The Weight of a Single Word
"Was that... just empty words, by any chance?"
There was no mockery or accusation in Lumi's voice. It was simply—as if she just wanted confirmation. The most honest reaction a person could have when hearing words they'd never heard before drop right in front of them.
Ain felt the cover of the book he'd closed and replied, "What's that supposed to mean, empty words?"
"...Pardon?"
"I said what I saw. Why should I be the one deciding if it's empty or not?"
Lumi froze. Her lips parted slightly, then closed again. Her expression said she had no idea how to respond.
Ain watched her for a moment, thinking. He wasn't a native of this world. In a place where aesthetic standards were completely reversed, he was just living by his original ones. And by those standards, the girl in front of him was—simply pretty.
It was so obvious that her reaction felt strange, almost abnormal.
"I," Ain said, opening his mouth again, "honestly have no idea what people here think. What's pretty, what's not."
Lumi's eyes wavered slightly.
"But at least to me—you look pretty nice, Lumi. For real."
The library was quiet. The magic lamp flickered faintly.
Lumi said nothing. Instead, she stared at Ain's face for a long while, as if searching for any trace of a smirk or shadow of ridicule.
But Ain's face remained calm. His eyes, voice, demeanor—all consistent. No different from when he'd first muttered pretty.
That only confused her more. When people lie, it usually shows somewhere. They avert their eyes, their voice gets too bright, their fingers fidget. But this guy showed none of that. Just clear eyes on a face stating an obvious fact.
Lumi slowly lowered her gaze.
"...You're a weird one."
It was a quiet mutter. With that, she clutched the magic book to her chest like a hug and turned away.
Her steps were faster than usual. Her back, almost hurrying toward the library entrance, grew smaller under the magic lamp's light.
Ain stared blankly at her retreating figure.
...What was that about?
He wondered if he'd said something wrong, but it didn't feel like it. He'd just said what he saw, and she'd overreacted.
Sensitive type, huh.
Ain slotted the book back and left the library. Walking the corridor, he glanced at his hand. The texture from closing the book lingered.
A book from an unfamiliar world. Yet the feel at his fingertips was somehow familiar. Habits from a lifetime of handling books must stick even in a new body.
The night air was quite cold. A few stars dotted the sky, but no familiar constellations.
Of course not. Different world.
Walking under that alien starlight, Ain suddenly thought—at least for today, he hadn't broken anything in this world.
That would do for now.
Back in the dormitory, he lay on the bed. Staring at the ceiling, he reviewed the day. Possession. Entrance ceremony. Reversed beauty standards. Lumi.
His mind was a mess, but his body was tired, and sleep came quicker than expected.
The next morning, he woke to the academy bell clanging wildly. First day of classes.
The morning session was the mana measurement test. All freshmen gathered at the training ground, where a middle-aged instructor who looked like a drill sergeant began calling names.
One by one, they stepped up to what resembled a crystal orb, placed a hand on it, and it glowed.
"Ain."
His name was called. He placed his hand on the orb, and a steady blue light swirled inside. Not particularly strong or weak.
The instructor nodded, scanning his record sheet.
"Mid-Upper rank. Not bad for a commoner."
...For a commoner.
Ain repeated it inwardly. Every word dripped with this world's class structure. Nobles and commoners. Mana affinity and bloodlines. A tightly woven hierarchy.
It didn't bother him much. He wasn't planning to stick around long anyway—or wait, was he? No way back, so he'd be here a while. Damn.
"Next, Lumi."
A murmur rippled at her name. Someone snickered.
Lumi ignored it and walked to the orb. Her steps were surprisingly steady.
When she touched it, blue light flashed—much brighter than Ain's.
The instructor's eyes widened slightly. The snickers died.
"...Upper rank. Excellent mana synthesis aptitude."
Lumi bowed silently and returned to her spot. Whispers started again, but different now. The awkward kind: That face, but good skills?
Ain watched quietly.
She's got the talent, but her looks drag her down.
He was the opposite. Average skills, but his face earned him points.
Rather than bitter, it just confirmed the world's twistedness once more.
Afternoon was basic swordsmanship practicals. At a corner of the training ground, freshmen paired off with wooden swords.
Ain gripped one. First time, but it fit naturally. Muscle memory from this body.
"Begin!"
His opponent was a burly noble's son. First clash, the guy pushed with brute force. Ain instinctively sidestepped, deflecting.
The wooden sword whistled through empty air.
Second exchange. Ain struck first—short jab to unbalance, then poked the gap. Tip hit the side.
"Hold!"
The instructor's call ended it. The noble clicked his tongue, displeased.
Ain caught his breath, lowering the sword. Not bad. This body's basics were solid.
A few more bouts: 3 wins, 1 loss out of 4. Not top-tier, but decent.
After the last, leaving the field, he felt eyes on him. From the spectator seats.
Lumi sat there. Magic book open in her lap, but her head turned his way.
Their eyes met; she hid behind the book and stood, hurrying off.
Ain chuckled.
Why does a girl like that get called ugly?
He genuinely couldn't understand. The world was weird.
Lumi kept walking long after leaving the training ground. Her mind was a tangle. Not a word of the magic book registered.
Resigned, she headed to her usual spot: the magic combination practice room. Immersing in research would clear her head, she hoped.
It was empty. She sat in the corner, unrolling her magic circle draft. Weeks-old project: improving mana conversion efficiency.
She picked up the pen to draw lines. But her hand wouldn't move.
That guy's face kept popping up.
I think you're pretty.
Not a lying face. Not mocking eyes. Just—the face of someone who really believed it.
Lumi set the pen down. Her fingers trembled faintly.
All her life, she'd heard she was ugly. At home: At least survive on skill. On streets: stares like stones. At the academy: outright mockery daily.
She thought she'd grown numb.
But why was one pretty shaking her like this?
She felt pathetic. Standing, she left the room. Fresh night air might help.
Heading outside the dorms. Starlight faintly blanketing the campus. Passing an empty bench—then she noticed someone there.
Dark hair. Familiar shoulder silhouette.
Ain.
Lumi tried to stop. She should. But her feet wouldn't obey.
Miss this moment, and there might be no other chance to ask.
Grass crunched underfoot. Ain opened his eyes.
Under moonlight, Lumi—for once—didn't hide her face with hair. Her robe hung loose.
Long silver hair with its blue aura fluttered lightly in the night breeze, skin glowing transparently in the light. Neckline and collarbone, usually veiled by robe and hair, stood bare tonight.
She stood straight, looking right at him. Lavender eyes shimmering with moonlight. Edges red—tears held back since the practice room, pen in hand alone.
Lips trembled, parted.
"...Do you, really."
Her voice cracked. She paused, drew a small breath.
"Do you... really... think I'm pretty?"