Do I like him?

Cali stood awkwardly in front of the Arcane Blades' students' room, her small hands fidgeting nervously as she stared at the slightly opened door. 

The legendary prestige of this group wasn't lost on her, and her stomach churned just being in such close proximity. She inhaled sharply, telling herself it was just a conversation, but her feet felt glued to the floor.

"Maybe...maybe I should visit the bathroom before going in," Cali thought, as she felt that her bladder felt rather loose today. But she knew if she didn't act brave, she would never be able to get over the fear and nervousness she feel when talking to a stranger.

Gathering her courage, Cali pushed the door open. Inside, she was greeted by a room that felt more like a headquarters than a simple student dorm. The spacious chamber was lined with weapons, training dummies, and shelves filled with spell tomes and artifacts. Groups of students, each exuding an air of authority and confidence, lounged around or sparred lightly in the corner.

Conversations dwindled, and all eyes turned to Cali.

"Who's that?" whispered one.

"Is she lost?" another murmured.

Cali could feel her face heat up under their collective gaze. She stepped further into the room, her eyes darting nervously around. Her earlier awe of the space was quickly replaced with discomfort. This isn't just a group of students—they're the academy's elite.

Before she could back out, a group of athletic-looking girls in arcane blade uniform approached her. They were smiling, but their sheer presence was enough to make Cali feel like a cornered rabbit.

"Hey there!" one of the girls said, her voice friendly but booming. "What brings you here?"

"I-I…" Cali stammered, her words refusing to cooperate. "I didn't mean to intrude! Please don't hurt me! I'm innocent, I swear!"

The girls exchanged surprised looks before their smiles faltered, replaced with concern.

"Hurt you?" one of them said, her brows furrowing. "We're not going to hurt you!"

"Are you okay? You seem really… uh, nervous," another chimed in. "Can someone bring a cup of water for her?"

Before Cali could respond, a familiar voice cut through the room, calm and commanding.

"Let her through," Mesuna called from the far end of the room. "Send her to my quarters."

The girls immediately stepped aside, gesturing for Cali to move forward. She hesitated but eventually shuffled past them, her cheeks burning. As she walked away, the girls whispered among themselves.

"She's so introverted!" one muttered.

"Poor thing looks like she's about to faint," another added.

Cali tried to block out the murmurs as she approached the door Mesuna had indicated. With a shaky hand, she knocked lightly before stepping inside.

Mesuna sat at her desk, a stack of papers in front of her. She was reading intently but glanced up as Cali entered. A soft smile crossed her face.

"Come in, Cali," Mesuna said, setting the papers aside. "Take a seat."

Cali hesitated but eventually sat down across from Mesuna, her back straight and her hands folded nervously in her lap. She kept her gaze low, too intimidated to meet Mesuna's eyes.

"You don't have to be so tense," Mesuna said, her tone reassuring. "I didn't call you here to scold you or anything like that."

Cali swallowed hard, her voice barely above a whisper. "Th-then why did you ask me to come here?"

Mesuna leaned back slightly, studying Cali with a calm but curious expression. "I wanted to talk to you about my brother."

Cali blinked, her heart skipping a beat. "Lord D-Dilhan?"

She made sure to add the "Lord" knowing he wasn't just a random person, rather a son of a powerful noble that had significant influence in their own nation, as well as in Thimoria.

"Yes," Mesuna said, her tone firm but not unkind. "I want to know what you think of him. Be honest. I don't mind you saying bad, if you think he is bad."

Cali's mind raced. She looked down, wringing her hands together as she tried to find the right words. After a long pause, she finally spoke.

"I think…" She took a deep breath. "I think he's a really hardworking person."

Mesuna's eyebrows shot up. "Hardworking? That's not something I've heard about him often. Go on."

Cali nodded, her words coming a little more easily now. "He's always trying to improve himself. I see him practicing magic until he's completely exhausted. Sometimes he uses so much mana he can barely stand. He… he doesn't show it, but he's always pushing himself."

Mesuna's expression shifted, surprise flickering across her face. She hadn't expected such a glowing description of her brother. "I didn't know that," she murmured. "What makes you think he's working so hard?"

Cali hesitated, glancing at Mesuna to gauge her reaction. When she saw no judgment, she continued. "I've taken him to the healer so many times when he faint and every single time the reason is because he is out of mana. He's always tired during class because he spends so much time trying to improve. He doesn't talk about it, but… I can tell he's determined to get better."

Mesuna leaned back in her chair, processing this new information. What could he be doing that he's keeping from everyone? she wondered. Her gaze lingered on Cali, who was sitting quietly, her hands fidgeting nervously.

Breaking the silence, Mesuna spoke again, her tone shifting to something more inquisitive. "Cali," she said, her voice steady but sharp enough to make the elf girl sit up straighter. "What kind of relationship do you have with my brother?"

Cali's face turned a deep shade of red, and she jumped slightly in her chair. "W-what?! Relationship? No, no, it's not like that! We're just… friends!"

Mesuna raised an eyebrow, her piercing gaze making Cali squirm. "Just friends?" she repeated, her tone skeptical.

"Y-yes!" Cali stammered, her voice cracking slightly. "He's my friend! That's all!"

Mesuna studied her for a moment longer before a small, knowing smile tugged at her lips. "Alright," she said, leaning forward slightly. "You don't have to admit anything if you're not ready. But for the record, even if you did have feelings for him, I wouldn't be against it."

Cali's eyes widened, and she looked up at Mesuna in shock.

"My brother," Mesuna continued, "needs someone who can support him. Someone who can help him become the best version of himself. If that someone happens to be you… well, I wouldn't be upset about it."

Cali's mouth opened as if to respond, but no words came out. She lowered her gaze, her cheeks burning.

Mesuna stood, placing a gentle hand on Cali's shoulder. "You're free to go," she said softly. "But think about what I've said."

As Cali stood and made her way to the door, Mesuna's final words stopped her in her tracks.

"What I'm really asking, Cali," Mesuna said, her voice carrying a rare hint of vulnerability, "is to help my brother. Change him for the better. Make sure he becomes the man he's meant to be."

Cali turned slightly, her eyes meeting Mesuna's for the briefest moment before she nodded and slipped out of the room.

As the door closed behind her, Cali let out a shaky breath, her thoughts a swirling mess. What have I gotten myself into? she wondered, her heart still pounding from the conversation. But a small part of her couldn't help but feel a flicker of resolve.

'If I can help him… maybe I should.'

She thought about the possibility, but then she couldn't help but question herself wondering the answer for a simple question.

"Do I really see him as a romantic partner?"