"Well, a new day, a new training exercise."

Looks like we're starting something different from last week's practice today.

I'd love to pay more attention to what the professor's saying, but reality has other plans.

I'm still pretty freaked out by everything that's been happening with the System.

First it starts glitching in the creepiest way possible, and then it gives me a freaking nightmare. I can't remember what it was about, but I sure remember how awful it made me feel.

What the heck is going on?

Even if I rack my brain searching for an answer, not a single theory comes to mind.

I mean... How the hell am I supposed to solve a problem involving something I don't even understand?

I don't know anything about the System.

The only thing I can even guess—thanks to all the novels I used to read—is that it has to be some kind of god or cosmic entity to have shoved my gorgeous butt into a visual novel.

Beyond that little theory I made up?

Nothing.

And if we're being realistic, it's not like I can just ask it about any of this. I mean, I tried asking one question that might've been related and the damn thing glitched out!

And that's what scares me.

How's it going to affect my life if the thing keeping me alive is bugging out?

Could it... accidentally erase me during one of those episodes?

Ugh... my head hurts...

I'd better get back to reality...

I don't want to screw up during class, or Carlotta's gonna drill a hole through my forehead.

"This exercise is called: Aura Shaping and Practical Sorcery Application."

Oh, right.

Now I remember.

Isac mentioned it before. He was the one who explained why we had to drag our butts through all these awful training sessions.

Even though we aren't enrolled in classes related to the Military Knights, as nobles we're still expected to be useful if the day ever comes when the kingdom needs more soldiers in a war.

That answered my question about why we had to learn all this when we aren't directly involved in battles or conflicts.

It's basically the state's way of keeping a reserve force in case things go south.

That actually makes sense.

Even if I don't like it.

C'mon, I signed up for this course so I could avoid fighting and stay away from the heroes!

As far as I understood, these classes are supposed to help nobles master their Sorceries so they can build businesses.

Y'know, live a life that lets you stay far away from conflict.

...Yep. I'm only thinking about all this so I don't have to think about the fact that I can practically feel Carlotta's knife-like stare boring into the back of my neck...

THIS IS SO SCARY!

I CAN FEEL HER BLOODLUST FROM MILES AWAY.

Meanwhile, the laid-back man I unfortunately have to call my teacher walked into the usual room, leaving me alone with the blonde blood-obsessed psycho.

"...D-Do you think we should split up—?"

"Indeed."

Carlotta cut me off with a smile that looked way too fake.

Obviously she's still mad about last time...

Although...

Shouldn't it be the other way around?

She was the one who attacked me!

If you ask me, I'M the one who should be mad at everyone!

If it isn't these crazy girls trying to hurt me, it's that damn System giving me heart attacks!

Why does it always feel like everything's against me? Like my life has turned into some terrible joke for someone else's training!

"We'll be going separately... but before that... Come here."

Carlotta's cold voice snapped me out of my furious thoughts.

"Huh?"

Without giving me any time to react, she grabbed me by the neck and tightened the ribbon around it. Though I could feel her fingers gently brush against my skin for just a second.

That tiny touch sent a shiver racing through my spine all the way to my bones.

"...Th-They... ahem... the marks are showing."

"O-Oh!"

I would've sworn I'd hidden them properly.

The knot must've loosened on the way here, leaving part of my neck exposed.

And, of course, the marks from her fangs were still there... Along with a hickey which... I'm honestly not sure how I'm supposed to feel about.

It's like she'd branded me.

And I really don't like the sound of that...

A-Actually I don't like it at all!

What am I even supposed to say if someone asks me what's up with the mark?

"Oh, it's nothing. Carlotta just bit me and gave me a hickey! No big deal."

I can already picture the chaos that'll unleash!

"...GET INSIDE ALREADY."

Out of nowhere, Carlotta shouted and smacked my butt.

Her mood swings are absolutely terrifying!

Run!

---

"Alright, let's begin the first part of today's exercise: Aura Manifestation."

Oh, so this one's split into two parts, huh?

Honestly, I thought we'd finally be learning defensive spells. Every day it feels more and more like that's what I should be prioritizing.

"Do you remember what that means?"

"It means we have to manifest our Aura around our bodies. It's the foundation of Sorcery, and it also gives us a physical enhancement, right?"

Isac nodded.

Thank goodness. I'm actually understanding what he's been teaching in class now... C'mon, brand-new intelligence I paid for, don't let me down!

Oh, actually, hold on.

Before we start, I should clear up something that's been bothering me.

"Before anything else, can I ask you something, Professor?"

"Go ahead."

"I was just wondering... why the rush? Even Carlotta's been acting like a maniac ever since this started, saying she absolutely can't fail and stuff."

"Oh, you don't know? Madame Herz has a habit of organizing a tournament every couple of years between several prestigious academies. Think of it as a strategy to maintain this academy's reputation as the finest in the Kingdom of Kaelvarion. Naturally, the great noble families also want their heirs to demonstrate exceptional talent. You know, impress other influential figures and the like."

"Oh... we're participating too?"

"That's right. Though, of course, what we do doesn't compare to the Military Knights. As you know, they're trained for direct combat. We only take this condensed course in case an emergency ever requires us to step in."

"I see. That actually makes a lot of sense."

"Now then, if there are no more questions, shall we continue? I assume you already know how to use Reinforcement?"

"Actually... nope."

"...Very well. That's fine."

The look on his face seemed to say something else...

I can imagine what it was.

He definitely thought I was a disappointment.

After all, Kathryn was supposed to be some kind of genius.

Me, on the other hand...

...not so much.

B-But I'll do my best.

Just like my mom always says, trying and failing is better than never trying at all!

"The first step to using Reinforcement is understanding what it actually is." Isac sat down on one of the chairs inside the enormous training area. "Tell me, what comes to mind when you hear the term?"

"It sounds like a spell."

"No. It isn't. Reinforcement is simply a way of applying one of Aura's properties to the body. Aura is a rare particle that exists within every one of us. The easiest way to think of it is as though it were blood."

Inside us, huh?

Yeah...

I can picture that pretty easily.

It's basically like the energy in every anime ever.

So thanks to that, imagining it isn't too hard.

"So... I just have to feel it inside me, right?"

"That's the first step, at least. Once you can sense the Aura inside you, you'll need to draw it outward until it surrounds your body, almost as though you were putting on clothing. While you're doing that, imagine the Aura becoming solid around you."

Isac shrugged and mimed putting on a set of clothes.

"Alright... here goes... breathe..."

This feels weird.

Maybe it's because I'm not originally from this world, but everything feels... numb.

No.

A better comparison would be that tingling sensation when you fall asleep on your arm and cut off the circulation.

Except it isn't in my veins or muscles.

It's...

Somewhere else.

It's hard to describe.

Still, I'm guessing this isn't the right feeling.

"Hmm..."

I tried to make myself feel something different...

But...

Nope.

Still nothing.

Maybe I'm missing a step.

"Professor, I don't think I really understand what I'm supposed to do."

My voice came out more fragile than I'd wanted.

It was embarrassing to admit it, but I couldn't afford to pretend.

If I failed now...

If I didn't learn how to defend myself...

I'd end up becoming easy prey for whichever villainess decided to attack me next.

Isac sighed.

It wasn't an impatient sigh.

It was the sigh of someone who had seen this exact situation countless times before.

"Hmm... perhaps trying to reinforce your entire body is a bit too ambitious for now," he said, rubbing his chin. "Try focusing only on your fingers. Watch."

He rose smoothly from his chair and stepped beside me.

His presence felt warm, and the scent of ink and old paper surrounding him was oddly comforting.

It reminded me a little of my dad.

Meanwhile, I felt like my whole body was nothing but nerves and tension.

Isac pulled one hand from the pocket of his robe.

At first, nothing happened.

Then...

A kind of white mist began flowing from his skin.

It wasn't smoke like a campfire's.

It was something more ethereal.

More alive.

The mist danced around him like a serpent of light, weaving between his fingers in graceful spirals before gathering at their tips.

"I want you to imagine there's a pool inside you," he said, his voice becoming softer and slower. He flexed and stretched his fingers rapidly, as though playing an invisible instrument. "Only dip your fingers into it. Feel coldness. Feel solidity."

Focus, Julia.

Whether you can defend yourself if one of those lunatics attacks depends on this!

I imagined the pool.

Its perfectly still surface.

Water so clear I could see the bottom.

Blue tiles.

The reflection of the light.

The faint smell of chlorine.

Then...

My fingers.

My fingers stretching toward the water, brushing against its surface before slipping beneath it.

"Come on," Isac whispered beside me. "Don't think about the water."

"Feel it."

Feel it.

I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter.

Come on.

I know I can do this.

I have to.

Although...

Hmm...

Wouldn't it work better if I imagined the pool directly inside my hand?

As I focused on the center of my palm, I felt a tingling sensation.

Different from before.

Warmth slowly spread through me.

At first it moved like a single drop of ink falling into a glass of water.

Then it accelerated.

I felt a kind of golden liquid flowing through my arm, filling every vein, every muscle, until it finally reached my fingertips.

"I can feel it," I said, my voice sounding strange.

"Don't let go," Isac replied. "Now concentrate it."

The golden liquid reached my fingers.

For a brief moment, they felt like solid lead.

So heavy I could barely move them.

Then...

As though someone had flipped a switch...

The feeling changed.

My fingers became hard.

Cold.

As though they had been encased in a layer of ice that didn't burn.

It was strange.

Even uncomfortable.

"Open your eyes," Isac said.

I looked down at my fingers.

A white glow edged with gold surrounded them, pulsing with a rhythm that wasn't my heartbeat.

They looked different.

They felt different.

Like they weren't mine anymore...

Yet somehow more mine than ever.

"W-Woah..."

A smile spread across my face before I could stop it.

Isac smiled back.

"Not bad for a first attempt."

"I-I did it?"

"Congratulations. Now you just have to accomplish the same thing with the rest of your body."

"Totally! Easy peasy!"

The confidence boost I got from successfully reinforcing my fingers made me feel like I could conquer this entire game.

Bring on the villainesses!

HAHAHA!

---

"...Should I ask what happened to you?"

"I got way too excited. Flew too close to the sun and got burned."

"In plain English?"

"I thought that since reinforcing my fingers worked, doing my whole body would be easy. Guess what happened."

"You suck."

"Ouch... but... yeah."

At least Carlotta doesn't look like she wants to stab me through the eyes anymore...

Well...

Not as much.

"I don't get it. Look." I activated my Aura to show her the problem. "I can reinforce my fingers, but not the rest of my body."

"Hmm... want some help?"

"Huh? Well... if you want to."

Can I take this as a sign that we're actually getting closer?

"What do you think about when you try to reinforce your body?"

"I just... try to make it harder."

"Wrong. Reinforcement isn't about 'making yourself hard.' That's only one of its effects. The proper way to think about it is..."

"...letting your Aura solidify."

"Hmm... I see. So it'd be like pouring water out of a bottle and having it instantly freeze, right?"

"Impressive. Your brain finally works. Yes, it's something like that. Focus on that image."

"Alright... here goes."

Julia...

Just focus.

Feel that liquid inside your body again.

I know I can do this.

Come on...

Little by little, I could feel tiny particles beginning to float outside my body. This time, I concentrated on keeping them from scattering everywhere. Instead, I tried to make them hover around me, but something was wrong I could tell they weren't connected.

There were too many gaps surrounding me.

If I compare it to the swimming pool, It'd be like trying to stand on the surface of the water.

I'd sink.

So...

I failed again.

Damn it.

What am I missing?

Maybe it's because I'm not really Kathryn...

Maybe that's why I can only do it with my fingers.

"Good... keep going... very good..."

Huh?

Well, even if Carlotta isn't my favorite person in the world and I'm definitely not hers... It still feels nice having someone encourage you like this.

Okay. Just for her, I'll try a little harder!

"THINK FAST! Valak!"

Huh?!

She suddenly shouted!

The moment I opened my eyes, a red blur was flying straight toward my face.

Instinctively, I tensed every muscle in my body to brace for the impact.

It hit me square in the forehead, knocking my head aside and sending me crashing to the ground.

"Y-YOU JUST SHOT ME WITHOUT WARNING!"

"But it worked."

"Huh?"

"I realized from the way you talked about Reinforcement that you think of it purely as a defensive technique. So I figured a strong sense of danger might be the missing piece you needed to reinforce your body."

"B-BUT DID YOU REALLY HAVE TO SHOOT BLOOD AT ME!?"

"Are you hurt?"

"...Well... now that you mention it."

I touched my forehead.

Somehow...

There wasn't a hole in it.

No blood, either.

Actually...

It didn't even hurt that much.

"No."

"See? Stop being such a crybaby."

"Carlotta... could this possibly be your way of getting revenge for what happened last tim-"

"Is there a problem, my dear friend?"

Her smile is absolutely terrifying!

"N-Not at all!"

---