What She Can Do

Lady Celia is sternly staring at Oria's eyes. For a moment, a few seconds felt like forever. The air seemed heavy. Her divine presence is enough to make anyone shudder in their shoes and shake their eyes to look away. But the little girl is different. She trades stare to her, although her entire body is screaming in fear.

At last, the white-haired woman's face began to soften into a smile. But that monocled man accompanying her does not show the same expression. He completely disapproves of Oria's sudden appearance.

"Foolish child! How dare you speak like that to Lady Celia! Have you no manners to a noble!?"

"Eh…?"

The old man in monocle's way of speaking reminds Oria of someone back when she was a slave. Oria trembles as she steps back involuntarily, but her trauma does not consume her this time.

"This is beyond tolerable! I will—"

"—Silence."

The noblewoman finally spoke. Her voice was so calm but struck so deep into the old nobleman's heart till he's petrified in place. Oria catches a glimpse of his sweat rolling down from his forehead. The woman turns her pupils to the monocled man, as if she's staring into the deepest part of his mind, body, and soul. Her ominous stare quickly made him sweat profusely.

"I did not invite you to come along with me to speak as if you stand higher than me," she said while furrowing her brows.

"B-But, milady, that child—"

"—A plebeian? Is that what you want to say? *sigh* have you forgotten, Mael Morgen? Nobles spoke respectably and kindly to everyone. That is what we all agreed on, no?"

"Y-Yes… Lady Celia. That is very true. But still…"

"Heh. You have a double standard attitude, don't you? It seems my visit here today proves to be more than valuable. Discourteous, arrogant, hm-hm. An insightful revelation, indeed."

"N-No, Lady Celia, you misunder—"

"—Enough, Morgen! I do not wish to hear anymore word from your misbehaving lips. See that you don't sit together with me when we ride home."

Almost instantly, that monocled old man looks like his soul just left his body, stunned, petrified. Everyone in the room feels an intense aura coming from her. None dare say a word, even if it is meant for an icebreaker.

Lady Celia then turns her attention to Oria. Her sharp gaze now softens, along with her graceful smile appearing. It literally chills the heavy atmosphere of the boutique shop immediately. But their problem does not end there.

"Miss Oria, is it?" the noblewoman asked politely. "What is it that you can help me with?"

The white-haired woman who looks like in her twenties welcomes her to approach her and show what she can give to her as a help for the current conundrum: the divine clothes.

Clearing her throat, Oria puts her bravery back and walks to her.

"…I believe I can do something about the fourth cloth, milady."

"Oh? And what is it that you can do exactly?"

"If I may…?" Oria carefully gives her hand, asking the fourth cloth. The noblewoman seems to be invested by her, so she gives her the fourth cloth piece without asking anything.

"(…I don't know if this will work. But I must save Miss Katze and Granny Poly! Miss Katze stated something along the line that she's transferred mana into this cloth. I just remembered that I could use one of my abilities. Please, work!)"

Oria closes her eyes and stretches her hands towards the divine cloth. Quietly, Oria uses her less-frequently-used art: [Mana Transfer].

"Mana Transfer…"

Shortly, her palms emit a faint light. It flows directly to the surface of the cloth. Meanwhile, the noblewoman does not show any change of expression when all those things happened. She just watches as the whole thing unfolds.

"(I think this much is enough…? Okay… stop here!)"

Oria opens her eyes and the light on her hands fade. The intimidating lady proceeds to inspect the divine cloth while keeping her expression unaltered. Miss Katze, Mrs. Poly, and Oria herself, are trembling in their shoes, eager for her response.

Finally, the noblewoman speaks.

"Oh. This is an interesting result," she said calmly. Looking at Oria, she tells her "…it now matches in quality with the rest. Impressive."

"N-No way…! A mere child can…" the monocled man responded in shock. He didn't believe a child can do such feat.

"Heh. You certainly have an aptitude in magic, Miss Oria. You just used an art called [Mana Transfer], didn't you?"

"Eh? Y-You noticed?"

"Why, of course. But it is quite surprising that a young little girl can perform such abilities. You must've earned a skill called [Magic Processing], no?"

"(Magic Processing? I think I have…) Umm, I guess…?"

"You should have. [Mana Transfer] art can only be achieved once someone has attained [Magic Processing] skill at least at level one."

"I… I see. (Faruk told me that anyone can achieve it just by saying the word, though… did he lie to me?)"

"Well, then. With such abilities at hand, why not join the Constellanova Magic Academy? I believe you will make a great mage."

"E-Eh…?" Oria stepped back in surprise.

The monocled old man suddenly yells in a great distressed voice, "L-Lady Celia! I understand you might be angry to me, but still, you cannot allow a child to enter a revered school at such young age!"

"Heh, but I jest. I do not need to be reminded of such rules, Mr. Morgen."

The old man lets out a relieved sigh, "P-Phew…"

"(H-Huh? Somehow, I feel like I've heard that way of speaking before…)"

"Though it's like that… it'll be a waste if such ability isn't practiced to its fullest potential. Miss Oria Argentora, even if you are not able to join any job yet, I highly recommend you go for the mage job."

"Mage job?"

"Yes. You certainly will prosper with that aptitude of yours."

"I can… go out there and prosper…?"

Lady Celia crouches to her. The monocled old man wants to protest as her coat touches the wooden floor, but he remembers his position and holds back.

Celia nods to her, "Of course you can. Chase your dreams. Fight for it. Live as a free and happy woman, then. I believe you can do it."

Her encouraging words made Oria enthralled. But leaving her as she is, the noblewoman stands up and looks at Miss Katze and Mrs. Poly.

"Miss Katze, Madame Fyan. You two are blessed by the Goddess to have such competent child. Take care of her, make sure her path treads the righteous one. And Miss Oria…" she looks at the little girl's jade eyes.

Her white eyes stare now feel encouraging when Oria stares into them. The noblewoman then says "Let us see who you'll become in the future. I thank you for your help in restoring the necessary mana in the fourth divine cloth. With this, I'm satisfied."

After that, the noblewoman tells the monocled man to give them the payment. He presents to them a small treasure chest full of gold coins. Their shine reflects in their eyes as they witness the majestic glow they radiate.

Oria from behind the counter looks at the noblewoman in pure curiosity now.

"(I'm really curious of who she is. She's not like any ordinary noble.)"

Shortly, the noblewoman bids them farewell and leaves the boutique shop with a full set of four divine clothing. And as she stands by the doorframe, Oria decides to rebel against Faruk's command.

"(I'm sorry, Faruk. But I'm so curious of who she is! Just this once. Just this once and I'm not gonna do it again!)"

Quietly, Oria focuses her eyes on the white-haired woman. She then says "Appraisal!"

Suddenly—

<APPRAISAL BLOCKED>

"(Eeep!!!)" Oria got shocked by the notification. She cowers behind the counter instantly as her entire body is thrown into a state of fear. She then remembers one of the many things about [Appraisal] skill that Faruk taught her:

"If you ever appraise something and you can't see the results… you better run."

Lady Celia feels a tingle coursing over her nape. She turns around and looks at the young woman and the elderly in a suspicious stare. Soon, she sighs and returns to her stern smile.

"Heh, there's no way they can use 'it'…"

With that, she leaves the boutique shop. Exactly as she said before, Mr. Morgen was prohibited from entering the lavish wagon, so he sat in front beside his peer.

As the wagon leaves the village, Mrs. Poly waves her hand to them. Meanwhile inside her house…

"Aaaaaaaahhhh… that's… that's too much for my heart to take!" Miss Katze let out the longest breath she can blow. It's a mega relief for her.

"S-She's not here anymore, r-r-right…?" Oria said in her trembling fear. But that fear washes off instantly as Katze quickly lifts Oria and hugs her in midair while spinning around merrily.

Surprised, Oria responds "Uwaaah…! M-Miss Katze what, what are you doing~~~?"

"Haahaha… Oria, you saved my butt back there! You really did! *hic* I don't know what I'll do if you didn't step in!"

"Katze, control your euphoria," Granny Poly rained on her glorious parade of overjoy.

"Haha… I'm sorry. You were reckless to suddenly step in like that! But I forgive you! Heeheehee, you really saved me, Oria. Oooh! I really love you!" she proceeded to spin around, dancing in happiness with the poor confused child.

"Uwaaaaah~~!"

"Geez, control yourself, Katze! You'll hurt her!" the old lady reminded her in a louder voice.

"Ahaha, I'm sorry," Katze eventually stopped.

As she calmed down a bit, she then asks the little girl, still in teary happy face, "Hey, hey, Oria. What's your favorite food? I'll go cook them for you tonight! You want a double size? I'll give you triple! So, tell me, what's your favorite dish?"

"Umm… I don't have a favorite food, to be honest…"

"What? Seriously? I mean, anything that makes you crave to eat them because of how delicious they are?"

Oria shakes her head. "Hhm-mm. I don't think I have. I eat the same thing every day. Nowadays, I only eat fruits, grilled meat, and… that's it, I guess."

"Oh, Goddess… that's a pity. There are thousands of wonders in this world called food, you know? Alright, then. I'll prepare my best dish for you. I'm sure you'll like it! Granny, you've bought everything on the list, right?"

"Righty-o, my granddaughter!"

The young woman rushes to the kitchen. Her grandmother chuckles at her spirited, happy face. Meanwhile, Oria comes to the kitchen, too. She wants to help her.

"Let me help you, ah…"

Katze quickly carried her and sits her at the table.

"(I… I didn't see her movement just now! W-What was that!?)" Oria thought to herself.

"You stay here. I'll cook!"

"Awww, but I wanna help!"

"Haha. Maybe next time. For this luncheon, I will specially make you the best food ever!"

Oria is perplexed by her sudden burst of working energy. Oria gazes at the old woman, who stares her back. In a resigned voice, she tells her:

"Give it up, Oria. If Katze's all fired up like this, she'll not allow anyone to interfere. Let her cook on her own. If you want to help, why not help me prepare the glass. I'll pour you a fresh milk."

"(Milk…? That freshening and delicious drink in the morning…?)" Oria's mouth already watering imagining a glass of them. "Woah! Milk! I wanna!"

"Come on, then!"

…

..

.

Meanwhile, aboard the wagon, Lady Celia watches the view of the mountain slowly draped by mist. Soon, the monocled old man speaks to her in a careful manner.

"I-If I may ask, Lady Celia… are you not going to the summit of the mountain?"

"Why should I?"

"There were rumors of the Silver Dragon reappearance."

"Again, they were rumors. Two years ago, an incompetent pair of swashbucklers claimed that they saw the Silver Dragon escaping. But what the investigation turned out to be? The dragon is still sealed there. We cannot trust rumors, Mr. Morgen."

"I-I understand."

"After all, the troops from the Derea Duchy will be doing the investigation this time, no? I believe they'll find nothing but the dragon slumbering. We don't need to bother in such meaningless task."

"V-Very well, then."

"Though… I have reports that the sly ringleader of the heretical slave trader is to be found somewhere nearby the Raskiel Mountains…"

"That madman is somewhere near here!?"

"Yes, but there's no precise point of where he's heading. But I'm not concerned. If he's heading up here and threatens the village, I believe that 'someone' will burn them to ashes."

"That monster warlock, is it…?"

"Enough talking, Mr. Morgen. I wish to indulge myself in the beauty of Fyan Gallipoli and Katze Belgar's creations."

"V-Very well, Lady Celia. Please enjoy your leisure time."

As the monocled old man closes the window to the wagon interior, he focuses himself on the road together with the coachman beside him. Meanwhile, Lady Celia mutters as she inspects the fourth cloth that was 'fixed' by Oria.

"…Not only she filled the missing mana energy it requires… her mana perfected the rest of the magic circuit in the cloth. This is interesting. Very interesting, indeed."