"Guess what this is?"
Beside the desk, Saran II spun around suddenly, brandishing a silver necklace before Calca's eyes.
The delicate silver chain shimmered with a metallic luster, and at its center hung a feather-shaped pendant emitting a faint, ethereal blue glow.
With her Mana Affinity talent, Calca could intuitively sense the mana swirling within the jewelry. The answer came to her almost instantly.
"A magic item."
"Exactly! And not just any item—it's made of Mithril. It's a special tool that allows the wearer to cast the Third-Tier spell, [Fly], simply by injecting mana."
Saran II personally draped the necklace around Calca's neck, then closed his hand over the feather pendant. For a moment, Calca felt a massive surge of mana erupt near her, all of it funneling into the necklace.
As the mana poured in, the blue light on the pendant's surface grew more intense until the entire feather seemed to turn a vibrant azure. Saran II looked at Calca's astonished expression with a sense of smug satisfaction and gave her a hearty, encouraging grin.
"Why not give it a try? It's simple—just focus your mind and think about activating it."
Calca cupped the necklace in her right hand and looked down. Even under the bright sunlight, the azure glow of the feather remained undiminished, as if waiting for her call.
As she whispered the command in her heart, an invisible force wrapped around her like a thin film. A mysterious connection was established; the moment the thought of "flying" popped into her head, she shot upward, her feet leaving the floor instantly.
Saran II, having anticipated this, reached out with a hand the size of a bear's paw and rested it on Calca's shoulder, preventing her from rocketting toward the ceiling and knocking herself out.
Slowly, Calca began to adapt to the sensation. She managed to hover steadily in mid-air, then drifted lazily through the room, looking a bit like the "Will of the Planet" from a fighting game.
However, [Fly] was only a Third-Tier spell. Its effect was more like walking or treading through the air; it didn't allow for high-speed dashes or complex maneuvers. It felt very much like the Rooster Talisman from Jackie Chan Adventures. If she wanted the speed of the Rabbit Talisman, she would need a much higher-tier spell.
After a while, the spell's duration ended, and the magical film covering her body vanished. Calca looked at the necklace with immense satisfaction.
Flight was a capability humans yearned for but could never achieve on their own—it was a dream realized only in this fantasy world. Even if the speed was slow, it was still flight!
Who didn't know that "Flying-types" countered "Ground-types"? If she ran into a short-range warrior with no reach, she could use [Fly] to remain completely untouchable.
What? You're talking about warriors who can step on air like it's solid ground? Please. There were hardly any powerhouses like that in this world. [Fly] was enough to deal with over 60% of warriors. The remaining 40% were almost entirely archers and other ranged classes.
"By the way, Father, this necklace must be very precious, right?" Calca asked, tilting her head cautiously. "And... aren't you worried I'll use it to sneak out?"
"It is precious, but since your father has already learned how to cast [Fly] himself, it's not that precious anymore."
Saran II patted Calca's head, his voice brimming with pride.
The magic system in this world originated from the game YGGDRASIL, but people here didn't just "level up" and automatically gain spells. Instead, they had to learn a spell from a specific tier and successfully cast it before being recognized as a magic caster of that rank. It was a rather crude and rudimentary way of measuring power.
Saran II was a Fourth-Tier divine caster. Since [Fly] was a Third-Tier spell, learning it wouldn't have been too difficult under normal circumstances, but Saran II didn't possess a grimoire for it. In fact, the primary reason he had purchased this necklace was to study the spell contained within.
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My : https://[email protected]/AuAuMon
I'm not the Queen Greatsword. (41 Chapters, Ongoing)
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Magic imbued into items often differed slightly from direct spellcasting, making it harder to learn. However, considering the sheer utility of flight, Saran II had spared no effort in deciphering it.
Originally, he had planned to compile his findings into a magic textbook and place it in the Royal Library. This was a common practice for Holy Kings: whenever they learned a spell that hadn't been recorded yet, they were obligated to document it for future generations.
But now that his daughter wanted to borrow books from the library, Saran II decided that once he finished writing that book, he would hide it immediately. In fact, he'd probably hide a good portion of the "Forbidden Books" as well. He never doubted his daughter's talent or intelligence; he actually believed Calca was far more gifted than he had been at her age.
He had reached the Third Tier in his twenties. His daughter would likely get there much faster. Given Calca's stubborn personality, if she learned [Fly], no amount of excuses would be enough to keep her from wandering outside.
As for the necklace? Even with her Mana Affinity, the amount of mana required to power a Third-Tier spell meant she'd need to be at least a Second-Tier caster herself to use it effectively. For now, it was nothing more than a decoration, which completely ruled out the possibility of her using it to run away.
Of course, as a father, he could think these things, but he could never say them to her. He just couldn't understand why his daughter was so obsessed with becoming an adventurer and exploring the world. Saran II shook his head inwardly, but on the surface, he looked at Calca with a gaze of pure sincerity.
"As for sneaking out, I trust my little Iris would never do such a thing."
Looking into her father's "sincere" eyes, Calca immediately understood. She tilted her head back slightly. Oh... you're just betting on the fact that I can't actually get away, aren't you?
For a moment, father and daughter were locked in a silent battle of hidden agendas.
Just as Calca was about to say something else, she heard the sound of footsteps. A blond young man appeared at the doorway of the study.
He was carrying a stack of documents. When he saw the scene inside, he paused for a moment, then wore an "as expected" expression. He looked down at Calca with a hint of a smile in his eyes before turning a serious face toward Saran II.
"Father, there are some matters here that require your attention."
Saran II nodded and gently patted Calca on the back.
"Alright, my little Iris, it's time for you to rest. You've caused quite a stir today, so you don't need to go to the academy for the time being. I will personally arrange your studies. Head back to your bedroom for now."
"Yes, Father."
Calca didn't argue this time. She walked slowly out of the study. As she passed the blond young man, she couldn't help but steal a glance at him. Inside the room, Saran II called out the young man's name.
"Caspond, come in quickly!"
Caspond.
Calca silently repeated the name in her mind. Her eldest brother, and the original heir to the Holy Kingdom. He was almost the "ideal king" described by ancient sages—not because of overwhelming power, but because of his attitude and his heart.
In the original story, once Caspond realized his talent was far inferior to his sister's, he decisively chose to abdicate for the sake of the kingdom's strength. It was a completely voluntary act, free from any coercion.
How much magnanimity, how much genuine care for the Holy Kingdom did one need to make such a choice? Calca knew that if such immense power were placed before her, she wasn't sure she could let go so easily.
Power blinds people. History was full of geniuses who fell at this hurdle, and fratricide among royalty was practically a common occurrence. But her brother wouldn't do that. This was the very foundation of why she felt comfortable eventually giving up the throne of the Holy Queen.