Tou No Madoushi

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Lynn talked to Illia about his life in the tower .

Because she of course knew all about the academy, being a student herself, he mainly talked about his job at the factory, Renryll, and he also talked in great detail about his dorm room, which he and Theo often called the ‘Rat’s Nest’ .

She listened attentively as he talked, and nodded her head at all the right times to show she was listening [1], and asked good questions at important junctures .

Because she was such a good listener, Lynn found himself talking more and more pa.s.sionately, and he lost himself in his own talkativeness .

“- and so that’s about the sum of it, I guess” .

“I see . So you’re day to day life is filled with either study or work” .

“Well, yeah… I guess it is” .

“That’s no good . You should have more fun” .

He smiled bitterly . He didn’t think Illia would tell him the same thing Yuven did .

“But working at the factory can be quite fun too . Of course it’s a job, we have quotas and everything, but if you have the right att.i.tude you can think of it as a game . And you work alongside your friends . Similarly, right now walking through this forest with you is a learning experience, but I’m enjoying myself” .

“Even so… Surely there must be something new you want to try, something that you’ve never done before” .

“Something I’ve never done before?”

He racked his brains trying to think of something . Come to think of it, he thought to himself, what on earth did he want to try? It was a good question .

“It’s a difficult question to be honest, I’ve never thought about it” .

Illia looked at him with a sad look in her eyes .

“But, partic.i.p.ating in Mulheim like this is fun! It’s like I’m on some kind of mysterious adventure, and it feels like I’ve taken a small step towards becoming a wizard . The most fun thing of all is talking to you” .

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It was spontaneous intuition that he added that last part onto his sentence . It wasn’t a lie of course, but he wanted to cheer her up .

She seemed to appreciate the sentiment, and gave him a small smile .

“What about flipping that question around then . Is there something new that you want to try doing, Illia? After all you’re a member of Magulheim, so do you have high aspirations to be a great wizard?”

She made a troubled expression, and laughed, as if he had thrown a curveball at her .

“The thing is, I’m actually already contemplating whether or not I should leave Magulheim” .

“What? But why?”

“The people in the guild are a bit too impatient, don’t you think? Almost like all they can think of is the next step, the next step . But I like to go at my own pace” .

“I see… Well it’s true they do seem to go blazing ahead into the forest at quite a speed” .

“Actually going deep into the forest isn’t a problem at all for me . In fact I could get further, faster, by myself . But there are so many rules, and such little freedom . My invitation to Magulheim came with a lot of zeal, and everyone around me said I should try joining at least once… So I did . But when I graduate I’m expected to belong to a guild which has a lot of wizards from Wingald . So you see, there’s not many reasons I should stay much longer” .

“I see…”

This time it was Lynn’s turn to feel sad .

He found himself wanting to spend more time together with her, and learn about all kinds of things .

If she really quit Magulheim, there wouldn’t be a single tangent left which connected them .

Maybe he would never have a chance to see her, ever again .

—–

“But walking with you is really enjoyable”, Illia said as she smiled her sweet smile .

After Lynn had finished telling Illia all about his life, she subsequently took her turn to tell him all about what life as a n.o.ble is like .

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She talked of the royal life, of being doted on by servants of the royal court, of the various duties the royals had, about the high cla.s.s residential district in Allfrid, as well as the homework and a.s.signments she was a.s.signed by her master, and the tea parties that take place just before the parties .

“The tea parties sound so fun . I wish I could go” .

“You’re interested in them?”

“Yeah . The n.o.bles in some of my cla.s.ses are always boasting about the tea parties, so I’ve heard a lot about them . I wish I could go just once, to see what they’re like with my own eyes” .

“Ah, I see . Of course, at your age it’s only natural to want to socialize and enjoy yourself” .

“No, no that’s not it . It’s not that I want to go in order to enjoy myself, as a kind of pa.s.s time” .

“Oh, really? Then for what reason do you want to go?”

“Connections” .

Illia looked at him blankly . It was not the kind of word one would expect to spill from the lips of a boy his age .

“You want to go… For connections?”

“Yeah, that’s right . I want to build connections so that I can succeed as a wizard” .

He had been thinking about such things ever since he had that conversation with Yuven . With what very little knowledge he had of society at large, he had tried to ponder how he might try to make some connections himself .

His motivation for raising the topic with Illia was to show her that he too was capable of talking about such things .

That’s right, I’ll talk to her about it, I’ll show her that I’m capable of talking about difficult topics . No doubt she’ll be surprised .

Lynn had a tendency to seek the approval of pretty girls who were older than him . He would try to act older than he was, and would try to show off whatever charm he might have .

Illia was kind enough to listen to whatever he had to say, and with sincere interest too . At some point since entering the forest together, he had grown uncharacteristically comfortable in her company .

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“Why? If you want to be a wizard, isn’t studying magic the most important thing?”

“Connections are important too, in order to become a wizard . I’ll tell you about my perspective”, he said boldly, using the most grown up tone of voice he could manage .

“Why please, do tell me” she said with a serious tone, matching his .

“In society, there’s a social hierarchy . There are slaves and there are n.o.bles . There is the government and the citizens . Speaking generally, the higher someone is in the hierarchy, the more power they wield . On the other hand, people at the lower end of the hierarchy often have to rely on the people of power and influence who are higher up, if they want to get things done . And the people at the top require the people at the bottom to work as slaves, and to collect taxes from everyone” .

“Hm hm” she said, making noises to let him know she was listening, and urging him on .

“The people at the top continue to ama.s.s even more wealth, further widening the gap in wealth between them and the lower cla.s.ses . Then, they use that wealth and are able to make connections with even more people . They can get even more material possessions, more information, as well as even more jobs and chances . With their wealth they make it easy for themselves to access those jobs and opportunities . And so another gap appears between the people at the bottom and the people at the bottom- the number of opportunities . And this gap is always widening as well . As a society and its organizations grow larger, or a country let’s say, this trend becomes more and more noticeable . And it’s no different within this giant wizard inst.i.tution, the wizard tower” .

“I see” .

“Cla.s.sification, and gaps within society make it easier to organize things . It can’t be helped . This is human destiny, that no one can do anything, or have any great power, without cooperating with others . But I don’t necessarily think sadly of it” .

He was talking fervently now . He was no longer paying any mind to Illia’s reactions . He was simply speaking his mind .

“There’s definitely a divide between the high cla.s.s and the lower cla.s.ses in terms of opportunities, and it’s a divide that’s hard to ignore . But even if you’re at the top, it’s impossible to take every chance that comes your way . You can only do so much, we only have one body after all . Even if we had multiple selves, the elite still couldn’t exploit all the opportunities they have access to” .

“That’s quite true” .

“The important thing here is connections . Even someone at the bottom of the hierarchy can get access to work opportunities if they know someone higher up . Then it’s possible to ask them to split the jobs and various things which they can’t take on for being too busy . And in those various jobs, there may be some kind of opportunity that leads to a lot of money, which even the elite overlooked . If you did well it would build trust with your connection, and lead to even more opportunities . This way, even someone as lowly as me can potentially get access to real opportunities” .

“I see… So that’s why you’re interested in connections” .

“Yes . But the reason I want to build connections with the elite isn’t for climbing through the cla.s.s system, or for riches- although those things are nice of course- but what I really want is to have the opportunities and experiences which will allow me to really develop as a wizard, not just some second rate wizard . That’s why, just one time, I want to go to one of those tea parties . To see with my own eyes your world . It just might lead to something good which will help me and my future . That’s why…”

Seeing Lynn finally finish his pa.s.sionate speech, Illia covered her mouth and giggled sweetly .

“Huh?” Lynn said, surprised .

“You’re funny Lynn!” .

He looked down at his feet as he felt his face turn red .

Although he had tried to get her interest with his grand talk of society and his opinion on it, and possibly win her approval, instead he now felt foolish .

She probably thought he was just a naive kid .

“It’s just something I heard my friend say . I was just retelling it” .

“Really? But I think it’s a really interesting take . Plus, I was able to learn something, hearing your perspective” she said, and gave him a small applause .

She reminded Lynn of a teacher praising their student . He felt his face getting even redder . While he was with her he couldn’t help but feel he was starting to be treated as a kid .

What? It wasn’t supposed to go like this…

He was still a child, so perhaps it couldn’t be helped that things were the way they were, but he had wanted her to see him as a boy who was taking steps towards becoming an adult .

I shouldn’t have spoken so recklessly . Saying I want to attend a tea party, what was I thinking! It’s not like I’m ever going to be invited .

He remained silent and looked at the floor as he walked, embarra.s.sed . Illia watched him, puzzled as to why he seemed so down on himself .

—–

It was around about noon when they stopped for a lunch break . They had only camping rations on them, which tasted rather plain, but they could be stored efficiently with the a.s.sistance of just a little magic .

“Anyway, we haven’t seen a single magical beast” .

“No, but it’s pretty normal for the blue zone . If you stick to the path you won’t encounter anything” .

“Really?”

“Yeah . If you want to find magical beasts you have to go off the path, into the thicket,” she said, and then put her hand to her mouth as she gave a soft laugh, “that’s right… Lynn, what do you say we try going off the beaten path a little bit?”

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