Saria arrived safely at the Royal Academy without any issues on the way there. Her golden eyes sparkled with excitement as her surroundings were brand new, full of unknown sights and smells.
Although she already participated in the tour around the Academy, she was using the last day before the official beginning of the school year to walk around, only her and Spite.
An ephemeral beauty going around with a four-feet-tall toy sheep tagging along was getting a huge amount of attention, yet Saria wasn't approached even once.
There have been people pumping themselves up to go and try, but there was always someone nearby who would enlighten them about the girl's identity.
Well… there was an exception…
"E-excuse me, Young Lady!"
"...?"
It was already late evening, and Saria and Spite were on their way to the cafeteria, passing through the main courtyard, when someone called out, getting the girl's attention.
That person was a second-year student… A handsome blond-haired boy with a strangely feminine smell mixed with the scent of magic.
"I'm sorry for bothering you. My name is Justin. I called out to you because I've heard that there have been many reports about bandit activities to the North of the Royal Academy. Have you encountered any trouble of that sort on your way here?"
The stranger without a surname asked a rather strange question… were the people of the South, the moniker by which the Vallhall family referred to every noble family whose lands were not directly on the border with the abandoned Far North, bothered by rumors like that?
"There was no trouble whatsoever."
Saria answered with a dismissive shrug.
"Even if there was, it's nothing that couldn't be solved with a bit of tough love."
She added, raising her hand and conjuring a snowball without chanting the incantation.
"!"
The boy's reaction to her spell was a curious one. At first, his eyes widened, and his face turned pale. He even took a step back, but almost immediately, he furrowed his brows and leaned forward, staring at the snowball as if there was something amiss about it.
*plop*
Saria smirked, tossing the snowball over her shoulder and allowing it to splat on the pavement, leaving a tiny patch of snow.
"If that's it, then have a nice day, mister Justin."
"W-wait…!"
She then shrugged her shoulders and waved the spell-free hand, but she didn't even manage to turn around when Justin called out to her with urgency.
"...? What do you want me to help you with now, Mister…?"
Saria tilted her head with only a slightly upset but very confused expression and asked.
"I… I know that this is sudden, but… could… Could you cast that spell against me?"
"...pardon…?"
The boy fidgeted and finally managed to ask, causing the girl to ask dumbfoundedly, blinking repeatedly.
"I-I'm not challenging you for a duel or anything, Young Lady! Not at all! It's just… I… I have been practicing defending against ice spells, but nothing can compare to actual spells of the Essence of Winter…!"
Justin flinched and turned red before hurriedly explaining himself, all apologetic.
Although certainly odd… it was something that Saria could accept.
"I see. You saw the real deal and couldn't help but want to experience the difference first-hand, hmmm? Sure. Prepare yourself."
The girl nodded with a cheeky smile, her ego positively tickled, and commanded while taking a stance.
"Thank you!"
The boy called out vigorously, all excited, and took out a previously concealed wooden sword.
"...!"
As Justin prepared himself and his weapon became enveloped with a particular energy, Saria's golden eyes widened as she recognized it as a swordsmanship magic system that most of her family, including her, used.
Until now, she kept hearing how the members of her family complained that Southerners rarely put effort into learning swordsmanship, using all of their time to develop their so-called standard magic, so this was quite the shock. Especially since Justin's mastery appeared to be roughly the same as hers.
And Saira was supposed to be a flawless genius with no equal in her age group.
"Ohoho~! It looks like I will have to put in some effort!"
"Please do, Young Lady!"
Saria ended up laughing pompously and grinned as she declared, reaching out her hand while Justin responded with a confident nod.
"Snow…"
"...snowball."
Saria opened her mouth, using a chant to give her opponent ample time to react, but then someone else chanted over her…