"The guardians of ... Miss Lit Kanarot? This really surprises me, I originally thought that the two of you would be Kylie-sama's guardians."
"Why would you ask that?"
Jared put down his cup of tea - it tasted good, but the environment wasn't exactly conducive to tea tasting.
"Because of the abilities of both of you ..."
The cape wrapped around the Headmistress moved a little, but Jared couldn't see her expression at all. It was a strange thing to say about the Headmistress, why was she so wrapped up in her cloak? Wasn't she afraid of the heat? However, it was obviously not the right time to say anything about it, and even Jared himself did not expect the Academy Head to get to the point so quickly.
"The two of you are very powerful ... No, or that's not right, but I can't find a better description. I originally thought that ... you were the guardians of Ms. Kelly Vito, because if it was her, the power that she brought to you through the contract would reach that level, although it is a bit unbelievable, but it is not impossible at all. But if it's Tawana Kanarot, it's quite strange. ..."
A contract?
Jared and Caroline exchanged a puzzled glance, they hadn't been too interested in that so-called contract thing, so they hadn't really bothered to ask what it was all about. But now it sounded like there was something wrong with it?
"Don't you two realize that?"
The Headmaster shook his head gently, then turned to Tawana.
"It seems you're not very good at your job as a magic envoy."
"Non, I'm so sorry! Master of the Academy!!!"
"Then let me explain it well ."
The headmaster of the academy did not get angry, but laughed slightly before re-facing the two.
"As a matter of fact, you must be wondering why Guardians and Wizards must sign a contract. It's because, for the Guardian, it's not only a constraint, but also an opportunity."
"Binding ... chances?"
"This is especially true for those who seek great power ..."
That's an ambiguous answer.
"The so-called pact - it doesn't force the guardian to do anything, it merely makes the interconnection between the guardian and the wizard stronger. In other words, even if the guardian doesn't protect the wizard, the contract doesn't force him to do it."
It's a contradiction in terms to the so-called bondage. However, Jared and Caroline didn't say anything, but continued to listen intently to the Academy President's explanation.
"The only purpose of the pact is to offer the power of the wizard to the guardian. Enhancing, or empowering them. Every guardian who signs a pact benefits from it in one way or another. The stronger the wizard's power over the spirit of magic, the stronger the guardian will become. But this ability is only based on the contract. If the contract disappears, all the power the guardian has gained will disappear as well. Therefore, the guardian and the wizard are inseparable. If you want to become powerful, the guardian must guard the wizard. Because if the magician dies or breaks the contract, then everything he's worked for will also disappear."
I see.
But that has nothing to do with us.
Jared did not have a problem with it, both he and Caroline never felt that there was something more in them, all their abilities were within their grasp, they were all their own things, there was no change. There was no increase or decrease. Speaking of which, he had always wondered if there was a reason why he and Caroline couldn't use magic, and since they couldn't use magic, could this kind of magic-like contract really take effect on them?
That's a problem.
"Just now, I precisely felt my guardian draw power from me, so I judged that there was danger ... I apologize to you once again, that guardian is not a bad person although his character is very bad, technically speaking, he should be considered a strange person . "
Jared shrugged his shoulders in indifference.
And at that moment, the Dean turned his head back to Caroline.
"This young lady ...Please forgive me for being rude, your eyes ..."
"Caroline's eyes were like that from the time she was born."
Jared answered in Caroline's place.
"... I apologize if this has caused you any offense."
Hearing the faint unpleasantness in Jared's words, the Headmaster let out a bitter laugh, but then quickly changed the subject.
"So, can you tell me where you two are from? It's not a question, just a simple curiosity."
Tawana hadn't said anything, and this time nodded.
"Well, I also want to know about brother and sister ..."
Kelly didn't say anything, but the way she stole an unintentional glance at Jared made it clear that she was quite interested, too.
Jared thought for a moment, and after exchanging glances with Caroline, he finally nodded.
"Okay, I got it."
Hiding one's origins can bring a sense of mystery, but if the mystery goes too far, it's not a good thing for anyone or for oneself. So Jared began to tell the Academy President and Tawana the story as he had set it up with Caroline. Jared and Caroline were raised by a wizard who lived in a swamp and studied there before leaving to travel to the outside world, and their weapons were a gift given to them by the wizard before they left.
"What a surprise."
After listening to him, the Dean of the Academy appropriately exclaimed.
"I did see the sword you were holding ... It is indeed a magical weapon no mistake, but I have never seen anything like it. What is that magician?"
"He never told us his name, we called him 'Professor'."
"Barking?"
As long as it sounds right.
Jared's okay with that.
"What's that 'barker' like?"
"A vicious, tyrannical, brutal, self-centered fellow."
Jared was being quite matter-of-fact, and even Caroline nodded in sympathy.
Honestly, that memory was an important turning point in their lives, but it was also a very traumatic one. Even when Jared and the others look back on that time, they still wonder if they were wrong. Maybe they shouldn't have gotten involved with that guy at all. Unfortunately, it's too late for regrets.
Jared also explains in detail why he met Tawana. They got lost in the desert and met Florence, a traveling merchant, who died of an "illness" in the desert, and before he died, he wished that he and Caroline would come to take care of Tawana, who no longer had any relatives, and there was nothing urgent for Jared and Caroline to do, so they came to Tawana's house and stayed with her. Jared and Caroline came to Tawana's house and stayed with her. And now, as it were, they were her guardians.
"So much for the Guardian meeting the Wizard."
The Head of the Academy obviously hadn't given it as much thought as Tawana had.
"You come, I go. If you meet, stay together. If you don't get used to it, then separate and look for new encounters. This is how the world works. ..."
She stood up and smiled at the four of them.
"So, will you have lunch with me?"
On the way back, Jared took a long stretch as he gazed around at his peaceful surroundings. He couldn't help but feel a strange sense of fantasy.
（What are you thinking? Jared?)
"I'm thinking ... now we, it's almost time to fight that undead knight to death."
Looking up at the setting sun in the sky, Jared grinned oddly.
"Doesn't it feel strange? That 'us' over there is fighting, while 'us' over here is eating a sumptuous and delicious meal? When I think about it, I think it's just a little too weird to believe."
(Said ... too then.)
Caroline had the same look on her face, and Kelly had left them after lunch to go back to her house. She looked preoccupied, as if she was thinking about something. But the only thing that reassured Jared now was that she wouldn't reveal her and Caroline's secret. After all, as far as the others were concerned, they hadn't been gone for two days, but just a few minutes. So even if Kelly told anyone, no one would believe her.
"So, Brother Jared, what do we do?"
Tawana walked beside Caroline, poking her head out and asking.
"Our goals are clear ..."
Jared said, looking much more serious.
"Kura must be found before morning, two days from now."