Cascata is one of the ancient and prestigious families.
Not only has it produced high-ranking mages for generations, but its power has also significantly contributed to the prosperity of the empire—the renowned house of Cascata.
Spanning vast territories and possessing countless artifacts worthy of its mage-dominant lineage, the Cascata family stands as a symbol of prestige. And the Ancient Temple of the Waterfall, located here, was among the temples under the ownership of the House of Cascata. It was also the most potent of all their temples.
It was a bright moonlit night.
The full moon spread a silvery-white light unlike the sun’s, illuminating the earth, draping it in a silken glow that shone quietly and fantastically in the silence.
Amidst this, the Ancient Temple of the Waterfall recognized the visitor standing before it.
None who lacked the Cascata bloodline could approach, yet the waterfall fell silently, welcoming a descendant of Cascata.
Carlo della Cascata, the true heir of the Cascata family, whose veins coursed with its rich heritage, took a deep breath.
Towering in height with a sturdy and muscular build, Carlo’s face bore thick lines, his tightly pressed lips reflecting a stubborn temperament.
Clang
Placing a ceremonial vessel filled with waterfall water onto the altar before the temple, Carlo sat down and closed his eyes.
What he desired was ceaselessly powerful and abundant magical power, and his reason for obtaining it was to defeat one person alone.
The figure in his mind, the same gender as himself, was named Ivan Kontadino.
A impoverished farmer’s son who worked the Cascata estate and also Carlo’s childhood friend, Ivan was a man of humble origins.
Carlo had always had a strong desire to show off since he was young. As the first son and heir apparent of the Cascata family, he had been educated from a young age, embodying the pride and dignity of the family’s name.
Raised in exceptional circumstances, Carlo received both the finest education and the support of the family. Amidst all this, with flattery-filled praises predicting his future as a great mage, his arrogant personality only grew stronger.
Thus, it was no surprise that Carlo sought to outshine his peers as a child.
But an event occurred that became a turning point for Carlo.
When both Carlo and Ivan were young, Carlo, wanting to show off in front of the village children, brought a tomes from his father’s library, which he shared with Ivan.
Even though Ivan had only seen the tome once, he gradually began to master magecraft, showcasing a prodigious talent beyond imagination.
And then…
Images flashed in Carlo’s mind of Ivan unleashing a massive [Storm], one that seemed to pierce the heavens, obliterating monsters and demolishing the stone walls that Carlo himself had been unable to penetrate.
Grind
Recalling the memory with his eyes closed, Carlo clenched his teeth.
Carlo couldn’t accept that. With all the means and efforts he had mustered through his relentless training, Ivan, who returned after ten years, was far beyond Carlo, surpassing him in ways that felt impossible to even catch up to.
He could never tolerate it.
He could never acknowledge it.
This was something Carlo della Cascata, the first heir of the Cascata family with its hundreds of years of history, could neither accept nor admit to.
By employing the resources of the Cascata family and even his own abilities, Carlo had tried everything. He consumed tonics to increase his magical power, sought private tutoring from former magicians of the mage battalion to enhance efficiency, and even prayed to the Waterfall Deity for even more magic.
Despite all that, his efforts had fallen short.
Upon reuniting after ten years, Ivan’s power far surpassed Carlo’s. It became painfully clear to him that no matter how hard he tried, there was no way Carlo could ever surpass or even catch up to Ivan.
It was a gap in innate talent.
It was a chasm so distant, so profound, that mere effort could never bridge it.
That’s why Carlo had come back to the waterfall.
He would offer anything as a sacrifice.
He wished for greater power, power that could exceed Ivan.
“…Take everything from me if you must, O Waterfall Deity. Though my vow has already been kept, I am willing to offer an additional price—I pray for more powerful magic.”
This ritual he performed is known as “devotion.”
A secret tradition passed down only through the Cascata family.
It is an exchange: suitable offerings given in return for appropriate rewards.
Though technically a transaction, it differs because the party with whom one deals is a deity.
The first time Carlo gained great magical power, the price he paid was his vow to never release magic outside his body.
This vow he kept faithfully, and his body, suited for battle, lacked nothing in helping him uphold it.
But having been defeated by Ivan, Carlo now craved even greater power.
“For whatever price, if it is something I can bear, I will offer it. O Waterfall Deity, please grant me greater power.”
Carlo, sitting cross-legged, closed his eyes and prayed.
What he prayed for was magic, and what he was willing to offer was limitless as he now awaited the deity’s response.
Shake, shake
The ceremonial vessel holding the waterfall water began to tremble violently.
As if responding to Carlo’s earnest plea, the vessel rattled, and Carlo, opening his eyes, watched it silently.
The vessel trembled even more violently, reaching the point where the water began to splash out.
“Ahhh…”
A short groan escaped Carlo’s lips.
A powerful surge of magical force, like a tide, engulfed Carlo.
Even seated, his legs tensed with effort.
Without that grip, he feared he would be swept away, so he remained seated and braced himself.
Carlo, a man of great height and sturdy build, braced himself with a muscular physique.
Corresponding to his vow never to release magic outside his body, Carlo withstood the force with his physical strength, his sturdy frame trembling slightly.
Grit, grit!
He clenched his teeth, enduring the shock.
He had to withstand this; failing would mean the devotion was for naught.
Knowing this, Carlo held on, fighting through what felt like an eternity, until the wave gradually subsided.
A smile began to form on Carlo’s lips.
The tide-like surge of power covering his body was enormous beyond comparison.
A force so overwhelming that it could obliterate any restrictions. It was powerful and stimulating.
Carlo felt ecstatic.
With this power, he could easily overpower Ivan. The previous defeat was no longer relevant, as this power promised an overwhelming victory.
Gulping for air, Carlo slowly opened his eyes.
It was time to witness his newly transformed body with his own eyes.
The boundless magical power flowing through him was vastly superior to anything he had known before, so naturally, his body must have transformed accordingly.
Looking down at his hands, they were now pale and thin.
His fingers were long, and the skin which was once brown had turned snow white.
Almost sickly pale…
Arms that were now thin and frail compared to his previous physique.
‘…Anyway, the body can be trained. What matters most is the magic.’
The body can be strengthened with training, so there was nothing to fear. Muscles can be built, and though it would take time, this was no loss considering the magical power obtained.
But, Carlo had a sudden foreboding.
Was his center of gravity shifting forward unusually?
To one basing his combat style on physical prowess, the center of gravity was crucial.
Carlo looked at the water bowl he had set aside.
Worried that he might look sickly, he glanced into it, only to find his hair obscuring his vision.
‘What is this?’
Carlo, who used to keep his hair short, felt something odd with hair now flowing into his field of vision.
In the water bowl, he saw a pair of pink eyes staring back at him.
The long, flowing navy hair was unfamiliar.
Most notably, the beauty.
The girl reflected in the bowl was so beautiful that even Carlo was momentarily speechless.
Even more impressive were the full breasts that were considered beautiful in their era, surpassing the perfection of any lady Carlo had ever seen.
“…Hm.”
Even his voice had changed.
His voice was now that of a girl’s.
Carlo della Cascata, the true heir to the House of Cascata—a noble family’s heir.
Was now a noble heiress.
…
“What on earth is happening?”
…
Well 🤷