"Prime Minister, please continue the coming of age ceremony"
"Yes…"
The Prime Minister had sighed many times with his hand on his thin haired head. He had watch Thomas looking like it was the end of his life.
"The Genesis ends with the period where men created this country. The people who built this country possessed "holy magic" and casted a barrier in the country. Due to this barrier, each country was protected against invasion from the outside and also against natural disasters.
The countries that lost the persons holding the holy magic became weak, one country was destroyed, another one was invaded.
Most of the people here are people holding holy magic"
…We were so surprised that no words came out.
Although everyone was prohibited from talking by the King, unlike the adults we were all surprised and were silent.
"The holders of holy magic are checked in early childhood by measuring their magical powers at a temple. On this occasion, the commoners holding holy magic were preferentially admitted enrolling at school when they reach suitable age"
I always thought the school was only teaching life magic.
If I remember correctly, there were also lessons to control magical powers. The knight class was taught attack magic.
"After graduating from school, due to your functions as royal capital’s government officials and holy magic holders, you will pour your magical powers in the barrier. A special allowance is given from the country in exchange for magic supply. It is an obligation to supply magic"
I have never heard about this barrier magic. I have never seen it too.
"Each one of you will be granted a corresponding rank. The persons will be succeeding their family by birthright like always. As for the ladies, the country will mediate a suitable fiance for each one.
As persons with court ranks, you will be given a salary by the country.
But in case the holders of holy magic are not ranked Viscount or above for at least 3 generations, they will lose one court rank"
For a highly proud aristocrat, the demotion of a court rank was the same as declaring death penalty.
"Holy magic cannot be born if both parents don't possess holy magic"
Eh?
"However, there are few cases where one can be born with holy magic. Although rare, there are cases where a person has ancestors from upper ranked aristocrats following this person's family tree.
Once in a while, there are also cases where only one parent is holding holy magic, but the child is still born with holy magic.
There are also persons holding the holy magic because of mutation from their ancestors.
Therefore, to maintain the barrier, there is an obligation to make a child with holy magic. The country can only acknowledge the marriage of a holy magic holder with another holy magic holder"
"This is tyranny!"
A small and quiet girl shouted with a trembling voice. She was a commoner with excellent grades. It was because she was the fiancee of her childhood friend.
"It might indeed be tyranny…"
The King didn't blame her remark. I was relieved.
"If a holy magic holder marries someone who is not a holy magic holder, it will be difficult for them to have a child"
The voice of the Prime Minister cut open our hearts as if he had a knife.
"It, it can't be…"
The girl from earlier broke down crying.
"Nevertheless, if it is authorized, you can marry. But, you cannot tell anyone about holy magic which is our country's secret. Therefore, to those who knows about holy magic, they are subject to magic which prevent them for propagating it.
If you don't reveal the truth to your marriage partner about the difficulty of having a child with him, then you can marry. A permission will be granted. But you won't receive any favor from the country.
There are people outside who protect their country putting up the barrier, fulfilling their duties, people who renounce to protect the country for love are not needed"
His Majesty, the beautiful middle-aged King, felt like growing older in one go. Since he had always been smiling to me, it was the first time I saw his negligent face.
The commoner girl, knowing the truth, was crying while sitting on the floor.
I wonder how many secrets are kept about magic.