"Did you know Miss Sophia Taylor?" Prince Hansel inquired, his gaze and mine fixed on the mesmerizing streaks of purple lightning dancing across the sky.
"No... it's the first time we've met each other," I replied honestly, though a shiver ran down my spine at the mention of her name.
Despite never having met her in person, I often found her haunting my nightmares. Technically, this encounter marked our first meeting.
'Those nightmares don't count!' I reminded myself sternly, pushing aside the unsettling memories that threatened to resurface.
But why did she seem so familiar to me? And why did my heart race with such fervor in her presence? It wasn't love; of that, I was certain. Instead, I was overwhelmed by a maelstrom of conflicting emotions—love, anger, hatred, sadness, happiness—all swirling together in a chaotic whirlwind.
My thoughts were especially interrupted when Sophia suddenly embraced me, her arms wrapping around me in a tight embrace.
Although I felt a sense of relief that no nightmares followed, I couldn't ignore the undeniable truth: she was somehow connected to everything unfolding in my life at this moment.
'Sophia... just who are you?' I pondered silently, my mind consumed by the enigma of her existence.
Despite my lack of familiarity with the girl, her presence gnawed at me like a persistent itch, leaving me to grapple with unanswered questions and an unsettling sense of foreboding.
"Hmm~? But she acted rather close to you, though? Did you meet her on the way?" Prince Hansel's curiosity was palpable, his gaze lingering on me expectantly.
"No, I was with the carriage with my young miss the entire time," I responded firmly, my voice unwavering as I recounted the events of our journey.
Prince Hansel turned his attention to Stella, seeking confirmation. A brief nod from her was all it took for him to accept our account without further inquiry.
"Sophia has rather gotten stronger as well... Did you know about this, Stella? Since you're her best friend and all," the prince continued, directing his question towards Stella.
"N-no... this is the first time I've seen her exhibit such strength and power," Stella replied hesitantly, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "And that speed, it's extraordinary. Even back when we met at the tea party back in the duchy, she never exuded this level of mana and strength."
I find myself in a similar situation as the young miss here...
I mean, it's not common for someone to just randomly hug a person they've never met before, is it? And the way she behaved so intimately, almost as if we were already close, gave me pause... particularly considering it was our first encounter.
Then, there was her request for me to address her by her first name, without any formalities—a gesture typically reserved for those with the deepest bonds, such as family or lovers. It struck me as peculiar, especially given that I'm not of noble birth, unlike Miss Sophia.
Speaking of whom, Prince Hansel just mentioned that my young miss and Miss Sophia were best friends.
Could she have mentioned me to her beforehand? Even so, that doesn't entirely account for her sudden and unexpected actions...
"I see…" Prince Hansel mused, his expression thoughtful as he considered the implications of Sophia's abilities.
"I guess anything is possible if you're a genius. Judging from her mana alone, she seems to be on the verge of the 7th circle. But the way she uses that lightning, that's clearly aura… did she unlock her world, perhaps?" He chuckled lightly, as if contemplating the possibilities of Sophia's extraordinary talents.
His words hung in the air, leaving both the young miss and me in a state of awe-struck wonderment. If the prince, renowned for his keen judgment of people, believed it to be true, then it was likely the case. A 7th circle mage possessed power akin to a high-ranking noble in terms of firepower alone. And an aura knight capable of accessing their own world? That was a feat few could even fathom.
"Miss Sophia is a magic knight?" I murmured aloud, my mind reeling at the revelation. I had always believed that magic circles and aura were fundamentally contradictory concepts.
"Yes, she's one of the very few people around the world capable of learning both magic and the path to aura," the prince confirmed, his tone grave as he acknowledged the rarity of Sophia's abilities. "It's a rare trait that not even I possess."
As the weight of his words settled upon us, I couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of respect and admiration for Sophia.
Miss Sophia, you're more amazing than I thought….
'I'm terribly sorry for all the curses I threw at you while I was having all those nightmares…'
….
After exchanging pleasantries with the crown prince a while ago, it seemed that the young miss and he were about to delve into some important matter, as he promptly whisked her away from my side.
But if it was Prince Hansel, well, I didn't mind leaving the young miss in his capable hands; after all, she was his fiancée...
Yet, amidst the exchange, the young miss did shoot me subtle glances, as if silently beckoning me to join them.
However, as a butler, my foremost duty was to uphold decorum and respect their privacy. Judging from the tone of Prince Hansel's voice, their discussion seemed to be of a sensitive nature—probably political matters, I presumed?
And so, I found myself wandering the school halls alone, eventually stumbling upon the Moon Sphere.
"So, this is the Moon Sphere, huh?" I muttered to myself, struck by its sheer enormity up close.
Even from afar, it appeared colossal, but standing in its presence, one couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in comparison.
Students of all shapes and sizes streamed into the school, from wide-eyed first years to confident fourth-year seniors, creating a bustling scene reminiscent of ants swarming their mound.
Amidst the commotion, the young miss mentioned that the first test for the evaluation exams for the first years would take place there.
She also said I don't need to participate because of the privilege I have with the principal's letter.
'But that doesn't mean I can't watch, right?'
Suddenly, a collision interrupted my thoughts.
"O-ouch,"
"Ah, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"
Turning around, I saw a beautiful girl with chestnut hair helping up a fairly cute-looking boy.
Had they bumped into each other? Judging from his reaction, he seemed to be a commoner, his demeanor cautious as if afraid of offending the noble-looking lady.
"Well, who cares?" I shrugged inwardly, turning my attention back to the entrance of the moon sphere.
…..
Once inside, I was greeted by a grand entry hall that seemed to stretch endlessly before me. It was pristine, immaculately clean, and bathed entirely in white. The walls, the floors—everything was a brilliant, dazzling white. Not even the grandest church I had ever seen could boast such purity.
"All first years here, please register now," a man in a sharp black suit announced, guiding the eager students toward a designated lounge area. Since I wasn't there for the exams, I made a mental note to find the audience area instead. Scanning the surroundings, my eyes fell upon a large opening to the left, where a flood of lights and the echo of lively sounds emanated.
Focusing my senses, I expanded my hearing, tuning in to the cacophony of noise from that direction. Amidst the chatter, a voice rose above the rest, amplified by some unseen speaker system.
"Good morning, citizens of Abel! My name is Christa, and I'll be your host for today for the live annual exams of Abel Academy's very own Battle Royale, the MOON DANCEEE!"
Hearing the energetic voice of the host resonating like a cute little cicada inside my head, I knew I had found the right spot.
Entering the grand chamber, the sight before me was nothing short of surreal. Amidst the sea of thousands upon thousands of chairs that expanded upwards like a domed amphitheater, there stood a centerpiece that commanded attention—a large sphere emanating a soft, ethereal glow of blue neon lights. Surrounding it were hundreds, if not thousands, of transparent and translucent rectangular screens, each meticulously placed upon the chairs. The level of detail poured into this room was captivating; it wasn't exaggerated, but it certainly caught the eye.
Hovering above the spectacle was the crystal ball at the center, projecting a gigantic holographic image of the host, Christa.
Despite her black necktie indicating her status as a fourth-year student, her demeanor exuded an infectious youthful energy, her face and stature resembling that of a first-year.
There was an undeniable charm about her, so much so that even I felt an inexplicable urge to embrace her.
Shaking myself out of the daze induced by the mesmerizing scene before me, I focused on finding a seat amidst the vast expanse of chairs.
Should I just take any seat?
The question lingered in my mind as I surveyed the available options, each one seemingly identical to the next.
As I pondered for a moment, my eyes settled on a seat located just a few steps higher than the others, offering a perfect view of the grand display in the center. It seemed unoccupied, with no one else claiming it yet.
First come, first served, right?
With that thought in mind, I made my way towards the seat, only to be abruptly halted by a firm hand gripping my shoulder from behind.
"Hey, what are you doing here? The exams are about to start, you know!"
The voice was stern, its owner a woman with sleek black hair and a monocle covering her right eye.
She appeared quite angry, her gaze drilling into me with intensity.
She didn't seem to be a student—perhaps a teacher?
"Ah, well—" I began to explain, but she cut me off before I could finish.
"Did you get lost, perhaps?" she questioned sharply, her irritation palpable.
"Tsk, even though I instructed Fernando to meticulously guide the first years... Come with me."
With that, she proceeded to drag me away from the stairs, clearly misunderstanding my intentions.
"W-wait—" I stammered, attempting to get her attention.
"What's your name, child?" she interrupted, her tone brisk and businesslike.
"T-Taylor, Taylor Crimson, and please wait, I'm not—" I tried to protest, but she cut me off once again.
"Taylor Crimson, right? I'll just personally write your name into the registrar, so I'll teleport you directly to the exam halls, okay? Good luck!"
'This woman was a celestial mage?'
The space around me distorted and warped instantaneously.
"Wait!!!"
I cried out desperately, but before my words could reach her, my surroundings shifted, and suddenly,
I found myself amidst a group of students all wearing the same red necktie as me. We were enclosed in an enclosed box-like room...
'Damn it…!'
That woman didn't even listen to me!
To make matters worse, an old man, bearing a striking resemblance to that gorilla, strode onto a large podium in front of us, launching into a speech filled with pompous jargon about the greatness of the academy.
Ah, just looking at his face is triggering my PTSD...
"Did that gorilla leave a relative here? Even his face reminds me of him... Ugh!!!"
I couldn't hold it in any longer and vomited right there.