Cyril sat in the Spell Making classroom, spending the time before the bell rang talking with Rhamn.
"I just thought up another use of illusion magic." She smugly nodded up and down.
And what is it?
"Among many other things, you can finally show everyone what true divine beauty looks like!"
She pointed to her face and formed a solemn expression, posing.
"..."
Shameless...
You mean you want to have a body of sorts in the real world?
"I wouldn't say I want it. I'm perfectly satisfied as we are now. It just could be fun."
I see.
As he was absorbed in talking with the voice in his head, another student walked through the auditorium doors.
Myra's face was a manifestation of exhaustion.
She had circles under her eyes, her hair was somehow even messier than usual, and there was no strength in her walk.
On the way she nodded to Cyril in greeting, flashing a somewhat embarrassed smile, and sat down in her place.
"Sorry for yesterday. I wasn't myself..."
He nodded, completely unconcerned.
"What happened yesterday? And why do you look... like this?" Rose cut in with curiosity.
Cyril calmly glanced at her and replied with complete honesty.
"It's my fault. I didn't let her have any sleep."
"...Oh."
Rose blankly stared at the two of them, her mouth slightly opened in shock.
"No, I agreed with the training myself. I was probably going to spend the night sleepless anyways."
Myra muttered while lying on the desk.
Rose recovered and gave a sigh of relief for some reason.
Cyril looked away from them, glancing at the rest of the auditorium.
Today the bored students whispered in a slightly different manner.
The majority talked about yesterday, discussing a certain student's exploits while sending him sneaky glances.
"I knew it was a bad idea to go after him."
"It's all that Albert. It's his fault."
"That's what we got for listening to a commoner."
Surprisingly, Cyril's name was whispered less than usual. Most spent their energy gossiping about Albert.
Huh.
"How vile humans are. They follow after someone just so they can shift their mistakes onto another."
Rhamn slowly shook her head, her face showing genuine disappointment.
Cyril could only send her a blank stare.
You were the one-
...No, we were the ones who caused this.
"And it was fun."
Soon a bell sounded, and Richard put down the book he was reading on the table.
"Alright. Let's return to Maze's pattern today-"
Without mentioning the special lesson, he simply continued the lecture as normal.
Cyril calmly listened alongside Rhamn, who swayed her legs while sitting on the table.
...
The following lesson was demonology.
The students finally took their minds off yesterday, occupied by something else.
They winced as they looked at the whiteboard.
Projected on it was a giant, bloody-red bulb that grew somewhere in the forest.
The comparatively beautiful professor pointed at the unsettling plant-like thing, her face professionally cold.
"Be ever vigilant. If you hear a report of a flesh trap being in the area, stop and carefully walk back on the path you came from."
"Their red bulbs are conspicuous once you see them and are generally easy enough to burn down. However, if you can see one, that means you are within the zone of their vines. Death comes in minutes if they touch your bare skin."
Some students listened with pale faces, some with morbid curiosity, and some didn't pay attention at all.
"My goodness, that's what's outside the city?"
"Only where the demons are, but still..."
"I would rather stay in our great Empire..."
Cyril's blue eyes calmly observed the projection, his thoughts somewhat different.
"Do we really need these lessons? To find out about demons, we only need to ask Cosmas or Ophelia. They will tell us much more than some professor."
So what? We are still students.
"…Think about it. We could get the 'biological blueprints of demons' from them, and I could use them. Don't you want some poisonous tendrils?"
What? No.
"I think it would've been neat."
Cyril fought the urge to sigh and gave her a brief, tired glance.
If you are so eager to use your abilities, wait until the zoo. If my body were to change in some ways, I would rather that change not come from demons… again.
"So you are not against the idea. Got it."
Cyril sighed and refocused on the lesson, ignoring Rhamn's mischievous smile.
...
After the end of the lesson, most people went to have lunch, though some were less eager than most, the images from the Demonology class still fresh in their minds.
The cafeteria was full of noise. The weekend was around the corner, and everyone was discussing their plans with each other.
Particularly the opening of the new zoo was a topic some occasionally brought up.
Cyril and Rose ate by the same table, unhurriedly and without worry. Edmund had more lessons at this time and couldn't be present.
Myra dragged her face with her hands, listening to the chatter of the cafeteria.
She stared into the distance with confusion before a frown slowly settled on her face.
"Rose, what is the name of that zoo?"
"It's Magic Life Research Society's First District Zoo, or Magic Life Zoo, if that's how you prefer it."
Rose nonchalantly replied without any need for contemplation.
Cyril looked at Myra, cautious.
"Is there something wrong with it?"
Did she see a vision about it?
Myra frowned, still dragging her face for a few seconds.
"I don't think so...? I feel like I've heard of it, but maybe it was just a popular zoo..."
"'It was just a popular zoo'? It's not even open yet."
"Aah! I am too sleepy."
Myra dropped her head on the table, and a dull bang rang out, momentarily attracting some attention.
"...Ease up a bit on the training. You are already ahead of everyone else. No harm in a little rest."
"Uh huh." Myra simply hummed in response to Rose, her face hidden from view.
Cyril looked at her auburn hair for a moment and stood up.
He walked to her side and pulled something out of his pocket.
Myra tilted her head that still hugged the table, glancing at him in confusion.
Soon in front of her eyes landed a dry, preserved herb.
"This is a mageroyal. It could be used as a material for the potion that slightly expands your mana channels."
Cyril explained, having visited the library before lessons.
"…Okay. That's impressive, I guess." Myra blankly observed the herb, her black eyes calm.
"Take it. Use it however you wish. If you can't find someone to make the potion, tell me. I'll handle that." Cyril said, bringing the herb closer to her face.
Then, he turned around and walked away before Myra had the time to process it.
"I have some business to take care of. I'll go first."
"See you."
Myra jolted awake, waving at his departing back.
"...Thank you!"
"Did he leave because he was embarrassed about the gift?" Rose muttered in suspicion.
She then looked at the herb near Myra in excitement.
"That's a very rare herb! I've read about it."
"Really? I-"
Their conversation was left in the cafeteria as Cyril left completely.
...I'm just busy. Why should I be embarrassed about a gift?
"That's right! Her imagination is too vile!"
...
He walked down the corridor, attempting to leave the castle.
"Tigris is complaining we eat without him."
Maybe I should ask Margaret to give me special permission...
Cyril found the inability to bring the butterfly and the cat with him to be more and more frustrating.
"Great idea! Also ask for bigger accommodations!"
Bigger accommodations?
He sent her a suspicious look as he walked.
Rhamn only replied with an innocent smile.
…We'll see what happens next time I see her. Right now we have other plans.
At this moment he reached the doors leading out of the castle and opened them.
As he walked outside, a red blur soon flew into his chest and quickly climbed on his shoulder.
Morpho twitched her antennae with determination, her passion burning brightly.
"As soon as we pick up Tigris, we are going to find Selene, don't worry."
Cyril nodded to her with a subtle smile.
As they neared the dormitory, a stoic woman in a maid uniform appeared in their view, sweeping the floor with a solemn face.
In the distance a few students observed her with interest, whispering among themselves.
At first Ignoring them, Cyril walked up to the maid.
"Master." Ophelia stopped her sweeping and bowed.
The students in the distance whispered a little harder.
Cyril sent them a glare, to which the students scoffed at him and scattered.
I feel this will spread as rumors…
He sighed internally and turned back towards Ophelia.
She stood with her back straight, her face expressionless.
He stared at her, who stood like a soldier awaiting orders, and Myra's words about the zoo flashed in his mind.
…Rhamn, you were right.
"Naturally. About what?"
"Oh..."
To find out about demons, we only need to ask…
"Ophelia…" His voice turned into a whisper as he subtly looked around.
Seeing his actions, the maid quickly cast a spell, and an invisible dome covered their figures.
"…Do demons have any plans regarding the new zoo in the city center? The Magic Life Zoo."
The maid tilted her head, her black eyes showing something resembling confusion.
"No? Why should we? It's just a zoo."
Is that so?
He nodded in contemplation.
…Guess I got the wrong impression.
"See you later."
He said his goodbye to Ophelia, who replied with a bow, and walked past her, entering his dorm.
Let's hurry to the Acacia park already.
The butterfly tapped his shoulder, hurrying him on.
"No waiting any more, sorry."
...
"Meow."
The white tiger flicked his tail with complaint, sitting on Cyril's knees.
He was currently in a manarail, dressed in his training uniform.
"I did leave you something to eat."
Cyril calmly pet the soft white fur with black stripes, his gaze calm.
"It's about our company, not food."
Cyril sighed and looked outside, at the grey buildings that turned somewhat more dilapidated as they moved.
We are close to the slums...
"Great place she picked." Rhamn winced at the state of the district.
As they exited at the correct station, Cyril walked a few streets and was immediately greeted by old, rusty gates leading into an overgrown park.
Among the dilapidated urban hellscape, this place stuck out brilliantly. A patch of green among the sea of grey.
The sun was still high in the sky, but despite that, the park was nearly empty. The few people there kept to themselves and only warily glared at him standing near the entrance.
Not the most pleasant place...
Cyril calmly walked inside, stepping on the overgrown stone path.
Ignoring the few other people here, he walked deeper, trying to find the statue Selene told him about.