Chapter 4: Master Charlie’s Magic Lessons
ONE month had passed since Lille first moved in. Spring was coming to an end, and the floral breeze mingled with the rich scent of fresh, green leaves. The vegetables growing in the garden were spreading out their roots, looking forward to the promise of early summer.
In addition to the plants and seasons, Lille was changing as well. Her height had increased, and her previously bony figure was protected by soft curves. Gradually, the clothes she had ordered from The Three Needles hugged the shape of her body instead of hanging loosely around her chest and hips. It was strange to see the seamstress’s prediction come true. Every time she caught a glimpse of herself in a mirror, she was surprised and delighted to see herself slowly becoming an adult.
Her body wasn’t the only thing that had grown; her duties around the house also expanded. Thanks to Leo’s intense training, her culinary repertoire had broadened, and she could do the cleaning and laundry without issue. And after a lot of practice, she could braid her hair without help.
In the afternoons, she and Charles brainstormed new ideas for magic items or reworked the shop’s layout. More often than not, Lille was also the one who dealt with customers. Business was looking up: almost every day at least one customer showed up at the front door of Charles’s Magic Item Shop. With such good fortune, the house became a lively, busy place.
One day, Charles came to Lille with a suggestion.
“I think it’s about time you start your magical studies, Lille,” he said.
Despite her improvements in so many other areas, she had yet to learn a single piece of magic. Each day was full of housework and shop-keeping duties, and in her free time she endeavored to read as many of the books in the study as she could. Her literacy was still only that of a child’s, but she desperately wanted to be able to read difficult books one day.
She had become so used to her new way of life that she had almost given up on learning magic. Perhaps, however, Charles had simply been waiting for her body and soul to become robust enough to wield it.
Charles led her out into the garden, and they walked to a clear stretch of ground. She thought she was used to the sight of Charles’s back, but for some reason, it looked especially large and imposing that day.
“Lille, are you sure about this? I thought that perhaps you’d want to forget about magic. I mean…your memories about it aren’t exactly pleasant,” Charles said, an apologetic tilt to his eyebrows.
“No, it’s quite all right. I really do want to learn how to use it,” Lille assured him. If she worked on her abilities, she would be better equipped to help with the shop…and able to help Charles more.
“If you’re certain.” He smiled, relieved. “First of all, I think we should get an idea of your current powers. Because you don’t know how to use them, there’s a possibility you could lose control, so stay alert.” His expression was gentle, as always, but his manner of speaking was clearly that of a teacher’s. “What do you think magic is, Lille? Why do you think sorcerers exist?”
“…In my home country, we were taught that anyone who could use magic had formed a pact with a demon before they were born,” she said hesitantly. She had avoided the subject thus far to avoid offending Leo. But she felt she could tell Charles, and that he would listen. The burden of her past was becoming too heavy to shoulder alone.
Charles’s expression didn’t shift. He just looked at her with eyes as calm as ever.
“I see,” he said. “Do you believe that, Lille? Do you think you made a pact with a demon?”
“No, Master Charlie,” she replied immediately.
“I don’t think so, either,” he agreed. “I certainly don’t remember ever doing such a thing. Besides, what’s the point of believing that if they have no proof? It doesn’t matter how many people claim otherwise—believe what you know to be true.”
She nodded. “I will.”
“Human beings are flawed, after all,” he murmured, almost as if he were talking to himself. His eyes became unfocused for a moment, staring into the distance. “Please, never forget that your heart is what guides you,” he said, holding a hand to his chest.
Lille copied him, placing her hand on her own chest. She could feel her heart beating. Her heart was what told her that she loved those dear to her. It told her that helping people made her happy. Lille wholeheartedly believed that so long as she never forgot those two truths, she would never go astray.
“If demons and gods have nothing to do with magic, why was I born a sorcerer?” she questioned.
“That’s something I cannot tell you.” He shook his head. “It’s entirely possible that there’s no reason at all behind who can and who can’t use magic. However…I believe that if you’re born with the power, you have a duty to make the most of it.”
“Is that why you opened the shop?”
“Yeah, I guess so. I thought it was important to bring magic to people who really need it, rather than give it to the government or military,” he said.
Lille was happy to hear that Charles thought similarly to her; she wanted to help people in need, too. In fact, perhaps her duty as a sorcerer was to help Charles’s dreams come true. She liked the sound of that very much.