According to what I saw in an anime, a fundamental pillar of magic is the understanding of processing and execution.
In other words, I need to understand the physical principle of how a flame is produced.
Although I'm not going to conjure fire or anything complex at this exact moment, I just need to verify my aptitude with the discipline.
However, it all remains a mere conjecture from someone who watched a lot of anime and read manga.
I've decided to try a dimensional storage spell as my first test.
Since the concept of a pocket dimension is inherently complex, I simply imagined a threshold opening into the absolute void in front of me.
Then, I closed my eyes and tried to perceive the flow of latent mana within me.
Oh. Quick...
I felt a warm current running through my bloodstream almost instantly, or wherever it actually flowed.
When I opened my eyes, a subtle black distortion oscillated in the space in front of me.
I stared at her for a long time, filled with wonder and curiosity. Then I tried to bring in some nearby objects: the comb from the desk and the vase of flowers.
After arranging them inside, I dispelled the dimensional space and invoked it again.
When I reached out to look for the contents, there was the comb, exactly as I had left it.
Apparently, the dimension's interface automatically indexes everything that crosses its threshold into the summoner's subconscious.
It's a classic trick in fantasy stories, but its tactical usefulness is undeniable.
Magic acquisition successfully completed!
Moments later, the maid —who had a bright and somewhat erratic look— returned with the food tray.
I barely tasted half of it; my body usually eats little, but this bordered on the unusual.
The woman looked at me with obvious concern, although she immediately broke into a tender smile.
I suppose that some people in this world, despite their mental eccentricities, retain a genuine kindness.
I want to think that.
I sincerely hope it doesn't start licking the spoon I used. I gazed at it with the devotion reserved for sacred relics.
I woke up with a start. I don't have a clock handy, but I reckon it's early morning. The urge that jolted me awake was a desperate need to urinate.
¿Mmm?
I'm not going to torment myself now about inhabiting a child's body. It's too late for regrets.
The immediate problem is much more mundane: I have no idea where the services are.
I didn't ask anyone about that detail before, and it's obvious that my devoted but terrifying maid must be resting in her quarters.
So I got out of bed and crossed the threshold into the gloom.
The corridor is gloomy and oppressive, lit only by oil lamps that barely dispel the shadows.
I'm not terrified of ghosts or nighttime myths. Specters can't physically harm you. They don't have that privilege.
After wandering around for a while, I had to admit the inevitable: I'm completely lost. I've been aimlessly going up and down stairs. A pang of loneliness gripped my chest.
I've been walking for over half an hour. I don't want to wake the servants or bother anyone. I must stay strong; I can still hold out a little longer.
It was then that I noticed a bedroom with an imposing double door. A sliver of light filtered through the cracks. Inside, two voices were conversing in audible whispers. They were the king of Astra and his advisor.
"Your Majesty, the return method you all talk about... Isn't it supposed to exist? Although it's mentioned in ancient records, it can only be channeled by the heirs of true dragons and their immense magical power. Why did you assure them it was impossible?" the advisor inquired. Enjoying the story? Read on at NovelPing.
"I don't want them to lose focus before their next training, Ishtal... I know perfectly well that this deception will take its toll on me morally sooner or later. I will reveal it to you when the calamity has been defeated. By then, I will have the heroes train in our domains and travel the world to test themselves against the leaders of other continents and their champions," the monarch replied in a grave voice.
—It seems you still retain that wild obstinacy of your younger days...Even trusting the other leaders of the continent
—Well, I crossed paths with them a couple of times during my youthful travels-
¡CRASH!
Oh...!
As I eavesdropped, the weight of my body caused the heavy door to give way slightly inwards.
I panicked and fell backward onto the stone floor. The impact hurt intensely. This fragile child's body has virtually no pain tolerance.
Ah.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I couldn't stop them. I thought bitterly: How on earth am I supposed to survive with this physique...?
Before I had time to get up, the king and his advisor's eyes were already on me. Their faces reflected a mixture of astonishment and bewilderment at my pathetic scene.
"Girl, are you spying late at night?!" roared the king.
"Hey! No...! I... I wasn't...!" I sneered in a pitiful voice.
The physiological urge struck again with full force; I was one step away from an unavoidable accident. I had to come up with something coherent or my alibi would collapse.
—E-Etto... the bathroom... —I stammered.
—Hmm? I didn't quite hear you, little one. Can you repeat that?
—The bathroom! I 'm lost! I sob . I can't find my way!
I burst into tears, completely uncontrollable. The situation was urgent and couldn't wait. I didn't care if their faces froze in astonishment! I needed help immediately.
I clung to the hem of the royal robe and looked up, pleading with him through tears.
-Please!
—W-Wait! Don't cry like that! I promise I wasn't angry with you, I just... calm down, please. Look, I'll take you right now!
-Really?
—Of course! And after that, I'll accompany you back to your room.
"Yes! Thank you, Fon-sama!" I exclaimed with relief.
The exchange between the monarch and me left the advisor in complete silence. At first, the king's expression was rigid, but faced with my incessant sobs, he finally sighed and placed a warm hand on my head, offering to escort me. Suddenly, a strange warmth spread through my chest.
Is this what it feels like to have an older brother?
"Your name is Asagao, isn't it? And you share the same surname as the royal house: Lionheart," he murmured with a gentle smile.
—Yes! Asagao! Asagao Lionheart! Just like you, Fon-sama!
"This world is full of peculiar coincidences... And..." the king paused for a moment.
He broke into a genuine smile at my enthusiastic response. We set off down the corridor side by side. At first, I kept pace with him, but it only took a minute for his long, grown-up strides to easily leave me behind.
He seemed to have completely forgotten that he was walking next to a nine-year-old girl. By the time we reached the next corner, I had lost sight of him completely.
Huh?!
Huh?! This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Again...?!
Is that why they call him an idiot behind his back? He's infuriatingly clueless about these things. My legs buckled from accumulated fatigue and I fell to my knees on the tiles.
The tears started flowing again. Was this another form of harassment? Despair overwhelmed me, heightened by my body's hypersensitivity to physical pain and frustration.
It was pathetic. All I could do was curl up and sob silently against the corner of the wall.
Then, a few light pats landed on my head. His touch was surprisingly soft and warm. Do displays of affection always feel this comforting? When I looked up, I saw him there: the king, pale-faced, breathing heavily, and muttering curses under his breath at his carelessness.
His pure white hair, identical to mine, faintly captured the scant night light, enhancing an almost ethereal beauty. His pale blue eyes shone with a soft gleam, framed by strong, defined features, with a straight nose that seemed sculpted by a master craftsman.
Despite her unique, almost delicate, appeal, her evident agitation and human clumsiness shattered any facade of regal coldness.
"I'm so sorry! I truly apologize! I should never have left a little girl like you behind!" she apologized with genuine remorse.
—...
I remained silent, watching him with my face contorted by tears. He seemed so genuinely remorseful that I decided to forgive him inwardly. Just as I was processing that, he bent down and, with a firm but careful movement, lifted me into his arms, forcing me to instinctively cling to his neck. I was completely stunned.
This is too much...! My brain was unable to process the naturalness of his actions.
"I'll carry you on my back the rest of the way to make sure we never get separated again," he declared matter-of-factly.
At that moment my mind went blank. A profound sense of security enveloped me. Is it an instinctive remnant of the child's body I inhabit? Or is it a repressed longing for familial affection? It's probably an amalgamation of both.
I felt dazed, floating between an inexplicable bliss and a warmth that threatened to overflow my eyes again. I think a silly smile crept across my lips, and the king returned the gesture with a knowing smile as he dabbed away the traces of tears with his own handkerchief. He is tall, strong, and reliable. I could perceive that with perfect clarity.
A man of firm convictions, though desperately naive. An exceptional monarch, but profoundly human in his flaws.
As he continued carrying me down the corridor, a night watchman intercepted us. Recognizing his superior, he immediately snapped to attention to bow, but upon seeing me on the king's shoulders, he blinked in bewilderment.
"Your Highness, I am completely unfamiliar with the affairs of the royal family, but... were you unaware that you had a younger sister?" asked the guard, visibly confused.
"She's not my sister. She's under the direct protection of the heroes," the monarch replied curtly.
—Ah, my sincerest apologies. Even so, the resemblance between you two is undeniable.
—At this point, I too am speechless about it, soldier.
—I understand... But if I may say so, with that expression she looks like a real angel...
The young guard suddenly looked away, blushing from ear to ear for no apparent reason.
Judging by his build, he was a recruit in his mid-twenties.
He tried to point at something with his finger, but stopped abruptly, holding his breath.
It was at that moment that I realized a terrible detail: I was still in my nightgown and, with the sudden movements, my underwear had been exposed.
My thought process froze for a moment.
The soldier opened his enormous eyes and looked at the king in absolute panic.
—Your Highness...! The girl... isn't wearing underwear!
"What?!" exclaimed Fon, stopping dead in his tracks.
Okay, this was unexpected....