The Most Arbitrary Wizard

After all, it was a ball, and everyone present was an elegant individual who appreciated ceremony. The requisite opening remarks and applause were necessary. They just hoped Agivis wouldn’t be too long-winded, or he couldn’t blame them for withdrawing their courtesy.

Agivis, however, as if he knew what they were thinking, decisively scrapped his original speech for the ball and got straight to the point.

"I will dispense with the pleasantries. I know you’re all eager to see the painting—truthfully, so am I. But before that, there are three things I must make clear to everyone."

"First, gazing at the painting consumes Mental Power. The longer you look, the greater the physical toll. If you find you cannot bear it, you must not force yourself. The consequences will be extremely severe."

"Second, while viewing the painting, please remain as quiet as possible. Do not converse loudly, so as to avoid disturbing others."

"Third, to ensure no accidents occur during tonight’s ball, the painting will only be on display for one hour."

Staring at the painting for an entire hour was the limit for someone at Tier Six. This was also enough time for one to gain enlightenment from the painting. If an hour wasn’t enough, then no amount of extra time would help.

"And now, please prepare yourselves. The viewing is about to begin!"

After speaking, Agivis slipped off the stage and nodded to the pianist in the corner, signaling for him to begin playing.

The piano music began again.

Unlike the graceful, melodious tune from before, this piece was soaring and intense. It was as if one were standing above a roaring sea, watching waves taller than city walls crash in one after another, each higher than the last, until a great swell rose to blot out the sun and sky. Then, the piano music came to an abrupt halt.

At the same time—

SWISH!

The curtains on the stage parted.

"Here it comes!" Eleanor said, a thrill of excitement in her voice.

’She had already realized that this magical piano piece was a "countdown" specially designed by the Little Gista Family for the viewing. These nobles could always turn something simple into an elaborate production. Eleanor had never much cared for nobles—after all, in a way, the very word "noble" was synonymous with "enemy"—but she had to admit, the performance had been a success. At least, it had certainly stirred her emotions.’

Eleanor strained her eyes, trying to get a good look at the painting’s contents, to see if it was really Mr. Blake. She didn’t dare hope for any grand epiphany; she was more interested in clearly seeing the face of the great man who had founded the Era of Polymath.

Within the crowd, Tony and the others were also holding their breath.

Their thinking differed from Eleanor’s. If they could comprehend the secrets within the painting, that would be ideal. After all, one of their purposes for attending the ball was to increase their Magic Power. Until they made their move, they were no different from the other Wizards here.

Moreover, Tony believed their chances of success were higher than any other Wizard’s.

Because they were from Blake City.

If this painting was truly of Mr. Blake, then as successors to the Hall of Truth, they shared a far greater "bond" with it than anyone else.

This bond was not to be underestimated.

Mysticism placed great importance on "Affinity." Just as a person with a Fire Star Phase would learn Fire Attribute Magic faster, and a person with a Water Star Phase could unleash a more powerful torrent of water using Magic Power, they were people of the Hall of Truth. Naturally, they would understand a painting connected to the Hall of Truth better than anyone.

If Mr. Blake were still alive to witness this, he would surely be more willing to grant this opportunity to them.

However.

To the astonishment of Tony and the others, it seemed Mr. Blake had no intention of giving them an opportunity.

Nor to any of the nobles, for that matter.

When the long-awaited painting finally appeared before their eyes, the tense, excited atmosphere in the hall suddenly solidified.

The painting’s title was *Olivia and His Distant Horizon*.

No one present was a stranger to the name of the First Saintess.

As for why the title used "His" instead of "Her," everyone had their own interpretation.

Eleanor, in particular, believed the "His" in the title referred to Mr. Blake. ’This must be the painting the First Saintess made for him.’

But she didn’t see Blake.

Nor did she see the First Saintess Olivia, who was also part of the title.

On the display easel, inlaid with rose-gold filigree, was a single, spotless sheet of white paper.

Eleanor: "?"

Tony and the others: "??"

The assembled nobles: "???"

The painting, so utterly different from what everyone had imagined, left even Sean standing there, stunned.

"Wait a minute, where’s the painting?"

"Why is it a blank sheet of paper?"

"Where’s the person in charge? Are you sure you didn’t bring out the wrong one?"

After a brief silence, the hall erupted into an uproar, everyone completely forgetting Agivis’s recent reminder to remain quiet.

They had anticipated that gaining enlightenment from the painting would be difficult. The First Saintess was a Tier Ten Grand Mage; her work was not something that could be easily understood. Many had even mentally prepared themselves for failure.

But they never imagined that even with such preparations, they had still "underestimated" the painting.

This wasn’t a matter of being able to understand it or not.

There was nothing to see!

Eleanor’s brow furrowed. "The Little Gista Family isn’t just messing with us, are they?" she asked.

Sean didn’t understand either, but he shook his head. "They wouldn’t."

’Little Gista doesn’t have the guts.’

Although he was just as baffled as to why the painting was a blank sheet of paper, he was certain it was authentic. The Little Gista Family would never dare pull such a stunt. If they did, they would be offending not only the many invited nobles present but also the Church Court.

Forging a painting in the name of the First Saintess was a capital crime.

The Little Gista Family wouldn’t dare do it, not even if they had a hundred times the courage.

"Then what’s going on?" Eleanor asked, perplexed. "Don’t tell me the Saintess used invisible ink?"

Sean pondered for a moment. "Now that you mention it, that’s actually a possibility."

Eleanor: "..."

’A possibility? What possibility, you idiot Sean.’

’A Grand Mage of the First Saintess’s caliber would have countless ways to hide a painting’s true content. Why would she use a "low-level" trick like invisible ink, something only a commoner would think of? And given the First Saintess’s noble status, the painting shouldn’t be a blank piece of paper, either. There was only one logical explanation: their own "perception" was lacking, and they weren’t qualified to view the painting’s contents.’

"Where’s the person in charge?"

"Get out here and explain this right now!"

someone shouted in irritation.

Agivis thought with a sneer, ’Explain? Does this really need an explanation? You can’t even see the basic image, yet you hope to comprehend the mysteries hidden within? As for bringing out the wrong painting... That’s even more impossible. Don’t these morons ever use their heads? The Little Gista Family is just a Baron Family. What right would we have to possess a priceless "relic" like a painting by the First Saintess? Of course, that’s not to say the painting is fake, but rather that it doesn’t belong to the Little Gista Family.’

’No one, not even the Blazing Angel Family, knew that the true host of tonight’s ball wasn’t the Little Gista Family at all. They were just the hired help, following orders. The painting’s true owner is the current Saintess of the Church Court, Her Highness Diana. The three warnings he’d given earlier had also come directly from the Saintess. She just hadn’t phrased them quite so pleasantly.’

Right now, Agivis really wanted to quote more of the Saintess’s original words—

"If you can’t see it, then don’t look."

"At least then people won’t think you’re an idiot."

’But, for the sake of his family’s future... he’d better not. What if those high-and-mighty members of the Blazing Angel Family couldn’t see it either? If he said that, the Little Gista Family would be finished on the spot. He wasn’t the Saintess; he couldn’t afford to offend so many people.’

And so, Agivis mustered another ingratiating, apologetic smile.

"Everyone, my sincerest apologies, I forgot to mention."

"This painting by Her Highness the First Saintess cannot be seen with the naked eye. It can only be viewed mentally. Please, everyone, try closing your eyes."

Sean: "..."

’Look at a painting with my eyes closed?’

’He didn’t remember the painting Olivia gave him being this complicated.’

’No, wait.’

’There’s something wrong with this painting.’

...

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