"Katia... no surprise there, right? And it's been quite a while since we last saw Charlotte's brother," remarked Esther. Her voice carried a hint of curiosity as she spoke, her eyes scanning the room for familiar faces.Haruki, standing nearby with a casual yet attentive posture, shook his head gently. His dark hair shifted slightly with the movement. "Oh, he's not her brother," he clarified, his tone calm but firm, leaving no room for doubt.Esther looked genuinely taken aback by this revelation. Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion as she tried to recall the details from the meticulously read admission letter. It was a thick, formal document that she had studied thoroughly. "Really? I thought upper-level students could visit freely today," she pondered aloud, her mind grappling with this new information.Haruki noticed her confusion and offered a quick explanation, hoping to shed light on the situation. "Eric is busy with something today..." His words trailed off as he gla
As the sun began to rise, casting a golden hue over the campus of Oliver Pigeon Hill, students started to trickle in, their chatter filling the air. Among them, Haruki and Esther stood out, drawing the attention of nearly everyone who passed by. They were used to this: the stares, the whispers, the constant gossip that seemed to follow them like a shadow. It was an unwelcome but familiar part of their lives.The students couldn't help but steal glances at the pair, their eyes widening in awe and disbelief. Conversations buzzed around them, snippets of which reached Esther's ears."Do you see those two? It's crazy," one student murmured to another, their voice tinged with amazement."That girl was ranked number one in the entrance exam... I can't compete with that," another whispered, shaking their head in resignation."Are both of them monsters? Holding the top two positions like that," someone else added, their tone a mix of admiration and envy.Although used to such comments, Esthe
Haruki received a painful punch, but his face remained unchanged. The blow had landed squarely on his arm, but he rubbed the sore spot and turned to Esther serenely. "But I still want to thank you anyway," he said. His voice was warm and sincere, and his radiant smile that seemed to light up the entire hallway—was the kind that could melt even the coldest hearts. Unsurprisingly, many girls around them paused in their tracks, their eyes glued to Haruki, captivated by his undeniable charm.Esther was no exception. Her face turned beet red, a deep blush spreading across her cheeks. 'Damn, I thought I had gotten used to his heartthrob smile by now,' she thought, feeling her heart skip a beat. Despite spending so much time with Haruki, his smile still had the power to make her feel like a nervous schoolgirl.They continued walking down the bustling school corridor. The cheerful morning atmosphere suddenly took on a darker tone. The bright sunlight streaming through the windows seemed to
One girl was deeply engrossed in her studies, her eyes fixed intently on the pages of her textbook. The other girl lounged comfortably against the window sill, gazing absentmindedly outside. Having grown accustomed to the delightful sensation of soaking in the hot tub, Esther emerged feeling refreshed and returned to her usual self. With a cheerful demeanor, she greeted her friends:"Hello, you two.""Hi," came the brief reply.Katia maintained her aloof and reserved demeanor. She was a girl of few words, and when she did speak, it was often in short, concise sentences. Her cold exterior made her seem distant, but those who knew her understood it was just her nature."Hey, have you both finished tidying up the room?" Distressed in her studies, Charlotte looked up and removed her pink glasses. She carefully set them aside on her desk, consciously focusing on the conversation at hand. Her expression was curiosity and mild concern, reflecting her meticulous nature and tendency to ensure
'Ah... so that's what it is. After rejecting him, she must be hurting a lot too,' thought Charlotte, her heart aching with empathy and confusion. She had never been in this situation before, and the weight of her decision seemed to press heavily on her chest.Usually reserved and quiet, Katia broke the silence with an unusually lengthy and considerate statement. Her voice was calm but carried an undertone of sincerity that was hard to miss. "I think he confessed just to get it off his chest rather than because he truly has deep feelings for you. So... don't be too sad about it. We have to focus on our tasks soon."Katia's uncharacteristic display of concern took Charlotte aback. It was rare for Katia to speak so openly, and Charlotte felt a warmth from her friend's words that she hadn't expected. She could see the effort Katia put into comforting her, which touched her deeply. "Thank you, Katia," she responded, her voice soft yet filled with gratitude. She gave Katia a small, ap
"B-but never mind. Did you take a shower? Oh, and I-I was curious about where Esther ended up. We waited for you downstairs for so long but didn't see you. Then suddenly, there was this big flash of light, and we all woke up right away," Charlotte stammered, trying to sound casual but failing miserably. She fidgeted nervously, attempting to steer the conversation elsewhere, which resulted in a somewhat comical effect."Oh..." Esther's voice trailed off as her mind wandered back to that peculiar moment. The memory of the eccentric man who had come to her rescue and forged a mysterious pact with her was still vivid. She could almost see his enigmatic smile and hear his cryptic words."Huh... Esther, are you feeling sick?" one of her friends inquired, concern evident in her voice."N-no, I'm fine," Esther replied hastily, trying to sound convincing, though she knew her flushed cheeks were betraying her true feelings."But your face is red... I think you should head to bed early and get
"I hate that name!!!" she exclaimed with frustration, her voice echoing through the quiet room."Still, you must admit he's quite talented..." she continued, her tone softening. "It's such a shame he doesn't possess Mana, but his abilities are powerful. It seems he underwent a significant transformation after being rejected, right?" She pondered this, her mind replaying the events that had profoundly changed him.Love, however, is a powerful and respectable motivator. Esther couldn't help but admire him a bit more for that. Despite the pain he had endured, he had found a way to turn his suffering into strength."But... just thinking about Haruki's rejection... ugh... it already breaks my heart," she murmured, clutching her chest as if to hold back the physical pain she felt for him. "How did he get through that and emerge as a completely different person?" Her voice trailed off as she became lost in thought.She moved towards the window, which was slightly ajar. The night had settle
As he lay there, Ryoshu thought about the significance of the time. It was supposed to be the key to unlocking a new level of magical proficiency, yet here he was, unable to make any progress.The frustration of repeated failure gnawed at him, but he knew he couldn't give up. The path to mastery was never easy, and every setback was a step toward eventual success.Fumiya, sensing Ryoshu's gloom, fluttered over and perched on his chest, looking at him with eyes full of mischief and encouragement. Ryoshu chuckled softly, gently stroking the little creature's head. "Thanks, Fumiya," he murmured. "I guess I just need to keep trying." Ryoshu sat up and picked up the Lightning Magic Tome once more. The Trial of Courage had taught him the value of perseverance, and he wasn't about to let a few failures stop him now.Unfortunately, even with the tome's guidance, Ryoshu still couldn't grasp the fundamental principles of Lightning Magic. The intricate diagrams and complex explanations seemed