9 Biscuits and Tea

[Shelly's POV]

I was lost in the thought that Aunt Yurara might have done something to them, even giving them new names, that I failed to notice that all of them were actually staring at me - well, until now.

"Oh, are you not happy?" asked Aunt Yurara.

Happy huh? That was quite an understatement, if she ask me. What was I feeling at the moment was more intense - fear. Still I wonder what was I scared about? Knowing that it would not be best if Aunt learns that I already have few conversations with these people, I decided to go with the flow.

"I am simply overwhelmed. This is my first time meeting anyone aside from you Auntie." I spoke as I prevent myself from further studying the features of her 'apprentices'.

"Really now?" Aunt Yurara responded with a noticeable eerie tone, her eyes squinted for a few seconds as if suspecting me before reverting to a more calmer facial expression, "in that case, don't be. This day is scheduled for formalities and for the five of you to get to know each other better. Don't you agree Lei?"

"I agree, Teacher. We would not want to put miss Shelly under pressure here." Lei remarked as she gracefully grabs the cup of tea from its saucer, another hand under the cup to keep it still.

Lei took a sip, places the cup almost soundlessly back to the saucer before glancing at me, and smiling. I almost flinched when she did it, her smile perfectly resembles the smile Maid Lhea does, but who am I kidding?

"I would leave you girls by yourselves. Have fun! Tomorrow we will begin our first formal class." stated Aunt Yurara, standing up and heading to the direction of the Botanical area.

Silence befell us.

"Hi there! I'm Mikheala, but you can just call me Miki. As you probably would have guessed, this black-haired sweetheart is Lei, "she stated pointing at Maid Lhea, "this shy little girl is Horikawa, Hmm, Horikawa can she call you Hori?" Miki asks Hori.

"Uhmm." responded the ocean-colored-eyed girl with a nod.

I can't believe that this is the same girl that attacked Maid Lhea yesterday. She looks so small and timid, but I can clearly remember her lifeless eyes from the battle that occurred between her and Maid Lhea or Lei, whatever her real name is.

"This grumpy-looking woman is-," Miki was about to introduce whom I assume was technically Maid Yona, but she cut her off by shoving a rabbit-shaped biscuit onto the talkative Maid Miki's mouth.

"I'm Yona. Nice to meet you, m'lady." she stated.

Her attitude or what she said earned a surprise look from Miki and Hori, while Lei on the other hand released a feminine chuckle.

"Hato, what are you talking about? When did you decide to suddenly change names?" laughed Miki, her speech slightly incomprehensible because she was still chewing on that particular cookie.

"Wait, what do you mean? I said Hato." remarked the girl who introduced her name as Yona, but apparently and as confusing as it is to all of us, she seemed to have no idea of what she just said a few seconds ago.

"Uhmm.. okay?" I finally spoke.

I felt like the more we drag the silence, the more awkward it would be between the five of us.

"Well, that's the introductions! Why don't we begin by showing miss Shelly our affinities?" prompted Miki with a large grin.

Surely, she was as talkative as she was even thought she magically lost her Scottish accent and everything. I could not help but to internally sigh, yet at the same time, if I wanted to figure out what was going on, I need to observe everyone in a low-key manner. I believe that going with the flow right now is the best thing to do.

"Something wrong Miss Shelly?" asked an ice-cold breathe nearby my left ear.

"Gahhh?!" I jumped out of surprise, "please, don't do that again." I said towards Lei.

Lei tilted her head as if she had no idea nor memory of what I was talking about. She seemed confused, but she gave a bow as a sign of her apology. "Understood."

"Nee, my fellow apprentices, you have been dragging our chance to show-off our affinity to Miss Shelly here. Teacher told me that she just discovered that this girl has magical potential this morning, we should be able to at least explain the basics." Mikheala remarked with a wink.

"You're right. Time is running out after all." stated Hato.

Time is running out? Wasn't it supposed to be, 'time is gold or something?', unless I thought wrong that she was not exactly quoting a famous phrase like that. I'm overthinking things again.

"I'll go first." came a soft voice to my right.

It was none other than Horikawa. That was a little unexpected given her personality, but I guess you could never really judge a book by its cover right?

She stood up and walked in the middle of the living room with the four of us tailing behind her. I already know that her affinity was ice, so I don't think I would be surprised.

"Osu..." Hori mumbled, as she pulls both of her arms on a frontal stance. The goal of this kind of stance is to provide stability and balance while projecting the body weight forwards, such as when going for a punch.

Wait a minute, I believe that stance is commonly used in martial arts, or at least that was what I have read in the books. I'm glad that those books actually have pictures, so I can really remember what kind of stance she was doing.

"Haaaaaaaa...HAH!"

Snow furled out from the tips of her fingers, wintry breeze billowed around us first, before her magic continued to spiral around her like a blue tornado. Then she opened her eyes, jumping upwards only to freeze the spiraling snow like an intricate swirl of mystical ice sculpture.

And here I thought that I would no longer be surprise about whatever her power can do. It was completely different from those terrifying blocks of ice she unleashed from the Botanical Garden. Not to mention that she also looks different compared to the Hori we saw yesterday.

I found myself with both eyebrows furrowed. This Horikawa is timid and graceful when it comes to her magic, and the Hori back then...

"Shelly? Shelly? Earth to Shelly?"

"Oh! I-I'm sorry about that, it was just really beautiful." I uttered with a smile.

"R-really?" spoke a small voice in front of me.

Wait, when did she? I simply released a small sigh, no longer minding how she was able to suddenly close the distance between us in a short period of time. After all, we were standing five meters away from her to avoid getting caught in her ice blizzard. I should be used to the fact that these people are not normal.

"For sure, I wish I could do that too." I told her.

She gasped and blushed mildly at my statement, before meekly running behind Mikheala from what I believe was her bashfulness.

"My turn!" says Miki raising a hand to show her enthusiasm.

She walked towards me and without warning had tucked a few strands of my hair behind my ear. "W-woah.... what's this?" I was not expecting like this, so I started reddening out of embarrassment.

"Pfft-, relax Miss Shelly. Look here." Miki whispers as she directs my attention to her right hand. She was holding a rose!

"That's pretty too." I giggled. Somehow, I felt the atmosphere getting lighter as time passes by. I don't mind getting use to this," but was the tucking of my hair necessar--"

"Moving on!" shouted Miki.

My heart almost dropped there and then, but the show had to go on or so they say.

"Why don't we eat a proper breakfast first?" Lei interrupted, placing a hand over Miki's shoulder.

And is it just me or the sudden cheerful atmosphere around Maid Miki suddenly died out when Maid Lhea approached her? I felt tension too.

"Oh right. Of course, an intermission first to build up the excitement." beamed the short dandelion-haired girl to Lei.

Huh? Her cheerful atmosphere returned, was that all my imagination? Nonetheless, I look forward to what Lei and Hato's affinities are.