Cleric, Warlock, Druid, Mage, Healer, Sorcercer and Summoner. Seven MP-centric core classes, each focusing on a very different and unique aspect of magic. Among them, the Sorcerer class stands out as the sole class not reliant on staves and wands. While these tools typically enhance the effects of skills, skills available lie typically beyond their enhancing reach. Staves and wands are primarily enhancers, channeling and augmenting the clarity of manifestation of magic circles. For mages, whose expertise revolves around the manipulation of magic circles, these magic-circle-enhancing tools are indispensable. However, those of the Sorcerer class tread a different path.

  The Sorcerer's arsenal tends to lean towards spell-like skills, a type that doesn't involve the so-called magic circles employed by mages. Consequently, staves and wands offer little assistance to this class; they are as superfluous as a sword would be to an summoner.

  That being said, if one were to unlock a magic skill like I did with ice magic, one, as a sorcerer, might find a use for a staff or a wand, like I did thus far.

  "Or was it because of your height," he joked, obviously trying to lighten the mood but not quite masking the underlying truth.

  I knew the real reason, though he would never admit it.

  The old man was disappointed by the class I had chosen. Seeing my birth as a miraculous event, watching me spawn with a couple of skills instead of being skill-less like the average baby, he likely foresaw a future where I would be the second coming of their legendary ancestor. From that moment onward, he had done everything to ensure I followed the same path as that ancestor, which included becoming a mage.

  Having determined through my training that I was gifted in magic and completely talentless in swordsmanship left me with only two viable class choices: mage or sorcerer. Being the one that I was, I chose the latter, for the most part for very pragmatic reasons but I also did, I have to admit, just because I wanted to spite the old man.

  While he never openly admitted his disappointment, his increased silence spoke volumes, that being said he didn’t remain silent for long as it became apparent that I wasn’t faring badly by choosing Sorcerer as my class.

  "I see... That makes sense," I said, pretending to accept his explanation.

  "Alright, I won't deny that Father might've been a little disappointed about you taking that choice against his suggestion, but he quickly came to accept things for what they were, which is why he had this staff made for you instead of giving you Typhaine."

  Typhaine was the name of the staff wielded by the Wei? family's ancestor, a mage who carried it through hundreds of years. I had heard it was kept as a revered heirloom, passed down from one Wei? generation to another, mostly residing in the family's vault, a place even I, who was something of an heir myself, had never seen. To think that the old man had wanted to give that staff to me was staggering.

  "It was obviously not because he didn’t want to give you that staff... far from that."

  While I wasn't the type to be influenced by such lowly things as mortal possessions, that staff remained an artifact that had seen countless battles, being wielded by someone such as the Wei? family ancestor. For a mage that powerful to hold onto a staff like that for so long, it had to truly be something special, something that I would have been more than happy to wield.

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  "He wanted to give you a staff that compliments your skills and abilities, something that Typhaine wouldn't do. And let's be honest, that staff wouldn't have suited you."

  "Anyway, this one is yours and yours alone. What do you think of it? It’s far better than the wand Justaff gave you. Do you like it? I hope you do."

  Putting aside the abstraction of the various thoughts in my mind, I said, "It's... beautiful," I admitted, my fingers tracing the intricate carvings on the staff. "It's still a little long for me, but I'll soon be tall enough. From the feel of its grip, which makes me feel like this has always been part of my body, to its attributes that can't be compared to those of Wanda, everything about this staff makes me feel stronger. I love it."

  "Wanda... that's the name we've chosen for your wand, right?"

  He smiled, a hint of pride in his eyes. "I'm glad you like it. Your grandfather poured a lot of money and pressure onto the man that made this staff so that it would come out perfect for you. It's just a shame that he didn't give it to you personally."

  I nodded. "I can't thank him anymore, but there are plenty of things I can do to make him proud where he is now."

  His smile widened, and he reached out to pat my shoulder. "You're right, he would be proud just to hear you say that." His gaze then lowered to the staff. "You should give it a name."

  Upon hearing that suggestion, several very cool names came to my mind, names that fit such a staff. But at the same time, that suggestion brought me back a few years to when I was given that same suggestion by the same person for my wand--wand that wasn't even a gift from him. I looked up to meet his eager eyes with a sense of dread.

  "Mh... Father, what name do you suggest?"

  "I was thinking... Elspeth."

  Staring at the man who looked absolutely serious with that suggestion, I took a moment to look down at the staff in my hand. "Elspeth... It's perfect," I said, finally looking up to meet his gaze. "Thank you, Father. I will call it that."

  "I'm happy that you like the name. It was the name of a cat I had as a child."

  Oh, so that's where it's coming from. Not just a bad naming sense. Unless it's also you who named that poor cat.

  "Now, I should let you get back to your reading. My new duties as the family head awaits. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

  At that point, I was just happy that he was about to take his leave, but not wanting to not sound like the good daughter that I was, I asked, feigning concern, "How's it going?"

  He paused, then said as if trying to sound reassuring, "It's alright. Father may not be here anymore, but nothing will change. This old father of yours may have spent a little too much time on something he had no talent for and sorely realized now that he'd been overly reliant on his father for most things. But I'm getting used to it, I'm getting used to this, like Father did before me. It won't take me long to catch up, so no need to worry."

  "I see. I won't then."

  Sighing a sigh of relief at the sight of him turning his back, I was cut through when he suddenly turned around, adding, "And one last thing, I've talked with Justaff about your situation."

  "My situation?"

  "I'm talking about the fact that you don't have a personal servant serving you."

  "Hm."

  "From what I understand, you didn't have anything against your old one; you just didn't want anyone intruding, so you acquitted her of her duty, is that right?"

  "Yes," I acquiesced.

  He paused for a moment, as if trying to find the right words. "To tell you the truth, I have the feeling that there's more to this matter than that, but unless you want me to, I won't ask about it. It might not look like it, but there was a time when I too felt like I could do everything on my own. That doesn't usually last long. So, while I won't ask you about your reasons, what I will ask, however, is that you at least take someone as your servant. It doesn’t have to be Ane; just take any of the servants you want. I’ll have some more come to the Chateau if you want me to find someone new, but just take someone. That servant doesn’t have to be your Lady attendant, just have her as a servant you can dismiss as you see fit."

  "...Understood, I will do that."