Strongest Noble's Daughter Uses Water Magic

The Play

After following Celina to her shop, the woman took Mindy by the hand into her office, instructing me to wait right outside of it. My best guess was that she came up with a new clothing idea for harpies and wanted Mindy to try it on.

"Ooh~ I knew this would look better on you!" I heard Celina say to Mindy. "As I thought, there is no way the sleeves alone would be enough."

"A-Are you sure? Isn't this basically just a roll of the fabric you used made into cloth?" came the harpy's voice, piquing my interest as to what the store owner made.

"Nonsense. Making clothes is not as easy as you would think. Do you have any idea how much trial and error, how much sewing I had to do to make this? It's a lot more complicated than you would think. Now then, enough chit chat."

The door then opened at those words, and I looked up to see Mindy wearing an outfit I never thought I would see in this world, or at the very least in this kingdom.

"What do you think of your friend's new dress? Well... Maybe I should not call it a dress, as it is more of a bathrobe. A very fashionable bathrobe," Celina asked.

As she said, rather than the dress Mindy was in, the harpy was in a teal robe with red flower design on it. The robe was not just any robe, either; no matter how I look at it, it looked so much like the yukatas from back in my previous life. 

"U-Um... How do I look, milady?" Mindy asked nervously.

I snapped out of my stupor at her question and stared at her face. "You look great in it! Those robes are definitely going to be a great thing for harpies!" I exclaimed.

While Mindy blushed in embarrassment at the compliment, Celina asked, "Hm? Did I ever say this was harpy-only?" 

Her question made me turn to her in confusion. "Huh? Wasn't that the reason you called us here?"

"Well, I did call you here to take a look at the new outfits I made, but I didn't say they were only for your friend here. I made one for you, too."

Now that puzzled me. "You made another?" I asked.

"Why of course I did! It's only right that I made a matching pair for the two of you, the two people who indirectly inspired me to make these clothes. It was only right that I made the two of you these clothes," she reasoned. "Plus, I can't advertise these outfits with one person alone. The more people wearing these, the better. Both for business and for popularity~"

"Aren't those the same thing in your case?" I questioned.

Celina simply giggled, before holding up another yukata in her hands, this one being orange with green swirls on it. "Oh, never mind the small details. Now get changed."

I wanted to refuse her, especially as I recalled my father's warning in my ears about going out without my cloak on. If word gets out that I look like my mother, there would be hell to pay from my father. 

"I really appreciate the thought but-"

"Don't think about ignoring me this time. You don't have much of a say here," Celina interrupted. 

I found that what she said was true, especially as I had no say in this situation. As such, I could only follow her into her office, with Mindy waiting outside this time.

After switching into the yukata, Mindy and I stood in the hall in our new clothes, admiring each other's new looks, as did the person who designed the yukatas.

"Mmm-hmm. Yep. You both look great in those," Celina said in pride.

"How much for these?" I then asked, realizing that we may need to pay for these, if we wanted to buy them.

"For you two? They're free." Mindy and I turned to her with puzzled expressions at the response.

"Free?! Really?" the harpy asked. "B-But... I'm sure these are expensive..."

"Ah, don't worry about the materials. You kids gave me the ideas to make those in the first place. Consider it a gift."

Mindy and I glanced at each other with smiles on our faces, before turning back to the woman. "Thanks so much!" I said.

"Too early to thank me," Celina said, digging into her pocket and pulled out a pair of tickets. "Every year in the middle-class section, there is this play going on. The play is the same every year, but it displays- No... I don't want to spoil anything for you kids. All I will say is that the play is really good. I recommend you both go see it."

This surprised us even more. "You don't need to! These clothes are good enough," Mindy said.

"What she said. Isn't this being a little too generous?" I questioned.

"More of a chance, if anything. I do need you two to advertise those robes. The more people asking about these, the better. Not just for me. If it turns out I may be way over my head about those robes, then I will need you two to pay this much for the materials I had used." Celina handed us a folded piece of paper. I took it in my hand and unfolded it to read the content. One look, and I hastily crumbled it up. 

"Attract customers. Got it," I confirmed, taking the pair of tickets and heading out the store. "Let's go, Mindy."

Though confused, my one and only companion had followed me out the door. If I did not know any better, I would say Celina was watching us leave with quite the amused expression on her face.

Once we were out, Mindy walked up to me. "Um... What was the price for these?" she asked.

I shuddered at the memory of the amount. "Let's just say... I am grateful we are getting those monthly payments, and we have a pond with some nice fish in it."

That was thankfully enough to hint out what the amount was, as Mindy herself flinched in surprise at the price. 

"We should hurry to that play, then. Where was it supposed to be?"

I took a look at the tickets for the location. "Hmm... Looks like it's that way." With that, I led us to where the play was to be held.

******

Some time of walking later, as well as some advertising on the way there, we made it to the location just in time for the play to begin. Mindy and I sat in the back row, where we would not be bothering any one in the audience, especially with the harpy's appearance. Our local area may be okay with her, but not everyone in Flammel Kingdom know about there being a harpy amongst them. And we do not want to know what would happen if they do find out about her. This made us both thankful Celina made these yukatas, especially as the sleeves helped cover up Mindy's wings to an extent.

The play was epic, to say the least. As it would turn out, it was based on a true story; a true story that was also the second reason for the festival. 

In this world, there were many other races that lived alongside the human race. Amongst them were the crossbreeds and purebreds. However, of the many race in this world, the most ruthless of them all was the demon race. They who were led by their king to eradicate all other races, and make this world one ruled by demons only. 

All had seemed lost, when humanity's chosen hero, who later became the founder of Flammel Kingdom alongside his allies, came and killed the demon king. Of course, like any fantasy hero stories from back home, the heroes had to defeat the demon king's subordinates and minions before having to deal with the king himself. The actors even displayed a nice array of magic, some a bit too flashy to be used in a play, thus making it a relief that they had the play be done outdoors and not indoors. Sadly, even back then, Water Magic seemed to be seen as nonexistent, due to the lack of such magic being used in the storyline, as well as no mention of there being a Water Mage.

Throughout the play, I noticed something about one of characters, who was one of the hero's companions. There was just something familiar about her, and it was not until she had her helm removed during an big battle scene that I had to hold back the urge to stand with a gasp. 

... For it was my mother playing as one of the characters.

I could not believe what I saw. How was it ever possible? To think that this would be a time I would ever see her again. Well, not that she could see me to begin with from this crowded audience, for Mindy and I were coincidentally hiding at the corner.

After an hour or so later, the play had come to an end, as the actors all bowed to the audience in thanks for watching the show.

"That was a wonderful show!" Mindy commented, clapping with her wings as best as possible.

"Yeah... That was something," I could only say in agreement.

"And all of that really happened so long ago?"

"Apparently so."

Just then, the narrator of the play stepped up, mic in hand. "Okay, everyone! Quiet down now! This year, we will be doing a little something special for everyone!" That confused everyone, especially those who had seen this play once so many times. "I know what you are all thinking... There usually is nothing else after this wonderful play. What could you be possibly have to make this even better? Well, my fellow audience... Would you believe me, if I say today, we have a special event for everyone? If you all can please look at your ticket!"

I took out the two tickets from my pocket and handed one of them to Mindy.

"If you all noticed on the top right corner, therein lies your seat number! Each of the actors here will randomly pull out a raffle ticket from this box here, which will contain the winner's seat number! Their prize will be to spend up to an hour of private time with an actor or actress that chose them! ... Within reason, that is. We would not want to accidentally start up a scandal after all." Some people held back chuckles at that last part, but many in the audience were excited to be able to be with their favorite model.

In my case, though, it was different. I was not sure how I should think, especially at the thought of having some mother-daughter moment with my mom. We had a lot to talk about, but I was not sure if she would be willing ot hear.

"All right now! Next up, who will be with Ms. Ellis?!" the narrator questioned, as I watched my mother approach the box and stuck her hand in. She gave the box a few shakes before finally taking a ticket out, and I listened to the number in anticipation.