Three days remained until the exam.
The entire Academy was gradually succumbing to a restless energy. Whether in the hallways or the dining hall, there was only one topic of conversation.
Even as I noted the atmosphere, I couldn't stop fidgeting myself.
"I hope my magical power has increased since last year."
"What if I mess up the construction phase?"
Just hearing those snippets made my stomach ache.
They were worried about me at home, too—quite a lot, actually. Since a nervous stomach was practically my default setting these days, it was business as usual, but it seemed I was operating on a completely different level from everyone else.
And by that, I mean I was the one being left in the dust.
That day, the lecture before the exam ended early. I didn't know the reason; the teacher simply told us to "use this time for independent study."
You can't really call it "study" if I haven't been able to do it even once...
As I left the classroom, my feet naturally led me toward the courtyard. It was a place where the wind blew through and the crowds were thin. I wondered if Yuka was looking for me. I felt like being alone for a bit, so I figured I’d bask in the quiet until she eventually tracked me down.
As I sat on a bench, a single set of footsteps followed a moment later.
"...So this is where you were."
A familiar voice.
"Oh, Elicia?"
"Yes. I felt like getting a bit of fresh air."
She didn't sit next to me, nor did she stand directly in front of me. She stood just a short distance away, as she always did. That specific sense of distance was somehow calming.
Though part of me wondered why she wouldn't just sit down. Do you really not want to be near me that much? I thought, crying a little on the inside.
"The exam is soon," I said.
"Indeed. In three days."
Elicia's reply was instantaneous. It felt like she had the entire schedule and every requirement memorized.
"Are you feeling nervous?" she asked.
"...Well, yeah. Naturally."
I had no intention of trying to hide it from her.
"To be honest," I started.
"Yes?"
"I still can't do it. The magic, I mean."
It wasn't self-deprecation or a joke. I stated it as a simple fact. Elicia remained silent, letting my words hang in the air without interruption.
"I don't have the talent for it, and I can't seem to get the hang of it. So... it's a bit of a problem when everyone expects so much from me." I chose my next words carefully before continuing. "I'm a bit of a nuisance, aren't I?"
That was it. It wasn't that I felt pathetic or scared; I just hated the idea of being a dead weight to those around me.
"Luka-sama."
When she called my name, I looked up. Elicia wore her usual serene expression, yet something about her gaze seemed to waver.
"No one thinks of you as a nuisance."
"Yeah, well, thanks—"
I tried to give a casual response, but she cut me off.
"—However," she said, taking a single step closer. "This is not a matter of what you can or cannot do."
Her voice was quiet but firm.
"The fact that you are here, Luka-sama... could never be a nuisance to anyone."
She looked me straight in the eye. It wasn't mere consolation, nor was it a cold evaluation. Her eyes told me she was stating an absolute truth.
As expected of Elicia. She really is overflowing with grace.
I fell silent for a moment. The only sound was the rustle of the wind through the trees. Honestly, Elicia was something else.
"...You know," I said, still leaning back on the bench. "When you're beside me, Elicia..."
After a short pause, the words started tumbling out of my mouth.
"I feel like I can forgive myself just a little."
As soon as the words were out, I realized what I'd done.
Wait, was that creepy? Oh crap, that was total cringe.
I was supposed to be the "cool and collected" type who never showed weakness. But it was too late to take it back. Elicia didn't move. She didn't say a word. She just stared at me, her eyes wide with surprise.
Please, say something!
I scrambled for an excuse. "Um... what I just said, well... I didn't mean it in a weird way—"
I stopped myself. Something was different. Elicia’s demeanor wasn't its usual composed self.
"...Is that so?"
The voice that finally emerged was incredibly soft.
"With me... by your side."
She spoke in a low murmur, as if she were confirming the reality of the words to herself.
"Yeah."
Elicia cast her gaze downward. She pressed a hand against her chest, as if she were touching something there for the very first time.
"...That is," she said, taking a small, shaky breath. "An honor."
She looked up and smiled. But for a fleeting moment, that smile looked incredibly brittle.
"Shall we head back?"
"Yeah, let's."
We began to walk. We fell into our usual positions, side-by-side. And yet, despite the distance between us being the same as always, she felt closer. Actually, she was definitely closer—our shoulders were brushing. Is this some kind of special service?
"Luka-sama."
"What is it?"
"On the day of the exam..."
"Yeah?"
"...May I remain by your side?"
She looked somewhat mournful, yet her eyes were fixed on something far ahead. I didn't let the odd expression bother me, and after thinking about the meaning of her words for a second, I nodded.
"Of course."
"...Thank you very much."
Her voice trembled just a little.
Three days remained until the exam.
At the time, I still didn't understand the true nature of nobility in this world. Elicia, however, likely understood perfectly. She knew exactly what it would mean to expose one's own powerlessness to the public eye.