Let’s Live Together - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

-38-

“I-is anyone there?”

I knocked softly on the door. There was no response from inside. Just as I pressed my ear to the door to listen for any sounds, the door creaked open.

“Huh?”

It turned out the door was already ajar. Considering this was a place for mages, the lack of security felt surprisingly lax. It was almost as if they were saying that no harm would come even if someone wandered in. Does this mean it’s okay to go in?

“Do you think so too?” I asked the fairies peeking out from my bag. I had already rationalized entering in my mind.

“Let’s just go in.”

Whether the fairies shared my thoughts or simply didn’t care, they agreed.

“Alright, we’re going in…”

“Who is it?”

“Ahh!”

I shrieked as someone inside pulled the door open, surprising me. The person, equally startled, looked at us with wide eyes.

Judging by the robe-like attire, the person seemed to be a mage.

***

Joshua stared blankly at the woman who had entered with the fairies. Despite his extensive knowledge, he had never encountered fairies before. The woman was so beautiful that anyone would find their heart racing, not just someone like him, who rarely interacted with women.

“Ahem. I’m Delis Bannister..”

The goddess speaks.

“I’m Joshua.”

Responding automatically, Joshua realized the name sounded very familiar.

“Excuse me, who did you say you were?”

Though not particularly interested in nobility, Joshua recognized her name and the infamous reputation of her family. She was the wife of the well-known Bannister Duke.

“The wife of Duke Bannister, that…?”

Joshua recalled her husband, who had left a strong impression on him before.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

She was often referred to as the dazzling poisonous flower, notorious for her terrible personality. People said she was nice to look at from a distance but dangerous up close. Joshua had even felt a bit of sympathy for the Duke at times.

“What brings you here…?”

Hesitantly, Joshua asked, intimidated by her reputation. She seemed completely unrelated to this place.

“I want to learn magic. I came to see if I have the potential to learn.”

“Ma-magic?”

She wanted to learn magic? Magic wasn’t typically something noble ladies aspired to learn.

Joshua felt a disconnect between his expectations and reality. The Duchess seemed polite, nothing like the rumors suggested.

Joshua was pondering whether to risk calling Samuel when a voice interrupted.

“Delis, I mean Duchess?”

“…Prince Jafflin?”

The second prince, Jafflin, appeared, looking puzzled as he saw the Duchess.

“What brings you here?”

“I could ask you the same… Oh, you mentioned you’re skilled in magic.”

Realizing the connection, the Duchess nodded.

“Hmm? I never told you that. You’ve been quite interested in me, it seems.”

“That’s quite a delusion.”

Joshua was surprised by their apparent familiarity. Jafflin, despite his friendly demeanor, was known to keep strangers at a distance, especially picky noblewomen.

“So, what exactly are you doing here?”

“I want to learn magic.”

“Interesting.”

Jafflin’s interest was piqued as he noticed the fairies peeking out of her bag.

“Fairies?”

Realizing he was referring to them, the fairies lifted their heads.

“Delis, can we come out?”

The fairies seemed a bit cramped inside the bag.

“Sure, go ahead. We’re indoors anyway.”

“Yay!”

“This place is brimming with good energy!”

The fairies immediately flew out, their wings sparkling as they fluttered around. They flitted from Joshua to Jafflin, who commented as he looked at the fairy clinging to his arm.

“Fairies… How interesting. As expected, the Duchess is quite unique.”

With that, Jafflin turned around.

“We’d better get inside first, it won’t do any good for other magies to see a lot of fairies.”

“Good point.”

“Mages tend to get excited about rare things. Oh, and I think this one will be fine,” Jafflin said, pointing at Joshua.

“He’s one of the more mildly insane ones.”

Mildly insane? Joshua couldn’t tell if Jafflin’s words were an insult or a compliment, so he followed them inside, unsure of how to react.

Once seated, Jafflin, with a fairy perched on his head, asked,

“So, you suddenly want to learn magic?”

“Yes. Do you think I can?” The Duchess clasped her hands, her eyes shining with determination.

Joshua was confused. She was acting so differently from the rumors. And it didn’t seem like an act. Jafflin’s familiar behavior with her also helped shift Joshua’s perspective from expecting her to reveal a monstrous nature to thinking that perhaps the rumors were greatly exaggerated.

“Delis can definitely learn!” a fairy on Jafflin’s head exclaimed.

“To learn magic, you first need to understand ‘mana.’ Have you heard of it?”

“Yes, I’ve heard quite a bit,” I replied, drawing from my years as a fantasy novel reader.

“Oh, then you’ll catch on quickly,” Jafflin said, looking a bit surprised before continuing his explanation.

“The air in this world is saturated with mana. Though we don’t feel it, it’s all around us.”

Jafflin muttered words in a language that didn’t seem like the common tongue. Soon, a bright light erupted from his hand.

“In simple terms, you just need to arrange the ever-present mana around you.”

Joshua muttered something about how Jafflin made it sound too easy, mentioning how the prince didn’t understand their struggles.

“What were those words you said earlier?” I asked.

“Ah, that’s what I was getting to. It’s called ‘Lena,’ a language essential for casting spells.”

“It sounds like a girl’s name,” I remarked.

“There’s a joke among mages that you need to fall in love with Lena to master magic. ‘Lena’ is the tool we use to arrange mana. Someone who can perceive the flow of mana can pronounce certain Lena words to arrange the mana into spells.”

“Occasionally, someone with an extraordinary understanding of mana can cast spells without Lena, but that’s extremely rare and considered a miraculous event in mana research.”

Jafflin jested, saying even he couldn’t do that yet.

“I think you have the potential to study magic.”

“Really?” I asked, excitement bubbling up.

“To perceive the flow of mana, you first need to have mana within you. The capacity for mana is inherent and cannot be changed. You already have mana within you, as evidenced by the fairies who feel comfortable around you,” Jafflin explained, lightly tapping the fairy on his head.

“That’s because mana is a natural force. It’s natural for the fairies to feel a connection to the natural energy you possess. It’s the same for Joshua and me.”

“I see,” I said, understanding more now.

“Do you truly want to learn magic?” Jafflin asked seriously.

“Yes!”

“Why? Learning magic is not an easy task.”

“To protect,” I replied.

“To protect what?” he asked, his tone curious.

Myself, and eventually those around me. But for now…

“I’d like to be able to protect myself.”

Jafflin laughed heartily. “In that case, Duchess, may I make a suggestion?”

“What…”

-Thunk.

The closed door suddenly opened.