Libarius' Magic Tool

Libarius begins leading Gracia and Lama further into the house. He opens up a door into a dark room. Libarius walks inside as the other two peer inside. When he returns, his typical black cane has replaced the wooden rod. Lama begins to complain.

“Give me back my staff!”

“Such a shoddy thing will hardly befit you. Letting you use such a subpar tool would shame both Father and I.” Lama sticks her tongue out at him.

Libarius then leads them elsewhere. He opens a door into a small connecting room, then opens the door again to their destination. Contrary to the rest of the house, this room has tiled floors. The walls are decorated ornately with dull-colored shapes. On the far wall is a semicircular pool raised up several steps. Gracia seems worried at the sight.

“Libarius… did you reroute the water supply?”

“Of course not. That would be hardly interesting.”

“Then why is there a bath here?”

“When I was on the train bound for the city, I had a thought. I believed that I would be able to construct a magic tool that works as a bath in a fully self-contained system. Father decided to aid me, and so he gave me this room to use.”

“Have you… actually used it before?”

“Not at all. Regrettably, Father had gotten too invested in the construction of the room, and so it was only recently that I was able to make the tool itself. And the tool was quite complex, just in terms of the number of its parts, causing the project to have only just finished.” Gracia approaches the pool and starts inspecting its outer rim. Libarius follows after her.

“How did you make it?”

“As I’m certain you’ve realized, in the rim I put several tools that can modify the temperature of the water.” He reaches up to a vibrant blue stone jutting out of the wall slightly. “In this stone I used several spells, one that produces water,” a lower tile pops open and allows water to pour into the bath, “and one that operates the mechanics to pour it in.”

“You’re able to use magic tools?”

“My curse seems not to have impaired the flow of my magic, only my ability to cast spells. The processes involved in activating a magic tool haven’t been restricted at all.”

“I see. Then why haven’t you used any of the ones—”

“I should have guessed you would notice that. That must remain a secret, Gracia.”

“What? Are they that dangerous?”

“Dangerous enough that I doubt I would be allowed to keep them.”

“Why did the Major General give you things like that?” Libarius looks at her with a blank expression for a few seconds.

“My own protection. They aren’t apt to operate on their own, not like that rod, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“You won’t use them against anybody?”

“It would be irritating were I to do so.”

“Alright. Are you sure that this bath works properly?”

“Of course. I’m the one who made it, after all. Though that has become its one failing as well.”

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Few people can operate it. I can, with ease. I imagine that you could. Father and Mr. Tetricum could as well. But I’ve met no others who I believe would be able to so simply.”

“Because it takes too much power to make the water.”

“Indeed. Ah, if only the common person were powerful enough.” The water fills to an appropriate level, marked by a colored line inside. Libarius begins to leave, his cane tapping against the tiles. “I’ll be off then.”

Libarius walks out of the room. He walks to the opposite side of the hallway and sits against the wall.

Inside, Gracia and Lama strip and deposit their muddied clothes in the connecting room. They sit in the bath together.

Outside, Opera returns with a bundle of clothes in her arms. She’s surprised when she sees Libarius sitting there.

“Young Master Libarius, what are you doing here?”

“I wish to hear Gracia’s opinion regarding the efficacy of the bath.”

“I see.”

Opera steps into the connecting room. She steps out once more, now carrying Gracia’s clothes. Opera walks off elsewhere. She returns a while later, carrying only Gracia’s clothes, now cleaned. She returns them to the connecting room then leaves once more.

Inside the bath, Gracia is using magic to help in washing Lama, with her focus especially trained in caring for her hair. All the while, she and Lama are talking.

“…I’ll teach you these spells, then you’ll be able to take care of this yourself.”

“Okay. This isn’t like a river.”

“It isn’t. But I thought we would have a little tub of water, so it’s a little bit closer.”

“Why’s that?”

“A city usually only has however many public baths. So it’s usually only the super rich who could have one like this at home, and even then they won’t use them that often.” She giggles. “I wouldn’t have thought that Libarius would make something like this.”

“Is he really so impressive?”

“He is. He figured out what you would do just by seeing the mud in the water.”

“He’s a devil.”

“He really isn’t. You should get along with him.”

“I don’t want to.”

“I want you to. He’s your brother now, after all.”

“How?”

“You’re both the Major General’s children now. And he’s the one who made it happen, so I’m sure that he wants to be your family. So I’m sure he’d be happy if you got along.”

“Why are you helping him?” Gracia pauses for a moment before answering.

“He’s my friend. I want him to be happy.” Lama takes a moment to think.

“A brother…” She then submerges herself further into the water for a moment, before being pulled up by Gracia.

“I’ve fixed up your hair, so we should get out now.”

The two of them get out of the bath, Gracia activating another magic tool that begins to drain away the water on the way. They walk into the connecting room and dry themselves off with towels, then begin to get dressed. Lama slips on a light blue dress left there by Opera then leaves the room.

As Lama leaves the room, she reveals Gracia’s naked body to Libarius. Gracia quickly casts a spell on Libarius, who still sits against the wall, forcing him through the wooden floor.