◇Houghtow City—Elina sze's Room(?)◇
Elina sze stood with her arms folded in a room lined wall-to-wall with bookshelves,
packed tight with innumerable magic grimoires. She was perusing one of her texts,
which was floating in the air in front of her, the pages turning by magic in response to
the movement of her eyes. "I see…" Elina sze nodded as she read, touching the rim of
her large round glasses. "Yes, I do believe this would be a perfect use case for that
spell…"
Knock, knock…
As Elina sze read, there came a knock on the door. Instantly, her eyes lit up. "Papa!
Come in!" As she turned to face the entrance, she quickly changed the dark-hued and
drab outfit she had been wearing during her work into a gorgeous white outfit
featuring an elegant skirt with a single wave of her finger. Removing her glasses and
placing them in her pocket, she went to open the door.
There on the other side was Flio—just as Elina sze had surmised. "Hello, Elina sze," he
said. "How did you know it was me?"
"Well, my laboratory is in a whole other world, of course!" Elina sze replied with a
smile as she showed Flio in. "You're the only one who could possibly show up here
uninvited."
That's right… Flio thought as he glanced over the surrounding shelves. Come to think
of it, didn't Hiya say they were unable to enter this place directly? But I was able to get
in with my Teleportation spell…
"So, papa," Elina sze said. "What brings you here today?"
"Actually," Flio began, "the Oldwass College of Magic sent us a message."
"The Oldwass College of Magic?" Elina sze cocked her head ever so slightly. Not long
ago, she and a small number of her classmates had visited that institution on a shortterm exchange study program. "Do they want me for another exchange program,
perhaps?"
"Um, well… no. It isn't that…" After a moment of searching, Flio's eyes landed on one
book in particular among the many tomes in Elina sze's laboratory. "So, Elina sze," he
said. "Didn't you tell me you made copies of some of the books that the Oldwass
College of Magic forbids people from removing from their library?"
"That's right," Elina sze nodded. "What about it?"
"Well apparently, one of the magic grimoires in the library was found to have been
replaced with a copy…" Flio reached out, casting a quick spell. The book he had spotted
flew off of the shelf, gliding through midair into Flio's hands. He opened it to find a
wax seal on the inside of the cover, testifying that this volume was in fact the original.
A knowing smirk crossed his face.
"You know, now that you mention it, I remember the library's security magic going off
when I left. At the time I just dispelled it without giving it any further thought. I
suppose I must have taken one of the originals by mistake. Oopsie!" Elina sze said,
playfully sticking out her tongue.
I thought the library's security magic was supposed to be pretty tight… Flio thought as
he looked over at his daughter's expression of innocent mischief. I guess Elinàsze was
able to dispel it without anyone noticing…
"So, papa!" Elina sze said, a distinct sparkle in her eyes. "Would you like for me to
accompany you when you go to the Oldwass College of Magic to return the book?" That
way I can spend a whole day with my papa!.
Flio cast another quick spell. The magic grimoire shone with light and promptly
vanished, a new one appearing in its place. "No need," he said, smiling his usual
easygoing smile. "I already made the exchange."
"Oh…" said Elina sze, her expression visibly darkening. Leave it to papa to switch out
the book all the way from another world… she thought. But… But I really thought I'd
have a chance for a daddy-daughter date…
Flio couldn't help from looking just a bit amused at Elina sze's disappointed reaction.