DiMENSIONS [IDOLiSH7]

11: Audition

-Majabah-

"S-sir" Momose stumbled onto his knees and bowed his head deeply to Riku. Gaku and Mitsuki went to Riku's sides, bending on one knee. "I'm so so sorry. I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to hurt him. P-please-"

Momose was clearly shaken. He was a commoner incapable of using magic, making him an easy target for insults and abuses from the highborn. Momose was an orphan, found as a baby near the village by the sea. None knew of his lineage. Even when people treated him terribly, Momose's kindness did not disappear. He helped everyone whenever he could.

Riku cut him off. "Sunohara, raise your head." Momose slowly looked up. He gasped when he saw Mitsuki and Gaku bending down by Riku's side. Momose thought the red-haired guy must be at a very high level in society since he seemed to be served by other nobles.

"If you truly did not mean to harm my guest, then apologise to him, not me." Riku spoke in a calm, lord-like manner, which made Momose feel more at ease, strangely. The nobles he had met all acted like scum who enjoyed boasting about their power and influence. Momose immediately turned to Mitsuki. He apologised and bowed endlessly. Mitsuki said it was fine. He wasn't badly hurt and understood why Momose would be so afraid after all that happened to him.

"Very well." The lord finally gave a reserved smile. Momose found it to be pretty. "Now, it seems you have turned my garden into quite a... fantasy." Riku walked towards the wall of roses, almost tripping because of the knee-length wild grass. Gaku's swift reaction saved his clumsy lord from falling. Even though the branches were thick and thorny, the red roses were oversized but elegant.

Momose looked like he was in a pinch again. "...I-I can't... turn them back." He dug his fingernails into his palms.

"Do not worry. I did not expect you to." Riku turned around and gave that reserved smile to Momose again. The lord walked towards the kneeling villager and offered his hand. Momose took it and stood back up. Gaku signalled for Mitsuki to rise. "You are a geomancer. Am I correct?" Riku asked Momose. The villager seemed confused. "Geo... mancer?"

Riku shrugged his eyebrows. It indicated that Momose did not know what he was capable of. After all, geomancy was similar to beastmastery in a way that they were both forgotten ancient arts used by non-magic users. A Geomancer could control nature to a certain extent using the power of songs.

Momose explained that he had never managed to figure out how to handle his power. It seemed to run wild whenever he felt something strongly. It had always caused trouble to people such as turning a small calm river into one full of waves.

He was trembling. "I-I sensed something just before the lightning hit our village. It was such an uneasy feeling that I lost my power control, making the ground underneath me open up and swallow my whole body. After that, I heard a super, super loud thunder and everything went black."

"What a miracle! Your power protected you!" Mitsuki spoke. Both him and Gaku were amazed to hear what happened. Momose learned he was saved by Riku and Gaku so he thanked them several times.

"There must be a way to control and make use of it." The butler turned his head to his lord. Gaku saw Momose as a golden opportunity. Some of the herbs needed for making Riku's medicine did not grow in Winter. A Geomancer might be able to make them grow instantly regardless of the season. Since Riku knew about Geomancy, surely he had records on them which Momose could study from. Still, Gaku was different from Sousuke. He would never force Momose to do something he did not wish to do even if he could use his authority.

Riku couldn't read Gaku's mind, but he could tell that his butler was interested in the villager's ability. "Sunohara, I am sorry you had to go through such a horrible tragedy. While this may not be the time, what do you plan to do from now on?"