Lumina's Isekai Story

Chapter 1: Prologue

[Future]

“This has got to be a lie--!”

A child who was around 7 years old stood in front of the gate of her school. Her long black hair covered her back, and her deep upturned eyes were wide as she stared at the signpost in front of her.

She was wearing a black one-piece dress, with a skirt reaching up to her knees and very elaborate designs on its edges. On her chest was a blue rose brooch, symbolizing the insignia of her house. No matter where you looked at this child, she was unmistakably of noble heritage.

“From now on, Farlingstad Magic Academy is your new home!”

An aged old man with flowing white hair that reached his shoulders and deep wrinkles crisscrossing his face extended a hand toward the awed girl. The man smiled at her and spoke with enthusiasm.

Even though the old man spoke to her with such enthusiasm, she ignored him. Under her breath, she muttered, “I really was reincarnated into the game.”

***

In a world called Glacias, fantastical beings like dragons, elves, dwarves, and others existed. Though they didn’t live in perfect harmony, each race enjoyed a measure of peace and stability. Here, in this world, since fantastical beings existed, so did magic.

Magic was a miraculous power given by the gods to each of their creations. For a race to use magic, they needed to have ‘Mana,’ which was also a gift from the gods. Each race had varying amounts of ‘Mana,’ with the dragons possessing the most and the humans the least.

Even though humans were the weakest due to their small amount of Mana, their ingenuity and numbers were enough to help them secure a foothold and establish a country in this world. They named their country Aclaia, in honor of the great hero who raised the banner for humans and established the kingdom.

In this country, a child was born into a certain noble household. Though their social standing was not high and they were not wealthy, the people in this household shared a strong bond with one another. They felt blessed to have been given a child and promised to give this child a happy life.

It had been a year since the child was born. Around this time, a child begins to form their sense of self. This child was no exception to that rule, but she was quite special compared to others because she had...

***

[Current Time]

“(Huh? Where am I?)”

I woke up in an unfamiliar place, lying on an unfamiliar bed. Twisting my neck to survey my surroundings, I was shocked by how large everything around me appeared. Continuing my survey, I was stunned to discover how my body had become smaller and deformed.

“(What the heck happened to me!?)”

I reviewed my memories to understand what had turned me into this.

“(I was playing a visual novel game in my room as usual, then my mother scolded me for staying up late and forced me to go to bed... then I went to sleep as she said... and then what?)”

As I became more confused because I didn’t know what had happened, the door opened, revealing a young woman who looked to be in her early 20s. She had short blonde hair tied up in a ponytail and wore a dress that looked like something noblewomen from the Middle Ages would wear.

“You’re awake already, Lumina? Are you hungry?”

The woman, who called me “Lumina,” effortlessly carried me in her arms and asked me a question.

“Uhh… ah!”

I tried to ask the woman questions, but what came out of my mouth was mere gibberish, something a baby would make.

"Oh? Are you hungry, little Lumina? Let mom give you milk."

After this explanation, the woman opened some of her buttons and presented her breast to me.

All of a sudden, the woman pressed her breast into my face and put her nipple in my mouth.

'Huh, what's happening here?'

I tried to resist the woman, but she was a real giant! In the end, the giant won.

Before I knew it, I was sucking on her nipple and the taste of milk filled my mouth. That's when I discovered what I had become.

“(Did I become a baby…? Thinking about it calmly… this deformed body, waking up in an unfamiliar place, and the woman feeding me milk… there’s no other logical conclusion.)”

Continuing this line of thought, I became suspicious about what had happened to me when I went to sleep.

“(No way... did I die right when I went to sleep?... there’s no other explanation for this… other than that… haha)”

As I realized what had happened to me, small droplets of water spilled from my eyes. The woman who held me was surprised by my reaction and started to panic.

“W-what’s wrong, Lumina? Are you hurt?”

The woman stopped feeding me milk and paced around the room with a confused expression.

“(Ah… since this woman is feeding me… could she be my mother? Or a wet nurse? Well… I’ll find out in time… Yawn I’m getting sleepy...)”

My heavy eyelids slowly closed. Although I wanted to comfort the woman who didn’t know what to do, the instincts of this body were stronger than my will. Since struggling was futile, I entrusted my consciousness to it and fell asleep.

Chapter 2: Magical Present

-5 Years Old-

It’s been five years since I became aware of my reincarnation. During these five years, I’ve tried my best to act like an infant and then a toddler. Along the way, I’ve learned quite a few things about this new world.

First, the world is called Glacias. It’s a place where swords and magic exist. I still don’t fully understand magic yet, but the fact that it’s real here makes me excited. Second, other races besides humans exist. The reason for this is simple: this is a fantastical world!

The family I now belong to is part of the nobility, though their status is quite low and their territory is small. I’ve also learned that the woman who breastfed me on the very first day my consciousness awoke in this body has blonde hair that reaches her waist and is usually tied up in a ponytail. She has very beautiful, porcelain-like white skin.

As for my father, I haven’t seen him yet, but according to my mother, he is a very handsome man with black hair and black eyes. She told me that the reason he isn’t staying at home is that he is a knight serving the country. He has been assigned to the borders where the fighting is fiercest.

In this new life, my mother and a few servants have showered me with love, and because of that, I cherish and love them dearly.

From time to time, I would stay in my room and try to remember the cause of my death in my previous life. So far, I haven’t been successful, but what I do remember is quite substantial.

First, I was a guy, not that it matters now. Second, though I don’t know my exact age, I was a jobless shut-in who spent most of my life leeching off my parents. Third, the last game I played was titled *Glacias*. It has the same name as the world I now live in. Who knew such coincidences could occur?

I initially thought that maybe the game and this world were one and the same. So I did my best to remember its plot and characters. So far, the name of my character hasn’t come to mind, which means I am either a side character in the plot or just being paranoid.

Well, either way, I will live this life according to what I want. If I am just a side character in that game, then I will do my best to stay away from those involved. They experience too many tragedies and complex relationships, which is reason enough for me to avoid them. And if I am just being paranoid, then it means I am overthinking things.

***

“Nee~ Mama, where are we going?”

“We’re going to a special place, Lumina.”

I forgot to mention that in this world, my name is Lumina Chis Chem. Right now, I am walking with my mother on a stone-paved path toward a place that resembles the Vatican. The only differences are the banners lining the walls and its size, which is two or three times bigger than the Vatican. Each banner has an animal drawn on it. I don’t know what they symbolize, but none of them are the same.

Among them, four banners are much larger than the others. The first has a hawk-like symbol with a red background. The second has a lion symbol with a yellow background. The third has a turtle with a green background, and the last has a serpent with a blue background. Each of these represents an influential family whose authority is second only to the king.

(Yep… it’s really the same… well, it’s just a coincidence anyway… just a coincidence.)

I stared at the banners for a brief moment before resuming walking.

“Why are we going here, mama?”

“It’s my present for your fifth birthday.”

“... Huh?”

I tilted my head to the side and gave my mother a curious look.

(Is this place like an amusement park? If so, then I can’t wait!)

A smile floated to my face as I imagined going to an amusement park in this world. Unlike the world in my memories, this place has magic, so I expected the rides and attractions to be much more enjoyable.

“If it’s my present, then let’s hurry up! Mama, I can’t wait anymore!”

“Okay, okay…”

I walked a few steps ahead of my mother and faced her with an impatient aura. Seeing me act like this, my mother gave a wry smile and walked along the path with me in front.

A few minutes later, we entered a great hall in one of the buildings and were greeted by several elderly men. They all wore the same white togas, and most had long beards. As soon as I saw them, I hid behind my mother and clutched the hem of her skirt.

“May we know the reason why the two of you have come here?”

The man who stood in the middle of the group asked my mother while stroking his beard.

“We’ve come here to perform the ritual for her to become a magician.”

As she said this, my mother nudged me forward so I was visible to the long-bearded men.

(Huh? Magician? Is this the place where I become a magician? Hurray! But they still look creepy to me though.)

“Hoo, what a lovely young girl. Fumu, she’ll become a great magician in the future.”

The old men observed me from top to bottom. Their gazes felt unpleasant, and I really wanted to run away, but since my mother held my hand, I couldn’t escape.

Today, because we were going out, I wore a dress with a deep blue brooch on my chest. My skirt reached up to my knees and had many frills on the edges. The type of dress I was wearing was reminiscent of the 'Gothic Lolita' fashion from my memories.

“Then please proceed this way.”

After they finished inspecting me, one of the elderly men began to guide us down a large hallway. The design of the place was very similar to the Vatican in my world. I started to wonder if places like the Forbidden City and the Taj Mahal existed in this world.

“Then please have the girl stand in the middle of the circle before we proceed with the ceremony.”

While I was busy darting my eyes around the place, we arrived at the location where the ceremony would take place. My mother let go of my hand and gently pushed me toward the large circle.

“Do I have to go alone?”

I looked at my mother with an upturned gaze and teary eyes. Going alone was a simple matter and didn’t warrant the reluctance I showed, but I wanted her to come with me because those creepy old men were still near us.

“This is my… no, our present to you. You’ll be the first person in our family to become a magician, Lumina.”

Since my mother continued to urge me to go forward alone, I stopped resisting and reluctantly walked to the center of the huge circle.

“Then, shall we begin?”

I gave the creepy old man a nod to signal that I was ready. He then raised both of his hands and started muttering something. I listened to his words but couldn’t understand them. This world used the same language as the one in my memories, which relieved me because I didn’t have to start from scratch. But the old man spoke in a language unique to this world, which I didn’t recognize.

“Ha!”

The instant the man let out that shout, complex geometrical patterns and symbols became visible within the circle. An exact copy made of light floated above the circle under my feet, spinning around me. It passed through my legs and stopped above my head. It continued to pulsate for a while before disappearing.

“Fuuu~”

The man who performed the ceremony exhaled and looked at me with pity.

(Eh? Did it fail? Or am I not qualified to become a magician?)

He then slowly approached me with my mother in tow. Seeing the man’s face, my mother looked anxious as she waited for him to declare the result.

“This young girl has the qualifications to become a magician… it’s just that.”

“... Just that?”

“Just that?”

My mother frowned while I tilted my head.

“From the amount of ‘Mana’ awakened in her body, she’s only capable of doing elementary magic. By the time she’s an adult, she’ll only be capable of casting intermediate spells.”

Hearing the old man’s answer, I smiled and looked at my mother. Although the amount of Mana I had was small according to the old man, the fact that I could perform magic was already enough. Even though the old men looked very disappointed, my mother and I were very joyous about the result.

My mother took a few silver coins from her pouch and gave them to the men as payment. The two of us then departed from that place and hurried back home, both in high spirits.

Chapter 3: Magic Tutor

A few days have passed since the ceremony to make me a magician. I thought that once it was over, I would be able to use magic immediately. But it turns out that’s not the case.

To use magic properly, I need a teacher. This person will teach me the magic language and everything I need to know to cast spells. My mother had some of the servants search for a suitable teacher, and within a few days, one was found.

It seems the teacher will arrive in a few weeks. So, during that time, I, as usual, spent most of my time with my mother. Unlike most children, because I have memories from my previous life, the way we spent our time was quite different. Our days were mostly like this:

In the morning, after waking up, I would spend around 30 minutes preparing myself for the day. It was during this time that I discovered how troublesome it was to be a girl. Once I was ready, I would head to the dining room for breakfast with my mother.

After breakfast, my mother and I would go to my father’s study to read books. One reason I read so much was that the only way to pass the time without resorting to childish toys was to make reading a habit. When I was still very young, I pretended not to know how to read and would ask my mother to teach me. This continued until now, though I now ask her fewer questions.

Though there were some books I was forbidden to read, the amount I had access to was already enough. I wasn’t tempted to read the forbidden ones because, even if I wanted to, my small stature made it impossible to reach them without help. Additionally, since I hadn’t spent much time reading books in my previous life, my reading speed was quite slow. A book of over 300 pages would take at least a week to finish.

At noon, a servant would enter the study and deliver some food. We would then have a quick lunch before returning to our books. In the afternoon, my mother would tell me it was time for snacks. We would go to the veranda of our home to enjoy our snacks, which usually consisted of cookies, cakes, or bread. My favorite was Mont Blanc; I really loved it because it was small and sweet.

The weeks passed like this, and thanks to our routine, I became quite knowledgeable about this world, for a 5-year-old, at least.

One day, while my mother and I were spending time reading in the study, a servant entered with an unfamiliar face. The person who was going to be my teacher was a young girl, about 10 centimeters taller than me, if I was correct. I am around 125 centimeters tall, so that would make her 135 centimeters. Quite small for an adult, if you ask me.

She had light brown hair that hung loose down her back. She wore a dark-colored witch’s hat and a dark cape that covered her body. Her face was expressionless, as if she had lost interest in the world. She also carried a slightly large backpack on her back and a medium-sized green suitcase in her right hand.

“My name is Eclara. I have no surname, which means I serve no master. Right now, I am traveling around the nation to find a suitable master.”

The girl made a small bow as she introduced herself. According to my mother, people without surnames are veterans who have lost the person they swore to serve until death. I’m not sure why they would travel to find a new master, so I just shrugged it off as part of their culture.

The name Eclara seemed familiar, but I couldn’t recall where I had heard it before. I decided to let it go; pursuing it might only make me uneasy.

I shook my head slightly to clear those thoughts and introduced myself with a smile.

“My name is Lumina Chis Chem, the only daughter of this household. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Though it’s customary to bow when introducing yourself, my mother had said there was no need to bow to someone of a lower stature.

“Since we have nothing else planned, how about you and Lumina go to the garden and start the lesson right away?”

My mother took the words right out of my mouth. It seems she was also feeling impatient.

“Understood.”

Eclara nodded slightly and followed us to the backyard. When we arrived, she took a crystal ball from her suitcase and presented it to me. I tilted my head in puzzlement at its purpose.

“That crystal ball is for me to determine your elemental affinity. Do you know what that is?”

It seemed she wanted to check if I knew what she was talking about. I puffed out my chest proudly and said, “Of course, there are five basic elements in magic: Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Light.”

My mother, who stood beside me, also looked proud of my answer. Since our visit to the Vatican-like place to become a magician, all the books I had read were about magic. Though they were mostly basic and didn’t teach me how to cast spells, I had learned a lot about the elements.

“That’s good. Then please pour your mana into the crystal ball.”

“Pour mana?”

I knitted my brows as I repeated her instruction.

“You don’t know how to pour mana? That’s odd; I thought you already knew, given how naturally you spoke about elemental affinities.”

“Well, it’s because I’ve spent most of my time reading books.”

Eclara nodded in understanding and approached me, placing her hand on top of mine.

“Close your eyes and imagine you’re holding a pitcher of water with the hand I’m holding.”

I followed her instructions and imagined a pitcher filled with water, though the image I saw was one with only about three glasses of water inside it.

“Then imagine tilting the pitcher and pouring it onto the ball.”

When I did this, the crystal ball shone red, then blue, then yellow, then green, and finally white. When Eclara saw the ball displaying all five colors, her eyes widened in surprise.

“This is quite uncommon… Normally, a magician of your age would have only one element. For you to have all five… you’re quite gifted. It’s a shame that with your mana pool, you can only cast basic spells.”

Hearing that I was gifted made both my mother and me smile. The servants nearby also looked at me with admiration. Even though my mana pool was known to be small, we were not disappointed. Eclara, seeing our smiles, relaxed her expression and put the crystal ball back into her suitcase.

“Then, shall we start, milady?”

“Yes!”

I answered with enthusiasm. My mother returned to the house, wishing me good luck, while the servants went back to their work.

Chapter 4: Magic Knowledge

“Can you tell me everything you know about magic?”

Eclara, my magic teacher, asked me a simple question. Since I’d done nothing but read books, I was quite confident in my knowledge.

“Magic is a miraculous power that was given to us ‘Humans’ so we can survive in a world where many different races live together.”

“Good. Then what about the ‘Magic Language’?”

I knitted my brows at that question.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know that.”

Eclara slowly walked toward me. Even though she was only 10 cm taller than me, she patted my head to console me.

“That’s okay; it’s expected not to know.”

“Then why did you ask me that question?”

“I thought you knew about it because you spoke about magic with such familiarity.”

I started pouting in the middle of her explanation. When she noticed, her expressionless face softened a bit, and a small smile appeared.

“Okay, let’s start by discovering the magic words for the basic spells.”

“Discover?”

Hearing the word ‘Discover’ instead of ‘Learn’ surprised me. I tilted my head to the side and asked her.

“I meant it literally. Didn’t you say that magic is a miraculous power given to us by God?”

I nodded to her statement and waited for her to continue.

“That means all we need to do is meditate and look into ourselves.”

I made a sullen face at the mention of ‘Meditation’. When I thought about meditating… it brought to mind monks sitting in the lotus position and breathing deeply. It had only been a day, and I was already feeling down.

“Please sit under this tree, milady.”

I followed Eclara and sat under one of the trees lined up in the garden. When I was about to sit in the lotus position, she stopped me and asked why I was crossing my legs.

“Weren’t we going to meditate? Then sitting cross-legged is correct, right?”

“I don’t know where you got that idea, but that's wrong. You only need to sit comfortably and close your eyes.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

I breathed a sigh of relief and adjusted to a more comfortable position. Following her instructions, I closed my eyes. After a little while, she started talking to me.

“Let’s start with fire. First, imagine how or why fire occurs. Form an image around that thought. Continue doing this, and a word will float up in your mind. That word is the magic word for the basic spell ‘Fireball’.”

When she finished speaking, I started thinking of the fire triangle. For a fire to start, we need ‘Oxygen’, ‘Heat’, and ‘Fuel’. Since oxygen is plentiful in the atmosphere, I didn’t need to consider it. For fuel, I used my own mana, and for heat… well, let’s just use my body temperature.

Now that that was done, I thought about where the fireball would appear. It should be a place that satisfies all those conditions. I then remembered a game I played in my previous life, which featured a magic swordsman with a flaming hand.

I was satisfied with this image and concluded it was fine. I stretched out my hand and imagined it was on fire. I began to feel a warm sensation in my hand. Slowly opening my eyes, I saw that my hand was indeed on fire, but it didn’t burn. Instead, it emitted a warm sensation.

Strange… shouldn’t a word float up in my mind? Well, since I was able to cast this magic, everything seemed okay.

“Good, you learn fast. I didn’t hear you say the magic word. I’m quite curious about this fireball though. Usually, a ball of fire would float in front of the caster. In your case, it was your hand. Could you tell me the magic word for this?”

“...”

My cheeks twitched a bit when she asked me for the magic word, and I answered in a small voice.

“... There was no word for this.”

Upon hearing this, Eclara’s expression shifted from shock to disappointment.

“You’re able to perform chantless magic? That’s a rare talent, found in only 1 out of a thousand mages. If only you had a larger mana pool, you could have become a great archmage.”

“... I’m sorry that I only have a small amount.”

Even though I had just started learning magic, my emotions had been on a wild roller coaster. Maybe it was better to stop.

“Why are you apologizing? It’s not your fault. For now, let’s focus on mastering the basic spells. Since you can perform chantless magic, I think we’ll only need to work together for four days at most.”

“That’s fast. Is magic really that simple?”

“Well, since I can only teach you basic spells, this speed is quite average.”

At least I can do magic. A thought then floated into my mind.

“Umm... what would happen if I overused magic and depleted my mana?”

“Don’t worry. If your mana is low, all you need to do is calm yourself and take deep breaths.”

Hearing her answer, question marks started floating above my head.

(Deep breaths? Why deep breaths?)

After a few moments, I realized why. God created the world and bestowed mana to each of his creations. This means mana exists in the air, earth, water, and everything I see in the world.

Understanding this, I nodded a few times and then faced her.

“Please continue teaching me the rest.”

“Yes, milady.”

***

Five days have passed since then. My daily routine changed due to magic practice.

My mornings remained the same, but my afternoons were now dedicated to magic practice. I managed to master all five elements.

I mastered fire magic on the first day, and by the end of the day, the heat was just enough to boil water. For water magic, being able to create three pitchers of water was exceptional for me. For earth magic, I needed to use almost half of my mana to create a chair and a table for two. Finally, wind magic was, in my opinion, the best. I was able to cast a cool and refreshing breeze around me.

Since my magic was chantless, I could manipulate its form according to my wishes. With the amount of mana I had, the most useful way I could use magic was for tea time.

Which is what was happening right now.

“Are you really leaving, Eclara?”

I asked Eclara, who sat in front of me as I sipped a cup of black tea.

“Yes, you have already mastered magic. I have nothing else left to teach you.”

“Is that so? It would’ve been nice if you stayed with us. I really enjoyed spending time with you.”

I offered her a plate of butterscotch cookies.

“I, too, enjoyed my time with you, milady. But I have to continue my search.”

She accepted the cookies and took a bite.

“You still need to find a master who meets your criteria, huh?”

“Yes.”

“Then at least for the last time, won’t you enjoy this little tea time with me?”

“It’d be my pleasure.”

When we finished our tea party, Eclara stood up, picked up the luggage that lay near her feet, and prepared to leave. Even before we had our tea, she had been ready to depart. Although it’s a bit sad to part ways, it’s a part of life. If I had forced her to stay, it might have strained our good relationship.

“Then, I’ll take my leave. Thank you very much for the food and for the time.”

“No, no, I should be the one thanking you.”

She gave a wry smile and walked back toward the mansion from our garden, waving her hand. I gave her my biggest smile as a parting gift and continued waving until her figure disappeared from view.

***

At night, as I slowly closed my eyes, I suddenly remembered something.

“Ahhh! Eclara Dien Rot! Isn’t she a character from the last game I played before I died in my previous life?”

In the game, she was an archmage who could cast giant fireballs and create tornadoes that could decimate entire armies. She was a servant of the noble house with the hawk on a red background. In the game, she was 17 years old and charming due to her loli appearance.

“... But she doesn’t have a surname… so she must be a different person? She looks almost the same, though. Plus, during our first meeting, she felt like an adult. Maybe she is a different person. I must be overthinking things… haha, let’s go to sleep before any more crazy ideas pop up.”

---

Chapter 5: Departure

It has been two years since Eclara left, and I have continued practicing magic. During this time, I’ve discovered quite a few things, such as combining two elements together.

For example, if I used fire magic as a base and then slowly added water, it would create steam. By using water magic and fire magic’s ability to control temperature, I was able to make ice cubes. Combining fire magic with wind magic resulted in a very convenient hair dryer. As for earth magic, I was still unable to combine it with the other elements. One reason is because it’s hard and tough.

The only problem I’ve encountered during my experiments is my small amount of mana. My mana is just enough to make 12 ice cubes, fill a small room with steam, or create 30 minutes’ worth of hot air. If I exceed these amounts, I start breathing heavily, and my breathing usually returns to normal after ten minutes.

Also, my days haven’t really changed since she left. In the morning, I would spend time with my mother, reading books in my father’s study. In the afternoon, I would go to the garden and practice magic.

The only days that changed my routine were when we had visitors or celebrations. Like today, which is my seventh birthday.

“Happy birthday, Lumina. Today will be a bit more special than your other birthdays.”

My mother had a big smile as she congratulated me and seemed unusually more enthusiastic than last year.

“I can’t wait! Nee~ Mama, what do you mean by special?”

I asked my mother, who sat beside me as the servants placed a lot of food on the dinner table. She didn’t answer my question but only laughed and said, “It’s a surprise.” Mother seemed really pleased seeing me impatient, so I continued to ask her.

Laughter reverberated inside the dining hall until the servants finished placing the food. Like in my previous world, a cake with seven lit candles was placed in front of me. As the preparations were completed, the chandelier above the dining table was turned off using a magic tool.

Well, this is a fantasy world, so magic tools are bound to exist.

The entire room became dark, and the only light source was the candles on top of the cake.

“Make a wish, Lumina.”

I was already content with the life I was living, so I only had one wish. While thinking of the wish, I blew out the candles, turning the room pitch dark.

Clap* Clap*

Applause resounded around me in the darkness, and when the lights returned to the room, a tall man with black hair and black eyes stood in front of me with a smile. He wore a full set of plate mail and a sword dangled at his waist. This meant that this man is...

“…Papa?”

I tilted my head to the side as I asked that question. When the man heard me, his smile broadened, and he opened his arms wide.

“It’s Papa, Lumina. I’m back!”

When he answered my question, my eyes opened wide in amazement and shock. Sometimes in the study, my mother would talk about my father and what he did. I would listen to her but didn’t feel anything special about it. But seeing him standing in front of me, emotions such as joy, sadness, and longing welled up within me.

(Eh? Why am I crying? Did I yearn for my father this much?)

“Eh? You’re crying? Eh?”

Father started panicking when he saw me, while my mother and the other servants laughed. I think he expected me to jump into his arms, but since I started crying, he became unsure of what to do.

Seeing him like that, I started laughing a little while tears continued to fall from my eyes.

(I really am loved in this world, huh.)

This was what I thought while we ate dinner together. Throughout the night, I talked to my father about the things I did and was able to do. I even showed him my magic. He was delighted to see a small fireball floating in front of him.

***

The next day, my mother, father, and I spent our time together in his study. We read books together, ate snacks together, and listened to my father talk about his days while he was on duty.

Weeks continued to pass like this, and one day, I tried asking my father a few questions.

“Nee~ Papa, how long will you be here?”

“Oh? Are you anxious that Papa might leave soon?”

I nodded, and a smile formed on his face.

“Don’t worry, Lumina. Papa will be here for a long while!”

Father laughed heartily as he answered my question. His laughter was infectious, and before I knew it, I was smiling widely. Seeing my smile, Father’s laughter grew louder, which made my mother curious, so she entered the room.

At dinner that night, my father made an announcement that tore me away from my family.

“Lumina… since you’re already seven years old, you’re old enough to go to school.”

“School?”

“Yes, I’m planning to enroll you in a school in the capital. It’s the only place where nobles like us can receive a proper education.”

(Now that he mentioned it, going to school sounds like fun. I wonder who I’ll meet. Will I fit in properly? Will I be able to make friends?)

I started thinking about many questions regarding school. But there was one question I wanted to ask before all of those.

“In the capital? Will we be moving to the capital?”

Father shook his head as he answered, “The school is a boarding school. You’ll be the only one going there and living with other children of your age, Lumina.”

“… Is that so?”

I became depressed upon hearing his answer. Father started to panic and tried to comfort me, but my mother, who was by my side, spoke to me with a gentle smile.

“Don’t worry, Lumina. Although it’ll be lonely at first, I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time there. Since you’re a very charming girl, you’ll make friends in no time. And as you grow older, you’ll find someone you love and marry him.”

(Marrying, huh… Since I was a guy in my previous life, I think that’ll be difficult.)

I glanced at my mother and nodded. I had become quite used to living here, so I was reluctant to leave. I then remembered an old saying I often heard in my previous life. I think it was ‘Nothing in this world is permanent except change.’

Seeing my expression slowly becoming more lively, Father coughed a bit and added, “Even if we don’t see each other for a while, just remember that we’ll always be here for you, Lumina. We will always love you.”

“Yes!”

I answered my father with a big “Yes” and resumed eating. I didn’t want them to feel depressed, so I smiled as I ate the food.

I had trouble sleeping that night. My thoughts revolved around school, and because of that, my eyes were red by the next day.

***

Three weeks have passed since Father announced that I would be going to school. Right now, I was standing in front of the carriage that would take me to the capital.

“Are you sure you’ll be alright by yourself?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“You won’t get lonely along the way, right?”

“I won’t, Papa.”

My mother and father continued asking me a lot of questions as a servant sorted my luggage onto the carriage. Although it wasn’t prohibited for my parents to come with me, I opted not to. My desire to stay with them would only grow stronger if they accompanied me. So, I wasn’t confident that I wouldn’t cry the moment we separated at school.

“Look, Papa, they’re done sorting the carriage. I’ve got to go.”

“Nn….”

Father couldn’t answer me as large beads of tears began falling from his eyes.

“Take care, Lumina. Don’t forget to find a servant to take care of you once you get there, okay?”

“Yes, Mama.”

The driver opened the door and helped me board the carriage. I sat on the cushioned chair and waved to my parents as I said my farewells.

“Mama! Papa! I’ll see you soon!”

“Nn….”

“Stay healthy, Lumina!”

The driver hopped onto his seat. The horses neighed as the driver whipped them to start moving. My parents’ silhouettes grew smaller as the distance increased. When I could no longer see them, tears fell from my eyes.

“Don’t worry, Mama, Papa. I’ll thoroughly enjoy my life at school.”

Chapter 6: New Room

Four days have passed since I left home. Over these days, I’ve been completely reliant on the carriage driver. He’s a remarkably talented individual, adept at cooking, hunting, gathering food, and, of course, driving the carriage.

Though I already knew the answer, my urge for conversation got the better of me, so I asked him a fairly obvious question on the second day of our journey.

“Ne, Mister, how come you can do all these things?”

When he heard my question, his eyes widened for a moment before he broke into a delighted smile.

“It’s to ensure nobles like you have a comfortable journey.”

“Hee, is that so? Thanks, Mister!”

He gave a wry smile in response to my thanks. Since that small talk, he became quite an enjoyable companion. I even asked if I could sit beside him in the driver’s seat. At first, he refused, citing various reasons, but he eventually relented when I said, “Won’t it be boring to travel with no one to talk to?”

Thanks to that, I sat beside him with an umbrella throughout the remainder of our journey. We talked about various topics, like where he lived, whether he had a family, and so on.

I also discovered that he was an exclusive driver for the school I was attending. He suggested that I visit the stables if I had the time, as he wanted to introduce me to his acquaintances. He mentioned that nobles like me, who were easy to talk to, were rare. Of course, I happily accepted his offer, though I wasn’t entirely convinced of my rarity. After all, my mother and father were like me, so there should be plenty of nobles who are nice.

After a while, a town with a huge gate came into view. The soldiers guarding the gate stopped us.

“What’s your business here in the Royal Capital?”

“I’m a carriage driver for the Royal Magic Academy. I’m here to deliver the student beside me.”

One of the guards raised an eyebrow as he glanced at me.

“Hi.”

I waved at the guard with a smile, surprising him. The driver then handed a permit to the guard, allowing us entry.

“Umm… why didn’t you show them the permit first?”

“That questioning was only a formality and also to confirm our identities.”

I pouted at his response and muttered, “It would have been faster if you just handed the permit.”

He laughed a little at my muttering and continued to drive the carriage.

The capital was quite a developed and lively place. Crowds of people walked along the stone-paved paths, and buildings that were a mix of Renaissance and medieval styles lined the roads. Lamplights along the road, supplied by magic according to the driver, illuminated the streets at night.

We continued on until a giant, luxurious gate came into view. It was around 4 meters (4.4 yards) tall with golden engravings. The walls near the gate were adorned with various gems and intricate designs tracing the edges of the gate. Overall, it was a majestic sight.

Beside the gate stood an aged man with flowing white hair reaching his shoulders. His face was crisscrossed with deep wrinkles, but he smiled at me and spoke in a congratulatory tone.

“Welcome to the Farlingstad Magic Academy. For the next 14 years, this will be your new home.”

“…Eh?”

(… Farlingstad… Magic… Academy?)

My eyes widened at his words, and I muttered under my breath, “This has got to be a lie… is this really the game world?”

The driver beside me smiled and said, “It isn’t a lie. This really is that ‘Academy,’ Miss Lumina.”

I began doubting my reality and recalled the contents of the game I played before my death. Eclara’s image surfaced in my mind; unlike in the game, she didn’t have a surname and was a traveler. Could this mean that this is a different world?

“Unn… this isn’t the game world… these are just coincidences piling up on one another… that’s it, I’m just overthinking things.”

As my mind started to calm down, I noticed the driver and the old man looking at me with concern. I quickly composed myself and gave them a small, embarrassed smile.

“Sorry for showing you an embarrassing side… hehe…”

I made a wry smile and introduced myself with a bow.

“My name is Lumina, the only daughter of the Chis Chem Barony.”

Hearing my introduction, the old man checked a piece of paper and smiled slightly.

“Indeed, your name is on the list. Please step onto this Magic Circle so we can examine your inherent mana.”

The phrase “examine your inherent mana” displeased me slightly. Sighing, I stepped down from the carriage with the driver’s help and stood at the center of the circle.

As the old man chanted a complex spell, the circle beneath my feet formed intricate geometrical patterns and floated slightly above my head.

“Your mana is too low to be enrolled in the magic class, but you can be enrolled in the general studies. Although there may be many commoners in that class, is that acceptable?”

I nodded in agreement. He then opened the gate, and the driver escorted me back to the carriage. Instead of sitting beside him, I was now seated inside. I asked him why, and he replied, “It wouldn’t be good for your image to sit beside me, a simple driver.”

I grumbled a bit but reluctantly accepted his offer, as he was right. As the carriage moved inside the school grounds, I placed my elbow on the window and gazed outside.

“I liked sitting in the driver’s seat because the wind felt really good... haaa.”

I closed my eyes and fell asleep inside the carriage.

***

“Please wake up, Miss Lumina. We have arrived.”

I opened my eyes to find the carriage driver gently shaking my shoulder. I stared at him for a moment, then at his hand.

“Ah!”

He quickly removed his hand and bowed.

“That was very rude of me. I’m very sorry.”

Yawn*

“No, I didn’t mind it, so please stop bowing.”

Fully awake, I saw we were in front of a large mansion with many windows. Some children of varying ages walked to and from the mansion.

“Hee, so this is where I’ll stay from now on.”

The driver, recovering from my statement, moved closer and coughed slightly.

“Yes, it’s not as grand as the magic class’s place, though. They are considered elites compared to us.”

“Well, that’s true. They can use high-level magic and such.”

As I stepped down from the carriage, a female servant in a maid’s uniform approached and bowed. She had red hair tied in twin tails and seemed to be around my age. Under the afternoon sun, her red eyes sparkled brightly.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lumina Chis Chem. My name is Emilia Darion. I shall serve as your guide for the remainder of the day.”

I wished she would stop talking so formally, but as a noble, I understood it couldn’t be helped. The driver unloaded my two suitcases and followed behind me as I walked with the maid.

“Um, may I ask a question… Miss Darion?”

“Emilia is fine.”

She gave a curt response and continued walking.

“Then… Emilia, how old are you? I get the feeling you’re not much older than me.”

“That’s correct. I’m 7 years old.”

A smile appeared on my face upon hearing our ages were close.

“Then does that mean you’re a working student?”

“Yes.”

“Are there many of you here?”

I expected Emilia to answer, but it was the driver who responded.

“Yes, there are many students like her. They are exceptional children with promising futures but cannot afford the school’s tuition.”

“Hee, is that so? Then does that mean you’re really smart?”

“Not particularly.”

Once again, she gave me a curt answer without facing me, though I noticed her ears turning slightly red. It seemed she wasn’t used to receiving praise.

“This will be your room, Miss Lumina.”

Emilia suddenly stopped in front of a large wooden door and opened it. I entered the room, finding it quite spacious. On the right side was a canopy bed with numerous pillows. There was a study desk near the window and a closet near the bed. Though the room was a bit dull due to a lack of ornaments, it was quite comfortable.

The driver placed my suitcases inside the room and left with the maid.

“I thought they would help me unpack… well, maybe they’re busy with many students in the mansion. I shouldn’t expect too much.”

I opened my suitcase, arranged my clothes in the closet, and placed some of the books I brought on the desk.

By the time I finished, it was already evening, and the sky had darkened. I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in!”

I allowed the person to enter and saw Emilia pushing a cart of food into the room. Her eyes widened as she noticed my already arranged room, and she appeared a bit flustered.

“You… finished arranging your room?”

“Ah, yes… I didn’t have anything else to do.”

“Normally, it’s our job to arrange your belongings while you were away, Miss Lumina. I wondered what you were doing since you didn’t come out… to think, you were doing this.”

“Is that so? Well, I’m finished and quite hungry. What’s for dinner?”

She quickly composed herself, showing me the contents of the plate. Tonight’s main dish was beef stew with a vegetable salad on the side. For dessert, there

was strawberry sponge cake and black tea.

“Hmm, looks delicious!”

I sat at the table and waited for her to finish arranging the plate. She poured water into a cup and stepped away once she was done. I cast a spell to add three cubes of ice to the water and began eating.

Once I finished, Emilia quickly cleaned the table and left the room with a bow. I felt a bit sad that I couldn’t converse with her more. I had been taught by my mother never to talk while eating, so I finished my meal quickly to have a conversation with Emilia. To think she was that fast.