Work Text:
After noticing the tiny cloud of dust trailing the road off in the distance, the young woman on watch leaped excitedly from the tower, sliding down its giant-tortoise shell roof. She lifted her hands to her mouth as if to yell an alarm. But no sound came. Yet, in spite of the silence, the entire village began to turn, looking up towards the tower she had just abandoned.
The silent town began to thrum with noise as the residents prepared for the arrival of their annual guest. The sound of brooms and dustbins, furniture sliding into place, and other final preparations. But not a word. They had time to finish because it would still take nearly two hours for the carriage to go from the first field to its final destination.
The carriage rolled along slowly, the bumps and shakes lessened greatly when it reached the cobbled road. The passenger and driver were both former residents of this country, and the contrast between the memory of scorched dunes of the past and the fertile fields of today made them emotional. The driver did his best to look professional while his passenger relaxed inside, taking in the vistas of green and gold fields.
Thinking about the logistics of keeping this much of the desert continent green made her nostalgic for Rudeus’s private lectures on growing techniques from another world. She breathed in, smelling the faint hint of damp leaves and manure, judging it a far better smell than the iron and baked sand that permeated most of the continent.
Just before they entered the town, the carriage passed under an overhanging vineyard. The town planted the vines along the road so arrivals would pass under the spectacle. This was after all the only place on the continent able to grow grapes.
When the carriage came to a stop, the town was already gathered at the reservoir, waiting for the representative of the Magic University. The driver taking up his spear climbed down to guard and open the door. His green hair and white spear had the older villagers nervous, while the children smiled ignorantly, as children do.
The headmaster stepped out, smiling at the children running over to her. Wrapping their arms around the small woman, calling out her name in broken Human Tongue. It was only a few years ago that you could count those in the village who could speak at all on one hand. And they fought daily to etch out a meager existence in the harsh desert; every moment was spent working to that end.
But now you could hear the voices of children when they played. Surprisingly enough, when they wanted to keep secrets, they spoke out loud, because you could only overhear them from a few feet away. The Migurd were a race of demons with telepathy, and if you tried to share a secret, anyone in line of sight could hone in on your conversation.
The headmaster Roxy closed the door to the University's only horseless-carriage. It was a magic item from the Lily line of Zenoba corporation's automation department. Roxy wasn't too fond of using something that cost nearly 200-thousand gold coins, but this one was donated for the purpose of advertising it to the world, so Roxy was obligated to use it on official visits like this.
Lily happily boasted to her mother that they already had a seven-year backlog of orders. They’d have to train a whole new team and expand into another warehouse to keep up.
Roxy finally completed her journey by ascending the stairs of the reservoir; they met her gate perfectly. Roxy, like the entire Migurd race, was far shorter than the average person, and climbing stairs all over the world was taxing. But here, like every creation across the world made by Rudeus Greyrat, her size was taken into consideration. She let out a nostalgic sigh, careful not to let anyone hear.
At the top of the structure, the headman waited patiently, his frail body helped to stand by another young Migurd woman. He bowed, and in Demon Tongue, he said, "Mrs Greyrat, everyone is ready."
Roxy stepped closer to an intricate yet solid stone pedestal mounted in the center of the reservoir's roof. On the pedestal was a handprint carved and recessed into it. Along with an inscription.
Leave the world better than you found it, even just a little
and a simple spell in the human tongue
Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call a refreshing burbling stream here and now. Water ball.
To both begin the ritual and demonstrate to the young ones. Roxy placed her hand inside the imprint, another one of Rudeus's creations that matched her form perfectly. Roxy couldn't use telepathy, but this young tradition required speaking anyway, so she breathed in deeply and addressed the crowd.
"We all have things we are good at and things we are not. But even if we lack something, we can compensate with hard work.”
“The world is hot and dry, but together we can turn it green. Leave the world better than you found it, even just a little."
The few Migurds that could speak parroted the words. “ Leave the world better than you found it, even just a little.”
Then Roxy looked down at the pedestal and recited the words for the spell Water ball.
Her spell took shape just below the stone surface of the pedestal, and a ball of water formed inside. While constrained by it, the water dropped into the enormous reservoir.
"Come now, little ones. It's your turn, change the world."
One by one, the Migurd children who were taught the words of the Human Tongue stepped forward, placing their hands on the pedestal. Doing what little they could to help fill the reservoir that fed the farms around the village.
Roxy spoke gently as they did, "Now you might only be able to cast once today, but know the great Rudeus Greyrat only cast one water ball when he first learned magic. So, if you come here every day and cast all the spells you can until your mana runs out. You will improve little by little. And like this reservoir changed the village, you too might change the world."
There were only 4 new children for the tradition this year. Once they were done, Roxy patted them on the head. "Well done, little ones." Then Roxy placed her hand back onto the pedestal and took a small booklet from her pocket. It held only 8 pages each with a unique magic circle that combined to form a single spell of Rudeus's design. A spell that would continue to cast until the user's mana ran dry.
The crowd felt a slight breeze, as if all the air in the village wanted to reach Roxy. Roxy's blue hair lifted, blown straight up by the wind. Rudeus never did tell her how the addition of the wind magic on the last page helped the spell. Rudeus only said she looked like a Saiyan, whatever that was.
As mana surged out of her hand and into the pedestal. The sound of a water trickling was replaced by the sound of rushing water, then a torrent as water gushed into the reservoir. She held her hand there as long as she could, offering every last drop of her mana. Tens of thousands of gallons of water spilled forth until she felt dizzy, and she stopped.
With the formalities winding down the headman graciously accepted a hand from his aide. While Roxy did her best to keep up appearances, hiding her fatigue. The tired Roxy was led to the headman's house, where they enjoyed some tea. Roxy wouldn’t say it, but she was glad it was grown from a seed Rudeus had gifted them the day he came to build the reservoir. Like Roxy, he was not fond of the leaves the denizens of the Demon continent used for tea. And as Rudeus got older, he stopped pretending to like food that didn't suit his palate. Instead, he gave gifts to help feed the world what he called "real cuisine."
The headman and Roxy sat stiffly while the tea was poured for them. With a rigid formality, Roxy spoke. “Honorable headman, are there any who wish to attend the University this year?”
With a straight back, he puffed on his pipe once before replying. “Unfortunately, headmaster only the youngest ones talk of leaving the village, so perhaps in another year or two. Besides, we are still collecting the funds.”
“You know that’s already taken care of. He– “Roxy turned her head, looking towards the attendant who stopped pouring the tea, her ears burning for gossip.
She noticed Roxy's gaze and stood, bowing to both of them. She turned to leave. As they heard the freeing sound of the door clicking shut, both revered elders relaxed. Sighing as they did. They both slumped, taking a far more comfortable posture.
Roxy continued her previous thought. “Rudeus has already paid for the Migurd’s tuition. He was far too generous to my old village,” she said
“ROXY!” the headman cut her off.
She frowned at him.
“Okaeri, Roxy.”
He opened his arms, weakly holding them up, and she shuffled over to him on her knees. Embracing him in a tight hug. Roxy sniffled, “tadaima.”
Rowin, the headman hugged her back. Placing one of his hands on her head, he stroked it gently.
“PAPA!” Roxy cried into his shoulder.
“Papa’s here.”
“I miss him so much… Everywhere I look, he’s there… Everyone’s always talking about him.”
Rowin just continued stroking her head. He knew from experience that words wouldn’t help her. So he simply held her as she cried.
“We can visit Rokari later. Your mother would love to hear what you’ve been up to.”
They kept up the quiet embrace for a while. Until the setting sun prompted the aide to return.
His aide used telepathy to give him a heads-up before she returned, giving Rowin and Roxy the chance to dry their eyes and sit in a more dignified manner.
“Headmaster, if you’d like to stay, we have prepared a room for you.”
With a regal tone Roxy replied, “Thank you, could you tell my escort that we’ll be staying the night. I have one more meeting to attend.”
Once the aide left, Roxy helped Rowin to his feet and they quietly walked out the back door without announcing to the staff. A short while later they crested a hill just outside the village, Rowin and Roxy stood before Rokari’s plot.
Roxy placed a flower on a gravestone, next to it a similar one, only much smaller. A matching set, like this was not uncommon for a rural village without a healer.
“I’m sorry I didn't make it in time,” she said, wiping her eyes.
“I would have loved to meet my little sister…”
“But we’re fixing it, just a little longer and one of the young ones will grow into a fine healer.”
With a tremble in her voice she finished, “say hi to Rudy for me.”
Rowin placed a hand on Roxy’s shoulder squeezing it lightly.