'Mother.'
A magical word that sets the peripheral nerves ablaze and lights up everything before your eyes.
Is there another word—just three syllables—that can send a chill straight down a person's spine?
Someone had casually placed a hand on Elline's shoulder and called her 'Mother.'
This was the visitation hall.
So then, what was the appropriate thing to do right now?
"GOOD DAY TO YOU!!!"
"My."
Bow deeply and offer a greeting, of course.
According to Alfred, a good first impression is practically guaranteed just by greeting adults properly.
"I AM!! THE SECOND SON OF HOUSE LIPERTO, FROM THE WESTERN FRONTIER!!! MY NAME IS RUTESS LIPERTO!!"
The somewhat thunderous greeting echoed through the corridor as I stiffened and lowered my head.
It might have been over the top—but wasn't this better than the alternative?
A brief silence passed, and then a soft laugh drifted into my ears.
"I'm Cleonoa Pailless. It's a pleasure to meet you, Rutess."
Elline's mother, Cleonoa—her voice carried a deep resonance, yet within it flowed an elegance that sent a pleasant shiver through anyone who heard it.
That was unexpected.
Given the image I had of House Pailless and Elline, I'd assumed she would be enormously strict, or cold.
To think she was this gentle a person.
"Not at all!! The pleasure is entirely mine!!!"
"Hehe, what wonderful manners you have."
Cleonoa smiled softly and rested both hands on Elline's shoulders.
"As it happens, I was just hearing about you from Elline today—seeing you in person makes me truly happy. Has my daughter been causing you any trouble?"
"Mother."
"Not at all!! She's been incredibly kind to me!!"
Whether my resolute answer pleased her, Cleonoa simply smiled with maternal warmth and gently stroked Elline's hair.
"Thank you for saying so. There's so much I'd love to talk about, but… visitation hours have ended… What a shame."
True to her words, the academy staff rang the bell once more from the far end of the corridor, signaling the close of visiting hours.
She regarded me for a moment, then folded her hands neatly before her and gave a small, graceful bow.
"Please take good care of my daughter, Rutess."
"Y-yes! Of course!"
In every one of her movements flowed a refinement that made me truly understand what it meant to be raised with noble etiquette—all I could do was bow back, somewhat clumsily.
"Elline, I'll head out first. You've met Rutess now, so take a moment to talk."
"No, let me come with—"
"It's fine, dear. Berna will be waiting outside anyway, so don't bother coming out. Understood?"
"…"
Cleonoa raised her hand and gently cupped Elline's cheek. Elline closed her eyes and let herself feel her mother's touch.
"Thank you for telling me everything today, Elline."
Then she slowly turned her gaze back to me.
"Then I do hope we'll meet again soon, Rutess. I'll make sure to arrange something."
"Yes!! Please travel safely!"
Until the very end, Cleonoa smiled behind her hand, gave one final bow, and turned to leave.
Only after she had completely disappeared from the corridor did something loosen inside me—and I felt my heart begin to beat again.
'…'
Was this what it felt like after a storm had passed?
'Thank goodness…'
I turned my head at the sound of a presence nearby, and Elline was already right beside me.
She rather enjoyed startling people, didn't she.
"Elline, make some noise when you walk up next time."
I'd heard that reducing one's footsteps was a point of noble etiquette, but Elline's were particularly inaudible.
"I always make noise."
"…Do you?"
Elline stepped back a little, then began walking toward me.
She arrived at my side again and looked at me with her usual composed expression.
"Can you hear it?"
"…Yeah."
I could hear her footsteps.
*Cat paws, honestly.*
Very faintly—only if you concentrated.
"Rutess."
"Hm…?"
"Your family came to visit too, right?"
Family…
Alfred had been someone who shared a bond even deeper than that.
"Yeah."
"I should have gone to greet them."
"It's fine, I didn't even mention it to you."
I'd only found out myself the night before, so there hadn't been time to say anything.
I wondered what kind of reaction Alfred would have shown if I'd introduced Elline to him.
*Hahaha, young master, please don't tease an old man. I may be getting on in years, but I still have my wits about me. How on earth could someone like her possibly be with you…*
I was curious what he'd have said.
…
*I won't be able to see him anymore.*
Alfred was gone.
I'd always known that moments of parting would come eventually—but when they actually arrived, it wasn't easy to keep your feelings in check.
I'd wanted to show him all sorts of amazing magic when I got back. Now I never would.
I steadied the trembling in my chest.
Wishing Alfred well as he departed to find his rest—that was the last thing I could do for him.
*He'll be alright.*
If anything, I was simply grateful that he'd come all this way to speak with me in person.
"Rutess."
When I came back to myself, Elline had naturally taken my hand.
A warm, soft hand.
"Shall we go?"
"…Yeah."
She stepped half a pace ahead and began to lead me forward. I followed slowly behind her as we left the visitation hall.
* * *
"North-bound visitors, this way! West-bound, over here!"
As we came down from the courtyard, families whose visits had ended were boarding carriages to head home.
"Thank you kindly."
An elderly man in a neatly pressed coat, supported by an attendant, climbed into one of the academy's shared carriages. Cleonoa gave a small bow.
"Not at all. I hope you have a comfortable journey."
With that courteous farewell, a short horn call sounded and the carriages began departing one by one, kicking up a noisy cloud of dust.
Cleonoa stepped back and turned to look at the academy.
The exterior was much as it had been when she graduated—but the buildings were cleaner now, more orderly.
'…'
Berna, her lady's maid, approached quietly and reported.
"The carriage is ready."
"Thank you. Sorry to have kept you waiting."
"Not at all, my lady."
A wave of nostalgia and wistfulness washed over her—but that was all a distant past now.
Like an old journal set aside as a keepsake, it was enough to hold it quietly in one corner of her heart.
Cleonoa stepped in, and the carriage swayed gently before settling level.
Berna finished speaking with the coachman outside and came in, taking the seat across from her. The carriage glided smoothly into motion.
"How was the young miss?"
"She seemed well. Same as always."
Cleonoa kept her gaze fixed on the academy as it receded behind them.
"My lady."
"What is it?"
"You look… bright."
Bright.
"Do I?"
"Yes."
Cleonoa did not deny it.
Her daughter, who had always recounted her academy schedule in the same even tone, who had spoken only of the Mage Tower and magic—
That child, who never showed her feelings and simply talked.
Today, for the first time, she had brought up something different.
*Mother, there's someone I like.*
Someone she liked.
*Is that so?*
Just hearing those words had lifted her heart—
*So? How are things with them now? Have you grown close?*
*Yes. We're together now.*
And the faint smile Elline had worn as she said it—Cleonoa couldn't help the swell of emotion that rose in her chest.
On top of that, she had even gotten to see the boy Elline had spoken of in person.
A child with a bright, kind face.
She remembered the moment Elline had stopped mid-conversation, caught sight of his retreating figure, and gone running after him without a second thought.
'…'
She had always felt nothing but guilt.
Her daughter, who had been controlled and suppressed in every way by her husband Rokgard.
Cleonoa had been frustrated with herself—able to offer nothing but words of comfort—and had hoped Elline might find her own path at the academy.
And yet, to think she would come and say she had someone she was seeing.
"Berna, what does the schedule look like?"
"Nothing in particular, my lady—though there is a banquet hosted by the imperial family in three days' time."
"…The imperial family."
Though her husband Rokgard had stepped down from his position as Court Mage, his influence remained considerable, and House Pailless still maintained ties to the imperial court.
*I've heard the Second Prince has been showing a particular interest in magic lately.*
Among the Emperor's children, he was the one with an especially keen fascination with magic.
This banquet, too, was likely being held at his initiative.
"I'll need to begin preparations as soon as we return."
Berna nodded and began writing something down. A quiet smile of satisfaction settled on Cleonoa's face.
*Elline.*
She turned to look out the window again.
My beloved daughter.
*May you find your path there.*
The carriage crested a ridge to the sound of hoofbeats, and the academy's buildings slipped from view.
* * *
After visitation hours, past midday.
"Elline."
"Mm."
"If you hadn't run into me today, what were you planning to do?"
"Study in the dormitory."
"Wouldn't that have been the better option?"
Before I knew it, Elline had taken my hand and was dragging me along.
Westward. Toward the training grounds.
"No, since we're together anyway, let's go, Rutess."
"Hold on, this isn't right—Elline, I was genuinely exhausted yesterday. I nearly died."
"Did you die?"
"Well, no—"
"Then come on."
She tightened her grip and pulled harder.
*Noooo…!!*
It wasn't that she was physically overpowering me, but somehow I couldn't break free of her grasp.
What could I do? Elline was pulling me along—how was I supposed to resist?
I resigned myself entirely and let her drag me away without a fight.
*Going to be in Ross's debt again today…*
"Hello!"
A cheerful voice rang out suddenly, and I turned to find a girl standing there with her arms full of luggage.
Her hair was plastered to her face with sweat, yet she smiled at us without a hint of hesitation.
"Rui?"
It was Rui.
She greeted us warmly, then seemed to realize her voice had been too loud—she quickly covered her mouth and made an apologetic face.
"Oh, sorry! Were you in the middle of something? I just got excited and called out… Elline, hi…?"
She glanced between us uncertainly, still wanting to wave, and Elline responded with a small nod.
"We weren't busy. What brings you out here?"
"Oh—"
Rui hoisted her bundle of luggage up.
"I was on my way back from training!"
*Training, huh.*
Preparing for the exams, probably.
Well, the exam period was coming up fast.
*I wonder how her Seonghwaje prep is going.*
It didn't feel like the right moment to ask, so I kept it to myself.
"Were you heading to get lunch now?"
"Yes! I'm meeting Ian for a meal—there's a restaurant called Embers over in the east. Do you know it?"
At the mention of Embers, I recalled the quiet little place at the far eastern end of campus that Balrod had taken me to once.
The cozy atmosphere and the depth of flavor had left quite an impression.
"Yes, I've eaten there before. The pasta was really good."
"Oh, really? It's my first time going, so I'm a little excited. Hehe."
"Rui."
Elline spoke quietly, and Rui startled, turning to look at her.
"Oh—yeah, Elline… what is it?"
She looked exactly like a puppy shrinking back from someone intimidating.
"Don't put strain on your left shoulder when you cast."
The unexpected advice made Rui's eyes go wide.
"My left…?"
"Your left shoulder is trembling quite a bit. Use both hands as much as possible. Keep your mana balanced."
"Ah…"
Rui's eyes grew even wider, as though receiving the words of a divine oracle—then she nodded vigorously.
"Yeah, yeah, thank you, Elline! I'll keep that in mind!"
The smile she showed was several times brighter than before. Elline simply squeezed my hand a little tighter, expression unchanged.
"We'll be heading off, then."
"Oh, right, I shouldn't hold you up—sorry!"
Rui bowed one last time, waved to Elline as well, and gathered her things again.
Only after she had completely disappeared around the back of the courtyard did Elline slowly turn her head.
"Rutess."
"Yeah?"
"Are you close with Rui?"
Close…?
More like acquaintances, really.
"Not particularly—we've just run into each other a couple of times."
"I see."
Elline said it in her usual even tone and gave a small nod.
*Crack—*
And squeezed my hand harder.
"…Elline?"
"Let's go. Quickly."
Perhaps annoyed at the time lost to conversation, she quickened her pace.
The atmosphere felt a degree cooler, somehow.
*Probably just my imagination.*
Yeah. It was definitely just my imagination.
It was not my imagination.
*Whoosh—*
"Whoa!"
*Crack!*
A spear—sharper and more vivid than anything from yesterday—drove into the training ground floor with a sound like something being split apart.
"Don't dodge, Rutess."
Elline said it calmly, but her voice had sunk even lower than usual.
"Elline, wait just a second!!"
I called out in a panic, but—
*Whoosh—*
She answered by throwing another spear.
"Yikes!"
Something was off.
Had I done something wrong with her mother?
No, that wasn't it…
Then why, all of a sudden—
"In front."
*Bang—*
I threw up a barrier against the last spear hurtling toward me, and the enormous mana recoil sent a jolt through every muscle.
The resonance of mana vibrating through me—it felt like even my brain was rattling.
Needless to say, it was not a pleasant sensation.
"Hhhh…"
I sank to the ground and worked to steady my breathing. Elline calmly brushed the dust from her shoulder.
"Rutess. Remember that feeling."
So she was done, then.
"I'll remember it just fine, my memory is excel—"
"Good."
Elline took one step forward.
Then she spread both palms open, and a pale blue light rippled to life—conjuring two spears simultaneously.
Spears formed from brilliantly glowing mana.
The backlighting behind Elline cast her face into shadow, while her blue eyes shone all the brighter, fixed on me.
She was genuinely beautiful.
And genuinely terrifying.
"So now I'm going to throw both at once."
"…"
Both. At the same time.
"Hold on, that's—"
"Here they come."
Please don't.
I'm sorry. I was wrong. What did I even do?
Against every desperate plea in my heart—the two spears were already cutting through the air toward me.