A Fairytale for Wizards

Generally, ruins referred to the remains of the ancient magic civilization. It was the era of wizards that flourished about a thousand years ago before Iskam the Great established an empire encompassing the whole continent and united calendars that were different by each region into one ‘Iskam Year’.

Rhema Reshith said he had been living for more than a thousand years. Maybe he was the last wizard of the magic civilization. Azriel had a hunch that the landslide occurred at the ruins and Rhema could be related.

‘Could what Rhema had to do be related to that ruins?’

“Grandpa Warden, do you know what kind of place those ruins are? Anything about its exact location or characteristics of its exterior or… ?”

“Were you interested in those ruins? I’ve got something for you. Wait here for a while.”

Warden, who went into the inner part of the bookstore, rustled for some time. Soon, he came out covered in dust and handed over an old book and a pamphlet which seemed to be new to Azriel.

“That pamphlet was distributed when people came to recruit excavation manpower for the ruins.”

“Wow, thank you!”

“And about that book, I’m not sure where it came from… I think it’s about old ruins. You can have it.”

On the faded leather cover, it was written ‘Alionov’s Journal of the Ruins’ in Lemm text. When she opened the book, she saw colored images of ruins, though fainted.

“Isn’t this a valuable book? The texture and the illustration are quite…”

“Even so, it’s just an old book. It’s hard to sell it anyway because it’s in Lemm, not Limble.”

Warden stubbornly passed them to Azriel.

“Goodbye. I hope you stay well anywhere you go. And please visit here once if you become a great wizard.”

It was a kind goodbye. Azriel smiled.

“I will definitely come visit. Please stay healthy until then.”

“All right.”

She left the bookstore with the book and pamphlet in her hand. Noir was excitedly running around the back alley in the cat form.

“…Don’t play with a mouse, Noir. You are not a real cat.”

“Oou hav no iea how phun it is!””

“I can’t understand you. Throw it out and speak.”

“Pfff.”

Noir spat out the mouse that he was holding in his mouth. The mouse that survived from death quickly disappeared into the sewer. The cat watched the back of the disappearing mouse regrettably and turned around toward Azriel.

“Is there anywhere else to visit?”

“Yeah, I want to visit Maylie’s house.”

“Who’s that?”

“It’s my friend. Blanchet will be there too.”

“Oh, that person Blanchet is helping? Okay, let’s go.”

Azriel went to Maylie’s house with Noir, who turned back into the human form. Maylie’s house was in the alley where old houses that were barely above the level of a shack stood in a row. She found her friend’s house with ease. Noir sniffed.

“It’s here. I smell Blanchet.”

“Yes, this is it.”

When she knocked, Maylie’s little brother opened the door. The child whose eyes were widened to see Azriel ran back to call his sister. Azriel sat down on the table chair in the room where it was used as the kitchen and living room. The interior was still humble, but pieces of smoke-dried meat were hung fully near the fireplace. All of them looked big and were of good quality.

“Did Blanchet buy them?”

“Not hunted?”

“This is not the forest, Noir.”

It seemed Blanchet bought it with the money she got from Rhema. When Azriel was looking around to see if other things had changed, the door to the inner room opened and Maylie ran toward her.

“Azriel! Azrieeel!”

She ran directly toward Azriel and hugged her tightly.

“Ouch.”

Not being able to stand the weight, Azriel staggered and Noir backed her up lightly with one hand from behind.

“May, Maylie?”

“Azriel! Mom got healthy! She’s really gotten healthy!”

“Really? She’s not sick anymore?”

“Yes, yes! She’s totally fine. She no longer wakes up at night because of fever either.”

“She’s really better. Thank God. Congratulations!”

“It’s all thanks to you. Thank you. Thank you so so much.” 

“It’s Rhema who cured her, not me. You don’t have to thank me so much.”

“It’s all because of you anyway! I will thank you! I will thank you even if I’m dead! How can I repay you for this? Really…”

“You don’t have to repay me. Just…”

“No, I will repay you no matter what! You know what? Mom can go outside now. She went to the market with Ms. Blanchet, my mom! My mom who was in bed for years!”

Weeping with emotion, Maylie rambled. Azriel hugged her friend tightly.

“Don’t cry, Maylie. It’s a great thing, why do you cry?”

“I’m so happy that I’m crying! Boohoo, thank you, really thank you, sob, I’ll repay you somehow…”

“I said that’s fine. Don’t think about repaying me, okay?”

Azriel comforted her friend who burst into tears. Noir, who was watching them vacantly changed back into a cat as it seemed there was no need for him to intervene.