"Yawn..."
After inspecting the state of the guild last night, I returned to the dormitory just as dawn was breaking.
That means I'm heading to class today without having slept at all.
The classroom is empty, with no one else having arrived yet.
Yawning widely, I shuffled over to the same seat I had taken yesterday and slumped down into it.
Back when I was still a man, staying up all night didn't bother me. But now that I've turned into a woman, just one sleepless night feels like my eyelids weigh a ton.
I'm not sure if this is just how women are, or if it's a side effect of the TS magic. Either way, it's a minor inconvenience.
Pushing aside pointless thoughts, I began to organize the current situation in my head.
First, can I return to my original body?
No. Last night, Sam Mogra, who boasted of being the only TS magic user on the continent, died. It's unlikely he knew every mage on the continent, but I can't risk my life on something uncertain.
Second, do I have any money?
I have a few gold coins, but considering the cost of living at the academy—tuition, dorm fees, food—it's far from enough.
Third, is my current situation safe?
Probably not. The Deretia family is undoubtedly on high alert after realizing that their cherished daughter was the target of an assassination. Disappearing from the academy would only raise suspicions and make things more dangerous.
In summary, this isn't the situation I had hoped for when I wanted freedom.
With that in mind, I started to sketch out a rough plan for the future.
First, do I really need to leave the academy?
Griffin Academy is the most prestigious academy on the continent. Sure, it's tough to get in and graduate, but those who do are guaranteed a bright future. It seems wasteful to give up such an opportunity.
Second, how will I secure funds?
Everything at the academy costs money. Food, dorm fees—everything. I'm staying in a single dorm room, and while the first semester's fees are paid, I doubt I can afford it for the second semester.
Even if I downgrade to a shared dorm, I'll still need to pinch pennies just to cover my meals.
However, there is a silver lining—Griffin Academy, being a national academy, has excellent scholarship programs. Ideally, I'll aim for a full scholarship that covers tuition, dorm fees, and meals. Even a partial scholarship would help secure my future plans.
Third, Cillian Deretia.
This is tricky. Lucky or not, Cillian seems to have taken a liking to me based on her attitude yesterday. She might just be friendly to everyone, which wouldn't be a bad thing.
But should I stay close to someone I was supposed to assassinate? If I slip up and reveal my true identity, my life is forfeit.
On the other hand, if I don't make mistakes, staying close to her might be the best way to avoid suspicion. After all, I used to be an assassin-in-training (without any actual experience), and I trust my ability to stay sharp.
Therefore, getting closer to Cillian might be the safest path forward.
Click
As I was wrapping up my thoughts, the door creaked open, and a student entered the classroom.
Hearing the sound, I instinctively turned my head, and my eyes met those of the person entering.
Clear blue eyes, as bright as a cloudless sky.
I've seen people with blue eyes before, but none as pure and bright as hers.
It's Cillian Deretia.
Her blonde hair complements her blue eyes, enhancing her already stunning presence.
She seemed surprised to find someone already in the classroom, her eyes widening for a moment before she smiled warmly.
"You're here early, Elysia."
"Oh, good morning, Cillian."
She pulled out a chair with a soft scrape and sat down, hanging her bag on the side of the desk.
I was still drowsy, and as the silence stretched, the urge to yawn returned. I covered my mouth with one hand, stifling the yawn as best I could.
I tried to rub the tears from my eyes, but Cillian had scooted her desk closer and was now peering intently at me.
She leaned in so close that our noses were practically touching. Her proximity made me uncomfortable, and I found myself glancing around awkwardly, unsure of where to look.
I can't help my reaction. Even though I've trained as an assassin for years, I haven't had this much close contact with someone my age—especially a girl—for over a decade. Frankly, I'm surprised I'm managing to hold a conversation at all.
After a moment, Cillian pulled back slightly, and I breathed a small sigh of relief, only for her to place both hands on my cheeks.
"Such a pretty face, and yet you've got dark circles under your eyes. That's a crime!"
She pouted as she pressed my cheeks, squishing them slightly.
"Celwiaaaan?"
I tried to say her name, but it came out muffled due to her pinching my face.
She didn't seem to notice, though, as she continued to stretch my cheeks, murmuring to herself.
"Actually... this might give you a bit of a tired, sultry look. That could be even better… Hmm, if I had to choose..."
"Wh-what?"
Her mutterings were starting to scare me, so I mumbled again, and she finally let go of my face.
Sure, I could have pried her hands off myself, but that wasn't an option. I need to stick close to her.
Doing anything to annoy her would be a mistake.
"Here, have one of these. It might help you feel a bit more refreshed," she said, pulling out a candy from a tin and offering it to me.
I accepted it, popped it into my mouth, and was immediately hit with a wave of sourness.
The intense sour taste made me squint, but soon the sweetness followed, and I swirled the candy around with my tongue. As I enjoyed the taste, Cillian reached out and gently patted my head.
?
Since yesterday, I've noticed that Cillian's behavior towards me feels unusually intimate. Is this how girls normally act around each other?
The etiquette manuals I studied didn't mention anything like this, but maybe this kind of interaction is common among girls.
Deciding to follow her lead, I reached out to pat her head in return.
Click
Her tongue clicked disapprovingly, and I quickly withdrew my hand, placing it back on my lap and looking down.
...?
In the end, all I could do was sit there quietly, letting her pat my head until she was satisfied.
* * * *
"As it's the first day, today's class will focus on assessing each student's skill level," the instructor announced.
The first class for Swordsmanship Class 1 was practical swordsmanship, taught by Professor Ferrent.
Rumor has it that before joining the academy, Ferrent was the captain of the imperial knights.
Griffin Academy truly is the best on the continent.
"Pair up with a partner and find a spot!"
At the professor's instruction, the students quickly began pairing off and spreading out.
Some students who couldn't find partners hesitated awkwardly until Ferrent paired them up himself.
What about me?
I turned my head to the side.
There was Cillian, having slipped past her followers to stand right next to me.
Her sudden appearance startled me so much that I almost jumped. Is Cillian secretly an assassin?
"One pair at a time, come forward for a sparring match! Don't worry about safety—I'll step in if things get too dangerous. And for those not sparring, take notes! You'll get extra points for providing good feedback."
I decided to observe the duels, quietly accumulating points while waiting for my turn.
* * * *
"Next!"
Finally, it was my turn.
At the professor's signal, Cillian and I stepped forward. I swung the wooden sword in my hand a few times to get a feel for it.
Even though it was just a wooden practice sword, it felt heavier than I expected, likely due to the decreased strength in my new body.
It wasn't so heavy that I couldn't handle it, but it definitely felt different.
I readied my stance, looking at Cillian standing before me.
As I already knew, she was a hero candidate. I didn't know her exact skill level, but she was clearly not someone to take lightly.
Even from the way she held her sword, I could tell she was on a different level from the other students who had sparred earlier.
Still, that's all the more reason to test myself. I need to assess my current abilities and see if my plan to win a scholarship is realistic.
Though there was no official signal to start, we both knew the duel had begun.
Cillian and I stood ready, our swords poised, each of us prepared to strike at any moment.
Cillian's stance was textbook perfection. One foot slightly behind, her body upright and balanced, her shoulders square, and her sword held steady without the slightest tremble.
Her expression, usually so lighthearted, was now blank and focused.
She was like an immovable rock.
Alright, I'll make the first move.
Gripping my wooden sword in one hand, I spun it in a small circle and then charged at her.
I swung diagonally from below, but Cillian easily deflected my attack and countered by pushing her shoulder into me.
Normally, a shoulder tackle would throw me off balance, but I used the momentum of the deflected sword to spin my body, flipping over her and grabbing her by the back of the neck.
A dirty trick, perhaps, but effective.
If there were any knights around, they'd probably criticize me, but thankfully, there were no objections.
As I pulled her closer, I swung my sword toward her.
However, she easily predicted my move and placed her sword in the path of mine, neutralizing my attack with minimal effort.
Then, she spun around, shrugging off my grip and launching a wide, powerful swing at me.
There was no way to block it, so I dodged, rolling to the ground. Her sword whistled past just above my head.
The sound of it cutting through the air was unnerving.
I quickly stood up, reestablishing my stance as I moved out of her range.
We were back where we started, neither of us having gained or lost any ground.
But the momentum was clearly on her side, and both of us knew it.
She's no ordinary candidate.
The idea that I could become the youngest sword master suddenly felt absurd.
If anyone in this room was closest to reaching that level, it was the girl standing before me, not me.
I couldn't help but smile at the realization.
Is this what it feels like to enjoy crossing swords with someone?
Just from that brief exchange, I could sense how serious she was about her swordsmanship. I could almost hear her thoughts, and I knew she was enjoying this just as much as I was.
Until now, I never found joy in training with a sword. Every day was filled with pain, and I accepted that pain as a necessary part of life.
The sword was always just a tool for assassination, nothing more.
But unlike Cillian, who had walked the noble path of the sword, the path I had taken was dark and dirty.
Still, that didn't matter. I used to hide the shame of my past, but now I can stand tall.
This is the path I've walked. I wasn't wrong. I just walked a different path.
Meeting her, facing her sword, and seeing her path gave me confidence in my own.
Without realizing it, aura began to gather around my sword.
Not the pitch-black aura I wielded as a man, but a radiant, pure white.
Upon seeing my sword, Cillian grinned and summoned her own aura.
A brilliant golden light.
Gold and silver.
After a brief moment of silence, we both charged at each other.
"Alright! That's enough!"
Before we could collide, Ferrent stepped in, grabbing us both by the collars and lifting us off the ground.
So this is the power of a former imperial knight commander.