Chapter 27
Celestial Convergence was when a Celestial Summon and its master merged together, granting that magician the same abilities as the Celestial Summon. Though, not all Celestial Magicians could successfully perform this spell as sometimes the magician's body was unable to handle the strain of merging with a celestial being. Those who could were noted to be some of the lucky few, even though those who could, sometimes experienced difficulty maintaining the merging.
'Master, your current limit in this form is only five minutes. So I advise you that it's best that you wrap things up quickly.' Maria could hear Ruby's voice in her head, taking a stance as her attire, even her hairstyle, greatly resembled the Celestial Spirit's, and she summoned Ruby's dual fans in her hands. Maria was unaware that instead of her natural emerald eyes, they had changed to a bright red like rubies.
"I know."
This change in Maria caught a certain number of people's attention such as her friends. Mai was so hyped up that she was shaking Julian by the collar of his s.h.i.+rt. "Julian, did you see that?! Maria transformed! She's so cool now! You got this Maria! Mri-a! Mri-a!" Mai took her poms-poms and started cheering, ignoring the questioning stares and glares the students were aiming her way.
"Maa, our dear Marichan is just full of surprises isn't she, Ri-chan?" cheekily asked Akihito, though when he turned towards his best friend he was not expecting the starry-eyed flushed gaze he was giving Maria.
"Oi! Oi! Ri-chan, isn't it a little too early to be falling for chibi-chan?" he playfully teased his best friend, who looked at him and said,
"...But she's so adorable."
"Ri-chan, you're moving way too fast; take two step backs."Akihito lightly slapped Richard's arm, who tried to regain his composure.
"Don't be mistaken, I'm simply stating a fact," he said with flushed cheeks, eyes permanently glued onto Maria.
Regaining a cool expression on his face, Richard shot his cousin an uninterested stare. "What is there to watch? No matter how much he improves, he will always be beneath me."
"Ri-chan, so cold." Akihito shuddered from the coldness of Richard, even though he was expecting such a reaction. Seeing how the two cousins did not share a close relations.h.i.+p if anything it was the opposite.
"Tch, so weak. Augue!" In the Crown Prince's hands, a huge ball of fire formed that he threw towards the beast, followed up with a second spell.
"Fulgur Percut.i.te!" A strike of lightning fell down from the sky and struck the beast; this double spell attack resulted in him being victorious. The Crown Prince gloated from his victory and was about to make his way off stage, only to pause and shoot a glance over towards Maria, who was up against a Drunk Fire Monkey.
"Fancy clothes won't make you win," he muttered before taking his leave.
The Drunk Fire Monkey that she was up against took a drink of the bottle of booze it was holding, and afterward, shot fireb.a.l.l.s from its mouth. Using the dual fans in her hands, Maria sliced all the fireb.a.l.l.s that came her way in half.
Only to come face to face with the beast
'Just how can this monkey fight so well without dropping his bottle of booze?! Though I must say, all that training back at Zeke Forest is finally paying off, seeing how if this was the old me, my face would already be fried off.' Despite the monkey's drunkness, its agility and speed were no joke.
The Drunk Fire Monkey shot another attack of fires b.a.l.l.s at Maria, and they consumed her, earning a worried yell from both Maria and Julian. The beast was once again about to take another swing of its booze, only to have Maria flying from out of the blaze, dual fans in her hands, a grin stretched across her face.
"Oh, no ya don't! Uguns Tornado!" She swung her dual fans towards the beast, unleas.h.i.+ng a tornado of flames from underneath its feet, leaving it with no exit to escape and defeated. Seeing this, Maria was reminded of when she defeated the Water Horn Ram with this very same attack.
"Gotta feel sorta grateful for that horrifying experience those two put me through." By those two, Maria was hinting at her grandfather and mother, the same ones who came up with the crazy idea of leaving a six-year-old alone in a forest of beasts.
Yes, they were considered weak, but for a person like Maria, whose original soul came from a world where creatures possessing supernatural abilities were only in myths, anime, and television shows, it was like leaving her alone with a forest full of hungry lions.
Though the feeling of accomplishment that came with this victory made her pump her fist in the air and yell out, "I did it! I defeated a magical beast! Yes! Yes! Yes!" It took a few minutes of whooping and yelling for Maria to notice that she caused a lot of eyes to point in her direction. Feeling greatly embarra.s.sed by her moment of happiness, she fled the stage and reunited with her friends, where she was congratulated.
"I'm so happy for you, Maria!" Maria was shocked to have Julian hug her first; joining Julian soon after was Mai.
"I knew you could do it!"
"Thanks! I'm so lucky to have you guys," said Maria, words which were genuinely meant, hugging them even tighter. For the rest of the day, the three watched the rest of the matches. Each grade went in order; once all the first-graders were finished, it was now time for the second graders.
When it came to Akihito and Richard, the first unleashed a powerful destructive lightning spell, while Richard won his match so fast that Maria didn't even know the type of magic he used. When it came time for the fourth graders, the beasts became notedly stronger and moved up a rank. When it became Isis turn, Mai whipped out her pom-poms and cheered loudly for her big sister.
The older sister shot her younger sister a smile and a wave, before focusing on her match which she won effortlessly. Earning praise from teachers and students who witnessed such a young girl pull off a 5th tier Light Spell without a problem. Maria watched her brother also win his match by using an Earth Spell attack and beaming a victory smile her way afterward.
'Looks like Micheal inherited the same magic attribute as mom.' Maria returned her brother's smile with one of her own.
By the time Final Exams came to an end, it was around noon. Stepping through the door of the Rosendrey Manor with her brother, Maria was not expecting to be met with her parents unleas.h.i.+ng streamers and confetti with a banner that read: "Congratulations Maria on completing your first-year!"
"Wha...! What is all this?!" Maria found herself lifted up into her father's arms, who shot her a proud smile.
"We wanted to congratulate you on succeeding onto the next grade and for pa.s.sing your exam."
"But how did you know I would pa.s.s?"
"Mama had nothing but faith in my adorable Maria~!" gushed her mother, holding fans with pictures and her name printed on them.
"And because I informed them right after your success, ojou-sama," said s.h.i.+rone, holding a Crystal b.u.t.terfly in her hands, which was how she got in contact with her parents so fast.
"Ah, now that makes sense," Maria said, held in her father's arms who carried her to the Dining Room, pus.h.i.+ng open the door. Maria saw waiting for her was a buffet of delicious gourmet food, along with a three-tier chocolate cake iced with b.u.t.tercream frosting, decorated with chocolate truffles and salted caramel macarons.
"Wait, shouldn't this celebration be for big-bro too?" Maria didn't want her brother to feel left out as well.
"Don't worry, we threw Micheal a Congratulation Celebration when he pa.s.sed his first Final Exam."
Her father was quick to soothe her worries as her brother also rea.s.sured her. "Don't worry about me, Maria, today is for you."
"We would also like to say congratulations to you as well, ojou-sama." Both s.h.i.+rone and Kuroka formally thanked her. Surrounded by family, warm kindness, and food, Maria couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with happiness, blessed to have been bestowed such a kind family.
'I don't know why I was brought into this world, but whoever you are that brought me here, thank you for giving me such a wonderful family.'
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Somewhere, in another realm, the image of the happy family was broadcasted to two pairs of eyes, and a woman smiled.
"It seems your wish has been granted," the woman spoke to the unseen individual standing next to her, who said nothing but smiled at the sight of Maria's happiness with her new family and life.