"Aah... I’m so tired... I’m literally going to die. Seriously..."
Amelia trudged along, her steps heavy and leaden. Lately, she had been spending most of her time training with Lieselotte, and the experience was nothing short of hellish.
Training with Ray could also be described as hell, but... he at least took her condition into account, pushing her right to the edge without letting her break.
That was because his master’s teachings were deeply ingrained in him. While Lydia was a strict woman, she also possessed a great deal of love.
On the other hand, while Lieselotte was incredibly knowledgeable and one of the Seven Grand Sorcerers, she was a total amateur when it came to teaching.
She forced Amelia through a daily routine that felt more like assembly-line labor than training, never once checking to see how she was holding up. But more than the physical toll, what weighed most on Amelia’s heart was the thought of Ray and Ariane.
They were undoubtedly training together at this very moment.
Trapped between her envy and her knowledge of just how grueling that training could be, the internal conflict made her feel like her head was going to explode.
Besides... Amelia had realized her own romantic feelings for Ray during their training for the Magics Chevalier.
Wait—could Ariane be falling for him too?
It wasn't an unreasonable fear.
Above all else, Ray was sincere with everyone. He might not be the best at reading the room or gauging a person’s feelings, but he treated everyone with genuine kindness and consideration.
She could understand perfectly why someone would be drawn to him.
Was that sense of crisis about to become a reality?
"Sigh... I’m home..."
She spoke the words to the empty air as she opened the dormitory door. As she made her way toward her room, she spotted a few tufts of golden hair peeking out from around a corner.
"Oh? Clarice?"
"Ah! Amelia!"
Upon being addressed, Clarice came scurrying over with quick, light steps. Elisa followed close behind.
Amelia felt as though it had been ages since she’d seen them... but she kept the conversation going with her exhausted expression still fixed in place.
"W-What a coincidence!"
"I suppose so."
Clarice was acting clearly suspicious. Her eyes darted around restlessly and her expression was stiff. As Amelia watched her, Elisa stepped up from behind with her usual gentle, beaming smile.
"Honestly, Clarice-chan. You’re acting like a suspicious person."
"Urgh... I suppose you have a point there..."
"? Were you waiting for me, by any chance?"
It was currently a three-day holiday.
Some students whose family homes were nearby had gone back. While the dormitory wasn't empty, there were far fewer people around than usual.
Under those circumstances, there could only be one reason for Elisa and Clarice to be waiting...
"Yes. Amelia-chan, you’ve been looking so exhausted lately."
"Ahaha... Well, yeah..."
She didn't deny it.
To be honest, it was brutal. No matter how much she wanted to win the tournament or control her Origin Magic, the consecutive days of training were taking a massive toll on her, both physically and mentally.
"So, well... we were wondering if we could offer you a little hospitality."
"Hospitality?"
"Yes! I’ll cook dinner today, and we’ll give you a massage and everything!"
In that instant, Amelia barely managed to pinch her nose shut.
Fortunately, no blood had trickled out yet.
"Wait, do you mean you two will do anything for me?"
"Yes! I'll do my absolute best for you, Amelia-chan!"
"W-Well... we haven't really had the chance to talk lately, so I thought it would be a good opportunity. D-Don't get the wrong idea! It's not like I was feeling lonely or anything!"
Elisa was an Archangel, as always.
And Clarice was being her usual tsundere self.
And these two were going to do anything for her...?
Naturally, wicked thoughts were racing through Amelia's mind at a frantic pace.
"Alright! Then let's go to my room!"
Her previous exhaustion vanished in an instant. Amelia spoke with renewed vigor as the three of them headed toward her room.
"Mmm! This is delicious!"
Amelia took a bite of the stew Elisa had prepared. It was packed with vegetables and, more importantly, was wonderfully creamy and flavorful. It seemed Clarice had helped with the prep work, and the thoughtfulness of her friends warmed her heart more than the food.
"Elisa! You could open your own restaurant one day!"
"Ahaha. Thank you, Amelia-chan."
Being told so bluntly made Elisa’s cheeks flush as she voiced her thanks.
How long had it been since she’d enjoyed a slow, relaxing meal?
She hadn't had a moment to rest her mind or body recently, so Amelia was even more boisterous than usual.
"Hmph. W-Well... it's not bad, I guess?"
"I’m not giving any seconds to a Clarice-chan who talks like that~"
Elisa turned away with a playful pout. Amelia noted to herself that Elisa had certainly become much more cheerful.
"E-Elisa! Not fair!"
"Then say it properly."
"Urgh...!"
Whether it was her tsundere nature or just a lack of practice, Clarice still struggled to be direct... but there was no doubt she was trying to change, step by step.
"I-It’s delicious! It’s really delicious!"
"Fufu. Thank you, Clarice-chan."
Watching the two of them interact so harmoniously, Amelia let a faint smile play across her lips.
"Amelia-chan."
"Hm? What is it?"
"Do you feel... a bit more energized now?"
"I do..."
Her friends had gone to all this trouble for her. There was no way she couldn't feel better.
"I’m full of energy now! Thank you so much, both of you!"
If she were to be greedy, she would have wanted everyone to spend time together—the whole group sharing a meal just like they used to. Laughing over trivial things and sharing irreplaceable moments.
However, she couldn't ask for that right now.
Amelia knew that in this upcoming tournament, everyone’s personal feelings and hopes were on the line.
"Thank you for the meal."
Thank you for the meal.
The three of them put their hands together as they finished.
Of course, the next item on the agenda was...
"Alright! Let's all take a bath together!"
Eh...?!
Their voices overlapped.
While the dormitory had a large communal bath, the scheduled hours for it had already passed. In other words, Amelia’s declaration meant they were all going to squeeze into the bathtub in her room.
It was a generous size for one person, but three would be a tight fit. Knowing this, Elisa and Clarice had cried out in shock.
And then, they deduced exactly what Amelia was planning... based on her lewd expression.
"Ahaha... I actually have a few things I need to do..."
"Elisa. We have to be brave here."
"B-But...!"
"We discussed this. We knew we had to be prepared for it to come to this."
The two of them whispered frantically to each other, but their voices no longer reached Amelia. In her excitement, she had already begun tossing her clothes aside right there in the room.
Though she was a noble lady, she was currently just a girl.
More than that, Amelia was worked up into a frenzy. She headed for the bathroom, stark naked and wearing a mischievous grin.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Faced with Amelia’s tone, which brooked no refusal, the two had no choice but to follow...
"Phew... That was a wonderful soak!"
...
It wasn't a trick of the light; Amelia’s skin was positively glowing. What had transpired in that bathroom was so intense that they wondered if it was really acceptable, even between members of the same sex. Had a line been crossed?
"Uugh... My chest hurts..."
"Mine too..."
They clutched their own chests. As for what exactly had unfolded in there... only the three of them would ever know.
Afterward, a very good-humored Amelia served a fruit platter she had been saving for dessert.
She had originally intended it to be a midnight snack, but she decided it would be much better to share it with friends than to eat it alone.
By the time the clock struck midnight and they began talking about sleep...
"Alright! Both of you, stay the night!"
Eh...?!
As for the tragedy that unfolded next...
On this day, Elisa and Clarice witnessed a hell of a different kind.