Magical incantations are not the words people use in daily life, but a special language imbued with magical power.
From the length of the incantation, Eno’s chant was very short—even simpler than “Fireworks”—but in truth, because the rhythm and tempo of the chant varied so intricately, “Flowing Water’s Blessing” was actually more difficult than “Fireworks.”
When Eno first came into contact with it, she had to practice for a whole week before she could control it smoothly.
“Failure is common, don’t worry about being laughed at. You’re just starting out; no one is born a high-level magic chanter.”
Seeing that Lulumia still hadn’t made a move, Eno put one hand on her hip and encouraged her enthusiastically.
So gentle.
Lulumia couldn’t help but think so.
There were only a few people on the training grounds, and they were all far away.
In fact, she wasn’t worried about being laughed at.
But Eno’s actions reminded her of some stories from her previous life.
When she had just entered high school, her English pronunciation was so heavily accented that some classmates laughed at her.
Back then, she just felt embarrassed and didn’t think much of it.
It wasn’t until she graduated and entered society that she gradually realized that her tendency to become more and more silent probably started at that moment.
To this day, she still remembered the sight of her classmates stifling their laughter with their hands as she read, whispering among themselves.
Afraid of being mocked, she simply avoided expressing herself.
Every sensitive boy or girl goes through this stage.
But just as Eno said, no one is born knowing every skill.
She had already passed through her own adolescence; facing the same situation again, she would just glare at them and add a “dumbass.”
“Did you forget the incantation?”
Eno stepped forward, looking at Lulumia with concern.
“It’s nothing, just thought of something from before.”
Lulumia shook her head and brought her mind back to reality.
She took a deep breath, focusing all her attention on the long spear in her hand.
Originally, she had chosen the spear only because it suited her identity as a dragon better, but now, as she became immersed in it, the cold, smooth metal felt irresistible to her, as if it was meant to be.
She recalled Eno’s incantation and repeated:
“Flow become shield—”
As soon as she spoke the words “flow,” Lulumia felt mana surge within her, delighting her—then the gathering mana immediately scattered.
“Your attention wandered,” Eno warned in a low voice.
“Don’t get distracted. Put all your focus on the chant.”
“I understand.”
Lulumia quietly opened her panel.
There was a new line in her magic column.
“‘Flowing Water’s Blessing’: 2/20, Unranked.”
At the same time, her 20 points of mana had dropped to 15.
Whether or not she succeeded in casting “Flowing Water’s Blessing,” it still cost 5 points of mana.
However, the proficiency that should have increased by only 1 point this time increased by 2.
Was it because Eno was instructing her nearby?
Or was it that different types of magic raised proficiency at different rates?
Either way, it was a good thing.
Let’s try again.
Refocusing, Lulumia attempted once more.
***
On the fifth attempt of chanting, Lulumia stopped moving.
“Why did you stop?”
“I’m out of mana.”
“Use this.”
As if she’d expected this, Eno fished a thumb-sized glass vial from her pocket.
“This is a mana restoration potion.”
“Another potion…”
Lulumia took it hesitantly.
She had a bit of a psychological shadow about potions, but still opened the wooden cork, drank it down, then explained with a bitter face.
“Last time, Amy tricked me, saying a mana potion would restore my mana. She actually mixed in something to make me drowsy and, after I passed out, tied me up and sent me to the smugglers.”
“Then if you drink my potion, Mia will have to be tied up and taken home by me soon.”
Eno, with one hand on her hip, playfully pinched Lulumia’s cheek.
The face that should have radiated holiness now showed a mischievous glint, and those beautiful sapphire eyes seemed to be considering how to gobble Lulumia up.
Combined with the youthful energy and elegant curves accentuated by her silvery swordswoman’s short skirt, she was the very image of a campus goddess crossed with a little devil saint.
If I were a teenaged boy, I’d definitely be smitten with Eno—not even knowing which way was up.
No, even as a girl, I’d probably be swooning, thinking, “Tie me up if you must, it’s my win anyway,” or, “Eno, you smell so good,” or even, “Shall we go to the seaside together?”
Unfortunately, I’m a ten-year-old girl.
Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to.
Besides, before I figure out what “Mad Blood Countess” and “Renegade” mean, it’s best not to let beauty cloud my judgment.
Adult topics can wait for another day!
Of course, if Eno invited me to bathe together, I wouldn’t mind at all.
Even though Eno seems only fifteen or sixteen and is shorter than Xinleila, she has all the right curves—far more than that flat-chested Xinleila—looking warm and promising.
Lost in such unhealthy musings, Lulumia watched as her mana on the panel quickly restored from 0 to 20 and started chanting again.
***
On the tenth round of the tedious chant, something changed.
“Flow become shield, torrent become blade—‘Flowing Water’s Blessing’.”
Splash.
The sound of rushing water rang out.
A cocoon-like swirl of water suddenly wrapped Lulumia, and her eyes lit up.
Success.
When “Flowing Water’s Blessing” proficiency jumped from 18 to 20, it became “‘Flowing Water’s Blessing’: 1/100, Novice” on the panel.
She could now use this magic freely.
Beside her, the previously smiling Eno’s jaw dropped, staring at Lulumia in disbelief.
From first contact to mastery of “Flowing Water’s Blessing,” it had taken Lulumia less than an hour.
Yet Eno herself had spent an entire week learning it!
“Sis Eno, does this mean I’ve learned it?”
Lulumia turned joyfully to Eno.
Maybe it was just luck, using it by chance.
Eno quickly hid her shock. “Dismiss the magic and try again—just give the order in your mind, and the magic will end.”
“Okay~”
Lulumia canceled the magic and chanted again.
This time, “Flowing Water’s Blessing” was even smoother; she could even control the water to follow the tip of her spear to some extent.
No way…
Eno’s expression was very odd, even beginning to wonder if she was the fool here—how could people differ so much?
Lulumia’s chanting was completely fluent, as if she’d already ingrained the rhythm, but just a few minutes earlier, every time she reached “flow become shield,” her magic would be interrupted as her focus scattered due to the surging mana.
How had she suddenly mastered it?
Eno couldn’t have known the answer—Lulumia herself didn’t know.
The moment “Flowing Water’s Blessing” proficiency reached “Novice,” chanting the spell became as natural as water flowing, her focus never again forcibly scattered by the mana inside her; a mere thought, and the magic emerged, as if the chant had become a mere surface ritual.
Could she, like every other isekai protagonist, cast magic without chanting?
Thinking so, Lulumia quietly imagined using “Flowing Water’s Blessing” in her mind, but nothing happened, and the panel was unresponsive.
“Not bad…”
Eno nodded, with some difficulty.
As the widely acknowledged genius of the Geffen diocese, she really didn’t want to admit that Lulumia’s magical talent was far superior.
She could only grumpily ruffle Lulumia’s silvery hair.
“If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes, I’d never believe someone could learn this fast.”
“…But learning quickly is a good thing. We can move on to the next step. Mia, rest for a bit, then try using your will to control the magic. Imagine the flowing water as part of your body and manipulate it.”
“Okay~”
That’s a pass, then.
Obediently agreeing, Lulumia canceled the magic and walked over to her backpack at the edge of the field, planning to take out her water bottle for Eno—a pretty girl at Eno’s age likes a bit of romance and thoughtful care.
As long as she showed that Eno was on her mind in these small ways, she’d surely win Eno’s heart.
Yet, unexpectedly, Eno beat her to it.
She took a towel out of her storage item and began to wipe the sweat from Lulumia’s brow.
The faint scent of gardenia on the towel was intoxicating.
“Wipe your sweat. Let’s sit in the chapel—it’s too dirty here.”
“Oh…”
Her little scheme fell flat, and Lulumia thought to herself, more certain than ever of her hunch. Since Eno had returned from the monster hunt, she’d grown more attentive to her—not that she hadn’t cared before, but now that care was no longer just superficial, but practical, day-to-day concern.
It was like caring for a little sister, not a pet.
The flower crown woven by a little girl really was powerful.
Along the way, Lulumia kept asking Eno about all things magic, and before she knew it, they were almost at the chapel.
The so-called chapel, in the Estel Church, referred to the place where believers worshiped the Great Water Spirit Estel.
So the closer they got, the more crowded it became.
The people coming and going were elegantly dressed, and when they saw Eno, they smiled and greeted her just like the nuns did.
Some young nobles even stopped to chat with Eno for a bit—it was clear Eno was very popular among the younger crowd.
But this harmonious scene came to an abrupt halt when two grand nobles appeared.
Their robes trailed to the ground, requiring attendants behind to carry them respectfully.
Their chiseled faces were like stone carvings, exuding an aura of authority.
The moment they appeared, all surrounding chatter ceased.
The crowd seemed split apart by invisible hands, quickly moving to the sides of the road—they had instantly become the center of attention.
These two did not greet Eno; instead, Eno had to stop and pay her respects to the nobles.
It was worth noting that as the nobles passed Lulumia, they unexpectedly turned their gaze toward her.
The cold, emotionless look made Lulumia feel like prey under a hunter’s stare.
Instinctively, she opened her panel.
The flames around these two were black as ink, even more vast than Eno’s, with a list of terrifying titles enough to make one’s heart skip a beat.
Then, the middle-aged man clad in a red robe, exuding nobility from head to toe, stopped and set his eyes on Eno.
“Saint Eno, thank you for your hard work eliminating the smugglers. Those smugglers have been entrenched in the capital for a long time. On behalf of all the nobles, I thank you.”
His voice was deep and steady, yet uncomfortable to hear.
If Lulumia had to describe it, she’d call it “putting on airs,” the tone of a man used to being in command.
“All magi-dolls are blessed by Lady Estel. It was my duty, Your Grace; your praise is too much.”
“Hmm.”
The Duke let out a low hum of acknowledgment, nodded slightly, then turned to Lulumia, who had dragon horns and a tail.
“And this is?”
“My magi-doll, Lulumia.”
Eno gently nudged Lulumia.
“Greet Duke Kangran.”
“Good day, Duke Kangran. Pleased to meet you; my name is Lulumia, magi-doll of the Immaculate Saint Eno.”
Lulumia lifted her skirt and gave the crimson-robed Duke a curtsy.
“Not bad, quite polite.”
The Duke commented blandly, but then—”But… isn’t she a bit too human?”
His tone shifted, eyes narrowing as a piercing look swept over Lulumia.
“Saint Eno, you wouldn’t have really brought back a dragon hatchling, would you?”