As we began to walk in the direction of the dorms Aura spotted me.
"Hey Lucas, I heard that some of the boys in the Estelle hall got in a fight. Do you know what happened?"
"No way, this is the first I've heard of it."
"Also, who is this next to you?"
"Ah, this is Morgan, a mage studying spatial magic."
"And you're here with her for what reason?"
"Why are you interrogating Lucas?"
"So she calls you by your name?"
"Morgan, meet my lady whom I serve."
"She's a noble?"
"She's the ducal princess of the Svarmets."
"I'm terribly sorry your highness, I'll depart at once."
She quickly walked away.
"I couldn't help but notice she did not gate away."
"She is an aspiring 3rd circle spatial mage."
"Ah, is she one of your recruits?"
"Did I ever tell you about my recruiting?"
"I don't recall, and if you did, I guess I was not paying attention."
"So how did you learn then?"
"Charlotte told me."
"Ah."
Wait. What did Charlotte say?
"What exactly did Charlotte mention?"
"Something about your recruiting a small group to grow alongside you."
"Really?"
"Oh and something about a harem?"
"Nope, nope, nope that was a joke."
"Really, because Charlotte told me that's exactly what you would say."
Damn she really had a quick adaptation stat.
"I think Charlotte was being mischievous."
"I don't think so Luke, and to compensate, you will go on a date with me."
So that's what this was all about.
Her being jealous of Charlotte for going on a date with me.
Well at least it made sense now.
"Sure just let me take a shower, and change and we can go out and enjoy something."
"I want a chocolate cake tonight for desert."
"Anything you want Aura."
"Anything?"
"Anything food wise."
"Ohhhhhhhh."
Yeah her mind was way in the gutter.
I guess I can report to mother right about now the harem crisis I'm relieving.
I think she could offer me decent advice and I could fix the issues.
Such as Aura's jealousy and Charlotte's quick temper, which in hindsight was a reflection of their parents.`
Aura is the only daughter of the Svarmets and therefore has never had to share.
Charlotte is a princess, and has always had everything handed to her on a silver platter.
So I guess although they are 18, there are still vestiges of their childhood.
Although I don't mind it.
As we walked to the Estelle hall, something caught my attention.
'Hey Isla'
'Yes master?'
'Were you purposefully so quiet in Genoa's realm?'
'Yes.'
'Why was that?'
'I didn't want to draw the attention of a 7th tier mage.'
'Why?'
'Genoa is said to hate swords such as myself and break them, and you aren't strong enough to protect me from her.'
'Well technically, Genoa is dead, what we saw in there was simply an apparition, or illusion given that she was a mage who dabbled in illusion magic.
But Isla's words had given me some insight.
In game Morgan also had a little aversion to ego swords, and such.
'Do you know why Genoa hates ego swords?'
'Well according to my master who was alive when Genoa was, she has an accident with an ego sword user.'
'They were much like yourself.'
'They let their ego sword wreak havoc across the nearby village while using their magic prowess to fight her off.'
'And who won?'
'If you're asking who was defeated in battle, neither. But the village was destroyed by the sword, and the battle mage who wielded the ego sword fled.'
'I see, so she thinks it's a coward's weapon.'
'Maybe, she could also dislike the sword for destroying the village.'
'Do you happen to remember the sword who did so?'
'Yes.'
'So who was it?'
'Me.'
And with that, Isla cut the mind link.
I stopped walking causing Aura to turn and look at me.
My ego sword, I knew had some bad eggs as owners, but to go as far as to destroy a village in order to flee pursuit by Genoa, that was too much.
"Lucas are you okay?"
"Hey, I've got a quick question."
"Sure."
"If someone had a bounty on their head or some kind of criminal, and you happened to catch them roaming outside of a city would you try and claim their head?"
"Are they stronger than me?"
"About the same."
"Then, probably call for some backup, not urgently, and then go fight."
"What if they send their ego sword to destroy the village, what then?"
"I would try to get back to the village."
"Then if they stop you and the village is destroyed?"
"Then, I'll capture them alive, and have them answer for their crimes."
"And then what if they manage to flee?"
"I'll chase them."
"Then-"
"Hey Lucas, where did this come from?"
"Sorry I heard a story about a mage, who hated ego swords."
"And so you decided to ask a pure mage their feelings, since you are the wielder of one?"
"Exactly."
"Well, if you destroyed a village and it was bad, I'd be happy, but if you destroyed a village for no reason, I'd feel betrayed, and would search you out for answers."
"Thanks Aura."
"Hush, remember we're outside."
I forgot.
"Sorry."
"Did you make that slip around Charlotte too?"
"No?"
"We both made sure to avoid using your nickname in public."
"Good."
"Now lets get back to the dorm so you can go get changed."
With that we picked up our pace towards the dorm.
As we approached it, we went our separate ways, her to her floor, and me to mine.
I said hi to Mark in passing, and started getting ready.
After a nice shower, I changed into some more casual wear, taking off my armor.
I also took the liberty of changing my hair for this.
I strapped on my sword harness over my t-shirt and pants, and I walked out into the lobby.
Somehow Aura had already been waiting for me.
She had probably been trying to get me to go out with her again, and had this all set up already.
Very tsundere in her ways of asking for attention.
I liked her for it though, I thought it was cute.
She was wearing a purple dress with silver accents, and her tiara, making her look like a real ducal princess.
It kind of shamed me to be wearing such a casual outfit when she was wearing such nice clothes.
I almost turned around to get into my suit and tie, but Aura got a hold of me before I could.
"Let's go Lucas, no time for a tuxedo."
"Alright, but what I'm wearing-"
"Is a okay, and will be just fine since it won't matter when we get there."
"Okay."
With that she led me through a portal through to the city.
We landed in the central part and walked to a large, what looked to be a concert hall.
We entered inside and I found that instead of a stage and auditorium, there was a large dance hall.
As we walked in a employee came to ask a few questions.
"May I ask your names?"
"We are Mr. and Mrs. Malcensius."
"Ah welcome, on the form, you had signed that both of you had no formal training, but had some informal training yes?"
"Yes."
What was this?
The Malcensius was in fact a family with a last name in the Svarmet duchy, but they were commoners, perhaps she was trying to masquerade as a commoner to avoid attracting suspicion.
With that we were lead to a room with a few other commoner couples both attending the academy, and those living in the city.
Aura and I were set side to side.
I on the left and she on the right.
We were lined up behind the other couples here, the few or so of them.
"Alright, just follow the lord or lady in front of you to the dressing rooms please."
And so we went, I to the left hallway and once again Aura to the right.
***
*Aurelia's Pov*
I walked into the dressing room where one lady was standing next to a chair waiting to stylize me.
"Hello, you must be Mrs. Malcensius."
"I'm Sepia."
"Is the person you're dancing with today your husband? Father? Son?"
"Ah, husband."
She smiled.
She seemed just like the other girls, fun to be around.
"You look just like a princess right now Miss."
"Thank you, I had it designed specifically so that it would match my husband's, a shame he didn't wear it, since I surprised him with this dance."
I sat down in the chair as we began to talk.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Mrs. Malcensius where would you like me to work on? You look absolutely stunning and aside from styling your hair or adding ornaments to your dress, I don't think I could add any flair without just changing your entire outerwear."
"Just a hairstyle change then."
"Yes miss, and which style would you prefer?"
"A high ponytail please."
"So tell me about your husband."
She quickly left stylist mode and went back to talking with me like a normal girl.
"Well we have been together since childhood, and even when he suggested looking for a better man than he, it was quite difficult as he had raised my standards too high for any man to reach."
"He sounds wonderful."
"Well, when I am with him I turn into a good-for-nothing, and I try my best to make it up to him, with these outings."
"I find your relationship to be very cute."
"Thank you."
"If I may ask, how old are you now?"
"We are both 23."
"And do you attend the academy together?"
"Yes, we are both part of the graduate school in the scholar course."
"He plans to become a researcher, I wish to become a teacher."
"It sounds like you two have your future planned out."
"Yes, we do."
What am I even saying.
"There, your high ponytail is finished."
I stood up and we exited the room together.
She stood next to me in the hall as we waited on the 7 other couples.
"So what's your love life like?"
"Well, I'm only 17, but I've had my eyes on this man."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Where does he work?"
"He works with his father at the bakery on the east side."
"Do you see him often?"
"Every morning if possible, we are friends so I see him outside of work as well."
"And do you think he likes you?"
"I don't think so, I think he's taken with another woman."
"Like in a relationship?"
"No, just so infatuated with her, that he can't see me as a woman."
"I doubt it. You are very pretty, if anything I could see it as him trying to blow smoke so that it's not discovered he has a secret crush on you."
"You really think so?"
"Well, if you want we can go on a girls trip, the two of us this weekend to the bakery."
"Sure, I would love that."
We exchanged information.
Soon all the other partners had lined up, and we began to walk down the hall to meet our partners once again.
Luke's casual leather holster was replaced with a tight silver one, and his clothing replaced with a dark blue and black 2 piece suit.
He looked incredible.
"Miss, I think you won the lottery with your husband."
"I know I did."
We giggled to ourselves.
"You may approach your partner and our stylists will come to assist you in dance."
I had asked Sepia to arrange how we would dance.
"Do you know any way to dance miss?"
"Just a simple two step."
"Do you already know the grips?"
"Mostly."
"Then I'll guide your hands."
She winked at me.
She put Luke's hands on me gently, and took my hands and put them on Luke's.
With that she said to show what we know and Lucas and I took to a two step, that occasionally switched the facing of our hands.