As soon as the practice session ended, Class A scattered like birds released from their cages: some ran to take a bath, some shouted about magic exercises, some went to the cafeteria to eat freshly baked honeycomb cakes.
I packed up my fake swords, brushed the dust off my sleeves, and prepared to leave the yard. The afternoon air was as light as a silk scarf, but inside I was as tense as a bowstring pulled to its limit.
Mr. Stanver was right—tomorrow Class A would no longer be idle.
And I… would be judged first.
As I was about to leave, I heard someone whistle lazily behind me:
"Hey, Alyane."
I didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
There was only one person who had called my name in a way that was both challenging and… strangely familiar.
Nagoto Hydorya.
He propped his sword on his shoulder, walking around with an expression that was either confident or showing off his bad temper.
"You heard what the teacher said, right?" – Nagoto tilted her head. – "The rehearsal is tomorrow. All four institutes are present. If you stumble, Class A's reputation will be ruined."
I raised my eyebrows.
"Thanks, I know," I replied, trying to keep my voice normal.
But Nagoto seemed to be born to not let others rest.
He continued:
"You look so small, other schools would think we let interns participate."
Me: "…"
Rivel, who was standing a few steps away, also coughed slightly.
Maybe he knew I was about to get angry.
But Nagoto didn't stop.
He glanced down at the shoes I was wearing—light, tight-laced combat boots, specially designed for sprinting.
"Your legs are too short. Be careful not to get stepped on."
My whole head felt like it was going to explode.
What the hell?!
I've been holding back.
From the time he reacted strangely when someone confessed to me…
To the time he looked at me fighting Rivel and then made fun of me…
Now he's teasing me about my height?!
I can't take it anymore.
I walked up to Nagoto in a very… polite manner.
At least that's how it looked.
He raised his eyebrows, thinking I was about to argue back. But no.
I raised my hand.
Then—
GRABBED HIS HAIR.
And JUMPED IT.
The remaining friends in the yard screamed:
"OH MY GOD—!!"
"Aaaa, are you two really fighting?!"
"I'm dead, I have to go back and tell the teacher!!!"
Nagoto was pulled back, her eyes widening like a fish out of water.
"Hey—! Let go!!"
"No." I gritted my teeth. "You've teased me enough."
"I'm telling the truth!"
"I'm telling the truth too." – I jerked again. – "Whether my legs are short or long is my business, it has nothing to do with you."
"It has nothing to do with me!" – Nagoto argued back, his voice breaking almost like a torn cat. – "You're from Class A! You've embarrassed the class, and I've embarrassed you too!"
I pulled his head down to my eye level.
"Nagoto Hydorya. Listen."
I said, very slowly, very clearly:
"I'm not short. I'm just not fully grown yet."
He blinked.
I pulled his hair down a little further:
"…and I've never let anyone step on my head. Not even you."
Nagoto blushed.
Partly because of anger, partly because—well—the pull hurt.
He breathed heavily:
"You—You let go!"
I was far from letting go.
Until—
"Is that enough?"
A voice as light as the wind, but as cold as ice, rang out from behind.
I turned around: Rivel was standing there, his face both worried and… as if he was trying to hold back his laughter.
He whispered:
"If you pull any longer, Nagoto's hair will fall out in strands."
I sighed, opening my hand.
Nagoto took a step back like a cat that had been released from its cage, holding her head:
"You…! Deuwyn Endias!! You—You—!!"
I blinked:
"What?"
"You bullied me!!"
"Eh? Who bullied who first?"
Nagoto was about to protest, but Rivel interrupted:
"You two stop talking so loudly. People are watching."
I looked around.
The classmates were watching as if they were watching a royal play.
Seeing me looking back, they all turned away… but secretly looked at me from the corner of their eyes.
One of them deliberately coughed loudly:
"Uh…friends fighting?"
Me: "I heard that."
He ran away.
The three of us walked towards the training ground gate.
Nagoto walked ahead, his face red, his hair messy like a bird's nest.
Before I could open my mouth, he turned around and pointed at me:
"Tomorrow..."
"Tomorrow?" - I asked.
Nagoto gritted his teeth:
"Stay behind me. Don't let other schools touch you."
I was stunned.
Rivel also paused.
Nagoto continued, mumbling as if afraid someone else would hear:
"You—small and easy to get hit. I don't want to be bothered by having to pick up your body."
I narrowed my eyes:
"Who told you to pick it up?"
"Don't you understand?" - Nagoto snapped lightly, but his voice lost its strength. - "You're a newcomer, your abilities aren't complete yet, your holy power isn't stable yet. Other schools will target you first."
I paused a bit.
Indeed... he was right.
Nagoto turned away, but still spoke loudly enough:
"…so let me cover you."
I froze.
Rivel chuckled.
"That's not caring," Nagoto said quickly, as if to deny responsibility. "That's the responsibility of the class leader. Do you understand?"
I looked at the back that was almost two heads taller than me, trying to act cool.
Something stirred in my heart.
But I still replied:
"I won't let anyone cover me."
Nagoto turned back.
I looked straight into his eyes and said very clearly:
"In social interactions, I will stand my ground. No one needs to block me."
Nagoto was about to say something, but perhaps he realized I wasn't joking, so he just narrowed his eyes and frowned:
"Stubborn."
I smiled:
"That's what suits your class A."
That night, I returned to my dorm room.
The moonlight shone through the window, spreading across the floor like a silver streak.
I sat cross-legged on the bed, placing my hand on my heart.
A thread-thin power was slowly moving within my body—both strange and familiar.
Mabel Phemlo's holy power.
A remnant of my previous life.
Ijeckerl said it would take a long time for it to synchronize with this new body.
Right now, it was just a small flame in my chest—not enough to ignite.
I took a deep breath.
Tomorrow would be the first step.
It was Deuwyn.
Not Mabel.
Not the royal knight.
But the one walking the path to becoming the queen of the continent.
The exchange between the four institutes was just the beginning.
I smiled slightly.
"Let's see… who will be standing behind who tomorrow."
The night wind blew through the window, gently shaking my hair.
A new beginning.
A new stage.
And I will step onto it with my own two feet.
Even if my feet are a little… short.
I laughed to myself.
"Let's see if I pull Nagoto's hair again tomorrow."