It was a force which couldn’t be called anything other than the power of life. The green light spreading from Ellenoa encouraged life in everything it touched. The unripe grape vine leaves strewn on the ground started growing as small grains of grapes puffed up.

Theodore couldn’t escape from the brilliance either. He looked down at his forearms as a tickling sensation went through his body, then he witnessed an amazing sight.

... My wounds are healing?

Although Theo hadn’t been seriously injured during the course of the mission, he hadn’t been completely unscathed. He had several shallow bruises, small cuts, and minor muscle sprains. He hadn’t wanted to waste a healing potion on such slight injuries, so he’d left them alone. However, the wounds and scars were now gone without a trace.

As he felt the light wash over him, he recognized its similarities to the divine magic that priests used. The light of vitality healed his shallow wounds and washed away his fatigue. This was the special ability of the high elves, who had inherited the lineage of the ancient species, Arv. High elves had an innate ability to unconsciously amplify the power of nature and accelerate them when used consciously. This was why Austen Kingdom had sought Ellenoa as a solution to the drought. They had thought it really was possible, which was why they came up with a ridiculous plan to kidnap her.

But this healing is just the aftermath of the energy used to wake up Mitra. If she tried to heal someone, she might be able to cure a fatal injury in a flash.

Theo gulped involuntarily. Would the Cardinal of Aether, a religion known for its healing power, be able to replicate something like this? Theo had never met a cardinal before, but he couldn’t help being inwardly shaken by this amazing sight. He was afraid to blink as he stared at Mitra and Ellenoa, who were wrapped in a green light.

At that moment, Ellenoa’s voice was conveyed clearly.

[Theodore?]

The voice was being conveyed into his head. So far, only Gluttony and Mitra had talked to him in this way as it wasn’t possible to access the mind of a magician with strong mental defenses. Yet Ellenoa was talking directly to Theodore’s spirit! So, it was natural for Theodore to feel startled.

[Ellenoa?! How?]

[I used your connection with Mitra. It is impossible unless I am touching her like this.]

[Ah, something like this is also possible.]

Theo quickly understood the principle behind it. If Ellenoa had bad intentions, then she had free rein to attack his mind directly. However, it would also be instantly sensed by Mitra, who would cut her off. Mitra wouldn’t allow anyone with impure intentions to harm her contractor.

[From now on, I will awaken Mitra’s essence. I don’t know the effect it will have on Theodore due to the contract, so please calm your mind.]

Ellenoa’s words felt like a cold shower over his startlement.

[... I understand.]

Theo closed his eyes under her guidance. His vision closed off first, and then his hearing as he dove deeper into his mind. His sense of touch faded away, and last, the tastes and odors in his mouth and odors disappeared. After closing all five senses, his sixth sense would naturally sharpen, and the movements of his Circles became clearer.

As he basked in the stillness, Ellenoa pulled the handle, opening the door deep inside Mitra.

***

In the far distant past, when humans were just monkeys swinging stone axes, there were existences who lived beyond the dimensions of a living thing. They were transcendent, breathing in nature naturally and caring for all life. The intelligent beings gave sacrifices to them, calling them by the title of ‘god’ and praising them.

Deity...

The praising voices called them into new forms.

[□□□□, please come commiserate with us!]

The man shouted in front of the magnificent altar, and my name became □□□□. My form was drawn by them, and my presence, which had been free, was captured by the wind. However, I remember that I had accepted their captivity.

For some reason, I thought that the discomfort was lovely. They were flickers who couldn’t withstand a few months of drought, yet they always survived. They were like ants compared to my power, yet I was delighted by their calls. The cries of my name enriched me.

No one noticed that it was a corruption. When did I realize that the power which caused me to be praised as Mother Earth started to decline?

The transcendent gods started to grow closer to destruction as they moved away from nature. Their strength withstood the corruption for a long time, but their destiny, which was now closer to humans than nature, had been fixed.

It was absurd that the enlightenment that the gods self destructed from was that they had learned of their own ego from humans.

I, □□□□, couldn’t stop my own end either.

......

[... Theodore!]

A sharp voice forced Theo’s consciousness into wakefulness. Theo’s mind was dull for a moment, but he soon realized who it was. It was the high elf who had been talking to him using Mitra’s connection.

[Ellenoa?]

[Oh, you’ve woken up! I’m glad.] Ellenoa was sincerely relieved.

When she had woken up Mitra’s essence, Theodore’s consciousness had been pulled in. Mitra was just a subordinate spirit, but she had the presence of one beyond an elemental ruler. A human’s consciousness inside her essence would melt away like a snowflake in lava. Fortunately, Theodore had broken away before that happened.

[This happened because Theodore’s affinity is too high. Please stay separate like you are now.]

Theo now understood how dangerous the situation had been and took in some deep breaths. It wouldn’t safeguard his mind, but it was a good method for self-hypnosis. Theo sank into the familiar rhythm of his breathing.

Ellenoa’s voice echoed in his mind.

[Slow down your mind and look down.]

His gaze slowly fell, and his eyes widened in surprise.

It was huge. A large mountain of an unknown size was rising below him. The peak pierced through several layers of clouds, and it was so broad that it was almost impossible to distinguish between the mountains and the plains.

After staring at it for a moment, Theo realized what he was looking at.

[This is Mitra’s prototype?]

Ellenoa answered without any hesitation.

[Yes. She is the essence of the elemental contracted with Theodore. She is the seed of an old deity who existed a few thousand years before the beginning of the present age. The deity was a symbol of abundance and fertility.]

As she spoke, Theo recalled a couple of scenes from the memories he had fallen into. Only a few scholars remembered her name anymore; the goddess who had stood higher than any other deity and brought humans into the agricultural era.

Her name was [Mother Earth, Dmitra.]

She was the goddess of earth who was worshiped as Ceres in some countries and Demeter in others. Dmitra made crops grow and the land fertile. Since she was the source of life and the being who ruled the earth, she had a much higher status than other gods. Theo had never thought that Mitra’s identity was this big.

Theo looked down at Mitra unconsciously.

[―――――Ah.]

She met his eyes.

***

“Owaaaaack!” Theo screamed as he was thrown back into reality.

The gaze of the giant entity had shocked his consciousness. It was impossible to make eye contact, even though it was only the faintest of traces. She was a god, a transcendent being, a monster that even the legendary 9th Circle magicians had to revere. Theo’s body was still shaking nervously from her gaze.

Theo had fallen off his chair as he supported himself on one knee, panting.

“... Wow, that was more amazing than I thought it’d be.” Ellenoa sounded somewhat exhausted.

Theo clambered to his feet. “Ellenoa.”

Ellenoa asked, “Are you okay? Your head might be dizzy so take it slowly...”

“No, it's okay.” He had already gone through this three times already, so he had gotten used to abruptly returning to consciousness.

Ellenoa opened her tired eyes, but before she could speak, something ran toward Theo.

Bam!

“Wah!”

Theo yelped in surprise, and looked down at his legs. Luckily, there was no pain from the impact. Mitra had grown more than before and was now the length of Theo’s head. But that wasn’t the real surprise.

[Deo!]

Theo stared at her in disbelief. “M-Mitra?”

[Yes! Midra!]

Her pronunciation was still clumsy, but it caused the earth goddess Dmitra’s face to fade away as the happy earth elemental replaced her.

As Theo stroked her head with a relieved expression, Ellenoa said, “The ceremony was a success. Now, Mitra can exercise the power of a lieutenant elemental. As you can see, she has the ability to grow more.”

“Growth… is it?” He certainly could feel that Mitra’s power had doubled.

He had been forced to be efficient with his earth magic, but now he could use a few more elemental tricks. However, Theo was happy to see the small and cute Mitra. An elemental of this size wasn’t burdensome.

“You shouldn’t become bigger than me. Understood?”

[Yes?]

Mitra tilted her head with a confused expression, while Ellenoa hid a smile at Theo’s words.