Chapter 1: She Decides to Leave Town
OLIVIA was born and raised in the town of Daregas in the southern region of the Kingdom of Alexia.
That night, she walked down a residential street with her bag in hand and a severe expression on her face.
What do I even have with me? She thought through the contents of her bag, the sole object she left home with, as she passed by the silent houses. My wallet, handkerchief, book on magic circles, and magic toolkit. Also, a few jewelry pieces.
She glanced down at the self-defense magic ring on her left hand that emitted a mild shock. Remembering she had just enough money to stay in a hotel for the night, she sighed in relief.
It would have been better if she could have left with more, but the one silver lining was that she had her magic toolkit, which contained everything she needed for work.
The big question is, what do I do next?
She’d decided she hadn’t been forced out—she’d left of her own volition—but that didn’t change the fact that she was now forced out on the streets. Olivia may not be penniless, but her home and shop had been stolen from her. Thinking about what would come next made her anxious and put her on edge. She shook her head vigorously, trying to shake off her worry.
Well, let’s start with deciding what to do about tonight.
Her thoughts raced as she walked the dark street.
I could go to someone’s house? But that’ll make them worry. I should stay in a hotel, I suppose. But this is a small town. I’m sure to run into someone I know, and they’ll ask what happened…
She stared at the toes of her flats as she walked around worriedly. After a while, she found herself in a familiar location.
Huh… I must have walked here without thinking about it. I do come here every day, after all.
Ahead of her was a small shop enveloped in a gentle orange light. She could see the magic lamps illuminating the shop’s interior through the shop window.
She walked over to the shop and looked up at the wooden placard above the door that showed signs of having been repainted several times: Carter’s Magic Items, Magic Lamps and Magic Jewelry.
I was working here just earlier today, and now I can’t even go inside.
She gently placed her hand on the polished brass doorknob, her eyes cast down as she reminisced.
When she was a little girl, her mother would often bring her along to the shop when delivering her father his lunch.
“Mother, what does Father make in the shop?” she asked one day.
“Magic items,” replied her mother.
“What’re magic items?”
“They’re useful things that let normal people use magic even if they’re not magicians. Your father is a very skilled artificer.”
Like her mother said, Olivia’s father was a very skilled artificer specializing in lamps and jewelry. He was exceptionally proficient with jewelry, and many customers visited him, speaking only words of thanks.
“That anti-poison bracelet you made me is incredible! I’ve not had digestive problems since! You, sir, are incredible!”
“Thank you. My hip feels so much better because of the painkiller brooch you made.”
“My eyes don’t get tired now with the earrings you made me. You have my thanks.”
Olivia felt proud as she watched those people go home with smiles. Her father was such an amazing person.
On the way back from the shop one day, Olivia asked, “Can I be like Father?”
“You can if you have a lot of mana.”
“Mana?”
“Yes, mana. You can become an artificer if you have a lot of mana.”
That was why, a few years later, it was only natural she would follow in her father’s footsteps after learning she had plenty of mana.
“I want to become an artificer that can make people smile like Father does!”
She had decided to work forever in this shop, just like him.
And now I’m leaving like this. I guess you really can’t know what life will have in store for you.
She let out a heavy sigh. The shop’s sign distorted in her tear-laden eyes, and she felt something would break inside her if she stayed any longer.
She turned on her heel and looked up at the starless night sky to keep her tears from spilling down her cheeks as she walked slowly to the town center.