Even Dr. Heartless, a master of transformation techniques, was amazed: "Did Iskandar look like that in his youth? From what I can see, such a transformation defies the natural laws of human growth. His skeletal structure and muscles couldn't possibly undergo such extreme changes."
This question echoed in the minds of many. Almost all magi frequently deal with the human body and have a level of understanding of human anatomy that rivals that of professional doctors. While it might be possible for someone like Waver to grow 30 centimeters (from 157 to 186) within a few years, it would be impossible for him to increase his muscle mass by 30 centimeters in width.
"Impossible for a human, yes, but not when you factor in the mystical," Shinji said nonchalantly.
"Waver, do you remember what Iskandar's innate abilities were?"
"Of course, leadership, military strategy, divinity—divinity?"
Waver realized at once. Divinity was a power that transcended physical laws, making all sorts of extraordinary things possible.
"That's right, divinity. Divinity is a characteristic of gods, a remnant of the laws that governed humanity in the Age of Gods. Those with divinity possess various miraculous powers. The higher the level, the more their physical nature mixes with divine blood, and the stronger the power becomes. Iskandar's divinity is rated at C, deriving from Zeus, granting him the power of Zeus's lightning. One interesting aspect of Zeus's divinity is that the more he uses his lightning, the stronger his physical body becomes, and the more his divinity increases, allowing his body to grow…"
Shinji didn't finish his sentence, but everyone understood what he was implying.
Iskandar spent his entire life in battle, so it's unlikely that he would have left such a powerful ability like thunder unused. The more he used it, the stronger his body became, eventually transforming a beautiful youth into a burly muscle-bound warrior—a figure more in line with the Conqueror King's image, though the former might have been more aesthetically pleasing.
"So, if Iskandar didn't use his divinity, would he have looked like her?" Luvia asked.
"Excluding female characteristics, it wouldn't be too different," Shinji nodded.
"Even though physical resemblance wasn't a requirement for a magical shadow warrior, Olympia, being the shrewd woman she was, wouldn't have left such a glaring flaw. True, the ancient world lacked our modern advanced technology, but magecraft could easily make two people look alike, similar to Dr. Hartless's 'spirit possession.' Moreover, I have another theory: Iskandar might have done it on purpose. That man valued the bonds between his retainers more than anything else, and such a person would never allow a woman to sacrifice her life as his shield. The greater the difference in appearance, the more likely it was that her identity as a shadow warrior would be exposed, allowing her to shed that role—he probably didn't want her to be a shadow warrior from the start."
"So, is that the case?"
Heartless turned to his servant.
"Yes, that king was always like that."
The shadow warrior spoke with a voice heavy with emotion, like water boiling beneath a layer of ice.
"He said he would give me a name, that he would make me a bodyguard or a magus, but I refused, so I…"
The female warrior, struggling with deep emotions, hesitated to finish her sentence, but Waver didn't let her off the hook, driving the final blade into the dissection started by Shinji's theory.
"And that's why you're not in Ionioi Hetairoi!"
"—Shut up!"
The female servant's face flushed with anger as she slashed her blade, crackling with lethal intent and terrifying thunder, toward Waver.
At the same time, a dark shadow flashed by, and Shinji, wielding the Scythe, blocked the attack in front of Waver.
The sound of a scythe clashing with a sword rang out, not once, but many times, so fast that it seemed like one continuous sound.
Visible shockwaves erupted, ravaging the floor of the carriage.
"Professor Velvet, please continue. She won't harm you while I'm here."
Lorelei moved to Waver's side, casually flicking her short whip to dispel the encroaching shockwaves. The queen might lack a warrior's soul, but she certainly didn't lack a ruler's composure. Even though Waver had been getting close to the rival faction of Barthomeloi in recent times, she wouldn't stand idly by while this teacher, who had brought a new breeze to the Clock Tower, was harmed.
"Thank you," Waver said softly, then shouted, "The king said he would give you a name, didn't he? If he said that, it meant he couldn't bear your situation! He couldn't allow you to be treated like a tool without a name! But you refused because you thought that would prevent you from being his double. Yes, you are undoubtedly one of the king's most precious loyal retainers. But despite that, you're not part of Ionioi Hetairoi because—"
Ionioi Hetairoi was the embodiment of Iskandar's bonds with his retainers. All who followed him and recognized him as their king would respond to his summons and stand by his side. It was the Conqueror King's greatest pride and trump card, and both Waver and Shinji had witnessed its brilliance.
Given the relationship between the shadow warrior and the king, she should have been by his side, in the closest place to him. But Waver, who had etched that vast sandy battlefield into his heart, knew that she wasn't there. He had wondered about this for some time, but now he understood.
"I told you to shut up!—Stop!"
The first command was an angry shout at Waver, while the second used a mysterious power directed at Shinji, who had blocked her path.
This power came from the shadow warrior's eyes, the enchanted eyes of gold and silver! Heterochromia has always been a classic characteristic of mystic eyes, and the shadow warrior was no exception.
Her left eye was pitch black, like a black hole, as if it could suck in a person's soul.
Her right eye was a deep blue, like the sky, carrying an overwhelming, irresistible pressure.
When combined, they imposed a compulsory command on the target.
This Noble Colours Mystic Eye was the shadow warrior's mystic eyes. The reason Waver had been injured on the second evening after boarding the train was that the shadow warrior had used it to control Gray, catching the two of them off guard.
Now, this power was being directed at Shinji.