The morning of an apprentice starts early.
It sounds like the beginning of some kind of documentary, but in reality, it is early. Waking up according to a brain clock adjusted to the lifestyle of a farmer, the world outside my comfortable bed was still dimly lit.
The house Lady Agrippina arranged for me is a modest two-story building, where the previous tenant’s belongings still remained, making cleaning up a bit of a hassle but not inconvenient. Buying dishes all over again would cost money, so thanks to the reliable cleaning power of “Scourgify,” I don’t hesitate to use them.
Moreover, the entity that evicted the previous tenant seems to be acting quite amicably toward me now, making this place even more comfortable than my own home back then.
When I got out of bed, for some reason there was a change of clothes for the morning and a bucket of water for washing my face already prepared. A towel was thoughtfully included as well.
“Thank you, miss.”
I thanked her, even though she was invisible to me, and eagerly made use of what was provided. You see, this house is inhabited by a house fairy.
House fairies, or elves, are small supernatural residents said to take the form of young girls, or perhaps weak but benevolent spirits. They generally reside in houses, assisting the household with chores, or sometimes playing tricks. They help diligent families with their work, while chasing away those they dislike with frights.
When I first opened the door, I briefly saw her—cloaked in a grey widow’s garb—undoubtedly having been here all along. Looking at the mismatched items left behind, it’s safe to assume that she had driven away quite a few unsatisfactory tenants.
In this era, to be able to drive out magicians and sorcerers residing in the magical district—even to the point of making them abandon valuable assets like their beds and tableware—is quite extraordinary indeed.
At first, I thought, “Did I end up with a haunted house?!” But fortunately, it seems I was not disliked, and thus every day, in exchange for offering a bit of warm milk to the hearth, I receive diligent service from her.
The troublesome blond hair and blue eyes occasionally prove useful after all.
Taking care not to put strain on my weight, I descended the creaky staircase quietly to find the modest kitchen wafting with the scent of the hearth. There, on a table that leaned slightly due to a missing leg —which I must fix soon— breakfast was already set.
Thinly sliced rye bread was a familiar sight, but the fried eggs and boiled white beans made for a rare dish in this region. It closely resembled something from the Northern Isles, made by those with deep-set cheeks who frequented the taverns.
I enjoyed it with the fragrant tea made from roasted dandelion root, appreciating how simply buying and restocking provisions made meals appear. It was important to remember that giving a sincere compliment about the taste was crucial. Even the nicest gestures tend to sour if taken for granted.
Through what Lady Agrippina told me about the various happenings with fairies, I have been taking every precaution to avoid making mistakes in my relationship with her. You see, overdoing it might lead to an invitation to the twilight hills for some fork dancing, so balance is key.
After expressing thanks for the life I consumed, I added a quiet word of gratitude toward the house fairy. Regardless of her origins, which I do not know, reciprocating goodwill with goodwill is essential. But moderation must be exercised.
After shoving breakfast into my stomach, I headed to the Magic Academy. The ten-minute run was good for a morning warm-up.
Breathing in the pleasant air of early summer and basking in the cheerful light of the morning sun, I saw students walking around the streets of the city. They all seemed to be throwing something at windows or casting magic, likely working as wake-up callers known as knockers. They are essential in a time without alarm clocks, waking up the sleepy townsfolk to ensure a regular start to their day.
As I listened to the pleasant sound of windows being tapped, I reached the Magic Academy. I passed by motivated students and leisurely strolling professors to head towards the stables.
There, the magicians’ magical beasts were kept, and the grooms hired as staff were already bustling around busily. By the way, they are normal humans, so dangerous magical creatures — primeval magical animals sharing elements of the magical species— are not kept here. Though, there is a magnificent unicorn tethered, showing how loosely things are categorized.
I don’t know which professor owns it, but it picks fights with me. That guy tries to bite my hair every time I pass by—what an audacious beast. I’ll complain to its owner once I figure out who it is.
I joined the familiar grooms and tended to two black horses that pulled Lady Agrippina’s carriage.
Incidentally, these aren’t magically-conjured horses but actual stallions of a proper military breed. Apparently, she said: “If you can buy something with money, it’s less trouble than magically creating it.” Who would’ve thought this woman, who casually uses high-level magic for trivial things, would say something like that?
I carried in a large amount of fodder and water, used the “Scourgify” spell to clean the stall, replaced the straw, and personally brushed their magnificent bodies, which towered above my shoulders. Doing this makes them very happy, so I use my “hands” merely as a stepping stool and handle them carefully.
After spending three months on a journey, it’s natural to grow attached. Horses are a staple of adventure travel, and since I cared for draft horses named Holter back home, I’m quite familiar with horses.
Privately, I had named them. You see, Lady Agrippina is indifferent to such things and simply calls them “horses,” which seemed rather pitiful to me.
Since they share the same lineage, I named them Castor and Polydeuces after twin heroes. They might be ominous names, but in terms of staying together forever, they aren’t bad, I think. The two horses have accepted their brave names well and respond cheerfully when called.
“Ah, again…”
Just as I started brushing their necks and manes, I noticed their manes were intricately braided with tiny French braids. It seems the nearby fairies have identified them as “my horses” and chosen them as objects of their mischief. Though it looks impressive, it’s extremely tedious to undo them. I estimate it would take around half an hour per horse, even with all available hands working on it.
“Don’t just look proud; put up some resistance!”
Well, they look so proud, as if to say, “Isn’t this stylish?” Making me hesitate to scold them. Still, I convince myself that this is another opportunity to improve my hand dexterity.
After caring for Castor and Polydeuces, I offer “Scourgify” to the other grooms whose stables are dirty from horse oil and manure, earning a small income of two asses per person. This triple benefits by not being insignificant income, gaining experience, and improving my standing in various related areas.
One cannot go wrong in earning honor points wherever you are, unless in undercover missions.
After quenching my thirst with a cold glass of water graciously provided, I headed to Lady Agrippina’s workshop via the elevator. Upon opening the door, Eliza came rushing into my arms like a blur.
“Brother!”
“Hey, no running and jumping like that! It’s dangerous, remember?”
Eliza, who vastly improved her diction in just two weeks, leapt into my arms and wrapped her legs around my neck with considerable force. I had to firmly plant my feet on the ground and use my “hands” to stabilize her in various spots.
“But, but…”
“It seems you can’t help but be affectionate, can you?”
While pretending to be exasperated, I indulged in the joy of doting on my little sister as Master happily observed her learning speed accelerating since being separated from me.
There’s a reason why Master didn’t let me stay in the apprentice room, which could have squeezed in two people at a stretch, and instead paid rent for a place in the lower town. It’s likely because of this.
Eliza is my sister. And she’s a half-fairy—biologically akin to pure concepts or magic. Thus, it’s apparent that she values the identities of “sister” and “daughter” above all else.
Deep down, she must wish to remain a beloved little sister, a princess cherished by her family. This is natural for a fairy who yearns for human life and its ways.
Therefore, she learned slowly while with me because it was advantageous to be immature, weak, and dependent, receiving more affection and protection. As a sister, being helpless made her more endearing, so certain aspects of her fairy essence were likely inhibiting her intellectual growth.
However, living as a small human child in the countryside is acceptable, but such a path would have been unsuitable for someone like her who holds immense magical talent. Hence, we are here, away from our parents.
And surely Master must have seen through it.
After being separated from me, with the ultimatum that she must become independent to reunite, her growth was remarkable, Master recounts. She memorized etiquette books she had struggled with for days in just one, became proficient in using a spoon for soup, and more. She stopped fussing at night and learned to wash her hands alone.
Now, she is mastering palace language, and according to Master, she will likely soon be ready to attend as a regular student at the Magic Academy.
I’m both happy and slightly melancholy to see her take her first step towards independence. But, she still clings to me, a habit I have that might end up hindering her progress. I know I should stop, especially since I’ve recognized the truth that my overindulgence might pull her back, yet I can’t seem to help it.
After playing with Eliza for a while, I casually ask what she studied today to encourage her to review. Compared to last week, when she haltingly recounted her lessons, in just a week, she’s learned to organize her thoughts and explain them clearly. The Master’s assessment seems valid; was this child a hidden genius all along?
“So, Brother, I learned something amazing about the first Emperor. Guess what? The Emperor was originally the youngest son of a minor king!”
Judging from the content of her story, it seems she had a history lecture yesterday. Often perceived as unnecessary knowledge for magicians, studying history holds importance because magic evolved in response to historical needs. Understanding why certain magic was created and how they were improved upon is crucial for future magicians, so the academy places significant emphasis on historical education.
Well, if there are people around who’ve experienced historical events, one would naturally want to delve deeper…
“Fffwa… Good morning…”
Seeing Master crawling out of bed with no hint of her 150 years of age and her habit of wandering out in just her underwear, was something I’d wish she’d stop doing. The damage to her dignity aside, it’s visually unpleasant.
“Hmm… Hey, Erih… Do you happen to know where my glasses are…?”
“Most likely you’ve buried them in a book again. Let me find them for you now. Eliza, Brother has work to do, so please step away for a moment.”
As she complained about being disrupted, I fondly thought about the childhood friends back home while performing my duties. First, using two of my “hands,” I brewed Master’s favorite tea. Using two others, I felt around the storage for her spectacles, and two more prepared yesterday’s ready-to-go clothes. Meanwhile, with my original hands, I carefully styled Master’s hair lying on the couch.
All thanks to the upgraded “Multiple Thinking” ability, enhanced with “Simultaneous Multiple Existence Thinking.” …Yeah, the real me apologizes to Future Me for still being so prone to material desires. After all, adding six invisible hands and not upgrading my multitasking ability left them idle and wasted.
It was quite an investment, but as an apprentice, my efficiency has improved, so I have no complaints. Honestly, the limitless possibilities excite me. Only Future Me has the right to complain, since Present Me is just enjoying the improved workload.
Once Master was polished from a laid-back beauty into a proper one, she elegantly enjoyed her tea before starting Eliza’s lesson. Today, apparently continuing from yesterday’s, sent the girl’s spirits soaring.
Not wanting to disturb them, I prepared the tea and left the room. My life is surprisingly fulfilling even as an apprentice…
…
【Tips】In the Imperial Capital, there are delivery restaurants targeting busy research scholars and professors holed up in their Magic Academy laboratories, some of whom rely on those meals for all three daily meals. There also exists high-end establishments catering to extravagant tastes. Agrippina, by the way, is a regular customer at one of these.
This is just the set-up. I aim to dig deeper into my life as an apprentice in the Imperial Capital while slowly exploring the magical world.
Since it would be a bit of a waste to just write a guidebook of the Imperial Capital, I hope to incorporate it into the story in a fun and engaging way.
The next update is scheduled for today, February 17, 2019, at 7:00 PM.
