The story begins by establishing the fundamental importance of "mana," or magical energy, which permeates the world, sustaining life and enabling everyday conveniences like fire, water, and wind. This mana can be harnessed and stored in "magic stones," which are essential for daily life. The creation of magic stones involves a multi-step process: miners extract "magic ore," which is then processed by "magic artisans" to imbue it with mana, and finally sold by "magic stone vendors."
Our protagonist is El, a twelve-year-old girl living in a secluded village. Despite her young age, El is a prodigy with exceptional intelligence, memory, and a high mana capacity. She single-handedly handles the entire magic stone production process, from mining the ore to selling the finished stones. El lives in the forest with her father, Hugo, who frequently travels to the capital for work. El is not entirely alone; she is also cared for by Moritz, an elderly and reclusive wizard, and his cat-like fairy companion, Yoyo. Moritz, a former renowned sage, has been El's sole teacher, imparting his vast knowledge, including survival skills, herbalism, medicine, and importantly, the art of magic stone creation. He taught El how to imbue magic ore with mana using magic, a process that took her three years to master. Moritz sells El's magic stones for a varying price based on quality, with a strict condition: El must never reveal her ability to make magic stones, even to her father. El diligently saves the money earned, secretly intending to buy Moritz a new home as his current one is dilapidated.
A turning point occurs when Hugo leaves for the capital and does not return as expected. A year passes, and El, now living with the increasingly frail Moritz, continues her magic stone production. Yoyo, a "mountain cat" fairy, accompanies El on her mining expeditions, expressing concern for her safety. El's father's prolonged absence and Moritz's declining health weigh heavily on her. Moritz eventually succumbs to old age, passing away peacefully after a final, whispered blessing to El, "Ernestine, may there be light in your life." El is devastated, feeling utterly alone as her father is also missing.
Following Moritz's death, El, as per his instructions, burns his research and most of his magic books, keeping only his diary and a blank magic book. The burning of the books triggers strange phenomena, including the release of captured fairies and a message from Moritz appearing in the air, repeating his final blessing. El absorbs this message, feeling a warmth and a sense of not being alone. She also discovers she cannot speak the name "Ernestine," suggesting Moritz may have cast a spell on her.
El and Yoyo decide they must leave the forest to survive, as their resources are dwindling. El's initial attempt to sell her magic stones in a nearby village is met with hostility and rejection. The villagers, fearful and superstitious, accuse her of being a "monster eater's subordinate" and cast out her carefully crafted magic stones. El also notices signs of a spreading illness, "Black Spot Disease," in the village, but her attempts to offer help are rebuffed. Realizing the village is too dangerous and isolated, El decides to travel to the capital to find her father, believing he is still alive. Yoyo, despite initial apprehension, pledges to accompany her.
Their journey is fraught with peril. They encounter dangerous monsters, which El bravely defeats using her magic stones. They also witness the grim reality of the world, including the suffering caused by the Black Spot Disease and the cruelty of charlatans preying on the sick. El's innate kindness and desire to help lead her to offer aid, but she is repeatedly met with fear and suspicion. After a devastating fire destroys their home and the surrounding forest, El and Yoyo are forced to flee. They find temporary refuge with a kind elderly couple in a different village, but El's attempts to help them with their burgeoning Black Spot Disease are again met with fear and rejection. This experience solidifies El's resolve to find her father in the capital, not only for her own survival but also to potentially find a way to combat the widespread illness. The chapters conclude with El and Yoyo embarking on their journey to the capital, their bond strengthened by their shared hardships and El's growing determination to forge her own path.
