The Butterfly Effect (1)
"...Hmm, looks like a lot of you are dozing off. All swordsmanship department kids, huh?"
The classroom filled with snickers and awkward chuckles. Rudy, who was not only the boys' dormitory supervisor but also in charge of magic department theory classes, stared down the swordsmanship students who were half-asleep amid the magic kids.
"I get it. You're wondering why you even need to learn this, and right now, it probably doesn't make a lick of sense."
Rudy scanned the students with a grin.
"To wake you up, I'll show you something fun."
With that, a magic circle unfolded before them. But it looked a bit different from the ones they'd learned about in theory class. As the students focused on Rudy with puzzled expressions—
Suddenly, a handful of dirt rained down from the ceiling.
"...?"
"...W-what the hell?"
The students buzzed, staring at the scene. Magic couldn't create something from nothing. To cast fire magic, you had to read the mana flows in the air and ignite them. Creating water was just decomposing and reassembling the air. Even the swordsmanship students who'd paid a modicum of attention in theory class gaped alongside the magic kids.
"Spirit magic. Sure, some of you special ones might've already tried contracting with spirits... but as you can see, it's not suited for combat. Unless you tame a high-level spirit or contract with one of the great Spirit Kings, you can't boost its lethality. And given spirits share emotions with their contractors, you need clear killing intent for that."
Rudy tried to continue the lesson, but a magic department student raised a hand, looking curious.
"...Yes? A question?"
"We know how hard spirit contracts are, but if not for battle, what are spirits good for?"
"Hmmm—spirits are great at hiding presences. Honestly, they're more useful for assassins or tailing someone."
"...Huh?"
"Let's get back to the lesson. You all seem awake now."
"...Hmm."
Ariel watched the spirit dissipate slowly in the air. She knew exactly who'd done it, but she didn't want bad blood with Leon's family.
"...Out of nowhere, a water dump?"
I blinked up at the sky, confused. It wasn't a sudden shower, and there didn't seem to be any puddles up in the trees.
I shook out my wet hair and slipped away from Ariel, who was in an embarrassing position.
"...Ah."
"..."
She looked disappointed as I pulled away. She'd always been the one to take the initiative, so I felt a pang of guilt. Seeing her a little deflated, I called out to her.
"...So, uh, what should I call you from now on?"
"..."
"......"
"...I'll just call you Leon."
"Then I'll call you Ariel."
Ariel nodded, satisfied. She stared at me a bit longer, as if trying to memorize my face, then glanced at the fading spirit trail and let out a soft chuckle.
"...Looks like I need to head to the ducal house. Got some business anyway."
"Ah, yeah—of course. Whatever's convenient for you, Ariel..."
"........."
"...W-what?"
"I don't wanna part."
"........."
"Hug me before you go."
Ariel spread her arms slightly. Her wet clothes clung sensually to her body, her eyes begging me to hold her. I approached awkwardly and wrapped my arms around her. The soft touch of her skin made me instinctively pull back a little, holding her at arm's length.
"...A-am I the only one embarrassed here...?"
"...Being with you like this beats being embarrassed."
"......"
I hid my burning face and slowly stepped away from her.
"H-hey, where...?"
"...Y-you go ahead. You have to now...?"
She looked puzzled for a moment at my distant words but soon nodded and gave a farewell wave.
"...See you... at the academy."
"...Yeah."
Ariel walked down the forest path, glancing back at me the whole way. Watching her go, I thought quietly:
Did I just get a girlfriend who's way too good for me?
......
By the time I got back to the academy, it was already exam prep season. My full scholarship came with a condition from the recommendation letter: maintain a B average or higher.
Practical exams? No sweat. But theory? My biggest headache.
The swordsmanship and aura techniques Dad taught me were just brute-force battle instincts. Everyone else learned systematically, so I struggled in theory classes.
"No clue."
"...Weird. Do you even know how to properly use aura?"
Early morning in the academy library. Ariel brushed back her messy black hair, adjusted her round glasses, and started reteaching me the theory step by step.
"Eh... I just kinda swing it around, and it works."
"......"
Ariel gave me a troubled look, then gently placed her hand on my arm.
"Guess showing you beats explaining."
"......"
"This is the mana flow. Every living thing has mana. Release it raw—that's basic mana emission. Refine and project it—that's aura."
With her usual blank expression, she traced my body lightly with her index and middle fingers.
"This is blood flow."
Her fingers trailed up my arm to my shoulder, then settled on my chest.
Thump—thump—
"This is your... heart."
She hesitated, feeling my racing heartbeat, and glanced at me.
"It's pounding... so fast."
She whispered, peering at me.
"...Told you. I like you too."
"...Who?"
"...You. Ariel."
"...How much?"
"This is a... public place."
"...Oh."
She yanked her fingers away from my chest, covered her face, and frantically flipped through the book.
My lady was perfect in looks and personality, but sometimes she got scarily obsessive with my affection.
"...Whoa, time flew. Lunch is on me today."
"...Okay."
Ariel nodded slowly, flashing a bright smile. I didn't mention how her rare expressions made me fall for her all over again.
Cedric scowled, tearing his gaze from Ariel walking with some swordsmanship boy in the distance.
Who was Lady Ariel von Saint? The empire's noblest woman after the princess, heir to the Saint Ducal House. Securing her would've brought the Saints' support. Her beauty matched his own, so he'd proposed—only to get a polite refusal.
He wanted to pressure her, but with Swordmaster Duke Reinhardt von Saint—the empire's symbol—alive, it was impossible. For Cedric, who needed the throne, antagonizing two ducal houses was a nightmare.
Of course, thanks to the lady's special request, he'd built some goodwill with the Saints, so that was a relief... but still.
'Dungeons across all territories reversing in just two weeks? Why now, after centuries of dormancy?'
"...Hmm."
"Your Highness Cedric. Deep in thought?"
"Ah, Lady Emilia."
He eyed the girl with her pale pink hair in a braid. She could pass for a pretty top magic student, but she was the empire's Saintess, Emilia.
"I hear the rumors too. You're tracking Lady Ariel's movements?"
"...It's a real headache."
To realize Emilia's plans, he needed to weaken the Saint Ducal House over the faded Raymonds. But that was impossible without marrying Ariel... and the first step had gone wrong. Cedric's worries were mounting.
Emilia patted his head sympathetically, as if she understood everything.
"...Isn't it simple, Your Highness?"
"My goddess, Emilia. Do you have a solution?"
The crown prince murmured sweetly, kissing the back of her hand. Emilia smiled faintly and replied concisely.
"Lady Ariel's lover isn't some promising noble heir. Not even a border noble."
"......"
"She's not the old Ariel—the systematic Saint heiress who planned everything meticulously."
Cedric nodded blankly, entranced by her holy words. Why didn't I think of that? He shook his head in self-reproach.
"...Then, an assassin—"
"Oh, Cedric. Such vicious words..."
Saintess Emilia. Devout, chosen by Gaia. She believed humans were inherently evil—a twisted justice that made her the 'purest' of all.
"...Elise, who hates Ariel, will bring us perfect bait soon enough."
A misanthrope.
"...Ah, Ariel. I gotta go. Got a group study for magic theory."
"...Ah."
She watched me reluctantly, then her expression turned odd as she blurted a question.
"...With your dorm mates?"
"Nah, the top magic student, Elise, is running a study group. She invited me."
'...Elise.' I think she muttered.
Her eyes chilled slightly, but her face stayed neutral.
"...Doesn't matter. I don't want to bind you, Leon."
"...Okay."
"...But that group Elise runs. It's all girls, right?"
"N-no, there are a couple guys too..."
I hesitated, watching her. Felt like I shouldn't let on I knew, but she'd said it was fine.
"Don't worry. I know Lady Elise hates you, so she won't talk much. Nothing to fret over."
"....."
"Gonna head out?"
".....You really going?"
"...Huh?"
"...Go."
Ariel's blank face felt sharper today. Her vibe was unfamiliar...
"......"
'She said go, right...?'
"...Ariel, I'm really going?"
I stared at her forever, then quietly closed the library door behind me.