After the swordsmanship class ended, a few of my classmates hesitantly started to approach me.
Most of them exchanged a few words, introduced themselves, and then returned to their seats. But some didn't leave so quickly.
"Hey, hey! You're really strong, huh?"
One of those who stayed was a small girl with bright red hair, standing in front of me now.
Though I had shrunk after becoming a girl, and Cillian was already shorter than me, this girl was even shorter, by a full head. If I saw her outside, I might mistake her for someone younger, not a peer.
"Ah, thank you," I replied politely, trying to maintain a courteous demeanor.
The girl laughed and playfully slapped my shoulder.
"Oh, come on, why the formal tone? You can just speak casually! It's too stiff!"
"Uh, right. I mean, sure."
Honestly, I wasn't too comfortable with the formal speech of a noble lady anyway. Having someone to talk to more casually was a relief.
But, if she could stop hitting my shoulder, that'd be great. My heightened sensitivity made each playful smack feel sharper than it should, and I was sure my skin was turning red.
"Hey, stop smacking her already! Your hands are a menace."
A boy standing next to her grabbed her hand, putting an end to her assault.
He had the same red hair as the girl, but their physiques couldn't be more different. While she was petite, he was tall—taller than I had been as a man, even taller than most boys our age.
I remembered these two clearly. Given their skill in the earlier duels, it would be strange if I didn't.
Despite her small size, the girl wielded a massive greatsword, nearly as big as she was. She had swung it with such skill and power that she overwhelmed her opponent.
The boy, on the other hand, used a bastard sword—usually wielded with two hands—but his large frame allowed him to use it one-handed with incredible force, leaving his opponent stunned.
They were two of the few I hadn't dared to give feedback to.
I imagined what it would be like to face them both at once. If I were still in my male body, it might be a different story, but in my current state, I couldn't confidently say I'd win. Still, I'd give myself an 80-90% chance of victory.
But if it were them against Cillian? There was no question—it'd be Cillian's win.
Not because they were weak, but because Cillian was just that overwhelmingly strong. Her swordsmanship wasn't just skilled; it carried a level of experience and wisdom far beyond her years. She truly was a hero candidate.
"You've got some nerve calling me a menace, you brat!"
The girl, having freed her hand, immediately threw a punch into the boy's stomach.
Thud!
"Ugh... You little squirt... You're only a minute younger than me..."
"What did you call me? You're dead!"
I had been mentally replaying duels, but suddenly realized they were about to start a real fight.
Not wanting to deal with the fallout, I quickly stepped in and separated the two.
Fortunately, they remembered I was still there and stopped fighting, turning their attention back to me.
"Uh... So, um..." I stammered, unsure of what to say.
"Ian Klein," the boy introduced himself first, saving me the trouble.
I looked at the girl expectantly, and she seemed to realize her lapse in manners.
"Oh, I'm Annie Klein! He's my younger brother, as you can see. We're twins, though we don't look much alike, right?"
Honestly, Annie looked more like the younger sibling, but I figured it would be unwise to mention that.
"I'm... uh, I'm Elysia. Just Elysia."
"Yeah, I know. You're already famous."
?
"Everyone knows about you sneaking out of the dorms on the first day. You've got quite the reputation as a troublemaker already."
"What?!"
How...? I was sure no one saw me slip out through the window. I didn't recall getting caught.
"If you're going to sneak out again, I recommend doing it after bed checks. That way, you won't get in trouble!"
Wait, was that in the dorm rules? I had no idea there even was a bed check.
Hold on... could this mess up my scholarship plan?
"Still, for whatever reason, the dorm manager didn't deduct any points, so you're fine for now. You might get scolded, though."
I could handle a scolding. What mattered was whether there were any penalties.
"Thank goodness... But I doubt I'll have any reason to sneak out again."
"Well, if you do, just ask me for help!"
Annie puffed up her chest proudly, but instead of feeling reassured, I just found her adorable.
Of course, there's nothing outside the academy for me anymore, so I had no intention of sneaking out again.
Click
Before I could say more, the door opened, and the next professor entered the classroom.
"Oops, the professor's here. We'll talk again later!"
With a wave, Annie dragged Ian back to their seats. Given the way she swung her greatsword earlier, I wondered if Ian was really being dragged or just pretending. A silly thought.
Annie sat at the front, probably because of her small stature.
Even Ian, despite his height, sat in the front row, which might've been an issue for the students behind him, but the fact that he was seated at the far side seemed to placate everyone.
I sighed as I saw Cillian once again slide her desk closer to mine.
The professor, who was there to teach history, noticed Cillian moving her desk but didn't say much after she claimed she'd forgotten her textbook.
Though from where I sat, I could see her history textbook peeking out of her bag. I decided it was best to pretend I didn't notice.
* * * *
Griffin Academy has the same lunch break for all departments and grades.
There's an hour and a half to either eat a packed lunch, go to the cafeteria, or stop by the campus store. How you spend the time is up to you.
The cafeteria offers a wide variety of meals, from cheap dishes for commoners to gourmet options fit for nobles.
Of course, choosing a meal means paying for it out of your own pocket.
With my need to save money, I should be getting the cheapest meal possible, but here I am, standing in line for one of the most expensive meals—just short of the courses and specials.
I don't have any particular cravings or bad spending habits; I'm just here because I followed Cillian, and this is where we ended up.
I considered leaving the line, but Cillian, smiling and chatting away, made it impossible to slip out unnoticed.
"I heard from graduates that this meal is amazing."
"Haha... I'm really looking forward to it."
I couldn't say no. I hated myself a little for it.
The line shortened, and eventually, I handed over five meal tickets. Five tickets—the same cost as five cheap meals—for a tray filled with fancy dishes I'd never had before.
Considering the quality, five tickets was a bargain, but for someone trying to save money, all I could see on the tray were price tags. The meat alone was probably worth three tickets, the salad at least one. And the dessert?
Well, what's done is done.
Forcing a smile, I followed Cillian outside, where she led me to a table under the clear, sunny sky.
The outdoor tables were all taken, but as luck would have it, a group got up to leave just as we arrived, so we quickly claimed the spot.
"Please, take this seat, Cillian," I offered, making sure to secure a good impression with the gesture.
Flattery, after all, is a spice, not a main dish. Use it too much, and it spoils everything.
Cillian's bright smile confirmed that my move was the right one.
She took her seat, and I followed, sitting across from her.
"Enjoy your meal," I said.
"Thank you. You too, Elysia."
Now was the time for focus. This was a five-ticket meal. It deserved respect.
I had to eat slowly, savoring every bite, as though I was performing a sacred ritual.
I cut the meat delicately, making sure to feel the texture of each slice.
I carefully stabbed a piece with my fork, making sure no precious juices spilled, and raised it to my mouth.
"Elysia! Why are you crying?"
Ah... these are the tears of joy that come with eating such fine meat. No extra seasoning needed.