The reason in between

The following day, we arrived at the village and bought an Inn to rest comfortably. It took awhile for the three to get back to their senses, but thankfully, I managed to snap them back to normal…

Right now, sitting on a desk at the window, I continue writing the magic Marieka wanted me to make. However, I just can’t seem to focus with three of them staring from behind.

I tried to hide my irritation.

“W… would you three, please not distract someone while writing….?” I exhaled while stuttering.

Immediately they stepped back, acting like they weren’t just staring at me for ten straight minutes…

I couldn’t help but hold my temple from these three whimsicals. I placed the quill pen to its inkwell and turned to my shoulder. “I do have to warn you, that magic is taboo. You must never let this be known to the public. Understood?” My tone sharpened.

They recoiled back, nodding in sync.

Makes me wonder how they’ll react if I clarify this is a few taboo spells I possess…?

I scratched my head before turning to the desk, leaning forward and crossing my arms using it as a pillow, resting my head and closing my eyes.

“We've been traveling for a whole month now… There’s so many things happening that I can’t even sleep….” I groaned, sulking. “I’ll sleep now okay? Please don’t disturb me unless it’s necessary…”

Easing up, I fell asleep and snored. Behind meーthey stared at each other confused as to what to do next.

⇔ ⇔ ⇔ ⇔

“G… Gehuah… Huh…” Slowly, my eyes began opening, vision blurred as my face felt like being embraced by a warm cloud, the scent of flowers lingered as I tried to wake up.

I buried my face in whatever it was.

“Mmm… So soft…” I smiled happily.

My vision eventually cleared, only to see Annaliese’s sleeping face in front of me, and so what felt like being embraced by clouds turned out to be her chest.

I tilted my head, confused.

When did I get in the bed…? And why is Annaliese sleeping next to me?

I gently pulled myself back from Annaliese's embrace and stood up, looking around the room. I saw Astrid on the other bed sleeping soundly, her clothes hanging in the corner. Marieka, meanwhile, was on the desk scribbling on the same paper I’ve been writing.

She really wants to complete that magic huh…?

I yawned and stretched my arms, Marieka heard my voice and turned to me smiling, putting back the quill to the inkwell.

“Good morning, Eilise… Sorry for earlier, we were just really shocked, Ehehe~~.”

“It’s fine… I understand… It’s a magic you’ve never seen before, and it’s taboo… Anyways, who carried me in the bed?” I wiped my eyes.

Marieka’s expression shot up.

“Uhm… Annaliese, and she slept beside you the whole time…”

I covered my face. Pushing the blanket away and going off the bed, lazily fixing the strap from my nightgown as I approached the desk, looking at the paper to see what she wrote down this time.

In the middle was the magic circle I addedーincluding the equations and theories of the concept, and underneath she wrote… The correct method…?

I tilted my head, squinting my eyes. “Wait, you actually got a few right.”

“REALLY!!? Then, the book I bought was really helpful then.”

Though, I just need to fix a few things…

I took the quill from the inkwell, leaned down and wrote on the paper. As my pen ran through the paper, I couldn’t help but wonder why Marieka was staring at my chest the whole time.

I stopped and turned to her. “....Is there something wrong? You’ve been staring at my chest.”

She pouted, crossing her arms.

“Have you been eating a lot…?”

“What do you mean? My diet’s the same as before.”

“I eat more than you, yet I still haven't grown…” She sulked.

I exhaled, my brows twitching.

Resuming, I continued to scribble through the paper, adding the necessary equations to complete the magicーbefore stopping my pen at the last word, then the letters began glowing blue before the light flooded the room for a second.

Marieka turned to me like she’d seen an explosion. “W… what was that…?”

“It’s finished. Your magic,” I returned the quill to the inkwell.

She gasped before taking the paper and raising it in the air. “I WANT TO TEST IT OUT!!! LET’S GO OUTSIDE!!”

“Please… Marieka… Give your pointed hat a break.” I stepped back from the desk, cracking my wrist. “I’m just glad that a hundred years have passed. If I had been born back then, this is something I wouldn’t even be making.”

Marieka jolted before she gave a puzzled expression.

“A hundred years ago…? During the hero’s time?”

“You probably haven’t heard of it, Marieka. That the kingdoms harbor hatred toward each other?”

“Huh? Really…?!! I remember, a month back when I first found you, you mentioned something about maintaining your relationship with the pointed hats, and that making a single mistake could cost a political war right?”

“That’s because a hundred years agoーfive of us were out there killing each other.”

Marieka’s expression shot up. “EHHH?!!! But… What about the incident regarding the pointed hats and the ten warlocks…? Was it during that time?”

“No… That was after the war. Before that, it was just a bloodbath. Currently, the kingdoms are at peace. But until now people still hate each other, they just tend to hide it well...”

Averting my gaze, I narrowed my eyes. That lady from before… I didn’t know whether or not she was hiding her hatred… So maybe I thought she was truly kind and that… I’d just assumed…

“ーSo… The reason why you’re scared was because…?”

I exhaled. “.....Being the strongest mage, they expect me to one day reclaim the lands we’ve lost. Meaning to declare war to the kingdoms and kill innocents… Ruining this era’s peaceful agreement. Of course his highness and I opposed this… However, to keep my image, I decided to shoulder their opinion.”

Pausing, I continued my explanation. “That is, of course, why the other kingdoms hate our kind. But that’s only the fanatical people… The majority are kind. I just happen to hear more of those people without a choice…”

I frowned, my eyes narrowing, averting my gaze before staying silent. Moments later, Marieka stood up from her chair and threw herself towards me, I recoiled back, balancing myself trying not to repeat what happened a month ago.

“ーSorry sorry!! Change the topic… Let’s test this magic tomorrow, okay?” She looked up at me.

I jolted, hesitating and turning my head away. “Fine, I hope you'd be happy with this magic…”

“How would I not?!! Your magic is beautiful Eilise!!”

“.....You’ve already said this before.” Pausing and exhaled, closing my eyes.