Licia held her hair down against a sudden gust of wind, feeling the biting chill against her fingertips as she voiced the question that had been lingering in her mind. Her curiosity regarding the blacksmith was far from satisfied.
"Weiss, what is this blacksmith you know like?"
Weiss crossed his arms as they walked. The character assessment that followed was voiced with a choice of words rare for the stoic knight.
"He is a stubborn, eccentric dwarf who would rather do anything but work."
"I—I see... From the sounds of it, I’m starting to worry if he’ll actually agree to forge a sword for me."
"Rest assured on that front. He may have a difficult personality, but he is a man of his word. Though it is quite odd for a blacksmith to also be a magic ship engineer, his loyalty is beyond reproach."
"That’s impressive. The more I hear about him, the more I want to meet him."
"Indeed," Lezard added. "He sounds like a most unusual craftsman."
The two of them felt a genuine surge of excitement at the prospect of meeting such a character. Their pace quickened almost unconsciously, as if their anticipation were physically pulling them forward.
Ten minutes later, however, everything changed.
"…?"
Licia came to a dead stop.
They had just turned off the main thoroughfare onto a side street that was still bustling with people. A flicker of movement at the edge of her vision triggered a sense of profound wrongness.
Lezard noticed his daughter’s sudden change in demeanor and turned back. "Licia? What’s wrong?"
"Nothing, I just… something felt off."
She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but the feeling wouldn't subside. Licia turned her gaze toward the source of her intuition.
Ahead of them stood an old general store in the process of being dismantled. A wooden hoarding had been erected by the laborers, and several small children were walking right alongside it.
The wooden structure groaned. As it swayed, it suddenly began to topple directly toward the passing children.
In a heartbeat, Licia screamed, "Weiss, stay with my father!"
She surged forward, reinforcing her body with Holy Magic. Her control over the art had sharpened significantly since the day she had fought alongside Ren against Jelququ.
"Please, let me make it in time!"
Licia drew her self-defense sword mid-stride. She threw herself in front of the children, who had stopped in terror, staring up at the shadow falling over them. Her eyes narrowed sharply as she took in their frightened cries. With a swift, precise strike, she sliced through the falling timber, shielding the children from the impact.
As the children began to wail in shock, Licia stood amidst a cloud of rising dust. Suddenly, she felt a rush of freezing air surge past her feet.
"This is…"
There was no mistaking it. It was magic.
Licia recognized the sensation instantly; it was a chill distinct from the natural winter air. The frost at her feet manifested into massive pillars of ice that braced the remaining structure, preventing the rest of the hoarding from collapsing.
It was a magnificent display of sorcery. The scale and precision were staggering—the work of a true master. The street now looked like a frozen temple, with the ice pillars reflecting the sunlight as they effortlessly held the heavy timber aloft.
"That was close…"
"Was that magic?"
The bystanders breathed sighs of relief, their voices hushed with awe. Licia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her eyes searching for the source of the spell.
A girl came running toward her from behind.
"I’m so glad I made it in time!"
The voice was light and clear, reminiscent of a bird's song. Licia, covered in dust from the debris, turned around and gasped.
Standing before her was a familiar face she hadn't seen since the party.
"F-Fiona? Lady Fiona!?"
"Eh—Lady Licia!?"
Fiona Ignat stood there, looking just as shocked as Licia was.
Taking a dust-covered Licia straight to the Blacksmith District was out of the question. At Fiona’s insistence, Licia had been whisked away to Fiona’s room in the Imperial Academy’s female dormitory.
Licia stood in the bathroom, the spray of the shower washing away the grime. She spoke through the frosted glass door.
"…Thank you for the shower."
Outside, Fiona smiled as she finished setting out a fresh set of towels. "Please, take your time and warm yourself. I’ve laid out a change of clothes for you here!"
"Thank you so much. And please, convey my apologies to Master Edgar for having to look after my father and Weiss."
"Fufu, please don’t give it a second thought."
Fiona hadn't been alone when the incident occurred; she had been shopping with Edgar as her guard when they happened upon Licia’s rescue of the children. Currently, Lezard and Weiss were being hosted by Edgar in the salon located between the male and female dormitories—a facility often used by guardians and visiting merchants.
Eventually, Licia finished washing and stepped out, wrapped in a towel. Her original clothes were already being laundered by the dormitory staff. Per Fiona’s suggestion, Licia was to wear a borrowed set of Fiona's clothes in the meantime.
As she dressed, Licia couldn't help but notice that the bodice of the dress felt a bit roomier than her own clothes usually did. A stinging sense of defeat washed over her.
"It’s fine… I’ll catch up eventually…" she muttered to herself as she sat down at the vanity.
She reached for the magic tool provided to dry her hair, but she couldn't find a comb. Hearing her pause, Fiona knocked softly on the dressing room door and entered.
"I am so sorry. I completely forgot about the comb."
Fiona held an object that appeared to be made of unblemished silver, featuring a design far more intricate than any standard comb. Fiona explained that it was a magic tool.
Licia tilted her head, confused. "Is it more than just a tool for hair?"
"It is. It’s quite a special item. Actually… Lady Licia, would you mind if I combed your hair for you?"
"Um—what?"
"I know how difficult it can be to manage long hair alone. Since we both have it, I’d be happy to help, if you'll let me."
Licia hesitated. The reality of their social standing flashed through her mind, combined with the complicated, unspoken rivalry between them. However, she was also terrified of accidentally breaking the expensive-looking magic tool if she used it herself. Finally, she gave a small nod.
The sound of the comb sliding through her damp hair seemed strangely loud in the quiet room.
"They say it makes hair more lustrous than a normal comb," Fiona said, her voice sounding a little unsure. "My father gave it to me for my birthday last year, but to be honest, I can never really tell the difference. Ahaha…"
"I see…"
"What do you think, Lady Licia? Does it feel any different?"
Truthfully, it didn't feel different at all. Licia’s hair remained as silky as ever, its natural luster returning as the moisture was drawn out. Seeing Licia’s awkward silence, Fiona gave a self-deprecating chuckle.
"I thought so. It really is hard to tell, isn't it?"
The two girls exchanged a wry smile through the mirror. A brief silence followed before Fiona changed the subject.
"I was so surprised today. I thought you were back in Clausel, but here you are in the capital."
"Yes. We came to Erendil for some business, but we decided to visit the capital to buy clothes… and we had an appointment in the Blacksmith District."
"I see. And then you happened upon that accident…"
As they spoke, a certain stiffness returned to the air. Unlike the night of the party, their conversation felt overly formal, as if they were both walking on eggshells, unsure of how to bridge the distance between them.
Once Fiona finished with her hair, she excused herself to the living area. Licia stayed for a moment, staring at her reflection and trying to settle her fluttering emotions. After finishing with the dryer, she joined Fiona in the living room.
The suite was far too opulent to be called a mere dormitory room. At Fiona’s invitation, Licia sat on the sofa. For a moment, they both found themselves distracted, captivated by the other’s beauty. Finding the thread of casual conversation difficult to grasp, they both turned to look out the window.
Large, soft flakes of snow had begun to fall, dancing through the air.
"Oh…"
Licia’s eyes caught on a large bookshelf in the corner of the room. "Do you like to read, Lady Fiona?"
"I do. Though it’s a bit embarrassing… I was quite frail as a child, so I spent most of my time growing up with books."
Licia knew of Fiona’s past, but hearing it directly tugged at her heartstrings. Knowing that Fiona would have died if it weren't for Ren, Licia felt a sudden, profound sense of kinship with her. After all, she had been saved by him as well.
Sensing a breakthrough in the conversation, they both stood up at the same time. They approached the bookshelf, trying to appear composed.
"You have some very difficult-looking books here," Licia noted.
"I suppose I do. But honestly, there are many I still can't read properly. I try my best, but I often have to keep a dictionary by my side. If you're interested, please feel free to look through them."
Licia was indeed interested. Moreover, she wanted to dissolve the awkward formality between them. "I'd love to."
The shelves were lined with academic texts, thick novels, and various reference books filled with bookmarks. One book in particular caught Licia’s eye.
"Is this… for the Imperial Academy?"
"Yes. That’s the reference book I used to study for the entrance exam," Fiona said with a bashful smile.
She pulled the book from the shelf to show Licia the cover. Licia’s eyes widened as she realized it was the specialized curriculum intended for the Imperial Academy's Special Merit Class.