My magic color was sky blue. It was very pretty.

All right. It was easy until now.

“Skilled mages often don’t draw them one by one. We usually use predetermined movement to finish it quickly.”

Camellia further explained. I nodded like a sincere student.

But after that, it got a little difficult.

“Now that it’s done, you can activate it. Skilled mages use a variety of methods to trigger it, but I  recommend you to use only the methods explicitly instructed. Focus your mind and push the mana in the direction you want.”

It was easy to say.… The problem was that the mana didn’t listen to me as much as I thought.

It was as intended that the magic circle turned into a thin shield.

But where is it going?

“No, why is this like this?”

The shield slipped next to me as it broke.

Why did the shield run away! You have to protect me!

“Cough.”

Camellia couldn’t stand it and smiled as she pretended to cough.

 ‘Oh, please don’t laugh, Camellia.’

***

Camellia switched with Eustave around the evening.

Eustave brought up the story as soon as he saw me.

“I heard that the magic circle avoided Vianne?”

Are you having fun, kid? It’s funny huh?

“I think the mana I have has a bit of a temper.”

I said while glaring at him, who looked excited.

“I see.”

“Huh?”

“It’s nothing. I just think that it has a similar personality to you…….”

“Say it again and I’ll let you have a duel with my bad-tempered mana.”

I chewed on the salad, threatening him lightly as he hold back his laughter like Camellia did earlier.

‘Ah, it’s delicious.’

“If I laughed, will I be killed by the master?”

He joked and I replied back.

“Yes. I’ll let you be killed in a terrible way.”

“I’m afraid I’m going to die.”

Eustave eventually laughed. He doesn’t usually laugh when things happen.

I missed Idris. At least he doesn’t make fun of me.

“You said you had talent. Was it all a lie?”

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t know either. I thought I will be skillful and that I would be talented because I can see mana.”

“Ha… I think I’m doomed to die.”

I stabbed the salad violently.

Why? Why doesn’t my mana listen to me?

Is it because I was a saint in a previous life?  

It’s the opposite, so the mana doesn’t match me? 

 Damn it. I don’t know.

“Don’t be too disappointed. Originally, all ordinary mages learned by failing like that.”

“Enough. Don’t pretend to comfort me, it’s too late. And I’m not an ordinary mage.”

I responded sharply, recalling the splendid mana of I can control freely.

“Did you use magic well from the beginning?”

“Yes. I have to be on that level to get a high-ranking position in mage’s island, Vianne.”

“I knew it. You’re good.”

I mumbled and added.

“I envy you.”

I don’t know how I could be envious of the ability that I wouldn’t have cared about originally.

Eustave smiled at me.

“I guess I teased you too much. Didn’t you say that if I laughed, I’d be killed?”

“Yes, goodbye. I’ll bury you in a sunny place. Do you want some flowers? Which flower do you like?”

“I like roses. Blue would be better.”

“What? I didn’t ask you to answer.”

I was puzzled.

He said quietly.

“I didn’t ask you to buy me one either.”

What? Why is he suddenly setting the gloomy mood?

I just let it slide..

But if it’s a blue rose… It’s a summer specialty of the Cavelior Empire, right? When I go back to the empire, I’ll buy him one. Well, it seemed like a good idea.

***

I practiced hard to make up for the embarrassment of the day. Then, my magic skills were gradually improving. It’s a little slow, but it wasn’t enough to say that I was talented.

Eustave said that he wasn’t wrong about me being talentless but then stepped down after being threatened by me again.

On a sunny summer afternoon, I came out with Idris.

Idris put outdoor activities into his daily schedule for my health.

It was a quiet garden that was blocked from the outside. I couldn’t hear anything other than the birds chirping.

“I’m getting drowsy…  …  .”

I sat on a chair and photosynthesized. Idris smiled while looking at me.

“You have to work out, Vianne. Don’t just sit like this.” 

“I worked out a lot before I met you. I’m just going to rest now. Oh, mage’s island is good because it’s not hot even in summer.”

“Instead, it’s colder than the empire in winter.”

“Really? Then I’ll have to go back to the empire before winter comes. I hope I can learn magic quickly and get healthy.”

Will it work? I’m not sure, but I’ll do my best. There are many people who will freak out if I’m sick.

I glanced up at the bright, clear sky.

“What is Liliel doing now?”

“Didn’t you say everything was fine the last time you contacted her before?”

“Yes. Still, I’m afraid she’ll be bored because I’m not there.”

“Liliel?”

“She’s been with me for more than 10 years. I think she does feel empty. Because I feel a little empty right now too.”

“Is that so?”

Idris nodded his head slowly.

“Yes.”

I replied.

It was a nice afternoon.

Like a habit, I held the mana in my hand and played with them, immersed in many thoughts.

Then, suddenly, I had a question.

“By the way, Idris.”

His eyes turned to me.

“I’m asking just in case…… hmm.”

“What is it?”

“Well, it’s nothing special. I was worried that I might want to use the highest level of magic even though I can’t do it. Is there a way to force myself to use it?

When I asked, Idris looked at me with suspicious eyes.

“Vianne, if you’re going to secretly try a high-level spell….”

“It’s not like that. There could be a situation where you’re not there, there’s no Eustave and there’s no one around me. I was worried that I might be in a crisis.….”

My voice became quiet near the end of my words as I look at him.

He seemed to feel angry just imagining such a situation.

‘His expression is scary.’

“There’s one thing you can use as a last resort.”

 Still, he answered well every time. He’s so sweet.

“What is it?”

“You cut your life span to force the mana.”

“Oh?”

“It’s not something you should use, Vianne. The larger the difference between the user’s ability and the magic difficulty, the greater the lifespan will be taken. If you’re unlucky, you can die instantly.”