The sunlight streaming through the window illuminated a woman lying in bed. Her gracefully sculpted face was not only beautiful, but her eyes were captivating to the point of enchantment.
"Umm."
After tossing and turning, her black hair cascaded over the edge of the bed like a waterfall. With a wrinkled face, Dianne sat up, closing her eyes and rising to a sitting position. Rubbing her eyes, she groggily washed her face to shake off her drowsiness.
"Phew."
Tap, tap.
As she finished her morning routine and stepped out of the bathroom, she heard a knocking sound at the door accompanied by the voice of her friend, Yurii.
"Dianne! Are you in?"
"Yeah, just a moment."
Dianne tidied up her bed quickly and opened the door.
"You slept in?"
"Yeah. I stayed up late reading a book yesterday."
"You've been reading those knight magazines again, right? Even if you don't have classes today, it's not good for your skin if you keep doing that."
"Sure, sure. I get it, Mom."
"I've never had a daughter like you."
They exchanged playful banter, and with a smile, they prepared a snack and headed out to the terrace attached to their dormitory room. Sitting down, they enjoyed their tea under the afternoon sunlight.
They chatted about various gossip and discussed Dianne's main interest, knights, from time to time. When the conversation turned to the topic of the Knight Department, Yurii's expression became bored.
"But why did you come right after class ended?"
"You're asking me that now? I almost forgot because we were talking. Do you know Lucia Everlast?"
"I know her."
"She succeeded in a new potion production and is now undergoing evaluation at Rodren Magic tower."
"Oh." Dianne let out a sigh of admiration.
Lucia Everlast, known as the 'Sleeping Dragon,' was a talented woman that even Dianne had heard of. She was said to have a lazy personality despite her talent. But to achieve such a feat as a first-year student was truly remarkable.
"She's lazy, but how much of a genius is she...?"
"Well, that's your own problem. Of course, it must be a bit unfair for you since you work so hard."
"No, absolutely not. If a first-year student discovers such an achievement, it's really impressive. I haven't done anything other than being praised by people around me since I was a first-year."
"You, you have a bad taste."
"Why?"
They giggled, half-jokingly and half seriously, and continued their conversation.
"But it is surprising. If she achieved something like that as a first-year, she must be an extraordinary genius. Moreover, it's not just an ordinary potion."
"What did she make?"
"You know the Stamina Enhancement Potion made from Mohaim, right? She improved it by increasing the advantages and completely eliminating the side effects."
"Is that even possible?"
"I don't know. We'll have to wait until the evaluation is over to find out. Maybe the ingredients used are legendary herbs or something."
"Well, it wouldn't be surprising if that were the case."
Despite the reasonable suspicion that the famous Everlast's background might have played a role, Dianne shook her head.
"I've heard that Lucia is not that kind of person. Would such a genius not even think about something like that?"
"Well, that's true. Ah, and it's not just Lucia Everlast who made this potion."
"A joint effort?"
"Yeah. Don't be too surprised when I tell you."
What's with the big buildup? Dianne raised an eyebrow curiously. Yurii's grace and elegance melted away, replaced by a cute expression that made Dianne's heart melt.
"Ahem, ahem. Dianne, my dear. I love you!"
"Stop joking and tell me already. I'm really curious."
Yurii savoured Dianne's plea, then with a mischievous smile, she uttered a name that Dianne couldn't believe she was hearing.
"Adrias Cromwell."
"...What did you say?"
"Hmm, pervert, scumbag, Adrias!"
"Sigh..."
Dianne sighed and lowered her head.
"Stop joking around and tell me quickly. Or was it just Lucia alone from the beginning?"
"I'm not joking."
"What?"
"It's not a joke. Adrias really made it onto the co-creator list."
Dianne's face froze at Yuri's serious words.
Adrias? That Adrias who was worth less than wandering trash?
She couldn't believe it. No, she couldn't accept it.
"That's absurd."
"I thought the same way. Most people did. But what do we do if it's true? The official announcement has already been made. Check the tablet."
If an official announcement had been made, unless the sky split in two or there was a tremendous mistake, it was true. And Dianne knew that the chance of such a mistake happening to her was highly unlikely. Still, she decided to check the magic tablet.
"Lucia Everlast, Adrias Cromwell."
Their names were indeed listed together.
"Well, well. Our beloved Prince Adrias, who always grovelled around Dianne as if he would lick the soles of her feet, turned out to be capable of this! Dianne, how do you feel right now?"
"..."
Dianne, who had been silently staring at the tablet, suddenly stood up from her seat.
"Dianne? D-Dianne?"
"I need to go out."
"Where?"
"To Lucia Everlast."
Dianne's two eyes turned as deep as an abyss, chillingly cold.
"I need to meet her and confirm."
.
.
.
.
"Pant, pant!"
I tried my best to maintain a steady breath. I needed to control my inhalation and exhalation to run for a longer time. But my body kept faltering, contrary to my will.
"Heh, heh!"
Fortunately, I managed to complete the distance I aimed for before my breath became uneven. The excruciating pain pierced through my lungs, but I nonchalantly continued stretching. I wanted to collapse and gasp for breath immediately, but I resisted and endured the discomfort.
The current time is 5 o'clock in the morning. It was a dimly lit hour. Lately, it has become my daily exercise time.
As soon as I finished stretching, I headed straight to the fitness center. Should I call it funny or ironic? The fitness center in the Department of Magic had equipment and tools that were in no way inferior to those in the Knight Department.
Perhaps it was prepared at the same level due to the complaints of the students in the Department of Magic. However, the fitness center, created in that way, became a spot that nobody used.
Well, honestly, what's the use of those nerds stuck in their attic rooms, busy with magical research, doing exercise? Thanks to that, this place became like my personal gym. Now, today is leg day, right?
"Senior."
"Hmm!"
I barely suppressed the urge to scream and confirmed the presence of Lucia, who was getting up in a corner of the fitness center.
"Lucia?"
"Ahem. Good morning."
When I saw her yawning and making a drowsy face, I burst into laughter unintentionally.
Why was she here?
"What are you doing here right now?"
"Senior, I was waiting for you. While waiting, I took a nap."
"What are you talking about?"
"Senior, you don't have a magic tablet. Since there's no way to contact you, I heard you were exercising in the morning and waited since yesterday."
I couldn't understand it at all. Why did you wait like this just because of that? I don't even understand why you slept here in the first place.
"Senior, today is the day."
"What day?"
"Interview results and meeting. So, you have to come with me to Magic tower."
"Did you wait since yesterday to tell me that? You could have just come and told me yesterday."
"Yesterday, I didn't have time to come because I was held back by some seniors."
Having said that, she was already halfway closing her eyes and preparing again.
"Get up."
"Just five more minutes..."
She had brought a sleeping bag and a pillow, and she fell back asleep.
After observing her for a few days, it was clear that she was lazy and uninterested in anything except for herbology and potion-making. Surprisingly, despite having poor attendance, she got a perfect score on the previous midterm exams, which showed how unfair the world could be.
She was so eccentric and otherworldly that it was difficult to deal with her at first, but now I was starting to get used to it. Leaving her asleep, I finished today's exercise and it was already 7 o'clock.
"Lucia, wake up."
"Mmm... just a little more."
"When do we have to go to Magic tower?"
"Mmm..."
Finally, at the mention of Magic tower, Lucia, with her sleepy eyes, looked up at me and said,
"Seven o'clock... and a half."
"What?"
I thought I misheard and asked again.
"Seven o'clock? Seven o'clock in the evening?"
"Seven o'clock in the morning."
What did she say? Without even giving me time to think, I reflexively grabbed Lucia, who was lying there without thinking.
"Huh?"
I felt Lucia startled and struggling, but with some unknown strength, I held onto her and started running.
"We're late! Run!"
Fortunately, Magic tower was located within the academy grounds, near the Department of Magic, so we were able to arrive on time. Of course, it was possible because Lucia got off and ran on her own during the journey.
"Lucia Everlast, Adrias Cromwell, right?"
"Yes."
"Follow me."
Following the assistant affiliated with Magic tower, we ended up exploring the complex interior of the tower.
From the outside, it looked like a simple cylindrical building, but the interior was as complex as a maze.
Just when I thought I had walked a little, unexpectedly, a completely different space appeared, and as I thought I was going up the stairs, I found myself going underground.
"My head is spinning."
If it weren't for the assistant, I would have been completely lost, so I followed closely without relaxing.
"Senior, look at that."
While following her in a daze, Lucia gestured somewhere.
When I looked at where she was pointing, there was a large purple-coloured raptor perched on a branch, scratching its beak.
"Stormbringer!"
"I've only heard about it, but it's fascinating to see it in person."
It is a type of monster classified as a spirit. As the name suggests, it uses lightning and wind. Being a spirit, it has high intelligence and can become a companion when befriended. Even I had a hard time taming it with numerous saves and reloads in the game.
"Huh?"
As we were admiring Stormbringer, we were taken aback.
"Where did it go?"
The assistant disappeared.
In just a matter of seconds, the assistant vanished as if teleporting, leaving me and Lucia looking at each other in confusion.
"It's best to stay still when you're lost."
"Senior, we are inside Magic tower, so even if we stand still, the space keeps twisting."
"...Is that so?"
It's a setting we haven't seen in the game. Back then, when the character entered Magic tower, they would instantly be transported according to the purpose of the visit. The process of walking like this was not depicted.
"Oh, something just came to mind."
"What is it? Do you have a solution?"
"No, it's not about that. It's something you mentioned some time before. You said you were held by the seniors."
"Do we really need to talk about it now?"
I wanted to take a peek inside their heads to see what they were thinking.
"Senior, are you listening?"
"Yeah, go on."
"And one of those seniors was Senior Dianne Alven."
"Really?"
Dianne came to find Lucia....
That could very well be possible.
After all, all the playable characters residing in the academy somehow end up encountering each other.
Recognizing talent when they see it.
But what could they have talked about? Since it was before the start of the game, I have no idea what happened.
"But the reason they came to see me was because of Senior."
"Me?"
"Yes, Senior."
Me? Why?
No, why did Dianne go out of her way to find Lucia...
"Because of the potion?"
"Yes, she asked why Senior was listed as a co-creator. She was very suspicious."
Well, I didn't expect things to turn out like this. I didn't want to get involved with Dianne if possible.
"Then?"
"I just told her the truth. That you did everything."
"Hey!"
"Yes?"
"No, well done."
No way!
I don't want any more attention from other playable characters. I won't end up dying in the game faster because of this, right? I wanted to scold Lucia for her handling, but I couldn't vent my anger on someone who didn't know anything. She had shown some consideration for me, at least.
"Senior, were you acquainted with Senior Dianne?"
"Yeah, well, sort of. Not exactly a good relationship."
"I see. Not a good relationship, then."
Suddenly, a voice interrupted, and Lucia and I simultaneously turned our heads.
A middle-aged man with both eyes covered by black cloth sat leaning against a pole, stretching out one leg while occupying a spot.
Resting on his arm was Stormbringer, playfully showing off its cuteness.
And at the sight of him, I involuntarily shouted.
"Bahart Alven...!"