The wizard is reincarnated last Time

Chapter 4

“I still can’t believe he’s Instructor Eldrian’s son.”

My fine hair was completely disheveled from being touched so much.

“Look at that light blond hair.  He looks much more like his mother than the instructor.”

My entire face tingled from having my cheeks poked and pulled.

Even if they were trying to be gentle, being surrounded by two people much larger and taller than me was quite intimidating.

I froze, clutching my book.

I had just finished my afternoon studies with my tutor after lunch.

Upon spotting me, the two had come running straight towards me, their footsteps echoing down the hallway, and I had been so startled that I had flattened myself against the wall.

The two, Laillin and Joel, my father’s students, had introduced themselves amicably, but to me, they were just threats.

Moreover, the young man named Joel was a Loran, and he smelled of sweat and something animalistic.

Perhaps a canine Loran?  A black, tail-like appendage was coiled around his thigh.

“You two, that’s enough. You’re scaring him.”

Another unfamiliar voice came from behind me.

The calm, composed voice belonged to another guest my father had brought.

A young man, slightly older than the two students, dressed in a knight’s uniform with a blue insignia.

“Lieutenant Erner. Is it time for afternoon training?”

“Yes. Stop bothering the child and go prepare.”

“Bothering? We were just admiring how cute he is.”

“That’s right.  As expected of a Luoir…”

Laillin and Joel, offering shameless excuses, stiffened when he gave them a sharp look.

“Yes, sir!  We’ll go prepare for training.”

The two, now thoroughly disciplined, hurried down the hallway as if fleeing.

“I apologize. They’re still students.”

The young man sighed softly, his expression noticeably softening.

He approached cautiously and knelt down to meet my eye level.

His gaze was warm, completely different from when he had chased the other two away.

“I’m Erner Beliwood. I’m your father’s, Instructor Jaden’s, lieutenant.”

I looked at his outstretched hand for a moment before lightly grasping it.

“I’m Liveric Eldrian.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.  I’ve heard a lot about you from the instructor.”

Erner smiled gently.

He was a handsome Denan young man with brown hair.

“We’re about to start afternoon training, with all the knights and guards participating.  Would you like to come watch?”

I shook my head slightly.

“No, I promised to meet a friend in the library.”

“I see. …I don’t think I can let you go alone. Shall I escort you to the library?”

I decided to accept Erner’s polite offer.

Hugging my book, I walked with him towards the library.

“Is that…?”

Erner noticed the small crystal sphere hanging around my neck.

I took out the crystal sphere and showed it to him.  It was called a Melgram.

“My father gave it to me.  He said it changes color if something scary or dangerous is nearby.”

“That’s right. It’s a precious item, so keep it safe.”

I nodded.

The Melgram was a small sphere and weighed almost nothing.

Hanging against my chest, emitting a faint magical aura, it looked pretty, and it felt warm.

We stopped in front of the library.

I bowed to Erner, and he lightly patted my hair.

“I’ll see you later.”

After Erner left, I began to read in the empty library, waiting for Selina.

Not long after, Selina, as always, peeked her head into the library.

I smiled and waved.

As usual, we sat facing each other and began to read.

I told her about what had happened earlier.

About the various guests who had come with my father.  I conveniently omitted the part where I had been so scared I cried.

As I recounted the stories my father had told me, I almost regretted not having listened to more about the heroes.

Selina was very interested that people from the Prius Knights had come.

“Will Liv go to Prion, too?”

“Huh?”

I looked up, surprised by the sudden question.

Selina was staring at me intently, her small chin resting on her hand.

“Liv’s father is a great knight of Prius, right? So, will Liv become a knight too when he grows up?”

“Well…”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t heard anything about that yet.

With my father always absent, it might be too much for my mother if I became a Prius knight as well.

Besides, I wasn’t particularly interested in swordsmanship…

“I’ll be lonely if Liv leaves. There will be no one to read to me.”

I smiled and stroked Selina’s auburn hair, just as the adults did to me.

“If I go, I won’t leave you alone. Okay?”

“Okay, okay! Promise?”

Seeing Selina’s bright smile, I felt happy too.

It wouldn’t be difficult.

Selina was Mrs. Amara’s daughter, so if I went to Prion, she would naturally follow.

Although I had no idea when that would be…

Perhaps that’s why Selina made an unexpected suggestion.

“Liv, do you want to go play in the back garden?”

“Back garden?”

I blinked.

The back garden was behind the manor.  I had heard Selina mention that the flowers in the back garden were blooming beautifully as she came and went from the manor.

“Yes. It’s noisy here with all the sounds from outside. The back garden has lots of flowers, and it’s much quieter.”

Selina was right; the library wasn’t as quiet as usual.

Since the afternoon training had begun outside, the shouts of the knights and guards, and the clashing of wooden swords, echoed loudly even here.

Occasionally, the cheers and exclamations of the spectators could also be heard.

The training seemed likely to continue for a while.  Perhaps it would be better to change locations.

“But we’ll get scolded if we go outside without permission…”

I had stood up, but a sudden worry crossed my mind.

Selina, leading the way out of the library, spoke as if it were no problem.

“It’s just the garden right behind the manor. It’s okay, I go there all the time.”

If that was the case, then it should be fine. I felt reassured, hugging my book and following behind Selina.

We didn’t see a single maid, butler, or servant as we walked down the long hallway.

Had they all gone to watch the training?  It was understandable, considering it was a rare sight.

Thanks to that, we crossed the unusually deserted hallway without a care.

“This way.”

Selina, having reached the bottom of the stairs, pointed down another long hallway.

It was a narrow hallway next to the kitchen, a place unfamiliar to me. It seemed to lead to a side door.

“Wait, someone’s coming.”

Selina pulled me into the narrow space between the staircase and the wall.

With a tense expression, she put a finger to her lips, signaling me to be quiet.

A strange tension and excitement filled the small, shadowy space.

A maid came out of the kitchen and hurried past.

Only after the maid had completely disappeared did we creep back into the hallway.

“Why did we hide?”

I asked, following behind Selina again.

Although it was a hallway I didn’t frequent, I didn’t think we would be scolded for being there.

Selina giggled.

“Because it’s more fun.  It’s exciting.”

A thought typical of a girl who loved heroes and adventure stories.

I couldn’t help but laugh along and followed Selina.

“We can go out this way…”

Reaching the small side door at the end of the hallway, Selina stood on tiptoe to reach the doorknob and opened it.

I had briefly worried that it might be locked, but fortunately, it opened easily with a click.

Well, it wouldn’t be locked if Selina used it every day.

As the door opened, bright, white light poured in from outside.

Selina reached out her hand, and, squinting against the glare, I took her hand and stepped outside.

The first thing I saw as I stepped out was the expansive blue sky.

The early summer sky was clear and endlessly high.

And below it stretched our home, Merrirose Manor, and a forest of large, lush trees.

The fresh scent of trees and grass filled my nose, mingled with the sweet fragrance of flowers.

“Come here, Liv.”

The warm afternoon sun felt pleasant on my forehead.

Led by Selina’s hand, I crossed the lawn, dappled with the shadows of leaves, and entered the shade of a large tree.

The back garden was much larger than I had expected.

Flowers bloomed profusely everywhere, and large trees grew here and there.

“Which way is your house?”

“Over there.  If you go out the gate in the wall and down the hill, it’s close.”

I looked in the direction Selina pointed, but the wall was hidden by trees and bushes.

“Let’s play here.”

Selina plopped down on the flower-covered lawn.

A flower garden under the vast blue sky.

Unfamiliar white and yellow flowers tickled my ankles, and a sweet, gentle fragrance wafted on the breeze.

The surroundings were quiet.

Far from the training grounds, the shouts and cries were only a distant echo.

I spread my book open on the flowerbed, and Selina hummed a tune as she picked small flowers around her, one by one.

“Hey, Liv.”

Selina showered the small flowers onto the book I was reading.

I couldn’t read the words anymore, with the flower petals scattered across the page.

Perhaps because of the dazzling sunlight, the dappled shadows, and the pervasive fragrance of flowers… I felt dizzy.

“…Huh?”

I gently shook my head, trying to dispel the dizziness.

It didn’t get much better, so I looked up at the sky, but the sunlight stung my eyes, so I looked away again.

At that moment, the world spun. I squeezed my eyes shut.

When I opened my eyes again, Selina was right in front of me, very close.

Beyond her shoulders stretched the dazzling blue sky.

I had collapsed onto the flowerbed, and Selina was looking down at me from above.

“Selina…?”

Selina smiled faintly, her face shadowed.

“Liv, you promised, right?  That you’d always be with me.”

I froze, my eyes wide.

An incredibly dark power began to emanate from Selina’s small body.

Her light green eyes turned crimson, and black markings spread across her white skin.

Her small, smiling mouth split wide, revealing rows of sharp teeth.

I knew this form well.

A demon, emerging from the shadows of the world, feeding on the living.

Why… Selina…?

My mind went blank.  Yet, instinctively, I tried to move my limbs and escape.

But the demon in Selina’s form grabbed my shoulders tightly.

Her hands turned jet black, and sharp, black scales began to sprout.

The demon spoke in Selina’s voice.

“Stay with me, Liv.  If I just have you…”

Selina grabbed the Melgram necklace and ripped it off.

The Melgram, thrown onto the flowerbed beside me, was stained black.  An ominous darkness swirled within the small, once transparent crystal sphere.

“I can live forever…”

*Crunch.*

I stopped breathing as a terrifying sound pierced the air.

A chilling pain surged through me.  The heat rising from my chest and the smell of blood made me dizzy.

Strength drained from my body.  The blue sky gradually turned gray.

The dark aura emanating from Selina’s small body became increasingly vivid, beginning to take on a tangible form.

“…Liv!”

I thought I heard someone calling my name desperately from far away.

But I couldn’t open my eyes for a while.