Flowery Reincarnation

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Roxy's daily routine strayed a little from the usual. In the morning, she awoke to the nagging thought that made her long to stay nestled beneath the warm covers just a little longer. But she had a job to do. So, with a reluctant sigh, she forced herself out of bed, brushed the sleep from her eyes, and prepared herself for a new day.

She would make her way downstairs, where Lilia, the maid who had introduced herself yesterday, was already preparing her breakfast with the kind of quiet efficiency that only someone who had mastered the art of serving could possess. Roxy wasn't sure if it was Lilia's uniform or the way she moved with such grace, but the maid always gave off an air of professionalism that made Roxy feel slightly out of place.

Roxy was pretty sure that while the woman worked with calm precision, she was still struggling with the simple task of tying her hair into a braid.

Despite Roxy's attempt to fight the urge to linger in her thoughts, she couldn't ignore the odd feeling of being carefully scrutinized when Lilia set the breakfast plate in front of her. It wasn't anything malicious, just an odd curiosity like the maid was trying to figure her out.

After a few moments of silence, Lilia finally spoke, breaking the stillness of the room.

"I assume you're the magic instructor for Master Rudeus." The way Lilia phrased the statement made Roxy feel conscious of being carefully measured. There was a slight edge of inquisitiveness in her voice as if she wanted to know who she was working with.

Roxy blinked for a moment, distracted from her thoughts. "Is there something wrong with that?" she asked, still a bit caught off guard by the sudden attention.

Lilia shook her head and offered a polite greeting. "No, not at all. I merely wish to thank you for saving Lord Paul and Master Rudeus during the recent crisis. Without you, I'm sure they would have come back with far worse injuries than they did." The maid gave a bow much to her embarrassment.

Roxy waved her hand dismissively, feeling discomfort at the gratitude. "It was nothing. I've been an adventurer for quite a while, so leaving someone to their fate, especially when it involves monsters, is something I can't bring myself to do."

She couldn't help but let her thoughts drift as she remembered her adventuring days. They weren't the best of times, but they had shaped her into who she was now. Even the sad memories had their place. The comradery, the close calls, and the growth were all part of what had brought her here.

Lilia nodded quietly, thankfully not prying.

"Regarding your current employment, I'm sure Lady Zenith hadn't told you much." Roxy nodded slowly. After a moment of silence, the maid's tone shifted, and there was a more serious edge to her words. "Master Rudeus has always been very dedicated to his studies, especially magic. Since he was young, he's had an insatiable curiosity, always eager to learn about anything that caught his attention." She paused briefly, as though weighing her next words carefully. "But I want to warn you, as his first tutor, to be prepared. He has a way of surprising people, and not just with his magic."

Roxy furrowed her brows, "Surprising people?"

Lilia nodded, her expression unwinding just slightly. "He's... a peculiar person. Please do not feel pressured to turn him into someone exceptional. He has his own way of handling things, and I'm sure he'll manage to accomplish everything he needs with your guidance. But understand that the Greyrats don't truly expect you to do more than guide him. Young Master has an uncanny ability to surprise even the most composed people." she repeated.

Roxy absorbed the words carefully, trying to understand Lilia's deeper meaning. "I see. I'll keep that in mind." The thought of Rudeus constantly pushing her limits as her student made her nervous. She'd seen some of his abilities already, and it wasn't hard to imagine how quickly he could outpace her expectations. But no matter how impressive his magic was, she knew she couldn't let herself be intimidated.

Lilia smiled hospitably like Roxy didn't know what she had gotten into before stepping back. "I'm sure you'll do just fine, Miss Migurdia."

Roxy gave a grateful nod, though her thoughts were still swirling with Lilia's warnings. There was no telling how things would unfold, but she had to be ready for whatever Rudy might throw her way.

...

Roxy was told that Rudeus had a swordsmanship training session with Paul before, so their magic lessons would begin shortly after. She had already worked out a rough schedule for the day and was feeling somewhat confident about the upcoming lesson. However, when the time came, she found herself standing in the small courtyard, scanning the area for the boy she was supposed to teach.

"...Rudeus?" she called out, her voice carrying across the quiet space. There was no response. She sighed and called again louder this time.

Still nothing.

Thinking he must have gotten delayed or preoccupied somewhere like a kid his age, Roxy decided she would wait here for him to show up. She crossed her arms and let out a soft huff, her gaze shifting to the distant treetops as the warm breeze brushed past her. Something about the serenity of the courtyard felt warm and Roxy wondered how much time was spent to make the garden so beautiful.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a peculiar sensation prickled at the back of her neck, causing her magical senses to flicker like a faint alarm.

She whirled around to face—

"Hello!"

"—eep!"

The startled yelp escaped her before she could stop it, and Roxy stumbled backward, losing her footing and landing unceremoniously on her bottom. Her heart raced as she stared at what could only be described as... wait, what!?

Standing before her was a perfect copy, down to the last strand of blue hair and her calm, composed expression. Well, almost the same when not counting the shady smile stretched across its face was not something Roxy would ever wear. What truly caught her attention, however, were the copycat's eyes, glowing faintly with an unnatural shimmer of pink, an eerie contrast to her own.

Instinctively, Roxy scooted back on her hands, her throat remembering its function. She pointed her staff at the mysterious person.

"Who are you?!" she demanded with a tone higher than she would've liked. Seeing her own face staring back at her, coupled with that eerie smile, made her especially annoyed but also a little scared.

The fraud giggled, clearly amused by her reaction.

Roxy frowned, her confusion only growing.

"Apologies, apologies," the doppelgänger finally said, waving its hand dismissively. "I was feeling a bit drained from training with Father, so I thought it'd be a good idea to play a harmless little prank."

As it spoke, the mana surrounding the figure shimmered and cracked, like a mirror breaking apart. The illusion dissolved, peeling away layer by layer until it revealed a brown-haired boy with an impish glint in his eyes. Rudeus.

"Young Master has an uncanny ability to surprise even the most composed people."

But even as the illusion faded, her mind was reeling. How had he done that? Transforming into her so perfectly down to every strand of hair, her mannerisms, and even her mana wasn't something an ordinary spell could achieve. She was sure he left the eyes unchanged for purpose.

Theories began to race through her mind. Hypnotism, possibly? But even the best mages couldn't copy someone's appearance and voice so perfectly. Maybe he mixed some magical elements together to pull that off.

Or Inherent Magic? She recalled learning about rare magical spells but this boy was human.

Lost in thought, she was startled when Rudeus spoke again, his voice breaking through her internal analysis.

"You know," he began, his tone light but oddly direct, "I did consider hiding my abilities and just going with the flow. But then I realized that wouldn't benefit either of us."

He suddenly flashed a disarmingly bright smile. "You're supposed to be my tutor starting today. So I figured, why not be honest from the start and lay all my cards on the table? You are a skilled mage, someone who clearly knows her stuff. So, I'll share everything I know about magic, and in return, you teach me everything you know. A fair trade, wouldn't you say?"

Did he forget she was employed for that? At any rate...

She narrowed her eyes at him. "You've got quite the silver tongue for someone your age."

"Haha, sorry. It seems you caught me there. I really love magic, you know? Seeing a real mage here as skilled as you got me excited. It's not every day I get to learn from someone so competent!"

His wide grin was equal parts charming and alarming, leaving Roxy uncertain whether to feel complimented or manipulated.

Roxy straightened her posture, brushing an errant strand of blue hair from her face as she tried to maintain her professional demeanor. "Flattery will get you nowhere, Rudeus," she said coolly, though her cheeks betrayed a faint pink hue. "If you're trying to butter me up, it won't work."

"Butter you up?" Rudeus repeated with shock, his eyes widening as if the mere suggestion was unthinkable.

Roxy sighed, already beginning to feel the mental exhaustion of dealing with such a precocious and, frankly, unpredictable student.

"Enough," she said, raising her staff to forestall any further banter. "If you're serious about learning magic, then let's begin. But if you keep wasting time with games, this lesson is over before it starts."

"Of course! I will do my best so please put your trust in me!"

She didn't trust that for a second, but what choice did she have? She had committed, and he clearly wasn't going to make it easy for her. Taking a deep breath, she mentally prepared herself for what was sure to be a challenging and unorthodox teaching experience.

For a fleeting moment, Roxy wondered if she had just struck a bargain with a devil.

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Back then, Roxy Migurdia wasn't entirely sure how one was supposed to behave when entrusted with teaching someone the path to becoming a mage.

The truth was, that her only real authority in magic instruction came from her title and previous magic teachers. It was drilled into her that mastery required discipline, patience, and above all else, respect for the art. The gravitas of their approach had left an impression on her, and she'd resolved to follow their serious example to the letter as a teacher. If it had worked for them, surely it would work for her as well.

Or so she thought.

She would have been fully prepared for a normal girl or boy. A kid with clumsy hands, an attention span that wandered like a stray cat, and just enough curiosity to keep them engaged while she introduced them to the basics. Instead, she was handed a prodigy. No—an anomaly!

Rudy, as his family affectionately called him, was anything but normal. For starters, he could cast spells without incantations. Not only that, he created his spells, his own new goddamn spells like it was that uncomplicated.

She had stared at him without blinking for a whole minute, barely letting her jaw not drop, when he demonstrated this for the first time, casually conjuring a sphere of water, wind, fire, and earth at the same time and letting it hover in the air like it was the easiest thing in the world. Roxy, who had spent years perfecting her own magic control, felt an unexpected pang of jealousy followed quickly by bewilderment. This wasn't supposed to be possible, especially not for a kid.

And then there was the incident.

Roxy wasn't easily rattled or at least she liked to think so. After all, she was a trained mage of the Runoa Magic Academy and an adventurer, one who prided herself on maintaining composure in any situation. But nothing in her life, or in all her years of training, could have prepared her for the moment he nearly died in her arms.

But when she'd seen him heal himself from a state that could only be described as post-death, she'd nearly dropped her staff. Her breath caught in her throat as the mana surged around him, shimmering and alive, like a force that recognized him as its master.

"Don't worry, Roxy. You tried your best." He said a few days ago with a brilliant smile.

His words had hit her like a knife. Don't worry. You tried your best? Was that supposed to make her feel better? Because it didn't.

Roxy remembered forcing a nonchalant gaze that day, saying something like, "Of course I did. You just gave me a bit of a scare." But inside, her stomach was twisting itself into knots. She hadn't even noticed how tightly she was clutching her staff until her fingers ached from the strain.

No, it's not like that.

She could still see it vividly when she closed her eyes: his small body limp, his face pale, and his stomach a mess of blood. Blood stained her hands and clothes as she held him, trembling and trying to stop the bleeding. She remembered freezing when the pressure of it all bore down on her chest like a boulder. He was going to die. A person was going to die right here in my hands, and I couldn't do anything to stop it.

Roxy had tried everything. Healing spells poured from her lips like desperate prayers, but no matter how much mana she used, the wound didn't close. Her mind raced, her breathing quickened, and for the first time in her life, she felt truly powerless. The staff in her hands felt useless, the magic she'd worked so hard to master, her pride, felt hollow. What kind of mage am I?

And then, just when her despair had nearly swallowed her whole, the mana around Rudy erupted. Roxy froze as an almost tangible pressure rolled through the air, her skin prickling as the magic thickened around her like fog. It rose up from within the boy like a tidal wave, and all Roxy could do was feel it, helpless and motionless as the surge swept over her. She watched as the wound on his stomach began to close, glowing faintly with ethereal light, threads of magic weaving the flesh together with unnatural precision.

He didn't heal himself.

He brought himself back.

There was no other way to describe it. What Rudy had done at that time wasn't simple recovery—it was resurrection. Life, pulled back from where it had begun to slip away, as if death itself had been rejected.

When the magic faded, and the oppressive stillness returned, Roxy could only watch, stunned and speechless. Rudy sat up slowly, brushing the blood from his clothes like it was nothing more than dirt, his expression unreadable and so inhuman before it settled into something reminiscent of a smile.

"It's okay now."

Roxy sat there, frozen, her heart still hammering in her chest. Her eyes trembled faintly as they focused on the place his wound had been. This wasn't normal. None of this was normal.

Roxy would never say it out loud. After all, she was supposed to be his teacher and teachers weren't supposed to fear their students. But there were moments when she couldn't ignore the instinctive chill that ran down her spine as she looked at Rudy. She couldn't deny the quiet thought that whispered at the back of her mind.

What in the world are you?

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A few days had passed since Roxy started teaching magic to Rudeus. At first, it had been a little awkward as she adjusted to her role as a live-in tutor, but she was beginning to find her footing. Er, sort of.

"You seem displeased," Lilia observed as Roxy entered her room, her tone calm yet carrying a hint of curiosity. "Did something happen today during your session with Master Rudeus?"

Roxy, the blue-haired mage, looked thoroughly drained. Her shoulders sagged as though the weight of her thoughts bore heavily upon them. Yet, despite her evident fatigue, her sharp eyes locked onto the red-haired maid standing in her quarters of what would be her room.

"And what are you doing here?" Roxy asked, her voice edged with irritation.

If Lilia was fazed by the bluntness of the question, she certainly didn't show it. She cleaned her gloves from the remains of dust, her expression unchanging. "It remains my duty to manage the household chores, including laundry, whether the occupants are new or not."

"You took my clothes!?" Roxy snapped, heat rising to her cheeks. "Perverted maid..."

Lilia pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose, entirely unfazed. "You left them by the bath unattended. I merely assumed you were too fatigued to manage them yourself, Miss Mage."

Roxy's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "So, you took that as an opportunity to appear here, didn't you?"

She slumped onto the chair by her desk with a groan, burying her face in her hands. After a moment of silence, she sighed heavily. "You were right."

"Right about what, if I may ask?" Lilia asked yet Roxy suspected she already knew the answer.

"Rudeus didn't just surprise me; he unnerved me with what he's capable of." Roxy's voice was low, almost as if admitting it would activate some form of curse. "Honestly, that boy…"

She trailed off, her mind racing back to the display of sheer magic aptitude and abilities she had witnessed. It wasn't just natural talent; it was something else entirely, something she couldn't quite place.

Lilia, for her part, merely nodded, for Roxy's admission was entirely expected.

"If I were thinking objectively," Roxy continued, "I'd send a letter to the Academy right now, urging them to accept him despite his age. But frankly, I'm not sure if they'd be fascinated by his talent or unsettled by how quickly he picks things up."

For reasons she couldn't explain, Roxy found herself confiding in Lilia. Perhaps it was the maid's stoic presence, or it was simply the need to voice her thoughts. What she didn't expect, however, was the response that followed.

"That decision is not yours to make," Lilia said coolly.

Roxy turned sharply, startled by the sudden shift in Lilia's demeanor. The maid's eyes now gazed at her with intensity. Roxy bit her lip nervously, the room seeming smaller under the weight of that gaze.

Thankfully, the moment passed as quickly as it had arrived. Lilia's expression softened back into its usual neutral calm. "In any case, what does that mean for Young Master?"

"W-well," Roxy stammered, trying to regain her composure. "At this rate, I fear I won't be able to keep up with him. He's progressing so quickly that the material I planned to teach him will be exhausted far sooner than expected."

The thought made her wince. If that happened, she'd have to teach him advanced concepts that most mages didn't tackle until years later.

"Then expand your curriculum," Lilia suggested smoothly. "Include more theoretical knowledge. I'm certain Master Rudeus would be eager to learn about the world's languages, as well as its various cultures. However, I would recommend discussing this with him directly. I'm not one to make decisions on his behalf."

"You seem to care a lot to suggest such things out of nowhere," Roxy murmured, her voice quieter now.

"My promise to the Greyrat family is that I shall always act in their best interest," Lilia replied firmly. Her gaze was steady, relentless. "And I won't accept shortcuts when it comes to fulfilling that promise."

Roxy studied the maid, noting the unwavering perseverance behind her words. There was no room for doubt or hesitation in Lilia's loyalty. It was absolute.

This wasn't what she expected when she accepted the job.

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