Chapter 40

As soon as Zoth disappeared, I collapsed back onto my bed, my body screaming for rest. I reached out instinctively for my pillow—only to find it missing.

"Hey, Zoth! My pillow!" I shouted groggily.

Within seconds, the pillow materialized midair and landed on my face.

"There you go, Your Majesty!" Zoth's voice echoed faintly before vanishing once more.

I grumbled, clutching the pillow tightly as I buried myself under the blanket. Warm and secure, I began to drift off again.

Or so I thought.

"Your Majesty!" Zoth's voice pierced through my drowsiness.

I groaned. "What now, Zoth?"

"But where do I start? How do I help humans?"

Half-asleep, I muttered, "Just... head to the Hero's Department..."

That seemed to satisfy him because I felt the faint pull of his presence vanish completely.

"This servant shall carry out your will," his voice whispered before the room fell silent. Finally.

---

The Next Morning

The alarm blared like a demon's roar. Groaning, I dragged myself out of bed, the consequences of my late-night chat with Zoth hitting me like a truck. I moved sluggishly, almost missing my bus in the process.

By the time I reached school, I was running on fumes. And, of course, it had to be Teacher Ganth's class.

"So, everyone, line up beside me!" Ganth's voice boomed. "We'll be heading to the artificial waterfall for meditation practice. Meditation is essential for controlling your magic, whether you wield a sword, a gun, a wand, or a bow. The more focus required by your weapon, the harder you'll need to meditate!"

Great. Just great. Nothing like sitting on a freezing rock under an equally freezing waterfall while cold water battered your head like a battering ram.

As I sat there, shivering and gritting my teeth, my head started to spin. My lack of sleep was catching up fast.

"Aleena, you don't look too well today. You okay?" A voice called from beside me.

I turned, squinting through the downpour. It was Gale, one of my classmates.

"I didn't sleep well last night," I admitted, my voice barely audible over the relentless crash of water.

"Nightmare?" he asked, his expression concerned.

"Kind of..." I muttered. The truth was I could easily wake myself up using magic, but I desperately wanted some rest.

As I started to nod off again, Gale suddenly slapped something onto my back.

Immediately, the waterfall stopped pounding against me. I blinked in confusion and looked up. The water was still falling, but it wasn't hitting me anymore.

"It's a magic circle barrier," Gale explained. "I shaped it perfectly to fit your body. It's not very durable, but it's enough to block the water—and it won't catch Teacher Ganth's attention."

Relief washed over me. I smiled for the first time that morning. "Thanks, Gale."

"No problem," he said with a chuckle as I leaned back and finally let sleep claim me.

---

Temporary Protagonist: Zoth

Following Her Majesty's orders, I found myself standing before the Hero's Department. The building towered over me, its height impressive yet lacking the grandeur of width.

"What an astoundingly large structure," I muttered. "Though it's a shame it doesn't compare to Her Majesty's castle in Elmestine. Still, it is... adequate."

Steeling myself, I entered the bustling building. The atmosphere buzzed with energy as people moved around, chatting, laughing, and going about their business.

Scanning the area, I noticed a young woman in the corner surrounded by a group of people. That seemed like a good place to start.

Approaching her, I asked, "How do I become a hero?"

She blinked at me, startled by my sudden appearance, before breaking into a friendly smile. "Oh, you must be new! Here, take this form and head to that room over there. They'll measure your magic prowess. Good luck!"

She handed me a stack of papers. As I looked them over, I summoned a feathered quill into my hand, drawing surprised gasps from those nearby.

"Huh? You're writing with that?" the woman asked, clearly baffled.

"I'm a bit old-fashioned," I replied casually. "Pens lack elegance."

After filling out the form with swift precision, I headed to the designated room.

Inside, I was met with an overwhelming concentration of magic energy. To my surprise, it was emanating from a machine in the center of the room—a device designed to measure magical prowess. Ingenious.

Behind a glass panel, a man and woman monitored the machine. The man leaned into a microphone and instructed, "We're going to start the test now. When the rod appears, grab it and release as much mana as you can."

The ground rumbled slightly as a metallic rod rose before me.

"Do I simply grab it?" I asked.

"Yes," the man replied.

I smiled faintly and wrapped my hand around the rod. Immediately, the screen beside me lit up, numbers climbing at an incredible speed.

Behind the glass, the two operators stared in stunned silence.

I, too, was mildly impressed. The power coursing through me was unlike anything I'd felt before—a warm, golden energy swirling with Her Majesty's divine essence.

I closed my eyes, basking in the sensation. "This servant shall use his powers as you wish, my liege," I whispered, a faint smile gracing my lips.

The test continued, but I already knew the result: I was more than ready to carry out Her Majesty's will.