Apparently, Shar lacked any real talent.
"But you're brilliant, aren't you?"
"I’m not one for self-praise, but... yes. I’m a mage strictly cut out for research."
"There's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
"I'm the heir to the Hivert family. I can't afford to leave things as they are."
Is that how it works?
"Cedric is an heir too, and he admitted he was weak."
"Even if we're both from prestigious houses, mine is a military family. It's problematic for the heir to be weak..."
Shar’s expression darkened slightly.
"Shar, stand up for a second."
I stood up as I spoke.
"Hmm?"
Once she was on her feet, I held my right hand up directly in front of her face.
"What? Eh...?"
Grabbing her arm with my free left hand, I swept her leg out from under her.
Shar was unable to react and started to topple. I quickly slid my right hand to her waist to catch her, preventing her from hitting the ground.
"You really are... slow..."
"Huh? What... what did you just do?"
Staring up at the sky while I held her, Shar blinked in surprise.
"You definitely shouldn't walk alone at night."
I helped her back to her feet and sat back down on the bench. Shar remained standing, staring at me in a daze.
"Are you... strong?"
"I'm the combat type you mentioned. I have Reinforcement Magic—which is the only thing I can actually use—and I've been practicing martial arts since I was a kid."
"You did say you defeated a bear... Hey, um, could you teach me those martial arts?"
Martial arts...
To this girl with zero athletic ability...
Well, it could at least serve as self-defense. Just knowing the basics would give her some advantage.
"Sure, why not? You're helping me out with the Curse Arts classes, after all."
Besides, she was a beauty. Truth be told, my heart had been racing a bit just now because our faces were so close.
"Thank you. In exchange, I'll help you with your studies."
Studies...
"Yeah... I guess..."
"You have such a disgusted look on your face... Truly, what did you come to the Magic Academy for?"
Shar gave me a look of pure exasperation.
"I appreciate the offer, but are you sure?"
"It’s fine. I like studying."
She liked studying... She was saying something terrifying with such a cute face.
"Then, I'll take you up on that..."
"You sound so reluctant..."
"It’s not really like that."
With the matter of the bracelet hanging over me, the help was certainly welcome.
"Fine then. Well, do that thing from before one more time."
"You want to do it again?"
"I mean, what did you even do? I couldn't tell what was happening because you blocked my vision."
Well, that was the whole point.
"Shar, can you use Reinforcement Magic?"
"Well, I can manage it. It isn't exactly a magic that uses a Spell Formula; it's just mana control. Some people even argue that it's not actually magic."
"Who’s this person completely writing me off?"
I was starting to feel offended.
"It's just a way of thinking. I don't feel that way myself."
She really was a good girl.
"Whatever. It’s better to try it yourself than to have it done to you, so give it a shot."
I stood in front of her.
"How do I do it?"
"First, hold your hand up in front of my face."
"Like this?"
Shar held her hand up. Immediately, I could see nothing but her palm.
"You have pretty hands."
"Thank you. And then?"
"Grab my arm with your free hand."
Shar reached out and gripped my arm.
"Got it."
"After that, just sweep my leg while using Reinforcement Magic."
"Hiyah!"
Ow...
Shar had intended to sweep my leg, but she ended up kicking my calf instead, sending a jolt of pain through me.
"Kick my shoe. But don't just kick it—make it feel more like a sweep."
"Umm, like this?"
As she spoke, my leg was swept away, and my vision shifted to the sky.
"Like that."
I really wished she had supported me, though. My rear end hit the ground hard.
"Ah, sorry! Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Anyway, that’s the gist of it. If some weirdo messes with you, use that to break their balance and run."
I didn't know if a girl with zero athletic ability would actually be fast enough to escape, though.
"Isn't there anything for actually defeating them?"
"There is, but..."
I looked at the ground; it looked unforgiving. My butt was definitely throbbing.
"Let's go over to the lawn area."
Shar pointed toward the grass.
"Well, sure."
We moved to the lawn area, and I taught her a few self-defense techniques. It only served to confirm that her motor skills were indeed quite poor.
"I'm exhausted..."
Shar curled up, hugging her knees with a dejected look. She didn't seem to have much stamina, either.
"Wait, aren't you supposed to be out for a run?"
"I run slowly and take frequent breaks. Honestly, ninety percent of it is just walking."
So it was basically a stroll.
"How strong do you want to get, anyway?"
"Strong enough to beat Toko..."
That seemed impossible. My sister had plenty of Magic Power, but more than anything, she’d been training in martial arts since she was a toddler. She was a monster in close-quarters combat.
"Hmm... I find it strange that you can look at my study habits and not tell me it's impossible for me to learn."
Looking at Shar now, that was how I felt.
"Everyone faces setbacks at first. Especially when it involves magic."
"Is that so? Is it always the studying?"
Shar shook her head.
"...It's Magic Power. That is the one thing you can't change through effort. Most people, when they set out to be a mage, fall into despair over that blatant gap in talent. It's especially true for children from prestigious families. They realize they simply don't possess the absolute talent that is high Magic Power. That's why they work so hard—to bridge that gap even a tiny bit."
Come to think of it, Frank and Cedric had both said they were jealous of me.
"So that's why everyone is so hardworking..."
"Well, there are some incompetent ones too..."
That would be me.
"Sigh... You want to keep going? I'm getting hungry."
"You're right. I'm tired too, so let's head back."
Shar stood up and brushed the grass off her bottom.
"Are we doing this again?"
"We are. I cannot afford to lose."
I wondered to whom? Toko, probably.
"When?"
"Next Saturday. And make sure you wake up early."
I thought, Aw man... but it was probably for the best. As Shar said, I needed to get used to the 4:00 AM rhythm. Otherwise, Mondays would be hell.
"Got it. Well, I'm heading home."
"Yes. Let's meet at the family restaurant over there at ten."
Wait, what?
"You mean ten o'clock today?"
"That's right."
"...Why?"
"I'm going to tutor you."
I knew it... Studying even on a Saturday.
"I see..."
"You look absolutely miserable... Don't you want to learn Dispel?"
I guess it's better than losing my arm.
"Well, yeah."
"Then it's a date at the family restaurant. I'll also explain yesterday's Curse Studies lecture to you."
Shar gave me a bright smile.
"Thanks. Hey, you're not hurt or anything, right?"
"I'm fine. Though I am a bit worn out from being knocked down so many times."
I caught her every time before she fell, didn't I?
"Weren't those times more like me being knocked down?"
I had let her practice the moves on me, but she really had no athletic sense and zero capacity to worry about being gentle.
"My apologies. Here, take this."
From seemingly nowhere, Shar produced a bottle filled with a blue liquid.
"A potion?"
"That's right. Your fatigue will vanish in a snap."
What a way to put it.
"Is this okay? I don't really know the market, but aren't these expensive?"
"They are, but since I made it myself, it's free. I make them as a hobby, so I have more than I know what to do with at home."
She really was an indoor person.
"I feel bad... The one you gave me the other day was too precious for me to drink yet."
"Why not? Just drink it. I've refined the recipe over and over. I was even picky about the flavor."
The flavor, huh?
I popped the cap and took a sip of the blue liquid. Immediately, the crisp taste of apple spread through my mouth, and I felt the exhaustion drain away.
"It’s apple juice... This is delicious."
"Right? It is, isn't it?"
Shar, who had also taken a sip of her own potion, nodded with a satisfied hum.
"You improved the taste yourself?"
"Yes. Commercial potions taste dreadful, after all."
"Do they teach you how to flavor them in Alchemy class?"
"Of course they don't."
It really was just a hobby, then.
"Shar, you're amazing."
"Hmph."
Shar puffed out her chest with a look of pure triumph. She looked incredibly cute like that. Toko puts on that same smug face all the time, yet hers is so annoying. I wonder why there’s such a difference?
"Thanks. Well, shall we head off?"
"Yes. See you later."
We parted ways right there and headed back to our respective homes.