Return.

Chapter 1

[Location: Southern village, day, in a memory]

Muscular Villager: Wow, the tornado vanished...! Thanks to the wizards!

Physically Fit Villager:  And to think that someone so young blew away a tornado so huge!

Tiletta: I'm certainly not young, I'm far older than you. However, being this beautiful, it's not a surprise you thought of me that way. 

Tilleta: You go on and tell your Figaro, that Tiletta, the Great Witch of the North, was just strolling by and saved all these Southerners' lives. 

Muscular Villager: Alright!

Mithra: ... Sigh ...

Mithra: ... Tiletta. Are you quite finished talking? It's time to return to the North. 

Mithra: Goodness, why are we suddenly visiting Figaro....?

Tiletta: Because, I received a letter claiming there are tons of beehives in this area.

Tiletta: We don't have bees up in the North. The honey is great for your skin, you know. 

Muscular Villager: Miss Witch, are you looking for some honeycomb? 

Physically Fit Villager: If you are, then I happen to have a large piece with me. Here you go - freshly harvested from the nearby wetlands. 

Tiletta: Oh, wow! This thing, it’s so big… Almost Oz level…

Mithra: Hey, wait a moment. Please refrain from using Oz as an analogy.

Muscular Villager: Feel free to take it, and consider it a token of our thanks. Especially since you're now the benefactor of our village and the symbol of our festival. 

Tiletta: Your festival?

Physically Fit Villager: Oh, yes! We intend to throw a festival for showing off your strength and bolstering your pride! Of course, you'd be welcome to join us. 

Muscular Villager: Ah, that'd be great! My family also has a wizard. Why don't you both take a crack at it? 

Tiletta: Hmm. If you're asking me to test my strength, I'm certain I'd win. 

Tiletta: So I don't mind. I'm in a great mood, so I'll join your little game. 

—

Elder: Mmmh… snzzzz…

Muscular Villager: The Elder has dozed off! There's no doubt - we have our winner. 

Physically Fit Villager: That was some real good inspiration to kick-start our redevelopment efforts! Thanks, Miss Witch!

Tiletta: But of course. Besides, your wizard Elder put on a surprisingly good show. 

[Location: Clear blue sky, day]

Tilletta: Now! Before we say our farewells, I'd like to pay a little respect to all our strong and proud competitors. 

Tilletta: 《Scintilla》!

[Magic bursts and sparkles]

Tilleta: A blessing of sparks to all those here!

Villagers: Wow...!

Mithra: ...

—

[Location: Forest, day]

Mitile: 《...Tilla》!

Akira: (Hm? What's that voice...)

One afternoon, I was taking a stroll with Sakitty when I happened to hear a familiar voice.

Mitile: 《Scintilla》!

[Magic flares brightly]

Mitile: Agh, just another crack again... Hahh...

Akira: ... Mitile?

Mitile: – Ah! ...Oh, Master Sage!

Akira: Hello. Are you practicing your magic?

Mitile: N-No! I'm just taking a walk...

Akira: A walk...?

Mitile: ...Okay, not really, I was practicing magic. I wanted to try doing things with the new spell. 

I followed Mitile's gaze and saw a slight crack in a boulder that looked far too big, even for Lennox to lift. 

Akira: Oh! Did you do this? That's amazing!

Mitile: ...Eheheh. Thank you.

Mitile: But, um... Could you please not tell Doctor Figaro?

Akira: Huh?

Mitile: Well... The new rule he gave me is that I can only practice new spells when he says it's okay, and only if I'm in the Magic Manor with adult supervision.

Mitile: I was practicing this yesterday and used up a lot of my magic, so I was told not to practice again today. I really wanted to, though...

Akira: I see, so you came into the forest...

Akira: (Hmm. While I don't think it's best to break rules... I'm sure he's already reflecting on it.)

Akira: (He wants to practice more! I think his enthusiasm is a good thing, as he's showing diligence and dedication, so...)

Akira: ... I understand. Then, we'll just keep it a secret this time. 

Mitile: Thank you, Master Sage.

Mitile: Ah... That's right. My brother gave me this big muffin as a snack today.

Mitile: I don't think I can finish it myself, so would you like to share it with me, Master Sage?

Akira: Are you sure? Okay then, thank you for offering!

The muffin was wrapped in a clean napkin and still slightly warm, as if by magic. 

Mitile, who had taken the other half, nibbled at the golden crust, seemingly zoning out.

I chewed hesitantly, staring at the cracked boulder. 

Mitile: ... How can I be more powerful...?

Akira: Mitile...?

Mitile: In Western Country... I went through a lot, and it ended up making me a lot stronger.

Mitile: But after returning to normal life in the Magic Manor... I felt like I had just ended up back at step one. 

Mitile: I still can't use wards. I can't even break rocks like this. Depending on the day, I can't even use the spark magic... 

Although the muffin was sweet and delicious, Mitile's expression was displeased, as if he were eating sand. 

Despite my confusion, I tried to offer up a familiar name.

Akira: While I don't know much about magic... Why don't you try asking Figaro?

Akira: He cares a lot about how often you're doing things like using your new spell. So maybe you should...

Mitile: ...But with him...

Akira: ... Is it hard to explain?

Mitile: For a teacher... He doesn't seem to like me practicing magic very much. 

Mitile: Now he says I can use stronger magic, bit by bit...

Mitile: But before, he used to say I didn't need to get any stronger. 

Mitile: He claimed that wizards who were kind, gentle, helpful, and could be trusted by everyone were greater wizards, even with weaker magic. 

Mitile: .... And while that was true, I would still get annoyed, because there were times where I absolutely needed to just… be stronger. 

Mitile: And now, when my practice isn't really going well, I wonder if maybe he was right after all... 

Akira: Mitile...

Mitile shoved the rest of the muffin into his mouth and dropped his gaze to his feet. 

He gazed heavily in silence at the unfinished boulder, cracked, but not yet broken. 

Mitile: ...What's the point of being able to break a rock with magic?

Mitile: If I want to be a great wizard, I should be aiming higher...

Mithra: That's not it.

Mitile & Akira: !

Mithra and I both jumped, startled by Mithra's sudden appearance between us.

Akira: Mithra, when did you get here...?

Mithra: Mitile. Were you practicing with Tiletta's spell?

Mitile: Huh? Y-Yes.

Mithra: Mm. I suppose that spell is certainly easier to say than your own.

Mithra crossed his arms, appearing satisfied, but there was still a questioning tilt to his head. 

Mithra: But why do such a thing deep in the woods? Wouldn't the courtyard be better?

Mitile: But... I like that we're not close to the Magic Manor...

Mithra: Then I shall take you somewhere more remote.

Mithra: I will also be training you. 

Mitile: Huh?