“Director Albert, isn’t it a bit rude of you to just show up uninvited?”
Lola Bell rose from her chair, her gaze cold as she approached Albert.
She was already displeased about having two extra people join her and her sister’s precious breakfast time.
Now, an outsider had barged in.
Her heart was filled with irritation, and her tone had grown noticeably colder.
“I’m just here to deal with a late student.”
Albert seemed unfazed by the obvious displeasure in her voice.
She crossed her arms, adjusted her golden-rimmed glasses, then, with a stern expression, clicked her high heels as she passed by Lola Bell’s side.
When she reached Aurora, the thick dragon tail behind her began to sway.
The tip of the tail traced a line through the air, and suddenly a blue rift appeared.
Looking down at Aurora seated in the chair, Albert spoke flatly, “Considering you just enrolled, I won’t punish you this time.”
Her sharp eyes glanced aside, meeting Lola Bell’s dangerous glare.
Usually, late students would face some form of punishment, at least writing a 2,000-word reflection paper.
But Albert knew that if she upset the paladin standing next to Lola Bell, the academy might end up losing another building.
So, within acceptable limits, she decided not to ruffle Lola Bell’s feathers.
With a resigned sigh, Albert said to Aurora, “Don’t be late next time, alright?”
“Got it, got it!” Aurora nodded eagerly, pecking like a little chick.
“Then come with me. I’ll take you to your classroom.”
With that, Albert walked toward the rift.
The blue rift suddenly expanded, revealing an endless blue sea inside.
Seeing the scene within the rift made Aurora feel a little afraid.
She took a deep breath and decided to follow.
“Wait, sister.”
Just a few steps in, a gentle voice stopped her.
Aurora paused and turned to see her younger sister standing beside her.
In her hand was a ring, set with a golden crystal that faintly glowed with a soft golden light.
Aurora’s fair hand was taken, and the golden ring was slowly placed on her index finger.
“This will bring you good luck.”
The ring looked expensive, and having been poor all her life, Aurora wasn’t used to wearing such a precious item. She was about to take it off and give it back.
“It must be expensive. Why don’t you keep it instead…”
Before she could finish, Lola Bell held her hand firmly and stopped her.
She gently lifted Aurora’s hand, then lightly pressed her nose to Aurora’s finger.
In a soft voice, she said, “This was made just for you. Please don’t refuse me, okay?”
Her eyes seemed to plead, tinged with a faint, almost imperceptible shyness, as if this ring meant a great deal to Lola Bell.
Seeing this, Aurora no longer resisted and nodded lightly in agreement.
“Oh~ so sweet~” Azalea’s eyes widened nearby.
If she had paper and pen right now, she would have already tried her best to capture this moment in a drawing.
“You two, how long are you going to keep acting like lovers?”
“When the school’s over, you can propose. Albert’s already walked away.” Misha said, looking a little headache-ridden.
“Proposal? Isn’t that way too soon!” Lola Bell cried out, embarrassed.
“You really are serious about that, huh…”
Aurora laughed, taking it as a joke.
She turned to look at the rift again and saw Albert standing inside, seemingly waiting for her.
“Well… I’m off then.”
“I’ll come pick you up after school.”
“Okay.”
Aurora nodded and stepped into the rift.
As she entered, the rift slowly closed until not a trace of it remained.
“Hey, Lola Bell.”
“That ring you gave her is a blessed magic artifact specially made by the kingdom for paladins. Ordinary people can’t handle such intense magical power.”
“Even elves probably couldn’t withstand it.”
Azalea rested her chin on her hand, looking somewhat worried.
“That’s why I split the ring into two.”
Lola Bell pulled another identical ring from her pocket and, in front of the others, placed it on her own ring finger.
“I asked Misha to make two, and I embedded a ‘Shared Heart’ spell in them.”
“That way, I can always monitor my sister’s emotions. If anyone bullies her, I’ll know immediately.”
“You’re something else… I was wondering why you’d split the ring’s magic like that.” Misha looked at the ring with a helpless expression.
“Lola Bell, I didn’t expect you to have the makings of a devoted older sister after all.”
“Devoted older sister… what’s that?”
“……”
Inside the blue space.
Aurora followed closely behind Albert.
They walked among the clouds, below them an endless blue ocean stretched to the horizon, and ahead there was no sign of the sea’s end either.
Aurora vaguely recalled Lola Bell mentioning that this space was called the Illusory Sea, said to connect to any place in the real world.
No wonder Albert could appear in the manor without anyone noticing.
The clouds felt soft beneath her feet, yet every step Albert took with her high heels sounded like she was walking on solid floor.
Aurora, by contrast, felt like she was stepping on cotton, making no sound at all. It piqued her curiosity.
After a few steps, Albert suddenly stopped.
She took out a circular device from her chest pocket.
Aurora couldn’t see clearly but felt it resembled a compass, though slightly different.
Albert glanced at it once, then put it away, turning to face Aurora.
“Is something wrong?” Aurora asked, puzzled.
“We’ve arrived.”
“But there’s something important I need to ask you.”
“Wh-what is it?” Aurora asked nervously.
“How do you know both Beatrice and that paladin?”
She had planned to ask after school, but since they were face-to-face now, it was more convenient to ask immediately.
“You’re just a fairy, yet you’re Beatrice’s maid and that paladin’s sister. I’m curious about your background.”
“I took care of Lola Bell when she was little, but for some reason, I suddenly slept for several years. When I woke up, she was already a paladin.”
“And about that Beatrice you mentioned just now… sorry, I don’t think I know her.”
“You don’t know her?”
Albert frowned, then suddenly leaned toward Aurora as if she’d realized something.
Aurora instinctively took a half-step back, but Albert’s speed was so fast the gap was quickly closed.
Albert stared at her, her eyes glowing blue, as if searching for something within Aurora’s own gaze…
“I see. So it really is her magic.” After a long pause, she said abruptly.
“Magic?”
Albert didn’t intend to tell her more, as it would only cause more trouble.
She quickly added, “Don’t worry about it. There’s something else I need to ask you.”
“This should’ve been asked the day you signed the enrollment papers, but things were too sudden, and I forgot.”
“What is it?”
Aurora calmly put some distance between them again.
“You should know, our academy only trains two types: witches and mages.”
“Since you enrolled, you must choose one of the two.”
“Tell me, do you want to become a witch or a mage?”