Chapter 20: Reconciliation Part 2

Whisper, whisper.

“Is that Philia?”

“The one they fought over before the entrance ceremony?”

Murmur, murmur.

“She’s pretty, though.”

“What family is she from? Oh, Clyford? That is a prestigious house.”

“Geez, so she’s pretty, talented, and from a great family? She really has it all, huh?”

“…Then what else does she even need?”

Chatter, chatter.

Philia, now the center of attention, gazed up at the clear blue sky and thought.

‘Should I just die?’

It felt like her academy life was ruined before it had even begun.

But if she was going to die, shouldn’t she at least take down the person responsible for this mess first?

‘Ellie…!’

The one who constantly tormented her, showed up every single day to talk to her, and interrupted her reading.

The one who forced her to interact with people, forced her to become more social, and made her—who had been perfectly fine being alone for years—start feeling oddly restless whenever things were too quiet.

That wretched, black-hearted demon, Ellie!

‘…I need to go see her first.’

As Philia trembled with rage, her face, ears, and even the tips of her hair turning red, she stomped up to the second floor.

Just as she arrived, she saw Ellie and Isabel stepping out of Isabel’s room together.

“Oh.”

“Huh?”

“Ah.”

Their voices overlapped.

Philia didn’t hesitate.

She yelled.

“Hey!”

It was the loudest sound she had made in all sixteen years of her life.

She’d let her emotions take over and just shouted, but even she was shocked at how loud she’d been.

“!!”

Ellie and Isabel blinked, waiting for Philia’s next words.

‘Uh…?’

Now that the moment had come, Philia wasn’t sure what to say.

‘Should she just scold them?’ But somehow, that felt wrong.

She decided to state the one thing they had definitely done to her.

“…Because of you two, I was humiliated in front of everyone.”

“I’m sorry. Isabel, you apologize too.”

“S-Sorry…”

Wait.

Now it was Philia’s turn to blink in surprise.

She hadn’t expected them to apologize so easily.

‘And why was Ellie making Isabel apologize?’

“Philia.”

Ellie took half a step forward.

“I’m sorry for dragging you into our fight. Isabel and I never meant for that to happen. Can you forgive us?”

“Uh, uh… yeah…”

‘What else could she say when they apologized like this? Was she supposed to demand they lick her shoes or pay compensation?’

“Great! Then, Philia, let’s shake hands with Isabel as a sign of reconciliation.”

“…?”

Philia stared blankly.

But Isabel, as if this were completely natural, extended her hand.

She turned her face away, looking a little embarrassed.

Philia was dumbfounded.

‘What even is she?’

Just like with Dein Edwick last time, Ellie had now brought two future dukes under her influence.

As Philia hesitated, a shadow passed over Isabel’s face.

The tears she had just barely held back seemed ready to fall again.

‘Ugh.’

Philia sighed and gave Isabel’s hand a light shake.

The rain stopped, and the sun came out.

“Happy now? I’m going.”

“Where to? Let’s go together.”

“No.”

At that moment, Philia realized she needed to make a decision.

‘For the remaining four years of academy life, would she stick with Ellie and her friends, or would she continue being alone as she always had?’

“Ellie, I’m going to be clear. From now on, stay away from me. Don’t talk to me.”

Gasp. Isabel sucked in a breath.

Philia expected Ellie to resist—to ask why, to beg her to stay friends.

But instead—

“Alright. If that’s what you truly want, I won’t stop you.”

Ellie nodded.

‘What?’

Philia, who had braced herself for a clingy, persistent response, was caught off guard.

“Y-Yeah. So don’t talk to me anymore.”

“Okay.”

Ellie’s face was serious.

And just a little sad.

Philia hesitated, unsure of what to do.

She couldn’t bring herself to leave right away.

“Uh…”

Ellie simply tilted her head, as if asking what? But she didn’t speak.

Because Philia had told her not to.

‘So, why?’

‘Why did Philia feel so unsettled?’

This was what she had wanted all along.

‘Wasn’t it?’

Forcing herself, she turned away.

Moving her feet that felt stuck to the floor, she went back down to the first floor, to her own room, and collapsed onto her bed.

She curled up, hugging the stuffed doll she had brought from home.

‘…This sucks.’

Her chest felt tight.

‘Maybe even a little… painful.’

Philia let out a sigh into the soft fabric of her doll.

Her private room, once a comfortable solitude, suddenly felt far too big.

***

A little while later, Philia, who had unknowingly dozed off, was woken up by a knock at her door.

“…Yes, who is it?”

“My name is Rami. I’ve come to deliver the class schedule to student Philia Cryford.”

In the academy, second-year students and above have the option to choose their own schedules, but first-year students must all take the same subjects at the same times.

However, since a hundred students can’t all attend classes together at once, the schedules are divided appropriately by days of the week.

The paper handed over by the assistant instructor had a grid listing the times, subjects, classrooms, and professors’ names from Monday to Friday.

‘Let’s see.’

Tomorrow, Thursday, was the first day of classes.

In the morning, there was one hour of Mana Studies, followed by one hour each of Common Magic Language Theory and Practice.

After lunch, there was one hour of Magical Zoology, and finally, two hours of Magic Combat.

‘A total of six hours a day, thirty hours a week. Definitely not easy.’

Philia prepared her textbooks for the next day, pushing thoughts of Ellie out of her mind for now.

***

Ten minutes later, Rami arrived at Ellie and Stella’s room as well.

“I’ve come to deliver the class schedules for students Stella Blaze and Ellie….”

“Thank you. Stella, this one’s yours.”

“Hmm. Thanks.”

Before leaving, Rami glanced at Ellie once more.

‘She really is bold.’

Even within the academy, which was equal in name, a commoner orphan and a princess were still worlds apart.

‘How could they act like such natural friends?’ They hadn’t even known each other long.

And yet, Ellie was doing it so effortlessly.

Honestly, even though Rami was just an assistant instructor, she wouldn’t dare act so casually around the princess.

‘She’s definitely a promising talent.’

With a hundred students admitted each year, there were always those who stood out—some in a good way, some in a bad way.

Ellie was definitely someone to watch.

‘But in what way, exactly?’

One thing was certain—she would be a storm.

Perhaps one bigger than anyone had ever seen before.

***

After Rami left, Ellie and Stella compared their schedules.

“Let’s see… Only three hours in the morning and three in the afternoon?”

“‘Only’ three? With this many subjects, we’ll have to study the whole day.”

“Really?”

Ellie decided to set aside her instincts from a world where school was followed by cram school and night study sessions.

“Anyway, the classes we have together on Thursday are….”

“First period and fourth period.”

“Common Magic Language and Magical Botany. And I have Magic Combat for the last two periods… Do we actually fight in that?”

“I’m not sure about the first day, but I heard dueling will be a major part of the class.”

In this world, mages were not just scholars.

Combat skills were among the most important subjects taught at the academy.

Stella suddenly glanced at Ellie.

“What?”

“Nothing. I just feel bad for the students who have to take Magic Combat with you on the first day. Go easy on them.”

“What do you think I am? Besides, it’s the first day, so they’ll probably just do an orientation.”

“Orientation? What’s that?”

“Nothing! Forget it!”

“?”

***

The next day arrived.

New students, still unfamiliar with the campus, hurried from lecture halls to workshops to practice rooms, trying to find their way.

They learned about magical languages, how to craft magical tools, and mana itself, discussing what lay ahead for the semester.

Tension, anticipation, and fresh dreams filled the air as they attended large-group lectures for the first time in their lives.

By lunchtime, the students had split into two types.

Those who, now relieved of their nerves, ate far more than usual.

And those who were still too anxious to eat properly, merely nibbling at the edges of their bread.

Philia was neither.

She quietly ate the usual amount, quietly stood up to clear her tray, and then spent a few moments resting on the grass before her next class.

Once autumn fully set in, it would be too cold to do this, but for now, basking in the midday sun felt nice.

It was a rare moment of solitude after days of turmoil.

The unease in her heart still lingered, but given time, she knew she would grow used to it again.

***

After finishing her fourth class, Philia made her way to the combat practice hall for her final lesson of the day.

And then she saw a familiar head of black hair.

“…!”

Ellie, too, seemed surprised to run into her and widened her eyes.

But she said nothing.

She was respecting Philia’s request from the day before—to not speak to her.

Philia looked around the room.

‘No empty seats at all.’

The desks were arranged for two students each, and every desk had at least one person already seated.

Three spots remained.

One next to Ellie, and two with students Philia didn’t know.

‘Where should she sit?’

No.

‘Where did she want to sit?’

‘…I don’t know.’

In the end, Philia sat beside Ellie.

Since neither of them spoke—no, since they couldn’t—an awkward tension filled the air.

Philia even considered breaking the silence just to end the discomfort.

“…So—”

But then, the clock struck the hour, and the professor entered the room.

Philia quickly shut her mouth.

“Welcome, everyone. I introduced myself at the entrance ceremony, but once again, my name is Louis Teleman. Please call me Professor Teleman.”

He was a young man with a frail appearance, but his eyes were sharp.

Clapping his hands lightly, he continued, “As you know, this course is one of the most important at the academy, with a significant number of assigned hours. But don’t worry, we won’t dive into lessons right away today.”

Instead—

“Today, we’ll begin with a simple activity with your seat partner.”