Third-Year Mission Activities (6)
“We haven’t even done proper introductions, have we? I’m Noah Celestia.”
The enigmatic woman extended her hand.
Ariel hesitated for a moment before grasping it.
“I’m Ariel Tianis…”
“Ariel Tianis, huh… Mm, that’s a nice name.”
Noah Celestia flashed a bright smile. It suited her perfectly.
But Ariel couldn’t fathom the reason for that smile at all.
‘No, before that…’
She’d been kind enough to tend to her until she fell asleep, so Ariel could accept that much. But why did she look at her with such longing and joy the moment they met? Ariel was certain this was their first encounter. Her senses confirmed it—this woman was a complete stranger.
Yet somehow, she brimmed with those emotions. Ariel just couldn’t figure out why.
At that moment, the woman, who had been studying her intently, spoke up.
“Our young lady… has quite the extraordinary ability, doesn’t she? I’ve seen plenty of talents that sharpen specific senses, but enhancing them across the board, talents included? That’s a first. And it’s hereditary, passed down through the bloodline? That’s unusual too.”
First, she’d pinpointed Ariel’s ability. Then, she’d traced its origins.
Ariel flinched twice, and that shock quickly turned to fear.
Even as royalty, identifying a family member’s awakened power took days at minimum, years at most. Yet this stranger had nailed it perfectly in mere hours—less than a day. How could she not be terrified?
Ariel was already uneasy from the flood of information seeping through her senses, sensing dread from this woman. Now, with outright fear piling on, a faint mist gathered in her eyes.
“Ah, ah?!”
Noah panicked hard. She’d only meant to get friendly, not make her cry.
She wiped Ariel’s tears and soothed her gently.
“Sorry, young lady. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m the one who should apologize…”
Ariel felt a wave of shame crash over her belatedly. She couldn’t show weakness as royalty, yet here she was, looking pathetic. Unable to hold back her embarrassment, she bowed her head deeply.
“Haha, our young lady’s cute too. Should I give you a nickname like ‘our little cutie’?”
“I-I’ll pass…”
Ariel lacked the courage to accept such an embarrassing term. She wondered how Kyle could take it without blushing.
“So, young lady. You must have tons of questions about me, right? You’re sensing so much, after all.”
“……Yes.”
After a long silence, Ariel answered.
“What’s the first thing you want to ask?”
Ariel pondered inwardly. She had endless curiosities and no idea how much Noah would reveal, but there was one burning question she had to set aside for now.
“Lady Noah… are you from another world?”
If there was one thing Ariel had sensed immediately upon facing her, it was that Noah didn’t belong to this world.
Noah smiled brightly at the question.
“What makes you think that?”
“Everything about you… doesn’t feel like it’s from here.”
Her speech, her scent, her aura—none of it matched this world perfectly. That was why Ariel feared her. She looked human on the outside, but inside, she was utterly alien. The unknown difference chilled her.
Noah looked pleased.
“To answer your question, young lady… yes, spot on. I’m from another world. But you don’t seem surprised?”
“I’ve known since childhood that other worlds exist.”
The imperial bloodline stretched back 400 years, with hundreds awakening powers over that time. Royals kept their abilities secret, but a few recorded them. One was the emperor from a century ago, whose secret records Ariel had read.
His power: dimensional travel. The ability to move between worlds.
“Our young lady’s even more impressive than I thought? Keeping something like that to yourself without a word.”
“I know the repercussions all too well.”
“Good girl, good girl. You did great, our young lady.”
“C-Could you maybe back off a little…?”
Noah clung to Ariel, rubbing her cheek against hers. Ariel’s face heated up at the sudden affection. And whether it was because she was from another world or just her nature, being this close stirred a strange, tingling sensation.
Still, the icy tension began to thaw a bit.
“Is that all you’re curious about?”
“Ah, well…”
Ariel hesitated. Was it okay to ask this? Might it be rude?
“Don’t overthink it. I’ll answer pretty much anything for you, young lady.”
Her warmth overflowed as always. Why treat her so specially? Ariel had tried probing during their talk but couldn’t pinpoint the source of this kindness.
But she couldn’t just drop it here. Gathering her courage, Ariel asked her deepest question.
“What… is your relationship to him?”
“That’s what you’re wondering about?”
“Yes.”
Since they’d met, doubts had piled up. For one, he trusted her implicitly—unlike the faith he gave Rana or Evan, this was absolute.
It was a side of him she’d never seen, utterly shocking, and it spawned more questions. How and where had they met? That level of trust required long acquaintance and deep understanding.
Her question boiled all those down to one.
“Young lady.”
“Yes, Lady Noah.”
“Do you like our little cutie?”
The abrupt question didn’t faze Ariel.
“He has someone close called Rana Heytald. They say they’re not lovers, but at the academy, everyone thinks they are, and…”
“No dodging~”
“……”
Forced to answer straight, her words tumbled out incoherently. A blunder, really. After agonizing, Ariel finally spoke.
“I don’t know…”
“Huh? You don’t know your own heart?”
“Our… Kyle and my relationship is a bit—no, very complicated.”
They’d started as bitter enemies, hating each other in secret until last year. Things had changed, but resentment still lingered in his heart. Ariel conveyed that to Noah.
Noah marveled.
“Our little cutie was a total jerk back then, huh?”
“That was the past, now he’s…”
Noah’s eyes narrowed, her lips curving up.
“You said you fought before, but now you’re defending him?”
“N-No, that’s not…”
“Our young lady’s so cute~”
Noah stretched Ariel’s cheeks.
“Anyway, you’re not totally indifferent, right?”
“I don’t know…”
She did know, actually. Not full-blown love, but at minimum, some fondness. This mission proved it—he’d checked if she was cold en route, offered advice as the lone southerner in the north, even thrown himself into danger for her.
Who wouldn’t feel something when helped like that, even amid dislike? But Ariel couldn’t approach him. Rana was a factor, but more than that, it was his pain—known only to her, perhaps. That courtroom visitation scene haunted her, even invading her dreams.
“Mm~ Pass for now!”
“Pass for what…?”
“It just is!”
The vague answer only piqued her curiosity more, but Ariel was helpless. Strangely, her mind-reading didn’t work on this otherworldly woman.
“Anyway, to answer… I’m the teacher who taught our little cutie magic.”
“Teacher…”
An unknown fact. She hadn’t imagined he had a magic mentor.
‘But when?’
Ariel knew Kyle’s history better than anyone—from childhood to arriving at Tianis Academy. No record of any teacher. Secret lessons, then? That didn’t add up either. How had he even met someone from another world?
“When exactly…”
“Mm~ Can’t tell you that.”
“But you said you’d answer…”
“I never said everything. And from here, it gets sensitive.”
It only made her more curious, but it was fair, so Ariel held back.
“Young lady, make a promise with me?”
“Pardon? What kind…?”
Noah took Ariel’s hand.
“Nothing tough. Just… look after our little cutie for me. He’s dumber and more stubborn than he looks—does a lot of foolish things.”
“He doesn’t seem that way…”
“Haha, that’s ’cause you don’t know him well. Anyway, it’s not much of a trade, but…”
“Eek!”
Suddenly, Ariel’s eyes burned hot—like overusing her magic eyes, overheating.
Thankfully, the heat faded quickly.
“I tuned your magic eyes to fit your body better. No more pain when you use them, and stamina and mana drain should be way down.”
Ariel activated them to check. The consumption had indeed plummeted.
“Thank you.”
“I did it ’cause I wanted something too, so no need to feel burdened.”
“How could I not, after this…?”
It was a rare stroke of fortune in her life—equivalent to what Noah had done for her.
Ariel had struggled daily to control her magic eyes.
“But ‘look after’ means…?”
“Just that. Help when he’s struggling, share his worries. You know.”
“Yes, Lady Noah. I’ll do my best.”
Noah smiled contentedly. They matched well in personality.
Right then, Ariel’s eyes grew heavy.
Noah laid her in bed.
“Sorry, Lady Noah… I’m so sleepy…”
“It’s okay. Sleep if you’re tired.”
Modifying magic eyes drained the user’s stamina massively—it was natural to feel drowsy. Grateful for the care, Ariel closed her eyes and drifted off.
Noah stroked her hair.
“Ariel Tianis. Protagonist of Akacheonma, future emperor. And perhaps…”
One of the few women who could save her disciple.
With that thought, Noah moved to her disciple.
Seeing the changed face, she sighed.
“Whew, so cute.”
Even in a new body, her final disciple oozed adorableness.
But that lasted only a moment. Noah gazed at him with pity.
He was always her sore spot—requiring extra care over the others.
As always, she kissed his forehead.
“Our little cutie, who’s lived a life harsher, more painful, and grueling than anyone.”
Poor, pitiful one.
May happiness find you.
The Constellation 'First Sage' bestows a blessing upon you.
The next morning arrived.
“Alright! You’ve recharged, so let’s head out today!”
“Yeah.”
“Yes, Lady Noah.”
We moved to exit the ancient kingdom.