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“TEA once cold, warm again to your mistress’s liking.”
Crack. The teapot in front of her shattered.
“Argh! Not again!”
Exhausted, Emma threw herself down on top of the desk in the training room. Next to her was a cookie wrapped in charming packaging.
“Don’t be afraid of failure,” Glen said. “Even so… We can’t have you continue breaking pots. We’ll run out eventually. We do face a conundrum, eh?”
“Exactly my concern…”
Instead of objecting to Glen’s teasing, she agreed with him. She had nothing else to add that hadn’t already been said. Her eyes strayed longingly toward the cookie on the desk.
A week had passed since Glen’s declaration in the cafeteria to begin Emma’s special magical training. Every day, they conducted this intensive practice session to improve her magical control. For whatever reason, he always prepared snacks for her each time as a reward. It annoyed her to be treated like a child, but what annoyed her more was that she enjoyed their time together.
In the meantime, Glen munched idly on his cookie.
“Tell me something… Why is your reward of choice always a cookie?” she asked.
“I ate them often when I was young, especially during magical practice. Think of this cookie as a connection to your memories with your beloved maid.”
“Hmmm.”
Emma didn’t quite grasp what he meant, so she helped herself to the bag of cookies on her desk instead. She pulled open the wrapper and shoveled one into her mouth. The sweet taste of vanilla spread across her tongue. Its simple flavor didn’t match Glen’s fairytale beauty and aura. But she didn’t mind the gap between the treat and the boy who liked it. Her hand reached into the bag to retrieve another cookie.
My memories with Sunny, huh? Emma’s memories of her time with Sunny weren’t limited to the attack by the magic fox. For example, her struggles as a child with her studies in geography. When Sunny observed her charge having difficulty remembering the characteristics of each region, her maid ordered specialty goods from each locale. She tailored each day’s teatime to a specific area until Emma mastered the information.
Then there was another occasion etched deep into her mind. A day when her long-awaited outing with her mother fell through. Sunny did her best to accompany her in her mother’s place. To Emma’s surprise, she canceled all the reservations at the shops and restaurants Emma and her mother were supposed to visit that day, taking her to different places instead. Sunny explained to the disappointed Emma that she had done so in anticipation of the next time she and her mother would spend the day together. Bolstered by the thought, Emma regained some enthusiasm as she realized there would be another day for her and her mother to enjoy together.
Oh, now that I think about it, Sunny didn’t use magic on either of those occasions. I never noticed it until now because I was so dazzled by how amazing she was. All I could think was that ladies’ maids are truly wonderful.
She chewed on the last of the cookies in the bag as she reflected on memories of her idol, then swallowed the final morsel. I feel like I understand how to do this now. Emma straightened in her chair, shaking away the gloom that had settled over her because of her successive failures.
“Hm… Professor Katie told us Professor Morris would be grading us on our tea-warming magic. The exam is taking place a week from today, the same day he’s set to return to the Department of Magic. So I have to master this spell by then, whatever it takes.”
The grades a student earned at the Magic Academy tremendously influenced their career paths after graduation. Most lady’s maids who worked at the royal palace or for duchies were outstanding pupils during their time at the school. Strong evaluations of practical lessons were vital in expanding a maid’s employment options.
“Professor Morris is the one training to be a teacher, right?” Glen asked.
“Indeed. Professor Katie mentioned what an excellent student he’d been here.”
“Professor Katie might have given you some leeway since she’s aware you have an omni-affinity, but I doubt you’ll fool Professor Morris,” Glen pointed out. “And it’s not like you can reveal your magical attributes to a member of the Department of Magic either.”
“I really have no desire to work for the country longer than I have to. Moreover, there’d be no purpose in receiving consideration for my exam. It wouldn’t help me in the long run anyway.”
The issue wasn’t that she couldn’t complete her assignment, making her unable to earn good grades. It was more basic. What hindered her was applied life magic’s incompatibility with her omni-affinity and inherent personality. Because of it, she couldn’t control her magical energy well, and therein lay her problem. If she didn’t overcome this obstacle, then Emma couldn’t become the ideal maid she was aiming to be.
Her bag of cookies now empty save for a few crumbs, Emma fetched another pot and chanted the spell once more.
“Tea once cold, warm again to your mistress’s liking.”
Steam rose from the clear glass pot. This attempt was already going better than all her previous ones. But when she thought about having to curb her magical energy at the right moment, she wasn’t surprised to see the black tea begin to bubble violently. The pot’s going to break again if it gets any hotter.
“Emma, you should stop soon,” Glen warned.
“Just a little more… I don’t want you to interfere unless I ask.”
She heard an exasperated sigh in response to her sharp command. Glen’s suggestion indicated it was only a matter of time before he had to utilize his own magic to intervene. His reaction was natural, considering Emma couldn’t control her magical energy very well. Except she found his attitude aggravating, so she refused to look away from the pot.
The lid rattled. Just…a little more… I can keep this up a bit longer…
She imagined a sunny afternoon, perfect for a young lady to sip tea leisurely. Steam gently wafted up from her unidentified mistress’s teacup. Next to it, a teapot rested calmly, the tea at the exact right temperature instead of scorching hot.
Scorching hot? Oh, blast it. The minute she thought about it, she heard a harsh crackling sound, and the lid flew off the pot. She closed her eyes.
“Ngh!”
Pieces of the broken lid should have flown right at her face. But she didn’t feel any impact. What…happened…?
When she opened the eyes she’d squeezed shut in reflex, she saw blood dripping down Glen’s arm. He had reacted instantly to protect her. Shards of glass pierced his flesh, stuck. Oh, my goodness!
“I-I’m so sorry! We have to get you to the infirmary right away!”
“No, it’s not that bad. I’ll be fine.”
“No arguments! Let’s go!”