Eve of the Storm: Special Camp
The Special Camp on the Eve of the Storm. The name sounded grandiose, but in reality, it was pretty straightforward. It was basically the "Let's Try Anything" project. The idea was that enlightenment wouldn't just roll in if you sat around doing nothing, so why not give everything a shot?
"Urghhh…"
"How's it going, Ursa?"
"Hmm…"
With Lucas guiding me and Marien cheering me on, I'd been trying every damn thing under the sun until something clicked.
"…Yeah, this isn't it either."
"No way…"
"Attempt fifteen: Talking to the axe. Failure."
I'd spent the whole day staring down my axe and chatting it up. I figured if I kept at it, some magic to communicate with it would pop up. Nope. Epic fail.
"This is weird… I was sure this one would work."
"…"
This idea had come from Marien. A suggestion straight out of the playbook of a total weapon nut like her. If she'd tried it, maybe it would've worked?
"Butler dude, let's call it quits. Guess it's just not in the cards for me."
I flopped onto the ground to signal my surrender.
"Ursa…"
"This is truly peculiar. By now, you should've at least gotten a hint of something…"
"Maybe it's just a timing issue?"
"…Write that down. The timing seems perfect."
"Why? I'm still a kid."
"Mana and age have nothing to do with each other. Time is in the realm of physics. It doesn't touch the realm of magic."
What the hell does that even mean?
"Everything in magic boils down to mana alone. Young or old, man or woman, demon or human—it doesn't matter. Only that person's mana capacity, their qi reserves, counts."
So age is just a number, huh? Sounds like something someone super hung up on their age would say.
"In that sense, Lady Ursa, you're already more than prepared. Your mana levels rival a seasoned mage's."
"…Yeah."
My total qi was massive—no one could touch me there. It was enough to make most spells irrelevant.
…But I still wanna cast magic.
"Lady Ursa."
"Yeah?"
"Could it be you've misunderstood what an awareness dream is?"
"…"
Once I looked into awareness, I learned these dreams weren't one-and-done. You could have the same one repeatedly, or even see the content shift. People's desires change over time, so the dreams reflecting them do too.
I'd had two kinds so far.
The first came after slaughtering goblins on the Great Plains. In the dream, I saw myself massacring them with my axe. I thought it was just a nightmare back then, but looking back, that's when my awakening started. If I'd followed that path, I might've ended up as Goblin Slayer Ursa by now.
Thank god the dream changed.
The second was the one forced by the Tiger Elder. Swinging a massive axe around. Both dreams involved swinging an axe, so for this special camp, I'd tried every axe-related trick in the book.
"There are two big conditions for unlocking magic. One: have enough mana. Two: face your path head-on."
"The second one's confusing."
"It's about awareness. Once you've opened your eyes to mana, no one can turn away from their desires."
"…Why's that?"
"Because those desires come true."
"…"
"Imagine someone born with crippled limbs. Cursed body, but blessed with mana. What do you think their desire was?"
"…A normal body?"
"Exactly. They craved the body they lacked, and in the end, they gained the magic of transplantation."
"Transplantation? Not regeneration or body creation?"
"Because that's what they desired."
"Ah! Got it. They wanted to transplant limbs onto other disabled folks too, right?"
Lucas shook his head.
"They stole limbs from those who mocked their disability and grafted them onto themselves. They wandered around draped in pilfered arms and legs, calling themselves the Thousand-Armed Kannon."
"…"
"…"
Lucas dropped that horrific story like it was nothing. Marien and I went pale.
"That's magic. If you desire it desperately enough, the path to make it happen opens for anyone."
He looked down at me and asked again.
"Let me ask once more, Lady Ursa. Is the axe really your entire desire?"
"…"
My second awareness dream. It wasn't just the giant axe that appeared. There was the dream of walking the night sky, reaching for the brightest star.
Even I didn't know why I wanted that. I vaguely guessed it was because the Great Plains looked cool or something. Could someone else understand a part of me I didn't even get?
I'd shared it with others hoping for clues, but they all just shrugged. Tired of the same reactions, I stopped bringing it up. Instead, I focused on the axe part that came after—easy, straightforward stuff everyone could chime in on.
That's why it hadn't worked. Half-assed desire gets you nowhere.
Time to spill it all. I had a gut feeling he'd unravel this cryptic dream with a smile.
"Actually…"
I told them everything. Meeting the Great Plains. What she showed me. What she gave me. All of it.
"No way…!"
Marien, listening beside me, was floored by the scale of it.
"Come to think of it, you called yourself the daughter of the Great Plains when we first met, right? That was literal?"
"I don't lie."
"I thought it was just some beastkin greeting thing."
Beastkin don't do that. You say your trace name and birth name, and you're done.
"Wild. So the West's Mystery is a real entity."
At least she believed me. That's Marien for you.
But what about Lucas? He'd seen all kinds of crazy—surely he'd… Huh?
"N-No, it can't be…!"
"L-Lucas?"
He couldn't hide his panic, clutching his face. Totally un-butler-like disarray.
"Butler dude, why… what's wrong…?"
"The Great… Plains… goddess… succession… then…!"
He muttered to himself, ignoring us completely. His words tumbled out in a frantic mess—I couldn't make heads or tails of it.
Marien grabbed his shoulders and shook him. "Lucas, snap out of it! Lucas!"
"…Gasp!"
Finally, he stopped mumbling and looked around. For a split second, our eyes met.
Less than a second, but in that blink, a storm of emotions hit me: joy, shock, ecstasy, despair…
And killing intent mixed with affection.
What the hell in my story triggered that?
"Ah… my apologies. Just a headache."
He composed himself in moments, back to his razor-sharp posture.
"…So, any ideas?"
"Ah, about the awareness dream?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm…"
He stroked his chin, choosing his words carefully. Looked like he had a lot to say.
Heh heh heh…
Finally, the truth behind this secretive dream! I'd uncover my true desire and claim great enlightenment!
Mage Ursa. It's not too late—!
"No clue at all!"
"…What?"
"Sorry to disappoint. I'm not up to the task."
He bowed in apology.
"No, no way! You're lying!"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
He blinked innocently. That shameless bastard!
Marien couldn't hold back. "Lucas, you were acting like you knew something while listening to Ursa. Why the obvious lie?"
Right on, Marien! Press him harder!
But Lucas wasn't one to fold. "Ah… that must've been it. I was pondering so deeply, I guess I looked troubled."
"Huh? What…"
"The content's so convoluted… No matter how hard I think, no answers come, so frustrating! Ha ha ha."
"…"
We couldn't say a word against his smooth deflection. First time realizing that even rock-solid suspicion means nothing if the guy brazenly denies it.
"Oh my, look at the time! Lady Ursa, we must head back. Lady Marien, if you'll follow me."
"W-Wait, Lucas!"
Unnaturally hyped, he dragged off the flailing Marien. No proper goodbye—I was suddenly alone.
"…What the hell was that?"
…
After that day, we sparred again, but one thing changed: Lucas's attitude was noticeably off.
"Hmmm…"
"…"
He used to step away during my spars with Marien. Now he openly loomed nearby, watching me.
"…Got something to say?"
"…"
I tried talking to him, but he never replied. Infuriating. And his creepy vibe made it hard for even Marien to butt in.
"…Marien, what's up with your butler?"
"…No idea. He's fine at the castle, but he only acts weird around you."
I glanced at Lucas.
"Yeah… no. Not yet…"
"Urghhh…"
He'd stare holes through me, muttering occasionally. It creeped me out. What flipped the switch?
Did I say something I shouldn't have? Maybe I hit his berserk button. He seemed proud of his magic knowledge—couldn't solve my dream, bruised ego?
Even so, that stare's too much.
To ignore him, I forcibly changed the subject. "Oh yeah, my birthday's coming up soon~."
"Ah, right! Time flies…"
Quick-on-the-uptake Marien played along.
"Remember? My birthday's on No-Moon Day."
"Of course. You've told me a million times."
No-Moon Day. The one day a year with no moon. Made for perfect stargazing on my birthday nights.
"It's gorgeous. You can even see the Milky Way without the moon blocking it."
"Whoa… I wanna see. What's it like?"
Marien rarely went out at night—banned, basically. Her nights were just moonlight through the window.
"Bummer. I'm a total pro at constellations. Wanted to show you."
"Then just teach her."
"Eek!"
Lucas barged in out of nowhere. Nearly jumped out of my skin!
"Perfect timing. We'll celebrate Lady Ursa's birthday and Lady Marien's first night-sky viewing together. Sounds delightful, doesn't it?"
"…W-What? Butler dude, why the sudden…?"
Silent all this time, now this?
"Lady Marien's seemed down lately. Stargazing with you might perk her up."
She's down because of you, ignoring me and making her play middleman.
"B-But Lucas, sneaking out at night…"
"I'll handle it."
"…You sure?"
"Absolutely. As her personal butler, it's within my purview. No one will know."
A butler openly admitting to abusing authority. Border March Castle okay with this?
"You're coming too? Room for three?"
"No choice. Night guards are tight, routes complicated. Plus, Lady Marien has poor night vision. I must assist."
"…"
He looked way too excited. And how does he even know escape routes?
"Yay! Thanks, Lucas. That okay?"
"Of course, my lady. Trust me."
Unlike my uneasy gut, Marien beamed purely. She'd always sparkled at my star stories—must be thrilled.
"When's best? During the third watch shift change?"
"No-Moon nights are pitch black. More guards. So—"
Now they're plotting together. Explains why the butler's escape expert—for her sake.
"…Marien. You really doing this?"
"Totally! Unless… you don't want to?"
Her face crumpled like a drowned hamster.
"No, it's not that…"
"Phew! I've wanted to hang like this with you, Ursa!"
Can't say no when she's this hyped.
Screw it! What's the worst?
"Fine! But no bailing early saying you're sleepy."
"Hehe. I'll nap all day. A sudden night plan like this? That's the charm of youth, right?"
We grinned at each other, buzzing with anticipation.
"Heh heh heh. It'll be a night to remember for you two."
…You stay out of it.