"Can you come with me? There's something I need to talk to you about"
Standing right next to Kaiser, Amelia furrowed her brows in suspicion. She glanced at Kaiser before quickly turning her gaze back to the unfamiliar girl standing before them
"Who is she?" Amelia tilted her head as she asked
Kaiser glanced at Amelia and answered simply
"I just met her yesterd-"
He hadn't even finished speaking when the pink-haired girl suddenly stepped forward with an urgent look
A thin yet cold hand grabbed onto Kaiser's wrist
The unexpected touch made his body tense for a brief moment. But his reflexes were faster - before the situation could escalate, he immediately withdrew his hand, took a step back, and maintained some distance
"What do you think you're doing?!"
Amelia's voice rang out, sharper than usual. She quickly moved in front of Kaiser, standing like an unwavering shield. Her piercing blue eyes locked onto the pink-haired girl, filled with caution
The girl flinched at the reaction, like a small animal cornered against a wall. She clutched the fabric of her clothes tightly, lowering her head
"I-I just wanted to talk to him…" Her voice trembled, as if it could break at any moment.
Kaiser silently observed her for a few seconds. Then, he took a deep breath and gently placed a reassuring hand on Amelia's shoulder
"It's okay"
Amelia didn't take her eyes off the girl, but after a moment, she reluctantly stepped back a little. However, she shot Mary a sharp glare before turning away, still keeping a close watch
Kaiser took a small step forward but maintained a careful distance
"What do you want to talk about?"
The girl looked up at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. A faint smile flickered across her lips - so brief it was almost imperceptible.
"Somewhere else… just the two of us…"
"What?"
"Come with me. I have a few things I want to ask you."
Her voice remained gentle, but there was something in her gaze that made Kaiser uneasy
She stepped closer, as if trying to erase the distance between them, her eyes never leaving his for even a second.
Amelia's frown deepened. Something felt off
"Kaiser, you don't have to-"
But before Amelia could finish her protest, Kaiser nodded
"Alright"
He turned to Amelia, his hand resting on her shoulder once again, his voice calm
"It's fine, I'll be back soon"
Amelia bit her lip but said nothing more. She stepped back, though her eyes remained locked on Mary with wary vigilance
Kaiser followed Mary to a secluded corner of the classroom, where most of the students had already left
Once they arrived, Kaiser stopped and crossed his arms over his chest
"Alright, what is it you wanted to talk about?"
The pink-haired girl pressed her lips together
"Um…"
She hesitated, her gaze flickering, hands clutching the hem of her clothes as if struggling internally
"…"
Kaiser raised an eyebrow, waiting
"Umm…"
"…"
Kaiser exhaled slightly, about to speak when Mary suddenly lifted her head. A strange glimmer flashed in her red eyes
"C-Can you teach me how to make my Mana Shield stronger?"
Kaiser raised an eyebrow, staring at her
'Teach her?' he thought
He crossed his arms and studied the girl standing before him. He remained silent for a moment before responding
"If you want to improve your Mana Shield, there are plenty of books on the subject. It's a common skill, so you should be able to learn by reading a few instruction manuals."
Mary blinked, her small hands unconsciously tightening their grip on her clothes. A brief hesitation flashed across her face before she lowered her head, her voice shrinking.
"I… I'm not good at self-studying"
Kaiser raised an eyebrow slightly. That excuse sounded simple enough, yet something about it didn't sit right. If she truly wanted to improve, wouldn't she have at least tried reading books first? Asking a complete stranger like him for help seemed… strange.
Why was she asking him?
Kaiser observed her more closely
Despite her disheveled appearance, there was no mistaking the anticipation gleaming in her red eyes. Or at least, that's what it appeared to be on the surface.
"What's your name?" he asked instead of giving an immediate answer
"M-Mary… Mary Blossom" she responded hesitantly
"Blossom?" Kaiser furrowed his brows
"I thought you weren't a noble?"
Mary lowered her head slightly, her fingers gripping her clothes even tighter
"I'm… a Illegitimate child"
Silence stretched between them for a few seconds
Kaiser could see the tension in her shoulders, as if every word she spoke was reopening an old wound. Yet, even so, Mary still lifted her head, forcing herself to meet his gaze, as if waiting for something
After a brief pause, Kaiser sighed lightly
"Alright, I'll help you"
Mary blinked, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard
A faint, almost imperceptible smile crossed her lips