about his intentions toward his substitute.
• The narrator ate, took the book, and hurried to the Central Grand Library in Holy Light City to read more restricted texts.
• The narrator passed the summit preparations at Holy Light Grand Square and expected the library to be less crowded.

The narrator visited the ancient spellbook collection and reached for a book on Space Magic, hoping to learn about teleportation. There, he unexpectedly met Mephistopheles Madsen, his ex-boyfriend’s true love, and they cautiously greeted each other.

• The narrator watched a live broadcast announcing that Mephistopheles Madsen would speak first at the conference after the opening addresses.
• The narrator explored the library’s ancient spellbooks and examined a magical book that tried to bite him.
• The narrator flew to retrieve a book titled “Space Magic” and touched it at the same time as another mage.
• The narrator recognized the other mage as Mephistopheles Madsen, and they withdrew their hands and exchanged greetings.
• The narrator and Mephistopheles calmly studied each other, sensed no hostility, and noticed their similar hair color and appearance.

Xipei and Mephistopheles Madsen bonded over the principles of spatial magic and the foolish debate at the summit, then agreed to read a book together. They left the reading area with Xipei bringing a whimpering, curled-up biting book.

• Xipei and Mephistopheles criticized the summit argument over spatial rings, teleportation, and artificial subspaces.
• Mephistopheles defended the value of knowledge, and he and Xipei exchanged the names Mel and Xipei.
• Mel suggested they read the single copy of a book together, and they took it from the shelf.
• The book’s Black Magic spells sent a gray curse circling Xipei and Mel before it vanished.
• Xipei remembered another book, retrieved the biting book, and found it curled up and whimpering.

Mel and the narrator examined an ancient Elvish spellbook, suspecting it was written by a legendary elven black mage. When they copied a line of runes from its pages, the writing unleashed a deadly effect, and they had to contain and destroy it.

• Mel and the narrator carried the Space Magic book and a silenced fanged book to the reading area, then began examining the spellbook.
• Mel and the narrator identified the book as written in ancient Elvish, and Mel concluded its script belonged to the ancient woodland elves.
• The narrator recognized patterns in the book as offensive runes rather than ordinary writing, so Mel copied a line onto parchment to test them.
• The runes made nearby objects wither and blacken, and the narrator contained their effect with an Air Shield.
• Mel destroyed the runes with a Lightning Ball.

The narrator and Mel experimented with ancient black mage runes in the Central Grand Library, accidentally damaging the building as they studied. The Shield of the New Star arrived and arrested them for using dangerous magic and damaging library property.

• The narrator and Mel tested the ancient runes under a shield, then copied and refined their formulas in their notebooks.
• They discussed rune techniques and spells until footsteps interrupted them.
• A squad of the Shield of the New Star surrounded the pair with weapons drawn after detecting dangerous Black Magic.
• The officer recognized Archmage Madsen but said the pair were suspected of damaging the Central Grand Library.
• The captain arrested the narrator and Mel and ordered them to surrender their magic implements, spellbooks, spatial storage devices, and communication equipment.

After damaging the Central Grand Library while studying spells, the narrator and Mel cooperated with the Shield of the New Star and were arrested. The chapter ended with them arriving at the nearly empty mage prison in Holy Light City.

• The narrator and Mel apologized for damaging the Central Grand Library and surrendered their magical items and spell notebooks to the captain.
• The captain fitted them with anti-magic manacles and metal finger restraints, while the narrator and Mel explained the limits of instant-movement spells.
• The Shield of the New Star took the restrained mages away without gagging them.
• The narrator and Mel saw the bright, well-equipped mage cells, and the captain said they had rarely been used before their arrest.

Xipei and Mel were locked in a high-security cell after Mel’s magic damaged the Great Library, but they discovered the restraints and prison measures could not stop their spellcasting. They settled in to enjoy the comfortable room and talked about magic, the Astral Plane, and the legendary era, leaving them still imprisoned but in no hurry to escape.

• The captain brought Xipei and Mel to a specially secured cell and predicted they would likely face only a short detention and a fine.
• Xipei realized the magic-sealing runes, electric-shock device, and finger caps could not prevent either mage from casting spells.
• Mel and Xipei used magic to lighten their handcuffs and praised the cell as a comfortable place to practice spells.
• Mel told Xipei about the safe room in his teacher’s mage tower, and Xipei praised Mel’s famous spell and told him that her student was his devoted fan.
• Xipei and Mel discussed the Astral Plane, stories of travel to other worlds, and their wish to visit the legendary era together.

Xipei and Mel exchanged spells and stories while trapped together, enjoying their shared love of magic and commiserating about their students. Their conversation ended with Mel asking what Xipei did for a living after hearing about her publicly assigned assistants.

• Mel taught Xipei Shadow Dance, and Xipei offered to teach him her protective shield spell.
• Xipei and Mel practiced their new spells together, and Mel named the shield Absolute Protection.
• They rested beneath a glowing shield dome and discussed shadow magic and a film about the dark mage Hailianna.
• Xipei and Mel compared their frustrations with their students, who were more interested in entertainment and games than studying magic.
• Mel asked Xipei about her job and whether she was a government employee.

Xipei and Mel discussed Xipei’s inability to leave the National Magic Research Institute, then were awakened by a prison emergency alarm. Concluding that a jailbreak or rescue was underway, they used magic to leave their cell and investigate.

• Xipei explained that a contract tied him to the National Magic Research Institute until he repaid the Federation for his education, and Mel urged him to quit.
• Mel conjured a starry sky to comfort them, and the two fell asleep beside each other.
• A piercing wail and prison red alert woke Xipei and Mel before they had slept for three hours.
• Xipei concluded that someone was trying to break into or out of the prison, and he and Mel agreed to help investigate.
• Xipei and Mel enchanted their handcuffs, left illusory doubles in their cell, turned invisible, and set off toward the alarm.

Ciprins Field and Mephistopheles pursued attackers during a prison break and killed an enhanced cyborg. They discovered the cyborg was likely tied to a private military company, while the prison assault continued.

• Ciprins Field and Mephistopheles left the mage cellblock as alarms sounded and wounded guards retreated through the prison.
• Ciprins Field and Mephistopheles found an attacker trying to use a guard's fingerprints to open a high-security cell and chased him after he resisted Mephistopheles's lightning.
• The attacker revealed himself as an enhanced cyborg wielding a magitech machine gun and an electrically charged blade.
• Ciprins Field struck the cyborg with Mental Piercing, allowing Mephistopheles's shadow to snap his neck.
• Mephistopheles examined the cyborg and explained that his extensive mechanical conversion was illegal in the Federation and suggested he worked for a private military company.

Xipei and Mel examined the defeated cyborg and discovered that Magitech devices in his brain prevented them from using Soul-Searching to learn whom the intruders planned to free. They split up to pursue the intruders, staying connected through Mind Link as they searched the prison.

• Mel explained that some people in an emerging country replaced healthy body parts with Magitech machinery, and Xipei criticized their rejection of magic and tradition.
• Xipei found Magitech devices in the cyborg's brain that blocked Soul-Searching, so he and Mel could not learn the intruders' target from him.
• Xipei and Mel decided that Mel might move to the capital so they could study magic together at the Grand Library.
• Mel returned Xipei's shadow, and a tracking spell showed that the intruders had split up and entered different cell blocks.
• Xipei and Mel used Mind Link to share their vision and emotions before heading in opposite directions through the prison.

Xipei and Mel secretly fought their way through the capital prison, killing cyborg attackers while disguising their magic. Mel then helped prison guards defeat another cyborg squad, though Xipei remained puzzled by the prison's weak defenses.

• Xipei put the ordinary prisoners to sleep, then killed a squad of cyborgs with ice magic and used a shadow to make the deaths look like gunfire.
• Mel killed another squad by trapping the cyborgs with their shadows and cutting them down with wind blades, then covered up the evidence with gunfire.
• Xipei and Mel discussed how technology had made people lazier and reduced the need for priests and mages as they continued through the prison.
• Xipei warned Mel that more cyborgs were approaching, and Mel found prison guards exchanging fire with them.
• Mel secretly used Mental Piercing to help the prison guards defeat the cyborgs, while Xipei wondered why the prison's defenses were so ineffective.

Xipei and Mel discovered that the prison attack was a large-scale assault involving troop transports and mech warriors, not merely a small group of infiltrators. They spotted a giant mech concealed by a powerful Invisibility Spell and wondered which archmage had supplied it.

• Xipei helped the prison guards kill several experienced stragglers and worried about blood staining her white shirt.
• Xipei and Mel heard a huge explosion and saw troop transports, mech warriors, and a giant beast-shaped mech attacking the prison.
• The Federation's military, police, Magitech Corps, and Shield of the New Star fought back as the captain led a charge against the mech warriors.
• Xipei and Mel realized the giant mech had vanished through magical visual distortion rather than technological invisibility.
• Mel identified the concealment as a powerful Invisibility Spell, and Xipei wondered whether an archmage had joined the attackers.