A man of straw stood alone in the expansive field of sand. He was faceless as he was legless. Despite that, he was living his best life. Standing beneath the clear sky, enjoying the wind, pondering about the future. 

That was until—

“—[Fireball]!”

A blazing sphere of flame tore across the field. Unable to run on account of his complete lack of legs, the strawman closed his eyeless eyes and accepted his fate. 

The explosion echoed across the stone walls, and where he once stood, only a scattering of ashes remained.

“Ninety points,” an authoritative voice echoed.

The instructor calmly scribbled something onto her clipboard, seemingly unimpressed.

“What?!” a boisterous voice protested. Bright amber hair whipped around as its owner spun toward her. “That was perfect!”

Mirabelle, clad in the same academy colors as me, though her blazer draped more like a cloak, stood with her chin lifted high and both arms on her hips.

“You nearly stumbled over the chant,” the instructor said without looking up. “One mistake like that in a real fight and you’d find a sword in your throat.”

“Wha—How uncouth—!”

“Next.”

She was dismissed as though she’d never spoken at all.

Mirabelle looked ready to stomp her foot in outrage. That was, until her eyes landed on us. Her pout vanished instantly, replaced by a radiant smile.

“Lady Carine!” she exclaimed, jogging over.

“Mirabelle,” I greeted. “How are you?”

She stopped just short of me, clasping her hands together. “I’m so glad I finally get to see you again!” she said, teetering on the brink of tears.

“…It hasn’t been that long since we last met, has it?”

“Oh, but it has!” she insisted. “I tried looking for you during my breaks, but there were no students anywhere! I couldn’t even find your dorm… I haven’t even spoken to anyone besides instructors since classes started…”

Goodness, how lonely are you?!

“So! So!” she continued, suddenly straightening up, pride reasserting itself. “Did you see my magic? Well? How was it?”

“I-It was… mesmerizing.”

The scale wasn’t quite the same as the magic I remembered, specifically the one that attacked the castle. But expecting a new first-year student to replicate something like that would be absurd. Besides, did I really want to experience that again?

“Is this your classroom?” Eveliana asked quietly from beside me, her gaze drifting toward the stone walls encircling the field.

Mirabelle stiffened as she reluctantly turned towards Eveliana. “It is not a classroom,” she corrected sharply. “This is the training ground for our class!” She quickly turned towards me again. “So when you need to look for me, you can find me here, Lady Carine!”

“Right… I will.”

The wide, sand-covered ground… the towering reinforced stone walls… and the countless empty spectator seats elevated high encircling the ground… this was clearly not just any training ground; this place was an arena.

This facility was meant for duels, tournaments, or academy events. Whenever it wasn’t being used for holding crowds, though, it doubled as a training ground for mage classes.

How did I know all that? Well, Leila had explained it on our way here. Now, how did Leila know all that? Long story short—

“—[Lightning Bolt]!!”

A sharp crack echoed through the stone walls. My eyes tracked a lightning bolt tearing across the field, momentarily outshining the sun before striking another unfortunate strawman right in the abdomen, leaving behind a gaping hole in its straw-flesh.

“Seventy-five points,” the instructor called.

The student who cast the spell pumped a fist before returning to formation—what little of one there was, anyway.

I scanned the arena-slash-training-ground. For a space this vast, the number of students scattered across the sand was… underwhelming.

“Are these… all your classmates?” I asked.

Mirabelle hesitated, just a little. “Yes. There are only seven of us, including me… for now at least.”

“For now?”

Mirabelle nodded. “Yeah, I heard there’ll be an eight next week.”

She must be talking about Ricent… 

The reason he wasn’t here yet was apparently due to some administrative reasons. I could only hope he’d manage to adjust once he finally joined.

Still…

Eight students.

Compared to the hundreds enrolled in the knight classes, the difference was staggering. This was living proof of how rare Magical Talents truly were in this world. 

“Also, Lady Carine!” her voice snapped me back to reality. “My class should be over soon. Should we go and eat lunch together?”

“Uhh…”

I’d already eaten with Eveliana and the others. In fact, the only reason I’d asked Leila to bring me here was because we still had time before the next class. Speaking of which…

“Our class will begin shortly,” Eveliana answered smoothly. “And no need to worry—both of us have already had lunch together. Oh, but do enjoy your break.”

Mirabelle’s eyebrow twitched.

“My, my… boasting, are we?” she said, her voice sharp. “At least Lady Carine came to see me in person. Why are you even here?”

Eveliana rested a finger against her chin. “I was merely curious how the mage class operates. So far, it’s nothing too intriguing…”

“Why you—!”

“What are you doing there, Miss Mirabelle?”

The sharp voice cut through the invisible sparks.

All three of us turned towards the voice.

The instructor was walking towards us, her clipboard tucked underneath her arm. Her gaze was sharp, perhaps annoyed.

“I-Instructor! I was just—” Mirabelle tried explaining.

But that sharp gaze never left her face… Until her eyes met mine.

The change was immediate. Her face softened, and her pace slowed.

She stopped short of Mirabelle, looking at me directly as if the amber-haired girl didn’t exist. 

“Lady Carine, I didn’t realize you were present.”

She knows me, too?

That change of tone, though. I was starting to get used to it. The moment any instructor came across me, they would soften their tone or gait, and some even offered a curtsy.

My rank as a ducal heir outweighed even the staff of this academy, so I could see why they would act like that, but I much preferred it if they wouldn’t. It brought upon many stares…

“What brings you here, Lady Carine?”

“We were only observing,” I answered. “I hope it wasn’t a bother.”

“Is that so?” The instructor paused. “It’s good to see you doing well. I was once classmates with your father back then, and ever since I heard you’ll be attending Royal Knights, I have been dying to meet you.”

Well… That caught me off guard.

“If the opportunity ever arises, I’d be honored to teach you myself someday.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to that.

“Thank you, I’d like that.”

She inclined her head. “My name is Cowell Martheid. It is a pleasure to be your acquaintance, Lady Carine.”

Having an instructor bow to me would never feel natural.

“L-Likewise…”

She straightened. “Class will be resuming shortly. I’ll have to ask you to step back from the field, for your own safety.”

I shook my head. “We were just about to leave. Our classes are due to begin soon.”

Instructor Cowell smiled faintly. “Very well. Please do your best, Lady Carine.” 

Then she turned, the warmth vanishing as she faced the others once more.

“Next. We’ll learn how to chant. Form up, and prepare your notes!”

“I… should probably head back too,” Mirabelle said quietly. She turned to me with a proud smile. “Next time, then. We’ll have lunch together properly, Lady Carine.”

“I look forward to it.”

She lingered for half a second, then waved brightly.

“You know where to find me!”

She hurried back across the sand, rejoining her formation as the class resumed.

I should be heading back to class as well… if I wanted to keep my favorite seat at the back from being stolen at least.

As I turned, I noticed Eveliana still lingering by the entrance gate, watching the students learning how to chant.

“Eve? What’s wrong?”

She blinked, then looked at me. 

“Oh, nothing at all, Lady Carine.” A small smile followed. “Shall we head back to class?”

I wondered what it was that intrigued her. The magic? The arena?

In any case, classes were about to begin. And I wasn’t going to lose my seat.

—

Royal Palace – Princess Munith’s Private Chamber

A soft, melodious hum drifted through the private chamber, echoing softly between the silk curtains and shelves of foreign ornaments. Princess Munith sat at her writing desk, white hair spilling loosely over her shoulders as her pen glided across the page.

Her expression was almost playful, her lips curved in a gentle, cheerful smile. Anyone watching would’ve thought she was simply passing the time by scribbling down her thoughts whilst humming a tune.

Behind her, her personal attendant watched in silence. Rene stood still, eyes following the steady movement of the pen until, at last, it paused.

“Rene?” Munith called without turning. “Could you bring me a cup of tea?”

“Right away, Your Highness.”

The teapot sat only a few steps away, resting on a small table by the window. Rene poured a warm cup and carried it carefully to her desk on a tray.

“Thank you, Rene. You’re the best.”

“It’s my pleasure,” Rene replied, bowing deeply.

After taking a sip, Munith gently placed the cup back down and resumed writing on her book, humming once again. 

Rene hesitated, then spoke.

“Lady Munith… What has put you in high spirits?”

“Hm?” Munith glanced back at Rene, amused. “Oh. I guess it’s rather obvious, isn’t it?”

She turned in her chair, lifting the notebook and thrusting its open pages toward Rene. “Read this. Tell me what you think!”

Rene startled slightly but didn’t hesitate. Taking a careful step closer, they scanned the page, eyes tracing the elegant handwriting.

“And though we mustn’t, seeing you again has turned my heart ablaze. It felt like fate, seeing you once more.”

He clutched his chest, eyes narrowing, waiting for the answer he was waiting for this entire time.

“Your words are outlandish… and yet, I cannot deny that I… I feel the same.”

Rene adjusted their eyes, unsure of what they just read.

“Is this… a story?”

Munith nodded, pulling the book back down to her lap. “Volume 2 of Quiet Love! Written by yours truly!”

“Quiet Love?” Rene parroted. “You mean the book you gave to Lady Carine?”

Her smile widened. “Mmhmm. I’m certain she’s read it by now. I wanted to hear her thoughts about it!”

She closed the notebook, her fingers resting fondly against the blank leather cover. “I imagine she’ll have quite a few questions.”

“I see…”

Rene never thought Princess Munith as the one who loved writing books, let alone a romance novel… But Rene knew this wasn’t just a fling. Whatever this book was, it was a part of something larger.

“I should finish this volume tonight,” Munith said lightly. Then she looked up again, eyes bright. “And I’d very much like to hear Carine’s thoughts soon. So—”

She straightened. “Prepare a carriage for the Royal Knights tomorrow afternoon.”

“Consider it done, Your Highness.”

Rene gave a deep bow before leaving the room, making sure to close the door tightly behind them. 

As Rene walked away, they pondered what it was with Carine that had Munith so intrigued. But all they needed to know was that Munith wanted to meet with Carine, and Rene’s job was to ensure that the meeting would happen.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep