Episode 95
“Elonia…!”
Garnethia, her face pale, tried to stop Elonia, but no one could sway her.
Elonia and Marchioness Bereta locked eyes, their gazes clashing in the air.
House Bereta, like House Archer, was a loyalist family.
At Elonia’s mention of an imperial order, Marchioness Bereta’s lips had been pressed into a thin line.
“Garnethia.”
Elonia held out her hand again.
Garnethia’s pink eyes were still filled with hesitation.
‘If I leave now, Mother will hate me…’
Garnethia, considered incompetent since birth, had never defied her mother. She had secretly applied to the Magic Department, but she wouldn’t have been able to do it without Aaron’s help.
And even that act of rebellion had ended in failure. She hadn’t achieved the grades her mother expected, and she had agreed to transfer to the Academic Department if her grades didn’t improve.
Garnethia considered herself useless.
‘But Elonia needs me.’
She had wanted to hide when Elonia first approached her.
Unlike Garnethia, Elonia had been a remarkable student since the entrance exam.
She had been worried that Elonia had only befriended her out of pity, that she regretted her decision.
She was afraid that even Elonia, as kind as she was, would abandon her if she knew how incompetent she was, how poorly she was treated even by her own mother.
But Elonia, her small and seemingly fragile friend, had bravely confronted her most terrifying figure, her mother.
She had told her that she wasn’t incompetent.
Garnethia glanced at her mother, whose expression was stormy.
Her cold eyes dared Garnethia to defy her.
“Garnethia.”
Elonia called her name again.
Her beautiful lavender eyes were always so clear and unwavering.
She had reached out to Garnethia without hesitation when she had fallen clumsily in the hallway, pushed by Dianne’s group.
Garnethia had refused her help back then, ashamed of her own clumsiness.
‘Elonia needs my help… Can I really do this?’
She might disappoint her.
But Garnethia wanted to take her hand.
She closed her eyes and placed her hand in Elonia’s. A warm and reassuring grip enveloped her hand.
“Good choice, Garnethia.”
Garnethia opened her eyes and looked at her mother.
As expected, she was furious.
“…Mother.”
“Garnethia.”
Garnethia clenched her fists, took a deep breath, and spoke in the loudest voice she could muster,
“I-I’ll be back!”
“…”
Marchioness Bereta stared at her.
She wasn’t going to tell her to be careful or wish her good luck.
Garnethia smiled sadly, then took Elonia’s hand.
And just like that, they disappeared from the Bereta estate.
“Hmm, Garnethia Bereta, you say?”
Garnethia flinched, seeing Caroline’s face the moment she opened her eyes.
Caroline circled Garnethia, her expression thoughtful.
After circling her three times, she finally nodded.
“Garnethia has good dexterity, and Professor Ingrid praised her skills. She’s reliable.”
As expected, Caroline approved.
Elonia sighed in relief, and Garnethia, still confused, blushed, fidgeting shyly at the compliment.
Elonia, just in case, checked if Garnethia was brainwashed.
Fortunately, she was fine.
Caroline, observing them, nodded, then turned to Elonia, her hands clasped behind her back.
“Elonia, there’s a message from the Imperial Palace.”
“…Ah.”
Elonia’s mind, which had been elsewhere, snapped back to reality.
She had forgotten to inform Artius.
“What did he say?”
“Don’t worry, I explained the situation. And I sent Lady Ethan back to the palace. Since we’re at the academy.”
Caroline grinned mischievously.
Elonia, despite the situation, felt reassured.
She had resented Caroline for the constant homework assignments, but now, she was grateful for her support.
Garnethia, sensing the relaxed atmosphere, cautiously asked,
“E-Elonia…? What am I supposed to be doing…?”
“We’re going to make a magic tool.”
“A-a magic tool?”
Garnethia was surprised.
A magic tool? With Professor Caroline?
“W-will I be of any help…?”
“That’s why I called you.”
Elonia encouraged her.
Everyone in the Magic Department knew that Garnethia was intelligent, but she lacked confidence.
‘It’s probably because of Marchioness Bereta.’
She wondered if Marchioness Bereta was truly Aaron’s sister. It was strange that Aaron, who never took vacations, had suddenly taken one as soon as summer break started. He must have been protecting Garnethia. And he was probably the one who had encouraged Garnethia to be more assertive, despite her timid nature.
Elonia, grateful for Aaron’s presence in Garnethia’s life, continued her explanation.
“We’re going to make a magic tool that reacts to a specific type of Holy Power. It’s not difficult. Professor Caroline and Olivia will provide the knowledge, and I’ll provide the mana. You just have to focus on crafting the tool.”
She deliberately omitted the details.
It was partly because it was classified information, but also because Garnethia tended to underperform when she felt pressured.
She had to reassure her and make her feel comfortable.
“But there’s one thing you have to keep in mind. It can’t look like a magic tool. It has to be disguised as something else.”
“Disguised as something else…”
Garnethia repeated her words, her hand on her lips, muttering to herself.
She seemed to have an idea.
After a moment of thought, she clenched her fists and declared,
“I-I’ll try my best! I can do it…!”
Elonia beamed.
She knew Garnethia could do it.
A few days later,
Caroline, having studied the new theology materials Olivia provided, had fully deciphered the structure of the prayer altar, and Garnethia, with Caroline’s guidance, began crafting the magic tool.
They started by modifying a regular pocket watch.
Elonia also modified her rapier, making it react to the specific type of Holy Power detected by the watch’s internal components.
“Now we just have to imbue it with mana.”
Caroline had just finished inscribing the formula inside the watch’s mainspring.
Elonia placed her hand on the mainspring and poured all her mana into it.
The formula glowed, and Elonia gritted her teeth.
“Ugh…!”
As she had experienced before, her mana was exceeding her physical limits.
Her mind could endure it, but her body was screaming in pain. Garnethia looked at her with worried eyes.
But Elonia didn’t stop.
She pushed through the pain, imbuing the mainspring with even more mana than she had used to break the brainwashing.
The light faded as the mana was fully absorbed.
“Haah…”
Elonia slumped to the ground, exhausted.
Caroline patted her back comfortingly, and while Elonia rested, Garnethia carefully placed the mainspring back into the watch and finished assembling it.
The brainwashing detection device was complete.
“I honestly didn’t think we could finish it so quickly…”
Caroline marveled, holding up the pocket watch.
She had initially planned to work on it alone, estimating a month for completion.
But with the help of the three students, they had finished it in just two weeks.
“A-actually, it’s not completely finished yet… We have to test it…”
“Hmm.”
This pocket watch was just a prototype.
They had initially planned to modify a grandfather clock, but they couldn’t carry it around for testing, so they had started with something smaller.
“Garnethia, you did well. I’ll let you know the test results.”
“And you’re not going to rest, Elonia?”
“I have something to discuss with Professor Caroline.”
“Well then… call me if you need anything, Elonia.”
Garnethia, who had a naturally weak constitution, looked pale from the two weeks of all-nighters.
She returned to the Bereta estate, and Elonia, staying behind in Caroline’s office, discussed their next plan.
“We need to conduct at least three tests.”
The only person they suspected of being brainwashed was Julietta.
Just as they were considering visiting the academy and checking everyone individually, Elonia said,
“Is that really necessary? There’s a more obvious target.”
“A target?”
“House Rossi.”
Ah, right.
But wasn’t that too dangerous?
“It’s more efficient than searching the entire academy, Professor. And three tests are too risky. It’s better to take one big risk and visit House Rossi.”
It was a decision only Elonia could make.
Her experience on the battlefield had made her bold and fearless.
Caroline, her jaw dropping, couldn’t believe her ears.
“You always surprise me, Elonia. His Majesty and I would never make such a reckless decision.”
“We’re dealing with Heilan, who has someone even more dangerous than Chelon Heilan. There’s no such thing as a risk-free victory.”
Chelon Heilan.
Caroline’s eyes narrowed at the mention of that name.
She spoke, her voice unusually serious,
“Elonia, don’t take this the wrong way, but…”
“But what?”
“…You remind me of Chelon Heilan.”
“…”
Elonia set down her teacup and clamped her mouth shut.
She had been expecting this.
She had managed to change her swordsmanship style, but her magic was still undeniably Chelon’s.
Chelon had been incredibly efficient with her magic, and while working on this magic tool, Elonia had instinctively suggested alternative, more efficient methods based on Chelon’s approach, whenever Caroline proposed a formula.
And Caroline had been studying Chelon’s magic for nine years.
“And?”
“Do you believe in reincarnation?”
“Reincarnation is a matter of faith. And you said we should always be suspicious of faith.”
Elonia tried to deflect the question, avoiding Caroline’s gaze.
But Caroline, who had persistently sent her recruitment letters for four years, was persistent.
“Yes. And I’m still suspicious. Most people don’t believe in reincarnation, but I question that disbelief. Anything is possible.”
“…”
“You have a similar amount of mana as Chelon Heilan, and you’re both Sword Mages. And you knew the theology materials were wrong before Olivia even looked at them, even though you haven’t studied theology.”
Elonia tried to turn away, but Caroline continued, listing her observations,
“You’ve been known for your intelligence since you were young. I was impressed by your performance on the entrance exam, but your progress after enrollment was even more remarkable. Your reports were almost identical to something Chelon Heilan would write. And you knew how to solve her formulas before I even taught you.”
She should have tried harder to hide her true nature.
She hadn’t expected Caroline to recognize her.
Caroline’s blue eyes gleamed sharply.
“Your Highness, are you Chelon Heilan?”