Chapter 73 – Wings (3)

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"This is amazing. I think I can see a little bit why spirit mages are treated the way they are…"

In my left hand, a water droplet. On my right, a small flame burning in the air. Each elemental spirit bounces merrily on top, as if playing on a comfortable and fluffy bed. Today was the day I was able to summon my second spirit, and now I have one water spirit and one fire spirit.

And at the same time, I finally and naturally learned how to use magic through spirits. It feels a bit late, but I guess an ability is an ability after all.

"What do you think…? Is there anything strange or unusual…?" Eugenia, watching the scene beside me, asked.

"Nothing in particular. I've been maintaining the dual attribute for a few minutes now, and I don't feel any overload or mana consumption at all. It definitely seems to be manifesting through the spirits."

"Wow… then you finally did it…! Congratulations…! That's great!"

Eugenia rejoiced at my confident words as if it were her own achievement. As I stopped the manifestation of magic and threw it towards the target point, the water and fire collided slightly off-target. With a sizzling sound, a faint smoke rose from the spot.

"Still, to precisely hit distant targets, it seems a staff might be necessary, don't you think? Is this somewhat similar to conventional magic?"

"I think so… Maybe we should practice during the break…? Carrying a staff is allowed from the second year when your major is decided…"

"Sounds like a good idea. Should we stop here for today?" 

"…Sure! Thanks for your efforts. Hehe…" In the moonlit clearing of the forest, the chirping of crickets echoes softly from all around. We each find a fallen log to sit on.

It was true that spirit magic did not consume mana and allowed simultaneous dual-elemental casting without any special costs, but that did not seem to include mental exertion. There was a hazy sensation, akin to the numbness felt after long hours of reading or studying, lingering in my mind.

However, I wondered if there were differences from person to person, because unlike me, Eugenia had no problems with that at all. She even had eight spirits under her control, four times as many as me. Maybe it's because of her extraordinary talent.

Eugenia, who was sitting a little distance away from me, started the conversation again today, "What happened to that girl…? Her name was Ellie, right…?"

"We decided to keep our distance from the academy for a while. She attracted too much attention, even more than I thought at first."

"…Is it because of what happened earlier…? I'm sorry… I tried to stop it from the side…" After hearing my answer, Eugenia's voice trailed off, looking a little downcast.

"What do you have to be sorry for? And I was originally planning to do that anyway. It just came a little earlier than expected."

"…I see… then… that…" Eugenia still seemed to have more she wanted to ask me. After a few hesitations, she took a deep breath and asked, "Um…what are you going to do about the ball, Edwin…?"

"Me? I don't think I'm going?" 

"Huh…? Uh…! Why…? Weren't you going with that girl…?"

"I asked her, but she said she had a family event that day. I don't really have anyone else to go with, so I'm just not going…"

"T-then let's go together…!"

My head naturally turned towards Eugenia at her sudden words. She was covering her mouth with both hands, as if surprised by what she just said. Even in the darkness, I could clearly see her blushing face.

"Aren't you going with that…your friend?"

"…He asked me to go with him. He said he would also introduce me to the new friends he made."

"But why?"

"…I don't know. I guess I just didn't feel like it…"

"What about other people? You seemed to be talking to a lot of students."

"…Those people aren't really…I'm not even close with them, but I feel like they only talk to me at times like this…" With a troubled expression, she slightly pursed her lips, as if pondering. "So I was wondering if I should go or not… I didn't know you didn't have anyone to go with either… S-so then… ummm…" With a face even redder than before, Eugenia lowered her head. 

I don't know why she rejected Eugene's offer unlike in the original story, but maybe it's because her personality has changed a bit. Because of her shyness, she used to seem somewhat swayed by Eugene's opinions for a while in the original work, but now she doesn't seem as affected. Seeing her timidly express her opinion like this, it's clear she's gained more confidence than before.

"W-well… maybe it's not a good idea…? Since you and Eugene aren't on good terms. If he sees you with…" As if something belatedly came to mind, Eugenia speaks cautiously with a downcast expression. "Sorry… I guess it's not a good idea… Just pretend I didn't say anything…"

"No, it's fine. I don't mind going with you."

"Uh, Huh…?" Her face became blank for a moment, as if she had heard an unbelievable joke, "Really…? But what about the problem I just mentioned…?"

"I'll take care of it. I have a way to disguise myself. But you'll have to submit the list with my name on it yourself. Can you do that?"

"Of c-course I can! That's nothing..! Wow… wahhhh…!"

Eugenia jumped up from her seat, turned around and held her face. Her emotions must have been transmitted to the spirits as well, as all eight of them dance around in the air.

I wondered if she was really that happy, but then again, Eugenia grew up in the countryside, so she must be full of romantic notions about balls.

Anyway, no one will recognize me with my glasses on, and it's better to make sure I do what I said I would do — If I was invited by both Ellie and Eugenia, I might have been in a bit of a difficult position, but fortunately, I can worry about that a little less now.

"Well, then we should prepare a bit. Do you happen to know how to dance?"

Eugenia, who was laughing to herself, suddenly wore a shocked expression. It's as if the reality of the ball, which was shimmering in her imagination, had collided with a wall. 

Twisting her hair nervously, Eugenia spoke with a tone devoid of confidence, "I… don't know at all… Should I sign up for a ballroom class…? But then what about you…?"

"It's fine, even without classes. Let's just practice together."

"Huh…? Edwin, you know how to dance well…?"

"No? I only know the basics. But that's enough." 

It was a known fact that half of the freshmen were commoners, but the academy did not require much from them, starting with the ball in the first semester during their freshman year. Even if we go to classes, they will only teach us the basics, and it's not even appropriate to wear glasses there to disguise myself.

"Let's practice together whenever we meet until the ball. To be honest, it's been a while since I danced too. I'll teach you, and it'll be a chance for me to get back into it too. Is that alright?"

"…Yeah…"

"Alright, let's do that for the dance. What about clothes?"

"Uh…well…that's…" 

Eugenia's confidence dropped even further than before. It reminded me of how she looked when I first met her. Though a riot may not break out immediately, every time Eugenia reveals such emotions, a shiver runs down my spine.

"I brought something with me… but it's a bit old… It's from a long time ago and the style is out of fashion… What should I do…? Should I splurge and get a new one…?"

"It's okay if you have one. Do you have time this weekend? I know a dress shop, so if you have time, we can go together and have it altered…!"

"Phew…weekend…ha…ha…"

While we were talking, Eugenia suddenly lowered her head. And looking at her like this, I started to remember the things Professor Claretta said in class earlier.

'If you propose a one-on-one date, it's basically the same as asking someone out…'

'Especially if you suggest doing something on the weekend, it's something you can't suggest if you don't have feelings for them…'

'Among those, having a secret meeting at midnight is something you should absolutely refrain from...'

My standards were centered solely on Ellie, and Ellie had dismissed it as the ramblings typical of an old-fashioned professor. However, if Eugenia didn't know much about that, she might have taken Professor Claretta's words at face value.

"I'm sorry. Is it because of what we heard in class earlier? I'll tell the clothing store, so you can just…"

"Huh? No…! It's okay! Let's go together…! I don't have any plans for the weekend anyway…"

Eugenia, who had been lost in her own thoughts, suddenly snaps back to reality upon hearing my words. And then she hastily accepts my invitation.

"There's no need to rush… And I just remembered, meeting like this at night might be a bit… let's consider another approach…"

"No! No. It's nothing. It's really okay…hehehe, it's okay…"

After Eugenia tried to dissuade me, there was a moment of silence before she threw a question at me, "…S-so, how about you…? Are you okay with it…?"

"To be honest, I don't really feel anything…"

"What about the girl you're hanging out with…? Ellie said the same thing..?"

"Ellie says it's because the professor is too old-fashioned… Nobody really cares about that nowadays…"

"Old-fashioned… No one cares these days…" Eugenia started to twirl around and mutter something to herself after hearing my answer. "That girl is a friend, and I'm a friend too… So what's wrong with me…? Ugh… Pull yourself together, Eugenia…"

After a long time. Eugenia finally finished her long deliberation and approached me again, "I think about it too, and the professor does seem a bit old-fashioned… In this day and age, that kind of thing is a bit outdated…"

"I see. Then let's see each other on the first day of this weekend. Okay?"

"…Yeah. Okay.."

Eugenia nodded, and the spirits around her danced happily.

If you want to read the first 25 chapters for free and read up to the final chapter for a cheap price patreon.com/Makima02