“Hey! Don’t think you can take advantage of the situation to hold Miss Brigitte’s hand!” Nival whined.
“This is the most efficient way. Would you like to—?” Yuri started to snap back, but then he broke off. “…Never mind. Brigitte, let’s continue.”
“A-all right.”
She nodded, too dazed to pay attention to their bickering.
“Focus your attention on your right hand… Good. Can you feel the magic gathering there?”
“Yes. I definitely feel it.”
The hand clasping his felt like the nexus of all her self-conscious nervousness. She could feel the flow of magic inside her body—along with the magic circulating in Yuri’s body.
It’s so cold and refined…
The coolness of his hand, imbued with his mastery of water and ice magic, felt so nice.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes,” she answered calmly, and he gently withdrew his hand. She brought her right hand in front of her, took a deep breath, and let it out. Needless to say, she’d chosen the magic for lighting a fire. It was among the most common of the lowest-level types of fire magic.
“Fire!” she shouted intently.
Red flames instantly rose from her palm.
She felt nervous—but not scared. Her limbs did not quiver in the presence of her past source of terror. She could stand tall—and she knew why.
It’s because Yuri is next to me.
Also, the gloves Sienna and the other servants had given her—made from dragon skin and scales and magical spider thread that was resistant to fire—were protecting her.
I’m totally fine.
Nival and Kira were cheering her on. She had successfully invoked her magic. But her joy only lasted a second…
…Huh?
Something strange was happening.
The flames were still raging in front of her palm. As they abruptly swelled, sweat began to pour down her face. Before she knew it, the ball of fire was radiating heat far stronger than the summer sun. As she blinked in surprise, it grew bigger and bigger.
I think…this might be getting dangerous!!
Yuri was slightly panicking as well; he probably hadn’t expected this. Suppressing her agitation, she smiled.
“Ah-ha-ha, you sure are a good teacher, Sir Yuri!”
“Are you trying to blame this on me?” He saw right through her.
“Sorry,” she muttered.
He sighed. “…Brigitte, are you ready to have water poured on your head?”
“Is th-that the only option?”
He nodded gravely. It seemed he would have to put out the fire using his water magic.
“…A-all right, then. Go ah—”
Just then, something wiggled in her breast pocket.
Huh?!
“Peep!”
The tiny chick spirit was fluttering bravely toward the raging flames. She stuck out her free hand to stop it, but the red bird dodged and made its way to the edge of the fire.
“Peep!” it cried from midair.
Its pink beak opened wide—and its tiny mouth swallowed the fireball whole.
“What?!” Brigitte yelped in surprise.
Beside her, Yuri was staring in disbelief. The fireball, which had been ready to explode any second, had vanished completely.
The chick alighted on the ground and burped with satisfaction.
For a few seconds, they were all silent.
…It ate the f-fire…?
Brigitte felt like she had seen something similar before. Yes…it was like the time Nival’s ariel had gone on a rampage—and then the thundering storm had vanished like mist.
What if it didn’t disappear after all? What if this little fluff ball ate it?
“Is your spirit all right? It isn’t grilled chicken now, is it?” Kira asked. The sight must have given her quite a shock because her eyes were squeezed shut.
“Peep!” the chick answered, giving its feathers a good shake before flying back to Brigitte and burrowing into her pocket.
Brigitte didn’t understand exactly what had happened, but she knew the chick had saved her, so she stroked it from outside her pocket. It chirped happily.
“Miss Brigitte, do you think that spirit might be…?” Nival asked hesitantly.
“…You think so, too?” she answered, smiling a little.
The most famous story in The Wind Laughs told of a fire spirit that took the form of a bird. It was natural to make the connection.
I didn’t read anything about it eating magic, though…
The mythical spirit was said to have beautiful wings. Brigitte and Yuri suspected the chick might be that very spirit—although they didn’t have proof yet, so she didn’t want to start any rumors.
Anyway…
It was hard for her to believe that she, Brigitte Meidell, the girl everyone mocked and called the Red Fairy, might be contracted with this legendary spirit.
After the fireball incident, they asked a servant to light the oven, and then they had a lovely barbecue. They all ate plate after plate of grilled meat and vegetables. Brigitte had no idea charred meat and vegetables would taste this good if you ate them outside. It was a major discovery.
She bit into a sausage seasoned with salt and pepper. Juices ran onto the plate. It might not have been fitting for an earl’s daughter, but she picked up the plate and drank down the last drop.
I’d like to do this in the cottage garden…
She planned to suggest it to Nathan, the head chef. She was sure Carson would love the idea. Still, she worried the smells would bother her parents in the main house.
But maybe if the wind is blowing in the right direction?
As she was mulling over her strategy, a hand reached out and placed something on her plate, and she glanced up. Yuri was using a pair of tongs to load her up with grilled meat.
“Eat some more,” he said in his deep, alluring voice. The tongs definitely did not suit his handsome face. He could insist all he wanted, but she was chowing down on a sausage at that very moment.
“I’ve had plenty, thank you,” she said.
“I think you should put on some weight.”
Nice manners!
She frowned. How indelicate could he be? But he was probably just worried about her. She wanted to think so, at least.
Kira, who was much thinner than Brigitte, speared a slice of grilled carrot and said to the chick spirit, “You know, you could grow bigger, too, if you eat some of this.”
“Peep?!”