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Chapter 18 – Things to Come and Things from the Past
Clare and Selena worked together to build a storage shed and to move items out of the existing shed. Clare used strings to manipulate the soil, flattening it, and clay dolls to easily cut wood, among other things. Selena helped out by carrying the finished wood and boards and supporting them when they were assembled.
Clare also “showed” me where she focused her magical powers to strengthen pillars and heavy objects when lifting them, which was very helpful. I tried to imitate her as much as possible, using strengthening techniques.
The storage shed was easily completed in a few hours, and various items were brought in from the hermitage. The vacant room was cleaned, and items such as a bed, shelves, and chairs were placed there, and Selena’s room was successfully completed before the sun went down.
“It’s done.”
“Thanks. It took you a few days to do it alone. But you’re really skilled, making furniture from wood…”
Selena thanks Clare, who is making the doll nod with satisfaction. Just like when she made the hut, Clare’s woodworking skills were impressive. Clare herself was using strings to cut wood and bend it.
“Hehe. It’s a good warm-up for me, who will be making dolls in the future.”
“Making dolls?”
“Yes. You make dolls from materials you buy in town, and manipulate them to dance. Well, it’s not training, it’s just a hobby.”
“That sounds fun.”
Selena smiles as she hears the happy tone of his voice.
“Yes. When it’s done, I’ll show you how to manipulate the dolls. This is my first time making dolls to show to others.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
Whether it was a hut or furniture, they were not simple, but if you look closely, you can see Clare’s artisanal nature and sense of beauty. What kind of dolls will Clare make and what kind of doll manipulation will she show us? Selena was also interested.
–So the new days with Selena at the hut began. However, for Clare and Rona, it wasn’t much different from before. They trained, harvested trees in the Great Sea of Trees, and processed them. They studied magic, and spent their spare time as they pleased. And they occasionally went to the nearest village or capital to buy and sell goods.
In Clare’s case, she started to use her spare time to make dolls and interact with Selena.
On the other hand, for Selena, it was all new and new, so it was quite difficult for her to get used to it. Since the daily work using the reinforcement requires detailed use many times, I was exhausted every day for about the first week.
However, I feel that I am making progress in tasks such as verifying my strengths and weaknesses in magic and becoming aware of the movement of my own unique magic power. This is because I was able to actually use several spells under Rona’s guidance and with Clare. Therefore, even though I am tired, I feel a strong sense of fulfillment, and it is not a pain at all.
Selena also enjoyed teaching Clare about etiquette and aristocratic society, rather than as a reward. She responded to the instruction obediently and picked it up quickly, so there was no stress, and Clare also helped me with magic verification and training. I was able to spend a fulfilling time with her, as I felt like I had a younger sister while respecting her as a senior disciple.
When I called Rona by her first name, she said, “It’s not my style, so you can call me by my first name,” but I firmly refused. Selena’s tone and manners have been ingrained in her since childhood, so Rona probably feels resistant, and says, “Well, if you feel resistant, that’s fine.” Selena takes it that Rona is the kind of person who doesn’t interfere much in such matters.
What was strange was how Clare handled the sword.
The wooden sword for training that Rona made for her was enchanted, and the blade length, weight balance, and structure were the same as her favorite sword. It was just made of wood.
Clare’s wooden sword was also prepared, but it was a sword with a different structure than Selena’s rapier. It looked like a long sword, but its handle was longer, which was its distinctive feature. It was like a small bastard sword if you like. And it might turn out like this if the bastard sword was made smaller to fit Clare’s build.
Clare held the wooden sword with a puzzled look on her face, but eventually, she said, “I’ll give it a try,” and left the hermitage. Selena followed her.
There, I saw something that was beyond my common sense.
Clare certainly had never held a sword before. There were no calluses on her palms, and she didn’t look very used to using a sword. However.
She seemed to ponder for a moment, but then she attached a doll to her waist and actually held the wooden sword. I could see that magical power had been strengthened in various parts of her body, such as her legs, shoulders, and arms.
“Is this it… like this?”
The moment she swung the sword, along with the ventriloquist voice,
“Ehhh”
Selena couldn’t help but let out a voice. The flash looked so good. Twice, three times. She swung the sword in different directions, but each one was sharp – but perhaps she had miscalculated the distribution of magical power, as she lost her balance and stepped on the tatara.
“Well, this is your first time holding a sword, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. I usually use it to unleash slashing attacks with my unique magic… but speaking of the original, I guess I’m just imitating other people’s slashing attacks. But reproducing movements with just magical power enhancements is going to expose your weaknesses right away.”
The doll shook its head in disappointment.
“Making dolls dance is your daily routine and a hobby, so you probably pay close attention to people’s smallest movements.”
“I see…”
Not knowing Clare’s background or friendships, Selena was convinced by Rona’s words. It was the same thread that cut wood. If you swung it around, it would be a slashing attack.
The bastard sword-like wooden sword, which is not suitable for beginners, was probably a smaller version of the sword used by the person it was imitating, but made to fit Clare’s build.
“Do you think it will be stimulating for you, Selena?”
“Yes. The weapons are a little different, but it will be a learning experience to experience the movements of someone from a different school.”
Saying this, she smiled, thinking that her sword training and puppeteering with Clare would be fun.
…A long time ago. I remember something long ago.
It was before I met Rona. Before I was born as Clare, before I even knew what was going on. My memories of when I was a baby, are vague and the context is unclear, but there was one scene that is still burned into my memory.
The two eyes of a beast shining red and blazing. Flames and explosions that seemed to be slamming into me. And the glow of the white blade as it was swung. I have dreams about it, and I can still remember it. It must have been such a shocking scene for me at the time.
The person wielding the sword. I dreamed about it several times, and after thinking back on those memories several times, I realized that this person was trying to protect me.
I stepped in to cut down the beast that was trying to bite me and tear me to pieces, scattering the approaching blades and flames as I slashed away… I thought that movement. The brilliance of the flashing white blade was beautiful.
So when I was studying unique magic with Rona, I showed her a slash with a thread that imitated the sword movement. She asked me if I had studied martial arts or something.
I answered honestly when I was still young.
That person protected me, but he was probably dead.
“Do you want to know about him?”
“–Yes.”
Rona looked me in the eye and asked.
“Because you want to take revenge?”
I thought for a moment and shook my head. I think that’s most likely not it. When I think about those people, I don’t feel anger… I feel a little lonely and sad, and anxious about my current situation where I don’t know anything. That’s the kind of emotion I feel. At the time, I answered Rona like this.
“I don’t know. They saved my life, but I don’t know anything about them. I don’t know why they did that to me. I think I have to know and remember.”
“Is that so?”
Rona was silent for a while, but then she said, “Follow me,” and led me to the tomb behind the hermitage.
Rona told me that the people who died in the Great Sea of Trees were buried here.
She also said that she had originally intended to tell me when I was older.
That’s probably because she thought I was a normal child inside. But I knew about people’s deaths and that they were trying to protect me… That’s why I think Rona told me.
“I don’t know much about those swordsmen either. I didn’t even get their names. But… that swordsman was worried about you.”
She told me about that swordsman, along with his final words that he was an important person entrusted to her by the Lord. Who was it that protected me? Perhaps it was because of their feelings for my parents? Whatever the reason, the reason I am here now is that those people tried to protect me.
Why were they being chased? Was it because what they had done was right and yet, it happened to them? Or was it because they had done something wrong, and they were driven to that state? I don’t know.
But from that day on, getting to know them became one of the things I wanted to do. And that feeling hasn’t changed even now.
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