...How about these other carvings, little commander? Do they interest you?

...The spirits?

...Not just any! This is the spirit presiding over this year's festival!

Urie's mind wandered back to his conversation with the shopkeeper about the wooden statuette of the greater spirit, Undine. He had found it lacking, especially after witnessing Undine manifest herself once before.

A woman with the hue and glisten of the lake, and a gentle temperament much like his mother—minus her eccentricity. Back then, Undine’s form had seemed veiled in a thin mist, but even then, Urie could sense a regal aura that the carving failed to capture. And now, as he gazed at the man wreathed in flames, suspended mid-air before him, he felt the same imposing presence.

[You're in luck, kid. What's your name?]

Red skin tinged with the element of fire, wearing free-spirited attire woven with mana that could shift with a thought—a wave of heat swept across Urie’s face as the deep, husky voice called to him. Frozen in shock, Urie was slow to respond.

[Bah—! If you're not going to talk, I'll leave!]

The fiery spirit spoke with volume, turning halfway, deliberately provoking a response.

“—My name is Urie, Urie Loeth! Please, don't leave! I—I want to use magic!” Urie shouted, urgency in his voice. He was desperate not to miss this chance.

There were only three greater spirits Urie knew: Gnomus of the Earth, Sylvestris of the Wind, and Undine of the Water. They usually governed Daerin's Harvest Festival, though Urie suspected there were more spirits out there—like this one.

—Mother mentioned no one’s ever met a fire spirit before…

The spirit smiled at him, a satisfied grin spreading across his face. He moved closer, and like Undine, his form seemed to shimmer within a misty veil. Was this how all greater spirits appeared? Urie rubbed his eyes, the thought echoing in his mind.

[—You can't perceive us yet, kid. Not until you form your mana roots. And your perception of mana is still dull. Like this creature... you don’t even sense its danger.]

The spirit’s voice carried the weight of understanding, as if reading Urie’s inner thoughts. He moved as though to strike at an unseen enemy, then, with an almost playful tone, approached Urie and placed a glowing finger on his chest.

[To be able to do this again within this century… Send my thanks as well as yours to Undine.]

From the spirit’s touch, a rush of warmth began at Urie’s chest, spreading like a gentle fire through his body. The heat travelled to his fingertips and toes, comforting in a way opposite to the embrace of water—but just as soothing.

—Is this it?! ...Finally! Mother, look! I can use magic too!

Tears of joy welled in Urie’s eyes as he felt his mana roots stirring, awakening. This was it—a true awakening ceremony, performed just for him.

[Bah—! Kid, you're more trouble than that man-child, Luca! Too bad you can’t stay longer. You’ll have to go back and figure the rest out yourself.]

Urie, half-conscious in his bliss, couldn’t catch the spirit's words. But before he could fully bask in his joy, a flick of the spirit’s finger sent him tumbling backward into the fountain’s waters. The water rippled with a blinding turquoise glow, and when it faded, Urie was gone.

[Undine... Return Luca’s child.]

The spirit of fire watched the fountain, his expression unreadable but solemn. He sighed, a puff of smoke trailing from his lips.

[Bah. How troublesome.]

As the spirit of fire dissipated, only his upper half remaining, he turned to look toward the entrance of the city square. A man was approaching, limping, his breaths ragged but swift.

“Volcanus! My daughter, Celeste! Where is my daughter!?” the man demanded, his voice fierce.

Volcanus, his material form flickering, struggled to respond. Instead, he offered words of reassurance, though they were tainted with a warning.

[Luca! Your child is safe. You should worry more about yourself.]

Around Luca, shadowy figures like those that had threatened Urie began to creep from the darkness, advancing toward him. But Luca’s relief was palpable. Though surrounded, he knew his daughter was safe.

“Bah—! I can’t believe I let them land a hit on me!” Luca growled, his body igniting in a flare of bright crimson fire. He summoned, “—Flame Gauntlet!” The fire wove into threads around his hands and sleeves.

Grinning wryly, he brandished his arms toward the approaching shadows. “Better clean these up quickly. I’m going to greet my daughter and wish her a happy birthday!”

A fiery battle between a man and shadowy creatures unfolded, the sounds of crackling flames and growls filling the air.

Meanwhile, in the fountain, the ashen-haired boy drifted unconscious, his face breaking into a serene smile, blissfully unaware of the chaos unfolding around him.

“Mistress! I found the young master!”

“Ah!? Urie, dear! Is he alright!?”

Urie Loeth was discovered in the city square, floating in the fountain. He was unconscious, yet his face bloomed with a wide, delighted smile.