Thunderer's Horn
That staff called Thunderer was peculiar. At first glance, it just looked like a tree branch someone had cut and brought back. And that made sense, because fresh green leaves were sprouting from the shaft.
"This isn't... just some random branch you grabbed by mistake, right?"
"Of course not. This is definitely a staff."
Kartum picked up the staff and began explaining.
"I'm sure Your Highness knows that the Irons pine Mountains are rich in mana."
"Yes. I've heard that occasionally, they even find weeds absolutely brimming with mana."
"Exactly. This one's a similar mutant."
Kartum handled the staff's leaves with care.
"At first, it was just one of the branches I trimmed for arrow material. But a few days later, leaves started growing back on it. Figured it was special, so I turned it into a staff right away."
"I see. So how does this staff assist with magic?"
"Truth be told... it doesn't really assist much. As a staff, it's pretty average."
What...? So that's it? Just leaves growing? It's just a cosmetic skin?
"But it does have one unique feature."
"What is it?"
"These leaves that grow on the staff. Eating them speeds up your mana recovery."
What? A staff that grows infinite mana potions!
"Give it a try."
"Ah, sure."
Kartum plucked one of the staff's leaves and handed it to me. It looked vaguely like a perilla leaf, so I cautiously put it in my mouth. The taste wasn't remotely similar to perilla, though. A bitter tang assaulted my tongue, and the smell was thick with the grassy sap of weeds fresh from mowing. But the effect hit immediately. I could feel the mana swirling in the air getting sucked straight into my body. The mana I'd burned through firing that lightning bolt earlier was already recovering by nearly half.
"How is it?"
"Pretty good, actually. If I need mana in a pinch, plucking a leaf to eat seems like it'd work great."
A mana potion that regrows over time. For someone whose main strength is magic, this is seriously handy.
"Looks like that staff suits you."
"Yes."
"Then take it."
"It's temporary, right? I can return it when I get my sword?"
"Nah, no need to return it. Just keep it, Your Highness."
Eh? Wasn't this about picking a temporary staff?
"It was just sitting in storage without an owner anyway. Anyone can take it."
"Well, in that case, I won't hold back."
"Good. I'll contact you later about the sword."
"Got it."
Afternoon. The soldiers headed out for weeding under the squad leaders' command. Just like how grass grew in the camp, they had to do regular weeding around the base too. Meanwhile, the knights gathered in front of the training corral for scheduled mounted combat drills. The battalion commander hadn't shown up yet, so we were assembling by company for now.
I shuffled awkwardly toward the 3rd Company knights. They spotted me and awkwardly returned my salute.
Things were still awkward with the company knights, honestly. Right after enlisting, we'd jumped into camp construction the next day, and no sooner had that ended than I got slapped with confinement. We hadn't had time to get friendly, let alone chat properly. So to them, I was probably still more "imperial princess" than subordinate or fellow knight. Not that I expected my own platoon's squad leaders to be any different...
"Deputy platoon leader, you're here."
"Ah, platoon leader."
At least our platoon leader treated me like a subordinate knight. He glanced around, then beckoned one of the knights over. The guy had a neat appearance, but he flinched when he saw me approaching.
I figured he was just awkward around me too, so I stayed quiet. But then...
"Let me introduce you. This is our platoon’s senior squad leader, Iwan."
"F-For Rosenhardt! Pleasure to meet you, Deputy Platoon Leader. 1st Squad Leader, Apprentice Knight Iwan."
"Ah."
So you're the slick bastard who took leave right after hearing about my assignment. Up close, he didn't look neat so much as slippery.
"Ahahaha... It's an honor to meet you like this, Deputy Platoon Leader."
"Hm. Does it have to be an honor?"
"Of course it does!"
His evasive grin confirmed it—he was slippery all right. Guys like this need to be put in their place early.
"I had to handle 1st Squad's camp construction in your absence."
"Thank you, Deputy Platoon Leader. I'll treat you later."
"Think your salary can match my tastes?"
"Guh."
"Well, I'll remember you offered."
"Uh..."
Color drained from 1st Squad Leader's face at my half-joking jab. Not that I planned to actually mooch off him. An Apprentice Knight's pay was obviously peanuts. If anything, as deputy platoon leader, I'd treat the squad leaders and their squads to a meal later. But right now, he irked me, so I figured I'd tease him a bit. The platoon leader wasn't stepping in, so he was fine letting this play out.
"D-Deputy Platoon Leader? Can we talk food later? Uh... Ah! What's that branch on your waist?"
1st Squad Leader's eyes darted around until he found a deflection.
"I'd wondered about that too. Didn't you go to the forge for a sword?"
The platoon leader eyed my staff curiously as well.
"It's a staff."
"That...?"
I explained what happened at the forge. They nodded once I'd finished.
"Handy for mana replenishment."
"But carrying it like that just makes it look like a tree branch."
True. With branches and leaves growing, it'd be annoying to keep on me all the time. Maybe leave the shaft at the barracks and just carry plucked leaves?
As I mulled that over, I spotted the battalion commander approaching from afar. The knights, who'd been chatting freely, snapped into formation.
"Everyone assembled?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Then we'll begin mounted combat training. First, bond with your own warhorses."
At the battalion commander's words, the trainers flung open the stable doors. Knights entered in order to claim their mounts.
"Thunderer, been well?"
Thunderer whinnied happily at the sight of me. My reflection shone clearly in his bright eyes. Just staring into them, they were so pretty.
Thunderer nuzzled into my touch and snorted contentedly. I fed him the carrot I'd gotten at the entrance. Crunch crunch. While he munched, I kept petting him, moving my hand to lightly stroke his forehead. Something snagged my fingers.
"What’s this?"
I parted the forelock on his forehead and found a round bump. Had he always had this? I'd only petted his neck mane before, so I wouldn't know. It felt hard—not a blister or rash, more like a scab? I knew nothing about horse health, so I had to call someone.
"Trainers! Come here a sec."
"Yes! What’s wrong, sir?"
I showed the soldier Thunderer's forehead. He checked it out and looked flustered.
"This... I don't really know."
"You don't know?"
"No... please wait a moment."
The soldier bolted out and dragged back a knight from the training unit. The knight panicked just like the soldier and floundered helplessly. By now, all the nearby knights were staring our way.
The trainers couldn't diagnose a horse issue? Irritation and distrust rippled across the knights' faces.
"What's with the mood?"
Even the battalion commander approached.
The training knight confessed the situation straight up.
"Hah, really. On the day of mounted drills?"
"Sorry, sir..."
The training unit got chewed out on the spot by the battalion commander. I felt a pang of regret for causing trouble, plus worry that something was wrong with Thunderer's health.
That was when it happened. Thunderer shoved his head toward my waist, snatched a leaf off the staff, and started munching.
"Hey, hey! What're you doing?"
This clueless horse—what to do with him? Despite my protests, Thunderer kept wolfing down the leaves. He polished off my mana potion supply. And in the tension, I'd forgotten the staff's effect—until it kicked in on him.
Hiiiing!
Thunderer let out a mighty whinny. Mana from the surroundings began swirling toward him.
"What the—!?"
Sudden chaos. A mana vortex whipped through the now-silent stable. Right in front of Thunderer, I saw it clearly: amid his wind-tossed mane, the round bump on his forehead was growing.
The other knights saw it too and gasped in shock.
"Th-that's..."
"A unicorn...?"
Oh my god. Was this for real? The bump elongated into a proper drill-shaped horn.
The training knight forgot he was getting reamed and rushed over, eyes sparkling.
"To think I'd live to see a real unicorn with my own eyes...!"
His trembling hand reached for the horn. Thunderer fixed him with a stranger's glare and bashed him away with it. Somehow, the knight looked thrilled despite the hit.
"See? A true unicorn—rejecting a man's touch outright!"
No, fuck, hold up. Memories with Thunderer flashed through my mind. From our first meeting, he'd always been so obedient. Thrilled at just a mane stroke, snorting happily. And it wasn't because he was docile... he'd been over the moon for me because I'm a unicorn's type?
The other knights seemed to get it too. Knights my age avoided my eyes; the older ones looked pleased.
Fuck. This crazy horse just outed my purity to everyone.