“See you later, then.”
“Uh-huh! I’ll send a carriage for you when the date is set, so just come in that.”
“Yes. We will definitely meet again. I’ll be waiting.”
With a bag full of luggage in hand, I said my farewell to Anne and Selian who came to see me off. Even though we would see each other again within a month, Selian acted as if it would be the last time, behaving in a way that was almost burdensome.
I extended my hand to Anne and Selian for a handshake. Since we already shared stories all throughout yesterday, there was no need for long goodbyes. It was just like we’d see each other tomorrow—an ordinary parting would suffice. After all, a month is quite a short time depending on how you look at it.
Anne tightly grabbed my extended hand with her small fingers, revealing her character even in a handshake. We firmly clasped hands and shook them lightly a few times. After the third shake, Anne seemed satisfied, letting go of my hand with a bright smile.
Next was Selian. Selian, still reluctant to part, didn’t extend her hand right away. She probably realized that once we shook hands, the goodbye would feel real. Though we were merely acquaintances at the start of the semester, we had grown quite close by the end. I reached out and gently took her hesitant hand in both of mine. As we shook, Selian slowly let go, seemingly reluctant to part.
“Well, I’ll be on my way.”
“Anne, Selian. See you when school resumes. Take care of yourselves.”
Yuli, who had already said goodbye earlier, got into the carriage again after exchanging one last greeting. I followed suit, carrying my bag and entering the carriage.
As the carriage started, I saw Anne waving her hands enthusiastically out the window, and Selian, with a modest demeanor, lifting only one hand to see us off.
*
“Still, for a carriage, this isn’t as bumpy as I’d thought it might be.”
“This may look ordinary, but it’s been treated with various kinds of magic. From spells that reduce the carriage’s motion, to soundproofing, temperature control, and even a simple barrier magic—it’s protected from the elements. The upkeep can be costly, but the convenience makes it a favorite among the nobility.”
So would the carriage Anne and Selian were sending be something like this? All I’ve ridden before were simple wagons for transporting crops in the village. Even the transport carriages moving between towns weren’t nearly as smooth. The carriage also had a magical light fixed on the ceiling that illuminated the interior, removing the need to light candles unnecessarily. It gave me a better sense of the noble background Yuli came from. I briefly considered asking about the carriage price but decided against it, fearing the astronomical number would only shock me unnecessarily.
“Do you want anything to drink?”
Although awkward, I quietly inspected the carriage’s interior until Yuli lifted a teapot, offering me tea. Considering the stability of this carriage, I thought even washing my face with tea might be possible here.
“Or how about some cold drinks?”
Yuli opened a small fridge tucked in a corner and pulled out a juice. Honestly, I started to think this carriage might be better than our dormitory.
I accepted the juice instead of tea to quench my thirst and finally stopped peeking around.
“Most likely, we will arrive by this evening.”
Fortunately, the distance between Yuli’s estate and the Academy wasn’t too far. Well-tended roads, combined with magically assisted horses and carriage, meant we could reach our destination in just a few hours.
As I understood, there were students who had to endure travel for several days. The thought of riding an unenchanted carriage like Yuli’s for so long was downright horrifying. On the contrary, it might be better for students coming from different kingdoms, as they usually have access to teleportation magic circles specifically built for intercontinental travel. Though the clearance process is complex, it was preferable to spending days on a bumpy road.
Otherwise, some might end up spending their entire vacation just traveling. At that point, it might be better to spend the holidays locked inside the dormitory.
The carriage arrived at the estate and carefully made its way to the front of the mansion. As soon as we pulled up, several house servants seemed to have already been alerted to our arrival and were waiting outside.
“Leave the luggage to us.”
As I was about to get out of the carriage with my bag following Yuli, a nearby butler addressed me. Given that they didn’t seem like they’d snoop into my bag, I handed it over without hesitation.
“Well, thanks.”
“It is our job, you need not mention it.”
The butler bowed slightly and accepted my bag with a hint of humility. Since this was their duty, there wasn’t much I could do. We’d be here for only a short while anyway, and this level of distance seemed more than sufficient.
“Miss, the head of the house is waiting. Are you ready to go up now?”
“Yes. I’ll just change first, and then I’ll head there. Please assign the best room to El.”
“Of course, Miss.”
Having received instructions, the senior butler began giving orders to the younger servants.
“Well then, El, I’ll come to your room after a while. Let’s meet my father together.”
“Sure. See you later.”
After parting from Yuli, I followed a maid to my assigned room. The mansion’s interior was vast, easily causing disorientation for a first-timer.
“This will be your room.”
As I entered the room guided by the maid, a spacious and impressive room greeted me. In truth, it wasn’t just a “room”—it was practically a house in itself. Walking in, you found yourself not in a bedroom but a small living room, with several other doors leading to different areas.
“What would you like us to do with your luggage? Should we unpack it for you?”
“No, just leave it here in front.”
“Yes, ma’am. If you need anything, simply ring the bell placed here. It’s connected by magic, so we’ll receive your call instantly. Don’t hesitate to call us at any time, even at night and for minor requests.”
The maid bowed and exited the room, leaving me to myself. Before unpacking, I confirmed the maid had left, and then quickly opened one of the doors leading off the living area.
The truth was, I urgently needed a bathroom. The juice in the carriage had made my bladder full, and by the time we arrived at the mansion, I was on the verge of bursting. It had been easier to hold it in when I was male, but since becoming female, I realized it was much harder to suppress such urges.
At any rate, after taking care of business, I walked back out from the bathroom into the spacious room that had been assigned to me. Opening one of the doors, I found a bedroom, with a bed far too large for just one person. Another door led to a dressing room, so expansive that it overshadowed the few outfits I brought. The room was indeed generously provided. There was also a room suitable as a study and another as a reception hall, raising doubt whether a guest room should have such amenities.
Each window was well-placed to allow plenty of sunlight in, confirming this was, indeed, the “best” room Yuli had mentioned.
After finishing my inspection and unpacking my minimal belongings, Yuli found me.
“How is the room? Do you like it?”
“It’s more than I could ever wish for—it’s too much, honestly.”
“You used to visit this room often when you were younger, so don’t feel too pressured. Besides, I heard there’s no other schedule for guests this vacation.”
As I looked around the room again, Yuli spoke to me.
“Anyway, I’m heading to see Father now. Would you like to come along?”
“Of course I will.”
It’s only proper, as the guest, to pay respects to the host. To shirk it out of uneasiness would be a lack of manners and trouble for Yuli, who kindly invited me.
“By the way, is it okay to go dressed in my school uniform?”
“Our father doesn’t care too much about that. The uniform will be fine.”
I had considered changing into the outfit I bought when shopping with Selian if it wasn’t appropriate, but it was fortunate that it wasn’t necessary.
We walked for some time with a butler guiding us until we stopped in front of a door that obviously belonged to someone of importance. The butler knocked lightly, and a response came from inside.
“Come in.”
Instead of entering himself, the butler held the door wide for us and stood respectfully just outside.
Following Yuli into the room, it appeared to be a study used for handling business. Bookshelves lined the walls with volumes neatly stacked, and at the center stood an exquisite desk. There, a man was seated.
“Yuli.”
The seated man arose upon calling Yuli’s name. This was Craig Atillea, the lord of the house. One of the eight Sword Masters existing in the continent—despite only standing there, his presence was overwhelmingly massive.
