Secrets of the Atelier: Nights of Magic and Command
In the town of Kieferly, Coco runs a magical atelier. She's a kind but clumsy witch who finally achieves her dream of becoming the apprentice of the master she's admired for so long, Kiefer.
But that very night, Coco learns the truth. The 'special magic' Kiefer teaches requires a deep, physical and mental bond through a ritual of dominance and submission. She's terrified, yet her body burns with an unfamiliar heat as she's ordered to reveal her adult self.
Kiefer has a hidden agenda: to collec
Secrets of the Atelier: Nights of Magic and Command - The city of dreams, my master's hand
At the end of spring, in the fading light of evening, a shared carriage creaked to a halt on the cobblestone road.
Koko clutched her worn travel bag and stepped softly onto the ground.
(So this is... Keefree.)
Before her stood towering ramparts, bathed in the glow of the setting sun. Beyond the soaring gate, countless mana lamps flickered with a pale blue light. The air carried a strange mix of scents—sweet, yet faintly bitter—from unfamiliar magical herbs.
Her heart was loud. Not pounding, exactly, but something deeper, trembling.
Koko took a deep breath.
(It's okay. I've worked so hard, all this time, for this day.)
She passed through the gate. In an instant, it felt like she'd leaped into another world.
"Amazing..."
The words slipped out unbidden.
The alleyways were rivers of light. The walls of the buildings were carved with countless patterns in an ancient script she'd never seen before, each one glowing faintly. People passing by had bundles of paper inscribed with spell formulas dangling from their waists. From the direction of the marketplace came the shouts of merchants, and somewhere, the crackling snap of magic discharging. And then—small cargo golems, walking along with stiff, awkward gaits.
Koko stopped in her tracks.
A golem passed beside her. On its back, it carried a wooden crate marked "Grimoire Trading Company."
(Magic is... part of everyday life here.)
In Koko's hometown, magic users lived in hiding. But here, it was different. Magic was simply a given.
Population: 42,000. Of those, 12% were magic users. The Free City of Keefree. If she could make it here, then she too could—
Koko tightened her grip on her bag and headed for the central plaza.
At the plaza's heart stood a jet-black monument. The Zero Stele. She'd heard it was a relic of the ancient magical empire.
Koko stood before the stele and gazed up at it for a while.
"...It's huge."
She murmured the words quietly.
The stele was densely packed with minute lettering, but she couldn't make out a single word. Still, she could feel it—that this thing was incredibly old, and held incredible power.
"They say the name 'Keefree' comes from the mage who studied this very stele."
Suddenly, a voice spoke up nearby.
She looked over to see an old merchant—a kindly grandfather type—seated at what looked like a nearby stall, smiling in her direction.
"Is that so?"
"That's right, that's right. A great mage named Keefree Van Aster. He built his research laboratory beneath this city. Even now, there are ruins called the 'Old Stratum' spreading out underground. The kingdom's officials have a hard time meddling here, so it's a land of freedom, you see."
Ruins underground. A land of freedom.
"That's why rumors about forbidden arts never really die down..."
The old man started to say something, then fell silent.
"...Never mind. Is this your first time in the city?"
"Yes! Um, I'm here to become an apprentice to Master Keefree."
"Well, now."
The old man's eyes widened just a fraction.
"To that man, eh? Is that so, is that so. Don't push yourself too hard, now."
With just that, he went back to arranging his wares.
Koko tilted her head.
(Don't push myself too hard?)
She didn't quite understand, but more than that, she needed to find the atelier quickly.
Koko thanked the old man and stepped into the maze-like alleys of the Magical Research District.
The cobblestone paths twisted and turned, branching off into countless narrow lanes. All the buildings were old, but they felt properly cared for. Ivy clung to the walls, and potted magical herbs lined the windowsills.
After walking for a while, Koko found herself lost.
"...Where is it?"
An old, three-story building. That was supposed to be the landmark for the atelier, according to the letter.
But she couldn't seem to find any building that matched.
Left with no choice, she ducked into a nearby magic supply shop to ask for directions.
"Master Keefree's atelier? Ah, that eccentric's place."
The shopkeeper, looking mildly inconvenienced, gave her directions to a secluded back alley.
"Thank you very much!"
Koko dashed off at a light run.
And then—she arrived.
At the very end of the alley. Standing there quietly was an old, three-story building. A thin layer of moss grew on its walls, and a well-worn broom leaned against the doorframe.
This was it.
Koko swallowed.
Her hands were trembling.
(It's okay. I'm going to do my best.)
A deep breath. Then, gathering her courage, she knocked.
Knock, knock.
After a brief pause, the door creaked open.
"—What is it?"
A low voice.
Standing there was a tall man.
His silvery hair was grown out carelessly, slightly disheveled. His narrow, gray eyes were unreadable. He wore a deep green robe loosely, and the area around his shoulders looked dusty.
Koko held her breath for a moment.
(This man is—Keefree Van Aster.)
"U-Um! I'm Koko, the one who applied for apprenticeship! I look forward to working with you starting today!"
She bowed her head deeply, with great energy.
Keefree looked down at her in silence for a moment.
From head to toe, as if appraising her carefully.
"Your hand."
At his curt command, Koko reflexively held out her right hand.
Keefree's long, slender fingers grasped her wrist. Cold fingers.
The fingertips of his other hand swiftly traced a spell matrix in the air. A pale blue light flickered for just an instant.
"It will take three seconds."
In that moment, Koko felt something being drawn out from her wrist.
Her mana was being measured.
Keefree's eyes—changed, for just a fraction of a second.
Something flickered deep within those gray irises. Surprise, perhaps. Or maybe a feverish light, like someone coveting something.
But it vanished immediately.
"—You pass. Come starting tomorrow."
"Huh?"
With just that, he moved to close the door, so Koko hurriedly spoke up.
"U-Um! I was hoping to start living here from today, if that's possible...!"
Keefree stopped moving.
Silence.
"...Do as you like."
That was all.
Koko was led to a room on the first floor of the atelier. A small, cramped room that might once have been a storeroom.
A single, simple bed and a small desk. Through the window, she could see the narrow alleyway.
"This... is my room."
Koko set her bag down on the bed.
A small wave of emotion washed over her.
(I'm really allowed to be here.)
She had admired him since she was a little girl. Becoming Master Keefree's apprentice. That wish had finally, at long last, come true.
But.
(Those eyes, just now...)
That light that had dwelled in Keefree's eyes. What had that been?
Koko sat down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling.
It didn't seem like she'd be able to sleep easily.
Dinner was a simple affair, prepared by Keefree in silence.
A thin soup, and hard bread.
They sat facing each other across the dining table. Keefree was as expressionless as ever, tearing off pieces of bread and bringing them to his mouth.
Koko felt she had to say something.
"Um... what will the training schedule be like, starting tomorrow?"
Keefree stopped his hand.
"Daytime will be training in fundamental spell formulas. However."
A brief pause.
"The true training will take place at night."
"At night?"
"Shukujutsu—have you heard of it?"
Koko shook her head.
"Shukujutsu is an ancient magic that inscribes spell formulas directly onto another's body, rather than onto paper or magic circles."
"...Directly... onto the body?"
"Once a formula is inscribed, it becomes permanent."
Koko froze, a piece of bread still in her mouth.
"And between the one who inscribes and the one who receives—a deep bond of mind and body is required."
"A bond... of mind and body...?"
Keefree didn't answer.
He merely took a sip of his soup.
"I will teach you tonight."
With just that, Keefree rose from his seat.
After the meal, Koko returned to her room.
From her belongings, she took out a single, worn book.
An introductory text on magic, one she had read countless times as a child. The pages were tattered now, the binding frayed.
Koko flipped through the pages idly.
—Shukujutsu.
She found the entry and caught her breath.
"Shukujutsu is designated a forbidden art by the Magical Council of the United Kingdom of Nederland. Practitioners shall be sentenced to lifelong mana-sealing imprisonment."
A forbidden art.
(Why...)
Why was the master trying to teach this to her?
Koko closed the book.
A small question pricked sharply deep within her chest.
But still—.
(I chose this. I came here.)
She had admired him for so long. She had lived her life thinking only of becoming Master Keefree's apprentice.
She couldn't turn back now.
Koko tucked the book away under her pillow.
Late at night.
Summoned by Keefree, Koko descended the stairs to the workshop on the first floor.
With every step she took, a pale blue light flickered and swayed.
In the center of the workshop was a massive stone table. Atop it, a thick, ancient tome lay open. Its pages were already yellowed, densely packed with an ancient script she had never seen before.
Keefree stood before the table.
"You've come."
"...Yes."
"The inscription of Shukujutsu requires a resonance of mana."
Keefree began to speak in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Your mana is too pure. It possesses a unique quality not found in ordinary magic users."
"My... mana is?"
"Before training, we will perform the initial connection. Remove your clothing."
For a moment, she couldn't comprehend what he had said.
"Huh...?"
"Remove your upper garments and turn your back to me."
Her mind went completely blank.
Why? What for? What was a connection?
But Keefree was no longer looking at her. His eyes were on the tome, searching for something.
Koko stood rooted to the spot.
(I chose this. I came here.)
She repeated it to herself, over and over.
With trembling hands, she removed her pale blue robe. The white shirt beneath it. She took off her coat as well, letting it fall to the floor.
She turned her back.
She was cold to her very fingertips. Her knees were shaking.
The silence felt incredibly long.
"—You chose to come here. This is the master-apprentice contract of Shukujutsu."
Keefree's voice came from directly behind her.
She felt his breath on the nape of her neck.
And then—long fingers gently touched her shoulder blade.
"Ah...!"
A sound escaped her lips.
From his fingers, something flowed into her. Hot, and cold, something like electricity—
It felt as if lightning was piercing through her entire body.
Her own mana began to pulse more intensely than it ever had before.
Thump, thump, thump.
It was terrifying.
(What is this—)
It was terrifying, but it was hot.
A single point on her shoulder blade was burning. From there, something raced throughout her body, reaching the deepest, innermost part of her.
Her vision flickered.
It went white.
The strength drained from her legs, but she didn't fall. She couldn't fall.
"...The mana is resonating."
Keefree's voice sounded distant.
"This is the first stage for today."
His fingers pulled away.
Koko remained as she was, unable to move for a while.
Her shoulder blade was still tingling. Hot. But it wasn't just pain.
It was something else, something she couldn't quite understand.
Koko held her own shoulders, as if embracing herself.
This was Shukujutsu.
This was what Master Keefree was trying to teach her.
"...You may return. We will begin training in fundamental spell formulas tomorrow at noon."
Keefree had already turned back to his tome.
Koko climbed the stairs unsteadily and returned to her room.
She sat down on the bed.
Her fingers were still trembling.
She touched her shoulder blade. The spot that had felt like it was burning just moments ago was no longer hot. But she felt as if something had changed.
The mana wi
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