Twenty years after Hero Himmel's death. Outside the holy city of Strahl in the Central Countries.
I wander through overgrown greenery. I'm used to navigating forests, but this area always confuses me. The terrain looks the same, but that's not all—my urgency plays a part. A rare feeling. Shaking it off, I focus, probing for mana. Every mage can do it, but precision varies. Talent matters, but skilled mages excel at detection. I'm confident in mine, yet I'm struggling. The target must be adept at cloaking their mana.
After what feels like ages, I reach a clearing and spot her—a small girl clutching an oversized staff, sitting quietly.
"Finally found you," I say, emerging from the grass. "Morning, Fern."
It took longer than expected. Yesterday was the same—finding her is a chore. I should've asked where she trains, but no matter. I made it. Or so I thought—
"Good morning, Frieren-sama," Fern replies. "It's already past noon."
"…Sorry."
I didn't make it. Of course—it's after noon. I promised to train with her this morning but overslept. My fault entirely. Fern's expressionless face seems unangered, her tone flat, yet I apologize instinctively. Something about her makes me wary. I'll be more careful.
"Um… want some candy?" I offer.
As an apology and peace gesture, I pull out my secret stash from my clothes. It's emergency adventurer food, and kids love it. Maybe it'll cheer her up. But—
"No need," Fern says. "You're Heiter's friend, aren't you? He gives me candy too."
"I got a lot from him too," I reply.
No luck. As Heiter's ward, she's immune to my secondhand trick. I remember getting candy from him on our journey—Himmel teased I was like a mom. I stopped taking it out of embarrassment. Maybe Fern feels the same.
"What were you doing?" I ask.
"Training in mana control," she replies. "You said it's important yesterday."
I clear my throat, regaining composure. She answers, still seated. I notice her mana is barely perceptible—she's suppressing it. Mana control, a mage's basic training, is key to long-range spells, as I taught her yesterday. But—
"Well done," I say. "Impressive for your age."
I'm awed by her skill—her talent. I knew yesterday, but her mana control at this age is extraordinary. How much has she honed alone? How far will she go? A prodigy.
(Did Flamme or Serie feel this way?)
I recall my master and her master. Fern's not my disciple, but having a gifted student must feel like this. Different from self-training—a unique joy. Flamme was oddly cheerful when she took me to Serie. Maybe this is why. If I ever take a disciple, will I feel the same? Flamme's gone, so I'd show Serie—though she'd probably shoo me away. Come to think of it, I haven't seen her since defeating the Demon King.
"For now, focus on long-range spell components," I tell Fern. "But you'll need other skills too."
She's not my disciple, but I promised to teach her while I'm here. I'll give her everything I can—long-range spell training and more.
"Other skills?" she asks.
"Right. Magic isn't just for fighting. Do you want to be a combat-focused mage, Fern?"
Mages wield immense power in battle, feared by humans and demons alike. I was like that, honing magic to eradicate demons in revenge. But the Demon King's era is over. Combat mages may not be needed anymore. I need to know what kind of mage Fern wants to be.
"I… don't know," she says, hesitating. "I just want to become a full-fledged mage soon."
A vague answer, but I understand. Like me, she loves magic moderately. She wants to be a mage for someone—Heiter—not herself. A new generation, unlike us.
"Then it's even more important," I say. "Knowing various spells is useful—practical for daily life and, frankly, fun."
Non-combat magic—civilian magic, as it's called—defines what people imagine mages do. It's magic's essence. Not mastering it would be a waste.
"What's this…?" Fern asks.
"My grimoires," I reply. "Pick any you like. I chose the best ones."
I can't help but puff up as I reveal my bag's contents—carefully curated grimoires collected on my travels. Fern's eyes widen, blinking at the collection. Overwhelmed, she hesitates. Which will she choose? Should I pick for her? I fidget, waiting, until—
"This one," she says.
"'The Spell to Catch Birds,'" I note. "A practical choice. Good for your level and useful for travel."
Cautiously, as if gauging me, she picks a classic spell. It involves finding and capturing a target, aligning with long-range spell components. If she chose it deliberately, that's remarkable, but probably a coincidence. There are flashier spells—she's likely being modest.
"By the way, do you know any spells?" I ask. "If so, show me. It'll help me gauge you."
Eager to teach, I pause, realizing I should check her existing skills. Civilian magic relies on technique and imagination. Seeing her cast will reveal her ability quickest.
"Spells I can use…?" she says. "Alright."
Fern closes her eyes, focusing. Mana flows, taking shape.
In an instant, blue flowers bloom across the clearing.
I catch my breath—or forget to breathe. The flowers are breathtaking, warm, almost fantastical, their petals dancing like a lake of blossoms.
Two memories surface. One, long ago, of my master teaching me her favorite spell. Another, of a flower field with my comrades—silly, joyful times. They praised my magic, those foolish friends.
The Spell to Make a Field of Flowers.
"Frieren-sama?" Fern's voice snaps me back.
I must've been staring, lost in a dreamlike haze.
"Sorry, I zoned out," I say. "Fern, this is—"
"The Spell to Make a Field of Flowers," she says. "Did I mess up…?"
"No, it's perfect," I laugh, easing her worry. "Flawless."
She misreads my reaction, looking anxious. It's impeccable—she'll master other spells easily. This isn't just talent; it's her strength as a mage.
"Beautiful flowers," I say, picking one up. "But I've never seen them. What are they?"
I've studied flowers to cast them, but these are new. Local, perhaps? My question is answered—
"They're Blue Moon Weed flowers," Fern says. "Pretty, right? I was shocked when I first saw them."
The name obliterates my thoughts.
"Blue Moon Weed…" I murmur, staring at the flower.
I recall Himmel teaching me about it—his hometown flower. He promised to show me someday. To think that promise would be fulfilled like this. Such a coincidence.
(They're beautiful, Himmel. Way more than you.)
I smile, recalling his narcissistic claim that nothing matched his beauty. I never saw the flowers with him, but I feel I've learned something new about him.
"Do these grow around here?" I ask.
"No," Fern says. "Heiter-sama said they went extinct decades ago."
"Then how did you make them?" I press. "You can't conjure unseen flowers with magic."
It's a simple question. Magic requires imagery and technique. Creating an extinct flower is impossible without seeing it. Where did Fern see it? Then—
"Someone showed me," she says. "A person named Aura taught me the spell."
The most impossible reason imaginable.
"Aura…?" I echo. "A human mage?"
I repeat the name, grasping for sense. A mistake? A coincidence—another mage with the same name? But—
"No, a demon," Fern says.
I'm proven wrong—and right. There's only one demon named Aura I know. Yet Fern's casual answer is abnormal. Maybe she doesn't grasp what demons are.
"Really… the Guillotine…?" I mutter. "Why was she here?"
"She came to see Heiter-sama," Fern says, watching me warily. "They seemed close. She stayed a month with her companion. Do you know her, Frieren-sama?"
Her words defy imagination. Fern's ignorance is excusable—she's a child. But Heiter? The monk of the Hero's party, deceived by a demon? Impossible. Then I remember—Aura, the Guillotine, has that power.
"Frieren-sama…?" Fern calls.
Her voice doesn't reach me. I transform—into the Slayer, called forth by demons. A coward who degrades magic to kill them.
Staff in hand, mana surging, I aim at Fern, merciless, giving no chance to resist.
"…Huh?"
Frieren the Slayer unleashes an unavoidable spell on Fern—
Author's Note
Here's Chapter 14! This is the first chapter featuring Frieren directly in this SS. It's rare for a Frieren: Beyond Journey's End SS to delay the protagonist's appearance this long. I worried it'd take longer to post, but it came together faster than expected. I hope I captured the original's atmosphere. Thanks for reading!