Chapter 7: Birthday
As the green-haired man and Nora continued their conversation, I could only watch from afar, unable to hear their words or understand the nature of their discussion. Eventually, they both made their way back towards the mansion, leaving me alone on the tower once again.
With nothing else to occupy my time, I returned to my reading, trying to escape the suffocating boredom that enveloped me. If I don't do this, my mind would be consumed by dark thoughts, and I might go crazy with nothing else to distract me.
Last time, it was the strange fascination of jumping off the spiral stairway from the top floor to the bottom of the tower. The idea of such a fall bringing a swift and painless end to my misery haunted my thoughts. But each time the idea crossed my mind, I reminded myself that dying without even having to wield magic in a world like this, where everyone can use it, was a fate worse than death.
I sighed, feeling the weight of reality, the thing I kept dreaming about was so close yet it so far away. Trapped in this world, unable to wield magic like others, I could only feel bitter about my situation.
"If you're gonna send me here, at least give me some cheats. Damn it!" I muttered in frustration. If I ever find out who was responsible for bringing me to this strange world, I'll make them regret it with every fiber of my being.
Tak tak tak.
Footsteps echoed from the stairway, and I knew exactly who it was. "It must be her again," I thought to myself.
The blue-haired maid was the only one who usually came here. She used to take care of both of us, my twin sister Nora and me, but now she's the sole caretaker responsible for me. She brings me food and occasionally toys, although I find little use for them and often end up tossing them around.
Despite her young age, the maid has a bubbly personality and carries herself with a surprising maturity. Perhaps it's because of the time difference between this world and Earth that she seems more mature than her actual age. Speaking of which, if I calculate the time spent here and on Earth, we'd be roughly the same age now.
As she reached the top of the tower, the maid greeted me with a warm smile, "Good morning, Noel! How are you feeling today?"
I responded with a half-hearted shrug, "Same old, same old."
She chuckled, seemingly unfazed by my lack of enthusiasm, "Well, I brought you some fresh fruits and your favorite pancakes! I hope that brightens your day a bit."
I couldn't help but crack a smile at the mention of pancakes. Despite the overwhelming boredom and frustration of my current situation, this kind-hearted maid always managed to bring a glimmer of happiness to my day.
"Thanks," I mumbled, my earlier anger slightly subsiding.
She set the tray of food on the table, and I dug into the pancakes with renewed appetite. For a brief moment, the worries and loneliness seemed to fade away, and I found comfort in this simple act of kindness.
As I finished eating, the maid sat beside me, her expression turning serious. "Noel, I know it's tough being stuck here, but I want you to know that you're not alone. I'll always be here for you, no matter what."
I may not show it, but I feel thankful for Lamy. Sure, she's the reason why I'm here in the first place, but it's not like she did it intentionally; she was just worried about me. Maybe, just maybe, there was hope for me in this world after all.
"Also, I brought you a gift. It was really hard getting this, but Happy Birthday"' she said as she handed me a round-shaped object wrapped nicely with decorations.
"Thank you, Lamy," I said with a small smile, appreciating the effort she put into the gift. "I didn't even know it was today. What's this?" I asked, examining the round object she had handed me. It was wrapped with care, adorned with beautiful decorations.
Lamy's eyes twinkled with excitement as she replied, "This is a special gift I managed to find for you. It wasn't easy to get, but I thought it would be perfect for your birthday. Happy Birthday, Noel!"
With her cheerful demeanor, Lamy always had a way of brightening even the gloomiest of days. As I carefully unwrapped the present, a beautiful blue crystal ball revealed itself. It was stunning, resembling an ocean with its gentle waves and vibrant colors. I marveled at its beauty, feeling a strange sense of connection to the element of water it seemed to represent.
"Could it be?" I tremble upon seeing her gift.
Lamy's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as she explained, "This crystal is no ordinary object. It's a special tool that can conduct a comprehensive scan of your body and the Imaginary storage. It gives a 100% accuracy in detecting mana, while showing the result in real-time. With this, if we can prove to the lord that you can absorb mana there's a chance that they might let you go"
Manalyzer is not easily accessible to many people due to the rarity of the materials required for its construction. One of its crucial components is a sightstone, a highly precious material used in crafting various valuable artifacts. Moreover, Manalyzer possesses unique attributes that render it invaluable and highly coveted among both scholars and mages.
Hearing her describe it seems that it's also made by a master artificer or someone with similar skill level. Normal manalyzer can only give an estimate of 90% accuracy, and what the heck is a result in real-time?
'Did she get scammed?' I didn't want to break her heart so I just kept my mouth shut.
"Do you think it'll work? I mean, it's been so long, and I still can't use magic like everyone else," I said, knowing my condition.
Lamy placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder and smiled, "I believe in you, Noel. You might be an irregular, but I've seen the determination in your eyes. With this crystal, we can finally prove that you have the potential to wield magic, even if it's different from others."
I took the crystal ball in my hands, feeling its smooth surface and the faint hum of magic within. It was a small object, I looked at Lamy and said, "I'll test it"