Close your eyes.
You can hear the sound of insects chirping. It is the message that the microscopic world sends to nature. Long and ancient, yet so often overlooked, because it is too small to be noticed.
Are insects weak creatures?
My answer is, “Yes.”
However—
---
“Why… why did this happen…?”
Three brown-haired men stood speechless, while three women with matching hair colors covered their faces, weeping. A red-haired girl had collapsed on the ground, and a blue-haired youth clenched his teeth, trying to hold back tears. Even Nellice was left with her mouth agape.
The morning sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, fragmented by the window frames and the trees outside, creating patches of golden light on the floor. In the center of the hall, a small, half-coagulated pool of blood gleamed eerily in the fractured sunlight.
At the heart of the bloodstain lay a tall, burly man with short dark brown hair. His towering frame radiated an aura of authority, even in death. This man, the biological father of Nellice and her siblings, now lay flat on the ground, his face twisted in agony, his eyes closed, his body drenched in blood—a lifeless corpse.
The most chilling sight was the gaping wound in his chest, hollow and empty, with the heart nowhere to be found.
An atmosphere of dread pervaded the room as everyone expressed their shock and fear in their own way.
“Who… WHO DID THIS?!!!”
---
The Day Before the Incident—
“So, this is the report on the mana crystal output for the week.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Third Miss.”
“Please double-check to ensure I didn’t make any mistakes.”
“No need for that, Miss. We trust in your abilities. You’ve never made an error, be it in big or small matters.”
“Then let’s leave it at that, to avoid unnecessary hassle. Starting today, you all have three days off. I hope you enjoy your break.”
“Thank you, Third Miss!”
In the dimly lit mine, the miners, led by their captain, gave Nellice a simple bow. Even though it was a mere formality, the sight of these burly men bowing before her still felt a bit odd to her.
“Well then, Third Miss, allow me to escort you out.”
“Thank you, I’ll accept your kind offer.”
Led by the miner captain with a lantern, Nellice slowly made her way out of the dark mine tunnel.
Once they were out of sight, the miners, who had previously been somewhat respectful, immediately slumped to the ground, fanning themselves with their shirts. The cramped, dimly lit space was quickly filled with the smell of sweat.
“Ah, finally, it’s vacation time.”
“My wife and kids must be waiting anxiously.”
“Why was this work period so long?”
“Who knows?”
With the captain and the Third Miss gone, the miners felt free to speak their minds.
“I have to say, the Third Miss really is dedicated… Stuck out here in the wilderness with a bunch of rough men like us, and not a word of complaint.”
“Maybe she’s just hiding it from us. As a noble, she might be fed up with this place.”
“Who knows? But even if that’s the case, it’s commendable that she doesn’t put on airs in front of us.”
“But still, why would a young girl like her, a noblewoman no less, be sent to this remote place as a statistician? She’s a noble after all!”
“She probably doesn’t get much favor from the family head.”
“I really don’t understand what the old man is thinking… A well-mannered, mature girl who never makes mistakes, yet she’s not favored?”
“Who knows! But if the family head wants to toughen up his offspring… heh heh, why not send the Fourth Miss instead?”
One of the miners suddenly grinned in a lewd manner, his mind clearly wandering.
“The Fourth Miss? She’s the family head’s precious jewel! No way would she be sent to a place like this.”
“But if I could get a close look at her… guhehehe, I’d be willing to work an extra month.”
“You pervert.”
“There’s a line of people who’d drool over the Fourth Miss’s beauty. You wouldn’t even get a chance.”
“You talk as if she’s some kind of seductive temptress. I’ve seen her from a distance once, and her aura is truly otherworldly! Not like the Third Miss…”
“The Third Miss isn’t bad either. She’s kind and beautiful.”
“But… she just doesn’t stir any interest.”
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“Yeah, no interest.”
“Can’t get it up.”
“What are you guys talking about? Keep it down! It wouldn’t be good if someone heard you!”
---
“Here’s fine. I can walk the rest of the way myself.”
“But, Miss…”
“It’s fine. There are no wild beasts or bandits along this path, and the other workers are probably getting anxious by now.”
“Then I’ll take my leave, Third Miss.”
“Goodbye.”
From the look in his eyes, I could sense a mix of relief at not having to escort me further, eagerness for the upcoming holiday, and a slight concern that something might happen to me and he’d be blamed. After a quick bow, he hurried back.
On the mountain path, I was left alone.
“Hah…”
I took off the thick-soled boots I had worn for the mine, holding them in my hand as I stood barefoot on the ground. The slightly damp soil, the soft wild grass, the small stones mixed in the dirt—all these sensations traveled from the soles of my feet to my brain. I liked this feeling.
“Hm?”
A new sensation arrived as something small and soft crawled onto my foot. It was slightly ticklish. I knew what it was; I was quite familiar with it.
Looking down, I saw a tiny creature on my pale, smooth foot. It was a common gray-white worm, small and soft, with tiny legs that quietly wriggled on my skin.
It was a simple worm.
Though a weak yet tenacious creature, it would likely be crushed underfoot if it stayed there any longer.
Come up here—
As I thought this, the worm trembled slightly, as if receiving some signal. It cautiously crawled over my foot, around my ankle, and finally onto my calf. It stopped going higher, probably because it was scared.
I stood there for a while before putting my boots back on. The path ahead wasn’t easy, and it wouldn’t be good if I injured my feet.
There were two routes from the mine to the outside world. One was a broad road for transporting ore, and the other was the mountain path I was currently on. Crossing streams, pushing through thickets, the air here was slightly cold, but I found it quite comfortable. Walking through untamed mountains or forests, feeling the essence of nature, was one of the few hobbies I indulged in. With just a bit of focus, I could sense the small creatures hidden beneath the grass and leaves.
“Come out…”
At my soft call, the insects hiding in the shadows swiftly and orderly emerged. There were caterpillars, worms, moths, butterflies, flies, and ants—common insects, as well as a few that barely met the threshold of low-grade magical beasts, like fire stingers and false moths. These insects, normally timid, fierce, or indifferent to humans, now moved in an orderly fashion around me. Flying insects circled within a two-meter radius, while crawlers moved back and forth in the same area, almost like a protective guard.
This wasn’t the result of training, though I could easily do that if I wanted.
Innate Magic, Insect Magic.
Communicating with insects and controlling low-grade species are the most basic of basics.
Of course, judging by the typical reaction of women screaming when they see a caterpillar on their favorite dress, this isn’t exactly a popular type of magic.
In fact, just a few decades ago, Insect Magic and its branches were classified as “black magic,” which wasn’t just unpopular; it was outright banned. Private research wasn’t even allowed. It wasn’t until the senior magicians of the Celestial Tower re-evaluated what was then deemed black magic, including Insect Magic, that these restrictions were lifted.
If I had been born a hundred years earlier, I wouldn’t have been able to freely display my talents. Even now, it’s best not to use it too openly. Although many formerly labeled black magics have been exonerated, public perception is slow to change, and these magics are still viewed with suspicion. To differentiate them from magic that was never considered black, they’ve even been given the awkward label of “gray magic.”
It’s certainly not fair, as some people’s innate magic happens to fall within these categories. Various bans and prejudices prevent them from fully utilizing their talents, often leading to a life of frustration.
This world is vast, and the varieties of magic are too numerous. Over the long ages, different magical systems have merged and intertwined like the roots of an ancient tree, indistinguishable from one another. This makes classifying or identifying a definitive magic system exceedingly difficult, and no one has yet provided a reasonable classification method. The simplest way to categorize magic is into “white magic” and “black magic.” For those unfamiliar with the complexities, magic that feels “normal” is white magic, while anything uncomfortable is black magic. It sounds ridiculous, but that’s why the black and white distinction exists.
Elemental magic, excluding dark elements, as well as certain beast-taming arts, less eerie enchantments, and divination, are all considered white magic. On the other hand, dark elemental magic, live sacrifices, necromancy, and soul manipulation are all classified as black magic—a distinction so simple and crude that it leaves little room for debate.
The truth is, black magic is indeed far more dangerous than white magic. If misused, it could collapse the existing social order and severely damage nature. Moreover, those who specialize in black magic have always been a minority. Long ago, a massive movement was launched where black magicians were either killed or captured, all books related to black magic were strictly controlled and banned, and any societies led by black magicians were eradicated. This centuries-long movement, known in later generations as “The Great Purge,” successfully ensured that nearly all modern-day magicians practice white magic, allowing society to operate smoothly and maintain order.
Magic is the crystallization of human wisdom. The earliest forms of magic were insights drawn by ancient magicians from nature, the orbits of planets, the growth of all things, and the depths of their minds. In modern times, while it’s still difficult to systematically categorize the various types and systems of magic, the education and advancement of magic have become thoroughly organized. When children reach a certain age, they are tested for their potential as magicians. Those with aptitude become magic apprentices, learning the fundamentals of magic. After passing assessments, they advance to become junior magicians, then intermediate magicians, senior magicians, grand magicians, magic masters, grand magic masters, sages, grand sages, and finally, the legendary ranks of Archmage, Archmage-King, or even Mage-God.
As for me?
Apologies, I’m just a magic apprentice who hasn’t even taken the junior magician exam yet.
A seventeen-year-old apprentice magician—if I were from a commoner’s family, this might be considered average. But as a member of a noble house with lands, manpower, and abundant resources at my disposal, it’s rather embarrassing.
“Ah... we’re almost there. You can all return now.”
The insects obediently dispersed from around me. Before me lay a long downhill slope, and from this vantage point, I could see the Moonfall Valley below. Though I was only at the edge, the lush, green valley still looked magnificent.
Considering the distance, the noble Zerah family would never allow its members to trek across the valley on foot, hence the existence of the cable car. This contraption, suspended by cables, resembles a carriage but is much smaller, with its body and cables engraved with intricate runes and magic arrays. A small slot is also present. I took out a high-purity magic crystal and inserted it into the slot. Immediately, the runes and arrays lit up, and the rumbling cable car carried me across the valley. Even though I’ve grown accustomed to it, I still marvel at its convenience each time I use it. It’s no wonder the kingdom has been heavily promoting the training of magic artisans in recent years.
In the northeastern region of the Kingdom of Arlan, including the Alpha Mountains, the Moonfall Valley, vast farmlands and pastures, and the ten thousand households residing in Alpha City on the Moonfall Plains, everything is under the jurisdiction of the Zerah family. The ancestors of the Zerah family were great contributors under the founding king, and naturally, they were enfeoffed as great nobles and granted these lands. Although the territory is somewhat remote, it is vast, rich in resources, and prosperous in agriculture and mining, bringing immense wealth to the Zerah family. In fact, a significant portion of the grain and military supplies in the kingdom’s treasury are contributed by the Zerah family, a testament to its prominent status.
And I, Nellice Zerah, am honored to be a member of this family.
Among my four sisters, I rank third, and the servants usually refer to me as the “Third Lady.”