“Ah?”
“It’s all right, just hand these over to Nola. She’ll answer them for you.”
“…Oh.”
Selis shook her head and laughed softly. Nola took the Magic questions from Teresa’s hand and began explaining patiently.
But in Teresa’s heart, her doubts only grew stronger because of what Nola had said.
Could it be that Saintess Selis really doesn’t know Magic?
She found that hard to believe.
If that were the case, then who was it that carved the Sun Mark Magic on the back of her hand that night?
“Are you listening?”
“…I’m listening, I’m listening.”
Prompted by Nola’s reminder, Teresa was forced to set her thoughts aside and listen carefully to her explanation.
But… does that mean today’s plan to collect Selis’s handwriting has failed?
How could that be!
Teresa was always careful and had prepared two plans for this kind of situation.
After the explanation, she first thanked Nola, then pulled a Leave Note from her pocket and handed it to Selis.
“Lady Selis, there are some Magic Equipment we haven’t bought yet for the Magic experiment, so I’d like to request a day off tomorrow to go purchase supplies with Aixi. Please approve it.”
“All right, but remember to stay safe.”
There was no reason for Selis to refuse such a leave request. She picked up her pen and signed her name on the Leave Note.
Seeing this, the corners of Teresa’s mouth curled up slightly.
After bowing respectfully and leaving the Saintess’s office, she placed the Leave Note over her heart.
Thump, thump, thump—
She could hear her heart racing rapidly.
And this, all because of the handwriting on the Leave Note.
If Isavel and Selis were really the same person, then their handwriting should be identical.
So…
With a heart full of excitement, she lifted the Leave Note up to the light, looking closely at the Signature on it.
“Eh?”
At just a glance, she was stunned.
Her excitement was instantly doused, her mind sobering like cold water had been poured over it.
This handwriting… is actually different from before?
Isavel and Selis, are not the same person?
……
During the Magic Practice Class, Mentor Anderi wore a stern expression as he briefly explained the new Magic Theory, then called Aixi up to demonstrate the most basic Spark Spell.
He crossed his arms, a hint of contempt in his eyes:
“Aixi, show everyone the basics of Elemental Sensing. Don’t worry—even if you fail, everyone can see where the limits of effort lie.”
Aixi’s inability to learn Magic was no secret by now, and as one of the Magic mentors, Anderi had known this early on.
But he still called her up to demonstrate Magic.
Not for any other reason—simply to humiliate Aixi.
As long as he could see someone who couldn’t use Magic embarrass herself before him, he would feel a special sense of superiority.
This was the privilege of those who could use Magic; it was proof that he was better than others.
Anyone without magical talent was inferior trash.
He used to hide such thoughts deeply, but after becoming a mentor at the Magic Academy, he realized that even if he humiliated them in front of everyone, these students wouldn’t dare rebel.
He could even preach such ideas to them, turning them into people like him!
Heaven, being a mentor really was the perfect profession!
Under everyone’s gaze, Aixi nervously stretched out her hand, concentrating all her effort on sensing the elements.
A minute passed, but her palm was still empty. Only fine beads of sweat appeared at her temples, while the classroom below was utterly silent.
Aixi’s ears were flushed red, her voice as faint as a mosquito: “S-sorry…”
Anderi feigned a sigh, though there was a trace of mocking laughter in his tone:
“Go back. Remember, some people are simply destined to have no affinity with Magic. Continuing to sit in my class is really just a waste of time.”
“Magic is a blessing bestowed upon us by the gods—it can make our lives so much easier. But for those with no magical talent, it’s better to go do some physical work instead.”
“After all, as long as either the brain or the body is developed, you can be considered a person.”
“Teresa, you demonstrate the Spark Spell.”
Teresa cast a worried glance at Aixi, who lowered her head and quickly returned to her seat, then stepped forward and performed the spell perfectly.
Meanwhile, in the audience, many of the girls frowned, obviously dissatisfied with this mentor.
Leanna, especially, glared coldly at Anderi, her eyes devoid of the slightest respect.
If Meilin hadn’t been holding her down, she probably would have stood up and quarreled with the mentor right then and there.
After class, Teresa pulled Aixi away from the Temporary Encampment of the Rose Knights, heading into town to buy some Magic Equipment.
As for why she chose Aixi, it was simply because she could see what was on her mind.
Having no talent for Magic but still being forced to study it was bound to weigh on her heart. Taking a stroll through the city might help lift her spirits.
Inside the Magic Equipment Shop, Teresa followed a clerk deeper into the store, browsing through the dazzling array of Magic Equipment.
Aixi wandered about the shop alone, her expression full of melancholy.
She seemed to be recalling something from her past.
Precisely because she was distracted, as she turned a corner, she bumped into another noble young lady.
“Ah, sorry, so sorry…”
She bowed her head, apologizing repeatedly.
The noble young lady opposite her finished tidying her dress, then looked up in surprise and recognized her.
“Aixi?”
“You’re… Kaelan?”
After studying the girl in front of her for a moment, Aixi recognized her as well.
But as soon as she did, her body tensed and she became visibly uncomfortable.
Kaelan—a noble young lady who grew up in the same city as her.
Because they lived in the same city, their families were rivals, driven by competing interests.
This animosity had carried over to their children, so their relationship was naturally poor.
Whenever the chance arose, they would mock each other.
But unlike her, Kaelan had always been praised as a genius at Magic—a model child everyone talked about.
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have gotten into an elite academy like Mills Academy.
So as they grew older, the gap between them became more obvious, and rumors of Aixi being inferior to Kaelan spread like wildfire throughout the city.
As a result, whenever she saw Kaelan, Aixi would feel a deep sense of inferiority.
“Well, well! Who would’ve thought that Miss Aixi, after leaving home for so many years, still remembers my name. How rare.”
Aixi lowered her head, wanting to slip past her, but Kaelan—dressed in a luxurious mage’s robe and holding a gemstone-encrusted staff—stepped forward, blocking her way.
At the same time, a mocking smile appeared openly on her face.
“Eh? Where are you going? Aixi, shouldn’t you be happy to see a friend from your hometown here? Why are you running away?”