The Water Mage, Pay
The next day.
Pay had slept soundly, yet Holtdein’s eyes were filled with genuine concern.
“You can still quit, Pay.”
“No, I won’t.”
“…I’m not the sort to fret over strangers, but you’re so ignorant of the world and far too pitiful. If you enter the Magic Tower without even learning Magic Arrow and end up dying horribly, it would be such a waste.”
“Pardon? Dying horribly?”
“I checked the records. The previous Tower Master had a fearsome temper. You might suffer for it.”
“It’s all right. Let’s hurry.”
She tugged at Holtdein’s sleeve, urging him to take her there at once. He wore a bitter expression, then secretly traced a holy sign where she could not see. This was the Magic Tower, but surely his ancestors would understand.
The door to the second breeding chamber was immensely thick. They passed through four successive doors before finally stepping inside.
‘It’s quiet in here.’
Curious about what creature might be kept here, Pay glanced at the feeding trough—though “trough” hardly described the enormous space, easily the size of four large stables combined.
Did it really eat this much?
“…It’s not like they’re raising a dragon or anything.”
Pay forced a bright smile. Her faith in Baroa, whom she had never even met, remained unshaken, yet being alone now made her feel slightly afraid.
“Kuuuuurgh!”
「I-I-I-I’m here!」
「Run away, quick! Pay!」
“Wait a moment.”
Hearing the thunderous roar from deep within, Pay’s eyes widened.
So it really was a massive carnivore.
‘What could it be? A hydra? A gorgon? Since this is land, it can’t be something terrifying like a kraken. I hope Lord Baroa has tamed it well.’
Her blind trust in Baroa pulled her deeper inside.
Surprisingly, there was no foul stench.
And the creature she finally faced far exceeded her imagination.
“A d-dragon?”
“Uuuuuurgh!”
Through Pay’s ragged breathing, the mischievous second voice whispered.
「No, that’s not a dragon. It’s a Drakan. It has some intelligence, but its vocal organs are poor, so it can’t speak human words.」
「Hieeeek! It’s coming closer!」
Thud, thud, thud.
The Drakan’s feet were unbound by any chains.
Yet when it approached, it unexpectedly lowered its head flat in greeting.
Is this working?
“H-hello?”
Summoning her courage, Pay reached out and touched one of the bumpy horns—small compared to the Drakan’s massive size—and offered a greeting. A strange voice echoed in her mind, like a faint echo in a cave.
「So you are Morgan le Pay. I have waited long for you.」
“Lord Baroa must have arranged for us to meet.”
「Baroa? Who is that? My master is Lord Lucius.」
“Huh?”
The story grew confusing. She had been told Lord Baroa had entrusted this child to her.
Perhaps “Lucius” was part of Baroa’s full name?
Pay tilted her head, but of course she had no way of knowing.
「I am the Drakan Moitetra Banus. From now on, Morgan le Pay, though I dislike it, I shall endure the trouble of allowing you upon my back. Be grateful.」
“M-Moitetra Banus?”
「Moitetra Banus! A pathetic mage who cannot even remember eight letters is unacceptable!」
“All right, Moitetra Banus. So you’re planning to follow me?”
Pay had spoken informally without realizing it.
「If I am not by your side, who will protect you?」
It was a reasonable point, yet Moitetra Banus was far too large. Its daily meals would surely be enormous.
‘If I take it outside, will I have to pay for all its food from now on? I doubt the Magic Tower will assign me any sewing work.’
She had never starved, but life at Grace Monastery had never been easy. Having worked tirelessly as Morgana, Pay understood the weight of money all too well.
To feed such a massive Drakan, she would have to sew until her hands blistered, and even then it might not be enough.
Should she leave it behind? She was grateful for Lord Baroa—or was it Lucius?—yet this was too much.
Gathering her courage, she voiced her difficulty.
“If you go out looking like that, even in the Magic Tower, everyone will be shocked…”
「How very like a lowly human to worry over such trivial matters.」
Poof!
“A-Ah!”
The enormous Drakan’s eyes flashed, and its body shrank without limit. What appeared before her was a small bird covered in soft, fluffy white down.
How adorable.
“…A white-eye?”
“Piiik!”
“Ah!”
Transformed into what looked like a fledgling, the Drakan flew over in a huff and perched on Pay’s arm. It seemed this form allowed it to move about outside.
Thank goodness. As expected of Lord Baroa!
Pay felt an even deeper trust in the Baroa she had never seen. And so, quite unexpectedly, she gained a Drakan companion and safely concluded her second day in the Magic Tower.
Fortunately, the fluffy bird-form Drakan’s appetite had shifted from cattle and swine to grains, grass, small insects, and chunks of meat—now manageable. After a few more days of growing closer, it would even fly out on its own when the window was opened, returning after feeding. It drank only the clear, clean water Pay provided.
Time in the Magic Tower flowed swiftly.
A month had already passed since her arrival.
Pay could now freely wield water-attribute magic up to the 5th Circle. Her non-attribute and other elemental magic remained barely at the 1st Circle, but that hardly mattered.
The thrill of first summoning water into the air was indescribable. So she, too, could perform such feats.
“Your progress is remarkably fast, Pay.”
“Is it?”
A powerful wave of water swirled around Pay. It looked like nothing more than a water blast, yet it was composed of pure magical force; a direct hit would tear a body to shreds.
Among the mages in the Tower, excluding elves, Pay was the only human specialized in the water element.
Gulp.
Holtdein swallowed and spoke.
“Even with a natural affinity for water, reaching the entrance to the 5th Circle in just one month is enough to be called a genius.”
“I’m no genius. Please don’t say such things.”
“Why not? I feel like climbing a hill and shouting to the world how talented you are.”
“Hehe…”
Holtdein spoke with surprising seriousness.
“I might start using honorifics with you soon. If you ever challenge me to a duel, go easy on me.”
“Oh dear, I’m really not at that level yet. Please keep speaking casually.”
How far could she truly go?
When she mastered the 4th Circle Ice Lance within two weeks, the Magic Tower made her an offer.
Would she consider walking the path of a Water Specialist?
“Most human mages are born with affinities for fire, earth, or occasionally wind. Mages with an affinity for water, like you, are exceedingly rare.”
“Rare?”
“In time you could even aim for the title of Ice Master. Your name would be recorded in history. Lady Neia is also watching your astonishing achievements closely.”
Yet Pay did not rush to accept.
Becoming a Water Specialist would grant mastery over water and ice magic, but using other elements comfortably would become difficult. Her soul and body would grow completely accustomed to handling only water and ice.
‘It’s still too early to decide. Of course, if I master water magic, I could extinguish the flames that once swept through the monastery.’
Pay lightly brushed aside the arm of the undine circling before her and spoke.
“More importantly, about the earlier proposal.”
“Yes?”
“I’ll do it.”
“Really? You will?”
“Yes. But please make it clear that, as discussed, I cannot be moved to any location other than the ice storage.”
Currently, few mages in the Tower could freely manipulate the water element.
Excluding simple spirit contractors like undines, there were only about nine. Of those, eight were elves or half-elves.
Summer was nearly over.
In the capital Lapis, an unexpected late fruit festival was suddenly announced.
The plan was to fill the grand fountain with cool water and provide ample ice to the citizens. For that, mages capable of freely controlling water or ice were essential.
The imperial palace mages had no Ice Master or Water Specialist. While some could use water magic, they could not be assigned to the festival in case of emergencies.
Thus, a request for aid was sent to the Magic Tower. All eight elven mages refused.
They claimed they could not use magic for a trivial human festival. How very elven of them.
The request eventually reached Pay.
The work itself was little more than staying in the ice storage producing water and ice, but once finished, she would have time to enjoy the festival.
Very well. Since the opportunity has come, I’ll give it a try.
That was her thought.
“Hehe, good for you. You could refuse if you wanted, but the pay will be decent and it’s good experience.”
“I just have to go help with the work, right?”
Pay’s heart beat softly at the prospect of going outside.
She had spent nearly her entire life at Grace Monastery, and during her time as Eina she had always been dragged about according to the duke and duchess’s wishes. The last place her steps had led…
Stepping into the capital Lapis itself to prepare for the festival was a new experience.
She wanted to venture into the world she had only ever watched from afar without ever truly entering!
“Right. If anyone from the imperial palace tries to subtly recruit you, turn them down. You could do it later, you know? But you’re still too inexperienced and young for that place. I mean… as a mage.”
“I like the Magic Tower.”
Pay answered honestly.
The journey here had been pleasant. When the carriage wheel broke midway, a kind knight had even escorted her the rest of the way.
Since arriving, she had befriended the mysterious Pine Echo and the Drakan, and met her new human friend (?) Holtdein.
Moreover, dedicating herself to magical research would help her gauge what lay ahead.
“Yeah. Still, there’s something I’m a bit worried about. Since the imperial palace is hosting the festival, their knights will be wandering around doing ‘inspections.’”
“Knights?”
“What ‘knights’! Those arrogant bastards are nothing but trouble. If they bother you, step on their feet hard—while using Frozen Step.”
“Holtdein, really!”
If she did something like that, even if no one got hurt, she would surely be detained at the palace.
Pay smiled bitterly.
Her true wish was far removed from reclaiming her identity.
When Dot extended her wicked hand, Pay would stop her and ensure the monastery remained untouched.
After that, she would live freely, learning magic and carving out a life entirely her own.
Those two goals mattered most for now. The rest of her life would be devoted to studying magic, so she had no intention of leaving the Magic Tower anytime soon.
‘To do that, Dot’s false identity as the ducal daughter must be exposed. Well… if I simply stay silent about being their real child, that’s the end of it. Even if Dot is cornered, she won’t reveal that much. It would only work against her. She’d rather die than speak.’
Therefore, she would never again set foot in the imperial palace filled with terrifying and sorrowful memories.