We spent the night at an inn and then made our way to the Mage Association, located in the heart of the city.
The building was crowded with people clad in robes, wide-brimmed pointed hats, and carrying staffs—basically screaming, "Look at me, I'm a scholar!"
Naturally, when Mirabel, dressed in a maid's uniform, and I entered, all eyes were on us. Mirabel, being timid, shrank under the weight of the stares.
I led the way, and she hurried to follow, hiding behind me. As we approached the counter, a female scholar greeted us with a customer-service smile.
"Welcome! What brings you to the Mage Association today?"
"I'm here to check if I have any magical aptitude."
"The cute maid behind you—is she the one?"
"Haha, no, that's me."
I'm lying.
I'm actually here to have Mirabel tested for magical aptitude.
This is the first step of my "Turn Mirabel into a Great Witch" project.
Of course, I already know she has the potential. Not just any ordinary mage, but the kind of legendary great witch that might be born once every thousand years.
But I can't just come out and say that. How would I explain knowing such a thing? If I suddenly told her, "You're going to be a witch," what would she think?
She'd be suspicious, obviously. Especially since she already finds me sketchy because of my name.
So, I'll pretend to get tested for magical aptitude and casually have Mirabel tested as well. That way, it'll seem like we're just discovering her talent, setting her on the path of magic.
"The test is available, but it costs 50 silver. Is that alright?"
"Of course."
The staff member gave me a skeptical look. After all, mages typically need to nurture their talents from a young age. At my age—mid-twenties—it's considered far too late.
But hey, you never know.
Maybe there's some hidden perk to being transported to another world.
I handed over 1 gold. When she tried to give me change, I told her to keep it until after the test. Mirabel would need to be tested too, so it was just easier that way.
The staff member pulled out a crystal orb, the kind you'd see in stories where the protagonist just touches it and everyone gasps, "What? That much magic power? Seven elements at once?" and then it shatters.
"Place both hands around the orb as if you're cradling it, and then pour in your magic."
I followed the instructions. I concentrated as if I was trying to force out a bowel movement, and soon felt the magic stirring within me.
The orb reacted, glowing briefly.
Oh, there's a response! Could it be?
"Did you see that flicker? I definitely have potential!"
"No, quite the opposite. The flicker means there's no response. It's just a feature to show the orb isn't broken."
"…What?"
Who makes a feature like that?
"You have absolutely no magical aptitude. In fact, it's rare to be this talentless. You might say you have a talent for having no talent."
With a blank expression, the staff member's words stabbed me like a Magic Missile to the heart. Right, I'm no mage. I should just stick to what I'm good at.
"Well, since we're already here, why not test Miss Mirabel as well?"
"Huh?"
"I'd like her to be tested too."
"Very well. I'll include the cost in the 1 gold you gave earlier."
As the staff member and I handled things, Mirabel—unable to voice her own opinion—was swept along like a buoy in the current. Before she knew it, she was standing there, hands placed on the crystal orb.
"Now, go ahead and pour in your magic."
Mirabel, caught up in the moment, followed the staff member's much gentler instructions. At first, nothing happened, but then the orb began to fill with rainbow-colored light.
"Uh, wait a minute…"
Despite the staff member's uncertainty, Mirabel continued to pour her magic into the orb. The light grew brighter, and then blinding rays shot out from the orb.
Boom!
"Ahh!"
The orb shattered, sending fragments flying in all directions.
As expected—Mirabel is destined to be a great witch.
But I can't act like I know that, so I feigned ignorance.
"What just happened? The orb exploded—was it faulty? Does this mean I actually have talent?"
"Absolutely not, even in a million years. In fact, it seems the opposite occurred. Her magical talent was so overwhelming that the orb couldn't handle it. This… this has never happened before! Please excuse me for a moment; I need to inform the association head."
The staff member hurried off somewhere in a panic.
Mirabel, meanwhile, looked startled and couldn't hide her unease. Her hands fidgeted nervously.
She's incredible. I gave her a reassuring nudge, meaning, "Don't be shy; you're amazing. Stand tall and be confident."
"It seems you have extraordinary talent. That could be worth a thousand gold or more."
"…"
The staff member returned soon after.
"The association head wishes to meet you in person. Please follow me."
We followed her to the association head's office on the second floor. Waiting for us was a middle-aged scholar with kind eyes, wearing round glasses. Mirabel and I sat on the sofa across from him.
"Welcome. I've heard that this lovely young lady shattered the magic measuring orb?"
"It seems that way. From what I hear, my Mirabel has some magical talent. Is that true?"
"We'll need to conduct further tests, but it's clear that she does possess talent. In fact, I'd like to make a proposal—I would personally like to teach her magic."
"Hm?"
Everything was going according to plan, but I feigned hesitation. A good merchant never accepts the first offer without negotiation.
"Still, teaching magic to a slave seems a bit…"
"A slave? I thought she was just a regular maid…"
"Shackles don't exactly suit her appearance."
The association head looked troubled, having not considered that Mirabel might be a slave. This was his chance to train a mage that could shake the world.
If Mirabel became a great mage one day, he could proudly claim, "I trained her myself."
But Mirabel was a slave. Without my permission, she wouldn't be able to learn magic.
Sensing an opportunity too good to miss, the association head quickly recovered his composure and began to persuade me.
"Many people keep slaves who are also mages. They can be bodyguards or sent into dungeons to make money."
"I'm well aware. A mage slave fetches quite the price."
"So, if she learns magic, it will be incredibly beneficial to you. You'll have a mage slave without having to pay a high price for one."
"Hm… you make a good point. What do you think, Mirabel? Do you want to learn magic?"
I asked Mirabel for her opinion.
Her answer was, of course:
"No… no, I don't."
It was a firm no.
Mirabel's heart pounded so hard it hurt. It was like a criminal being caught by a guard while trying to escape.
Sweat dripped down her face, and she couldn't control her expression.
Learn magic?
Mirabel knew better than anyone that she was a witch. That had been the root of all her tragedies.
She didn't want to learn magic. She didn't want to nurture the very thing that had taken her mother's life.
So, she said no.
Sure, as a slave, she'd have no choice if Karamir insisted, but since he asked, she gave her honest answer.
"Hmm, she doesn't want to. You see, I'm quite fond of my slaves, so I don't force them to do things they don't want to."
"Is there no way you could convince her?"
"Convince her…"
Karamir's narrow gaze fell on Mirabel, unreadable. She trembled and lowered her eyes.
"Mirabel, I don't know what you've been through, but I do know you were abandoned by your father. He sold you, didn't he? What a terrible man."
"…"
"Mirabel, don't you want revenge on him?"
"…What?"
A completely unexpected proposal.
Mirabel's head snapped up, and she met Karamir's gaze.
"Learn magic, and face him. Ask him, 'Why did you abandon me?' Tell him how you suffered because of him. And then, take your revenge."
Mirabel's ears perked up. She wasn't fully grasping Karamir's words, but one word pierced her like a knife.
Revenge?
On her father?
Could she really take revenge on the man who sold her into slavery just because she was a witch?
On the man who had turned her mother's sacrifice into something meaningless?
"Can I really… do that?"
"Of course. I'll allow it. If you learn magic, I'll help you find him."
At that moment, a spark of life returned to Mirabel's eyes.
The eyes of someone with a clear goal always shine brightest, and Mirabel's eyes were no exception.
With newfound determination, Mirabel declared:
"I want to learn magic."
And so, she would become a witch.
Like her mother before her, she would become a witch and take her revenge on the father who had abandoned her. Deep within, her dormant magic stirred.