After that, Lady Ariane headed off to the training grounds on her own for her match. She had given me permission to watch, but she also asked me to look after Lady Tiana. Of course, I fully intended to take care of the young girl.
"Onee-sama is super strong!" Tiana chirped.
"Is that so?" I asked.
"Yeah! She always says, 'I shall teach you the strength of the Three Great Noble Families!' or something like that!"
"Hehe. That sounds just like Lady Ariane."
"I know, right? So, that's why I want to be someone strong, cool, and kind, just like Onee-sama!"
"I'm sure you can," I assured her. "If it's you, Tiana-chan, I’m certain of it."
"Really!?"
"Yes. Believe it or not, I have a good eye for people."
"Whoa! Lily-oneechan is amazing too, then!"
The two of us were currently walking hand-in-hand, chatting as we went. I had already exhausted all the words I had to describe Lady Tiana’s cuteness, but Lady Ariane was also a person of immense grace, befitting a noble.
She seemed to embody the best qualities of the nobility. Even when I revealed that I was an Ordinary, she didn't look down on me; she treated me as an equal. She possessed the pride of a noble, yet it was never arrogance. To represent her class so perfectly at her age—it was exactly what one would expect from a Great Noble. I could see why Amelia was so wary of her.
The two of them were complete opposites. If Lady Ariane was the sun, Amelia was the moon. While Amelia moved forward through internal conflict, Ariane seemed to charge ahead with unwavering confidence.
Yet, I believed Amelia still had plenty of room to grow. That was why I had to burn this match into my memory.
"Ah! It's Onee-sama!"
"There she is."
When we reached the training grounds, the two competitors were already facing off. Ariane’s opponent was a male student who looked like a mountain of power. He was well over a hundred and ninety centimeters tall, and his muscles were clearly visible through his clothes. As a fellow muscle enthusiast, I felt a certain kinship with him—bulk like that didn't come easily.
Compared to him, Ariane looked fragile. Not that she was untrained; I could tell she practiced rigorously, but the physical gap between a man and a woman was undeniable. Magic would have to be the factor that bridged that gap.
Now then... how would this battle unfold?
"Ah!! It started!! Onee-sama! Good luck!!"
Beside me, Tiana was jumping up and down and cheering, but I stared at the match with a serious gaze.
"Uoooooooh!!"
The boy lunged with a speed that defied his massive frame, trying to end things with a single blow. He was likely a Sword Technique-type specialist. Magic swordsmen are categorized into three types: sword technique, balance, and magic. Men often lean toward sword technique to maximize their physical specs while minimizing magical burden by primarily using Inside Code.
"Now, shall you dance for me?"
Ariane’s whisper barely reached my ears as she caught his strike head-on. She didn't parry or deflect; she stopped it cold. That meant her strength was equal to, if not greater than, his. As I suspected, she was using Inside Code at a practical level. However, given her level of skill, was she actually a Sword Technique-type? That would be rare for a female sorcerer.
The swordplay between the two grew even more intense. The speed of their exchanges increased until there was no room left for magic to intervene.
"Hehe..."
I saw Ariane smirk in the heat of the exchange. A split second later, shards of ice sprouted from the ground, entangling her opponent’s feet. Caught off guard, the boy lost his balance and tumbled. Ariane didn't waste the opening. She closed the distance instantly and slashed the rose ornament Locked to his chest.
The crowd erupted in cheers. Ariane was clearly a star here. As she waved and walked away, her platinum hair trailing behind her, I was struck again by how well she understood her role. She was a natural performer.
"Amazing!! Onee-sama beat such a big person!!"
"Yes, it was incredible. Your sister is a truly amazing person, Tiana-chan."
"Hehehe! That's right! Because Onee-sama is the best!" Tiana puffed out her small chest with pride.
What I said wasn't mere lip service. I simply judged that her skill was at the top level among students. To be able to use that much magic in the middle of such swordplay—I had to take my hat off to her. At a glance, it might have looked like simple Quick Magic, but that wasn't the case.
During that fight, Ariane had the composure to use magic. Her opponent had no such leeway and likely hadn't even thought to watch out for it.
This was Ariane Algren. Her true value was surely still hidden, but I had been able to catch at least a glimpse of it. I could not yet envision a future where the current Amelia could win.
"Thank you for earlier. It seems Tiana made it home safely."
"It was no trouble. I’m just glad Lady Tiana went home happy."
We were currently in Ariane's private room. The interior wasn't much different from the dorms at my academy, though being a member of the Three Great Noble Families meant she had a spacious private room. It was tastefully decorated and kept impeccably clean.
After the match, she had contacted her family, and a servant had come to pick up Tiana.
"Bye-bye! See you later!" the little girl had said, smiling and waving vigorously as she left.
Since we were alone in the room, I had dropped the act and returned to my natural voice. Ariane had previously asked me to stay in character, but now she seemed not to care. She had told me as much with a somewhat exasperated look.
"Lady Tiana is a very good girl. I’m sure she will grow up to be as beautiful and respectable as you," I said.
Ariane’s pale skin flushed a slight shade of vermilion, and she looked away.
"I—It’s nothing. Do you... always say things like that to women? You seem far too practiced."
"Of course," I answered honestly. "I was educated to praise women regardless of the situation."
"...I see. Well, my beauty is only natural."
"Yes. It certainly is."
"...You really throw me off my pace."
Taking a sip of tea, Ariane let out a breath and began to speak. Incidentally, we had started calling each other by our first names. According to her, she had taken a liking to me, so I was "special."
"So, Ray, what did you think of my match?"
"Your ability to catch those strikes head-on was impressive. Your handling of Inside Code is quite something. But what’s really worth noting was that magic you used. Most would be surprised you had the leeway to cast during such an exchange, but in reality, that was Delay Magic. You likely laid the spell the moment the match started, then lured him to the designated spot. It was the fighting style of a sharp, skilled tactician."
"I—I’m surprised... you could see all that?"
"In the case of Delay Magic, there’s a certain quirk in the flow of the Prima Materia."
"Hah... you are incredible. More importantly, aren't you entering the Magics Chevalier yourself?"
"Due to various circumstances, I can't. I’m currently acting as a member of the Management Committee, but I’m also helping Amelia with her training on the side."
"Amelia? You mean Amelia Rose?"
"Yeah. Amelia is a friend of mine."
Ariane opened her eyes wide. She was genuinely shocked. It wasn't because I’d analyzed her magic, but because I’d called myself Amelia’s friend. I knew they were childhood acquaintances, so her reaction was curious. It made me wonder about Amelia's past, but I decided to wait for Amelia to tell me herself. That was what being a friend meant to me.
"...I see. So Amelia managed to find a friend like you." She spoke with deep emotion, as if staring into the past. Then, she paused and gave a small smile. "But well... I’ve only seen you as a girl. Hehe."
"On the day of the tournament, we'll probably meet while I'm a man. I have my duties on the Management Committee, too."
"Hah... you really are unusual."
"Is that so?"
"It is. Often, eccentric people don't think of themselves as such. But... I’m starting to feel a little jealous of Amelia. You’re a very interesting person." She smiled brightly. I could tell it wasn't flattery, but her genuine feelings.
"It’s fine. I already intend to be friends with you too, Ariane. Am I wrong?"
"Phew... including that part of you... you really are an outlier, Ray. Normally, people shrink back when facing the Three Great Noble Families."
"Is that so? Regardless, I wish to be your equal as a friend."
"Hehe. Then, I look forward to our friendship as well."
Smiling, she reached across the table to offer a handshake. A sweet scent wafted from her platinum hair as she moved. I took her hand.
"Amelia will get stronger," I said. "And she will be the one to win the Newcomers' Tournament. Unfortunately, you'll have to learn the taste of defeat, Ariane."
"Hehehe... I look forward to it. And I shall return those words to you exactly as they were said."
Though we were opposing each other, there was no malice between us, only the mutual respect of rivals. Surpassing Ariane Algren would be a monumental task, but I believed in Amelia. The Ainsworth-style Boot Camp was just the start. Once Amelia found her confidence, she would spread her wings across a much broader sky.
I truly believed that.