The preparations had been surprisingly quick, thanks to Aunt Libel taking care of everything.
Unfortunately, she wouldn't be joining the mission. Since I'd be away, her role as my advisor was to keep the guild running in my absence.
Dragging my feet, I reached the railing, waiting for the train with my team.
Since it was an outdoor mission, we opted for civilian clothes.
Aunt Libel had suggested Mira cast an illusion spell to help us blend in with non-mages, but I actively opposed the idea, claiming it would exhaust Mira and was ultimately unnecessary since the spell only affected non-mages. Our mission was to track a mage incognito, so civilian disguises made far more sense.
My impromptu argument convinced Aunt Libel.
I wore a loose T-shirt with an illustration of my favorite comic book character and simple cargo jeans. Pockets were very important. The more, the better.
Griffin, on the other hand, went for a "responsible adult" suit look. I just hope he remembered we were heading to a village, not a job interview.
Piper chose far more practical attire: a pink hoodie and leggings with a mini skirt overlay. Only two pockets…
As for Mira… well… let's just say she was fully committed to the role. She wore a neutral-toned blouse neatly tucked into a modest-length skirt. Her belt was perfectly adjusted, black flats polished to perfection, and she sported opaque tights. A necklace, sunglasses, and earrings completed her look… really.
Damn, if I ever find out she's a psychopath, I wouldn't be surprised.
Adjusting the straps of my travel bag, I glanced disinterestedly at the approaching train, then turned to Piper.
"Are you sure you don't have a teleportation spell in your arsenal?"
Just thinking about the long journey ahead made me tired.
Piper scratched her head. "Sorry, Magister, spatial magic isn't really my thing."
When the train finally arrived, we boarded, and I tried to occupy my mind by flipping through a comic book, which eventually lulled me to sleep, rocked by the steady rhythm of the rails.
When I woke up, we were nearly at our destination.
Piper, the most social member of the team, informed me that after the train ride, the rest of the way to the village of Javal would be on foot.
Seriously? With all the technological advances in our country, there are still rural areas this isolated?
On second thought, it made sense why the criminal would use it as a hideout. Looks like I'll have to move a bit more than planned.
The train did leave us at Javal station. As for the village itself… what? Two kilometers?!
Leaving the station behind, we began the walk to the very isolated village of Javal. My rubber-soled shoes hit the ground in a monotonous rhythm, while my companions followed silently.
The surrounding scenery was both picturesque and eerie, with dense trees framing our path.
I turned to Piper, "So, Warden Piper, your favorite element to control is fire, right?"
She smiled slightly, "Yes, fire has its charm, but I'm fascinated by nature as a whole…"
"Interesting way to see things."
"Speaking of which, Magister, I don't mean to be nosy, but what type of magic are you affiliated with?"
At her question, I could sense the other two listening, pretending to be uninterested. I raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smile playing on my lips.
"My magic, huh… Didn't Aunt Libel tell you anything about it?"
Piper shook her head. "Aunt Libel keeps saying your magic is formidable, but whenever we ask her to explain, she refuses. That's why I'm curious."
Ah, I see. Aunt Libel only kept half her promise. Not a real problem, though.
I turned to the other two, giving them a sly smile. "Curious to know as well?"
I could see Mira trying to maintain her composure, while Griffin pretended to avoid my gaze. Their little grimaces were oddly satisfying.
"Well, I'm not sure if my magic can really be called formidable." I turned back to Piper. "Otherwise, I'm an elemental mage like you. And as for my preferred element…"
I casually extended my arm, closed my palm for a moment, and then opened it. At the same time, a stem sprouted from my hand, growing into a pretty rose.
"As you can see," I said.
As the rose bloomed in full splendor, a surprised smile appeared on Piper's face. Eyes wide, she exclaimed, "Plant magic! That's amazing, Magister!"
I shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, that's what it is. Not as flashy as fire, but it has its advantages."
I was about to close my hand and wilt the rose when Piper stopped me.
"Wait, Magister." She delicately held the rose and admired it. "Plant magic is a composite elemental magic. It combines three of the four natural elements: water, earth, and air. You can't just mix them; the proportions are very important. Due to the complexity, this magic is considered the rarest and hardest to master. You're incredible, Magister!"
Piper stared at the rose in awe, lost in endless praise. Mira and Griffin exchanged surprised looks. Even if I preferred to maintain a facade of nonchalance, there was a certain satisfaction in seeing their reactions.
"Since you master such magic, it means you have an affinity for three natural elements," Piper commented. "A triple elemental affinity is rare. Now I understand Aunt Libel's enthusiasm about you. You truly deserve to be Magister."
I shrugged with a detached expression. It felt a bit strange. The truth is, that's not exactly why Aunt Libel called my magic formidable. Still, I decided to end the demonstration there, as it had clearly pleased them.
Mira stepped slightly forward, showing genuine interest for the first time. "It's fascinating magic. If I'm not mistaken, plants can have countless applications, for healing, defense, or even infiltration. Not to mention offensive uses."
"Exactly," Piper agreed. "Such versatile magic! The fact that our Magister can wield it is amazing!"
I scratched my head, slightly uncomfortable with the praise.
Then Griffin intervened, changing the subject by pointing at the path ahead. "We'd better focus on the mission. The criminal we're hunting won't wait for us."
A real killjoy. He's right, but who asked him?
With that, we resumed our walk to the village of Javal.
Piper, however, didn't seem ready to drop the topic. I sensed she was going to ask another question about my magic. I sighed inwardly.
While it was nice to be a topic of interest, it was exhausting. It was partly why I asked Aunt Libel not to reveal my magic. How could I live as a lazy person with a fan club?
"Magister, can you tell me how you learned plant magic? Is it innate, or the result of rigorous training?"
I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. She seemed genuinely curious, but also somewhat admiring. I wondered what she thought of me. Did she already see me as a mentor or something? I paused, careful not to reveal information that would endanger my reclusive lifestyle while not embarrassing Aunt Libel.
I answered in a neutral tone. "A bit of both. I've always had a natural affinity for plants, but I also had to work hard (nonsense!) to master this magic. Controlling three elements at once isn't easy (seriously, stop rambling!). You need a good understanding of nature, biology, and chemistry. And a lot of patience and creativity."
Piper nodded, interested. Was I that convincing?
"I see. That's really impressive. And what are your favorite spells to use?"
I thought for a moment. There are plenty, but I skip many. Too risky, too cumbersome, or too draining.
Why have so many if I ignore most of them? When you're a true lazy person like me, you do things just for the fun of the moment.
I enjoy the joy of creating spells, but that's it. Aunt Libel struggles every time to tell me to stop, but what could she understand about a lazy person's pleasures?
Anyway, little Piper was waiting for an answer.
"I'd say I like spells that let me manipulate plants at will," I finally said, blurting out the first nonsense that came to mind. "For example, I can grow vines, thorns, or flowers as needed. I can also create natural barriers or even communicate with animals."
"Communicate with animals?" Mira interjected, intrigued by my last remark.
And damn. I'd said too much.