As the sun began to set and the summoning lesson neared its conclusion, Herta successfully summoned a medium elemental. Their form hovered gently above the flower-strewn garden, resembling a small humanoid creature with soft blue skin and translucent, crystallized wings that sparkled in the fading light.
"Congratulations, sweetie," Theresia praised with satisfaction in her voice. "You summoned a medium ice elemental, which was rather rare."
"Thank you, Mama," Herta responded, smiling satisfactorily. "I owe my success to everything you've taught me."
"As your mother, it brought me joy to hear those words," the lady chuckled softly. "Just keep pushing forward, and before you know it, you might be able to summon greater elementals—or even an elemental lord—by the time you fully mature."
"Really? Then why not teach me how to summon them in the upcoming days?" The young girl asked with genuine curiosity.
Theresia shook her head and gently placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "It's too early for that, sweetie. You're still too young, and those higher forms of elementals require intense practice and refined control rather than plain knowledge to call upon them."
"I see," Herta muttered, lowering her gaze in thought, then she turned back at her summoned elemental. "You're free to go now. Thank you for coming."
The ice elemental gave her a shimmering hum of acknowledgment before dissipating into the air like snowflakes caught in the wind.
As the lesson ended, Theresia turned her gaze toward the horizon, taking in the breathtaking sight of the sun sinking below the world's edge.
"Come now, sweetie," she called out with a smile. "Let's go back inside."
Herta nodded and quietly followed her mother, mind still humming with newfound knowledge and quiet ambition.
By the time they re-entered the manor, the warm light of the hallway lanterns lit up the whole area. Parting with her mother, Herta headed toward the study.
As she arrived at her destination, the door suddenly swung open, revealing Bellum just as he was about to step outside.
"Oh, it's you, young lady," he said, surprised to see her. "I was about to take my leave."
"Are you leaving so soon?" Herta asked, a touch of disappointment in her voice. "I had hoped to come in time to join you and my father for your scientific discussion."
"I've lingered here long enough for today," Bellum replied, smiling softly. "Besides, I could tell by looking at your face that you have something in mind, so I'd rather not get in the way."
With that, he turned back and nodded at Albrecht, who was inside the room, before walking away with a gentlemanly poise.
Once Bellum vanished out of view, Herta entered the study and noticed her father standing in front of the blackboard with the blueprint of an intricate device sprawled on its surface.
Albrecht, sensing his daughter's presence, turned around and smiled. "How was the lesson?"
"It was fun," Herta replied, stepping forward. "I successfully summoned a medium elemental this time, which made Mama proud."
"She should be," the father remarked, smiling pleasantly. "You're advancing faster than most mages who are older than you. So much so that you could even summon stronger elementals if you work hard enough."
Inspired by her father's words, the young girl walked towards him. She hesitated to speak at first but mustered the courage to say what was on her mind.
"Papa, can I ask you something?" Herta requested boldly.
Interested, Albrecht raised an eyebrow. "Of course, what is it?"
"Could you lend me some money tomorrow?" she demanded with calm determination.
He narrowed his eyes, interest rising. "Oh? What for?"
"I'm thinking about buying some sewing materials," Herta replied casually.
There was a brief silence, which slightly awkwarded the room's atmosphere.
Albrecht blinked, clearly confused but not suspicious. "Sewing, huh? That's unexpected."
"I need them for something I'm working on," she added, her tone nonchalant.
The father shrugged, still unsure what she was planning but trusting her judgment. "Alright, I'll give you some coins in the morning. But Marlene should look after you while buying those sewing materials in the marketplace."
"I understand, Papa," Herta acknowledged, bowing her head politely. "I'll see you at dinner."
With that, the young girl excused herself and left the study, heading toward the dining room, her mind already brimming with plans for the next day.
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As the following morning came, the sun barely peeked over the horizon, and the chilly breeze made Herta, who stood at the front porch in a comfy parka, breathe out a visible mist. Along with her were her parents and caretaker, who faced her with a sense of serenity
Holding a small leather pouch loaded with silver coins, Albrecht met his daughter's gaze and spoke earnestly. "Remember, don't stray too far from Marlene. Just buy whatever you require and come back before sunset, okay?"
"Okay, Papa," Herta answered, retrieving the pouch from her father's hand.
Theresia, who had just found out about her daughter's intent earlier that morning, sighed and glanced at their caretaker.
"Marlene, please keep an eye on Herta," she instructed carefully. "You know how curious she can be when she finds something interesting, and people might try to take advantage of it."
"I'll do my best to keep her safe, Madam Theresia," Marlene responded with a graceful bow.
Hearing her mother's comment, Herta pouted and crossed her arms in protest.
"Mama, I can't believe you'd say that, she asserted deeply. "I won't be fooled by some shady merchant's schemes."
"I'm just being cautious, sweetie," Theresia clarified herself, chuckling softly. "It's better to be safe than sorry."
"I understand," Herta replied, puffing out her cheeks momentarily. "But I will prove to you and Papa that I can make rational purchases."
With that remark, Albrecht stepped aside to acknowledge Herta, allowing her and Marlene to pass through. As the young girl walked away, she glanced back and saw her parents waving at her, so she waved back in return.
Afterward, the two left the manor and made their way to the kingdom's marketplace, where the streets bustled with several merchants arranging their goods and early shoppers walking around to browse for their needs.
Colorful textiles fluttered in the breeze above the stalls, and the aroma of various spices and freshly baked pastries filled the air.
Herta walked silently, eyes scanning every direction with purpose as she began searching for specific materials while Marlene followed behind.
"Oh, it's Sir Albrecht's daughter."
Just then, Herta heard a familiar voice call out, prompting her to turn around. To her surprise, she noticed Benjamin and Patavia approaching her from a distance. Blinking at the sight, she watched them hold hands and wear matching coats like a couple.
"So, they're at that phase," she muttered to herself.
"Good morning, young missy," Benjamin greeted enthusiastically. "What brings you and your caretaker out here today?"
"I'm looking to buy sewing materials," Herta answered plainly. "It's part of a personal project."
"Sounds intriguing," Patavia remarked, adjusting her glasses. "If you need recommendations, I know somewhere you can buy high-quality fabric."
"That would be helpful," the young girl accepted, her curiosity piqued. "Show us the way."
With a small gesture, Patavia pointed out a row of stalls at the far end, and Herta responded with a slight nod before moving ahead, while Marlene bowed to them in appreciation.
Eventually, they reached the fabric stall. Herta scanned through the bolts of cloth with clear, leisurely eyes, selecting several rolls in various hues—violet, black, peach, white, and brown.
The merchant, seeing the young girl in front of him, tried to upsell the prices.
"That would be ten gold coins in total."
Hearing the overall price, Herta's eyebrow raised slightly. She quickly did the math, realizing that one roll would cost two gold coins each, which is equivalent to twenty silver coins.
"Excuse me, but that means these cost a hundred silver coins, correct?" she pointed out.
The merchant smirked mischievously. "That's right. Now, pay up."
Herta glanced inside her leather pouch and counted only eighty silver coins, which bothered her a bit. Seeing her master's reaction, Marlene confronted the merchant.
"Sir, I am quite familiar with the prices in this market. These fabrics should be worth no more than one gold coin each. It's supposed to be fifty silver coins in total."
Surprised, the merchant stammered, "A-ah, but these are premium—"
"Then show us the trade seal proving your claim," she interrupted smoothly.
Caught off guard, her opponent grunted in frustration. "Fine, fifty it is."
Marlene then handed the coins to the merchant while Herta stood by, looking impressed.
"That was outstanding," the young girl muttered as her caretaker helped bundle the selected fabrics together. "How did you do that?"
"It's basic shopping etiquette to negotiate," Marlene whispered gently. "You'll learn in time."
"Then why not teach me as we go on?" Herta requested, her eyes sparkling in anticipation.
Marlene smiled, nodding peacefully. "Of course, Milady. It'll be my pleasure."
With their fabrics packed and Herta's confidence raised, the two moved on to the next stalls, leaving the merchants behind with more than a grumble and a slightly reduced profit.
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After some time, the shopping trip came to an end, and Herta had purchased everything she needed. This included a sewing kit filled with spools of thread and various buttons, a bag full of wool, and several rolls of colorful fabric packed into her bag.
"Milady, are you satisfied with the materials?" Marlene asked, carrying most of the stuff.
Herta nodded, happily clutching the bag of wool. "Yeah, let's go home."
With that, the two walked their way back to the manor while the sun began its slow descent, casting golden rays over the cobblestone path they walked on. As they stepped opened the main entrance, they were greeted by Albrecht and Theresia, who were waiting in the hall.
"Welcome back," said Albrecht, seeing the bundle of sewing materials in Marlene's arms. "Did everything go smoothly?"
"Of course," Herta responded, stepping forward. "We visited several stalls, and one merchant tried to overcharge me, but Marlene haggled with him and we got everything at a fair price."
Theresia raised an eyebrow at the mention of price disputes and folded her arms. "Haggling with marketplace merchants? That can be risky."
"Everything was all under control, honey," Albrecht assured her with a chuckle. "It sounds like Marlene kept a level head."
"She did," Herta affirmed. "And I even asked her to teach me how to bargain as we went on."
Theresia sighed softly, amused but still slightly concerned. "Alright, just make sure you're not picking fights in public."
"I didn't!" Herta insisted, puffing her cheeks. "I made reasonable purchases."
With the parents satisfied, they excused themselves, each returning to their respective tasks for the day. Once they were gone, Herta turned to Marlene with an eager grin.
"Can you come to my room?" she asked innocently.
Marlene blinked slowly, confused. "Is something wrong, Milady?"
"Not really," Herta shook her head. "I just need your help with something simple."
Though barely suspicious, the angelic caretaker agreed. "Alright then."
The two climbed the staircase and entered Herta's bedroom. The young genius and Marlene immediately placed the materials on the bed and turned the area into a small workshop.
"I want you to help me sew a doll," Herta declared.
"A doll?" Marlene tilted her head in confusion. "May I ask why?"
"You'll see," the young girl replied vaguely, already cutting the fabric with delicate precision.
Still uncertain but obedient, Marlene sat beside her and picked up a threaded needle. Under Herta's instruction, she began stitching together small limbs from the selected fabric pieces.
The room was relatively quiet, save for the snipping sound of the metal scissors as they cut through the cloth. But then, without warning, Herta spoke.
"What's it like being an angel?" she asked curiously.
Caught off guard, Marlene paused mid-stitch. "That's quite a question, Milady."
"I'm genuinely curious," she asserted, not looking up. " You're always calm, loyal, and always know things that most adults don't. What is it like?"
Marlene thought carefully before responding. "It's fulfilling in a way. We angels exist to serve, protect, and value the creations of our lord, the Star King Dragon. Our lives follow his will."
"So, this Star King Dragon must be the architect of this world, correct?" Herta pointed out.
The caretaker nodded as she finished one of the doll's limbs. "Yes, he made everything from the land to the ocean and the sky."
"How about us humans? Did he create us?" the young girl pressed on, sewing a small dress.
Marlene hesitated, unsure how to answer the question. "Well, he assigned someone to create the various races of people, but that's not important."
"Hmm," Herta murmured, her eyes narrowing in thought. "If I ever meet that person, I'd like to ask him a lot of questions."
Concerned by her young master's statement, Marlene remained silent.
By the time the conversation calmed down, the doll was nearly complete. Its body was round and plush, and its limbs were soft and bendable. Two stitched buttons formed its eyes, and a simple mouth was embroidered beneath the carefully sewn eyebrows.
Numerous strips of brown fabric were used as hair, and a miniature beret sat on its head. The finishing touch was a customized black dress with violet accents, making the doll resemble a chibi version of Herta herself.
Carefully, the young genius set it upright on the floor at the center of her room.
"It's ready," she declared, stepping back.
Marlene, still unsure of what was happening, narrowed her eyes. "Ready for what exactly?"
"To summon an elemental as a host," Herta answered, raising her hand forward.
Without waiting for a response, she began chanting an incantation in a firm, steady voice.
"Oh spirit of moderate proportion, reveal thyself and lend me thy strength!"
After the chant, the room dimmed a bit as magicule began to gather and form a summoning circle on the floor, shimmering like dust caught in sunlight.
Just then, a glowing figure emerged from the ground—a medium ice elemental with flickering blue and white light trailing behind it. The entity hovered in the air, faintly humanoid in shape, yet lacking any clear features.
"What purpose have I been summoned?" the elemental asked in a soft, resonant voice.
"I want you to inhabit this doll as your vessel," Herta explained clearly. "You will gain physical form and the ability to move freely in the mortal world."
The elemental paused for a moment as if considering the request. Then, without objection, it drifted downward, its glow fading slowly as it entered the doll.
For a moment, the room fell silent.
Herta and Marlene watched with bated breath.
"Milady, I don't think it—"
"—Shh! Look..."
Seconds ticked by, and the doll twitched.
Marlene raised an eyebrow, interested. "Wait, could it be..."
First, one arm moved. Then a leg followed. After that, its head jerked stiffly to the side.
Herta, seeing this, grinned eagerly. "Yes, come on. You can do it."
Slowly and steadily, the doll stood up on its feet and raised its hand upward.
"It's a success!" Herta exclaimed, jumping for joy.
With that triumphant declaration, the young genius completed her first living doll.
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In the stillness of the evening, the corridor was completely silent when Albrecht happened to walk through and suddenly heard Herta's voice coming from behind the door.
"Yes, I did it!"
Hmm? Was that Herta just now?
At the same time, Theresia was climbing the stairs with a tray of snacks and drinks when she noticed her husband peeking through a small gap in the doorway of their daughter's room.
What is he doing there?
Curious, she carefully approached Albrecht and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Gwaah!"
Startled by the touch, he let out a masculine shout that echoed down the hall, causing him to turn his head and see his wife beside him.
"Why are you peeking into our daughter's room, darling?"
"I—"
Before he could answer, the door suddenly swung open. Standing at the doorway with pouty cheeks and folded arms was Herta herself.
"What are you two doing outside my room?" she asked skeptically.
Theresia lifted the tray lightly. "I was bringing you some snacks since Marlene wasn't around to do it."
"Hmm... that's adequate," Herta nodded before turning to Albrecht. "How about you, Papa? I noticed you peeking through my door just now. Care to explain?"
"Well..." he cleared his throat awkwardly. "I thought I saw something move inside—like a little doll walking across the floor."
"A little doll?" Theresia repeated, blinking in confusion.
Herta's expression stiffened before she pouted. "Papa, you snitch. That was supposed to be a big surprise for you and Mama."
"Ah, sorry about that," Albrecht raised his hands defensively. "But now that you have piqued our curiosity, would you please show us what you have been working on?"
The young genius sighed and glanced back into the room. "Marlene, bring her out."
From behind the bed curtain, the caretaker revealed herself, carefully holding the little Herta doll that was wriggling in her arms. The two parents widened their eyes in shock upon seeing what their daughter had created as Marlene set it down on the floor.
"That doll is moving," Theresia muttered, struggling to hold the tray while covering her mouth with her other hand.
"It's fully autonomous," Albrecht added, leaning in. "How did you accomplish this, dear?"
Before Herta could respond, her mother narrowed her eyes. "Wait, hold on... sweetheart, did you summon a medium elemental and put it inside that doll?"
"Yes, I certainly did," Herta confessed confidently. "I wanted to create a sentient puppet that can move without strings. So, I offered the elemental an artificial vessel, which was this doll."
"Incredible," Albrecht murmured, thoroughly captivated by her creation. "You gave a spiritual lifeform a physical anchor made out of sewn materials? How is that possible?"
Herta, trying to come up with an explanation, activated her unique skill: High Intelligence. Her eyes glowed faintly as information was processed at an accelerated speed.
After several seconds of mental calculation, she offered her idea with composure.
"I stitched the fabric with embedded channels using my own magicules, forming a circulatory mana thread that acts like nerves. The elemental is controlling those threads as a conductor, and the wool interior creates a soft buffer for its magical core."
Hearing her daughter's explanation, Albrecht's jaw slackened. "You'd combined three magical principles—summoning, magecraft, and artistry—into a single construct. That's magnificent."
"As incredible as it sounds, using your own magicule in your creation is dangerous," Theresia, still holding the tray, frowned slightly. "You would exhaust yourself if done repeatedly."
"It's fine, Mama," Herta assured her calmly. "I only used a portion of my reserve, which means everything is planned out thoroughly."
Witnessing her daughter's confidence made Theresia both concerned and proud at the same time. "Alright, just be careful, sweetie."
With that problem handled, Herta turned her attention back to the living doll standing quietly near her feet.
"Now then, I think it's time to name you," she declared nonchalantly.
Before she could utter another word, both Theresia and Marlene stepped forward abruptly.
"Wait!" Theresia raised a hand. "Don't name it yet!"
Confused, Herta tilted her head. "Why not?"
"Naming is a serious procedure," Marlene replied solemnly. "Once an entity is named, it forms an irreversible bond with the person who named it. Also, the process will possibly consume a portion of your magicules and may awaken unexpected changes in the said entity."
"That's right," Theresia concurred. "Naming is not something you would do casually."
Herta hesitated, visibly bothered by their caution. But Albrecht, walking beside her, gave his wife and their caretaker a reassuring smile.
"I believe it will be okay," he declared. "Herta has already proven herself once before, so she wouldn't take this action lightly."
Theresia glanced at him, uncertain. "Are you sure?"
"I trust her judgment," Albrecht assured thoroughly.
The mother pursed her lips and looked towards their caretaker as if asking for her opinion.
Noticing her gaze, Marlene gave a subtle nod. "Although I'm unsure, Lady Herta had handled everything else with precision. If she feels it's the right time, I won't object."
With that sentiment, Theresia sighed deeply. "...Fine, you may proceed."
Herta returned to the doll and kneeled before it with a solemn expression.
"From now on, your name is... Herta no.2."
The moment the name was declared, the doll was engulfed in a radiant glow, surging through its seams and embroidered joints. This forced a transformation, turning its button eyes into a pair of beady spheres capable of blinking. The stitched mouth opened and widened, forming a movable jaw. Its hands flexed freely and grew a soft thumb that allowed it to grasp objects.
Everyone stood still, amazed by the change.
"I did it..." Herta whispered, her grin widening. "It worked! It truly worked!"
"That's my girl! You're truly a genius!" Albrecht cheered, clapping his hands proudly.
Theresia smiled, placing a hand on her chest, a swirl of pride and worry lingering in her gaze.
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On the other hand, Marlene remained quiet. She backed away several steps, her gaze empty, and lowered her head as a telepathic voice echoed into her mind.
"What's your situation, young one?"
Marlene responded without moving her lips.
"The experiment is a success. As predicted, she imbued the doll with her magicules. But..."
She glanced at the doll from the corner of her eye."
"...I secretly implanted a mana core into the doll while we sewed it together. She believes it is her own discovery."
"Excellent," replied the voice, low and calm. "You acted well."
Marlene paused, then asked, "What is the progress of the academy's construction?"
Somewhere, deep in the heart of a vacant area under the night sky, scaffolding clung to the structure of a two-story building. Construction supplies were piled around, including wooden beams, cobblestone bricks, and pulley systems scattered across the place.
High above, an angel hovered lazily in the air, his six pairs of black and white wings extended like a curtain drawn against the stars. His grey hair rustled in the breeze, and his drowsy blue eyes blinked slowly.
"It's still barely getting off the ground," he muttered, "so keep that little girl busy for a while."
Marlene hummed in acknowledgement. "Understood, Lord Dino."