Nissia

  ***

  What the hell? In one of the rge fields on school grounds, me and my roommates were currently training. Were we using swords, or practicing our magic? No, we were starting from the basics. Or at least we were supposed to… Looking around me, I saw my roommates on the floor, panting for breath. We haven’t even run that far or fast and they’re like this already? Knowing of our future fight with the Demon Lord, I can’t help but wonder if the Magical Girl is going have to take care of him for us.

  “What… The… Hell…?” Lidia panted.

  “Please god…” Jenna muttered. “No more…”

  “I’m gonna puke…” Alice said.

  “We haven’t even done much.” I said.

  “Bull…” Linda breathed. “Shit…”

  “It’s been…” Alice rolled onto her back. “Three… hours…”

  “Non stop…” Jenna said.

  Has it? It didn’t feel that long. I’ve just been keeping it steady and focusing on my breathing. Looking at the sky, I saw that the sun had indeed moved and shadows seemed longer. Maybe I overdid it? No, we have to fight the Demon Lord, so this much can barely be counted. Though now that I’m looking at them, maybe this was too much to start with. I had pnned more to do after this, but they already looked like they were about to throw up.

  “Okay. Let’s call it for today.” I sighed.

  “Thank you…” Lidia all but cried.

  “Oh don’t be so dramatic.” I said.

  Oh? Alice is throwing up. Let’s bring her inside.

  Lloyd

  ***

  For the past couple days, I’ve been studying up on the kidnapping case. According to Gavin, eight kids for sure have been kidnapped, but possibly one more as well. What clues do we have? Well… They were all kids who were kidnapped?

  To be honest, I don’t have much to go on. The city guard, if they have more clues, we can’t get ahold of it. Honestly, there's a limit to my powers when it comes to this sort of stuff. Maybe I should have pushed a bit harder… No, according to the game, the saint gets involved, so let’s go and check in on Nissia. I’ve hesitated for so long not wanting to contact her and causing a scene, but my patience has worn thin.

  With many students already returning to their rooms, or being taken to their own residence, much of the campus was slowly emptying. As I headed for the dorms, a thought struck me. Where is Nissia anyway? I’m sure that she is staying on campus but where is her room? Wait a moment. She’s going to be in the girls' dorm. I can’t just walk in there uninvited. Great, so now I need someone to go in there and get her. I can’t ask Lna because she’s off in town wasting her allowance on who knows what. So, who should I ask?

  Thinking about it, it can’t be someone of high rank since it would be an insult to ask them to bring me a commoner. Stopping in my pce, I was in a predicament. I suppose I’ll have to ask some minor noble, but who? And just like that, my problem was solved. A minor noble with a light blue ponytail sticking out of the side of her head, walking towards the campus gates to an awaiting carriage. If I remember correctly, she’s a baron's daughter. Not wanting this opportunity to get away, I called out to her.

  “You girl.” I called out.

  “!?” She froze in pce.

  Well that’s rude. I simply called out to her. Slowly she turned around to face me. Managing to keep her composure, she bowed.

  “Y-young Regent. H-h-how do you do…” She bowed.

  There we go again with that title. Sighing a little I couldn’t help but be annoyed. The least she can do is say my name. Speaking of names, what is her name again? Never mind, it doesn’t matter.

  “Can you do me a favor?” I asked.

  “Um-” She started.

  “I need you to go into the dorms and bring me Nissia Carter.” I said. “Tell her I’m waiting just outside the front entrance.”

  “Y-yes.” She quietly bowed.

  With her head down, she hurried off to the girls' dorm. I hope she moves fast, I don’t want to wait for long…

  Nissia

  ***

  Fanning off Alice as she y in bed with a damp towel on her head, I couldn’t help but feel sorry. Maybe I did go overboard with our training… Looking at the others, they still seemed a bit out of it. Yeah, we should rest over the weekend. As I thought that, there was a knock on my door. Being the only one capable of answering it, I headed to the door. Looking through the peephole, I saw someone who I recognized, but wasn’t totally familiar with. Opening the door I saw that girl who often talks with Evelyn.

  “Yes, can I help you?” I asked.

  Knowing that she was a minor noble, I was polite to her, not that I would be rude if she wasn’t. Looking a bit nervous, she gave me a shallow bow which was far more than what she needed to for any commoner.

  “Forgive me, but you are Lady Carter, correct?” She asked nervously.

  “I am…” I slowly nodded, becoming suspicious.

  Was this some sort of prank from Evelyn? As the viliness, I’m sure that Evelyn set up some sort of trap for me… Wait, isn’t she absent from school?

  “I’m sorry for bothering you, but the Young Regent, Sir Rsenr, asked me to tell you that he is waiting outside the academy’s front entrance for you.” She said apologetically.

  Ah, so that’s it. I guess I haven’t talked with them tely, so they must have been getting impatient. That also expins why she’s so nervous. A lowly barron being ordered, out of the blue, by who is essentially first in line for the throne to get a commoner. If I wasn’t reincarnated, I would be nervous. Truthfully, I'm also nervous. Evelyn’s the jealous type and from how she looks at… Wait… Has Evelyn even talked to Lloyd? Now that I think of it, she always sits in the back of css and doesn’t really talk to others. The only people who she talks to are this girl and a few other nobles. Speaking of her, she’s still looking at me expectantly.

  “L- The Young Regent is?” I corrected myself. After all, as far as anyone is concerned, we’ve never met.

  “Yes he is.” She nodded and then added. “He seemed to be in a bad mood, so we shouldn’t keep him waiting.”

  “In a bad mood?” I asked.

  He must be really impatient for that to happen. After all, some people were kidnapped, and I’m fairly certain that that is one of the first major events of the game. Let’s hurry and meet up with him.

  “Okay, let me get prepared.” I nodded.

  “Thank you.” She seemed relieved.

  Closing the door for a bit, I changed my clothes and used a cleaning spell on myself to get rid of any smells from today’s exercise. As for my roommates, well, they all seem out of it, so let’s not worry them with this.

  “I’ll be out for a bit.” I said.

  “Yeah…” Lidia managed to mutter.

  Nobody else answered, so I left the room. The girl was still waiting for me, a bit nervous about the time. Seeing me exit my room, she quickly faced me.

  “If you’re ready we should go.” She said, quickly waiting to lead the way.

  “Right.” I nodded.

  Quickly, she headed down the hall, with me following. Given that we have the time, and I was curious about Evelyn, I decided to ask a few questions.

  “Hey um.” I paused. “I’m sure you already know this, but I’m Nissia Carter. Can I ask your name?”

  “Ah, that’s right.” She said. “I’m Charlotte Lottaway. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” I said. “Do you have any idea why he asked for me?”

  I’m sure that I already know the answer, but let’s go ahead and ask her, just to get her talking.

  “I’m afraid not.” She shook her head. “All I was told was to find you.”

  “Oh.” I said.

  Come on Lloyd! At least give her a reason to tell me! What if I hadn’t believed her and said no!? If this was happening to anyone else, they would say no! After all, why wouldn’t they? As far as I know, Lloyd has never spoken to Lady Lottaway, and he has never asked for anyone to go and meet with him. Who would buy this? Especially when you want to meet outside the school when there’s a kidnapper on the loose… Hang on a moment…

  “Where did you say he wanted to meet me?” I asked.

  “Just outside the entrance.” She said.

  “Um…” Is this a trap? Am I going to get kidnapped?

  “Ah.” She said, seeing the worried look on my face. “There’s no need to worry. I’m sure the Young Regent is… simply curious about you.”

  The fact that she had to pause, doesn't inspire confidence in me. I’m very gd that I already know Lloyd’s motivation. Let’s change the subject.

  “So, I’ve seen you talk to Lady Eytell.” I said. “Is she-”

  “No she is not a horrible person like the rumors paint her to be.” She sighed. “She’s a kind and wonderful person who keeps to herself and, unlike others, does not look down on others for their rank.”

  Given how she said that, I can’t help but wonder how many people asked her this. Although helpful, there was something else I was curious about.

  “No, I was just curious about her.” I said. “We have the same css and she is absent often. I was wondering if she was sick.”

  “Oh.” She seemed surprised. “Well, she does have some health issues…”

  As she talked about it, she looked off into the distance, worried.

  “I’m sure you heard of it, but she got into an accident and was trapped in the Dark Forest for quite a while. That seems to have affected her health.” She expined.

  “Really?” I asked.

  I already heard of this from Alice, but this is one of the main reasons why Evelyn barely participates in magic css. From what I’ve seen, her magic is weak. Weaker than any of our cssmates. Given how little she practices I suspect that she isn’t getting any stronger. Looking back on it, it seems like the st css we had together, she went all out, despite being in the bottom ranking in our css.

  “Yes, and even with her poor health, she’s trying her best. I just want others to see that.” She sighed.

  Seeing her like this, I once more thought back to Evelyn. For being the so-called viliness, she isn’t really vilinous. I know that I’m in a video game, but maybe somehow the script was broken. I’m not sure how or when, but including me, there’s like six people that I know who were reincarnated. Funny how we’re either in the same css, or sharing the same room. I guess that’s just how things work. Anyway, maybe I should try talking to Evelyn. From the looks of things, she’s not going to be evil, so let's not perform a reverse Greek tragedy, and make her the vilin by treating her like one. This is a bold and new strategy on my part, but let’s be nice to her… How exactly do I do that?

  “Well, I hope she gets well soon.” I said. “Maybe I should do something to welcome her back?”

  “Huh?” Lady Lottaway asked, stopping in pce, and looking at me wide eyed.

  Uh-oh. I think she might misunderstand me.

  “Um, I was just thinking that it would be a nice thing to do. Since, you know, she always seems to be sick.” I expined. “I just thought she might appreciate it.”

  Lady Lottaway looked at me with those wide eyes. For a moment, they turned cold, almost suspicious of me. Somewhat more cautiously, she turned away and continued walking.

  “I’m not sure she would appreciate any surprises…” She said.

  “Oh…” I said.

  ““…”” The two of us walked in silence.

  I guess that is the end of that conversation…

  Grayburne