“Chirp, Chirp, Chirp,” I awoke to the gentle chirping of birds in the distance.

“…Mmm, stop bothering mee…”

I shifted slightly, feeling a warmth beside me. Opening my eyes, I realized it was Hina, curled up and asleep next to me. I was sure she’d been sleeping with Mom last night, so she must have snuck over to my bed sometime in the middle of the night. I’d gotten used to this; Hina would sometimes find her way into my bed, and I didn’t mind. It was one of those little things that made me smile, even half-asleep.

I looked over to the bed next to ours. Mom was still resting peacefully, her breathing slow and even. There was, however, no sign of Dad.

I glanced at the clock: 6:30 a.m. I wondered where he might have gone so early. Getting out of bed carefully to avoid waking Hina, I noticed a small note on the desk. Leaning over, I saw Dad’s handwriting: “Gone for a morning bath.”

Ah, that made sense. Dad hadn’t joined us in the hot springs last night, probably to avoid showing his scars to other guests. The early morning, with fewer people around, must have seemed like the perfect time for him to relax in the bath without worry.

Still feeling a bit restless myself, I decided to take a short walk outside to get some fresh air. I scribbled a quick note beside his—”Out for a short walk”—and slipped quietly out of the room.

As I made my way downstairs, the inn was tranquil, with only a few other early risers moving about. When I stepped outside, a cool, refreshing breeze greeted me. The crisp morning air had that unique, earthy smell that felt almost magical. I took a deep breath, feeling it clear away the last bits of sleep from my mind.

Ahead of me, I could hear the faint sound of water flowing from the river down below. For some reason, that sound was calling to me this morning.

Crossing the road, I headed toward a gap in the guardrail where a narrow set of stairs led down to the riverbank. The steps were old, their concrete cracked and overtaken by patches of brown, withered weeds, now dried from the autumn chill. I descended carefully, savoring the earthy smell of the damp ground and fallen leaves. As I reached the bottom, I finally caught a glimpse of the river—a winding stream with shallow, calm waters, bordered by smooth, worn rocks.

As I squinted down at the river, I noticed something peculiar—a faint, almost ethereal white mist rising from the water’s surface. It was barely visible, but I knew what it was: magic-infused mist. The same magic energy that flowed through the ground was coursing through this river, giving the water a subtle glow, though only just enough to be noticed.

This magical energy was the reason I’d come down here. I wanted to see if I could harness it, or at least experiment with it.

The stones along the riverbank were uneven, and as I took my first step, I placed my foot carefully on a flat-looking rock. But—

“Whoa!”

My foot slipped on something slick, and I nearly lost my balance. I instinctively cast “Guiding Thread” behind me, anchoring it to the guardrail above and steadying myself. Thankfully, I managed to catch myself in time, letting out a breath of relief.

“That was close…”

I looked down to see what had caused my slip and saw a thin layer of green algae coating the stone. Ah, that explained it. I wrapped my shoes in “Guiding Thread” and used “Attribute Alteration” to add some extra traction, then moved slowly and carefully toward the river’s edge.

Once I reached the water’s edge, I knelt down, stretched out my hand, and let my fingers dip into the cool water.

The temperature was unexpectedly mild—neither warm nor cold, really. It was as if the water itself held a steady warmth, perhaps from the magic flowing through it.

The temperature didn’t really matter, though. What mattered was the magic flowing within it.

“…Hmm.”

I glanced around to make sure I was alone. Satisfied that no one was watching, I placed my other hand into the water as well, ready to try my experiment.

“Let’s see if I can get this to move.”

To control magic, you have to manipulate the flow. Through the “Circulation Technique,” we manage the magic within us, creating the conditions to cast spells. It’s the same principle when using fairy magic.

So I figured I’d start by trying to see if I could direct the magic within the river, using “Condensation Technique”—the technique for gathering and condensing magic. I focused, trying to draw the magic from the river toward my hands.

But… nothing happened. The magic refused to gather, flowing past my hands as if it barely noticed me.

Maybe the problem was that I hadn’t anchored it with anything. I activated “Refinement Technique” to draw some of my own magic out, creating a nucleus within the river. I tried again, hoping that my magic would draw in the surrounding energy.

This time, I felt a faint response. The magic in the river seemed to gather around my core, like a handful of dust swept toward a magnet. But when I lifted my hands from the water…

“…Hm.”

The amount of magic I’d gathered was… underwhelming. It barely matched what I could create on my own with fairy magic, perhaps only a slight improvement.

It hardly seemed worth the effort. If this was all the river could offer, I was better off drawing on my own reserves.

“One more try…”

Undeterred, I dispersed the magic and placed my hands back in the water. Maybe I’d get better results with another attempt. Maybe it was just a matter of repetition, of adapting my technique.

But the result was the same—a paltry amount of magic that was no more powerful than my own, and certainly not enough to justify the hassle. There was no way I could rely on something like this in real combat.

Frustrated but determined, I prepared to try again. But just as I was about to dip my hands back into the water, a familiar voice called out from behind me.

“There you are, Itsuki.”

I turned to see Dad, his face calm and refreshed. He must have finished his morning bath.

“When I came back to the room, you weren’t there. It’s not wise to wander near the river alone,” he said with a hint of sternness.

“…Sorry.”

He glanced at my hands in the water, curiosity evident in his gaze.

“What are you doing down here?” he asked.

“Well… the river has magic flowing through it, right?”

“Yes, the magic from the veins,” he replied.

“I was wondering if… maybe I could find a way to use it.”

“Hm.” Dad’s expression softened with interest as he listened, nodding slightly.

“But when I tried, it wouldn’t condense, like it does with fairy magic. It just… slipped past my control,” I admitted, a bit frustrated.

“Ah, well, that’s because this magic isn’t yours. External magic has its own nature, one that doesn’t respond easily to individual control. But… your idea is interesting,” he said, placing his hand in the water beside mine.

“Maybe the issue is your approach,” he suggested.

“…What do you mean?”

“Instead of trying to contain it, perhaps you should allow it to move naturally, to guide it as it flows,” he explained.

As he spoke, Dad wrapped his hand in “Guiding Thread” and began a gentle rotation. The magic in the river responded almost immediately, aligning with the movement of his hand and spiraling gracefully, like a school of fish following a gentle current. The magic swirled in sync with the water, forming a smooth, controlled whirlpool.

I watched, amazed. The magic, which had refused to respond to my efforts, now moved freely under Dad’s guidance.

“There. Something like that.”

He pulled his hand from the water, leaving the small whirlpool to fade away. It was impressive to watch. In that moment, Dad looked every bit like a seasoned mage.

“Dad, that was amazing!” I couldn’t help but blurt out, grinning.

“Hm? Haha, well, I’m glad you think so,” he said with a chuckle.

“Yeah! I couldn’t get it to work at all.”

Seeing my excitement, Dad chuckled, then reached over to scoop me up into his arms.

While he held me, I asked the question that had been in the back of my mind since I’d started this experiment.

“But… what’s the practical use? How could we actually use this in a real situation?”

He looked thoughtful as he set me back on the ground, his gaze drifting to the river as if the answer might be hidden somewhere in the water’s depths.

“Hm… to be honest, I’m not entirely sure myself.”

It seemed even he was uncertain. His face held the same look of puzzlement that I must have worn just moments before.

Holding me up as we both looked out at the gently flowing river, it was clear that even the best mage I knew couldn’t always have all the answers. But for now, the peaceful morning, the quiet river, and Dad’s presence beside me was enough.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep