"See you later."
"Yes! I'll send a carriage for you on the agreed date, so you can just ride it here."
"Come back soon. I'll be waiting."
Carrying a bag full of luggage, I bid farewell to Annie and Cilly, who were seeing me off. Although we'd see each other again in less than a month, Cilly acted as if we were parting forever, her behavior a bit overwhelming.
I extended my hand for a handshake with Annie and Cilly. We'd already talked about plenty of things yesterday, so there was no need for a long farewell. I simply treated it like saying goodbye before seeing them again tomorrow. After all, depending on how you look at it, a month is a pretty short time.
Annie grasped my outstretched hand firmly. Her small hand gripped mine tightly, a gesture that perfectly reflected her personality. We shook hands a few times, and once she was satisfied, she released my hand with a bright smile.
Next was Cilly. She hesitated, clearly reluctant to part. She didn't reach out first because shaking hands would make the farewell feel more real. At the start of the semester, I never imagined we'd become so close, but now, at the end of the semester, we were closer than anyone.
I reached out and gently held Cilly's hand with both of mine. Even after we shook hands and I let go, Cilly lingered, reluctantly letting her fingers slip away from mine.
"Well then, I'll be off."
"Annie, Cilly, see you after the break. Take care, both of you."
Yuri, who had already said her goodbyes earlier, climbed into the carriage. I followed suit, carrying my bag inside.
As the carriage began to move, I glanced out the window to see Annie waving both hands energetically, while Cilly gave a more reserved wave, one hand held softly at her front and the other raised in farewell.
* * * *
"By the way, for a carriage, this ride is surprisingly smooth."
"That's because this carriage is enchanted with several types of magic. There's magic to reduce the jolts, soundproofing spells, temperature control, and even a basic barrier. It's expensive to maintain, but since it's so convenient, most nobles use something like this."
So, I suppose the carriage Annie and Cilly will send for me will be similar. Up until now, the only carriages I'd ridden in were simple wagons used to transport crops between villages. Even the passenger carriages between towns weren't like this.
There was even a magical light fixture on the ceiling, so there was no need for candles. It was moments like these that reminded me just how high Yuri's noble status was. For a brief moment, I considered asking how much the carriage cost, but I quickly decided against it, suspecting the number would be far beyond my imagination.
"Would you like something to drink?"
As I silently marveled at the carriage's luxurious interior, Yuri held up a teapot. Normally, drinking tea in a moving carriage would risk spilling it all over yourself, but in this enchanted carriage, it seemed entirely doable.
"Or would you prefer something cold? I have juice too."
Yuri opened a small refrigerator in the corner and handed me a juice. Looking around, I wondered if this carriage was better than our dorm room. It was seriously something to consider.
I accepted the juice, took a sip, and finally stopped gawking at the carriage.
"We should arrive by this evening."
Fortunately, Yuri's estate wasn't far from the academy. Thanks to the well-maintained roads and the magically enhanced carriage, we could reach our destination in just a few hours.
Some students had to endure several days of travel to return home, depending on how far away their estates were. And for those without magical carriages like Yuri's, the trip must be grueling. In that case, students from other kingdoms might have it better. At least they could use the teleportation circles set up between countries for special cases, even if they had to go through complicated identity checks. Still, it beat spending days in a regular carriage.
For those whose estates were farther away, the entire break might be spent just traveling back and forth. In that case, staying at the dorms might actually be the better option.
The carriage carefully made its way through Yuri's estate and eventually stopped in front of the mansion. Several servants were already waiting, likely informed of our arrival when we entered the estate grounds.
"Please, allow us to handle your luggage."
As I followed Yuri out of the carriage with my bag, one of the waiting butlers approached and offered to take it. Since I didn't think they'd snoop through my belongings, I handed it over without hesitation.
"Thanks, I'll leave it to you."
"It's our duty, so no need to thank us."
He gave a slight bow and took my bag. As it was his job, I didn't argue further. After all, I wouldn't be staying long, and this level of service seemed appropriate for a noble estate.
"My lady, the lord is expecting you. Shall I take you to him now?"
"I'll go after I change my clothes. And give Elys the best guest room."
"Understood."
The head butler gave orders to the other staff, who immediately began tending to various tasks.
"Elys, I'll come by your room later. We'll go greet my father together."
"Alright, see you then."
I followed a maid who guided me to the room I would be staying in. The mansion was quite large, and it seemed easy to get lost for anyone unfamiliar with the place.
"This will be your room."
When I entered the room, I was greeted by a space so large that calling it a 'room' felt inadequate—it was more like a house. The entrance led to a living area, with other doors leading off into what I assumed were additional rooms.
"Would you like us to unpack for you?"
"No, just leave the luggage here."
"Very well. And if you need anything, simply ring this bell. It's connected by magic, so we'll receive the alert and come right away. Don't hesitate to call us, even in the middle of the night, for anything, no matter how small."
The maid bowed politely and left, leaving me alone in the room. Before unpacking, I quickly checked that she was gone, then rushed to one of the adjoining rooms.
I really had to use the bathroom. After drinking that juice in the carriage, I had barely made it to the mansion. When I was a guy, holding it in wasn't this difficult, but now that I'm a girl, it's much harder. I never thought I'd notice such a difference in something so trivial.
Relieved after taking care of business, I stepped back into the enormous room. Opening one of the doors, I found the bedroom, with a bed far too large for just one person. Another door led to a walk-in closet. Though I hadn't brought many clothes, the space was more than enough. There was even a room that looked like a study and another for receiving guests. It seemed excessive for a guest room.
Even the windows were positioned to let in the perfect amount of sunlight. It really was the best room, just as Yuri had said.
After exploring the room and unpacking what little I had brought, Yuri came by.
"So, how do you like the room?"
"It's not just that I like it—it's way too much for me."
"Don't worry, this was the room I always stayed in when I was younger. You're not imposing at all. And besides, no other guests are expected during the break."
As I admired the room again, Yuri broke the silence with another question.
"I'm going to see my father now. Want to come with me?"
"Of course."
As a guest, it was only polite to greet the host. Avoiding it would not only be rude but would also reflect poorly on Yuri, who had invited me.
"But is it okay to wear my uniform?"
"My father isn't particular about things like that, so the uniform is fine."
I was relieved. I had worried that I might need to change into the clothes I bought during my shopping trip with Cilly, but thankfully, that wasn't necessary.
Following the butler who guided us, Yuri and I eventually stopped in front of a grand door that gave off an air of importance. After a light knock, we heard a voice from inside.
"Come in."
The butler opened the door wide, stepping aside to allow us in. He stayed outside, while Yuri and I entered.
The room looked like a study, with bookshelves lining the walls and a luxurious desk at its center. Sitting behind the desk was a man.
"Yuri."
The man, who was clearly Yuri's father, stood up as he called her name. This was Craig Attilia, the head of the household and one of only eight Sword Masters on the continent. Even just standing there, his presence felt overwhelming.