A Fairytale for Wizards

Azriel woke up only in the middle of the day when the sun was high. As soon as she opened her eyes, she grabbed her head in pain.

“Ouch… My head,” she groaned.

“Master.”

“Mm?”

She heard a weak voice. When she looked around, a strange man was crouching down below her bed. He had a very big build and black, shaggy hair like a dog. His forelock was so bushy that his face was not very visible, and he was wearing something like a pelt of black feathers. Azriel was startled. “Wh-who are you?”

“It’s me, Master. I’ve been trying all night long…” The glum man murmured and repeatedly hit the floor with his tail.

‘A tail?’

“This is as much as I can mimic, and I can’t loosen the binding either,” he said.

“No way, is it you, Marthi?” she asked in astonishment.

“I am an incapable familiar after all… I am ashamed…” the man said, sobbing. His long tail, which did not match a human’s body at all, curled. For a moment, Azriel was lost for words and recognized white stars wrapped around Marthi’s whole body.

“Isn’t this Rhema’s binding magic?” she asked.

“Don’t you remember?” he asked.

“Remember what?” she asked.

“The masquerade last night,” he replied.

“Uh…” She grabbed her forehead, unable to recall much due to the throbbing. Her memory before drinking was vivid, but it was blurry after she had her first sip. “…I don’t remember much. I am terrible at drinking,”

“You might get drunk just by smelling alcohol. It’d be better if you don’t drink at all from now on,” Marthi said.

“I won’t even go near it, ever.” Azriel falteringly perched on the bed and stretched her hand toward Marthi. She arranged mana while pressing her temple. “Esthera.”

Marthi’s body was freed. He shook his head and looked down at his body as if he was surprised. “What? This is Rhema Reshith’s magic. Can you lift it?”

“It’s not a complicated spell. I can do this much,” Azriel explained.

“You are indeed amazing, Master,” he said.

“By the way, what happened? How did I get here? And why are you under Rhema’s magic?” Azriel asked.

Marthi trembled and turned back into the form of a lion cub. His red eyes hesitantly looked up at her. “That’s…”

“Oh, wait a second. I need to wash and change first,” she said.

Still in her uncomfortable dress and makeup, she looked quite disheveled. Combined with a hangover, she could not think straight. Azriel staggered to the bathroom. While she was taking a shower, Marthi repeatedly turned into a human and a lion cub. No matter how much he tried, his tail did not disappear. He sighed deeply, but when there were signs of Azriel coming out, he quickly returned to the form of a lion cub and pretended that he did not do anything. Drying her hair with magic, Azriel sank into the bed.

“Marthi, now you can explain—”

Her mana shook. It was a sign of communication. She was a little surprised because she was unfamiliar with the mana she was feeling and the spell she was hearing. She had almost no experience with communicating with other wizards except for Rhema.

“Master?” he called.

“Wait a minute. Someone is trying to talk with me.” Azriel thought for a short while and accepted the communication. “Esthera, Naham.”

‘Hello, Miss Azriel Esthera.’ It was a slightly tired-sounding young man’s voice.

“Yes, hello. But, who are you?” Azriel asked.

‘I am Nak Naham, a wizard of Madriol. I’m contacting you because Lady Lexina von Madriol requests a meeting,’ he said.

“Oh…” Azriel said.

‘The lady would like to meet you as soon as possible. If that’s okay, I’ll send you a carriage right away,’ he said.

Azriel recalled when she met the lady. In spite of herself, she asked, “Is she sober now?”

‘…’

“…Nevermind, I’m sorry.” Azriel apologized.

‘…May I send you a carriage? We’ll escort you to the duke’s mansion,’ he asked.

“Sure. I will wait at the entrance of the underground tower,” Azriel said.

‘Thank you,’ he said.

The communication ended. Azriel sighed deeply and prepared to leave. She also took the key that she received from Ash von Madriol at the masquerade.