Chapter 15

“Thank you very much, Miss!”

“No problem! Just come to me whenever you need help, alright?”

“Yes! Have a good day!”

“See you tomorrow, Miss Iris!”

Iris stood at the front entrance to the faculty building, waving as her students headed back to their dorms. It was another satisfying day. She looked up at the sky. A group of clouds floated by. They looked like soft cotton candy. If she could, she would love to go up there. Flying high through the clouds, enjoying the view birds had kept to themselves for centuries.

Her research taught her that humans used to fly, with magic and tools, but the techniques had been lost. No matter. She would discover them again.

“Good work, Lady Iris.”

Iris turned her head. Rivernfor approached, a stack of books in his right hand.

“It seems you are busy as usual, yes? Do not forget to take care of your own health. Your students need you.”

“I don’t need the reminder, but thanks anyway. How about you? You’re busy as well. Now that I thought about it, have you ever gone into town?”

Rivernfor gave her a wry smile. “As much as I love the idea, there is simply too much work for me. Maybe I should consider taking some time off. You will cover for me, yes?”

“Nah. I have my own stuff to do.” Iris grinned.

She thought the conversation would be over and was about to head back when Rivernfor opened his mouth.

“About the new wave of students joining The School Publicity Club.”

Iris let out a sigh.

“Accepted?”

“You know my answer.”

“I’ve proven to you that the students can change. Why are you so insistent about it? Besides, aren’t I the club advisor?”

“Yes, that is true. Your students respected you so much that you were called their queen. And I am the demon lord, apparently.”

“I heard that.”

“It is too harsh, no?”

“A bit too lenient, if you ask me.”

Rivernfor let out a chuckle, but then his expression hardened. An eerie calm settled in his eyes as he spoke.

“Our school provides ample choices for students who want to grow their skills or social standing. The School Publicity Club is where I draw the line. I apologize if it seemed harsh, but this is the one club I cannot allow to be infiltrated by those who do not wish to learn.”

“But they are willing-”

“On the outside, Lady Iris.”

Iris paused, offended at the man’s words. She glared at him, but he didn’t waver.

“Might I remind you of that student you brought in?”

Iris winced. “Ayisa has potential. She just needed a place to grow.”

“That is correct. I am not arguing that. But are you expecting me to accept her into the club in her current state?”

Iris fell silent. Ayisa hadn't submitted a proposal for the club, but if her other students couldn't enter, she doubted Rivernfor would let her in.

“I trust your judgement. I trust she will be a wonderful person one day, but today is not that day. Reapply once she has gained experience and grown as a person. For now, she can choose any of the other clubs available.”

“And which club has approved her?”

“I would say that is the unfortunate consequence of her current predicament. If you truly trust your students, then I suggest you wait.”

Rivernfor walked past her and entered the building. Iris sighed, looking up at the sky.

•••

“I’m surprised you can ride a horse,” Ayisa said.

Ayisa and the boy sat in a small carriage pulled by a single horse. The destination wasn’t far, and they could technically do it on foot, but taking a horse there would be much easier. It also provided a space in case they ran into some wild monsters they could hunt and take back.

Ayisa looked at the quest written down in her notes. Another thing she somehow knew, despite never learning to read or write before. The quest required them to get the fangs from three Tawurofs. They looked like wolves, but much more aggressive. They also had two tails.

“Impressed?” Layis asked, glancing back with a grin.

“Admittedly, I do find your varied set of skills rather impressive,” the boy said. “No wonder Marnas picked you.”

“He picked me, yet he won’t even call me a real girlfriend.” Layis grumbled.

“Is there a reason you are so insistent on the term?” he asked. “You are already engaged to him. There is no reason-”

“Private issues. Don’t dig.” Layis glared at him. “Besides, it's not like you can help me, anyway.”

“I could-”

Layis scoffed. “You can’t even keep him in his office.”

“That… You do have a point.”

Ayisa watched as the two went back and forth, questions in her mind.

Engaged?

She heard nobles get married for political reasons all the time. The public didn’t know why, but they knew who paired with whom. People tend not to get involved with those who already have a partner. Drawing a noble’s ire might end badly, after all.

“Stop it. Besides, you kept talking about me. How about you yourself, huh?”

“I chose not to find a partner of my own accord.”

“I don’t buy that crap.”

The boy chuckled. “Do I look like someone who will care? I guess I have no right to criticize your observation.”

He didn’t seem to be annoyed or offended, his way of speaking sounded as if he was simply stating a fact.

“That said, I would appreciate it if you purged such thoughts from your mind. You are free to bring up things you considered proof against me, however.”

Layis shrugged. “I have no proof, but I have a strong inkling you’re not a regular boy who just happened to have no interest in romance.”

“I appreciate you being honest.” The boy grinned. “Hmm?”

He turned to Ayisa, who sat across from him. The carriage had them facing each other, but while he spoke, he had been looking forward to Layis.

“... My apologies. Now that I thought of it, I had just realized that I had neglected to introduce myself.”

“Ah- Ah no, it’s alright. I… haven’t introduced myself either, have I?”

“Ayisa, is it?”

Ayisa tensed up at the sudden mention of her name.

“I heard quite interesting tales about you.”

The carriage rocked as it headed into the forest. Ayisa sat there, frozen underneath the shade of passing trees.

“Please do not be concerned. I am not here to judge you.” He gave her a reassuring smile, although Ayisa’s mind was on something else.

“Rumors… What… did they say about me?”

The boy’s smile faded away. “I have heard quite unsavory things that I cannot confirm myself. Are you sure you wanted to hear them?”

Ayisa forced a nod, gulping as she waited.

“To preface, I have decided not to believe these statements unless I can confirm it with my own eyes. With all due respect, I am not here to judge you-”

“Just give it to her,” Layis said. “Ayisa already knows anyway.”

Layis was right. She had heard these rumors. They had said so right to her face. They may have been pretending to whisper, but their voices were loud enough to be heard.

To them, Ayisa was never one of them and would never be.

“To tell you the truth, there are numerous different versions of your tale. These… rumors… all originated from the fact of your unknown origins.”

A girl collapsed in the middle of the forest, then was brought back by a teacher. That teacher enrolled her in the school, skipping the various selection processes and tests non-noble students usually participated in.

“It is said that Miss Iris used a decent amount of her own funds to get you in. Everyone has been wondering what she saw in you. Rest assured, your entry broke no rules. There is nothing they can do against you. Not when Miss Iris is still around.”

“A girl with no family, no track record, no powers… Yet Miss Iris saw something in you… I mean, to be fair, you did pick magic up rather quickly.”

Ayisa hugged her legs, looking down at the carriage’s wooden floor. “You’re… right. I’m not sure myself. I’m not sure where I came from, why Miss Iris brought me here. I can’t say anything against what you said.”

“You do not have to,” the boy said. “As long as you are not causing trouble, you are free to do whatever you want. Including studying at our school.”

“You’re talking as if you owned the place,” Layis said.

“I am sure she understood what I meant.”

“Anyway, we’re here.”

The carriage pulled to a stop in front of a large clearing. Noises came from deeper in the forest.

“Time to get to work.”