Noah And Lydia’s Magical Training (2)

“Most people’s magical circuits are closed. However, some people are born with their magical circuits already open.”

“Are those people nobles, by any chance?”

“You’re very perceptive, Noah. To be precise, they’re children whose parents are mages. Mages were once persecuted, but nowadays, the opposite is true. Nobles actively seek to introduce magical ancestry into their bloodlines. They call it ‘noble blood.’”

“I see.”

“It’s believed that magical circuits open because exposure to magical energy stimulates them while the child is still a fetus, but nobody knows exactly how it works. If both parents are mages, their child is almost certain to be born with open magical circuits. However, that doesn’t mean the child is already a mage.”

“It doesn’t?”

“Someone whose magical circuits are open is called a ‘magic holder.’ A mage, as the name suggests, is someone who actually uses magic. Simply possessing magical power doesn’t mean you can cast spells. You need training for that.”

“Training…”

“Exactly. The strength of magic depends on the quantity and quality of the magical energy you absorb. Even if your magical circuits are already open, only a tiny amount of magical energy will flow through them unless you train. The more a mage trains, the stronger they become. There’s no end to that training. That’s why even a commoner can become a great mage through hard work.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely. Being born with open magical circuits is an enormous advantage, but if you rest on your laurels and neglect your training, you’ll never become a good mage. Take it from me.”

Noah hesitantly asked me a question.

“Lydia-san, you’re a noble, aren’t you?”

I hadn’t told the people around here much about my background, so they had only a very vague understanding of me as someone who had come from the royal capital and had something to do with magic.

The people of this region were remarkably easygoing to associate with such a suspicious character.

“Technically, I was born into a noble family, but both my parents are ordinary people. I grew up in the countryside, where magic had nothing to do with our lives. But when I was about Mirei’s age, an important mage came to visit and discovered that I had an affinity for light magic.”

“Light magic?”

“There are six magical attributes: the four natural attributes of fire, water, wind, and wood, plus light and darkness. The light attribute is somewhat rarer than the four natural attributes, so the kingdom actively protects people who possess it. That’s because they have the potential to become healing mages.”

“What’s a healing mage?”

“A specialist in healing magic. A sufficiently powerful healing mage can cure any injury or illness, provided it isn’t simply the result of reaching the end of one’s natural lifespan.”

“That’s amazing!”

“Well, there are only one or two people in the entire country who are powerful enough to cure absolutely any injury or illness. But healing mages are extremely valuable because they possess such powerful healing abilities. They’re so valuable that whenever someone with the potential to become one is discovered, they’re immediately enrolled in a mage training institute and made to study magic, whether they like it or not.”

Noah asked excitedly,

“Then were you a healing mage, Lydia-san?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“I didn’t have the aptitude for that particular field. In the end, I became a magic knight instead.”

“A magic knight! That’s amazing!”

Noah jumped up and cheered.

Magic knights were a popular profession among boys.

Just then, the doorbell rang with a cheerful jingle.

I rose from my chair.

“Well, it looks like we have a customer. Let’s continue tomorrow, Noah.”

Noah nodded enthusiastically.

“Yes, Master!”

Cassie readily gave Noah permission to study magic, saying, “If that’s what Noah wants to do.”

“All right, then. Let’s get started with your magical training…”

Noah’s eyes sparkled as I began speaking.

“…But before that, there’s something we need to discuss.”

“What? Oh, come on!”

“It’s important, so listen carefully. Noah, you want to become someone like me, don’t you?”

“Yes! I want to be just like you, Lydia-san.”

“In that case, I have one condition for you.”

“A condition?”

“That’s right. Once you’ve learned a certain amount of magic from me, you’ll go to the mage training institute in the royal capital. It’s a school where people train to become mages.”

“What? A school? In the royal capital?”

Noah’s eyes widened in surprise.

But he immediately lowered his head.

“…I can’t. My family doesn’t have that kind of money…”

“You don’t need money. The institute has a scholarship program, and outstanding students can even receive an allowance. I attended for free myself.”

“What? Really?”

“That’s right. If you want to become like me, you should gain the same experience I did. Leave home for a while and study magic properly. Once you’ve studied at the mage training institute, all sorts of opportunities will open up for you. You could become a mage or a magic knight. You could attend an even more advanced school to conduct magical research, or find a profession where you can put your magic to good use. You could even come back here and become an innkeeper. Your immediate goal, Noah, is to acquire the academic knowledge and magical abilities necessary to enter the mage training institute within three years.”

There were no age restrictions on admission to the mage training institute. That was why it was called a training institute rather than a school.

“Lydia-san…”

Noah looked utterly bewildered.

Rather than being delighted by all the possibilities that had suddenly opened up before him, he seemed overwhelmed.

“Can I really become one? A mage, I mean?”

“Study hard. The choice is yours, Noah. Whether you continue your training or decide you’ve had enough and want to quit is entirely up to you. Whatever you choose, I’ll support you.”

And so, Noah became my apprentice.

He continued attending school and helping with the work at the inn, just as he always had, but now we also set aside time for magical training.

Noah and I began going to the pasture together.

Meditating there became part of our daily routine.

Noah sat down on the grass and closed his eyes.

“…………”

I spoke to him gently.

“Feel the magical energy. It exists both outside you and within you. Circulate it from the inside out and from the outside in.”

Noah was a remarkably quick learner. Within a few days, he’d begun to sense magical energy.

However, although he could perceive its presence, he seemed to be having trouble making it flow.

Let’s see.

I moved closer to him and gently placed my hand on his abdomen.

The magical energy responded to my magical power and became more active.

“Lydia-san…”

Noah groaned as he felt it.

“I’ll help you. …It’s all right. There’s nothing to be afraid of. Just relax.”

“…………”

Noah’s breathing gradually blended with the rhythm of the earth.

“That’s it. Very good. Feel the flow.”

Magical energy slowly began flowing through Noah’s body.

During meditation, the five senses became especially acute. I sensed magical power other than our own approaching and turned around.

“So this is where you were, Lydia.”

“Alvin-sama.”

The newcomers were Alvin and his companion, Dennis.

“…Noah, that’s enough for today.”

“What? Master, are we finished already?”

Repetition was essential to magical training.

Normally, we continued practicing for as long as time permitted, but today was different.

“Yes. Sorry, but I have something important to discuss with Alvin-sama.”

“Now, then.”

After seeing Noah off as he headed back to the house, I turned to face Alvin and Dennis.

“What are you doing here?”

“I told you I’d deliver the chocolate ingredients as soon as possible, didn’t I?”

Alvin had visited exactly one week earlier.

“Even so, there’s no need for someone of your position to deliver them personally.”

Alvin cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Judging by your reaction, I take it you’ve figured out who I really am.”

“Yes, Count Alvin Astrate, Lord of Goran.”