章節 31: Theory
"I feel like a new person."
Lillian stretched her body and looked around her. She spent that night in one of the abandoned buildings, surrounded with plants.
Sunlight entered the place and she smiled, greeting the new day. It's been a long time since she woke up feeling refreshed and she is determined to enjoy every minute of it.
I wonder how Jasmine is doing. I should call her again.
Lillian created the mirror again, it was so easy compared to the first time she did it. Must be because of the overflowing mana around her.
"Lillian?" Jasmine's face appeared in the mirror. She still looks as fresh as ever.
"Hi, Jasmine. How's it going?"
"Not really well. I have been running in circles the entire time and I don't know where I am anymore." Jasmine rested her back against the wall of the tunnel and sighed.
"Have you been getting any rest? You do look really fresh and glowy still but tired too? I don't know how to explain it. If you need me to come, just tell me."
"No, it's ok. I am still ok. Have you noticed any changes there?"
"Not really. Everything's so normal I wonder if what happened in the tunnel is real or not." Lillian bit her nail, then realized something.
"That's good. I don't know what he's planning to do so I need to find him fast but this darn maze is so confusing. I can't tell one from the other." Jasmine complained, pouting.
"Oh, Jasmine, remember when Arthur said that the people are power-hungry and all that nonsense?"
"Yeah? That's a lie too?"
"Yup. I met with the villagers and even ate with them. They didn't have a clue if I had magic or not and most of them do have magic, they use it on their everyday lives. I guess he just wanted to get us to a secluded place."
"Yes, but why? It doesn't make sense. Why did he get rid of the both of us and take the King? Is there something he want's specifically from him?"
"Well, the King is extremely attractive. I can understand that line of logic." Lillian grinned.
A faint smile came on Jasmine's face, "You look like you're in a good mood. Did something good happen?"
Lillian glanced around her, the only thing missing in this place is the sound of birds, otherwise, everything would have been perfect.
She promised Vaille that she wouldn't tell anyone about this place so she had to keep mum with Jasmine.
"Well, the princess wants me to be her lady-in-waiting for the sole purpose of meeting the King." Lillian couldn't contain her excitement as she said that.
"That's good. At least one of us is making progress. By the way, I forgot to ask this before but how did you get the princess to talk to you, let alone, see you. Did you get your body back?"
"I completely forgot that I am missing my body, oops. I should be trying to get it back right?"
"It's most likely with that guy. When I find him, I'll look for your body too. So how did this happen? I could use some of your ridiculous antics right about now." Jasmine's eyes were heavily lidded as she looked at Lillian through the mirror.
"Ok. So what happened was," Lillian began narrating the incident from turning into a child to the night before, leaving out details of the princess's name and the place she took her to.
"Wow. All that in four days?"
"I know right. I'm just really excited to see the King. She told me to come to the palace through the front door in the evening, right before dinner."
"Good. Remember to be right on time. Too early and you will seem desperate and too late will just put a bad taste in their mouth about you."
"Ok, right on time. Not too late and not too early. Got it."
"And Lillian, this might just be a 'what if' but they may ask you to change out of that dress."
"What? That will be a problem, wouldn't it? Can't I say that it has sentimental value or something?"
"They won't care. After all, according to this kingdom, you are an orphan, staying at an abandoned hut that belonged to a farmer. You have no rights. If they are kind, they may give you a piece of the dress before burning it, in case it carries any disease."
"But I look clean … mostly."
"Let me ask you this, Lillian. Say you meet a child on the street and you decide to take them in. Now, the first thing you will do is to wash them, and give them new clothes and food, right? No matter how clean they look."
"I can see what you mean now. What do I do then? Jasmine, what should I do?" Lillian bit her nails, trying to think of a solution.
"Before we left, the Old Sage did something to you, right?" Jasmine held up her finger. "And don't try to lie, I see the mark looks."
"You caught me. Sorry. I didn't want to tell you because I didn't think it was right for me to tell." Lillian continued biting her finger.
"Hey Lillian, you don't have to explain yourself. I understand this is between you and the Old Sage. I don't have to know. Ok?"
"Ok," Lillian mumbled, looking away.
"That does explain why you are so much more powerful than before. The Old Sage 'upgraded' the mark to be able to hold magic in your body. Have you felt like the Magic running through your veins?"
"I have felt something like that, now that you say it. It's warm and feels so much like it's a part of me." Lillian beamed.
"Yes, that's the magic. That really explains why your magic is not specific as well, because, like the Old Sage and other plants that produce mana, they produce a variety of mana meaning you are as versatile as they are." Jasmine grew more and more excited as she said this.
"I've never seen that type of magic manipulation before but it seems such Magic Users are real. I thought they were only in myths."
"Sooooooo … That means I'm special?" Lillian asked, wriggling her brows.
"You're special alright, but only because of the Old Sage."
"Why can't you just end at I'm special?" Lillian whined.
"I don't want your ego bursting. But you are amazing, Lillian, for being able to get the hang of magic without any training whatsoever. I will give you that."
Lillian laughed nervously. "Stop. I-it was just a fluke. A one-time thing. It's not really me." She said, looking anywhere but at her.
"You wanted compliments and now that I complimented you, you can't take it? What's this, Lillian?" Jasmine teased.
"Look, I do like compliments."
"And?" Jasmine raised her brow.
"Nothing really, I don't know how to continue the sentence." Heat rose to Lillian's cheeks and ears as she tried not to say anything else.
"Still, it's such an impressive fete."
"HAHAHA! Impressive fete. Hahaha."
"Are you ok, Lillian?" Jasmine asked, a hint of concern in her face.
"Of course, I'm ok. Hahahaha."
"I do think you have a natural talent for magic." Jasmine continued but Lillian stopped laughing, her awkward smile disappearing.
"Natural Talent, huh?" She said solemnly, a quiet voice coming from the back of her head.
"Did I … say something wrong, Lillian?"
"Huh? Oh no. Not at all. Wow, would you look at the time? I need to hurry up. Oh, do you have a solution for me, about the dress?" Lillian smiled but this smile never reached her eyes.
"Lillian." Jasmine looked at her with concern but brushed it away. There are more pressing matters at hand. "So you have the 'upgraded' mark from the Old Sage and you don't have your body with you. Ok, I have a plan, it may or may not work so you have to try it out first. This is the only solution I know."
"Ok, give it to me."
"Remember when I was taking care of your dress? You were able to send your subconscious mind to this world, right?"
"Yes, I remember. I needed the King's help though."
"Right but that time, your body was in that world. Now, it's in this world. That's also why you could stay here without being transported back. Your mind and your body are separated. So I think, as long as you keep the dress with you, whether you are wearing it or not doesn't matter, you'll be fine."
"You really think that will work?"
"It can't hurt to try, right?"
"Right."
"Ok, I will get going now. I need to start searching again. Thank you for talking to me, Lillian. I feel rejuvenated." Jasmine said, standing back up.
"Well, you did more for me than I did for you." Lillian murmured, "If you need any help, just call ok?"
"Sure. And Lillian?"
"Yeah."
"You don't forget that I'm always here, ok?" Jasmine said that with such a sincere look on her face, Lillian almost burst into tears.
With a deep breath, she smiled back, "Yeah. Thank you."
"Good girl. See you later." Jasmine waved and the mirror went dark before disappearing.
"Sure," Lillian replied, her voice barely a whisper.
"Ok. Time to get the day started!" Lillian shouted, trying to hype herself up again and failing miserably.
It's ok. Two minutes of contentment is enough. I should be happy with what I get and not be greedy.
Don't be greedy. Bad things happen when you're greedy.
Lillian slapped her cheeks, willing that train to thought away.
Now, off to the marketplace! I need to see if Jasmine's theory is right or not.
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Winter_Iris
Winter_Iris Hey, Everyone!
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