Lotte and Leninya’s relationship grew stronger by the day.
And in return, it beca difficult to make friends with other elves. It was especially hard to close the distance with High Elves, who were exclusive to all but a few.
The Rothschild family especially. They were extrely exclusive of the Golden-Eyed and were wary of Lotte as well.
The Rothschild were the representatives of racism, still enjoying powerful authority even in a democratic society. This also ant that there were that many elves who hated Golden-Eyeds.
“Let know when sothing happens in the future, Leninya.”
“Thanks.... You’re a really nice person.”
Leninya nodded as she flapped her ears. And since the day she said that, Lotte was able to get three star candies every day.
There was another reason for maintaining a good relationship with Leninya.
“Sorry, I don’t know what this ans.”
“Give a sec.”
Lotte didn’t know much about Elental Magic, and so she often asked Leninya for help.
“...So that’s why the mana energy density is the standard for asuring mana in Elentals, and why the probability density function is important.”
Leninya was extrely knowledgeable about Elentals despite being a race who couldn’t use them. It reminded her of a certain soone who couldn’t use magic yet was perfect in her understanding of the theories.
“I have a friend like you that I want to introduce you to.”
“You said she was a Golden-Eyed, right?”
“Mmhm.”
“A Golden-Eyed from the Elankayas, I’d like to et them, too.”
Then should she bring Aether here during winter break?
But that wishful thinking was shattered not long after.
[‘Steam Rain’ : Four Cataclysms Appear at Tilette Academy]“W-what is this.......”
One day, Lotte’s hands began shaking as she read the morning paper.
Steam Rain–it wasn’t long until the incident in question started being reported on elven news.
This was what it said.
Cataclysms had attacked Tilette as they had Iliad. The cause was Vanta Tortus, by which many students, staff, and civilians who had happened to be enjoying the festival were killed. A large section of the school’s buildings was destroyed, and at one point, the entire country was paralyzed.
And that wasn’t all; there were three more Cataclysms on site beside Vanta Tortus. Due to what they pulled, Chairman Robespierre died and the Emperor passed away.
“Ah.......”
An incident this big had happened while she was gone.
It was shocking news.
“Aether, what about Aether.......”
She couldn’t talk properly; there were so many concerns that ca to mind. First, she had to find out what happened to her peers.
[We’re still dealing with the aftermath. Be patient while we figure everything out.]The hotline she had managed to receive from her father were those two lines, and even this was from asking the president.
After the Steam Rain incident, the High Elves left Lotte alone. They just held monts of silence and mourned. For a while, the ti at Iliad flowed gently like blue waters.
That is, until the follow-up report.
[Humanoid Beasts were the culprits of the ‘Steam Rain’ incident. The first two were Duke Jack Blanton and Lady Rosemary Blanton of the Blanton family, and the other was a student by the na of Aether who was at the scene.]
[It has been revealed that Lady Rosemary and the student Aether are Golden-Eyeds. This has led to strong speculation that the Golden-Eyed may be chief executives of the Demon Army.]
[Considering that Beasts are black-blooded, the dical community is insisting that all citizens of Kaurelia should have their blood drawn at random.]
“So they’re saying.”
Rike tossed the press release onto Leninya’s desk, her eyes nacing. It was as if she was certain that Leninya was a Beast.
“Isn’t your blood dark as well? Like your future.”
“What are you saying?”
Lotte got up, more worked up than usual. Leninya begged her to stop, but it did nothing to deter her.
“If you’re going to question a friend over that, just go back to your seat and study!”
She spoke even more firmly than usual; she had to.
Lotte wasn’t right in her mind at the mont, stressed beyond asure. At this rate, it felt like her head would go ‘boom’ and explode like a volcano.
[Amongst the humanoid Beasts, a Golden-Eyed girl by the na of Aether.......]
[...also admitted that her blood was black and left, according to the local dia.]
“See, this Aether or whatsherface was also a Beast in the end. Would Leninya any different?”
“Leninya’s not a Beast.”
Aether wasn’t a Beast.
“I know because we were together. She nursed when I was ill....”
“Um, Lotte?”
“I invited her over and we bathed together, made Flare together, and even when we had the physical, they said her blood was red. But why.......”
“Lotte!”
Unable to keep watching, Leninya gave a short shout. Lotte let out a shaky ‘ah’ and slumped her shoulders.
“It has to be a misreport.”
“Misreport...?”
“Yes, a misreport. There are many journalists who don’t investigate properly and just release sensational content. There’s a good chance that sothing like this is a misreport from soone like that.”
“P-probably?”
Leninya didn’t know what to say, so she decided to just watch the situation and reassure Lotte.
Leninya couldn’t know everything about Lotte, but she had never shown this side of her at least until now.
And so she realized: she really loved that friend.
Leninya was familiar with what it was like to rely on a friend. Even at this mont she was relying on Lotte.
“Still, I can’t sure. I have to go back to Tilette.”
“But it says here–this Lady Blanton and your friend Aether are missing right now.”
“Could this also be a misreport...?”
“Yeah, I hope it is.”
Leninya said other appropriate things and kept reassuring Lotte.
Still.
“Just what in the world....”
Lotte was at a loss.
After the follow-up news, the atmosphere at Iliad Academy turned hostile.
First of all, the number of students condemning Leninya increased. The students had gathered around Rike Rothschild.
Go back to your place, you Demon Army spy. And every ti Leninya heard that, she was distressed.
The second sester ca to an end in the worst way. In that ti, Lotte had been under too much stress, to the point that she should be comnded for not thinking about taking her own life.
Because.
“.......”
There was the friendship ring Aether had given her.
“I believe in you.”
Even if I don’t find you, you’ll definitely co find and clear things up.
I trust my best friend no matter what. I trust you for your kind nature. I trust you who always tries to take the right path albeit a little aggressively.
I trust you who loves research, who tried to overco a difficult past, and trust the promise of that day to complete the ultimate Fire Magic together.
“I won’t be able to gain anything even if I go back now.”
If Aether was still at Tilette, then Miss Heerlein or Freyr were going to defend her the best they could, because those two also deeply trusted Aether.
If Aether wasn’t at Tilette, and she couldn’t find out her location... her friend would definitely co to Iliad where she was.
And if it was neither, then.......
[Stress levels have reached 160.]
[The ‘Overco’ event is triggered due to the effect of the ‘Ring of Fervor’.]
I’ll go find you.
With that decided, Lotte began winter vacation at Iliad.
**[President Cecil Renay has decided to temporarily rge Tilette and Iliad. This is based on ergency asures. Students are advised to keep this in mind and apply for next sester’s courses.......]
Lotte decided to remain at Iliad for now.
“Why are you staying?”
“Because I’m worried about you.”
Looking for Aether was one thing, but if she left, Leninya was more likely to be bullied.
Leninya was more fragile than she looked. She was soft-hearted even though she didn’t seem to be, so she needed to be there and protect her.
If soone weaker is suffering, offer a hand–this was the motto of the Saliere family. If she turned her back on a friend who was being bullied, she had no right to be called a mber of the Saliere.
“Did you tell your father?”
“Mmhm. Father said he’ll look for Aether so I can continue studying here.”
“I see, I see....”
Leninya nodded. She was maintaining a straight face, but her ears were flapping unconsciously.
“Oh right, I signed up for volunteering today. I have to leave for a bit.”
“Okay, have fun.”
Lotte arrived at the large sports field, a place that was the size of two soccer fields put together. Here, the freshn and transfer students were going to take their tests one day apart.
Iliad was currently understaffed, and even the student council was short on hands. And so they were taking volunteers to help with moving the practical equipnt. This was what Lotte had signed up for.
The reason?
There was no other reason.
She simply liked helping people.
Or she could not think for a while as she did this. Either way, she didn’t have a reason not to.
“Excuse , I’m here to volunteer today. What should I do?”
“You’re just in ti. You see that storage over there? There should a professor, could you go help her out? She seems a bit tired from all the work she had to do on her own.”
“Got it!”
Lotte walked over with light steps. As she already heard, there was soone pulling out desks from the back of the storage.
“Excuse , how can I hel.......”
Lotte stopped there, her thoughts coming to a halt.
Black haired tied up neatly, a height and stature that she had seen sowhere.
And.
“Ahh, are you the volunteer?”
And a gentle voice that she used to hear like breathing up until just two, three months ago.
“Can you first bring these outside?”
The woman wiped away beaded sweat and turned around.
Lotte stiffened on the spot.
“Ae... ther......?”
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