Extra in a Romance Fantasy

105 – The Women of the Academy (3)

“Ah… you are….”

The Meyer family was a notable lineage in its own right.

Typically, a scion of such a family would receive respect wherever they went, but in fact, in an academy overflowing with distinguished families, they could be considered rather unremarkable.

Nevertheless, Mary remembered his name.

After all, that is how nobles should be.

As long as the other party is a noble, and has a background worth noting, one should at least remember their name, face, and a bit of background.

For if an opportunity to converse with the other party arises and one does not know them, it could lead to quite an awkward situation.

—

Of course, those with a background that allows them to disregard such things do not engage in such behavior, but in the case of the Blunoir family, they are an unremarkable noble house.

Mary, as the young lady of the Blunoir barony, was somewhat attentive to such matters.

However, the reason Mary remembered the name Allen Meyer was not solely due to that.

If it were just that, it would have taken her a little longer to recall his name.

The reason Mary could recognize Allen immediately was that his name had recently been quite frequently mentioned in her ears.

Allen Meyer was originally a quiet person.

And he was not very active.

Despite being a somewhat well-known noble, he hardly participated in the social gatherings that nobles typically attended.

This was certainly a rare behavior for a noble, but it was not problematic, so the nobles at the academy thought of him as a bit peculiar, yet they did not show any special reactions beyond that.

However, he had recently begun to show a rather different side.

He started attending social gatherings and began to build relationships with various individuals.

Moreover, his personality had changed.

From quiet and calm, he had become bright and sociable.

It was a transformation that seemed almost like he had become a different person.

Because of this change, Allen Meyer had become somewhat of a topic among the nobles within the academy.

Of course, it was still at a trivial level.

The name Meyer was not heavy enough for such news to become a major sensation.

That was also why Mary could remember his name and recall it as soon as she heard it.

She had heard the small rumors circulating about him.

She never expected that the person himself would approach her like this.

“What brings you here…?”

“Oh, I’m also from the same department as you, Mary. I heard your grades have been noticeably improving lately, so I came to ask if you have any tips.”

“Ah…”

Mary nodded.

Recently, there had been a few people who asked her questions like this.

Among them were those who were genuinely curious, as well as those who sought to build a rapport under the pretext of curiosity.

In either case, Mary did not pay much attention.

“There’s no special secret. I think I’ve just been working a bit harder.”

“Ah, so the secret is effort, then.”

With that, the two began to converse.

—

Primarily centered around the topic of magic, longer than expected.

Mary hadn’t intended to engage in such a lengthy conversation, but Alan’s eloquence was surprisingly impressive, naturally leading to that flow.

It was during this moment.

“Oh, by the way.”

Alan changed the subject as if he had just remembered something.

“I heard you have a talent for spatial magic. Did you always have that talent?”

“Oh, no. I originally had no talent for spatial magic. It’s only recently that I developed an aptitude for it.”

As she said, Mary had indeed lacked talent in spatial magic from the start.

Yet one day, out of the blue, she suddenly acquired that talent.

Truly, it was abrupt.

Even Mary herself couldn’t even guess what the cause was.

Mary shared with Alan the story related to it.

Upon hearing that, Alan looked thoughtful and asked her,

“Have you already mastered spatial magic?”

“Yes. Just recently.”

“I see… If it’s not too much trouble, could I see your magic?”

To be asked to show her magic.

It was a request that could be somewhat sudden.

Or perhaps it could come off as rude.

However, Mary gladly accepted the request.

Though it was sudden, it was not something she couldn’t accommodate.

Suuu—

Mary’s magical energy stirred.

And a distortion began to form at her fingertips.

It wasn’t large, but it was undoubtedly a distortion.

Not merely a visual distortion, but a distortion of space itself.

“It’s still at a shy level.”

Having successfully cast the spell, Mary said this with a faint smile.

Yet contrary to her words, it couldn’t truly be called a shy level.

Of course, from a phenomenological perspective, it was a minimal change.

—

However, if it were to unfold in the hands of someone who has barely learned the magic of the spatial series, the story would be different.

The magic that deals with time and space is at a level where one cannot even learn it without the necessary aptitude, and even if one possesses that aptitude, the difficulty of mastering it is beyond imagination.

For this reason, those who have mastered spatial magic typically remain at a basic level even after several years.

Yet Mary was already manipulating spatial magic to the extent of inducing direct changes in space, despite having only recently learned it.

This was something that would leave those knowledgeable about magic not just wide-eyed, but utterly astonished.

It was no wonder that the professors were surprised and that rumors spread throughout the academy.

However, for Mary herself, such reactions were not entirely welcome.

Their praise did not resonate deeply within her heart, and she was not the type to welcome excessive attention in the first place.

Above all, Mary truly believed that her magic was of a trivial level.

Not out of humility.

But Alan seemed to think otherwise.

With his eyes wide open to an almost impossible degree, Alan stared blankly at the distortion that emerged from the tips of Mary’s fingers.

As if he were someone who had just received a tremendous shock.

“Um…?”

As the silence stretched on with no words or actions, Mary had no choice but to call out to Alan.

“…Oh, ah… I’m sorry. I just lost my train of thought. It’s my first time seeing spatial magic.”

Only then did Alan seem to regain his senses, offering an awkward smile as he spoke.

“I saw it well. It was truly a wonderful experience.”

Eventually, Alan bowed and turned to leave.

“I’ll see you again next time.”

With a bright smile, Alan departed.

And Mary quietly watched him go.

Thinking that he was a rather peculiar person.

*

In one of the academy’s dormitories.

After finishing his day’s work, Alan Meyer opened the door and stepped into his room.

As it was a dormitory typically used by nobles, it was quite spacious and costly.

It felt almost too large for a single occupant.

With a languid gesture, Alan entered the room and immediately sat down in a chair by the window.

He then loosened his tie and gazed quietly out the window.

And.

“What’s the situation?”

He suddenly spat out the words.

It was clear that there was no one in the space except for him.

Yet, Alan posed the question as if someone were standing right in front of him.

If anyone were to witness this, they would surely question his mental state.

“There hasn’t been any significant change.”

Surprisingly, a response came back.

No one was in the room except for Alan, that much was certain.

Even now, as the answer echoed, there was still no sign of anyone else but Alan.

However, the voice continued to speak.

“The psychological battle between Estelle von Reinberg and Kairn la Elbrent continues without major changes. It seems that the surroundings are being minimally affected, but there are no noteworthy movements as of yet.”

“Is there any change in either country?”

Alan asked, still gazing out the window.

“No. Not yet. But I believe it’s only a matter of time.”

“I see.”

Alan nodded lightly.

“Keep a close watch on the situation. And if you see an opportunity, stoke the flames. Of course, without getting caught.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Alan issued his orders, and the mysterious voice acknowledged them.

“What about ‘that side’?”

“It’s progressing without any issues. The rumors have successfully spread across the continent, and those who have heard them are flocking there.”

“That’s good to hear.”

And for a while, other conversations passed between the two.

As time flowed, the dialogue finally ceased, and silence enveloped them.

How long had it been in that state?

“…You seem to be in a good mood.”

The mysterious voice remarked.

Given the circumstances, the target of that voice was clear.

“Hmm?”

Alan showed a puzzled reaction.

“Does it look that way?”

“…Yes.”

In response to Alan’s question, the mysterious voice cautiously agreed.

The voice was exceedingly polite, but anyone with a keen eye could sense that this politeness and decorum did not stem solely from loyalty and respect.

Fear.

The foundation of that voice was fear.

The mysterious voice was afraid of Alan.

Thus, there was a slight tremor in the answering voice.

As if worried that the question might offend Alan’s mood.

Yet, despite that, it could not help but ask.

For the sight of Alan now was vastly different from his usual self.

Alan rarely smiles, except when wearing a mask.

However, the current Alan had a smile plastered across his face.

It was a sight never seen before, and the mysterious voice could not help but be concerned.

That smile, that rare expression, could go in any direction.

“Hmmm… If it appears that way, then perhaps it is.”

Fortunately, Alan answered readily.

The mysterious voice let out a sigh of relief inwardly.

“It’s nothing much. Just that something good happened.”

“Something good… you say?”

“Yes. Something good.”

As if recalling that good thing, a deeper smile spread across Alan’s face.

“I discovered a possibility. A possibility that isn’t very likely to bloom into a flower. But…”

He murmured on.

“Perhaps, it might lead us to paradise.”

He smiled, thinking of a woman’s face.

Brightly, like a child who has found a treasure.