Early Sunday morning.
I woke up at my usual time.
"..."
Evi was still sound asleep, his heavy breathing filling the room. To avoid waking him, I slipped out of bed as quietly as possible and went through my normal morning routine.
By the time the clock struck seven, I was ready.
I planned to head into the city alone today. I needed to gather a few things in preparation for the training sessions ahead.
With that goal in mind, I made a sharp exit from the dormitory.
"Winter is almost here, isn't it..." I muttered to myself, surveying my surroundings.
As I walked down the slope leading from Arnold Magic Academy toward the Central District, the trees lining the path caught my eye. Their branches were thinning out, looking gaunt against the sky. Looking at the carpet of fallen leaves on the ground, the truth was undeniable—winter was finally setting in.
At the same time, the Magics War was drawing closer.
We were currently in the middle of Physical Reinforcement Week, and I was putting Amelia and Ariane through a grueling regimen. Unlike the Magics Chevalier, the Magics War featured Point Capture matches and Siege Battles. There was also the high likelihood of fighting multiple matches in a row.
With that in mind, I felt it was necessary to build up more physical endurance than one might normally expect.
Based on my experiences during the Far East Campaign, no matter how extraordinary one’s magical prowess might be, it meant nothing if the body couldn’t keep up. When I first started, my Master had ordered me to focus exclusively on raising my basic physical capabilities.
Now, I was passing those same lessons on to those two. Amelia was still trying to plot her escape whenever she could, but thanks to Ariane’s persuasion, they were both managing to work hard together.
While it was a heartwarming sight in its own way, I maintained my strict persona as their Instructor.
"...? Is that...?"
A person with pure white hair was walking ahead of me.
They were undoubtedly an albino. Such individuals were rare even in the world of sorcerers and stood out quite a bit in the city.
For a moment, I wondered if it was Maria... but her hair was too long for that. She was also taller.
It must be someone else, I thought as I closed the distance. Suddenly, the woman spun around.
"Ah. I knew that footstep belonged to you. Good morning, Ray White."
"Um... by any chance...?"
"I see... now that I think about it, this is the first time I've shown you this look."
She spoke in a flat, expressionless tone.
Indeed, the person standing before me was Lieselotte Eden—the Sorcerer of Fiction.
However, she had previously worn her hair in a long, straight style that reached her waist, usually accompanied by a black coat and long boots.
But now?
She wore a pale pink blouse paired with a vibrant blue flare skirt. Her shoes were brown loafers, and a bracelet adorned her wrist. She looked like nothing less than a fashionable young woman dressed in the latest trends.
Even her hairstyle had changed to an inner-curled bob that brushed against her shoulders.
"Um... Miss Eden."
"Lise is fine. Surely we're close enough for that?"
"Then, Miss Lise."
"Yes?"
"...That look. It suits you very well."
"Fufu. Thank you."
That smile was the same one I had seen back then at the hospital.
Expressionless and devoid of emotion.
She was like an exquisitely crafted doll. That was how the Sorcerer of Fiction was appraised among other sorcerers.
Yet, at this moment, Lise looked like any other girl you might meet on the street.
We began to walk side by side.
"I actually had Carol-senpai cut it for me."
"...I see. Carol is quite skilled. She used to look after me back when I was in the military."
"And these clothes were a gift from Lydia-senpai."
"Wait... Master gave you something?"
"She did."
"That's rare..."
As a rule, my Master didn't give things to people. She was as hard on others as she was on herself. The Master I knew during the Far East Campaign was the very embodiment of the word 'fierce.'
I couldn't help but be amazed by how much she had changed.
"That applies to me, Lydia-senpai, and you as well, wouldn't you say?"
"What do you mean?"
Lise spun her words with a voice that carried just a hint of emotion.
"People cannot help but change."
Hearing that, I realized once again that I was no match for her. My Master and the other adults had taught me much, but there was also a great deal to learn from Lise.
"I suppose you're right. For better or worse, people are constantly changing."
"Yes. My own change was likely inevitable. Though I spent a long time stagnating."
"I see."
"By the way, how is this?"
"Um...?"
As we were talking, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. Reaching into thin air, she produced a pair of cat ears and placed them on her head.
I remembered those. Carol had tried to force them on me once, claiming they were all the rage in the city—naturally, I had repelled her attempt—but the memory was etched into my mind.
I couldn't fathom why she was choosing this specific moment to put them on.
"Nyan nyan nyan."
In an instant, a shock went through me.
Watching her pose with her hands curled like cat paws, I had a realization. This had something in common with that legendary technique I'd seen at the maid cafe.
"How is it?"
"Miss Lise."
"...Was it cute, I wonder?"
"The angle of your hands needs a slight adjustment."
I began to offer advice. The blood of the professional, the specialist within me, had begun to stir.
"First, the right hand should be a little higher..."
"Like this?"
"Good. Now, the left hand should be on the diagonal... yes, right there."
"Oh!"
"And please lift your right leg slightly."
"Like this, maybe?"
"Excellent. Do not forget that form."
I gave her a round of applause on the spot. At this moment, Lise was undoubtedly the image of a charming cat. Even the people passing by on the street seemed captivated by her appearance.
"Ray White. It seems you have a talent for this. That was educational."
She deftly removed the cat ears and gave a slight bow.
"No. I only did what was natural."
"When I showed Lydia-senpai, she said it was still too early for me... but with this, I feel I can perform it properly now."
"There is no doubt about it. Let's go see Master together next time."
"Fufu. That sounds like a plan."
She brought a hand to her mouth and smiled. I felt as though Lise and I were very much on the same wavelength. She seemed far more approachable now than when we had first met at the hospital.
I actually had a request for her. Encountering her today was a stroke of luck, so I decided to take advantage of it.
"Miss Lise. If you have a moment, could we talk?"
"I don't mind."
"Then, let's go into that shop."
We entered a cafe that had been open since the early morning hours. After ordering breakfast sets, I broached the subject immediately.
"I'll be direct. I was wondering if you could provide some guidance to Amelia."
"Amelia Rose. I see. The Butterfly Effect."
"Yes."
I had been guiding her as best I could, but I had reached my limit. I do not possess an Origin Magic capable of interfering with causality. Because of that, my instruction was limited to the fundamentals of magic.
Once Physical Reinforcement Week ended, we would begin full-scale magical training. I was hoping I could count on Lise for assistance then.
"...Indeed, an Origin Magic that interferes with causality is far too powerful. To be honest, the President also asked me to take a look at her."
"In that case...?"
"I'm willing to accept. However, I have one condition."
"What is it?"
She held up a finger and presented her terms.
"I want you to spend more time with me like this. I feel like I might be on the verge of grasping something when I'm with you."
"If that's all, it's an easy enough task."
"Fufu. The people around you are truly interesting, after all."
"You noticed?"
"Of course. I'm not one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers for nothing."
With that, she stood up and walked toward a corner of the cafe.
"Hello, girls. Eavesdropping on an adult's clandestine meeting... you certainly have interesting hobbies."
She was speaking to three people.
Amelia, Ariane, and Rebecca-senpai.
I had known they were following us from the very beginning. She was quite the mischievous one to call them out like that.
Shaking my head at the thought, I moved to join the three of them.