Chapter 7: Magic Wand (1)

Imagining riding a giant hound, larger than a wolf, across a battlefield was thrilling.

If I could raise that Eve properly, she might compensate for my frail body.

“Good. I’ll go meet this Eve.”

I turned to leave for the entrance, but Philiana suddenly placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Wait.”

“Ngh!”

Her grip was strong, spinning my helpless body around.

I stumbled and reached out to steady myself, touching Philiana’s soft stomach, devoid of muscle.

“Philiana, you should exercise.”

“W-What?! I don’t have any belly fat!”

Startled, Philiana covered her stomach.

Touching a lady’s stomach was rude, so I quickly withdrew my hand.

“No fat, but no muscle either.”

“I’m a mage! By that logic, Luna, you’ve got no muscle either!”

“Well…”

Feeling glum, I rubbed my stomach.

My once-thick muscles were gone, replaced by a child’s soft skin.

‘…Just endure for five years.’

Phew.

I let out a long sigh to cast off my worries.

Philiana sighed too, mirroring my mood.

“Let’s drop this. Right now, picking your clothes is the priority.”

“My clothes?”

Now that she mentioned it, the room was full of clothes.

Curious, I picked up a nearby garment.

“What’s this…?”

It was a pink outfit, unlike anything I’d seen before.

“That’s a pajama,” Philiana said.

“Pajama?”

“Yes. Clothes for sleeping.”

Oh.

Sleepwear, then.

What an odd name.

“I like the color of this pajama.”

“You like pink?”

Philiana looked surprised.

I didn’t understand why.

“Yes, I like it. The color of blood and guts symbolizes power and struggle.”

“Oh… that was true a century ago.”

“A century ago? Not now?”

Philiana smirked mischievously at my question.

“It’s a bit different, but it’s fine if you wear it, Luna.”

“No issue, then?”

“None.”

“Good.”

Wearing reddish clothes could establish some authority.

I nodded, satisfied, and handed her the pajama.

“Pick others with a similar vibe.”

“…For real? No take-backs?”

Her voice held worry, as if she feared picking the wrong clothes.

“I won’t complain, don’t worry.”

I reassured her and left the room.

Now, it was time to meet Eve.

The well-kept garden.

Adorned with colorful petals, I searched for Eve.

‘She should be around here.’

Animal tracks marked the flowerbeds.

Using my tracking skills, I followed Eve’s trail when a girl holding a creature waved and approached.

“Luna!”

“You’re…”

The girl who mistook me for a beast.

She said she’d see Eve, yet here she was.

“We meet again!”

“Yes. What were you doing?”

“Going to buy Eve a snack!”

“Snack?”

At the word, Eve, cradled in her arms, wagged her tail.

Her panting tongue was somewhat cute.

Though, coolness trumped cuteness.

‘When will she grow?’

Small animals were useless.

To be my partner, she needed to be fully grown.

‘Animals mature in a year, don’t they?’

Lost in thought, the girl spoke again.

“Want to come to the store, Luna?”

“I’ve got nothing else to do, so sure. What’s your name?”

“I’m Bella!”

After Bella’s introduction, we headed to the ‘store.’

She said it was like a general shop selling various goods.

‘The world’s changed so much.’

Pajamas, stores—terms I’d never heard.

Learning this era’s ways might take serious time.

‘…One step at a time.’

I glanced at Eve in Bella’s arms as we walked.

Noticing my gaze, she wagged her tail and pawed the air.

“Smart little thing.”

“Yep! Want to hold her?!”

Bella offered Eve to me.

Kind, but I had no interest in holding a tiny creature.

“No. I’m better as her master, not her parent.”

“Master?”

“Yes. Parents give love; masters demand obedience.”

“Uh… that’s complicated.”

Bella tilted her head.

Her silver hair fell, and Eve nibbled it.

“Hey, Eve! Don’t chew my hair!”

“Woof!”

“My hair took forever to fix!”

As Bella and Eve bickered, we reached the ‘store.’

A metal stand piled with mysterious items.

“This is the store?”

“Yep! Want me to buy you something?!”

“Hmm… I’ll look around.”

“Okay! I’ll grab Eve’s snack!”

Bella ran off with Eve.

I watched them go, then started browsing the store.

‘Is this chocolate?’

A luxury for nobles, stacked high on the stand.

Various types, pleasing to the eye.

Dark Chocolate – 20 shillings

Milk Chocolate – 20 shillings

White Chocolate – 20 shillings

‘Shillings? New currency?’

Unfamiliar, but I could guess its value.

20 shillings could probably buy a cow.

Chocolate was a rare treat.

‘Selling this much could build a mansion.’

Why was no one guarding the store?

A theft would be a huge loss.

Perplexed, I scanned the area and spotted a staff in the corner.

Philiana’s Magic Wand – 50 shillings

‘A wand?’

Fifty shillings—about two and a half cows.

Cheap for a mage’s wand.

Likely for beginners.

‘I do need a wand.’

Philiana could get me a good one, but I didn’t want anything too fancy as a novice.

A flashy sword doesn’t make a novice a master swordsman.

A beginner’s wand suited my level.

“Bella, come here.”

Tap-tap-

I knocked on the stand.

Bella appeared from behind it.

“What’s up?”

“I want that wand.”

“A wand? Why not ask Philiana—”

“No, I need that one.”

I pointed at Philiana’s Magic Wand.

For some reason, Bella’s eyes widened.

“You want a toy wand?”

Toy wand?

What did that mean?

Pondering her words, I realized.

To an Archmage’s assistant, a beginner’s wand was a toy.

“Yes. I want the toy.”

“Uh… okay, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Thanks.”

I thanked her and approached the wand display.

My first wand as a mage was a cheap, common one.

Philiana’s mansion sold souvenirs for visitors.

One was a toy, ‘Philiana’s Magic Wand,’ for kids.

Priced at 50 shillings, it was costly for a toy, but its built-in magic drew buyers.

‘Luna’s still at an age for toys.’

Bella giggled, watching Luna pick the wand.

Her mature speech and actions made Bella think she was older, but asking for a toy wand?

Without this, she might’ve mistaken Luna for an adult for ages.

‘How old is Luna’s real self?’

Bella tilted her head, guessing Luna’s age.

Exact age unknown, but not too old.

Thirteen at most, probably.

‘I’m the older sister, then?’

Treating her like a little sister should be fine.

Smiling, Bella patted Luna’s head as she approached with the wand.

“Luna, picked your wand?”

“Y-Yes?”

Luna froze, blinking.

Bella wasn’t clueless; she knew why Luna reacted.

‘She doesn’t like casual speech?’

She’d disliked it at their first meeting too.

Only one solution: ease into it slowly.

“Luna, done picking the wand?”

“…Your speech is odd.”

“What’s odd?”

“No, never mind. My mistake.”

Luna handed Bella the wand.

Buying it was the priority now.