"Miss Mirabelle, your mana control has improved significantly since yesterday. Did something happen?"
"…"
Mirabelle remained silent at Colton's question, her lips tightly pressed together.
When she received the staff yesterday, Mirabelle's expression was like someone who had encountered an evil god, but now her face was inscrutable.
It seemed her feelings had changed. Though she might not have liked how she obtained it, actually using it felt too good.
Of course it does. Do you know what kind of item that is?
Game items typically came with their own specifications.
Stat boosts were standard, and some items boasted special effects. TOS was no exception. Certain items enhanced stats or mitigated slave debuffs.
These items were categorized into grades: Normal, Rare, Epic, Unique, and the pinnacle, Legendary. The Heavenly Covenant, naturally, belonged to the Legendary grade.
For a staff, it possessed an array of cheat effects, from increasing mana capacity to significantly boosting magical performance.
Among its numerous abilities, the most noteworthy was mana property conversion.
Its previous owner, Inaxia, was born to a sage and a high elf. One might assume he'd be revered based on his lineage alone, but reality proved otherwise. Throughout his life, he faced contempt solely for being a half-elf.
Though less common now, the prevailing attitude of the past equated his existence to 'a child born between a human and a monkey.'
Because of this, Inaxia cut his long ears, a source of his insecurity, dyed his blonde hair, and masked his forest scent with strong perfume.
However, he couldn't do anything about the unique nature mana inherent to elves, so after decades of contemplation, he modified the Heavenly Covenant, his mother's legacy.
To alter how the mana in his body manifested when casting magic, to thoroughly conceal his half-elf heritage.
And that effect is useful for Mirabelle too.
Mirabelle the Witch.
It could reduce the sensation of foreign mana that others felt, and weaken the unique residual aura of a witch that clergy could detect.
It was truly equipment made for Mirabelle.
There was probably an angel and a devil fighting in Mirabelle's head right now, wondering whether she should like it or not.
That was the situation.
Crackle.
While I was lost in thought, a burst of light accompanied by heat poured out. A small fireball was floating in front of Mirabelle's staff.
"My, to think you can already create a fireball… I had my doubts, but I never imagined it would be to this extent. You surpass my expectations with every lesson."
From what I understood, even with good nutrition from infancy and a court mage magic tutor, it would take at least a year.
But it had taken only a week.
A week until Mirabelle learned magic.
I guess life really is all about bloodline, huh? The image of a certain manhwa artist with fucked-up eyes flashed across my mind, but that must be my imagination.
Embarrassed by the praise, Mirabelle hid her face against her staff. I wore a proud expression in her stead. It also meant that my care had been effective.
Mirabelle glanced at me.
Haha, no need for thanks. You're a lucky charm that will bring me even greater gifts.
"If you're already on this level, we can move on to more advanced magic."
It was like an elementary school student learning the high school curriculum in a week, I suppose.
"Well then, keep up the good work. I'm going to take a short walk."
The magic unfolding before my eyes was fascinating like a circus, but Mirabelle was still a baby witch. Repeating the same spell over and over was bound to get boring.
I stretched while leaving the training ground.
***
Even after Karami left the magic training ground, Mirabelle's magic training continued. Her enthusiasm for learning showed no signs of waning.
Mirabelle was a genius among geniuses. For every single concept taught, she grasped a hundred more. Be it mana manipulation or magic formulas, it was hard to find anything she couldn't do.
Thanks to this, Colton was experiencing the joy of being an educator to the fullest. The same went for Mirabelle, who was learning.
She had heard that studying was boring, but it wasn't like that at all. From understanding knowledge to making it her own, the entire process was fun.
At their core, mages and witches weren't so different. Both were driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and an obsessive devotion to the study of magic, making the two kindred spirits in their madness.
Wooong.
The Heavenly Covenant emitted light in response to Mirabelle's mana. The air shimmered, and a wind blade formed and flew. The practice metal dummy was cut cleanly in half with a swish.
Colton clapped his hands.
"Your wind magic is quite clean as well. I don't know how many times I've said this, but it's amazing no matter how many times I see it. It's worth praising over and over. If other mages saw this, they would be in awe rather than jealous."
"Th-Thank you."
Mirabelle didn't know how to react to the unending storm of praise. Embarrassed, she twisted her body and buried her face in her staff.
After enthusiastically casting spells, Mirabelle took a break.
Although her mana showed no signs of depletion thanks to her innate reserves and the Heavenly Covenant, casting spells consumed mental energy.
As Mirabelle rested while drinking water, Colton approached her with a serious expression.
"Miss Mirabelle, by any chance, is the man named Karami a slave trader?"
"Yes, why?"
"I see…"
Colton nodded to himself as if confirming his suspicions.
"W-Why…?"
"It's just truly unfortunate that someone with talent that could change the world is a slave to such a man. Even if you work hard and become an archmage, you will merely be his tool."
Colton sighed deeply at the complicated reality.
Mirabelle, on the other hand, tilted her head slightly at his reaction. She had never even dreamed of becoming an archmage, so she couldn't empathize with his words of pity.
Afterward, Colton looked at her with a grave expression.
"Miss Mirabelle, if you wish, I will fully support you in escaping your slave status."
"What…?"
"From what I sensed, it seems you are bound by a soul contract. Is that correct?"
Mirabelle nodded.
"That is a very wicked method. A slave bound by their soul cannot find freedom even in death. They become an eternal slave. It's usually used only on heinous criminals or prisoners of war, yet he used it on you."
"Is that so…?"
"The good news is that he is ignorant about magic. A mage of your caliber could break the soul shackles on your own. Of course, you are still inexperienced, so it would take time."
After his long explanation, Colton raised his head confidently.
"But don't worry. I will help you. We will break the soul shackles, and under my guidance, you will become an Archmage!"
She pondered his words.
Did breaking the soul shackles mean she wouldn't be a slave anymore?
Does that… even matter?
She had already been abandoned.
She had no home to return to.
The stone called life had rolled aimlessly, only to fall into a placewhere light could not even reach. Even if the stone grew arms and legs, could it climb from the depths to a place touched by light?
Mirabelle shook her head internally. She was certain those days would never return.
If her current life was difficult, she might have considered it, but it wasn't particularly so.
It was hard when she first became a slave, but now she was eating better than when she was with her family and experiencing things she couldn't in her small village.
The maid outfit… was mortifying at first, but she got used to it and it wasn't so bad. The material was soft, and it was pretty too. Just a bit short.
Of course, she didn't think Karami was a good person. Known as the Slave Reaper, he was humanity's evil who had driven countless slaves to their deaths.
Though he seems a bit different from rumors.
In any case, Mirabelle had no desire for freedom.
"Killing him is… no. It may even make the shackles stronger. We should focus on breaking the spell…"
Colton furrowed his brow with a serious expression, unaware of the girl's inner thoughts.
***
After Mirabelle started learning magic, convenience increased dramatically in various aspects.
Heavy objects were moved with telekinesis, warmth was provided when the weather was chilly, and water poured into a cup at the utterance of "Water."
While staring at the water in the cup, I thought.
Since mana is like blood, is this like Mirabelle's bodily fluid?
After having this life-changing debate in my head, I downed it in one shot. It seemed to taste a bit sweeter than normal water.
I keenly felt why mages were so highly valued in fantasy worlds. They were truly versatile. A living, breathing toolbox.
If I ever parted ways with Mirabelle, the sense of loss would hit me like a tidal wave.
I needed to exercise some self-control.
"Miss Mirabelle, don't you get tired from using magic constantly?"
"I'm just a little tired… The Association Head said that since I started learning magic late, I should raise my proficiency whenever I can. He said it's not a problem to use it freely since I have a lot of mana."
"In that case, I have no reason to stop you."
Mirabelle's magic acquisition speed was much faster than I had expected.
While talent played a significant role, Mirabelle's own interest in magic also contributed. Her once lifeless eyes now sparkled like stars whenever she used magic.
It was undeniable proof of her witch lineage, no matter how much she might deny it.
It's good to see.
When playing the game, stats would just increase or the status window would change with a click, and I'd just think 'Oh, okay.' But seeing it in person felt completely different. I could visually see the child's condition improving.
At this rate, I might be able to speed up the plan?
Mirabelle's complete liberation.
In other words, there was a spell that must be learned to see the true ending.
It couldn't be obtained through normal means and required dungeon exploration. Before, I could just send her on dungeon explorations repeatedly until she acquired it, but now I would have to go myself.
I should set a date soon.
A few more days passed, about a month since we came to Riveria.
"Mr. Colton, we'll be leaving now."
In other words.
Thanks for the free ride.
Adios.