Lance and Aria were going to show Luciela around the campus after class.
“I...I’ll be in your care!” Luciela exclaimed, making a deep bow.
“No need to be too formal.” Lance reassured her. “Right, Aria?”
“Mhmmm.”
Right now they’re going to the cafeteria to have lunch.
“So Luciela...how’d you meet my sister?”
“Miss Einfelt? Well…”
She recounted her initial meeting with Rose.
“I met her while I was picking up some herbs just outside of my village last week. I think she was looking for something prior to that and was just passing by my village to resupply on her return trip…Ah.”
Luciela lightly tapped a closed fist on her palm. “So that’s what was bothering me...!”
“What’s wrong?” Lance asked.
“I never got to ask what she was looking for,” Luciela said. “I was surprised when she suddenly asked me if she wanted to be my apprentice.”
“That sounds like Rose.”
“It does? She’s a lot more strict with me, at least early on.” Aria said.
Lance made a tired look. “That’s because she’s worried about what would happen if she left you alone…”
“Is that so…”
“In any case, she was probably looking for materials for her research. I asked her about it and she said she was looking for fresh ingredients to ensure the quality of the potions.”
“I personally think it’s inefficient for her to do it herself. She could have just delegated the work to someone else,” Aria said on the side.
“Did she delegate these kinds of tasks to you?” Lance asked.
“A couple of times.” She paused for a bit before muttering, “...But she complains that I keep bringing the wrong herbs.”
“Please tell me you didn’t just go to the nearest bush and pick up some leaves…”
“I wanted to get back to training as soon as possible,” she replied, her face reddening just the slightest bit.
“Apologize to Rose right now.”
“Why?” She asked, wondering what she did wrong as she kept walking.
Oh, she stumbled a bit, Luciela noted while listening as the two of them bicker.
“Don’t you ‘why’ me you musclehead!” Lance said as he grinded his fist on Aria’s head.
Aria stuck her tongue out in defiance.
These two seem quite close. Luciela giggled a little while watching the two.
“This is the cafeteria. The meals here are good, if a bit lacking in variety,” Lance said before quickly adding, “Ah, don’t tell them I said that.”
“D-Do I need to pay for the food?” Luciela asked.
Lance’s lips curved up a bit, slowly shaking his head while saying, “You don’t. It’s one of the privileges given to us students.”
“The food outside is better,” Aria mumbled.
Lance retorts, “Hey! Don’t teach the new student how to break the rules! ....That’s something you tell her after she has adjusted.”
“Eh?” Luciela tilted her head. I’m not sure I heard that last part right.
He shrugged his shoulders. “Nothing important. Are you hungry?”
“A bit.”
“Alright, then we’ll eat before we continue.”
Lance and Aria showed me how to get food in the cafeteria. It seems that you choose what meal you would like by getting a meal coupon from a Magic Tool that dispenses them.
“How convenient…” Luciela muttered.
“We’re quite lucky in that regard,” Lance said. “The food selection was only streamlined a little over two years ago, during Rose’s 4th year. Prior to that, it was a competition to get the best food of the day in the cafeteria.”
“I already knew this but...Miss Einfelt is really impressive…Already a Magician at the age of 16.
“So her fame also reached your village?”
“Just the things that travelling merchants and those who visit the city know.”
Over the course of history, there are rare existences known as geniuses and prodigies, born once every few decades. Barring a few exceptions, most of them go on to make their mark in the world.
Rose Einfelt is celebrated as one of the kingdom of Elesia’s three prodigies within the last decade, and easily the most popular thanks to her contributions in Magic, from inventing new spells, discovering ancient artifacts, and improving the quality of life thanks to her Magic Tools. Many who adore her refer to her as “Miss Rose” as a sign of reverence, and is especially popular with the younger generation.
When Luciela realized who she was talking to back then, she nearly fell to the ground from excitement.
I’m still a little embarrassed to call her Miss Rose, and besides...
As Lance said, the food was indeed delicious.
I wonder if I can get the recipe for some of the dishes…
“You can, actually,” Lance answered.
“Eh? Did I say that out loud?” Luciela blushed in embarrassment.
“We can ask them later,” Lance said. “I’ve never had an opportunity to ask due to circumstances, but this is as good an opportunity as any.”
I widened my eyes in surprise. It seems that Aria’s just as surprised.
“You can cook too, Lance?”
“Is that strange?”
“No…It’s just, I was under the impression that the nobility don’t cook for themselves…” Luciela said, before quickly waving my hands in a panic. “I-I didn’t mean that as an insult-”
“Don’t worry, I’m not offended.” Lance chuckled a bit. “And you’re right. Nobles normally don’t cook for themselves; men even less so. Many of them leave it to their servants.”
“You never told me that you can cook…” Aria muttered, pouting.
“Guess that’s a new thing that you found out about me,” Lance teased her. “Do you want to try my cooking?”
“Yes.”
Lance smiled.
“Alright, when we get the chance.”
The corridors here are really big… Lucia thought as she looked around and noticed Aria putting a piece of wrapper in her bag. Said bag lit up a bit as Aria put the wrapper inside.
“Is that a magic bag?” She asked.
“Yes,” Aria replied.
“How does it work?”
Aria looked at Luciela, then at the ceiling, then at the floor, then back to Luciela, before she said, “I don’t know.”
“Eh?”
“Aria...didn’t I explain it to you two weeks ago?” Lance asked with a tone of helplessness.
“Most of it went over my head,” she replied immediately
Lance gave her a questioning look.
“I’m almost afraid to ask, but just what IS in that brain of yours?” Lance asked.
“Finding ways to increase the efficiency of my spells so I can beat you soundly.”
Lance widened his mouth a bit before regaining his composure. “You do realize that what you just said is outrageous, right?”
“I don’t know what’s so outrageous about it,” Aria said with a puzzled look on her face.
Lance squinted his eyes. “So why can’t you bring Rose the right herbs?”
“They all look the same to me.”
Lance put his hand on his face while shaking his head when he heard Aria’s response.
“I don’t really get it, Aria is pretty amazing, huh?” Luciela said.
“For better or for worse. A pity she doesn’t apply it to anything that’s not related to battle,” Lance said in resignation.
“I was given a high mark in alchemy earlier,” Aria said, defending herself.
“That’s because for SOME reason, you managed to create an explosive when we were trying to make a rejuvenation potion!” Lance exclaimed. “Thank god it only explodes when you throw the flask to the ground after shaking it, because otherwise you could have injured someone!”
“It’s useful in battle,” she nodded, agreeing with herself.
Lance tried to voice a rebuttal, but failed.
“...I have to admit that’s true…” he said.
A few moments later…
“Anyway,” Lance said as he glanced around. “It seems we’re here.”
He gestured to the hall full of doors.
This section of the campus is known as the ‘Workshop Hall’.”
The Workshop Hall is a huge building that has 3 floors and 2 underground floors. As the name implies, students and teachers who wish to perform experiments can do so here. Most students can only borrow a room for a set amount of time, but honor students like Lance can borrow one for an indefinite amount of time.
There are dedicated staff to help in any accidents that may occur, which is admitted, a lot,” he said as he moved his hand to the direction of the infirmary. “No one dies though and they all recover thanks to the skilled school doctor”
“Thank the heav-”Lance’s next words cut me off.
“That might change once he retires though.”
“...”
“Don’t worry too much, the academy will likely hire a competent replacement..” He reassured Luciela before continuing, “My personal workshop is located on the 2nd underground floor, which I have effectively reserved for the next five years, assuming my grades don’t drop.”
“Lance’s favorite place,” Aria said.
“Eh?” Lucia looked at her, confused.
“You see, I’m planning to become a Magic Researcher after I graduate.” He smiled a little.
“And I want you to be my partner when I join the Army,” Aria said in disagreement.
“Aria…” Lance said as he looked at her.
“I have five years to convince you.”
“Fine…” He scratched his head, “I’ll also have five years to drill your head into the wonders of Magic Research.”
“I don’t want to.” Aria shivered. “You’re too scary when doing experiments, laughing like a madman.”
“I could say the same to you during our mock battles..”
“What was that?”
Lance pretended not to hear her as they made their way to his workshop.
Once they arrived, Lance wasted no time giving Luciela a tour of his workshop.
“This apparatus here is used to heat liquids. This over here is used to measure its temperature, this here…”
While he was initially on-point, Lance got too engrossed and started explaining his previous experiments.
“Lance, we were supposed to give Luciela a tour, not showing her your work.”
“Right…” Lance scratched his cheek. “I got too into this and was about to start another experiment.”
After visiting Lance’s workshop, they continued their tour. They saw some students having duels in the training grounds. Aria kept on trying to have a duel with Lance while they were there and fired a few spells at him, which he proceeded to either dodge or block with his own spell, to his chagrin.
“And finally, the library,” Lance said as they approached the library. “Hmmm…?”
“Is something wrong, Lance?’ Aria asked.
“No, it’s just…I thought I saw someone in the corner.”
“There was someone there just now,” Luciela said. “It seems they left already though.”
“Ah, is that so?” Lance hummed a little. “Well, in any case, we’re finally here.”
“Oh...You're finally here,” Rose greeted them as she stored a book titled “Compilation of Magic Theory” in her magic bag.
Luciela felt that something was slightly off with her voice, but it quickly disappeared thanks to the next few exchanges.
“Hey sis, sorry for the wait.”
“Good afternoon Master,” Aria greeted Rose.
Rose pouted a bit while looking at Aria.
“I told you to call me by my name already!” she said before turning her attention to Luciela, who was clearly nervous.
“H-Hello Miss Einfelt...!”
“Call me by my name,” Rose said.
“Eh? Miss Ein-”
“Call me by my name.”
“E-Eh? Um...Miss...Rose…”
“Kyaa~!! How cute~!” Rose said as she cuddled and rubbed her face on Luciela’s head. “I’ve always wanted to do this ever since I first saw you!”
Lance just looked at the scene in front of him with a wry smile on his face while Aria had a relieved expression on her face for some reason.
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