Leylin's POV
"Why's someone of your rank out in the wild?" I asked, slightly on me guard.
I know from my knowledge that Raine Whispers is a good person, but you never know if that's still valid in this timeline.
I've already affected the timeline several times since my reincarnation, so this Raine could be different from what I know.
"Like you, I enjoy relaxing by playing," he explains, looking at the landscape with a strangely melancholic smile.
"I see," I understand that this particular place has a link with his past.
" hey, wake up!" I said, lightly tapping Huntress's cheek as she slept on the grass.
"Nah, let me sleep a bit longer~" she refused, clearly opposed to waking up.
"What a useless guard," I said, frustrated.
"Hahaha, she's under the effect of your magic, and given its strength, I reckon she won't wake up for a long time," Raine declared, approaching.
"Reminds me that I still don't know your name," he said, sitting down next to Huntress and me.
"I'm Leylin... Leylin Blight," I said after some thought.
"Oh, I see, you're Alador's son," he said as if he'd realized something.
I remember he has connections with Darius, the future or current head of the abomination coven, who's close to my father Alador, so it's not surprising he might know something about me.
"Your father wants you to be Darius's apprentice, but I think your real talent lies elsewhere," he expressed, nodding his head, seeming to be thinking about something.
"I like abominations, they can do all sorts of stuff," I said, making a circle in the air to create a table and chairs made of abominations.
I wasn't lying, this magic is really handy for so many things with enough control.
To be honest, if I couldn't find palistrom wood, I could just create my servants from abominations.
It would've been funny to recreate a version of Suu from the Monster Musume manga, but I absolutely wanted servants who could literally become tools to improve myself.
"Indeed, you have impressive control over this magic. Do you practice other types of magic?" he asked, clearly curious.
"Yeah, I've practiced Oracle magic, abominations, potions, and bard magic, but I'm also interested in illusions recently," I said, not being completely honest.
I didn't mention the glyphs, and it's not forbidden for a minor to practice other types of magic since they're not yet obligated to join a coven.
Unfortunately, things will be different after Hexside Academy, unless I get rid of Belos before then.
"Your interest in magics from different covens reminds me of an old friend," he declared with a nostalgic look.
"I noticed you're starting with bard magic, would you like me to teach you?" he offered, extending his hand.
"I don't know, I'm pretty busy," I said honestly.
"Don't worry Leylin, I know a bit about you," he said with a small mysterious smile.
I think Raine thinks I know nothing about him, not the other way around, and normally, he'd be right if I didn't know the series.
"Here, you can find me at this address. I'll teach you more about bard magic and maybe we'll play together too," he said, giving me a paper with an address before leaving.
I've never had a strong interest in music, but after today, I think I should get into it, it's really soothing.
I remember that on Earth, a lot of scholars were music lovers, and currently, I'm technically one too.
...
Beast's POV
I've been walking in this forest for hours looking for "The Looking Glass Ruins," and I must say it's starting to annoy me.
Although I don't need to eat or sleep properly, it's still mentally tiring to see the same thing for hours.
"Finally, the Ruins," I said, observing the statues and rocks in front of me.
I got in easily, I'm not really the sneaky type like Huntress, but this time, I wanted to try, and also, I want to test my lantern.
It's a gift Master gave me, I would've appreciated a real weapon like Willow or Huntress, but this one's not bad.
Master judged that since I couldn't use fire directly with my body, I needed an object with the fire glyph.
So yeah, I now have a fire-breathing lantern with me.
*grrr* growls
"You must be the guardian," I said, looking at the creature causing weather changes around me.
It was really incredible to observe illusion magic executed so skillfully, I could feel the wind and rain falling on me.
"I could've been fooled if I wasn't aware," I said, directing my lantern towards the huge ghostly creature that seems to be causing the storm around me.
I activated the glyph on the lantern and fire erupted. As expected, an old man came out of the creature.
"Aaah, my beard and clothes are on fire!" he screamed in pain, jumping around.
I manipulated the plants to capture him and bring him to me. Of course, I put out the fire first.
"Good evening, old man, I'd like to inform you that you're not in danger if you cooperate," I said, taking the Galdorstones from the statues using the plants.
"Stop, please!" the old man shouted, trying to get out of my grip.
"Why should I stop?" I asked nonchalantly, turning my attention back to him.
"Protect the Galdorstones... it's my whole life, please don't take away my reason for living," he said, looking me in the eyes.
He seems sincere.
"So without them, you have no reason to live, right?" I said, moving towards him.
"What do you mean HAAAAA" The old man started screaming as tree branches came out of his entire body.
I had stabbed his heart, or more precisely, the vital magical organ of his body. I was using magic inspired by what Willow learned shortly after she became a rank 2 acolyte.
I think that it's called "Leeching Vines" .
Willow just absorbs her victim's blood with plants, but I deduced it would be possible to absorb an individual's magic in a similar way, and later, like the soul or memories.
I asked Master his opinion and he confirmed my hypothesis is correct, but for now, I can't do it with my glyphs alone, only with my own magic.
As the breath of life left the old man, I started to feel stronger and his magic flowed into my body.
*thud* sound of the mummified body falling to the ground.
"I feel more... refreshed," I said, clenching my fist after pulling it out of the old man's body.
This old man surely wouldn't have a reason to live after the disappearance of the Galdorstones, I'm just doing him a favor.
Master Leylin will understand, after all, every living being has a purpose and without it, their existence has no meaning.
Now that his magic is part of me, he'll be able to contribute to helping Master Leylin.
Before leaving with the Galdorstones, I made the old man swallow a seed and I buried him.
"Now, you'll contribute to helping Master Leylin and you'll remain attached to this place that symbolizes everything for you," I said as I walked away.
In the end, I was able to bring peace to this old man and I was able to accomplish the mission Leylin entrusted me with, a satisfying day.