Hello! This is Mary Regalia, now seven years old. A year had passed by as I struggled, to no avail, to control my strength. I’d become a dignified lady (if you will), and I’d even learned a bit of magic to help me in my daily life. Tee hee! ♪
Allow me to explain how the magic in this world worked. All the people in this world had mana in their body to some extent, but that didn’t mean everyone was a wizard like in video games. Mana wasn’t the same as magic, and even if one had mana, they had to study in order to use it to cast magic. Said studying cost money, of course, so most practitioners of magic were nobles.
Incidentally, that kind of “day-to-day” magic I used allowed me to turn magical tools, like lights, on and off, or to create fires that can activate stoves. That kind of theoretically simple magic anyone can use was collectively called first-order magic.
Magic in this world had been divided into eight grades, and once a person had reached the second order, they could use the kind of offensive magic I knew from video games.
Take, for example, types of magic that can create fire: the first-order fire spell would only start a small fire; a second-order spell could be used offensively; a third-order spell would reinforce the second-order spell’s offensive potential; a fourth-order spell would evolve the magic into a “blaze” spell, which would then be further reinforced on the fifth order; a sixth-order version would then be classed as an “explosive” spell, which would be further reinforced on the seventh order.
This is a bit of a roundabout explanation; it was all taught to me by my private tutor, which I then contextualized to myself using video game terms. The tutor did praise me for catching on quickly.
You might ask, then, what an eighth-order spell does. Eighth-order magic was untrodden territory, and while its existence was known, it was a thing of legend that no one had actually achieved, so it could not be explained.
Incidentally, first-order spells were said to be usable by all, but second- and third-order spells were only usable by skilled adventurers and wizards, as well as monsters. Fourth- and fifth-grade magic were only used by heroes, champions, and archmages—the kinds of people who would be protagonists in myths and stories—as well as demons, spirits, and angels.
Magic on higher orders wasn’t usable by humans, it seemed. Sixth- and seventh-order spells were used by beings that exceeded human knowledge, like dragons, archangels, and the Dark Lord.
It’s all so fantasy-style! ♪ It’s exciting! ♪
Returning to the present, though, I was currently putting on a dress with Tutte’s help—not the kind of dress I would wear around the mansion, but a fancier dress meant for an outing.
Hmm, this is one expensive looking dress. I feel like I’m definitely going to tear it up by accident... Ahh, at this rate, I’m going to be a useless girl who can’t function without Tutte to handle things for me...
I watched on as Tutte briskly and skillfully put the dress on me, dejected at my inability to do things on my own.
Be strong, Mary! The Oracle Rite is ahead, and based on what it tells me, I should be able to lead a regular old life...right?
I felt my confidence plummet, my assertion gradually turning into a doubt. Still, I had to try to stay positive!
“Excuse me.” A butler knocked and opened the door as Tutte was finishing putting on my dress and some other ornamentation. “My lady, the carriage is prepared,” he informed us.
“Understood,” Tutte replied without glancing at him, occupied with combing my hair. The butler accepted her reply without any argument and left the room.
“It’s finally time...” I took a deep breath and checked my reflection in the mirror. A tuft of my bright white hair had been braided on both sides and tied back, and my bangs were fixed in place with a hairpin. My silk dress was white enough to match my alabaster skin, and it was decorated with laces, frills, and pretty embroidery.
It’s finally the day. Today, I will be meeting other children my age! Ooh, I’m so nervous...!
I never got to spend time with other kids my age in my past life, but today, we would all gather in one place for the Oracle Rite. Today was only a gathering for nobles, so it wouldn’t be all the kids my age in the area, but I figured there would still be a considerable number of children. Honestly, that was what interested—and concerned—me more than the Oracle Rite itself.
I hope it all goes well... I thought to myself, half wondering if that thought in and of itself might be jinxing me, and made my way to the entrance with Tutte, where the carriage awaited me.
✦ ✦ ✦
The temple was atop a sloping hill to the north of the capital city. Its majesty gave the impression that it was less a place to be lived in and more of a gigantic piece of art. As I caught sight of it from the carriage’s window, I felt my heart beat loudly.
This kind of feels like I’m going to school for the first time... Not that I would know what that feels like.
As I was overcome by a mixture of stress and anxiety at the prospect of meeting new people, the carriage carrying me slowed down to a halt.
It’s finally time...for my debut!
“We’ve arrived, my lady.” Tutte stepped out of the carriage and prepared a step stool for me.
I glanced at her as she stood at the carriage’s side, her preparations finished, and I faced the door while trying to calm my nerves. The moment I stepped outside, I heard a slight commotion. My eyes fell on what looked like a group of children my age and their own attendants. At least, I thought that’s what they were, because before I could find the courage to meet their gazes, I’d lowered my eyes to the floor.
Oh, gosh, I’m so stupid! Aren’t I a duke’s daughter?! I wish I could be more up-front like the ladies in books and on TV!
But still, at this point, I felt too awkward to raise my head and look at them after doing this. I ended up stepping off the carriage with my head low, and in a predictable turn of events, I missed the last step and tripped.
Oh, noooooo! If I try to brace myself, I’ll end up punching a hole into the ground! But what if I end up tumbling down too hard?!
I started to panic and flail my arms around, but Tutte pulled me up by the arm so I didn’t tumble over.
“Th-Thank you...” I whispered to her as we walked forward. She continued to support me, relief apparent on her face.
Ahh... I was this close to making myself look like a clumsy girl...
The people looking at me walk in with my dejected expression seemed to believe I was a fragile girl who needed to be protected, but I was rather oblivious to this as I wearily let Tutte pull me along.