Chapter 4:
Birthday

 

It’s officially been one year since Roxas came to Buena Village.

I was more than thankful to him. Now that I knew Advanced-level magic spells, I felt more satisfied than ever. Plus, my mana reserves wouldn’t empty no matter what I did, even if I shot out two advanced-tier spells at the same time and mashed them together.

There was a bit of a story to that. I’d asked Roxas what was up with some of the strange properties of magic. I’d been experimenting a little when I had the free time to do so, and I found out that it took significantly more mana to cast a droplet of water than it would to cast an amount that could fill up a bowl. It worked the same the other way around, but at least that made a bit of sense. That was aligned more with the law of conversation of mass that I knew. 

I also found out that combining two different schools of magic vastly increased the amount of mana expended, giving me an easy way to drain my magical fuel meter. There was an even better way, which was to try to shape something, whether it be conjured class or a plank of wood. Getting into the nitty-gritty of things was the best way to polish my magic in general.

Stuff like carving letters into ice, taking bark from a tree and peeling it off strip by strip without using my hands, using magic as a makeshift picklock, the list went on. I didn’t want to slack off when it came to this, considering how handy it could be if one day I needed it. But even so, I was still wondering if there was some sort of defined science to the whole thing. 

Roxas, instead of giving me a proper answer, simply responded with, “Yeah, kid. That’s how that goes.”

Hmm. I guess they just hadn’t figured out about the intricacies of magic just yet. Maybe if I studied enough, I could publish a book on my discovery and become something like the Einstein of magic. 

Enough with the way crazy ambitious goals. Right now the thing I cared about the most were the times when I could peek into Roxas’s room when he was changing. 

Oh, gods above, thank you for blessing me with the sight of a lean chest.

Degeneracy aside, I started to be a bit attached to the guy. For normal reasons, mind you. I felt like he, despite his occasional hiccups, was quite mature for someone his age. Whenever we had a long and winding conversation together, I felt like I was talking to someone closer to my age. 

As for my healing magic, I was progressing a little more on that end. I figured that an elementary-tier spell wouldn’t be very useful outside of things like scrapes, bruises, and stomach aches. My mother never used intermediate-tier spells at home, which I presume to be because no one ever injured themselves enough to merit that spell.

There was something I did note about most of the Advanced-tier spells. Casting them felt a bit… how do I put this, awkward. By that I meant, they were almost all long-ranged. Either that, or they were inherently not made for combat at all. 

Like, what am I supposed to do with the ability to make the air much warmer over a wide area? Not like I could toast my enemies to death. Ah, geez. That makes it sound like I’m planning on murdering someone. I’m not, I swear.

But, I realized the practicality of the spells nonetheless. For one, Roxas had used a spell to make it rain during an extended drought, to the delight of the villagers. Naturally, I wasn’t there to witness it happen, but I’d heard it from conversations with Paul. As it turns out, Roxas had been doing odd jobs around the village. He helped out anyone who needed him, and he charged money in return.

Originally, I was going to tell him off. It’s common knowledge to do things without asking for anything in return, so what made him think he was better than that? But after I gave it a second thought, I figured this world had a different way of approaching things. 

Well… it’s not like I did things out of the kindness of my heart either. Not only did I ignore people in need, but I also became a problem for my family. Haha…

Now, let’s talk a little more about Roxas. The boy had a bit of a temper. It was nothing tsundere-levels, but it was clear to see that he wasn’t too fond of being teased or made fun of. He was like a kid thinking he was an adult and getting mad when people pointed out their immaturity. 

He helped out at a tailor’s shop, to my surprise. He didn’t seem to be the type, but I supposed it was a handy thing to know. He brought me things like hair buns and smaller accessories, stuff that wasn’t too big. Maybe he was just a beginner? 

Anyway, he was more or less the first friend I’d made this this world. I occasionally peered over the lawn’s gates and saw kids playing around. I wanted to call out to them and greet them, but I never managed to do it. I was much too scared, too worried that they would make fun of me and bully me the way I once was. 

And so, I stayed at home. 

---

I was now five. 

Here in this world, you don't have a birthday party every single year. It was one extravagant party every 5 years. Who came up with that custom?

Anyway, since I had no real friends aside from Roxas, the celebration was on the small side. It reminded me of birthday parties in my previous life.  

That aside, for my birthday my father gifted me a… dress. Not a super poofy frilly one that princesses wore. But a nice, plain dress with white and tan stripes. I’m not one of those super girly girls, far from it. But upon receiving this gift, I was overjoyed. I had been wearing shorts and plain tunics all this life, after all. 

“Can I try this on now?” I asked my father, who was beaming. 

“Of course you can, sweetie.” I raced upstairs and put it on. I came back as fast as I could run in a dress. 

My mother covered her mouth and said, “You’re beautiful!”

 Seeing them all smiling at me, I started to tear up. A loving family, all staring at me with joy in their eyes. The scene itself felt so unreal that I had to remind myself that this was my new reality. 

I was so happy. 

Zenith came up to me and handed me a book. “Because you love reading.” 

It was a botanical encyclopedia. I had no idea how much a book cost, but judging how all of them were handwritten, they had to be expensive. Even if they were dirt cheap, I still appreciated this gift with everything I had.

I set it down and hugged my mother. “Thank you so much, mama!” 

It was the first time I had called her my mother out loud. Before, I felt like I still had some attachment to my old parents this whole time. But at this moment, I had finally been set free. That life was in the past now. These were my parents now. And I loved them oh so much. 

Roxas gifted me a wand. I had completely forgotten about magical tools and the like that I used to see in fiction all the time, thanks to my use of incantationless magic. It didn’t look like anything I was familiar with, but it was beautiful. The gem on top encased in a metal cage of sorts was so captivating. 

“It’s been a minute since I started saving up for this thing, so take care of it, won’t ya? You’re supposed to give one just like this to your students once they master the basic stuff, but it flew over my head. You surprised me so much with almost everything about you that I forgot about it. That’s got to count for something, right kiddo?” 

“Hehe.” Being praised by the guy was a great change of pace compared to his usual formal-like approach to things. “Thank you, Mister Roxas. I’ll cherish it.”

Lilia stepped forward. 

She gave me an embroidered handkerchief. “This handkerchief was made from the finest pieces of cloth I could find. Please accept this gift.” 

It was pretty, and I figured that once I got older, I’d have more than one use for a handkerchief. It was handy. “Thank you, Miss Lilia. I really appreciate it.” 

Just as I thought we were about to eat, Lilia spoke up again. 

“As per the request of your mother, I will be teaching you Asuran etiquette every afternoon from now on.”

 Etiquette? That might come in handy if I ever find myself somewhere in the capital city or a town near it. Why not? It wouldn’t hurt anything besides my training with Roxas, which was beginning to turn into just reviews and conversation since I had mastered every spell under Saint-tier that Roxas knew.

“Thank you!” I directed a warm smile towards Lilia. 

And so, my birthday celebration truly began. 

---

The day following my birthday celebration, Lilia began to teach me etiquette.

 “Keep your back straight and try to fold your hips. That’s it. Make sure to look graceful, and never subservient.” 

She started with the very basics. A proper greeting. As a former Japanese, all I knew was just the typical bow. Although, I kind of sucked at this. 

 “Like this?” I asked sheepishly.
“Your back is not straight and your knees are also bent. Pay more attention to your feet,” Lilia reprimanded.

I couldn’t straighten out my knees while also focusing on the three other things I was supposed to do. 

“That’s not it. Watch me.” She elegantly pulled off the greeting that I couldn't grasp. I tried to mimic her movements. Frankly, this position was like stretching out all of my leg muscles while trying to keep myself balanced without using my arms. No, that was exactly what it was.

“Uh, this is a bit painful…” Lilia nodded. “That’s quite alright.” 

When I originally heard etiquette, I thought it was going to be a bit more like being respectful with your language or knowing how to treat nobility and the like. However, that was only scratching the surface. Etiquette included basic behaviors like greeting, standing, and walking. As it turns out, being able to pull this off consistently meant I’d probably have to keep myself in shape.

Lilia, having decided that was enough for the greetings, proceeded to teach me the basics of table manners, most of which I already knew. 

She also told me to avoid people who looked at me with upturned eyes and creepy grins. I didn’t need to be told this, but to Lilia, it was probably something important. Lilia was quite the beauty, so I could see why she was subject to all of this. I felt bad for her and felt further scorn for men like that who looked at her that way.

Anyway, she sat me down and began recounting her story. 

Lilia used to be a royal maid of sorts a few years back. Not only was she a maid, but she was one of those kickass maids who looked gentle but could pull off crazy stuff. She was hired to be a bodyguard.

I didn’t know until now, but Lilia in her prime had some decent skill with the sword. However, just decent didn’t cut it when an assassin tried to kill the newborn princess. 

Lilia managed to fend off the assassin, but in the process, she was gashed in the leg. It wasn’t a very substantial wound, but the catch was that the blade held by the assassin was poisoned. The poison was a rare and extremely effective kind, one that wouldn’t go away even when purified. Thankfully, they did manage to neutralize the poison somewhat. Even still, Her run was reduced to a limping stagger. As a result, Lilia’s days of being a bodyguard were over. 

They kicked her out, and she was forced to live the next few months in fear of being killed or tortured by people who wanted to know about the royal family’s inner workings. She liked the capital, sure. But she wasn’t going to risk her life staying. She packed her things and got on the road, looking for somewhere she would be safe. 

Her destination was the Fittoa region, a vast area populated by common folk. Alongside that, there were tons of farmland and fields. Plus, it was at the edge of the kingdom, so there were almost no nobles in the region. However, problems arose when she began looking for work. Finding a place to work where she was both paid well and safe proved to be a daunting challenge. 

One month later, she finally came across a job that caught her eye. It was a job listing, specifically for a housekeeper and someone with experience with small children. The employer was a knight, so she would probably make decent money. But the employer’s name caught her attention: Paul Greyrat.

Paul had been a student training with Lilia long ago. He had appeared in Lilia’s training hall out of nowhere and blew away the competition. Despite that, he was gone after a few months, declaring, “I’m going to become an adventurer!” 

Evidently, my father was all over the place in his youth. It had been seven years since she had last seen him, and Lilia could scarcely believe Paul, the same eccentric man she looked down upon, was married with children. If anything, she knew he was somewhat trustworthy, so he’d probably help Lilia out. Equipped with that mindset, she departed and eventually got to know Zenith and the modern-day Paul.

After she finished, we went to the yard. I decided to say something that I couldn’t help but ask. “Lilia, have you ever thought of having a child?” I blurted out. 

Her eyes widened and I could’ve sworn I saw a hint of red on her cheeks. “No, I haven’t. I plan on serving this household at least until you’re fully grown up, so I don’t believe I have time for something like that.” 

Hmm. Lilia’s children would probably be cute, so that’s a shame. I pictured her surrounded by two babies with reddish-brown hair. I smiled at the reverie.

“Lumi, back to the topic at hand here. I brought you outside to educate you on the basics of the sword,” she spoke, her usual demeanor fading as she started speaking professionally.

No way. I’m not gonna be swinging swords around like a madman. 

She promptly sat me down. Ah, maybe this isn’t a hands-on lesson? That’s perfectly fine by me, then.

She gave me a rundown of different sword arts. Swordsmanship had been around for thousands of years, it seemed. Once, many centuries ago, there were three great heroes who all used swords to fight together. It was said that each of their sword styles was passed down and inherited until they became the three leading styles in the whole world.

The North God Style: Allowed the user to adapt to most situations and get out unscathed. It was mostly trickery and misdirection to fool your opponent. 

The Water God Style: Focused on defensive maneuvers, and then taking advantage of openings in your opponent to counter with force. 

The Sword God Style: The opposite of the Water God style. It was based around high-speed moves and cutting down your opponent–ideally with a single blow.

Similarly to magic, the more proficient you were at any given sword style, your title rose. It used the same titles for mages, being Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Saint, King, Emperor,  and God. Also, it was typical when referring to swordsmen to address them as “Water God” or “Water Saint” or whatever their level of proficiency was. 

While the premise of sword-fighting is interesting, I’d rather stick to my area of expertise. I wanted to dedicate myself to improving that aspect of mine, so for now I’d stay away from it. Maybe I’d change my mind, but I wasn’t sure just yet.

---

Despite my growth in magic hitting a wall, I was still learning more about the practical use of it and how to use it efficiently. 

“What would happen if you cast Ice Pillar and Fireball aimed at it?” Roxas quizzed. 

“You’d get a gust of scalding hot air!” I responded. Roxas nodded and moved on.

By combining two different schools of magic in one fell swoop, you used what was known as Melded Magic. I tried using what I knew from my previous life to help me out here, with stuff like the fundamentals of a raincloud. 

Roxas told me that while mages themselves weren’t rare, finding a capable one was. 

“Only one in a hundred magicians can properly learn the art and graduate from magic school, becoming Advanced-tier magicians.” I didn’t care enough to do the math on that, but I knew how scarcely you’d find an Advanced-tier magician. 

Wait. Magic school? With the head principal having a long beard and there being a long-dead evil mage out to get him? 

“So, there’s magic schools?” I said, my eyes surely gleaming. 

“Yes, there are. I graduated from the Ranoa University of Magic myself. The facilities there are gorgeous, and I made tons of good friends there, not to mention how much I improved back in the day. If you ever find yourself interested in furthering your magical studies, I’d advise you to go there.” 

As much as the thought of a prestigious magic university excited me, I couldn't help but think it was a little too early to be thinking about school. The concept of school didn't appeal to me much. I’d made terrible memories there, and who knows if the kids in this world are worse than on Earth? I’d have to want to go there for me to attend. 

“Mister Roxas, we’re talking about things far off from now, aren't we? How come?” I asked. 

“Well, very soon I’ll run out of things to teach you.” Roxas looked down sullenly. Well, that’s fine, isn’t it? We could spar together afterward, and maybe we could both improve. Plus, there was a lot I didn’t know about the guy as a person, which made me want to spend time with him informally some more.

However, I’m not sure I was prepared for what Roxas would say next.

“Your graduation is coming up pretty soon, kid. So maybe talking about this now isn’t so much a bad idea.” 

Wait, wait, wait, wait. Graduation? How come I never heard about this?