Lying comfortably on my couch, I watched the spirits gathered before me.
Each of them different.
Different looks.Different personalities.Different reactions to everything.
And somehow, despite having existed for only a few days, they were already behaving like sisters who had known each other for centuries.
Sylvaria was still sparkling with excitement like someone who had just discovered sugar for the first time. Every few seconds she would say something overly enthusiastic… which was usually followed by a perfectly timed slap from Maristella.
Smack.
Meanwhile, Pyrelia stood nearby with a visible look of annoyance and embarrassment, occasionally sighing like she had just been assigned to babysit.
And then there was Zephyra.
Zephyra watched all of this with the same distant, uninterested expression.
If I didn't know better, I would have thought she was observing a colony of mildly irritating insects.
Honestly… This was exactly the kind of relationship I expected from the first beings born from mana. They were connected. Naturally and instinctively like sisters.
Each one representing a force that could never truly exist without the others.
Fire, water, wind, nature.
Balance.
And to protect this balance, i needed to set a couples of rules, because i knew things would not last like this forever.
So rules were necessary. But before that.
"Hmm-hm."
I coughed softly. Not loud enough to startle them… but just enough to interrupt their conversation.
Which, at that exact moment, consisted of Maristella lecturing Sylvaria about "proper conduct," while Sylvaria attempted to defend herself with the emotional maturity of a very enthusiastic puppy.
Pyrelia sighed dramatically beside them. while Zephyra continued observing them like a bored philosopher studying primitive life forms.
The moment they heard my cough, however, everything changed.
All four of them immediately straightened. Their attention snapped toward me.
"Looks like you've already gotten to know each other very well."
They exchanged slightly awkward glances.
Sylvaria looked delighted by the comment.
Pyrelia released a long, accepting sigh, like someone who had already realized this chaos was now her permanent reality.
Zephyra still looked completely indifferent.
And Maristella…
The one I had assumed would be the most responsible one…
She smiled faintly with a certain disdain. The kind of smile that clearly said:
"What can I do… I've been cursed with taking care of these idiots."
I couldn't help but smile at the sight.
"So," I continued calmly,
"Aside from giving you names… I'll also be giving you a few rules."
The four spirits straightened immediately.
I raised one finger.
"First rule: never interfere directly in each other's domains."
Another finger.
"Second rule: never fight each other directly…"
My eyes slowly drifted toward Maristella and Sylvaria.
Maristella looked perfectly composed, while Sylvaria was already sweating.
"…well," I corrected myself gently, "at least not seriously."
Sylvaria immediately nodded ten times in relief.
Maristella, however, gave her a look that clearly promised future discipline.
I lifted a third finger.
"Third rule: never interfere directly in the lives of other life forms."
The spirits blinked.
"And these rules," I finished calmly, "must never be broken. Understood, cuties?"
All four of them immediately straightened.
"We hear and obe—"
"What do you mean by other life forms?", Sylvaria raised her hand halfway through their response.
The interruption echoed across the clearing.
Slowly… very slowly… a vein appeared on Maristella's forehead.
Her hand began rising.
The slap was loading.
I quickly spoke before the inevitable disaster happened.
"In the near future," I explained, "just as you were born… other life forms will begin to appear as well. The wheel of life has already started turning," I continued. "Your existence… and mine… will be the motivation of the birth of them, eventually Many races will appear on this world."
I rested my cheek against my hand again, watching them. and smiling softly.
"So," I continued calmly, "live happily, without breaking these rul—"
Sylvaria, who had been unusually quiet for a suspiciously long time, suddenly raised her hand like a student who had just discovered the meaning of life.
"If we have names… then what is your name, Mama?"
Silence fell over the clearing.
A heavy, stunned silence.
Even the wind stopped moving.
The other spirits slowly turned their heads toward her.
Their faces all held the exact same expression.
Shock.
Then suddenly—
"M-m-m-m-mama?!"
They all choked at the same time like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water at them.
Pyrelia looked like she was about to faint.
Maristella's brain clearly stopped functioning for a moment.
And Zephyra…
Zephyra, who had maintained the same bored expression since the beginning… actually opened her mouth.
My eyes widened slightly for a moment.
Then my usual gentle smile returned.
"Ah… yes."
I lightly touched my cheek.
"I suppose I forgot to tell you."
"My name is Elia… Elia Althea."
I spoke softly.
"You may call me Elia."
For a few seconds, the spirits stood there silently, clearly engraving the name deep into their minds like a sacred scripture.
Then, all three of them straightened and lowered their heads respectfully.
"Your Highness, Elia-sama."
Maristella, Pyrelia, and Zephyra spoke in unison.
The "sama" part felt a little strange… but it seemed to help them express the respect they felt toward me.
And then—
"ELIA MAMA!!"
Sylvaria shouted with shining eyes.
I blinked.
Honestly… I was already getting used to this kind of treatment from her.
"Well," I said lightly, waving my hand.
"That's all for now. Bye-bye."
With a small flick of mana, the four spirits disappeared in gentle flashe, returning to their original lands.
The clearing fell quiet again.
For the first time in a very long time, I slowly sat up straight. My hands moved toward my lips. They were trembling slightly. My cheeks felt warm... Very warm.
My heart was beating faster than usual.
"…Mama."
I whispered softly, touching my lips with my fingers.
And for the first time in my life, several emotions crashed into me all at once.
Embarrassment.
Frustration.
Happiness.
Something warm spread through my chest.
I fell back onto my couch again, burying my face slightly in my hands.
I was completely melting with happiness.