It was an elf. Her appearance suggested she was about 12 or 13 years old. Should I think of her as an adult elementary school student or a young junior high school student? She was short and delicate, as if she could break with the slightest touch. Her green eyes were cold and inorganic, and her light blonde hair flowed smoothly like a stream of light. Most strikingly, she had long, pointed ears—the hallmark of an elf from the stories I'd read.
*(But the clothes are unusual...)* Unlike the typical "green light clothes" of elves in the stories, the one standing before me wore a dark pale blue robe and a long, dark cloak. A wide-brimmed hat shaded her face even indoors. A slender rapier-like sword rested at her waist, yet she lacked the traditional staff or bow associated with her kind. I speculated that she might be my mother's friend, Abel.
*(If so, she must be much older than she appears...)* Despite that, my mind instinctively categorized her as a "girl." Her pretty, ephemeral beauty didn't help my case.
"... Sand golem without a core, enhanced eyesight, and precision magic control…" The elf's voice broke my thoughts. She wasn't looking at me but at the garden, where I'd been training my sand dolls.
"... Moreover, it recognizes the enhancement of eyesight..." she muttered, her tone distant. Before I could react, she lifted me effortlessly, her cold green eyes scrutinizing me.
*(What is this woman!? Dangerous?)*
She ignored my alarm, murmuring, "Lucca's 'genius' remarks might not be mere delusions after all."
My mother often called me a genius, mostly out of parental pride. However, this elf seemed to confirm that there was more to it. Still, her sudden actions left me stunned.
"... I'm Abel. You're Alto Klay Camp, aren't you?" she finally asked, her tone as neutral as her expression.
I stayed silent, wary of revealing too much. Abel seemed to sense my hesitation. "... I can feel the wavelength of magic. That's how I know what you're doing. It's not something an ordinary person can detect. So don't worry; no one else knows."
Her explanation eased my nerves slightly. She continued to assess me, her gaze as sharp as a hawk's. Then, she suddenly removed my clothes, leaving me entirely exposed.
*(What is happening!? This woman is a menace!)*
"... No emblem," she muttered after thoroughly inspecting me.
"Emblem?" I managed to ask, mortified but curious.
"It's a mark—a stigma passed through certain bloodlines," Abel explained. "Those with an emblem possess extraordinary power but are destined for turbulent lives."
Her voice softened, and she sighed. "... I thought you had an emblem. Without it, your magical talent is even more remarkable."
I stared at her, stunned. Was she offering me praise?
"... Do you want to learn magic?" Abel asked abruptly.
"Ai!" I responded instantly, my desire for guidance outweighing my caution.
"Then, I'll be your teacher," she said, stroking my head. On that day, I found my mentor—a moment that would forever change my life.