Ｓｉｄｅ・マナ
The New Year arrived safely, and my daughter Saki, who is also Yamato’s child, turned one year old.
It is customary in Helios Orb to visit the Priests’ Guild upon reaching the age of one to have one’s magical aptitude and the Celestial Magic granted by the gods confirmed.
While having it done on one’s first birthday is the most common, it’s not unusual for it to be delayed by a few days if work is involved. Since everyone is busy around the year-end and New Year holidays, children born around that time often have their confirmation within the first week of the New Year.
Saki was born just after the New Year began, in the late night of January 1st, so we decided to have her confirmation at the Priests’ Guild on January 3rd.
We agonized over which Priests’ Guild to choose. Feel is not my or Yamato’s territory, and for the same reason, Memoria was out of the running.
However, the Kobaldia Ruins, which I am slated to receive, are not yet developed, so our only options were the main headquarters in Float or the branch in Esperanza.
Traditionally, the Celestial Emperor’s Family, or rather, the Amister Royal Family, had their confirmations done at the old headquarters in Esperanza. However, the main headquarters has moved to Float, and there is also a plan to relocate the main headquarters to a section at the base of Amagi Castle around this summer. Therefore, we decided it would be best to have the confirmation done in Float.
So today, Yamato, Saki, and I came to the Priests’ Guild’s main headquarters in Float.
When visiting the Priests’ Guild for the first birthday celebration, accompanying wives are not well-regarded, even if she is the first wife.
While a co-wife is undoubtedly family, she isn’t actually connected by blood. Therefore, it’s a sort of ritual to ensure that the first major event is experienced only by blood-related parents.
“We have been expecting you, Grand Prince Manalease, Grand Prince Yamato.”
“We are in your care today.”
“U-uh, please take care of us.”
Upon arriving at the main headquarters, Grand Priests Master Idea-sama greeted us immediately.
However, Yamato seemed a bit flustered by the unfamiliar honorifics.
Grand Princes are nobility connected to the Celestial Emperor’s Family, and Dukes are connected to the Royal Family, thus they are addressed with the honorific “His Highness.”
Yuri and I have been called that for a long time, so we have no problem, but Yamato was originally a commoner, so he’s not used to it.
This is an issue that will affect our children and their descendants, so he will just have to get used to it as soon as possible.
“Well then, shall we proceed?”
“Yes.”
Urged by Idea-sama, we proceeded to the ritual chamber.
Saki, being held by Yamato, seemed bewildered by the many unfamiliar faces, but she soon began to look around, perhaps becoming a little more accustomed to her surroundings.
It was her first time at the Priests’ Guild, and she had rarely left Alka, so everything she saw was new and fascinating.
Asma is very curious and can be a handful, but Saki is quiet, which helps in situations like this.
Oh, but Asma, who is seven months old, can already pull herself up to stand, while Saki is still struggling just to stand on her own.
I should probably start having her practice walking soon. Maybe I should have her practice when we get home?
But they also say it’s best not to rush them, so it’s a difficult decision.
“Now, Saki-sama, please stand in the center. Grand Prince Yamato, please stand to the right, and Grand Prince Manalease, to the left. Please support Saki-sama so she does not fall.”
“Understood.”
“Saki, it will be over soon, so be a good girl.”
While I was thinking about such things, we had arrived at the ritual chamber.
“Now, let us begin.”
Idea-sama, standing before the statue of the chief god, Father God, began reciting a prayer.
Then, the thirteen divine statues enshrined in the ritual chamber emitted light, and that light gathered upon Saki.
This is the celebration called the Celestial Succession Ritual, held to bless one-year-olds, and through this ritual, they receive Celestial Magic from the gods.
Elemental Magic is bestowed at birth, but the attribute is unknown and unusable until after the Celestial Succession Ritual.
Also, since this is the main headquarters of the Priests’ Guild, all thirteen divine statues are present. However, some locations may only have one or two statues.
Even in such cases, the ritual can still be properly performed through those statues.
“This here is Saki-sama’s aptitude and Celestial Magic.”
As the light subsided, Saki’s Library appeared in Idea-sama’s hand.
A Library is personal information and can be confirmed using a Supplication Magic called “Librarling.”
However, children around one year old cannot use Librarling, and Supplication Magic itself is a type of Inn Magic, including Celestial Magic, so it cannot be used until the Celestial Succession Ritual is complete.
This is why the role of the Priest performing the ritual is important, and why Solemn, who persecuted and massacred Priests, and Retisencia, who disparaged the gods and worshiped false deities, lost the ability to use Inn Magic.
Ah, but what does it matter about countries that have already perished?
I received the Library handed to me by Idea-sama and cast my eyes down.
It read:
Saki Mikami Lapislazurite
1 year old
Lv. 1
Human Race, Elf
Lapislazurite Grand Prince Family, Eldest Daughter, Fraydlancia Grand Princess Eldest Daughter
Elemental Magic: Wind Elemental Magic
Celestial Magic: Telekinetic Magic
The original Library does not display Elemental Magic or Celestial Magic.
However, it is displayed like this during the Celestial Succession Ritual.
This is precisely why the child’s parents can confirm it in this way.
“Wind Elemental Magic and Telekinetic Magic, huh? Looking at it like this, it seems she inherited my Celestial Magic and Mana’s Elemental Magic.”
“Indeed.”
As Yamato said, Saki had inherited my Wind Elemental Magic and Yamato’s Telekinetic Magic.
Telekinetic Magic is a common Celestial Magic among the Human Race, and many Elves can also use it.
However, this is just because it is common among humans. With the thirteen types of Celestial Magic, one doesn’t know which magic they will receive until that moment, except for Dragon Spirit Magic exclusive to the Dragon Race, Beast Magic exclusive to the Beast Race, Feather Cloak Magic exclusive to the Winged Tribe, and Humanization Magic, which can erase wings, horns, and tails.
Even for exclusive Celestial Magic, it is not uncommon for dragons or beasts not to receive it.
The only magics that are always bestowed are Feather Cloak Magic and Humanization Magic, but Humanization Magic is not counted, so it might as well be said that only Feather Cloak Magic is always bestowed.
Therefore, Saki receiving Telekinetic Magic makes me both happy and a little disappointed.
I had hoped she would receive Summoning Magic, like me, but there’s nothing that can be done about it.
“It’s level one, isn’t it? It’s understandable for a one-year-old.”
“At one year old, she can’t use magic, can she? Well, teaching magic usually starts around the age of three, so it will probably stay this way for a while.”
“Ah, so it really is around that age.”
Many Inn Magics are closely related to daily life, so it is common to start teaching them around the age of three.
Elemental Magic is even later, around ten years old?
I wanted to be a Hunter, so I started learning around eight, but now that the General Academy has opened, some families might leave their children’s education entirely to the academy.
This will also become a role of the academy.
I need to discuss how to educate Saki and the others thoroughly with Yamato and everyone else.
“Daddy, Mommy. What is this?”
“It’s Saki’s Library, but she probably doesn’t understand yet.”
“It’s the magic that the gods gave Saki.”
Saki, with her faltering voice, gazed at the Library before her.
She can’t walk yet, but she started speaking relatively early, babbling fragments before she was even nine months old.
Her first word wasn’t “Daddy” or “Mommy,” but “Ria.”
She was probably calling for Ria, as she was being held by Lydia.
Both Yamato and I felt an immense wave of jealousy towards Lydia.
“Ma-gic?”
“Yes. You can’t use it until you’re three, but I’ll teach you when you can, okay?”
“Okay!”
S-she’s so cute…
Some people call babies angels, but Saki’s smile is truly angelic.
“Mana, is that all then?”
“Yes. That’s all that I explained.”
“Understood.”
The Celestial Succession Ritual concludes here.
After this, what needs to be done is to donate a certain amount of money.
The Celestial Succession Ritual is an important source of income for the Priests’ Guild, second only to marriage ceremonies. While it may be different for commoners, it is customary for royalty and nobility to donate a considerable sum for each ceremony.
Oh, even for commoners, if they become high-ranking Registers, they may donate an amount comparable to or exceeding that of nobility.
In our case, as I am a former princess and currently a Grand Prince, we are treated similarly to the Celestial Emperor’s Family.
Furthermore, with Yamato being the highest-level holder in Helios Orb, it has been decided that we should donate an amount comparable to royalty, rather than just nobility.
Of course, this is not a discussion with the Priests’ Guild, but rather a discussion within our own family.
This applies not only to me but also to all my children, including my concubines.
It doesn’t matter who the mother is, or what her status or rank might be.
“Um, Grand Priests Master, thank you for today. Please accept this.”
“We are honored.”
Idea-sama accepted the small bag handed to her by Yamato and, without checking the contents, passed it to a Priest standing nearby.
In principle, it’s considered a token of appreciation, and it’s considered impolite to look in front of the individuals involved, as well as a matter of pride for a Priest. Therefore, no Priest would dare check the contents on the spot.
If one were to do so, they might face severe punishment, such as expulsion from the Priests’ Guild, at worst.
“We will take our leave then.”
“Thank you for today. Come on, Saki.”
“Tha-ank you!”
“We sincerely pray for Saki-sama’s healthy growth.”
“Thank you.”
Saki, though her words were few, expressed her gratitude properly, and we left the Priests’ Guild main headquarters.
I was relieved that Saki’s Celestial Succession Ritual had ended safely.
In three months, Asma will also undergo the Celestial Succession Ritual, and I need to tell everyone about Saki when we get home.
