Chapter 64
She was a girl with brown eyes and black hair, with a fresh and lively impression like a kitten not yet fully grown.
The problem was that though she seemed familiar, I couldn't quite remember where from.
How did she know my nickname, Candy?
"Why are you so stiff? We've met before, during the entrance exam."
Entrance exam?
"Remember when you took Sis to the checkpoint?"
When I nodded, she continued, "I was waiting for Sis at Checkpoint 1, and after joining up, she introduced you as 'Candy Pouch’."
With her explanation, I barely remembered. This girl was one of Cecil's group members.
It was such an unexpected reunion that I felt somewhat confused.
"And since we're housemates, are you going to be as quiet as you were with Sis?"
Given how confidently she mentioned being housemates, there was no room for doubt.
So this girl was neither a secret examiner nor a mansion maid, but genuinely a Masters Class classmate.
"I'm Trisha. You?"
"...Is that your real name?"
"Does it matter? Even if you knew my real name, you'd have to call me Trisha anyway?"
"Then, you can call me Candy."
Trisha put her hands behind her back and smiled freshly.
"You really don't plan to give in at all, do you? Even though I know you're Damian."
"How do you know my name?"
"How could I not when you make it so obvious? You're really awkward at hiding your identity."
"..."
"Actually, I'd like to tell you my real name, but by principle, I can't. No, I could tell you, but I shouldn't. So I won't."
"...What?"
"Well... you know how the Empire trains their spies by keeping trainees from knowing each other's names and faces?"
"...?"
"When carrying out espionage missions undercover in other countries, if they recognize each other as colleagues, the risk of exposure increases enormously. So they don't tell from the start."
If applying this to the Masters Class, did she mean when we become conscious of each other's true selves, the risk of others discovering our identities increases?
"So you won't tell me either?"
"Right, not until your acting improves."
Fine. Whatever you want.
"First, there's something you should know. We weren't supposed to meet. We shouldn't have become housemates either."
"What do you mean?"
"That's the principle. Actually, this is my dormitory. And somewhere in this labyrinth, there should be a dormitory just for you, where you should have gone."
"Then what went wrong?"
"It's not your fault. The only thing wrong is my situation. I can't even go to Witdruff Hall. I can't go out freely, and after classes, I have to stay locked up here. Alone in this suffocating, terrible place, until graduation. Can you imagine?"
Though we were both in the Masters Class, it seemed a stricter ruling was applied to this girl.
But what does that have to do with me coming here?
"So I begged. To at least bring you here. Since I already know all about your identity, to have someone to talk to."
Begged?
Strange. They changed principles and regulations just because she begged? Is she saying she overstepped her authority?
"Shouldn't you check with me first?"
Trisha's eyes widened slightly. She seemed somewhat shaken, perhaps facing a reaction different from what she expected.
"Don't worry. You'll be grateful to me once you stay here."
"Why?"
"I'm an incredibly important person, more than you think. Being friends with me will definitely be a huge help to you. And you would have been very lonely staying alone."
Despite her fresh appearance, she was strangely confident.
As a Masters Class student, she certainly must had abilities that set her apart from others.
But I never requested this. I've been swept along by a classmate whose identity I didn't even know, and she wasn’t even a professor to boot.
There was no guarantee this wouldn't happen again. If she brought me in on her own whim, she could just as easily throw me out.
"No, since I didn't request this, I won't be grateful."
"..."
"I don't mind living alone, and I never asked for help. This is just your arbitrary decision. No matter how great the help you offer, if it's like this, I'll decline."
Trisha's eyes wavered.
"...You really don't need any help?"
"I'd rather bleed more."
My words seemed to strike a sensitive spot. She bit her lip slightly in irritation. Then suddenly, in a cold tone, she said, "...Fine, you're so great. I thought you'd at least pity me a little, but I was foolish. Do what you want."
A flash of hurt crossed Trisha's eyes.
She turned away from me and strode toward the spiral staircase in the center of the hall.
Then she slammed her room door shut loud enough to be heard on the lower floor.
***
It was the fifth interview. After all four previous interview requests from Azealis were flatly rejected, Ella finally stepped in to persuade them.
"There's a reason we isolate Masters Class students separately. It's not arbitrary. This decision came from years of accumulated experience. When we put them together, major problems always arise."
Extreme talent. And Masters Class students live extreme lives because of their talents. Azealis understood this.
"I won't cause problems."
"It's not as simple as you say. You know what comes to mind when looking at Masters Class students? They're like bombs with all safety mechanisms removed, obsessed with just firepower. Put them together and there will definitely be an explosion. Do you think someone eccentric enough to take first place after just a few months of training will live quietly?"
"They seem to get along well with Professor Silveryn though."
Ella pressed her forehead with one hand as if getting a headache and said, "...Don't you think that's only possible because it's Silveryn?"
"I'm special too. You know that. I just... need a friend."
"I gave you Cecil as a friend. Don't you like her? Why him specifically?"
"Because there's no one else suitable. He's my only peer who I can come to a mutual understanding with."
Ella sighed deeply with an exasperated expression.
***
Ella was right.
After locking her door, Trisha angrily took off her necklace and threw it on the bed.
She also removed her enchanted rings and bracelet, throwing them on the floor. The accessories bounced around making loud noises as they hit the marble floor.
With all artifacts discarded, the magic surrounding her body quickly lost its power.
Her short black hair gradually lengthened until it covered her hips, then turned pure white.
Her eyes turned blue and her eyelashes grew longer. Her features became more delicate and refined.
It was sad and frustrating. The longer she lived as Trisha, the more unfamiliar it felt to be her true self, Azealis.
Azealis stood by the window looking down at the garden.
Damian wasn't staying in the dormitory but was leaving the garden. As he walked into the fog, Azealis bit her lip so hard it left a mark.
She had expected him to understand and empathize since they were in similar situations, but his response was cold.
It had been over three months since she was isolated alone in the labyrinth under the pretext of protection. Consumed by loneliness, she was grasping at straws.
To Azealis, this mansion was like a prison. She would rather sleep in a rough environment like during the entrance exam. Anything but this labyrinth.
Like other students, like normal girls, she wanted to mingle with friends in the dormitory.
On her table laid a cookie recipe she had copied by hand.
She had prepared it thinking he might like sweet snacks, given his nickname Candy.
If at least Damian came, she thought she could pretend to have a life of mingling with others.
But nothing went as she wished.
Azealis sat down weakly and buried her forehead in her knees.
Then she muttered weakly to herself, "I hate this... I just... want to go back to the Holy City."
She regretted coming to Eternia in the first place.
***
When footsteps were heard in the thick fog, Ella removed her mask.
Through the hazy view, a boy wearing a wooden mask was walking out.
Ella had been waiting there after hearing reports that Damian had headed to the dormitory.
Damian recognized Ella and stopped, silently bowing his head.
"It's been a while."
Damian slowly removed his mask and faced Ella.
"Looks like you're leaving the dormitory. Isn't it too soon?"
"Professor Silveryn is waiting for me outside."
"Well, is that really the only reason?"
Damian remained silent.
"Let me ask one thing. Why do people who have nothing to do with you keep trying to meddle with your dormitory assignment?"
"I don't really know either."
"Do you like the Witdruff Hall dormitory you were assigned?"
"It's a wonderful room."
"That's good. That too was the result of someone persistently bothering me."
"..."
"Seems like things didn't go well with Trisha. Blame me if you must. Though she was quite insistent, I made the final decision."
"Do you have a reason for making this decision?"
"Of course. You might not believe this, but Trisha is quite literally the most special child in the world. So she's extremely difficult to manage. I couldn't see anyone else besides you who could handle her."
"Is it because I'm in the Masters Class? I'm not big enough to handle special people."
"No, I guarantee you'll endure better than anyone. It's already proven by your relationship with Silveryn, isn't it?"
"That's because Teacher took good care of me."
"You probably don't know, but Silveryn was the person furthest from 'caring’. She changed after meeting you."
"I didn't do anything."
"Right, don't do anything. That's what I want. There’s no need for you to go out of your way to befriend others. Just stay with Trisha. Like you do with Silveryn."
"..."
Ella put a tobacco leaf in her mouth. After inhaling the smoke for a moment, she said, "Of course, I'll compensate you properly for enduring this inconvenience."