Lizred Arche, who had only recently enrolled in the Imperial Military Academy, was the descendant of a Great Mage.
And she herself was a prodigy—a talent destined to one day become a Great Mage in her own right.
At the academy’s entrance ceremony, she had served as a first-year representative, a role she shared with the other descendants of the Seven Heroes who had been admitted to the special merit class alongside her.
(Honestly, they look like they’re having the time of their lives, she thought.)
From her seat, the faces of the upperclassmen in the gallery were little more than a blur. Even so, she could recognize the familiar group who shared the blood of the Seven Heroes. Watching the smiles her well-known companions directed toward her as she fulfilled her duties, Lizred let out a soft sigh.
Her gaze was also naturally drawn to two others among the upperclassmen—specifically, those standing near Sera.
(Wait, could it be? Are those two...?)
They were the boy who used magic swords and the White Saintess.
◇ ◇ ◇ ◇
A few days had passed since the entrance ceremony, and Lizred was currently wandering through the halls with unsteady, listless steps. She looked as though she were drifting without a destination.
There was still some time before classes began, and her mind was filled with a mix of anxiety and exhaustion regarding the difficulty of the academy’s curriculum.
She had spent most of the previous night hunched over her homework and had been forced to wake up early to finish the rest.
As she worried about what kind of workload would be assigned today, her mind drifted to the rigorous magical training her grandmother put her through. She tried to steel herself, repeating the mantra that she would eventually adjust to the pace.
"Heh... heheh... I’m going to be a Great Mage someday. This is nothing! Bring it on!"
Her words were full of bravado, but her gait remained as shaky as ever.
She readjusted her oversized witch's hat—which looked far too large for her small frame—just as she spotted a familiar face.
It was the boy she had noticed during the entrance ceremony. Since she had the chance, she figured she might as well try to talk to him. She smoothed out her posture, forcing her unsteady steps into a normal walk.
"Good morning, Kai—"
"Alright! Well then, time to give it my all—"
But the timing was tragically perfect.
Just as Kaito spun around, the petite Lizred slammed headfirst into him with a dull thud.
"Gah—!"
It was a pathetic sound, even by her standards, but she didn't have the luxury of feeling embarrassed.
"Ugh... uuuugh...!"
Her nose throbbed. She didn't need a mirror to know it was already bright red.
With tears welling in her eyes, Lizred tried to brush off the pain, knowing it was her own fault for sneaking up on him. Fortunately, Ren, who was standing beside Kaito, spoke up to check on her.
Since class was about to start, they couldn't talk for long, but she felt as though she had gained a small glimpse into what kind of person Ren was.
(But... he’s completely different from what I expected.)
He was a Strong Sword User who had ties to the Lion Holy Chancel.
Rumor had it he was already a Sword Saint-class warrior who had single-handedly slain a powerful monster in Eupeheim the previous winter, yet he didn't give off that impression at all. Instead, he just seemed like a kind, handsome senior who was easy to talk to—the type who would likely be very popular with the girls.
"Is something wrong?"
He must have noticed her staring, because he looked at her with concern.
"N-No! I just started feeling a little sick thinking about the lessons!"
"Whoa, easy there... school only just started, you know," Kaito said, looking at her with a mix of exasperation and disbelief.
Lizred was tempted to snap back at him, but she decided to let it go.
Ren, on the other hand, didn't mock her. He simply gave a wry smile and offered a sympathetic word. "It’s like that at first," he said. His kindness convinced Lizred that, unlike Kaito, he certainly wasn't a muscle-brain.
"Well, I suppose this is very typical of Kaito," she muttered.
"Huh? What’d I do?"
"I was just relieved to see that you’re still acting like yourself, even here at the academy."
"What’s that? Did I actually look dependable to you for once?"
"I didn't say that at all. But I think it’s very positive of you to be able to interpret it that way."
For some reason, Ren was nodding along with her words. It was a strange sight, but Lizred concluded that the two of them must be even closer than the rumors suggested.
As she made her way toward her classroom for the start of the period, an idea struck her.
(This is a perfect opportunity. I should see if he’d be willing to accompany us on our next trip.)
If the chance arose, she would try to ask him during the lunch break.
However, the descendant of the Great Mage suddenly realized she had overlooked something far more basic.
"I... I can't believe it! I forgot to introduce myself!"
She would have to make sure that was the first thing she did the next time they spoke.
To ensure that happened, she first had to make it through her morning lessons without exhausting her very soul.