One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Chapter 3: Mage girl in training

The easiest rank to achieve in high ranked mage test was the rank of wizard. To achieve the rank of a wizard you need to pass the written examination first and then pass the magic examination.

The written examination, bluntly speaking, is the easiest thing if you fill your head with things like history and magic theories, but with the magic examination, that won't help with anything. If your skill is lacking, you have to redo it many times.

Magic examination mainly looks at the ability to fly with booms and operate Magic. Flying in a broom needs concentrated flow of magi from the users body toward the object in order to float.

The ugly part of the test was practically the fighting. Each mage has to fight each other and in every examination there is only one who will advance.

That was the reason many people don’t considered or give up in reaching high mage ranks.

I don't want to go through it a second time.

"Let's speak frankly… Noire. With your current power, the probability to win against other contestants in a proper fight is endlessly close to zero."

The next morning after I made a promise with her.

I spoke to her while sitting on the broom.

"However, that doesn't mean that it's absolutely impossible to win against them. Please relax."

"W-What should we do!"

Being lively despite the morning, she was looking with shining eyes. Like a sun that awoke just a little while ago.

I drew my broom towards her who was squatting on top of the roof tiles.

"For starters, you should learn to operate the broom at my, or even above my level."

"That's a bit too hard......."

She made a bitter face as she said it.

Just what is hard? What a spoiled child.

"There's no other method to survive the magic examination. Or rather, the current you will end up falling off the broom right after the examination begins. Better avoid that at least."

"Uggh......."

It feels like that.

For start, I decided to train her in the fundamental magic skills. In the end, just as I imagined, she's unskilled to the point that she can't even fly normally so it's very troublesome.

So this is the feeling of mothers teaching their children how to fly, earnestly teaching from morning to evening as long as time allows it. As children point at us while making fun along with sneering adults, we are putting effort in this special training.

Of course, we didn't forget about searching for the Medal. She is slowly improving her results but on the contrary we aren't making any progress with the other thing.

My Medal, just where did it go? Seriously.

"Next is the rotation. Shift your body weight and bend skillfully."

"Yes!"

"Next is rapid braking and rapid takeoff. After forcefully stopping the broom with your entire your body, dash out with the feel as if you’re kicking the air."

"Yes!"

"Next is aerial separation. Let go of broom in the air and then summon it with Magic. If it gets dangerous then I’ll come to save you, so fly with a peace of mind."

"Yes!"

"Next is──" and so on.

Just like that, in the blink of an eye, Noire got to the point of using the broom close to my level. To be asked how many days it took to reach this point, the answer would be 2 days.

This terrific growth of Noire raised some questions. What in the world was she doing until now. Or is it simply because my way of teaching is splendid, I wonder?

When I asked.

"Because I was self-training until now."

She answered, while looking embarrassed.

And now, the fourth day of staying in this country: Third day of teaching.

On the contrary to the usual unsuccessful search for the Medal, Noire's special training was refreshingly favorable.

It seemed she could still reach even higher.

"Next, let's memorize the offensive Magic… How about Wind Magic?"

"Wind Magic?"

To her who was standing on top of the roof that was burned reddish brown and quizzically bending her head, I swiftly nodded and said.

"Yes, Wind. By manipulating the air currents, it can hinder the other participants."

This actually was a dirty technique on my Magic examination. I still remember the effects of manipulating the air currents, like the people who lost balance and fell down, and people who staggered and collided with buildings.

Wind manipulation is easy to handle, and can become a powerful weapon. Because of the time left, she must memorize it by all means.

"Then, please hit that bottle on the opposite side with the wind."

I pointed at the bottle that was put on rooftop opposite from us. From here, it's just a one house distance, so it shouldn't be hard at all.

"Imagine gathering the air and strike with it, and it will work out… something like this"

I swung the staff.

In a moment, the bottle grew hazy from the wind, and then its top shook with rattling sound.

It didn't fall right? Was it a failure? Noire turned around with the face that seemed to ask that, but that was done on purpose. It really was, you know?

"Well then, go ahead and try it."

"......L-like this?"

With a whoosh, Noire swung the staff. Since Wind Magic itself is a Magic that is taught at the beginning, she was able to call it forth. But, the wind that she summoned passed by the bottle's top.

Regrettable.

"The way you hold the staff is wrong. And also the way of directing. Wind Magic is a very delicate thing, so swinging it too strongly will not do the trick."

"Err, then, how about this?"

Whoosh. The wind passed by.

It didn't change at all.

"Wrong. Like this."

I swung the staff and the bottle shook with a clatter. After noticing the reason I didn't throw the bottle down.

"Wow!"

Noire leaked out a voice.

And, she once again grasped her tender staff.

This time she completely imitated what I did, but it was too weak. Only a gentle breeze blew.

......It didn't go smoothly.

"Wrong. Like this."

"Like this?"

It missed.

"That's completely wrong. Like this."

"H-how about this!"

The wind didn't even graze.

"Totally no good at all. It's like this, this."

"Is it something like this!"

Totally hopeless. Totally. No response at all.

Let's use the strong measures. Getting behind her back, I seized it with both hands. Noire's shoulders shook instantly, and I whispered close to her ear.

"Are you okay? Right now I will launch Magic through your staff. Please learn with your body."

"W-with my body?"

"Yes... With your body."

I nodded to her whose ears were bright red for some reason.

"Then, here I go"

And.

That kind of thing. We continuously trained till dusk on our third day. Instead of saying that she mastered the Wind Magic, it ended up totally hopeless.

Rather, after I showed it to her from behind, it seemed like it got even worse......?

Why did it happen? I don't Understand.

I can't always supervise Noire constantly.

When noon arrives, I also go separately. For the sake of searching for my Medal, I fly downtown and listen to stories of various people.

Speaking honestly, it's nothing but information gathering after information gathering.

Without saying, I can't even find any simple information and in the end everyone shakes their heads while saying "I don't know".

The progress appeared on the fourth day from the day I became Noire's teacher. In other words, on the fifth day since I stayed in this country.

"I saw it."

Saying cheerfully was the Sketchy with that looked skillful with Magic. A star-shaped Medal was seen on her chest. But, from many years of service, it was splendidly worn-out.

Ooh, this is expected…

"W-Where did you see it!"

As I snapped at her.

She laughed with a voice truly fitting to a Witch.

"Now, where did I see it......."

"Please tell me! Beautiful Witch."

Without hesitation, the witch displayed her hand to me.

".......What's up with that hand."

"How much are you willing to pay?”

Currently the witch was quietly presenting her hand to me. Pay to keep asking questions, is it?

So filthy. As one would expect from a Witch.

"…………"

I quietly took a single gold coin from the purse and put it in Witch hand. And with that, witch restarted like a wound up doll.

"The place I saw it──"

The witch started talking. Vaguely, I myself also feel like I've known about it somehow.

The end of a loose tale was told easily like this.

…

Nighttime between fifth and sixth day since I arrived.

From the bed, I looked out the window at the suspended moon, but suddenly, the door opened. As glanced there, the girl there timidly looked back at me.

"Miss Hanayuki."

"What is it?"

"I-is it alright to sleep together?"

I dropped my gaze at the bed.

"Isn't it small?"

"We are a cheap hotel so sorry about that."

Ah, no, I didn't mean that by it. This is a one-person room. And only one person is supposed to sleep on this bed as well.

"Well, If you don't mind the narrow feel, then I don't really mind."

"Yay!"

Noire entered inside and roughly closed the door, then crawled in the bed.

Sweet fragrance of someone who just got out of the bath drifted in the air. Although we used the same shampoo since this is an inn, it differed from my fragrance quite a bit. Holding her hair and bringing my nose close to it, different from my hair, it had the fragrance of a lovely maiden.

Why is it that only she has such a nice fragrance?

Well, it's fine.

I'll also lie down.

I lied down, facing to the side of the moon and covered myself with a bed sheet. I immediately noticed the presence behind me.

"Isn't it bright to face towards the moon while sleeping?"

"Just a bit."

I turned around.

And at that moment, our eyes met.

".......Wasn’t that a contradiction of what you just said?"

"It was not too bright to me."

She smiled faintly. Somehow that smile illuminated by the moonlight looked as if it would be broken from a touch.

"Good work for today. It's a great improvement compared to the beginning. To the point that you won't be needing my help anymore."

"It's nothing like that. After all, there are many more things I want to be taught by Miss Hanayuki."

".....I am a traveler. I will leave this country shortly."

"But we will be together all the time before then."

After some stirring under the futon, something cold touched my hands. It was Noire grasping my hand.

She looked straightly at me and started talking.

"Please teach me many more things."

"............"

The moonlight wavered inside her eyes.

An innocent girl like her was truly looking up to a person like me. However, I have to choose what is best for me from now on… Even if it is something cruel for her.

This bitter feeling in my chest, is it from the guilt I wonder? Or is it because of the disappointment? I believe it's the former.

"This is an unreasonable discussion, Noire."

I declared.

Then, as I pushed her hands off mine, I said:

"Won't you return my Medal?"