Over the next couple of days, I got somewhat back into my old routine. Every morning I wake up to Zenith and Lilia happily preparing a big breakfast for everyone at the house. After breakfast, Sylphiette and I walk to school together. She had her classes to attend to and I worked in my assigned room at the research building.
Most of my time at the Academy right now is being spent finishing the order of ten pairs of lithograph stones that I was paid in advance for. Unfortunately the work is rather tedious and time consuming. Even though I've gotten the process as streamlined as possible, I still have to do all the work by hand and carving the magic circles is rather intricate work. At the rate I'm going, I should finish the order after about three more days of work.
Sylphy and I met up each day at lunch to eat together at the cafeteria. I wasn't fond of the huge crowd that tended to gather around our table in the cafeteria, so I prepared a special table with my earth magic outside the cafeteria.
The table was large enough for eight people to eat at, with four on each side and was equipped with eight padded chairs surrounding it. The frame of the chairs was constructed with my earth magic. It was constructed with incredibly dense stone but the frame was hollow. This kept the stairs light despite their enhanced durability. I had paid a seamstress to pad them for me.
On days when it rained or snowed, I conjured a basic stone umbrella to cover the table. I also carved a magic circle into the underside of the table that, when supplied with mana, would maintain the surrounding air at a comfortable temperature through the heat island spell.
The other students who liked to gather around Sylphy seemed to be somewhat intimidated by me. I'm not sure what rumors are being spread about me, but it's probably due to the crowd seeing Jenius escort me from the training hall after I blew a big hole in the wall of magic resistant bricks near the ceiling.
During lunch, the members of our outside table club consisted of only three regulars: Sylphiette, myself, and Seren. Today, however, I was bringing a couple more friends along.
Zanoba had invited me to eat lunch with him and Aurora at the cafeteria's third floor, where all the human nobles and royalty ate. Zanoba tried to insist that we eat at the third floor, but I refused and told him that I eat outside and if he and Aurora wanted, they were free to join me.
As soon as Sylphiette saw us approaching I could see her getting flustered as she looked around nervously.
There weren't any bad rumors about Zanoba's behavior going around the school, at least as far as I knew. He and Aurora mostly kept to their rooms as they weren't officially enrolled yet. Still though, most students seemed to have learned of their royal lineage, probably from Zanoba's visits to the third floor of the cafeteria to eat lunch.
"Greetings", Zanoba said as he held his hand to his chest. "I am Zanoba Shirone, third prince of the kingdom of Shirone."
Zanoba paused and looked to his side expecting Aurora to introduce herself next. Aurora though just seemed to be staring at Sylphiette and Seren.
'Are these demons? Why on earth would my Rudeus choose to eat lunch with a couple of demons instead of coming to the third floor with us? Wait, no. Those ears. Is the second girl an elf? Wait! That isn't the Sylphiette Rudeus was talking about, is it? It couldn't be!'
"You there!", Aurora pointed at Sylphy.
"Eep!", Sylphy arched her back in surprise and nervousness as she was called out.
"What is your name?", Aurora asked in a commanding voice.
"S-Syl..."
*SMACK*
Before Sylphy had a chance to properly answer I had smacked Aurora on the back of the head.
"Is that any way to talk to someone you just met!? Introduce yourself before demanding someone's name! Were you raised in a barn?"
Aurora looked horrified and that she acted in such a shameful way in front of me.
"I-I'm Aurora Shirone. Sixth princess of the kingdom of Shirone. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Aurora bowed and held her position while waiting for Sylphy to respond. Sylphiette seemed to be even more nervous now as she was shaking her hands from side to side trying to tell Aurora that bowing wasn't necessary.
"A-a I'm Sylphiette. It's an honor to meet you. P-Please, take a seat!"
Zanoba and Aurora took chairs on the other side of the table, sitting across from Sylphiette and Seren. Ginger remained standing at attention behind Zanoba.
"C'mon Ginger. Introduce yourself and take a seat. We're all friends here", I insisted.
Ginger looked to Zanoba who gave her a nod of approval. In response she gave a formal introduction and took a seat on the other side of Zanoba. Zanoba seemed slightly annoyed as he seemed to have wanted me to sit there.
"The name's Seren. Nice to meet ya", Seren said with a pleasant smile.
"A friend of master's is a friend of mine", Zanoba said in response while returning a smile of his own.
Lunch that day was a little awkward. Sylphy and Aurora in particular remained especially quiet, only responding when asked a question directly. Aurora kept staring at Sylphy causing her to get nervous and look the other way. I decided not to intervene since Aurora wasn't glaring at her or anything. If anything, it looked like she was studying her.
'This is the girl that Rudeus proclaimed he would marry? I wonder what it is that he sees in her. She's so timid she can't even muster the bravery to look me in the eye. Well... I suppose she is good looking, but... is she more attractive than me? Wait! Is that the problem!? Am I too... old?'
Aurora stopped looking towards Sylphy and instead stared down at the table. It looked as though she were about to cry.
I tried to break up the awkwardness between the two of them by bringing up a new topic.
"Aurora, have you visited the local chapel yet? It's a pretty nice place, though not quite as opulent as the one you had in Shirone."
"Yes. I've been visiting for weekly worship. It's rather quaint, but the people their are devout in their worship and that's what truly matters."
"I see. I'm glad to hear you like it."
*More awkward silence*
"Master. Have you made any new dolls? I'd love to see your new creations."
"I've been busy lately and haven't had much time to devote to hobbies."
"I see. When do you plan to begin teaching me how to create my own dolls?"
"You still need to master basic earth magic. Have you forgotten?"
"Of course not! I'm just eager to learn! It's not fair that I have to wait for a whole new schoolyear to start!"
"Patience is a virtue my friend. Hmm... Sylphy is quite the adept magician herself. Perhaps she could give you some lessons in the meantime?"
"W-what!? N-no! I couldn't!", Sylphy reacted in surprise.
"Why not? You're just as talented as I am. I'm sure Zanoba would love to have you as a teacher."
"I am but your humble student!" Zanoba said as he bowed over exaggeratedly.
"Please. You don't have to bow! It's no big deal. Honestly!"
"So you'll teach me!?" Zanoba said with pure glee written all over his face.
"I mean... If you'll have me as a teacher... I guess I don't mind helping." Sylphy looked to the side as she said that, but I could see a smile creeping up on her face as she did so. She seemed happy that one of my friends wanted her to teach him.
"Thank you so much!" Zanoba got up and began to run to the other side of the table to give her a big hug, but I stopped him with gravity magic.
Truth be told, even with the full force of my gravity magic, Zanoba didn't buckle at all as the ground cracked beneath him. He did stop, however, noticing that I was trying to stop him.
"Zanoba... How many times have I told you not to get so overly excited! You need to control yourself! You're too strong to be losing control of your emotions like that!"
*Hah... Hah...*
I panted after squeezing out that sentence. I had to momentarily catch my breath after trying to restrain him with my full strength gravity magic.
"Ah! You are correct. Please forgive my outburst!"
Zanoba sat back down in his chair and we all had a laugh at his antics; even Aurora chuckled a bit.
From that day onward, the six of us always met outside the cafeteria to eat lunch together. Slowly but surely, we all got to know each other and became good friends. Even Aurora and Sylphy.
After my day at the Academy, I stopped by my manor each day and spent about an hour visiting Luna and Therese. They both seemed to be adjusting to their new life in Sharia rather well so far, especially Luna. She loved it here. Therese seemed to be more relaxed and easygoing with each new day.
Once I finished visiting them at my manor, I made my way home by mid-afternoon. I'd eat dinner with my family and then Sylphy and I would play with Norn and Aisha until it was time to go to bed.
Four days later, a day after I finished all my stone lithographs and delivered them to the Magic Guild, we heard a knock at our door. It was the master craftsman, Balda. He has finally arrived to work on my manor!