Moonlight Ball

Seeing Sidrain’s eyes widen with disbelief and anger, Iris wanted to say something but couldn’t. How she’d like to just tell him the truth. I’m Iris Elaine. I’m not a queen, I just happened to come into this body using magic. Ah, I can’t tell you the truth. It’s a long story!

“T-teacher. Your Highness is extremely angry.”

“Hey.” Elaine grabbed Iris’ waist. He pulled her close to him, and dipped her back, matching their movements to the rhythm of the music. Elaine squinted and casted a spell on her upper body. “What about me? Do you think I am not angry too?”

From the moment they met in the ball, Iris has been bombarded with complaints and incessant nagging from her teacher.

“T-that Uhm, somehow happened.”

“Help me understand then. I’m just baffled, Iris. How did you end up helping the royal family? I wish to be frank with you and let me just say it’s getting difficult to get supplies to the Magic Tower now.”

Iris momentarily twirled away from Elaine before elegantly settling back into his arms.

“Now everyone is making such a fuss about the public bidding. We’re under the heavy scrutiny of the public and the Magic Tower can’t focus on getting any research done!”

Elaine came to Iris after the recent commotions. It became apparent that the wiser Iris became as a queen, the more problems there were for the Magic Tower. This has put Elaine in a tight situation. He lost sleep trying to patch things up on their side.

“Well, that’s…”

“And that woman! The woman whose son got infected with the fungus. You were the one who told her to go to the Magic Tower, didn’t you? Oh my God, Iris! Do you know what you’ve done? Now all kinds of people come to the Tower whenever they’re sick! They think the tower is a hospital!”

Iris twirled again under Elaine’s arm.

“But it’s right to treat the fungus in the Magic Tower, Master.”

The truth is, magic fungus can be treated with traditional medicinal plants. As such, magic isn’t necessary to treat them. But magicians are still socially responsible for magic fungus, in a sense.

“Right! The problem is that not many people know if it’s magic fungus or not, and now people are coming to the Magic Tower whenever they’re sick! We’re not a hospital, we’re not philanthropists!”

“But that boy I sent to you Master, he was indeed infected with magic fungus and was supposed to be treated at the Magic Tower. Wasn’t that the case, I mean.” Iris coyly smiled and tried to placate her agitated teacher somehow.

“It’s none of my business whether she and the baby die or not, Iris!” Elaine was evidently annoyed and made no efforts to hide it.

Iris realized there was nothing more she could say at the moment. She politely bowed her head without saying anything. Elaine swiftly placed a hand on her chin and forced her to look up and meet his fiery eyes.

Rosemary’s deep blue eyes reflected nothing but pain. It would have been better had the person in front of him truly been Rosemary at this moment. Elaine clicked his tongue. Knowing it was Iris behind those blue eyes made things more complicated. Iris remained in her solitude. Elaine sighed.

“It’s a slip of the tongue.” Elaine expounded further when Iris didn’t answer. “It’s just a slip of the tongue. The lady’s child has been cured and is recovering well. They’re heading home in a wagon. Iris, don’t do this. It was a slip of the tongue.”

Only then did Iris speak.

“I know…”

“But Iris, you have to meet me halfway. The people I have to protect are not those people, unfortunately. My utmost priority and duty is to protect the Magic Tower. You of all people should understand that.”

Iris sighed. She smiled faintly as she listened to Elaine.

“Yes, I know, teacher.”

The Magic Tower.  A spire of pride.

Iris, however, felt that pride was sometimes brutal. The Magic Tower was a sword ready to cut down anything that threatens their pride. Iris deeply loved the Magic Tower and appreciated every moment she spent there learning about magic, but she never thought that the people of the tower could be this blind and apathetic to the plight of the people outside it.

“The Magicians of the Tower have been receiving complaints and backlash. Being an institution built from taxes, some claim that the Magic Tower should serve a public purpose. It would take months to discuss all the details, but what I’m saying is that we’re in trouble.”

This has been the purpose of Elaine coming tonight to meet her.

“You’re one of us, Iris. You have to come back.”

It was a strange thing, Iris thought to herself. She always felt she should go back someday and yet she feels herself waver after being told just that.

Her attention turned to the unanswered ivory bracelet and she tried to swallow her tears repeatedly as memories came flooding back to her. It was terrifying going here. Everyone was scary and everything was cloaked with mystery. Now, her teacher is here to scold her. She felt helpless and lost. There’s nothing much she can do. There’s nothing she knows.

And yet despite all this, Iris couldn’t find it in her heart to nod her head at that moment.

Iris looked up at Elaine in immaculate silence. In front of her is the teacher she loved, the teacher she appreciated. He’s now infiltrating the ball with a mask on for her, and he’s expecting her to go along with his request right now, drop everything, and just go back. Her mind was running a thousand thoughts right now.

Why is it that the Magic Tower adamantly refuses to do a public bidding?

Why isn’t the protection of people an objective of the Magic Tower? These are people who suffered damages because of the existence of magic. Moreover, according to her teacher, the Magic Tower is a tax-based institution, so shouldn’t it be only fair that the people demand them to serve a public purpose. Despite the clashing beliefs and views on the matter, the Magic Tower has vowed to cure the magic fungus. And so, it was their responsibility to treat the boy. What is so different in that case from other people seeking the same help from them?

For the first time in her life, Iris questioned why. It made her flinch. Iris was hesitating and Elaine clearly saw it too.

“Iris!” Elaine squeezed her slender forearm, desperate to bring Iris back to her senses. “You are my daughter! You’re my disciple!”

“I know. Well, I’m your disciple. I’ve never forgotten that, teacher.”

“If you haven’t, then why are your eyes full of confusion, Iris? I am your teacher, and you’ll always value me the most! You should never dare put anyone else above me!”

It was then that Sidrain showed up.

“My lady.” Iris heard the king’s voice. As she turned her head, the king offered his hands.

“Come here.” He firmly instructed Iris.

“T-teacher. Your Highness is extremely angry.”

Please undo the magic spell you put on me…