“I would like to enter a contract with Sibley.”
[Huh?]
[What?]
Even though I understand why Sally might have been chosen, why does Sibley seem most surprised? Maybe she’s aware of her own somewhat unpleasant nature.
It wasn’t really because of a bad temperament that I chose the wind spirit.
The biggest reason was that the forest spirit’s effectiveness is limited to certain areas.
They say the forest spirit is the one closest to and most in need of nature.
But on reflection, as a noblewoman of the baron’s family, I don’t see myself ever associating closely with forests or natural settings. That’s why I ruled it out.
In contrast, the application of the wind spirit is very broad. One reason was the ability to summon a cool breeze when it’s hot, though that wasn’t the only consideration.
If properly nurtured, the wind spirit can grow powerful enough to even raise typhoons.
Moreover, it would likely be far easier to control than the fire spirit.
[Sincerely, want to contract with me? Why?]
[Sibley.]
[Well, still, it’s strange though, isn’t it?]
Though Silvana gently reprimanded, Sibley instead raised their voice louder with doubt.
[No one has ever chosen me over Sally or Silvana, right?]
[Then shouldn’t you consider how to improve your personality first?]
[Ugh…]
Sibley went silent, as if not knowing what to say. I guess even they recognize their bad attitude.
“How exactly do we form a contract?”
[Uh… how do we do it, Silvana?]
When asked, Sibley also turned to Silvana, perhaps not knowing. Silvana chuckled and responded:
[Hmm hmm, are you embarrassed because it’s your first contract?]
[Shut up.]
Though mumbling, Sibley didn’t deny it. Does this mean this is Sibley’s first contract?
Well, Sibley did say until now, they’d only contracted with Silvana and Sally.
[The contract is simple. Just place your palms together.]
The flame-shaped Sibley cautiously approached me. The flames were slightly smaller than my hand. At this size, all I’d need to do is place my hand near it to touch.
With that thought, I brought my hand close to the flame. Instantly, I felt a sensation of clarity in my mind.
A refreshing sensation filled my body. It was like the time I smelled Louis’s tobacco.
Any lingering worry, anxiety, or fear in my heart disappeared completely.
Upon seeing my reaction, Silvana nodded slightly. If that nod truly was a nod, of course.
[Sibley, get ready.]
[..Alright.]
Suddenly, I felt a gust of wind.
A single breeze crossing over the green meadow. Though it might sound strange, that’s exactly how it felt.
Caught up in the wonder of it, I unknowingly closed my eyes. Simultaneously, I could feel a cool wind brushing past the fingertips touching Sibley.
[Focus on that feeling, contractor.]
Sibley’s voice, whispering closely to my ears, was much more serious than usual.
Urrrr…
I could feel the trembling of the air itself.
[The wind is a being that passes through everything.]
[Because of that, it’s the freest being of all.]
A breeze wrapped around my entire body.
I felt as if I could take flight into the world at any moment. Is this the sense of freedom Sibley was referring to?
[And because of that, it’s the loneliest of all beings.]
A sense of solitude began to well up somewhere inside me.
Is this the world as Sibley sees it?
An elemental mage refers to those who commune with elements and grow alongside them. They say that when one first contracts with an element, the mage experiences the world as the spirit perceives it.
Endless freedom and solitude.
Is this the essence of the world as seen by Sibley?
For some reason, it wasn’t much different from the world I viewed.
I was a foreigner, a spirit attached to a villainess from another world. I understood well what Sibley felt.
[This is the world you see, isn’t it.]
“..Did you see it?”
[..Yeah. I won’t tell, though.]
Communion, at its core, means for each to feel the other.
Sibley must have also perceived the world as I saw it. I felt a sense of empathy and compassion from that emerald flame—perhaps it was just my imagination.
[I, the wind spirit Siphya, declare a contract with Adelle von Este.]
With Sibly’s proclamation, I felt something connect within me. This must be the link between an elemental spirit and its user that Arin explained.
Urrrr…
The air began to vibrate slightly as Sibley started blazing intensely. Though surprised by the sudden transformation, Arin shook their head and reassured me that:
“A contracted elemental spirit takes on the most familiar form to its contractor.”
“Ah, I see.”
The most familiar form to me.
I wondered what form that would be? Curiosity arose, but I decided to wait and see.
“Wow! This is the first time I’m seeing Sibley transform!”
As Sally exclaimed, the emerald flame began to shape itself.
It formed into a small doll-sized figure, then details started appearing as if drawn on it.
Arin’s expression began to soften into a smile as they watched this evolution. Meanwhile, my face slowly began to warm up.
[This form…]
A small boy figure emerged. Gray hair, silver eyes, and a small scar by the eye.
It was unmistakably a young version of Abel.
“Great heavens, it’s the Duke himself!”
“Ugh…”
The most familiar shape to me being Abel…
It’s true I have thought about him often, but not to the extent that even my spirit would take this form.
[..Hoho, so this is the form the contractor likes the most?]
“What? That wasn’t said!”
As I confronted Arin, they just smiled broadly but didn’t say anything. My already burning face now felt like molten lava.
[Ah, radish.]
“It’s not a radish!”
[Whoa, humans are scary.]
Sally approached Silvana, teasingly dragging out the last syllable. Though it raised a flicker of annoyance, I tried hard to suppress it.
“Back when I was younger, I wanted a friend, so I chose the body of a young girl, but Lady Young Noblewoman wanted the Duke, didn’t she? Ouch!”
“Shut your mouth!”
When I covered Arin’s mouth, they finally quieted down, though their smiling face made me feel the blushing return.
“Ugh…”
[This human is interesting.]
[After all, Sibley, this is your first human contract! Show off much?]
[Shut up, Sally!]
In many ways, I had acquired a rather loud elemental spirit.
§
It was another bright, clear day.
The towering spires and the monastery beside them. The church nearby had an atmosphere quite different from the surrounding buildings.
It was a strikingly all-white structure.
This was Numin, the sacred state of the Goddess-worshiping religion.
Individuals blessed by the Goddess gain the ability to wield divine magic and are dispatched throughout various nations. Naturally, the Arie Empire was no exception.
You might say this place was the equivalent of a hospital where dispatched priests from Numin served.
The reason I was here today was to visit Evan, who had been severely injured last time.
After losing consciousness for several days following the incident with the emperor, I had been truly worried.
When you get down to it, it was my greed that caused his injury.
“Your condition still isn’t good, so please remain quiet.”
I nodded at the man in the white priest robes, then entered the ward with Arin by my side.
There, I saw Evan faintly smiling and casually waving his hand. Seeing him so lively eased my worries slightly.
“Milady. And…?”
When Evan turned to look at me, his expression slightly paled. What on earth must he think of me if he still reacts like this?
“Mr. Evan…”
“Milady! How long has it been?”
In his tension, his speech reverted to dialect. Watching this, Arin sighed loudly and sat down in the chair beside the bed.
“Anyone would think you’re about to be eaten.”
I carefully sat down in the chair as well, observing Evan. Most of his wounds had been healed through divine magic, yet he still didn’t look healthy.
“Are you feeling alright?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, of course!”
Evan scratched his head as he answered, though his complexion was far from good. Arin, noticing this, spoke up first.
“You were beaten by him, weren’t you?”
“…Yes. He was strong…”
Evan bit his lips, looking somewhat disheartened.
Indeed, the emperor was strong, capable of easily defeating Evan without giving him a chance to retaliate.
“For the time being, I’ll take on the role of the lady’s personal guard.”
“Th-That’s good.”
After hesitating for a moment, Evan nodded as if accepting. His reaction made him seem somewhat pitiful.
[Who’s that guy?]
Sibley whispered into my ear.
‘My personal guard. He was badly injured this time.’
[Is that so?]
Seeming satisfied with the explanation, Sibley didn’t ask further. Or perhaps the atmosphere wasn’t inviting any more questions.
“Come back stronger after this experience.”
Having said that, Arin immediately stood up and left the room. Watching them leave, Evan chuckled.
“She’s still as blunt as ever.”
That’s why she’s trustworthy.
He murmured this faintly with a faint smile.
