Chapter 9
“This is just… so unlucky.”
Minity buried her face back into the pillow, her expression heavy and numb, as though submerged in water.
I’m doomed.
The Count’s proposal was unlike anything she had ever imagined.
So… he wants me to use magic to join the Magus Tower?
She groaned, turning onto her side. The canary stared at her intently, only inches away. Her fever-clouded mind was still sluggish and foggy.
“What am I supposed to do now?”
“Do what?”
“What do you mean, what? The Count told me to use magic. But if I do, won’t it make me sick again?”
“Hmmm…”
The canary rested its chin on its wings and remained silent. Only yesterday had Minity even begun to comprehend the situation. The explanation from Canaria had been succinct yet accurate: whether she liked it or not, she would be tightly entangled with Count Kirhoff from now on. That was Minachelty’s fate.
And the reason she could use magic was that her magical power depended on her soul, not her physical body.
So… my magic is my own strength, and I can use it freely, right?
You’d better not. Your body is too weak to withstand the power.
That had been Canaria’s advice just last night, and, as if to prove it, she had begun to suffer feverishly at dawn.
And now, in her current state, she was expected to qualify for the right to wield magic freely. Minity pinned her hopes on Canaria, silently wishing he would offer a practical solution to end her dilemma.
“I don’t know!”
But all Canaria offered was a dumbfounded answer.
“You figure it out yourself, then.”
An angel supposedly guiding her, yet acting so carefree. Minity couldn’t read him at all. She cursed him in her mind as a useless little sparrow and buried her face back in the pillow.
“So… you don’t mind being stuck with that unlucky guy?”
“Yep!”
“Of course you don’t.”
Her glum muttering earned a cheerful response from Canaria. Frustrated, Minity lunged to grab him, but he had already darted to the edge of the bed with nimble precision.
Sigh.
The aftermath of just one use of magic had already taken such a toll.
How am I supposed to wield magic if my body can’t handle it?
Minity closed her drowsy eyes, attempting to rest. But then, a single thought struck her sharply. She bolted upright.
I’ve got it—a solution!
Late evening. Minrhel’s presence was felt as he returned to the room.
Groaning softly, Minity struggled to lift her still-heavy body and peeked into the corridor. After confirming that no one was around, she crept stealthily like a stray cat to Minrhel’s door. She knocked cautiously.
“Who’s there?”
“Minachelty.”
The sound of someone moving inside came from the room. Instead of granting permission, the door simply opened.
“Minity?”
“I’m sorry for bothering you while you’re resting.”
“Come in.”
Minrhel stepped aside. The room was lined with books, and a sizable desk occupied one corner, alongside a small pile of experimental instruments.
“I heard you had a fever.”
“Yes?”
A hand suddenly reached out from behind, pressing gently against Minity’s forehead. She blinked, almost incapable of cognition.
Minrhel, expression calm and measured, withdrew his hand after assessing her temperature.
“The fever hasn’t subsided yet.”
“Ah…”
“You took your medicine, I assume?”
“Yes, just now.”
“Good.”
He nodded briefly, then fell silent. Is he… worried? Though his tone was stiff, his concern seemed to carry a softer meaning beneath the formality.
“So… what did you come for?”
“I have a favor to ask.”
“A favor?”
Minrhel tilted his head and crossed his arms.
“Since you came here while still unwell, it must be important.”
Her instincts, engraved into her body, stiffened her posture. Minrhel’s clipped way of speaking even made her feel momentarily intimidated.
“May I borrow the book you used when first learning magic?”
“Magic? You? Why?”
“I’ve gotten a bit curious about something.”
“If you’re curious, just ask me. Magic books will be hard for you to understand since you know nothing about magic.”
He answered firmly.
Huh… he’s not ignoring me, exactly.
Minity bit her lip lightly. Though she could have sought the books herself, his approach of controlling access to knowledge had sparked her determination.
“No, I’ll study it myself and figure it out.”
“You’ve never learned magic before. How do you intend to read it?”
“I’ll interpret it carefully. Please lend me the books.”
“I don’t understand why you suddenly show interest in magic.”
Minrhel raised one eyebrow. It’s just lending the books… why make a fuss?
Minity muttered internally, frustrated that nothing went according to plan.
“Fine… there’s no reason I can’t lend them to you.”
But then, Minrhel changed his tone.
“Really?”
“Yes. They’re on the far left of the bookshelf. You can take them. You don’t need to return them.”
He spoke casually, gesturing toward the shelf. Minity quickly approached, fearing he might change his mind, and pointed to one tightly packed book.
“Thank you. Is it this one?”
“No.”
Turning her head in confusion, she saw him remove his tie pin and place it in a drawer, shaking his head at her.
“All the books in that section.”
“All of them?”
“They’re all basic magic manuals. I don’t know what you want to learn exactly, but to understand fundamental magic, you need to study everything.”
All of this…?
She counted over ten densely packed books, feeling as though a legion of tiny mischievous spirits grinned at her.
“Here’s an introduction to magical scripts, here’s a primer on mana, magical mathematics…”
Generously, Minrhel pulled each book one by one, stacking them on her rigid arms.
“And this is Understanding Elemental Magic.”
He paused before placing the last book atop the pile.
“Oh, but…”
“?”
“You’d better keep your study of these hidden from your parents.”
Minrhel placed the final book carefully in her arms.
Why?
Minity wanted to ask why she needed to hide it from them, but she couldn’t.
“So… yesterday was…”
“Thank you for lending me the books!”
Minity hastily fled Minrhel’s room, avoiding any further awkward questions. Back in her own room, Canaria swooped down and perched on her shoulder as if waiting.
“Where did you go?”
“To Minrhel’s.”
Minity answered vaguely, stacking the borrowed books on her desk before diving onto the bed. She hoped her condition would recover fully by tomorrow.
Sleep well tonight. I’ll start studying tomorrow.
She closed her eyes, feeling it was a sound plan. But Canaria seemed intent on keeping her awake.
“Why? Why did you go?”
“To borrow magic books.”
“Why magic books?”
“Why else? For joining the Magus Tower.”
“But won’t using magic make you sick again?”
“I’ve come up with a good method.”
Minity waved her hand, shooing the chatty Canaria away. But he persisted, flitting annoyingly around her face.
“What method? Tell me! I need to know too.”
“You won’t help anyway.”
“But I’m curious!”
Canaria tugged at her hair with his beak. Minity furrowed her brow and retrieved her hair from his grasp.
“If you refine your mana, you can use magic without getting sick every time.”
“Really… going to join the Magus Tower?”
“Yes.”
“…Do as you please.”
Canaria’s tone was indifferent as he left her side. Minity, eyes still closed, accepted his words halfheartedly.
I don’t know what he’ll ask of me…
The medicine she took after dinner made her drowsy. Despite having slept most of the day, sleep overtook her again.
Did he think I couldn’t do it?
Teeth clenched, Minity hurled herself into a relentless whirl of practice.
The next day, Minity’s condition was fully restored. She hummed cheerfully, settling by the window. Warm sunlight bathed the slightly soiled pages of her books.
– No magic may interfere with the flow of space-time. It is an absolute taboo…
Her peace was broken by someone interrupting her reading.
“Miss, I brought some snacks.”
It was Minachelty’s maid, Ella.
“Reading books? You had such a fever yesterday; I’m glad you’ve calmed down in just a day.”
Ella chattered as she neatly arranged the tray of treats on the table.
How worried… oh my, Miss!
Ella suddenly waved her finger in alarm at her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Are you out of your mind? What are you reading right now?”
