episode_0194

Episode 194. Baptism

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Mysticism is… … .

If you think about it, it was the same in the world we lived in before. The more money and power a group had, the more they tended to be obsessed with symbols and rituals.

For something trivial, like Catholic baptism or communion. For something more complicated, like something that happens in high society. It was the same there too.

It was hard to imagine how many secrets and hidden rituals there would be in this world where magic existed so openly.

The imperial ritual of passing on magical talents was a very long and complex process.

One of those steps was this.

baptism.

Of course, it was a little different from what I knew.

We were waiting in front of one of the palace’s cellars. There were ceremonial items prepared around it. I swallowed.

“Are you ready?”

“No.”

There’s no way I was ready.

You didn’t even tell me what you were going to do. You just told me to wear light clothes. It can’t be helped, though, since it’s a royal secret.

“I brought everything you need.”

“Yes.”

It just means do it.

This is the baptismal chamber in the basement of the palace.

It was a space with a clean design, made of black marble and without any decoration. In the middle was a small pool or a large bathtub.

A space literally created for baptism.

Although it was different from baptism in the Christian sense, it was similar in that it involved going into water.

I swallowed.

Princess Mint was wearing a dress that she had never seen before. It had a similar design to a priest’s dress, but the high slits on the sides were pretty.

An outfit that reveals your body shape.

Well, it’s funny that I’m even noticing something like that in this situation. Aside from the seriousness of the situation, it was quiet all around. There wasn’t much to do other than stare at Mint.

“Do you like the dress?”

“It suits you well.”

Mint looked down at her sleeves and body for a moment. She was flawless. The princess’s body was the same.

Mint scratched her head.

“Shall we start now?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t you talk from now on?”

I nodded again.

An imperial ritual to pass down magical talents.

I don’t know the details, but it seemed to be made up of at least five stages. The fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that we saw last time. Baptism that we are seeing this time.

It could even be a part of a proposal or engagement. I haven’t heard any details from the princess either.

He said that it was something I shouldn’t know.

Mint lifted the staff and slammed it into the ground. A geometric pattern made of magical power appeared briefly in front of Mint.

I stood still.

Mint closed her eyes and began to chant. It was a language I couldn’t understand at all. I waited until the princess finished speaking.

The chanting lasted for quite some time. Maybe it was because of my mood. I looked at Mint’s face. Then Mint finished the chanting.

Talk.

A small silver vial the size of a finger was opened, and Mint dropped a few drops of her perfume on my head, as if bestowing a blessing.

The bathtub where I was baptized was larger than I thought.

Should I call it a bathtub? Anyway.

I vaguely thought that it would be enough to soak my face in. It was almost the size of a small pool. The princess took a step forward.

“Dragon’s Blood.”

Mint emptied the bottle containing the red liquid into the water. The red liquid mixed into the water and disappeared from sight in an instant.

I understand why you said it costs a lot of money. If that’s real dragon’s blood.

I thought I’d heard it before.

Was it a Norse legend? A legend about a hero who killed a dragon and bathed in its blood.

Mint wiped the staff’s head again with a white cloth, then turned the staff over like a ladle and began stirring the water.

The water began to ripple.

The water was filled with magic, and it sparkled brightly as it moved. Even though the surroundings were almost devoid of light.

Mint motioned for me to come forward.

There was a pair of footprints drawn on the floor in front of the bathtub. I stood with my feet on the footprints drawn on the floor. The princess nodded.

“Um… ….”

Mint gestured for them to come in.

I walked into the bathtub with my clothes on. The water was much warmer than I expected.

Almost at body temperature.

Mint looked down at me from outside the bathtub and motioned for me to lower my head. Uh… … .

Do I have to completely submerge?

Mint squatted outside the tub and put my head under the water. Come to think of it, this is also part of baptism. Putting it under the water.

You’ll understand once you come in.

The water in the baptismal well was no ordinary water. It had a strange metallic taste to it, and it was so full of magic that it could be felt on the skin… … .

oh my.

Then, after a few seconds, he raised his head.

I stood still in the center of the bathtub.

Mint continued to sing. The perfume I had seen earlier was poured into the bathtub. The water that had been baptized continued to sparkle.

The princess motioned for me to raise my head.

I looked up from the center of the baptismal font. Mint immediately opened her mouth.

“Just follow along. I.”

“I.”

The princess looked at me with a serious expression.

“As the imperial family, the leaders of the empire.”

“As the imperial family, the leaders of the empire.”

“I swear to devote my body and soul to the glory and prosperity of the Empire.”

“I swear to devote my body and soul to the glory and prosperity of the Empire.”

Mint motioned for me to get out of the tub. I slowly walked out of the tub, water dripping down my feet.

I stood before the princess again.

Mint, not caring at all about her clothes getting wet, hugged me as soon as she got out of the bathtub. The princess’s robe was soaking wet.

“This is consciousness.”

Mint blushed and smiled bashfully. It seemed like her skin was originally so white that she blushed more easily.

“Do you feel like something has changed?”

“I don’t know.”

I thought she might be concerned about her clothes getting wet, but Mint didn’t care at all. It seemed like she just enjoyed spending time with me.

“Your clothes are wet, Your Highness.”

“Oh, okay.”

Mint left me for a moment, then shook some of the moisture off her clothes.

“Is it over now?”

“No.”

The princess took me out.

I looked at Mint.

The princess’s dress was thinner than I thought. It was so wet earlier that you could see through it. I looked at Mint’s back for a moment.

“Why?”

“Is there no towel anywhere?”

“Hmm, is that so.”

Mint tilted her head.

“Ah. Is that because your uniform is wet?”

“No, it’s just pretty. It might be a little cold though… … .”

Even though the moisture hadn’t gone away, I put my arm around Mint’s shoulder. Mint laughed again.

****

In this world, magic is a kind of study. The ritual is not complete, and even if you have talent, you can’t use magic right away.

I looked at my fingertips.

Really, will the day ever come when I can use magic myself? Mint seemed to think so, of course.

It was also true that there was still a sense of skepticism.

indeed?

I looked at my fingertips. When I concentrated, a strange light seemed to pass through my fingers. It could just be my imagination.

“Nothing will change right away.”

“Really?”

“But the teacher is smart. Since magic is used with intelligence, wouldn’t he use it well?”

How would I know that?

I nodded anyway. I felt something different, though it was hard to explain in words. Can I really awaken magic?

Mint dried her hair with a towel, then wiped the water off me.

“It’s annoying.”

Exactly.

Mint snapped her fingers, and something like white sparks flashed before her eyes. The moisture disappeared in an instant as if by magic.

No, I did use magic.

****

Amy’s parents had three cats. That may not seem like a lot, but…

Because it was such a large and old mansion, it was actually a big house for three cats.

It didn’t feel empty though, because it was a house where people, not cats, lived.

The cats, who were the actual owners of the mansion, did not feel that there were many cats in the house.

“Meow.”

In front of the fireplace. A calico cat was sitting on Amy’s lap. Amy was eating a cookie.

It was a gift from Professor Asterix.

It was a bit disappointing that I couldn’t spend the festival day with my friends. It would have been nice to be with my friends from the academy, or my professors.

But still, I’m with my family.

That was the difference between Istina and Amy. Istina didn’t have many friends at the academy, but Amy didn’t.

anyway.

“Meow.”

The cat sitting on Amy’s leg meowed again. Amy tried to get up to get a treat, but-

Encountered resistance.

“No, if you don’t wake up, I can’t bring you snacks, Mr. Asterix.”

“Meow… … .”

A calico cat with eyeglass-like markings that she brought home on the day she became a graduate student. Amy named the cat after her mentor.

There was no particular reason. It was probably a process of overcoming my fear of my advisor.

Anyway, it was a dilemma.

Mr. Asterix, no, the cat keeps whining for a snack, but when he gets up to get it, the cat starts making a fuss again.