Chapter Text
Tucked away between the thick roots of trees, a patch of poppy flowers bloomed, boasting a rich azure shade. Blume bent down to pick the blossoms, holding her breath steadily, as if they would run away if she were to make even the slightest sound. Blue poppies were found far-in-between in the cold climate of the Northern Lands and were a popular ingredient in the world of herbal medicine. Finding a cluster in the forests of Äußerst was not unlike a miracle.
“Stay away! Don’t come any closer!”
The sudden uproar of a high-pitched voice sent her out of her merrily trance. She turned her head to the source, but all she could see were the densely packed trees of the forest. It sounds like it’s coming from the main road. Abandoning her find, she walked towards the clearing, and the sight of two distressed young boys standing before a beast came into view. One of them, presumably the oldest one, held a branch in his hand, which he wafted defensively midair. She could tell he was shaking.
“Run away,” she said in a low voice as she wedged herself between the two of them. The beast focused its sight on her, assessing its new opponent.
The young boy hesitated. “B-but, what about—“
“I said, run away!”
After her second command, he grabbed the younger one by the arm, and she could hear both of them make a run for it towards the opposite direction behind her. The beast glared at her with burning, red eyes, seemingly annoyed that she had let its prey run away. She eyed it suspiciously, pausing for a second. In an attempt to intimidate her, it boasted its broad wings, flapping them vigorously. As they hit the ground, gusts of dirt scattered around them. Something isn’t right.
That was her last thought before it charged towards her. She suppressed the instinctual urge to close her eyes as she stood her ground. Before the very second its final lunge would make contact, the beast disfigured into a pattern of hexagons before her eyes, its form slowly dissipating into the air. It was gone.
“How impressive. You didn’t budge an inch.”
A deep voice rang out behind her, accompanied by the sound of someone clapping their hands. Blume turned around to see a young, short woman with a broad smile on her face. She seemed thrilled at the sight she had just witnessed, or rather, the performance Blume had just pulled off. Looking closer, Blume realized she was an elf, her pointy ears giving it away. Her golden hair and eyes caught the gleam of the sunlight, and in her white toga-dress, she almost looked ethereal; like a goddess who had just stepped into the mortal realm. The more Blume looked at her, the more she felt like she had seen her before. Could she be …
“The great mage, Serie…” Blume gulped back a nervous feeling. “Was that the work of yours? Why are you using magic to scare children?”
Serie trailed her eyes to the side, visibly uninterested in where the conversation was headed.
“The forests surrounding Äußerst are notorious for teeming with dangerous monsters. And yet, children flock here all the time, wanting to play hero. Someone ought to teach them a lesson,” she said matter-of-fact. “More importantly, you’re not even a beginner mage, are you? How could you tell the beast was an illusion?”
“I just had a feeling it was,” she said hesitantly, knowing her answer wasn’t very convincing. Serie watched her with an amused expression, having seen through her lie.
“People don’t throw away their lives because of a hunch. Tell me, how did you know?” This time it wasn’t a question, but a demand.
Letting out a defeated sigh, Blume rummaged her mind for an answer. Right, how did she know? “That beast…,” she started. “It was a Geisel, a monster usually found in areas with high elevation of the Kühl region. You would never find one in such a low-lying area, much less so near the city.” Serie looked at her, her eyes prompting her to go on.
“Furthermore,” she pointed to the ground. “They never hunt on land, always in the air.”
Serie did not say anything for a while, and Blume could tell she was holding onto a thought, contemplating on how she should go about telling her whatever it was she wanted to voice out. “You’ve got guts,” Serie finally said. “How much do you know about magic?”
“I’ve never touched a staff in my life.”
“I see, so next to nothing,” she stated, as if she already knew. “Still, I wouldn’t mind starting all from scratch. How about you become my apprentice?”
“What?” For a second, she thought she hadn’t heard right. Sure, she had shown a demonstration of heroism, but she knew that that alone wouldn’t make anyone near qualified. Serie was the founder of the Continental Magic Association, known for being a living grimoire, and possibly the greatest mage of the current era. Her students usually encompassed first class mages. “Do you usually take up newbies on a whim like this?”
“No,” she said. She could see the concern in Blume’s eyes. “But I wouldn’t mind a challenge.”
Blume held back a light scoff. I see, so she views it as a challenge.
“With all due respect, mistress Serie, I have a shop to take care of,” Blume said. “I cannot accept your offer.”
“A shop?” Serie’s eyes drew towards Blume’s braided basket which she still held in her hand, blue poppy flowers peeking through its cloth. “Ah, so you’re the owner of the local apothecary.” She pondered for a second. “Can’t you afford to have someone else take over? If not, I’ll have someone send a skilled herbalist from the imperial capital.”
Serie seemed awfully intent on taking her in, Blume thought. She couldn’t deny that this was an honorable offer, an offer most mages could never dream of declining. And now, what if… A new idea popped into her mind, an idea that she had thought of before, all the way back when she was still a little girl and had found herself in an unknown, faraway world, an idea she had long given up on.
If there is one person who can help me in this quest, Blume eyed Serie. Then it is only her.
“Okay,” she plainly said, and at that word alone Serie’s face lit up.