Chapter 4: The New Maid and the Aptitude Test

“Today I want you to read this story for me”

“I-I’ll try my best! I-in the old land of Güerad…”

Let’s talk about the new maid Marla. Around 3 months have passed since she started living in the Mercelious household under the pretense that she would become my personal maid and so far, I can say I’m satisfied to see how fast she’s learning. At this rate she’s able to read common words and basic sentences, along with knowing the necessary arithmetic for a maid, but I still believe she can do better. In her maid training, however…I kind of regret asking Claria for her assistance. While it is true Marla is turning into a proper maid, it also means she’s becoming strict in her speech manner and I don’t like it. People should be able to express themselves as they please, and that’s why I told Marla that if the two of us were alone she could talk as she pleased.

“…the man was an old Hu-hu-”

“Humalus”

“Thank you! An old Humalus…”

Due to how I first met her, malnourished and weak, I thought she was younger than me, but it turns out Marla is a full 2 years older, 14. Other prominent features that became accentuated once her body recovered and cleaned up were her eyes and hair. Her eyes were what you call sunflower eyes, blue overall with a beautiful yellow radiant around the pupil, and to compliment it, her hair was black with hints of dark blue when seen in the right light. Simply put she is beautiful if she took care of herself. Well, I don’t plan to let a beauty like her waste her looks when they should be shared with the world.

“…and the man returned home. The End.”

“Good work, looks like you can read children books rather well for now”

“N-no, this much is nothing…”

“You say that but you’re blushing a bit because of the compliment”

“How-how embarrassing!!”

“Relax, relax, if you scream to loud Claria will come and reprimand you for speaking like that”

“Sorry…”

How cute…well that’s how my daily life has been filled for now. I kind of want to know if Marla has any magic affinity but it seems that when it manifested she never used it and as a result it became dormant. This doesn’t mean that it is gone forever, but in order for it to manifest a second time she needs to have the right trigger for it and that trigger is missing unless you know the affinity, sigh…I can’t really complain myself since I’ve yet to have my magic manifest, but now that Marla has been put on track, I think I’ll research a bit about my blood, I’m still interested to see why it gathered around the area under my left hand when I got beat up.

Part 2

“Ma-ma-master Lucien!!! What are you doing!?!?”

“Oh? Hey Marla, come here look at this”

“Why are you bleeding!? Did you get hit somewhere!? Are you in pain!? I-I-I’m a failure as a maid to not care for my master’s wellbeing. Waaaaaah!!!”

“Relax, relax…Marla relax!! I did these cuts myself, a year ago when I met you I noticed something weird about my blood, so I’ve been spending the last 9 months researching what it was.”

“*sniff* Research…? *sniff*”

“That’s right. You didn’t notice since you were too afraid at that time and I had you on my right side, but when the loan shark punched me and my blood was splattered on the floor. Little by little the blood began moving towards my left side, especially towards the area under my left hand.”

She finally relaxed a bit, but she now just looks at me confused.

“Your blood gathered towards you?”

“Pretty much”

“Is it magic, like otherworldly magic?”

“Who knows, but if it is, I’d say it’s a pretty useless magic on its own”

“Why do you say that?”

I wanted to explain it to her but this might take a while…

“…It will take a while to explain. Why don’t you sit down over there and I’ll do my best to explain it.”

“Understood”

As Marla sat down, I cleaned up a bit and moved towards her and I began explaining.

In summary, I can control at will but only to a small extent. As long as my blood is out of my body I can move it slowly in a direction I am thinking of, it is easier to control if I point it with my eyesight or a finger for coordination. However, this only works when the blood is outside of my body, while it is within it, it flows naturally as it should within an organism; that means my blood flow isn’t messed up by my control so I’m thankful for that. Outside of the slow directed movement, the blood doesn’t really do much else, it isn’t showing like some of the blood powers I remember seeing in a manga about prisoners or an anime about vampires and aliens in New York. Simply put, it doesn’t look cool or very useful.

The other thing that I can do is controlling how the blood concentrates. If I imagine the blood concentrating into a sphere-like shape, the blood will do it. But if I compress it too much, the blood will begin imploding and then explode in all directions, when that happens I lose all control of the blood and it doesn’t actually do any damage or pain, it’s just splatters of blood everywhere, and it’s messy.

The final thing is the range of control, when I started researching my blood I could only control it for a radius of 2 meters, but after 9 months, the radius is around 5 meters. But it’s not very useful considering all that my blood does.

“…and as a final disclaimer, no, I can’t control the blood of other things, just my own. So, any questions?”

By the time I finished the presentation/explaining to Marla, she had her head down and I couldn’t see her expressions. Did she begin to fear me again? I mean, this ability is pretty useless but controlling blood is something that makes many people shiver at the idea of it…wait did she just fall asleep…?

“Hey, Marla. Are you awake…?”

As I turned closer I could just hear a soft mumble.

“…a-ama…”

“Ama?”

“…amazing. It’s amazing Master Lucien!”

What the hell? Why is this amazing? It’s not strong enough to be a weapon, I doubt that controlling my blood could be used in medicinal magic, and I don’t think this can even be considered otherworldly, it’s just a weird and borderline creepy ability…maybe I should ask her opinion.

“Wh-why would you say it’s amazing? Isn’t useless and creepy?”

“…Well, it is a bit creepy, but I don’t believe it to be a useless ability”

“Why isn’t it useless?”

I’m honestly confused, I researched this because it’s a part of my body, but if I was given the option to study something like this, I’d would without a doubt be bored as soon as I begin studying it.

“Don’t you see Master Lucien? This is something that hasn’t been talked about before, at least I’ve never heard of it. There are many people that use blood with their magic, whether it is a doctor or a necromancer, in order to use those types of magic they need blood. However, I’ve never heard of someone controlling their blood at will, and from the looks of it, it doesn’t seem to be a magic affinity.”

“What makes you say that?”

“From what you’ve described to me, the only limit to your blood control is how much blood you lose, you don’t get fatigued or a fever which are signs of mana depletion. So this must be a something besides a magic affinity, isn’t that amazing?”

“I guess…”

When put through that perspective this is amazing, but it’s not something I can see much use of it. It’s like being sent to fight a martial artist but you only have the strength of a 5-year-old…

“I wonder…”

“Master Lucien?”

“Ah, don’t mind me I’m just thinking of something I want to try doing. That reminds me, Marla, would you care to join me on a walk to the City Hall?”

“Um…the City Hall? Sure, I don’t mind going there but is there a reason for it Master Lucien?”

“Indeed and a good one at that, check that letter I left on that desk over there”

As Marla walks towards my desk she finds an envelope and a letter half-put into it. The contents are basic ones, but some that I found very interesting.

“This one…? Shall I read it aloud?”

“Please do, it will be a good way to see your progress after a year”

“Then, here I go. Erm. Hi Lu! how is my dear-”

“Please skip to paragraph three, my sister tends to put too much filler stuff in her letters”

“Understood. News have been going around the Academy that one of the Affinity Stones will be sent to Germas City Hall for the following year. Apparently, some of the big names of the city are interested in finding out what talents their sons and daughters have in the magic department. In all honesty, it’s a stupid egotistical thing to do, but since they paid the amount requested, the Stone was granted. While I don’t care for that part, it seems that if you pay 2 Copper Germas for it, you can have your aptitude tested, and since you’re finally around the age when the affinity manifests, I think it would be good for you to find out what it is and start training in it. Well, that’s all the serious stuff I had for now, so how are-”

“Please stop now Marla. So, what did you find out from the contents of the letter?”

“A few things. For one, your sister seems to have a close relationship with you, another is that she has no liking for the rich men in Germas, you haven’t told her that you took me in, and that she might have a bit of an unhealthy obsession with yo-Ow!!!”

An open smack to the back of the head for Marla.

“I held back a bit, but you just had to talk about the subject I like to think about the least. You know well enough what I was asking you, now will you act stupid again and get a second smack or will you get to the serious stuff?”

“*sniff* I understand Master Lucien, *sniff* it looks like you can finally see your magic affinity. Congratulations.”

“I’m actually more excited for yours than mine”

“Wh-why would you say that?”

Why are you getting flustered for? I wanted to know what you had hidden since you first told me and besides, I have a gnawing feeling coming back to me after 13 years.

“It’s simple really, your magic is dormant at this moment, but it manifested at one time, that’s the definition of Pandora’s Box if I ever saw it”

“Pa-pa what?”

A shit…I use a term not of this world…well, I’ll try to explain it by saying it’s something I saw in an old book.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s something I read before I met you, but it follows this idea. Pandora’s Box was once considered the be all and end all of any power, the reason for this was that the owner of the box, Pandora, was the first Humalus created by the Vitans-”

“A Humalus created by a Vitan!?”

…Looks like the common tales of Greek mythology don’t have a counterpart in this world…oh well, too late to back out now.

“It’s an ancient and forgotten story, don’t worry of the details. Because of her creation, Pandora had the access within her to open a ‘box’ that could release the salvation or destruction of the world. Right now, your power is like that, it could have any form of strength because it already manifested, but how effective it is, it’s yet to be defined. Truly a wonderful feeling…besides, something is telling me that I might have absolutely no magic affinity.”

A Bastard God to be exact.

“A very interesting tale. But…Master Lucien, what makes you believe you have no affinity? I don’t think there’s been a case of a Humalus with absolutely no magic power. Is there a backing for that? Or are you just being pessimistic?”

“If I had to pick, I’d say it’s just a hunch, but it’s also leaning that I might be pessimistic. Either way, you could say I’m preparing for the worst.”

Not like I could tell her that something greater than a Vitan met up with me before I was born and might have taken away my ability to use magic. Haha…

“But that’s how it is. So, once again. Marla, would you care to accompany me to City Hall to see your magic affinity? Ah, and don’t worry, if my hunch proves true, I’m starting to think of a way to make use of my blood, although that will take some time.”

“Understood Master Lucien”

You say that but your face is dull and clouded. Maybe this will help…

“And if I turn to have no affinity, just be prepared to work harder, since I will make your magic to double as mine as well.”

“Yes!”

Not the best way I could have phrased it, but as I said that, Marla’s face cleared away the cloudiness it had from my previous statement and showed a smile fitting for a girl her age.

Part 3

“Master Lucien…mind if I ask a question?”

“Yes?”

“Is there a reason why we have to walk all the to City Hall in the center of the capital when the Mercelious household is on the outskirts of said capital!?”

“None in particular, I just felt like walking”

“You’re evil…”

“What was that?”

“Nothing”

Ignoring the complaints of the amateur maid, I made my way towards the City Hall, and while it is true that the walk is long, the equivalent to 40 miles to be exact, I had a reason for why I wanted to walk over having someone taking me.

“Marla, have you ever heard of a weapon that shoots balls of steel from the pull of a trigger?”

“Umm…I don’t think I have Master Lucien. Did you read that in a book like the thing about the ‘box’?”

“A bit like that but not quite. Then, how about any weapon that is used for shooting magic?”

I’ll probably tell her at one point everything, but I’ll keep it vague for now.

“The best I can think for that is a staff, a grimoire or a condensed stone”

“…that will be all, thank you. Actually, no, do you know where I could get something like a slingshot?”

“I’m afraid I don’t Master Lucien, and even if I knew of such a place, my knowledge before meeting you was limited so I wouldn’t know if I did see a place that sold such weapon”

“Don’t worry, it’s alright for now. I’ll just make my own.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

If you can’t buy something, just make it yourself. And in this world of magic and medieval weapons, I wonder how it will be to have the equivalent to a Magnum in hand.

“Something like that”

“Master Lucien…your smile is scary…”

As I touched my face I noticed I had a bit of a contorted smile. Why do I have this habit whenever I think I have grasp of a situation…

“Sorry about that…And look at that, we’re here already”

“Well, I don’t really mind it since in a way, that smile is what saved me at one point, but such a smile might get you into problems inside of the Hall”

“I guess…Speaking of trouble, listen a bit”

* * *

“What do you mean I have to wait to take the Aptitude Test!?! Don’t you know who I am!? I am the son of the Vice-Governor!!! Do you have any idea what I can do to you if you cross me!?”

Despite being towards the back end of the City Hall, a loud, egotistical voice resounded even outside of the building. And from the looks of the scene, patience in both extremes is portrayed in front of me, on one side we have what could only be described as a self-conceited douche that believes the influence and power of his parents are his own, and on the other we see a small receptionist whose existence right now is nothing less than being called a holy being for not putting the douche in his place. Keep fighting Ms. Rep!

“I’m very sorry sir, but the man who reads the Affinity Stone is on break at this moment, if possible, could you wait 20 minutes, that’s when his break ends, and then you can take the Aptitude Test. As you can see around you, there isn’t anyone that comes before you, so might I ask again to please wait 20 minutes?”

Looks like her business smile is breaking, but the douche doesn’t plan on stopping. Well I have some business with Ms. Rep, so I’ll pour some cold water on his head along the way.

“Excuse me Ms., it seems the Aptitude Test is on hold for the time being, is it possi-”

“Hey! What do you think I was doing, I was talking here!!”

Loud, but too bad I don’t crack for 16-year-olds.

“Could you please wait a moment, I am talking here”

A vein popped in his head, the face is getting red with anger, and to make it better for Ms. Rep and Marla are holding back their laughter. Well, not like I had much interest in the douche.

“As I was saying Ms.”

“Yes?”

“Is it possible to set an appointment to take the Aptitude Test at a later hour?”

“Ah yes, it is possible, but it will cost you more than two 2 Copper Germas. It would be around 5 Copper Germas instead.”

“Minor rip-off wouldn’t you say?”

“It’s the price for setting an appointment sir”

So said Ms. Rep with a beaming smile, meanwhile the douche was reaching a level of anger that words wouldn’t come out.

“*sigh* That’s fine, put an appointment for 2 hours from now for 2 people”

“That will be for you and the young lady with you?”

“That’s right. It’s 10 Copper Germas right? Here you go.”

“Thank you very much sir. See you in 2 hours.”

“I should be saying the same to you Ms.”

With that the exchange ended, but the douche unfortunately came back to reality.

“You!! Do you have any idea what you just did!? You ignored me and did your thing when I was the one here before you!!!”

“*sigh* I simply wanted to conclude my business with the receptionist. What you were doing isn’t doing business, you were just screaming like a beast in heat because you couldn’t get what you wanted. Now that I finished my business for the moment, I’ll go attend something else. Let’s go Marla.”

“Understood Master Lucien”

3 muffled laughs, 1 angry douche, and 1 pain in the ass for later, all were left as we left the City Hall. Originally I had planned on waiting like other people would, but spending time in the same place as that guy might have led me to do something I didn’t want later…even though I already did something like that…

“Master Lucien? Where are we going now?”

“To a tailor shop”

“A tailor shop? Do you ask for a new piece of clothing to be fitted?”

“Not for me, but for you”

“Fo-for me!?”

“Yep, remember what I told you and Claria when I brought you in?”

“I can’t say I do…”

“I asked Claria to not pick anything for you to wear as your permanent maid clothes, I was going to pick those. You’re finally capable of being a fully-fledged maid, and due to what just happened, I figured it’s best to get your new clothes today rather than in a future date.”

“I-I understand. To think Master Lucien would send to make clothes for me…”

“Are you mad?”

“No, just a bit happy. What does it look like?”

“I wanted to make it look unique, so I want to leave it a surprise for now. Just keep in mind that it’s still something a servant would wear.”

“Understood Master Lucien”

Part 4

“So, what do you think?”

When asked the question, I turned to see a newly changed Marla, before she was wearing basic clothes that were a bit baggy since they were hand-me-downs from Claria. Thus, the first full set of clothes bought meant only for her were a happy occasion…but now I feel like scum for that being her work clothes. Sigh, too late for regrets.

“It looks wonderful on you, is it comfortable in all places and easy to move in?”

“Yes!”

With a beaming smile, Marla looked to me, and it brought up the guilt once again that her first set of clothes are work clothes…well, I still think it’s a unique look and fitting look. Marla is going to become my personal maid, but I didn’t want her to be one more in the crowd, so her uniform matches the uniqueness I wanted.

Simply put, Marla is wearing a mix-and-match of maid and butler clothing. The bottom part is a black skirt that goes past the knee, black knee socks and equally black shoes give her a little mystery to her legs, but the all-important white apron is still present. For the top, she’s not wearing a long-sleeved blouse but a simple white undershirt that is covered by a black butler’s vest and equally black tailcoat, and to complete the look, a pair of white gloves for each hand…I’ll just tell myself that this isn’t a weird taste I had and just something to make my maid stand out, yep, let’s go with that. However, I’m not quite done with the look. This time, it’s something to compliment her personal looks, not the work looks.

“Marla, could you turn around and let me play with your hair for a second?”

“Wha-what!?”

“Don’t worry, it’s not something perverted, relax! Also, close your eyes”

“Ye-yes…”

Don’t look so disappointed I’m not harassing you! Well, whatever. Just a little more and it’s done.

“There, you may open them now. What do you think now?”

“Tha-that’s for me?”

“Yes, this one I had to ask a bit for, but the tailor of the shop was able to get what I wanted. So, how is it? Do you like it?”

“I-I love it…tha-thank you Master Lucien”

“Don’t mention it, I’m just glad it was to your taste”

After fixing her hair a bit, Marla’s head now had added to her black hair a Japanese style needle hairpin. The pin has a simple design, good for daily use, the needle itself has a golden color, while at the end of it, 3 blue flowers with yellows hues stand proud. With this, the look is complete.

“Hehe, Master Lucien do you like it? You’re blushing a bit”

“Eh? A-am I? Well I couldn’t do less than that, it looks beautiful on you after all”

“Tha-thank you…”

This is getting a bit awkward, someone, anyone, a little help please!

“Erm sir, is the buy to your liking?”

Thank you Mr. Tailor!

“Yes, it is. So how much is it for the clothes and the pin?”

“1 Gold Germas sir”

When she heard the price tag, Marla’s face grimaced, I know it’s expensive but don’t act like I made a deal with the Devil…

“Here you go”

“Thank you for your patronage”

On the way out of the tailor shop, Marla’s face changed from one of grim to one that lacks any emotions. Should I say something…?

“Um…Master Lucien. Is there a reason for you to do this for me? I remember that when you met me that all you were doing was as a way to pass the time, but isn’t this too much? I’m still just a poor woman in comparison to what I’m wearing, even if it’s work clothes, this-this isn’t something that someone like me should be wearing. Especially this pin, this is would fit far better a woman of higher class, I-I-I”

“Marla!”

I’m getting angry, why is she likes this? Is it because of her background? No, it might be of what I said when we met, she might not remember other things but that left a strong impression on her…

“I’m sorry…”

And now she’s whimpering like a lost puppy…I’ll try my best here.

“Marla, please don’t misunderstand my actions back then with the ones today”

“*sniff*…?”

“Back in the alley, I might have just helped you for amusement and the same could be said when I began training you to become my maid. But the things I gave you today are meant to signify two very separate and very important reasons…”

“Two reasons…?”

“Yeah, for one, those clothes are me keeping my word and acknowledging you as my personal maid. What you decide to do from now on, even if you wish to leave my side, it’s something that’s up to you, I simply kept my part in saying that I was making you someone I could count on.”

“Tha-thank you for that compliment Master Lucien, *sniff* but that still isn’t a justified reason to spend such money on me…”

“Then let me get to the second reason before you begin your cry talking next time! Sigh, the second reason is my acknowledgement of you as someone important in my life. So please, stop crying over the things I choose to do and please accept my actions as the best I can do to express my feelings…”

This is…embarrassing…I just wanted to stop her from crying but I think I gave some sort confession that I wasn’t supposed to do. Nah, Marla, is smarter than that.

“I-I uu-u-understand Master Luciennn”

Ah!!! She broke, she’s blushing too much, no, you did a full 180o where are the tears from before? Were those a lie!? And if they weren’t, aren’t you misunderstanding a bit here? Marla, are you okay!? Marla!

“Master Lucien, I-”

“Let’s not keep talking about this…it’s time to go back for the Aptitude Test, let’s go see what magic lies within you.”

Better stop it before it turns into a bigger misunderstanding…I wonder why I feel bitter and guilty now…

* * *

On the way back to the City Hall, Lucien failed to notice a Marla that was trying to hold back a grin.

Part 5

Upon returning to the City Hall, I was glad to see that the douche was nowhere to be seen. And according to Ms. Rep, his foul mood was lifted as soon as he found himself with affinity towards both fire and water magic. Even though it’s been proven that people with that combination almost never master both skills and focus on one, since they are complete opposites. Well, hopefully he masters it and makes a nice sauna somewhere.

“Sir, they are ready for you in the next room”

“Thank you, let’s go Marla”

Let’s explain the Aptitude Test a bit, the test is divided into 3 numbers/categories, but since the third one is only useful within the Academy the Affinity Stone hails from, since it decides which ranks the students would fall in. Since we’re outside of that system, only the first two numbers are necessary:

The first number is for elemental attributes, this is the number that usually helps to see how much military magic the person has at their disposal, it ranges from 0 to 5, with 1 and 2 being the most values as they mean the person is either enhanced in one or two elemental magics. 4 and 5 are extremely rare and they represent that someone can control most or all the elemental magics. Despite the rarity of 4 and 5, 0 is the rarest of the numbers and it defines that the person has absolutely no affinity with any of the elements and thus making them unable to use military magic. Along with that, the color of the stone changes depending on the elemental affinity of the individual, red = fire, blue = water, white = wind, brown = earth, and yellow = electricity. And as a final fact, the default color of the stone is black. The second number represents the amount of mana found within a person, the parameters are like those of the elemental attributes, but they only go up to 4. 2 is the average here and it means the person can handle doing most magics, however even if they have two or more attributes, mixed magic is impossible for them without the caster being knocked out soon after.

From the moment I learned bit by bit about my blood, I remembered the words that Bastard God told me. Out of interest and amusement for himself, he said he would give me a handicap, and so far in my life, I’ve had nothing but good luck in all things considered. I was born into a wealthy household and as a child I had the love and attention of my mother, later on our relationship will go separate ways as she had to focus in assisting father in his work, but still nothing to complain; they would still care and worry for me whenever I went out and did something that could hurt me, but for that I simply asked Claria or Maura to heal me with their magic, so no evidence to be found. Even the time I went out and got hurt, I managed to come back with someone I could depend on in the future, so once again, nothing to complain. And with all things considered, the personality of that God is the one of a sadistic joker, he will give me enough so that I want something, but at the same time, he keeps it far enough that I can’t grasp it myself. At least, that’s how he portrayed himself in my eyes. So that’s my reasoning for why this test will just be a grim reminder that the Bastard is a God but also that he is without a doubt a bastard…why could this be his way of giving me divine punishment for killing myself? Or am I reading too deep into this, what if-

“Master Lucien, I believe it is your turn”

…I’ll have to think a bit about this later…

“Why don’t you go first Marla”

“If that’s what you wish master”

As I pushed her to go before me, Marla stepped in front of the man sitting behind a desk with the Affinity Stone laying on top. Following the man’s instructions, Marla put her hand on the stone and after a few seconds, the man reading off the stone.

“Aptitude 1-3. Affinity yellow. Congratulations miss, it looks like you have some great potential dwelling within you.”

With a nice business smile, the man gave Marla his opinion on her Aptitude, and then turned to me to ask if I was next. I followed the same procedure as Marla before me but, the seconds just passed, with no change to the stone, when the minute mark hit, the man noticed a change, but it wasn’t the one he was expecting.

“I wonder if this thing is broken already, hehe, it seems to be giving me a small problem, wou-”

“Could you please read what is on the stone, I have a general idea already, but I just want to confirm. Please.”

With a bitter look, almost as if what was happening right now was meant for him, the man just said.

“Understood…Aptitude 0-0. Affinity none…”

Looks like my hunch was true afterall…

“Thank you”

I turned around to see an even bitter Marla, she looks like she wanted to say something but the words would come out for her. For me on the other hand…

“See Marla, what did I tell you. Well not like it matters much, let’s return for today. Please see if you can get a carriage to take us home.”

“Master, do you need anything else besides calling for a carriage? Water perhaps?”

“No, just the carriage is fine. Why? Is my face that depressing or something?”

What was meant as a joke, was only met by a small nod by Marla. When I asked her what was wrong with my face, she just answered.

“It seems to be absent of any emotions and white, almost like looking at a sheet of paper…”

“I-I see…please, just call for the carriage. I’ll go to the restroom for a second and wash my face.”

“…understood…”

* * *

Standing in front of the sink, I saw my reflection in the mirror in front of me, and…for the first time, I truly paid attention how I looked since I was reincarnated. I mean, my gray hair like father is still there and so are my yellow eyes like mother’s, but for some reason I was looking at all the details in my face, and it was a face without an emotion…

I know I was expecting this to some extent, no I was almost sure of it, but now that it happened, I can only see it as a cruel joke. Should I despise that God for this or maybe despise my former self…? I don’t know, even when knowing this was influence by an outside force, I can’t bring any form of animosity on my face or within me…maybe, that’s how I should feel.

I wonder what I should do…earlier I was jokingly asking Marla if there was anything like a gun in this world, and if not that I would make one myself. That was a joke right…? No, a part of me knew that joke might have some meaning, I just didn’t think it would show its meaning this fast. Even more than that, what should I do now…originally I planned to go to the Academy like Maura and see if I could specialize in a type of magic. But now, what should I do…I don’t know…

I should go back, Marla probably waiting for me outside already. That’s another thing, what do I do with Marla…I don’t know…

* * *

For the rest of that day and the next, Lucien didn’t speak a word to anyone. And even when he started talking again, he still didn’t know what to do…

End of Chapter 4