The time had finally come for the mission—"Let's Find the Wicked Witch."
Preparations had flown by, thanks to Aunt Libel, who took charge of everything. Sadly, she wouldn't be joining the mission. With me gone, she'd take over guild duties as my advisor.
Right now, I'm here, lost in thought, wondering why life didn't come with a simpler version that didn't involve magical quests. Shuffling over to the rail, I join my team, waiting for the train. Since it's an outdoor mission, we've opted for civilian clothes—a great excuse for me to ditch the cosplayer uniform and that cursed sword. Aunt Libel had suggested Mira cast an illusion spell to make us blend in among non-mages, but I quickly objected, arguing it'd just tire her out for nothing. After all, our target's a mage—the illusion wouldn't fool him anyway. Civilian disguises were a far better choice. Aunt Libel bought my argument. Goodbye, lousy uniform… for now.
I'm in a loose T-shirt featuring my favorite comic character and a pair of cargo jeans. Pockets everywhere—the more, the better. Griffin, on the other hand, went with the "Mr. Responsible" look. I really hope he remembers we're heading to a village, not a job interview. Piper chose a far more practical outfit—a pink hoodie and leggings layered with some mini-shorts. Just two pockets, though…
As for Mira, well… let's just say she's seriously into character. She's got on a neatly tucked blouse, a mid-length skirt, perfectly cinched belt, polished black flats, and opaque tights. She's topped it all off with a necklace, sunglasses, and earrings. Honestly, if I ever find out she's a psycho, I won't even be surprised.
Adjusting the straps on my travel bag, I cast a disinterested glance at the train pulling in, then turn to Piper.
"Are you sure there's no teleportation spell in your arsenal?"
I'm already exhausted just thinking about this journey.
Piper scratches her head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Sorry, Magister. Spatial magic isn't really my thing."
I sigh, resigned to taking the train to our mission site. I suppose it could be worse—at least we're not walking for days to get there. The train should save us some time.
Once the train finally arrives, we board, and I busy myself flipping through a comic book I brought along, eventually dozing off to the rhythm of the tracks. When I wake up, we're almost at our destination. "Almost," meaning that, according to Piper, our team's social butterfly, we'll still have to walk to Javal Village once the train ride ends. Seriously? With all our country's technological advances, there are still places this isolated?
On second thought, it makes perfect sense for a criminal to hide out here. Looks like I'll be doing more legwork than expected. The train finally lets us off at Javal Station. And the village itself… What? Two kilometers away?!
Leaving the station behind, we start our trek to the very isolated village of Javal. My rubber-soled shoes hit the ground in a steady, monotonous rhythm, and my companions walk along in silence. I can't help but feel a touch of frustration at having to cover a distance that could've easily been skipped with a teleportation spell.
The scenery around us is both picturesque and a bit unsettling, with dense trees framing our path. Wanting to break the oppressive silence, I turn to Piper and casually say, "So, Warden Piper, your favorite element to work with is fire, right? Must come in handy for roasting marshmallows."
She flashes a slight smile, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Yes, fire has its appeal, but I'm fascinated by nature as a whole… It's fun watching how the elements respond to my will."
I catch a subtle enthusiasm in her voice and decide to keep the conversation going.
"Interesting way to look at it."
She glances over, "Speaking of which, Magister, I don't mean to pry, but what kind of magic are you aligned with?"
At her question, I sense the other two perking up, pretending not to listen. I raise an eyebrow, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips.
"My magic, huh… Didn't Elder Libel mention anything about it?"
Piper shakes her head. "Elder Libel always says your magic is formidable, but every time we ask about it, she refuses to say more. That's why I'm curious."
Ah, I see. Aunt Libel's only kept half her promise, apparently. Not that it's a real issue.
I glance at the other two with a playful grin. "You two curious as well?"
I can see Mira trying to maintain her composure, while Griffin's doing his best to avoid my gaze. Their little reactions are pretty amusing.
"Well, I don't know if you'd really call my magic 'formidable,'" I say, turning back to Piper. "But yeah, I'm also an elemental mage, like you. As for my element of choice…"
Casually, I stretch out my arm, closing my palm briefly before opening it again. Instantly, a stem begins to sprout from my hand, growing into a rather beautiful rose.
"As you can see," I say.
As the rose fully blooms in all its splendor, a look of surprise lights up Piper's face. Eyes wide, she exclaims, "Plant magic! That's incredible, Magister."
I shrug casually. "Well, it is what it is. Not as flashy as fire, but it has its perks." I start to close my hand to let the rose wither, but Piper stops me.
"Wait, Magister." She gently takes the rose from my hand, gazing at it in admiration. "Plant magic is composite elemental magic—a combination of three out of the four natural elements: water, earth, and air. It's not just a matter of mixing them; the balance has to be precise. Because of its complexity, this magic is considered one of the rarest and hardest to master. You're amazing, Magister!"
Piper continues marveling at the rose, showering endless praise. Mira and Griffin exchange surprised glances. Even though I try to keep a nonchalant front, it's satisfying to see their reactions.
"With that kind of mastery, it means you have an affinity for three natural elements," Piper adds with a smile. "A triple elemental affinity—that's pretty rare. I see now why Elder Libel is so enthusiastic about you. You're definitely worthy of being Magister."
I shrug, feigning indifference. It feels a bit odd. The truth is, that's not exactly why Aunt Libel calls my magic formidable. Still, I decide to end the demonstration, as it's clearly brought Piper plenty of joy.
Mira steps forward slightly, showing an open interest for the first time. "It's a fascinating magic. If I'm not mistaken, plants can have all kinds of uses—healing, defense, even infiltration. And let's not forget the offensive side."
"Exactly," Piper agrees. "It's a magic with incredibly versatile spells. Knowing our Magister has such mastery—it's just too cool!"
I scratch my head, a little uncomfortable with all the praise.
Then Griffin jumps in, changing the subject by pointing at the path ahead. "Maybe we should focus on the mission. The criminal we're after isn't going to wait for us."
Typical killjoy. He's right, but who asked him?
With that, we resumed our trek toward Javal, our footsteps echoing on the dirt path. The trees closed in around us, creating an atmosphere that was both lively and a bit eerie. Piper, though, seemed far from ready to let the conversation drop. I could feel her brewing up another question about my magic. I sighed inwardly.
Sure, it's nice to be of interest, but it can get exhausting. That's partly why I asked Aunt Libel not to spill the beans about my magic. How am I supposed to live the life of a lazy hermit with a fan club?
"Magister," she said in a soft voice, "could you tell me how you learned plant magic? Is it an innate gift or the result of rigorous training?"
I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. She seemed genuinely curious but also a little starstruck. I wondered what she thought of me—does she already see me as some kind of mentor or something? I took a moment to think, carefully trying not to reveal anything that would jeopardize my lazy life without making Aunt Libel look bad.
I responded in a neutral tone, "It's a bit of both. I've always had a natural affinity for plants, but I've also had to work hard (yeah, right!) to master this magic. Controlling three elements at once isn't easy (seriously, stop lying already!). It requires a good knowledge of nature, biology, and chemistry. And a lot of patience and creativity."
Piper nodded with interest. Am I really that convincing?
"I see. That's really impressive. And what are your favorite spells to use?"
I paused to think. There are plenty, though I tend to skip over a lot of them—too risky, too much hassle, or they drain too much energy. Why have so many if you're going to ignore half of them? When you're a true slacker like me, you only do things for the fun of the moment. I enjoy the thrill of creating spells, but that's about it. Aunt Libel always has a hard time telling me to quit this hobby, but what does she know about the joy of being lazy?
In any case, Piper was waiting for an answer.
"I'd say I like spells that let me manipulate plants at will," I finally said, spouting whatever nonsense came to mind. "For instance, I can grow vines, thorns, or flowers as needed. I can even create natural barriers or communicate with animals."
"Communicate with animals?" Mira cut in, interested in my last remark.
Oh, crap. I've said too much.
TO BE CONTINUED!
Next Chapter: Undercover Mission?