"T...That was amazing, Harold! You are so strong!"
Alicia's voice rang out with genuine excitement, her earlier nervousness completely forgotten in the wake of our demonstrations. Her emerald eyes sparkled with an enthusiasm I hadn't seen from her before.
"You think so?" I asked, though I was more curious about her reaction than seeking validation.
"Of course!" She exclaimed, her hands gesturing animatedly as she spoke. "I've never seen water magic do such damage before! The way you completely destroyed that dummy... it was like watching a master-level technique." She paused, her expression growing more thoughtful. "Did Lady Isadora teach you that particular spell?"
The question was innocent enough, but I could hear the underlying curiosity. Alicia was clearly trying to understand how someone of my apparent background had learned such advanced magic, and attributing it to my supposed teacher was the most logical explanation she could conceive.
