Kuuga’s Magic Power

That day, Kuuga’s ears drooped the entire time.

Usually, Kuuga wagged his tail and rubbed up affectionately against those he had accepted. But on this day, he radiated an uncharacteristically gloomy air. Anyone familiar with the usual Kuuga couldn’t help but worry.

Uros, Edalion, and Louis, who had been present at the time, knew the circumstances, but Heki and others, unaware of what had happened, were utterly shocked.

“D-does something trouble you, Master Kuuga? Has something happened!?”

Since that day, Heki could be described as utterly devoted to Kuuga, so seeing Kuuga in such low spirits was practically a catastrophe for him.

Standing guard at the door to the office, Heki was the first to react as Kuuga trudged out from within.

‘It’s nothing…’

But Kuuga couldn’t explain with words, and even if he could, he sincerely didn’t want to.

Heki, sensing Kuuga’s dejection, timidly stroked his head to comfort him. Normally, that would have made Kuuga happy, but today, it was no good at all.

Gadilas and Uros both found Kuuga’s shock wholly unexpected, and struggled with how best to console him.

After finishing his work, Gadilas returned with Kuuga to their chambers. Kuuga stepped out onto the balcony and gazed forlornly outside. Uros, carrying in their meal, caught sight of Kuuga’s sorrowful figure and hesitated to call out to him.

Even Gadilas, who had caused the problem, hadn’t said what he had out of malice. Nor, on the other hand, had he said it out of particular affection. But now, seeing Kuuga so deeply hurt, he was left with conflicted feelings—a subtle turbulence in his heart.

The two exchanged silent glances, each willing the other to make the first move.

In the end, Gadilas won the silent contest, and Uros reluctantly approached the balcony.

“Master Kuuga… if you react so badly, His Majesty will be heartbroken.”

‘Eh!?’

“Don’t make it sound as if I’m the one who desired this!”

Kuuga, taken completely off guard by Uros’s words, spun around. Gadilas, too, could not let the remark go unchallenged and instantly raised his voice.

‘G-Gadi… It’s not that I dislike you or anything like that…’

The shock was not from the idea of being married to Gadilas in particular; it was the idea of being a bride at all. It wouldn’t have mattered who the other party was—he’d still have hated it.

However, Uros’s words made him realize how rude his reaction must have appeared to Gadilas. Hurriedly, Kuuga dashed over to Gadilas to explain. Gadilas didn’t quite understand, but it seemed he had some inkling of what Kuuga was trying to say. His expression was layered with complicated emotions.

‘That’s right… It’s not as if Gadi wanted to marry an animal either. I was wrong to keep complaining.’

“…I don’t really get it, but have you recovered?”

‘I’m the one who made you unable to hold women. I’ll take responsibility and make you happy, Gadi.’

“Hey, aren’t you thinking something strange?”

As Kuuga, running wild, resolved to become at least the equivalent of a lapdog using his dictionary, Gadilas rapped him on the head and told him not to be so absurd.

◇　◇　◇　◇

The date for Gadilas’s long-delayed coronation was finally set, and those around him became busy with preparations.

All Kuuga had to do was remain by Gadilas’s side, so while inwardly cheering on those rushing about, he began training to control his magic power.

Louis, too, possessed magical power and had some experience, but for reasons relating to the group’s prestige or something else, it was decided that someone called a court mage would be Kuuga’s instructor.

Because Gadilas insisted on overseeing the training himself, the lessons took place in the office. From the corner of the room, Edalion, waiting in reserve, sent Kuuga a cheer—”Good luck!”

The mage who came to train him introduced himself as Koran Wood. He appeared to be in his forties, a man of modest height dressed in an indigo robe that was the very picture of a magician. In his hand was a potted Lurun. As soon as he entered the office and saw the flower begin to dance, Koran wore a slightly troubled expression.

“How many days has it been since the Honored Divine Beast descended to earth?”

‘Descended…?’

It had been ten days since he awakened at the church, and another ten since arriving at the castle—twenty days in total. When Kuuga communicated this with his book, Koran’s troubled expression deepened.

“That such power continues to pour out without being depleted… It’s difficult to believe.”

“Does that mean Master Kuuga’s magical power is vast?”

Louis, always close by to support Kuuga, ventured a question.

Koran hesitated, seeming to ponder for a moment.

“I can’t say for sure yet. The amount of magical power can only be precisely measured after one learns control. Either the quantity is vast, or the recovery rate is exceptionally high. It’s one or the other.”

Louis seemed satisfied with the explanation, but Kuuga didn’t understand at all. He jostled Louis’s leg in silent request for an explanation, and Louis was quick to oblige.

In this country, boys begin training to control their magical power at age five. Until then, like Kuuga, they leak magic continuously. Normally, it’s depleted within hours of birth; since more is leaked than can be restored over time, what does recover simply pours out again, leaving them in a perpetually empty state.

For ordinary children, the amount recovered or restored is trivial compared to what is lost, so that even when a Lurun flower is brought near an under-five child, it barely moves.

Therefore, Kuuga, who had continued leaking so much for twenty days without running dry, was anomalous. Either he possessed an inexhaustible amount of magical power, or his rate of recovery exceeded the rate of leakage, or perhaps both.

“Normally, it would mean the birth of an incredible mage… but it seems the Honored Divine Beast is fundamentally different from ordinary humans. Nevertheless, without learning control, that power will be wasted.”

Even if magical power remained within, without control, one couldn’t use magic—or even magical tools.

Although Kuuga couldn’t see it from his position, Gadilas at his desk, working with Uros, glanced over, perhaps curious about the lesson’s content. At that moment, seeing the Lurun flower dance madly, Gadilas made a face of disgust, and Uros, following his gaze, grimaced in much the same way.

“Well then, let’s begin control training. Don’t worry, even five-year-olds can do it.”

Koran’s reassurances, meant kindly, only added pressure. Without noticing Kuuga’s complicated feelings, Koran placed a hand over his own chest.

“First, focus on your heart. Try to sense your own pulse.”

As instructed, Kuuga tried to focus on his heart, but of course, he couldn’t sense a heartbeat by that alone. Unable to physically place a paw over his chest due to his anatomy, Kuuga was at a loss.

“You should feel something swirling near your chest, right? That’s your magic. Now, picture sending it from your heart into your veins, spreading it throughout your body… Honored Divine Beast? Is something wrong?”

‘……’

He felt nothing. Koran, not expecting Kuuga to stumble at this step, continued his explanation, but Kuuga couldn’t sense a thing.

This is bad. He couldn’t do what even a five-year-old could.

He tried desperately to feel something inside himself, but no matter what, nothing registered. Gradually, his ears drooped lower and lower.

At last, Koran seemed to notice and, kneeling in front of Kuuga, looked at him with concern.

“Are you unable to sense your magic?”

‘…I’m not really sure…’

Koran stroked his chin, lost in thought. Louis, watching, gazed at Kuuga with worry.

“With this much magical power, you should notice something whether you want to or not… Hm.”

After deliberating, Koran produced a thick, well-used book from among his belongings and began flipping through its pages. It seemed to be a book of magical arrays for his personal use.

Having found a desired page, Koran next drew a piece of chalk from his pocket and began sketching a magical circle on the floor.

“That’ll come right off with water,” Louis whispered to Kuuga, noticing his apprehension at seeing the royal office floor marked up.

The array Koran drew was elaborate, packed with fine designs and script. When it was finished, he produced a small bottle of red liquid—likely blood for a medium—and dropped a few splashes onto the array.

Holding his hand above the circle, Koran grew still, silently invoking something. According to Louis, he was channeling magic into the blood as a medium. Soon, three blue, glowing motes like fireflies began to float and dance. The array itself started to glow gently.

Still staring dumbfounded at the scene, Kuuga was beckoned by Koran, who seemed finished preparing.

“Please step onto the array.”

‘O-okay…’

Wondering what spell this might be, Kuuga cautiously entered the array. It seemed to be emitting some kind of power, but it had no apparent effect on his body; there was no discomfort.

Koran, from just outside the circle, closed his eyes and raised his hand. Blue lights drifted around Kuuga.

“…This is incredible magical power… But with this much, why… mm?”

Muttering, sometimes cocking his head in concentration, Koran continued these rituals for about ten minutes before finally lowering his hand and breathing out with fatigue.

“H-how is it, Koran?”

“…I’ve never seen anything like this. If I had to guess, the ability to manipulate magic is sealed.”

“S-sealed…!? Who could possibly do such a thing…!”

“That I can’t say. Honored Divine Beast, do you recall anyone ever casting a spell on you, as they did just now?”

‘N-no… I don’t think so.’

Koran’s statement made Louis start in alarm. Kuuga as well was left speechless by the unexpected development.

Given the way Koran described it, it sounded as if sealing magic would require something like standing within a specially prepared array. Kuuga had no memory of anything like that.

“If that’s the case… the only plausible candidate is… a god.”