“What kind of gentleman makes a lady wait?”
“Ah, my apologies.”
When Kunon reached his classroom in Building 11, he found a girl waiting by his door. She was about the same size as Kunon, which suggested she was around his age.
His first assumption was that she was an impatient customer wanting to use the Sleep Sanctuary, but…
“You’re just as described. I was told you were a dashing gentleman with an eye mask. That can only be you.”
She had indigo hair, the shade of the ocean’s depths, and powerful blue eyes. She didn’t look much like his friend, but Kunon knew who she was as soon as he saw the look in her eyes.
“Are you Gioelion’s lovely cousin?” Kunon asked.
The girl gave him a graceful curtsy. “Yes—allow me to introduce myself, Mr. Kunon. My name is Serraphila.”
It was a beautiful curtsy, but something else had caught Kunon’s attention.
“…Incredible.”
He was staring at the object behind her.
Serraphila was possessed by a large crystal that branched out in all directions.
“I’m glad Cousin Gio made a friend. He has many supporters, but only because of his position. He’s also an overly serious bore and comes off as cold, so he usually doesn’t make a good first impression with kids his age.”
Kunon had let Serraphila into his laboratory. She grumbled, “Would it kill you to do a little cleaning?” but he ignored her and led her to a table.
He left the door ajar—neither thought that a boy and a girl who’d just met should be together in a locked room. One might argue children shouldn’t need to worry about such a thing, but they were a full-fledged gentleman and lady. To them, it was the sensible thing to do.
“I heard you’re his maternal relative,” said Kunon.
“Yes, I am. Cousin Gio’s mother married into the imperial royal family. My mother is her little sister.”
“Oh, I see.”
The fact Gioelion’s mother had married into royalty must mean she was from a high-ranking noble family. They were at magic school, however. Differences in age and social standing had no bearing on magic, so Kunon decided not to ask about it.
“You entered the Advanced class, right? Gioelion is really jealous,” he said.
“Tell me about it. I would’ve been fine with Second Level, personally.”
Serraphila sighed sadly. She wore a somber, ladylike expression. Not that Kunon could see it.
“Just dealing with credits is difficult enough, but we need to earn our own living expenses, too, right? Is that what you’re doing, Mr. Kunon?”
Kunon’s heart fluttered slightly in response to a younger girl calling him “Mr. Kunon” and seeking his advice.
“Indeed I am. You may not think it by looking at me, but I am earning my way.”
“That’s wonderful. A lavish income befits a fine gentleman.”
Kunon wasn’t sure he’d call his income “lavish,” but he made enough to live comfortably.
“Well, I am a gentleman.”
But it was an undeniable truth that he was a gentleman, so he allowed it.
“Only a gentleman is worthy of your presence, my fair lady. That’s why I strive to act with the utmost courtesy: You’re gorgeous, like starlight come to life, and it would be a shame if I couldn’t share your company.”
“Wow, you’re a flatterer.” Serraphila laughed. “But this means I have to find a job, too. I must say, I’m not thrilled at the idea of a lady having to work.”
That way of thinking was understandable coming from a high-ranking noble girl. In the Kingdom of Hughlia, noble girls were expected to protect their family’s name, form amicable relations with other nobles, and find and support a husband. Kunon’s own mother, Tinalisa, was a housewife. Things probably weren’t too different in the Arcion Empire.
“There’s nothing wrong with a lady working,” said Kunon. “My tutor when I was a child was a young noblewoman.”
“Oh, really?” Serraphila asked. “Women are encouraged to work in your country?”
“I don’t know if they’re encouraged to. But this is magic school, where social standing is irrelevant. The leader here is the world’s greatest witch, who possesses no peerage whatsoever. Royalty means nothing to her.”
She was known as the greatest witch in the world and a master of magic, but those were the closest things Gray Rouva had to titles. She didn’t have any actual political authority; her power as a witch was simply unparalleled.
“Truly? I suppose I must strive to change my mindset.”
Serraphila’s style of speaking conveyed her noble upbringing, but she seemed to have the flexibility to adapt to her surroundings.
“Anyway…”
Kunon decided it was time to move this conversation along.
Their discussion so far had just been small talk—an appetizer, if you would. It was time to serve the main dish, and his favorite one at that.
“What’s your attribute, and how many stars do you have? What are your best spells and what kind do you like? Oh, I’m also curious to hear what your favorite attribute is other than your own. What do you want to study here? Have you been to the library yet? You’ll never believe how many books it has. You’ll be truly shocked—I certainly was. Then I got super excited. There are even reports there that haven’t made it into books. You’ll never have the time to read them all. It’s so amazing!” Kunon gushed.
“Hee-hee.” Serraphila giggled. “Oh, Mr. Kunon. It is decidedly ungentlemanly to ask so many questions of a lady at once.”
“Huh? It is?”
“Well, I suppose the fact you’re able to do so with such grace is proof you are indeed a gentleman fit for a white stallion.”
A white stallion certainly would suit me, Kunon thought. He was the inspiration for the fairy-tale trope of a prince on a white horse. At least, that was what he told people.
“My attribute is earth. I’m a three-star. I don’t have any spells I’m particularly good at. I’m equally proficient at all the ones I’ve learned. And… What else did you ask? Oh, yes. My favorite attribute. Wind intrigues me. It would be quite convenient for drying my hair. I haven’t been to the library yet. I am interested, of course… I’m curious to see why it shocked you. I look forward to paying it a visit.”
Though Serraphila answered all his questions sincerely, her responses convinced Kunon of one thing: She was definitely not passionate about magic. Gioelion was right.
If she were devoted to magic, her eyes would have lit up as soon as he broached the subject. She would have gushed excitedly, unable to get the words out of her mouth fast enough. She would have shared every thought that came to her mind without giving Kunon a chance to speak or checking to see if she was boring him.
Kunon and Gioelion both behaved that way when discussing magic, which was probably why they got along so well. They matched each other’s pace and were always interested in what the other had to say. It was impossible for them to spend time together without enjoying themselves.
“An earth element, huh?” he said. “That’s great.”
Serraphila had a giant unpolished crystal behind her back. Most crystals were minerals, so he’d assumed she was probably an earth user.
So far, all the fire and earth users Kunon had seen were followed around by land animals, which made him think this crystal might be some kind of living creature…
But he could observe it more carefully later. He couldn’t see the part of the crystal that was behind her back, so he’d have to get a look at it when she didn’t know he was watching her.
“Really? As a lady, I’m not exactly thrilled about being able to play with mud. I don’t mean to belittle earth magic. I’m just talking about personal taste.”
That’s it, Kunon thought.
That was the reason she wasn’t passionate about magic. It was because she thought “playing with mud” was unladylike. She thought her attribute didn’t suit her as a person.
“As far as I’m concerned,” he said, “No attribute suits a lady better than earth.”
“Ha. Surely you jest. I’m not a child who spends her time frolicking in sandboxes. Earth is not for me.”
“You think so? Then would you humor me for a moment?”
“What do you mean?”
“Listen to what I have to say and tell me again that you have no interest in ‘playing with mud,’ as you put it. Fair warning, I’m going to do my best to convince you of your attribute’s appeal.”
Kunon was still a beginner who stood on the precipice of magic’s potential, but there was one thing he knew to be true: The world of magic was so vast and deep, it would be presumptuous for him to believe he could sum up its appeal by himself.
But playing with mud? Playing with sand? Magic was far too impressive to be dismissed so casually.
“…Mr. Kunon, your smile is scaring me. You have indecent intentions, don’t you?” Serraphila said accusingly, and Kunon laughed.
You could say that, he thought.
“I’m just so excited to watch you be seduced by the charm of magic that I can hardly stand it.”