Morning light greeted Marcia's room with gentle warmth, golden rays filtering through emerald silk curtains and caressing the oak-paneled walls carved with the de Volvo family crest: a majestic star-tiger standing proud.
Marcia stirred beneath her covers, fiery red hair tousled, emerald eyes still heavy with sleep yet sparkling with her unbreakable spirit. She drew a long breath, rubbing her eyes before the grand mirror in the corner.
She rose, padded to the adjoining bath, and splashed cool water on her face to chase away the remnants of dreams.
Back in her room, she slipped into her deep-blue academy robe, brushing her hair with careful strokes before tying it into her signature high ponytail, a style that accentuated her fierce yet feminine aura.
On her bedside table sat a neat stack of her favorite novels, the newest volume of "Chronicles of Starlight" perched on top.
"Can't wait to dive into this one," she murmured to herself, fingers tracing the embossed cover with quiet affection, her expression softening for a fleeting moment.
Downstairs in the de Volvo dining hall, the long table gleamed under crisp white linen, porcelain plates edged with glowing floral motifs. Her father was absent, already departed for an early noble council, leaving Marcia with the family's trusted head maid, Madam Liora.
"Good morning, Miss Marcia," Liora greeted warmly, serving toast that wafted with the scent of mystical honey. "The driver will accompany Lord Lion until late tonight, so you'll need to walk home this afternoon."
Marcia nodded, slicing her toast with quick, decisive motions. "Understood."
Her thoughts drifted to Chester as she ate. Chester Kerl… that guy always gets under my skin. She bit into the bread, trying to dismiss the nagging curiosity about how he seemed different lately, less skipping classes, more focused, even if that infuriating cynical edge remained.
After breakfast, she boarded the family's enchanted carriage, driven by Enric.
"Have you been informed, Miss Marcia? I won't be able to fetch you this evening," Enric confirmed politely.
"Yes," she replied briskly.
The grey cobblestone streets of Razack stretched ahead, morning mage-lamps still flickering softly in the chill air. Marcia gazed out the window, hand clutching her satchel stuffed with spell texts and her precious novel. "The Royal Magical Season Event… Alise is bound to shine, but Chester? Hmph, he's just dead weight," she muttered. Yet a quiet question lingered: why had Headmaster Kerl chosen him?
At the academy, Marcia strode through the main corridor, robes billowing, red hair drawing admiring glances from passing students.
Sunlight slipped through the tall windows, glinting off pale grey stone walls etched with protective runes. Students bustled about, some whispering about the Event, others engrossed in spell tomes.
Marcia walked with Alise Antoinette Seraphim and Liane Margaux, her contrasting best friends: Alise with her graceful calm, Liane with that ever-enigmatic smile that always left Marcia faintly uneasy.
Then she spotted Chester Kerl entering, satchel over his shoulder, robes faintly rumpled.
Students' eyes stabbed at him with contempt, mockery, or curiosity. Marcia felt irritation flare. "Well, well, if it isn't Chester Kerl again," she sneered, stepping forward, hands on hips. "Out of every decent student in this academy, they pick him for the Royal Magical Season Event?" Her tsundere tone dripped dissatisfaction, yet deep down she wondered why Chester seemed… different.
Chester snorted, flashing his trademark cynical grin that only fueled her annoyance. "Who'd have thought."
He brushed past. Marcia caught the brief moment his gaze met Alise's.
Alise regarded him blankly, sapphire eyes like unruffled pools. Liane, at her side, offered a faint, secretive smile. Marcia scowled outright. "Tch, useless idiot," she muttered under her breath.
She noticed Alise and Alexandre Brookhaven chatting in the corner, Alexandre's copper hair gleaming as his hands gestured animatedly. Alise nodded, jotting notes attentively. Marcia huffed inwardly. "Alexandre always gets her attention" she told herself, pushing down a twinge of envy she refused to acknowledge.
Madam Elvira arrived, emerald robes flowing, grey hair in a neat bun. "Good morning, class!" her voice rang out. "We resume Elemental Fusion Barriers. Page 142."
Marcia opened her book, trying to focus, but her mind wandered to the Chronicles of Starlight volume. "Can't wait," she thought, face softening briefly before snapping back to stern.
The recess bell chimed softly. Marcia headed out, planning a quick trip to the reading room for her new novel.
On the way, she ran into Tina.
"Oh, Tina, mind if I use the reading room now?" Marcia asked.
"Of course, Marcia-senpai," Tina replied gently.
"Great, thanks!" Marcia smiled and hurried on, anticipation bubbling.
In the reading room, quiet shelves of spell texts and novels, sunlight filtering through large windows and stirring dust motes, she froze.
Chester Kerl sat in a chair, nose in a book.
"Ugh, you again!" she exclaimed, tsundere irritation flaring, fists clenching.
Tina entered with a stack of books. "Tina, where's the new Chronicles of Starlight? I know it arrived yesterday."
Tina frowned thoughtfully. "Third rack, top shelf—" She paused, pointing. "Wait, Chester-senpai has it!"
Marcia glared at Chester, face flushing with disgust, yet her eyes locked on the novel, fists tightening.
Chester looked up, cynical smile spreading. "Oh, you want this?" He held it aloft teasingly. "Ask nicely first, Marcia. Otherwise, no book for you."
Marcia's cheeks burned, fists clenched tighter, tsundere pride warring with desire. "Ugh, you're insufferable!" she snapped, voice pitching high but wavering. "I'd never beg someone like you!"
Tina giggled behind her hand, eyes mischievous. "Marcia-senpai, just ask. It's not hard."
Marcia shot Tina a glare, face reddening further. She drew a deep breath, swallowing pride.
"Fine," she muttered, almost whispering. "May I… borrow that novel, Chester?" The words came stiff, reluctant, yet laced with uncharacteristic softness.
Chester chuckled mockingly. "Wow, Marcia asking politely? Is the sun rising in the west today?" He handed it over, still grinning. Marcia snatched it, clutching it to her chest, face crimson with embarrassment.
"I can read it later anyway. I can buy straight from the publisher, also I've got the whole collection at home," Chester boasted casually.
Marcia listened, an odd, unnoticed reaction flickering at the thought of Chester owning so many of her favorite series.
Chester stood, nodding to Tina. "Thanks for letting me use the room, Tina." She smiled graciously. "Anytime, Chester-senpai."
Marcia glanced at him sidelong, cheeks still flushed, not pure disgust this time, but something else, a tiny hidden admiration she tried to bury.
"Don't get too friendly with someone like him," she advised Tina, tone half-warning.
Tina just smiled, leaving Marcia momentarily speechless.
"Whatever…" Marcia muttered, sinking into a chair to lose herself in the novel.
The academy's mage-bell chimed softly through the grey stone corridors, signaling the end of classes. Students poured out, deep-blue robes fluttering, some bound for the library, others for the training fields to hone their spells. Chester Kerl walked briskly toward the main gate, satchel over his shoulder, eyes alert.
His mind churned with shadows of Liane's attack the night before: iron chains, wide blade, false accusations that ended in death. This time, he was determined to protect Alise Antoinette Seraphim more carefully.
*****
As the evening descended, accompanied by the ringing of the bell that signalled the end of the school day, students rushed in droves toward the main gate, carrying a meaningful weariness.
Marcia walked alone, since Alise had an appointment with Alexandre at Café Lilith to discuss plans for the upcoming event.
"They could have just discussed it with all of us," Marcia muttered, feeling disappointed.
Not long after, her eyes caught sight of Chester's suspicious movements.
"What is he doing?" Marcia wondered. Her gaze was annoyed, yet for some reason, she felt a slight curiosity to uncover the reason behind Chester's strange behaviour.
With that, Marcia quietly followed Chester, mimicking his cautious movements.
Soon, Marcia realised the path they were taking.
"This is the way to Café Lilith," she whispered to herself.
"Is he planning to eavesdrop on Alise and Alex's conversation?" Marcia's heart questioned in confusion.
After a few minutes, they arrived in front of the café, where Chester hid himself while peering inside.
"Is he really that serious about the event? Or is he jealous?" Marcia's mind continued to puzzle over it.
They remained there for quite some time, until finally Alise and Alex emerged and parted ways.
Chester immediately followed Alise in silence.
Marcia did the same, determined to uncover Chester's motives.
Every one of Chester's movements seemed guarded, as if wary of something, leaving Marcia utterly baffled by his behaviour.
"Is he crazy?"
Moments later, the rattling sound of a chain sliced through the air, hurtling swiftly toward Chester. He managed to dodge it just in time.
Marcia peeked cautiously. Her eyes widened in shock upon seeing Liane standing there, chain in hand, ready to kill.
"I won't let you kill Alise," Chester declared, bracing himself for action.
"So you've figured out my motive, have you…" Liane's eyes sharpened with vengeance. She gripped the iron chain, its pointed end taut between both hands. "…you really are a nuisance."
"Liane wants to kill Alise," Marcia covered her mouth, unable to believe what she had just heard.
"I won't let this happen," she murmured resolutely to herself. Determination filled her eyes.
And so, the echoes of battle filled the air. Every strike, every spell, every parry was unleashed relentlessly.
Yet Chester was no match for Liane. He now lay defeated, covered in wounds, while Liane bore only a scratch on her left arm.
"This is the end for you," Liane said, thrusting her blade toward the stomach of the fallen, powerless Chester.
Chester could only grit his teeth, unable to do anything.
Clang!
Liane's knife flew from her grasp, and she was knocked backward.
"It seems I've discovered that someone intends to murder my friend," came the voice of a girl, firm yet calm. She stood tall, a copper spear readied in her right hand.
"Even if she's my closest friend, I won't forgive you!" Marcia declared, her gaze piercingly sharp.
Liane recoiled. She gritted her teeth, glaring daggers at Chester.
"If that's how it is, I'll eliminate anyone in my way," Liane snarled, swinging her chain with ferocious force.
Chester ducked; Marcia blocked with her spear.
"You want a fight?" Marcia grinned cynically.
Liane glared, unsatisfied with the reaction.
Marcia lunged at blinding speed, strikes targeting Liane's weak points, dodged, but barely. Marcia danced with her spear, assaulting relentlessly, giving Liane no opening to counter.
When Liane locked Marcia's thrust between chain links, Marcia kicked hard, hurling her backward.
Marcia pressed, leaping to continue the onslaught.
Liane rolled left, whipping her chain toward Marcia's stomach, the spearhead nearly piercing flesh.
Clashes rang out, iron on bronze sparking flames in the air.
"Wave Chain Assault!" Liane shouted, summoning small earthen waves of chained spikes.
Marcia couldn't evade fully.
"Damn!"
"Earth Rupture!" Chester slammed the ground, collapsing the soil beneath the chains and nullifying the attack on Marcia.
Marcia glanced at Chester's grin. She offered no response, eyes snapping back to the now-serious Liane.
"You really mean to kill us," Marcia said coldly.
"Only just noticing?" Liane retorted, lengthening her chain, spinning it before hurling it toward Marcia.
"Worthless traitor," Marcia spat, dodging nimbly.
Though the narrow alley limited movement, their duel was fierce and evenly matched.
"Furious Spear Barrage!" Five lightning-fast consecutive strikes overwhelmed Liane, one grazing her side and drawing blood.
Chester, slumped and powerless, watched in awe. He wanted to help but couldn't match their speed. He stayed ready for support if needed.
"What's all that noise?!" a distant shout echoed.
"Guards! Fight over here!" another voice cried.
Marcia and Liane froze.
"Where?" a gruff voice, likely a city guard, boomed.
"Tch!" Liane kicked Marcia while she was distracted and fled into the deepening shadows.
Marcia grabbed Chester and bolted.
Minutes later, far from the scene, the moon illuminated the night sky with beautiful constellations.
They walked slowly, catching breath.
"Will Liane go after Alise?" Chester asked, anxiety gripping them both.
"The guards will lock down the roads there," Marcia said, hands on hips.
"And it's already night."
"But Alise…"
"Trust me, she'll be safe."
Chester looked at Marcia with hopeful eyes.
"Ugh, don't look at me like that," she grumbled, but his gaze was earnest. He truly believed Alise would survive the night.
"I never thought you cared about Alise. I figured you were just a useless slacker," Marcia said softly, irritation softened.
"Yeah, I care about her. That's why I want her safe," Chester replied. His eyes burned with determination.
"Then believe she'll be fine," Marcia said firmly.
"You're right. I have to believe she'll be safe," Chester echoed, voice resolute yet tinged with sorrow.
They walked on together.
"…my house is this way too," Marcia muttered, tsundere tone creeping in. Chester's mouth formed a silent 'o'.
"And how did you suddenly show up back there?" Chester asked, genuinely curious.
"Ergh, that… I just happened to pass by," Marcia lied with a forced smile.
"Hmmm? Really?" Chester teased lightly.
"Urghh…" Her face flushed unnoticed.
"Hmmm, I believe you," Chester said, sensing her discomfort and letting it drop.
Five minutes later they reached the Kerl estate, Chester's home.
"Well, I'm heading in. You sure you're okay walking alone this late? You can crash here if you want, there's a guest room," Chester offered, concern genuine.
"Oh, I… can walk by myself," Marcia replied, tsundere pride flaring.
"Yeah, and that guest room has a full Chronicles of Starlight collection, including the side stories," Chester added casually. He wasn't pushing, just worried for her safety just like he worried about Alise. Frookvolt was still with his father at the academy.
Marcia froze, dilemma flashing across her face. Finally: "Fine, I'll stay tonight. Tomorrow's a holiday anyway."
Chester smiled, a warmth she couldn't quite place, making her feel strangely off-balance.
What's with him? Marcia thought, cheeks warming.
They stepped inside the Kerl manor together.