Cyril carefully picked up the majestic tiger and carried him to the bed.
"Good night, Tigris."
At this moment, he suddenly felt an intense stare coming from the side.
"...?"
There, a red butterfly was perched on a plant inside of a terrarium.
Her compound eyes would glance at the sleeping kitten, then at Cyril, complicated emotions within.
The corners of Cyril's mouth arced just a little bit as he patted the bed while looking at her.
"You can sleep here too, if you want."
A red blur immediately flew from the terrarium and dashed towards the bed, gracefully landing there.
"Don't worry, Morpho. No matter how many new siblings you'll have, we'll always love you just the same."
The butterfly's wings twitched for a moment, and she quietly drifted off into sleep.
No matter how many...
For some reason the words sent a shiver down his spine. Cyril shook his head, getting rid of the stray thoughts, and looked at the peaceful Morpho.
She was worried about that?
"Morpho is worried about a lot of things, actually. She just tries to hide it."
Huh.
Cyril sighed and stepped towards the window.
He moved the curtain out of the way, letting more moonlight in.
The moon was clearly visible, and wind softly moved the trees visible in the park.
Right in front of his window stood a human figure.
"...!"
Cyril jumped back, raising his hands.
The figure moved, gently knocking on the window with slender, elegant fingers.
"...?"
As Cyril focused, he discovered a person he'd seen not too long ago.
Selene!?
"First Cosmas, and now she's doing this?"
The black-haired woman in a loose robe stood behind his window, gracefully knocking on the glass.
Her golden eyes followed his every movement.
The corner of his eye twitched as Cyril approached the window and opened it.
"...How did you find me?"
Selene lightly smiled in response.
"I can draw reasonably well."
What does that even mean?
"But that's not important. Have you thought about our bet? Do you have the courage to accept it now?"
She put her hands behind her back, and her golden eyes narrowed.
Cyril froze, a frown soon forming on his face.
Her serene eyes made him feel a certain spark light up.
"Well? Perhaps I was wrong about you? You are not as strong as I first thought." Selene shook her head dismissively and stood back.
Her voice was flat, completely lacking any real disappointment.
I know she is provoking me, and yet...
He took a deep breath, trying to calm down to no avail.
Why does it work so well on me?
"...Did you bring Ambrosia? I will not move just because of your technique."
Cyril crossed his arms, staring at her with his cold blue eyes.
Selene smiled wider.
"Of course." She tossed something through the air.
Cyril caught it, finding a pitch-black stone in his palm.
Really? Just like that?
"I can't believe it! Maybe we should agree after all? This is Ambrosia!"
He resisted the stone's allure, which seemed even stronger than he remembered, and looked back at Selene.
Her golden eyes shone a bit brighter now.
"...Fine."
The butterfly on the bed twitched her wings, peeking in their direction all this time.
...
Cyril exited his dorm, met up with Selene, and together they went to the academy's training grounds.
Morpho wanted to go with him, so she flew in the air nearby.
Tigris peacefully slumbered at home.
The moon hanging right above, Cyril stood in the field, armed with a training spear.
Selene stood on the other end of the field, one hand behind her back, the other resting at her side.
On her face was a white blindfold.
"Begin whenever you feel ready."
Cyril began cautiously circling her, trying to make as little noise as possible.
I am not sure how affected she is by blindness. Let's assume she is still fully aware of her surroundings.
Morpho landed on a training dummy nearby, her insect eyes staring unflinchingly at the field.
She can block spells with just a wave of her hand... Can she still do so when the spells are aimed at her back?
"A direct attack might not be ideal..."
He closely observed her state, meticulously considering what actions he could take.
Selene, on the other hand, stood completely still, her black hair gently swaying in the night breeze.
"Let's finish this before the moon disappears from the sky."
The frown on his face deepening, Cyril fought against an impulse to let out a tsk.
Let's start then.
He raised his hand, holding the spear in the throwing motion, staying still.
His other hand created a magic circle.
Soon a fireball flew in the air behind Selene and froze, hovering in place.
Now!
He hurled the spear with all his might and sent the fireball forth at the same time.
Selene gracefully stood still as two projectiles from different angles flew at her back.
Then, just as they flew close enough, she moved.
Selene twisted her body, her legs still in place, and half turned.
She waved her hand at immense speed, leaving blue afterimages in the process.
The fireball snuffing out on the way, she caught the spear just a breath away from her neck.
In the very next moment, Cyril dashed close, grabbing at the spear.
He put all of his strength in it and pushed.
"...!"
It didn't budge at all.
Selene's delicate-looking hand, twisted behind her at an awkward angle, managed to completely surpass him in strength.
As shock briefly colored his face, Selene moved again.
In one smooth movement she threw the spear away, tearing it from Cyril's grasp before her hand returned, leaving blue afterimages behind.
With two fingers held together, she jabbed Cyril at the chest before he could react.
He could only stare with widened eyes at the two delicate fingers touching his chest.
Suddenly, Cyril's vision tilted as the night sky came into view.
Somehow, without him feeling anything, he fell on his back, unable to move.
Morpho twitched her antennae with concern but remained in place, observing Selene.
"You have great qualifications." Selene's pleasant voice rang out in the night.
"Your prideful nature is the greatest flaw you possess, but it's something we can fix with time."
Soon, the feeling of numbness in his body passed, and Cyril quickly got up on his feet.
He sent Selene a glare and opened his mouth.
I just underestimated her strength. If we were to try again-
But no words came out.
No. Those are excuses... I lost as easily as a child who grabbed a weapon for the first time.
Cyril took a deep breath and walked to her side.
"She injected mana into your body, basically ordering you to fall. Even I couldn't resist it... But that won't be for long! We'll have our revenge!"
Rhamn mumbled as she walked with him, her expression twisted in anger and shame.
"Well?" Selene removed her blindfold and put her hands behind her back.
"...I lost. Are you happy?"
Selene nodded, a slight smile on her face.
"I am. You shall be a good disciple."
The corner of Cyril's eye twitched as he crossed his arms.
"Now what?"
"Let's return to your abode."
...
"Be careful, don't wake Tigris up."
Cyril carefully opened the door while whispering behind him.
In a moment Selene stepped after him, looking around his room.
Finding a pleasant spot, she came to the middle of the room and sat cross-legged on the ground.
"Sit." She pointed in front of her.
Cyril glanced at the still sleeping Tigris. The kitten was completely knocked out, unresponsive to the intruder.
He sighed and walked near Selene, taking a seat in the same cross-legged position.
Morpho flew in and landed in her terrarium, observing them with her curious insect eyes.
The woman in a loose robe, illuminated by the moonlight peeking through the window, pulled out a scroll from her clothes.
She put it in front of Cyril and spread it out.
"What time is it? Why would she use a scroll? Tsk, show-off."
Rhamn, with a fuming face, and Cyril both leaned closer, taking a good look.
It turned out to be a spellbook, detailing a specific magic circle and ways to use it.
It's surprisingly simple...
"Although I had my inspirations, this spell was fully developed by me, and I divided it into two parts."
She raised an index finger.
"The first one is about how to use mana and medicinal concoctions to enhance the human body."
"With careful practice, day by day, you'll improve your skin, muscles, organs, and bones. Make them much more durable and effective in what they do."
Selene pointed at her face.
"Your eyes will see further, your nose will become more discerning, and your ears will hear at distances greater than ever before."
Cyril stared at her without too much emotion in his eyes.
Rhamn crossed her arms and scoffed.
"Ha! Your body is already far beyond a regular human's! I doubt it will help you much."
Selene narrowed her golden eyes.
"Don't look down on the spell's effect on you. After all, my strength is far beyond yours."
The corner of his eye twitched as he looked at the scroll in front of him with more earnestness.
That's true...
"Tsk."
Selene nodded with satisfaction.
"Learn the magic circle and try practicing it in your time. While I am here, ask any question about its design."
With that, she pulled out another scroll from her robe, placing it to the side of the other one.
"This is the second part. This technique allows one to use mana itself in attack or even defense."
Selene raised her hand, and soon it glowed bluish. A small snake formed, coiling around in her palm.
"On a high enough level, you can even let out your mana externally."
She waved her hand, and the snake disappeared.
"However, if a body performing it is found lacking, this technique can cause much harm. Hence, I would only allow the first part usually, but you might be able to practice the second part ahead of time."
Cyril pinched his chin, observing the two scroll in silence.
Even Rhamn to his side remained quiet, her red eyes glued to the two spells in front of him.
This is not too bad...
Morpho quietly flew closer, peeking at the first scroll with a certain spark lighting up in her compound eyes.
"But before we truly begin." Selene's tranquil voice called out as the two scrolls were taken back.
She put the scrolls near her and sent Cyril a stare. Some solemnity even showed through her golden eyes.
"...You must first complete a ritual to officially become my disciple."
Cyril eyed the two scrolls for a few seconds and glanced at her, staying silent.
"Why don't we decline anyways? I memorized the two scrolls completely!"
I did promise...
"...What should I do?"
Selene's golden eyes were locked on him without flinching, as if piercing him through.
"Bow in my direction three times. That should suffice."
Cyril froze, not moving at all.
"Do you wish to decline? Do your words have as much worth as snow during winter?"
His hands twitched, briefly clenching into fists.
After a few seconds, Cyril slowly lowered his body, the action more difficult than he first imagined.
"Why should we do this anyways? Maybe she is the one with arrogance issues? She just wants to look down on you!"
Trying his hardest to ignore the fuming voice, Cyril bowed three times, his head nearly touching the floor.
On the inside he felt a bitter feeling he couldn't quite put into words.
"...We'll definitely pay her back in the future."
Rhamn's angry words echoed in the room softly illuminated by the moon.
Selene followed his actions and, once he was done, smiled.
"Good. My disciple, we can begin."
Her serene voice even had an obvious tinge of joy to it.
"Tsk."