I... I...
WHAT SHOULD I DO!? I'M SO HAPPYYY!!
No way. For real? I'm not dreaming, right? Is this actually happening? Me? In Celine's world?? Am I dead???
"Teacher Darius, what is this one? He doesn't even talk."
"Haha, maybe my son fell in love with you?"
"Don't talk nonsense, Teacher. I'd believe it if you said he was overwhelmed by my aura and charm." She boasted, brushing her hair dramatically.
"Al? Is everything alright?"
"Eh- ah! I-it's nothing! M-my name is Alric"
It was her! One of Celine's comrades—Lyrielle Mirette Solvaira. A prideful genius mage who rose to become Tower Master at the young age of fifteen. She was Celine's second companion in the story, appearing during the Breathe of Magic the second arc of Heaven's Will!
Her other name was—
"Lily!" *GASP!*
I immediately covered my mouth, startled by my own outburst.
She stepped up, expression turning sharp.
"Hah? Who do you think you are calling me that? Did I give you permission?"
"I-I was just! Yeah! You're so cute that a name like Lily really suits you!"
She blinked, caught off guard.
"Teacher... I think this brat really fell for me. I don't like him though. I don't want dumb men." She flipped her hair and turned away.
"It's okay, Al. Don't take it personally," Dad said, giving me a pitying look.
"Shall we get going?"
He gently took my arm and began showing me around the tower. Books, magical equipment, materials, artifacts... and a mana density in the air so thick it was almost suffocating.
A day that should've amazed me only pulled my mind elsewhere.
If this is really Heaven's Will... then who am I?
After an hour of tour inside the tower, dad looked at me again with that same pitying look. Ugh. He totally thought I was sulking because Lily rejected me.
But then it hit me.
Who is Darius in the story?
Lily said he was her teacher.
Darius... Darius...
I racked my brain, digging through the memories of the game's lore.
Yes. Lily appeared in the second arc of the game. She became Celine's second comrade after the Sky Garden incident, where Celine helped her solve magical anomalies in the sky garden— the second magic tower Lily created after becoming the new Tower Master.
In the lore, Lily rarely opened up to anyone. The only person she ever tell about her story is Celine and her teacher was mentioned only briefly.
Darius... My dad. He was the previous Tower Master.
And... by the end of that arc, he became the boss.
Succumbing to corrupted magic destroying his body and soul just to resurrect his beloved Elycia.
...That was Mom.
but that was odd... Darius will do whatever it takes to save Elycia because being a commoner, she was his only love and family....
Only family... doesn't that mean...!
A terrifying thought began to bloom in my chest.
They never had a child...
Thinking about my very existence in this world, dad's voice cut in.
"Al, why don't you go outside with Lyrielle and pick some herbs listed here?"
Dad handed me a paper with a sketch and name of a herb.
"It's a common herb, you can find it almost anywhere. But be careful. Pick the dry ones—moist ones secrete poison while still small. I'll call Lyrielle."
He winked at me playing cupid.
It's really not like that, Dad...
Before I could ask him the question about myself, he left to get Lily.
Later that day—
"Ha?! Why do I have to pick herbs with a dumb kid?? I'm here to be taught magic, not to play farmer! Just command one of those other useless mages, or let your son go alone!"
Waaah... what a temper.
I quietly sneaked out, watching them argue from around the corner.
Lyrielle's voice echoed through the hallway, and I could feel the other mages' glares.
"Tsk."
"What a cocky brat."
"Who let a noble in here?"
"Just because she's better than the other kids..."
"Go play princess somewhere else."
They whispered among themselves while Lyrielle is still throwing tantrum.
"Lyrielle, this is part of being a mage. If you can't even gather basic materials, you're not ready to become one."
"That's why others exist to help me!"
"Lyrielle!"
Lily flinches with a teary eyes, frightened as dad raises his voice.
"Don't underestimate them! Power isn't everything! Everyone here wants to learn—no matter their background. If you keep talking like that, I'll ban you from the tower."
It was the first time I ever saw Dad get angry. Even I got scared a little.
But, I felt reassured.
Because probably dad had a big part to lily's life.
In the game, despite her being prideful and hot tempered, she is someone who helped others grow. She trained young mages and avoids judging them based on their background or skills, guiding them what suits for them instead.
Maybe this is when that path began.
Then Dad and Lily turned toward me.
"Tsk! Fine! I'm just gonna pick some grass, right? Hey, bird brain! You better not slow me down!"
"Hmm, two seven-year-olds might get lost. I should have someone accompany you. Mary, come here."
A clumsy looking girl nearby stopped in her tracks as Dad called her over.
"A uniform?"
"Y-yes? What do you mean, Teacher?"
"Come down, both of you."
"This is Mary, a first-year academy student. Her Prana and magic aren't outstanding, but her alchemical knowledge and understanding is excellent. That's why we let her assist here in the tower when she has time. She's new, but she'll help you. Right, Mary?"
Prana. A term used here to refer to living energy—It's what I've been calling mana. The book called it "the breath of the soul".
"E-eh? Ah, sure! If Teacher says so!"
What a kind-looking girl...
"Hmph," Lily grumbled.
"Alright! Off you go! Be careful, okay?"
"We're going now, Dad!"