For any mage, obtaining a new Pattern was a big deal. It meant that a Catalyst had evolved, that a new spell had appeared, and that could only be good news.
Finding the right Pattern was indeed difficult. If a mage did not possess spells such as Menir, it was a long and laborious process, but one with a worthy reward.
Ethan wanted to fill his Second Pattern; with his Broken Circle, it was the most he could hope for.
And here it is.
The girl he was supposed to kill, who had obtained a Pattern for herself, opened up the possibility of his power.
[First Circle Catalyst fully developed the Second Pattern.]
Then, a click of moving gears sounded in Ethan's head.
[Triumvirate Path (First Circle Catalyst)
Pattern #1: Fully Assembled
Pattern #2: Fully Assembled
Pattern #3: Impossible without a complete circle. An unexpected outcome may occur under specific circumstances.]
Not wanting to wait, Ethan clenched his fist with a satisfied grin, causing his core to spin.
A line of darkness ran down his arm as he decided to activate his Second Pattern.
There seemed to be almost no difference, but in seemingly simple abilities, one detail was enough to completely change the outcome.
"Oh, you got a Pattern too, that's unexpected..." Menir muttered, taken aback.
Ethan grinned.
"Hell yeah, look at that! Finally, something for me!"
Earlier, when activating the First Pattern, the dark clot turned into a vertical line on Ethan's hand, but now the line was significantly longer and was located on his forearm.
Menir tilted her head thoughtfully. "You know. Your catalyst has hardly changed compared to my Second Pattern."
"Well, it's the effect that matters, isn't it?"
Menir nodded.
"Sure. I think it would be pointless to ask you to hold back, so show me what you can do."
She didn't have to repeat herself. As soon as the words left her lips, Ethan ran to the nearest tree.
Previously, to inflict damage, he had to strike at close range, with a punch or a palm strike. Now, things were a little different.
"Watch closely!" Ethan took a deep breath as the dark cross trembled.
The line of darkness shot forward, connecting with the tree trunk like a harpoon. Then, Ethan's frame shook as he found himself right in front of the tree, delivering a precise palm strike.
The corrosive blast of darkness burst out, striking everything inside and behind the tree. At the same time, a smooth cut remained on the surface, as if made by a very sharp dagger.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Slow, unenthusiastic claps rang out from the crowd.
"Not bad, not bad at all. However, I wouldn't use this ability too often, especially against large opponents."
"Hmm? Why?" Ethan looked back, standing among the ruined trees.
Menir pointed at herself. "Each subsequent Pattern not only unlocks new possibilities for your Catalyst but also requires more energy. During the battle against the spirit, I used my Second Pattern twice. You saw what that led to. Reckless use of spells can lead to a strong backlash.
"So... You mean if I use my Second Pattern on another tree, I'll end up with a mouth full of blood."
In response, Menir shook her head.
"No, I doubt it. Everyone has different spells and different pressures. For me, the dangerous threshold is twice, for you, it may be more."
"I see. By the way, you got the Third Pattern, right? Do you want to show me what it does?"
Menir turned around, heading toward the city.
"Not now. Let's go home and decide what to do next. It seems like it's no coincidence that we found each other."
For a moment, her voice grew darker, as if there was more to her words than mere luck.
"I have four patterns, you have three. You started with one, I had two when you appeared. Our circles are actually a perfect match. As soon as I get the fourth pattern, you'll get the third, and we'll no longer be Broken Mages."
Ethan frowned. "How can you be sure of that? What if something goes wrong?"
"It's just my best guess. That's it."...
As much as Ethan wanted to continue, he knew they needed a break. Not only because they had been through a battle, but also because they needed to master their new spells.
Ethan practiced in the backyard of his house, which was essentially a street that had long since turned into a garbage dump, just like Roger's. Such was the fate of those who lived on the outskirts of the city. However, it also meant that he could destroy anything he wanted without consequences.
At that moment, Menir sat on the roof of his small house, hugging her knees.
Before her lay the whole of Orsire, their small town, which held many opportunities and threats. Lights burned in hundreds of small houses, as well as in the tall towers in the distance, showing their superiority over the poor neighborhoods.
Menir did not train. She lied about it because her Third Pattern was so simple that everything depended on the important moment, not the execution.
'That day... The Black Horn wanted me to find something in the Rotten Forest. He didn't want to listen to me when I said I didn't know what the Blind Voyager was pointing to, only something valuable, something I needed...'
Then, she turned around, looking at Ethan, who was training under the light of the blue moon.
"All I encountered were monsters and the Crooked Growon, who turned out to be too strong. I didn't find what the Black Horn needed, but... Could there be anything more valuable to a Broken Mage than a suitable donor?"
Menir had realized this yesterday.
Sure, she was lucky that Ethan had come in time and saved her by literally pulling her out of the Crooked Growon's gut, but it was the Blind Voyager who had led her there. Her spell knew that Ethan would be there.
Step.
Menir climbed down from the roof and approached Ethan.
"I'm going to bed. Are you going to keep training?"
"Nah, since when have you been living with me? Don't you have a home of your own?" Ethan snorted.
Menir shook her head.
"I don't have a home. If it's more convenient for you, I can sleep outside. It's not my first time."
Rolling his eyes, Ethan threw on his coat.
"Don't be so dramatic."
Knock. Knock. Knock.
They had barely entered the house when loud knocks sounded at the door.
Ethan and Menir exchanged glances. She gulped, thinking it might be the Black Horn people.
Cautiously, Ethan approached the door and opened it as a shadow fell over him.
Standing in front of him was a man in a black uniform with red lines along the edges of his powerful frame.
"Sorry to bother you at this late hour. Hahaha."
The man chuckled, scratching his thick mustache.
"But, I just couldn't ignore the two rising stars that caught my attention."
Before Ethan and Menir could understand anything, the man strode inside with his broad gait.
"Who are you?" Ethan frowned.
The man stood at the table with his back straight.
"It's not who I am that's important, but why I'm here."
His eyes scanned them.
"How about joining the army? You two are the Broken Mages. Or... Soon I'll have to refer to you simply as Mages?"
He knew.