It was then, as Ian Dross and Tiel were hastily leaving Ferdie and Ludian's room, that they saw Cedric, Ian's attendant, approaching from the distance.
"Cedric?"
Ian squinted and asked. Cedric came closer and saluted Ian, Tiel, Ferdie, and Ludian.
"Greetings, Lord Asterian."
Cedric's greeting was brief but polite. Tiel nodded in response to his greeting.
"The Emperor has commanded that His Majesty's order is to escort you and Tiel to the Imperial Palace."
Cedric immediately got to the point. Tiel widened her eyes, and Ian Dross narrowed his.
"Tiel? Why?"
"I don't know the specifics. I'm only here to deliver His Majesty's command."
Cedric answered.
Ian Dross, looking displeased, strode past Tiel and spoke as he walked.
"Today is Tiel's birthday. Not only will I not be celebrating, but I have no intention of taking her to the Imperial Palace. Tell His Majesty to call for us another time."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Only after hearing Ian's words did Tiel realize it was her birthday.
'I've been so busy, I completely forgot...'
So many things had happened since this morning. It wasn't surprising that °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° Tiel forgot her own birthday.
Ian Dross told her he would send her a present soon and gave her a light kiss on the forehead.
"I'll come again later. But I'm sorry, it seems like I'll have to take you to the Imperial Palace according to His Majesty's orders..."
"It's okay, I'm fine today..."
"Today, I'm not okay. It's your birthday. I'm sure I told His Majesty about it, but it seems he's gone senile..."
"Your Highness!"
Cedric, who had been quietly listening, gasped and called out to Ian.
Ian lazily nodded and then told Tiel to rest, leaving the mansion.
Later, Tiel, being pulled by Ria's hand, was forcibly laid down on the bed and tasted the desserts specially prepared by the Asterian chef just for today.
In between, Ferdie, Ludian, and Karsus visited, keeping her company and sharing the desserts, so Tiel wasn't too bored despite lying in bed.
Moreover,
'It's a relief there's that space in Ian's spatial realm...'
Tiel murmured, feeling the immense amount of ability within her body. Tiny light fragments, like grains of sand, shimmered nonstop in her palms.
Compared to the power she had before, it was significantly lacking, but it flowed through her body.
That alone was enough for Tiel...
"...Hmm?"
The fish swimming around Tiel grew restless.𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
Tiel stopped her thoughts and watched the fish quietly.
"What's going on?"
The fish swam around her, moving in circles, as if they wanted to tell her something.
Tiel, feeling puzzled, stood up from her bed.
However, the fish all turned in a coordinated manner, pointing toward the bottom of the bed.
"What's under the bed?"
At Tiel's question, the fish emitted faint light and flicked their fins.
Tiel carefully crouched down, lowering her head to look under the bed.
And there, she saw...
"...!"
A salamander was hiding under the bed, looking up at Tiel shyly.
Tiel, with a confused expression, reached out her hand to the salamander. The small salamander quickly jumped onto her palm.
"Why are you here?"
Tiel knew the salamander well.
These salamanders, like the fish, were created using Asterian flame abilities.
The difference between the fish and the salamander was that the fish behaved as if they had their own will, while the salamanders only followed their master's orders.
But this salamander was acting strangely, almost as if it had its own will.
Even now...
"..."
Tiel watched quietly as the salamander tried to bury its head in her hand, embarrassed.
"How did this happen? Whose salamander is this? I'm pretty sure no one's salamander behaves like this..."
'Showing embarrassment in front of its master' couldn't have been an order.
So, the fact that the salamander was acting embarrassed meant that it was moving on its own will, but Tiel knew that there was no one in Asterian who could create a salamander like that.
No, not just Asterian, but in the entire Crassion Empire, Tiel was the only one capable of creating a piece of ability that moved as if it had its own will.
Pondering this, Tiel was about to gently pet the salamander's head when she realized that a familiar aura was flowing through its body.
"...Hmm?"
"...?"
"This is..."
Tiel lightly pressed the salamander's head, and it shut its eyes tightly.
In that instant, different light fragments sparkled within the flames.
The shimmer inside the flames lasted only a moment, and had anyone other than Tiel seen it, they likely wouldn't have recognized it.
However, Tiel was the one holding the salamander in her palm.
Tiel realized that her ability was flowing through the salamander's body.
"How did this happen? Was this even possible? Who is your master? Can you take me to your master?"
The salamander, looking embarrassed, rolled its large eyes and then swiftly jumped off her palm.
It scurried off in a direction.
Tiel followed the salamander. The salamander, like the fish that guided her in the spatial realm, occasionally looked back to make sure Tiel was following.
Eventually, it stopped in front of a door. Tiel immediately recognized whose door it was.
"Dad?"
Of course. The salamander had stopped in front of Karsus's room.
It was a place Tiel had visited countless times since childhood. It would have been strange if she hadn't recognized it.
Tiel crouched down and extended her palm, and the salamander quickly jumped onto it.
Tiel opened the door with the salamander sitting in her palm.
Karsus, who had been reading documents, looked up and set them down, surprised to see Tiel.
"Tiel?"
"Dad! I found something in my room, and I thought you might know what it is..."
After speaking, Tiel tried to offer the salamander to Karsus, but then flinched.
Her palm was empty!
Where had it gone? Tiel, with a flustered expression, looked around, only to spot the salamander scampering into a corner.
If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.
Tiel quickly grabbed the salamander. The salamander didn't struggle but instead looked at her with sad eyes.
"This little one was under my bed, but I think... I think its master is you."
"..."
Karsus approached Tiel with a puzzled expression. Tiel handed the salamander to Karsus.
The salamander seemed to like the palm of Karsus's hand, rubbing its head against it, but its tail wagged nervously as if uneasy.
"It's my ability."
"Just as I thought."
"But this... What is it? My salamanders don't behave like this. This one... it's like it's alive."
Karsus murmured. Tiel noticed the salamander flinch. The little flame salamander stopped rubbing its face against Karsus's hand and stood stiffly.
"I gave the salamander to you. I ordered it to protect you silently without being noticed. But... what is this?"
Karsus couldn't hide his confusion as he lifted the salamander and brought it closer to his face.
The salamander kicked its legs in the air.
***
"This isn't how it's supposed to be!"
Rowen screamed, her hands on her head.
The sound was high and sharp like a dagger, enough to easily cut through twelve beastkin.
Rowen threw the "fish" she had created with her ice abilities at the wall in frustration.
The fish, made of Rowen's ice power, collided with the wall and shattered helplessly.
Soon after, it melted and disappeared.
Rowen closed her eyes tightly, as though unable to bear the sight, and her frustration exploded.