Infinite Mage - Remake

Thaad, who was casting photonization magic on Alpheas, was already sweating. Viltor Arcane was an annoying person, but the power of the magic he wielded was unimaginable. ‘Wow. What a powerful mind control. It would work in this era, wouldn’t it?’ At first, Thaad thought it would be easy. Even though Arcane had been titled Archmage, 40 years had passed. Magic had evolved, and dark magic had been largely eradicated. But Abyss Nova was so complex that even Thaad, a beneficiary of advanced magic, couldn’t fully analyze it. After 20 minutes, he finally felt light energy piercing through the core of darkness. Then, Thaad focused his mental strength to push the light forward. Slowly, the curtain of darkness lifted, and Alpheas’s memories began to unfold brightly with the flow of light.

40 years ago. Capital Bashka. An unprecedented magic frenzy gripped Tormia Kingdom. King Adolf XII, unlike his predecessors who valued military force, was intelligent and benevolent. Upon ascending the throne, he made the magic department independent from military affairs and attracted many talents. People from both local areas and other countries came to Bashka to study, and the streets of the capital became alive with intellectual discussions. It wasn’t unusual to see newly graduated mages gathering at a bar in the middle of the day, discussing magic. Gypsy-style outfits with bright primary colors were fashionable, and women wore short hair to reveal their necklines as a symbol of intelligence. Men wore their hair long, down to their waists. At the most famous tavern in Bashka, ‘Home of the Old Gods,’ over 200 tables filled the enormous hall. People often went up to the central podium to preach their magical philosophies. All sorts of voices clashed, discussing magic and gossiping about the nobility. It was a time of romance and excitement. Alpheas remembered those golden days of his youth.

“Oh my, boys! Come, come! Alpheas is here!” A woman’s voice rang out at the bar’s entrance, and the women at the tables turned to look.

“Hello, ladies! It’s noisy as always here!” Alpheas, a handsome young man with blonde hair down to his waist, entered the tavern. A half-shaved young man, out of fashion, accompanied him—Rian’s grandfather, Ozent Clump. Though Clump couldn’t use invisibility magic, the women ignored him and surrounded Alpheas.

“I’ve been waiting, Alpheas-nim! What magic are you going to teach me today?”

“You have to moisten it first. My tongue gets stiff if it isn’t wet.”

“Knock-knock! That kid is funny. Alpheas is a real treat.” Today’s students might mock him, but back then, Alpheas was a popular figure who could say anything. He came from a first-class family, was a brilliant magic school graduate, and had a handsome, sophisticated appearance. What woman wouldn’t be drawn to him? On the other hand, the men looked at Alpheas with disapproval. Even those who weren’t petty enough to be jealous didn’t look kindly on him. It was clear he had earned a great deal of resentment. The light of the Mirhi family was his official title, but among those who knew him, his nickname was different: Arrogant Alpheas.

Anyone familiar with the magical world would recognize that Alpheas is a person chosen by God. The problem, however, was that he often showcased his talents without regard for the time or place. Whenever an argument arose, it ended quickly, and if his opponent made even the smallest mistake, Alpheas would relentlessly point it out, seeking acknowledgment for his own abilities.

Only Clump understood that Alpheas didn't mean any harm by this behavior. It wasn't arrogance, just an overwhelming passion that often wore people out. In truth, Alpheas was someone who would readily admit his mistakes and congratulate his opponents when they won. The issue, however, was that this rarely happened.

As Alpheas walked around the table, mingling with others, it seemed like he was getting bored waiting for his beer. Clump watched him with concern, worried that Alpheas might cause another problem, but he just sighed, feeling too tired to intervene.

“Sarov! What are you doing here, drinking in broad daylight?” Alpheas called out, greeting Sarov warmly. Sarov, a local from the capital, was one of Alpheas’ few rivals. Though he lost every argument to Alpheas, many believed he would be the top candidate for the Photon series, if it weren’t for Alpheas. Sarov didn’t exactly enjoy Alpheas' approach, but Alpheas went to him without hesitation.

“Oh, by the way, Sarov, did you submit your thesis to the royal castle this time? I read part of it, and it was really interesting.”

“What? Why were you reading my thesis?” Sarov responded in surprise.

“Why wouldn’t I? I’m also a photon major, and the royal librarian is one of my biggest fans. Well done, anyway.”

“Really? What did you think of it?”

Among young mages, the highest honor was to have your dissertation accepted by the Magic Department under the Dragon Lorry. If your thesis was approved, it was considered the most prestigious achievement for a mage, providing full research funding and a private lab. Since Sarov had submitted his lifelong work a week ago, he was eager to know what his rival Alpheas thought.

“You did a great job highlighting the characteristics of light. It was flawless. The part about energy concentration, I must admit, was impressive.”

Sarov's face lit up with pride, but Alpheas didn’t stop there.

“However, there is one flaw. Your theory about the wave nature of light is simply wrong.”

“What are you talking about? The wave theory has already been confirmed through experiments.”

“Yes, but I have a different perspective. Recent experiments show too many phenomena that can’t be explained by the wave theory alone. Maybe light is more like a particle.”

“Really? Alpheas, now you’re just stirring up trouble. Many critics have already pointed out flaws in the particle-based experiments! If light is a particle, how can we explain the wave nature? Those are two completely different concepts!”

Whether light is a particle or a wave was one of the most debated topics during Alpheas' time. While the wave theory was widely accepted, some scholars, including Alpheas, continuously raised objections.

“Do you actually trust the critics? I’ve seen the data pointing out flaws in the particle experiments, but that’s not a scientific approach. Could that be the real issue?”

Sarov, now visibly frustrated, slammed his hand on the table. He had been losing sleep over his thesis, and now Alpheas was only making things worse.

“Fine! If you're so confident, why don’t you write your own thesis? Let the world laugh at your absurd logic!”

“I’m only saying this out of concern. Even if you fail now, you’ll need to revise it later. It’s important to understand the truth, not just defend your thesis.”

Sarov couldn't take it anymore. “Go away! I won’t talk to you again!”

Alpheas simply smiled and returned to the table. He wasn’t upset, believing that arguing with a rival in the same field was beneficial for both of them.

Clump, however, was still worried about Alpheas. Their first meeting had been at Bashka’s inn, and since they were both studying abroad in Seoul, they had bonded over shared experiences. It had been a year since they had been spending time together like this.

To be honest, Clump wasn’t sure how to deal with the situation. Even though he worked as a prosecutor, the rivalry between mages seemed more intense.

“Alpheas, what’s wrong with you? If others can’t do it, just accept it. Why do you always try to fix everything?”

“You’re not even sleeping, are you? What’s wrong must be corrected. That’s the mark of intelligence.”

“You know what people call you? Arrogant Alpheas. That’s your nickname now.”

“Haha! Is that a problem? I actually prefer it to Mirhi’s nickname. It’s a bit more exciting.”

Magic is a realm of talent, and Alpheas was overflowing with it. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, humility seemed like a mere act to him, as he believed that true talent would always shine through in the end.

“This is just the fate of a genius. Now, don’t worry too much, let’s have a drink. Hey, Raphne, keep the snacks coming. This guy eats more than a bear!”

“Ho-ho-ho! If Alpheas-nim wants it, I’ll give him as much as he wants!”

Raphne, the bar’s server, looked at Alpheas with adoration. It was clear that she had a soft spot for him. Alpheas’ flirtatious attitude toward every woman made Clump feel uneasy. It wasn’t that he was in a serious relationship with anyone; many men had missed their chances by only flirting on the surface, and Alpheas seemed to be the public enemy of the men at the bar.

“Raphne, really? You need to get a proper relationship. What are you thinking?”

“Ah, as you know, I’m everyone’s lover. And it’s not about work. My smile melts everyone.”

Alpheas touched his chin and smiled. It was the kind of look that would make any woman fall in love with him.

“Do you really think that smile works?” Clump, who had little experience with women, tried to imitate the smile.

“How about this? If I do this, will I get a killer smile?”

“Oh yes! Is that a real killer smile? Haha!”

“Wanna die?” Alpheas teased.

“Ha ha ha! Just kidding! But seriously, it was pretty close. Make sure you wear that smile later at the party; women won’t be able to resist it.”

“Party? Do I really have to go? I’m not even a mage.”

Tonight, the Bastard family is hosting a party called Young Mages' Night. Even though the family doesn’t have any special ties to magic, these types of events, named after the stars, were one way for the nobility to show off their power.

“Is there a way to limit the guests to just mages? Everyone from all walks of life is invited, so it’s a great opportunity to network. Skills are important, but connections are just as valuable.”

“Funny, hearing that from you.”

“What can I say? To spread your influence, you have to reach higher places. Besides, you might meet your future partner there.”

Clump, focused on his swordsmanship, wasn’t interested in making connections. But Alpheas’s last words made him pause and think.

As Alpheas said, who knows? Maybe a simple country prosecutor could fall in love with a sophisticated city girl?

Clump cleared his throat, suddenly feeling awkward.

“Hmmm! So, where do we go to check it out?”

The mansion of the Bastard family, one of the wealthiest families in the capital, was extravagantly luxurious—almost crossing the line that forbids noble buildings from being more opulent than the royal castle.

The hall’s ceiling was adorned with 300 crystal chandeliers, and tables inlaid with gold leaf were filled with delicacies from around the world.

Nobles danced to the music, while older politicians engaged in conversations over wine.

“Hey there! It’s Ozent Clump! Did you come alone?”

“Kyaaak!”

The moment the woman saw Clump, she screamed and ran away. It’s no surprise—who wouldn’t be shocked by a man who looks like a rugged thief, flashing a grin that could kill? Clump froze in embarrassment, while Alpheas laughed and patted him on the back.

“Puhahaha! Did you really think that would work? Oh, what a disaster.”

“Damn it! I’m an idiot for believing you. Anyway, where did you just come from?”

“The beautiful women over there were talking so much. I came from the other side to talk to you.”

Clump looked in the direction Alpheas pointed. Women from the city, dressed elegantly, glanced over at Alpheas, blushing.

“Damn it. I think your back looks better than my front. Everyone’s staring at you.”

“Haha! Don’t worry about it. They’re all like that. Anyway, since we’re here, let’s eat until we’re full.”

The food was a real treat—things Clump had never seen in the countryside. Alpheas laughed as he walked to the table, thinking that his friend, simple but positive, would enjoy it.

As Clump eagerly stuffed his face, Alpheas was busy fending off nobles who approached him every few minutes. When he finally spoke with the head of the Bastard family, all eyes in the room were on Alpheas.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. You’re the rising star, Alpheas.”

“I’m honored you recognized me. What a wonderful party. Thank you for inviting me.”

“Chuck! It’s my pleasure to associate with such young intellects. I hope to see you often.”

“Yes. I’d be happy to attend any time you call me.”

The conversation was brief, but the fact that the head of the Bastard family spoke so warmly to a young mage like Alpheas was a strong sign of goodwill.

Turning around, Alpheas couldn’t help but laugh as he saw Clump still stuffing his face. It was clear his friend was trying to satisfy his hunger in the most carefree way.

“Isn’t your jaw getting tired? Where does all that food go?”

Clump, chewing away, pointed to his biceps. Alpheas shook his head and turned around. He felt the stares of several women but was too bored to care. His lips were pouting in disappointment when something caught his eye—a woman running between tables.

“Huh?”

At first glance, Alpheas could tell she wasn’t a mage. Her simple dress wasn’t flashy like the gypsy-style outfits worn by the highborn, and most notably, her long black hair hung down to her waist, not the short, sharp style common for the intellectuals. She was carrying a plate and fork, which seemed out of place in such a formal setting.

“What? Who is that? Isn’t she the eldest daughter of the head of the family?”

Alpheas, intrigued, barely turned his head to ask, “The eldest daughter?”

“Didn’t you know? You really are a clueless guy.”

“I didn’t know. Now, explain.”

“Her name is Erina Bastard. She’s 19 and the only troublemaker in the family.”

“Troublemaker? Haha, is it because she’s a tomboy?”

“No. She’s... not very bright.”

Only then did Alpheas glance back at Clump. It seemed like his friend might actually be onto something. After all, the bear-like Clump wasn’t exactly known for making jokes.

"I had an accident when I was young, so his intellectual age is about 10. But how did you end up at the party when you said you couldn't leave the room?"

Alpheas looked at Erina, his feelings complicated. Despite the attention she was drawing, she greeted the crowd with an innocent smile, unbothered by the eyes on her.
Like many at prom, it seemed she was looking for a partner. But no one returned her smile. With a slightly awkward expression, she avoided sitting and only exchanged a few brief greetings. It was only possible because of her family's status.
Alpheas glanced at the other side of the table. As expected, the person there was avoiding attention, their face flushed. Unable to tolerate it, he shouted toward his wife.

"Didn't I tell you not to bring Erina? Get her out of here now!"

"Honey, calm down. Erina enjoys parties too. It’d be a waste to make a scene trying to send her away. If you leave her alone, I’ll quietly take her out later."

"Ugh! I’m so embarrassed. What a disgrace to our family!"
Alpheas pouted. He understood the feeling, but he couldn't ignore the embarrassment about his daughter. After all, he was aware of the high status of first-class nobility. Alpheas himself was born into such a family and had even earned the chilling nickname "Mirhi’s Light."
‘It’s just like looking at my old house. Nobles are all the same.’
Alpheas couldn’t take his eyes off Erina, watching her as the music changed three times. What he noticed was that she was simply enjoying the party. She seemed content just greeting people.

"Clump. Hold on a second. No, take a drink," Alpheas said, passing a glass as he turned toward the ballroom. But before he could go further, Clump hurriedly stopped him.
"What are you doing? Don’t cause a scene here."

"These lesser people are rejecting the lady’s attention just because they’ve learned a little magic. As the most influential person in Bashka, I must step in and raise her status."
Clump grabbed Alpheas and turned him back around with a force that matched his size.

"Alpheas, that's wrong. Erina may see your sympathy as mockery. These people are enough. Don’t make her feel worse."
Clump’s usual dark eyes were filled with sincerity and justice now. Alpheas smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"It’s simple, really. Do you think I don’t know that? I’ve never lied to a woman. All discrimination causes problems. Don’t you know that saying? If you start caring too much, she’ll end up in a cage. Leave it to me."

"Are you serious? Are you really going to do that?"
Alpheas, as he walked across the ballroom, turned back to Clump and gave him a confident smile that everyone recognized.

"Don’t worry. I’m everyone’s lover."
By the time Alpheas reached Erina, no one was near her. It seemed that everyone had quietly moved away. Yet, she was eating an apple, looking completely unbothered, as if this was just another day.

"Hello? This is a fun ball," Erina said, pausing to blink and look back at Alpheas. Just from her gaze, he could tell she had a simple intelligence about her.
But there was an innocence in her that reflected the emotions of others like a mirror. Perhaps this was why people avoided her.

"Ah! Hello! It’s Erina!"
Erina greeted with a bright smile as if she had just realized something. However, her response was different from when she had observed from afar. There was a sense of fear, as if she was uneasy about something unknown.
‘But... He’ll be the first to speak to her.’
Alpheas bowed politely and greeted her with a smile.

"My name is Mage Mirhi Alpheas. I’m so captivated by your beauty that I couldn’t resist introducing myself. Would you be my partner at the prom today?"
Erina stared at him blankly, her mouth still holding a piece of apple. Anyone could see that her expression clearly said, ‘What just happened?’
Without another word, she lowered her head, turned away, and walked past Alpheas.

Alpheas was completely confused. To put it simply, he was at a loss for words. Was he acting too much like a normal person? After a moment, he snapped back to reality and quickly moved to block Erina’s way.

“Wait a second. Maybe I was rushing things. Sorry, I just wanted to get closer to you, Erina-san.”

Erina didn’t respond. She just kept her gaze on the ground, her feet tapping nervously as she looked for a way out. But Alpheas wasn’t ready to give up. He blocked every exit she tried and kept talking.

“Alright, if you don’t want to dance, we can talk. Let’s talk! I have a funny story to tell you. Are you interested in constellations?”

“I’m going to the room. Are you getting scolded by your mom?”

“Why would I be scolded by my mom? No one’s scolding me. You came to the party, and now I’m asking you to be my partner.”

“I told you not to talk to me. You said I was a bad person. I want to go into the room.”

Alpheas felt frustrated and nervous. His usual charm was failing, and all he could think about was getting one last chance to make eye contact with Erina.

“I’m not a bad person! Look at my face. How is this the face of a bad person?”

Alpheas grabbed her by the shoulders. At that moment, Erina screamed, her voice rising in panic.

“Kyaaaagh! No!”

All the nobles in the hall turned to look. It was an ugly scene, and everyone saw Alpheas’s actions as inappropriate.

“Mom! Help me! Mom!”

“Erina! Look at me! I’m not trying to hurt you!”

“Mom! Mom!”

Among the guests was Alpheas’s rival, Sarov. He watched in disbelief as Alpheas made a complete fool of himself. He had always known Alpheas was reckless, but never this idiotic.

“First, he grabs all the girls from Bashka, and now he’s trying to seduce a simpleton? This guy has lost his mind.”

Most of the nobles felt the same. Even though Erina wasn’t the brightest, she was the eldest daughter of the Bastard family. Winning her over would have secured a solid future for Alpheas.

Only Clump knew the truth about Alpheas’s feelings, but even he had given up by this point.

“Ah, what a crazy bastard. You made this mess, so you clean it up.”

Erina was struggling, nearly in a panic. If anyone else had been more compassionate, they would have stepped in. But Alpheas clung to her shoulders.

“Erina, wait. Look at me. Please.”

“Mom! I’m scared, Mom!”

“Erina!”

When Alpheas shouted her name, Erina stopped moving. But she was trembling with fear, more than before.

“Just look at my face once. Please, I’m asking you.”

Erina slowly turned her head, her face full of terror. She met Alpheas’s intense gaze. His fiery eyes seemed to draw her in, and even her heart felt like it was heating up.

“How about now? See? Nothing’s wrong. I’m not a bad person. I won’t do anything you don’t like. But this is a party. Don’t you want to dance?”

Erina’s face showed an excitement she couldn’t hide. The sparkling light from the crystals, the music, and the buzz of conversation filled the air. She just wanted to laugh and have fun, like everyone else.

“Miss Erina, I want to be with you. Please be my partner tonight.”

Erina didn’t answer, but Alpheas didn’t care. He grabbed her hand and led her to the center of the hall. She walked unsteadily, like a child taking her first steps, and for the first time in her life, she was in the arms of someone other than her family.

As the musicians resumed playing, Alpheas led her in a wild dance. The nobles watched in stunned silence. Even Erina’s parents stood there, speechless. But Alpheas didn’t care. Erina didn’t care either. He lost himself in the music, as if they were the only two people in the world. The dance wasn’t graceful, but it was full of passion. He spun her around, sometimes losing his balance and bumping into people. The more he danced, the more her laughter grew. After ten minutes, Erina was finally enjoying the party, for the first time ever.

In the garden, playful laughter echoed. Alpheas and Erina had almost run away from the party and were now racing through the forest. Alpheas, out of breath, reached the end of the garden and stopped to catch his breath. To his surprise, Erina didn’t seem tired at all. She had more stamina than he expected.

He looked up at the star-filled night sky.

Erina, despite her quiet demeanor, was surprisingly talkative tonight. She kept the conversation going, making sure the atmosphere never cooled down. As time passed, Alpheas felt like he was listening to her tell a story. She listened to every topic he brought up, sometimes smiling as if she understood, and that made him even more excited. He kept talking, his words flowing like a waterfall.

Eventually, their conversation turned to a deeper topic.

“Do you think light is a wave or a particle?”

Sarov described it as a wave, but Alpheas was sure that wasn’t right. However, he didn’t think granularity was the answer either.

To be honest, he didn’t know. The first step was admitting that he didn’t know what he didn’t know.

“Isn’t it rare? Light has such strange properties. Interference experiments show its wave nature, but on the other hand…”

Alpheas paused, realizing he’d gotten too caught up in his explanation. He hadn’t even noticed that Erina was the one listening to him. She was squatting on the lawn, gazing down the garden, but a beautiful smile still played on her lips.

“Haha! Did I talk too much? I think this is the first time we’ve had a conversation like this in a long while. I usually get tired of it.”

“You’re a good person,” Erina said softly.

Alpheas blinked, surprised by the unexpected compliment. His heart rate suddenly increased, and his mind became clouded.

Why am I here? What am I expecting from this woman?

It was an unfamiliar world—a place where both the desire to move forward and the fear of what might come next made it hard to see clearly.

Alpheas turned away, as if to escape those thoughts, and continued speaking, pretending he hadn’t heard her.

“Haha, it’s embarrassing, but I’m supposed to write a thesis because I’m a mage, but I don’t know much about it. I don’t even know which direction to take with the research. What do you think, Erina? Is light a wave or a particle?”

Erina didn’t seem bothered by Alpheas’ response. She stood up from her spot, her gaze turning toward the stars in the sky.

“Light is beauty.”
“Pardon?”
Alpheas asked, clearly confused. While it was understandable that he didn’t know much about photonics, this answer was unexpected.
“The light is beautiful. Flowers are beautiful, too. We are beautiful as well. But the light you speak of... it doesn’t seem beautiful.”
Alpheas felt as if he had been struck on the head by a hammer. The words were simple, yet they carried an idea too profound for him to fully grasp.
“Yeah, that’s true. But why is light so beautiful?”
To Alpheas, light was just a photon. But Erina, as though she understood everything, answered without hesitation.

“The light reveals the darkness. How would we see the night sky without light?”
The world went quiet, like the stillness of the universe.
Alpheas didn’t respond. Thoughts flooded his mind like a waterfall.
Why separate the two? When you step back, everything becomes so clear.
Because it is beautiful.
Any contradictions fade away.

“It’s beauty. You are so beautiful, Ms. Erina.”
Erina turned her head, her innocent smile as bright as a child’s. The moment he saw that smile, Alpheas made up his mind.
He would remember this moment for the rest of his life.
Alpheas knelt before Erina, then, in the most respectful gesture, extended his right hand.

“Please be my light.”

That night, 40 years ago, his confession under the moonlight became a cherished memory for Alpheas, a memory more valuable than anything else. A soft smile appeared on his lips as the Abyss Nova curtain was lifted.