Chapter 10 : Lillian’s Magic Training
As time passed, more students filled the training field to practice magic.
The chants of spells, the blasts of magic hitting targets, and the cheers or sighs of success and failure wove into a lively morning symphony unique to the magic academy.
Ailiya, however, felt like a mute who’d wandered into an orchestra.
She watched her classmates, even those practicing basic first-tier spells, conjure faint or bright specks of light at their fingertips.
Meanwhile, she shouted at the pristine target for ages, and forget a flame arrow—she couldn’t even spark a match.
Occupying a precious training spot, she was just practicing useless vocal exercises.
With a heart as pure as a freshman’s, Ailiya felt guilty.
Maybe… I should just hit the library?
Standing here feels like public execution.
As she prepared to slink away, a wave of hushed gasps came from the training field’s entrance, followed by an instant silence.
It was as if an invisible hand hit pause on the entire field.
Curious, Ailiya looked over and saw someone approaching.
Liliane von Winter.
She wore her perfectly tailored dark riding outfit, sunlight streaming through the field’s grand archway, gilding her attire with a soft golden edge.
Her moonlight-smooth silver hair swayed gently with each step, her pace unhurried, her polished heels clicking rhythmically—“tap, tap”—against the energy-absorbing slabs.
Her expression was blank, her violet eyes sweeping the field indifferently, yet every practicing girl froze, many instinctively adjusting their collars, cheeks flushing suspiciously.
In the all-girls St. Freya, the flawless and powerful Liliane was their unrivaled prince.
Really…
Ailiya felt nothing special, just found the girls’ squeals and gasps a bit noisy.
What’s so charming about this nasty-tempered girl who threatens to feed people to bugs?
Well, her face is undeniably perfect.
What puzzled her more was why an elite like Liliane, who could cast fourth-tier spells wandlessly, would come to a basic training field.
“Hmph,” Isabella, beside her, tossed her lavish golden curls, explaining with pride.
“That’s what makes Lady Liliane exceptional. Even for a simple entrance exam, she never slacks, giving her all without a hint of carelessness! That’s her charm! Ahh, Lady Liliane~”
She dramatically pressed a hand to her forehead, letting out a swooning moan before collapsing blissfully.
…Here we go again.
Aurora, twirling a spare wand like a curling iron in her golden hair, offered a different take:
“That said, it is odd. A mage of Liliane’s caliber should be in a private advanced training room. Here, if she doesn’t control her power, she could easily hurt others.”
Ailiya hummed absently.
She didn’t care about that or the crowd’s adoring gazes on Liliane.
It was her vacation, and as a maid, she had every right not to serve that lady.
She turned back, ready to wrestle with her target again.
So, she didn’t notice the crisp sound of heels heading straight toward her.
Aurora stopped twirling her wand, eyes widening slightly.
Isabella ceased her swooning, looking up in surprise.
The girls’ squeals and chatter gradually died down.
Until a pair of black heels, studded with tiny magic crystals, stopped beside Ailiya.
Liliane stood elegantly, her right hand drawing a silver wand engraved with intricate patterns from her sleeve.
“You’ll never pass the practical exam practicing like that.”
Her cool voice rang overhead.
Ailiya froze.
She looked up slowly, finding Liliane gazing down at her.
With so many empty targets, she’d chosen the one closest to Ailiya.
Is she… checking if I’m practicing properly?!
Ailiya’s heart sank, like a kid with two days left of summer break, caught lying about finishing homework and asked to show it.
“I… I’m a bit tired, just taking a break!”
She gave an awkward smile, fleeing to a nearby bench, grabbing a water bottle, and pretending to drink.
“Your posture…”
Liliane started to critique but stopped mid-sentence. After a pause, she nodded slightly, her tone stiff as she apologized:
“Sorry. It’s your vacation. I won’t interfere.”
Hearing this, Ailiya felt too guilty to slump, quietly sitting up straight.
Then, she watched Liliane take the target next to hers and begin her “training.”
Being so close, Ailiya saw everything clearly.
Liliane’s every move was textbook-perfect.
She seemed to deliberately slow down, from gathering mana to chanting, to shaping and releasing spells—each step displayed clearly before Ailiya.
How mana was drawn and compressed, how runes formed in the air, transforming into precise spells that hit the target’s center without fail.
The surrounding students erupted in applause for Liliane’s masterful technique, but Ailiya stayed silent.
She said nothing, gripping her water bottle tightly, eyes locked on Liliane’s every move.
The world around her seemed to sink into a swamp-like silence.
Liliane cast her final spell, waved her wand, and it dissolved into specks of light.
Ignoring the adoring crowd, she turned to leave, saying only to the still-dazed Ailiya:
“Learn well.”
With that, she walked off without looking back.
As if she’d never been there, the field’s noise resumed after a brief hush, students chanting spells again.
“That’s odd,” Charlotte said, joining Isabella, puzzled. “I heard Lady Liliane’s been busy with noble dealings. Why would she take precious time to train here?”
“And,” Aurora added, arms crossed, thoughtful, “she brought a wand to control her power, almost like…”
Ailiya stayed silent.
She set down her bottle, stood, and picked up the wand that felt no different from a fire poker.
“Aurora, Isabella,” she said softly, “thanks for keeping me company. I want to practice alone now.”
“Sure thing,” Aurora shrugged. “I’m off.”
“Who’s keeping you company?!”
Isabella huffed but followed Aurora and Charlotte out of the field.
Soon, the area was empty except for Ailiya.
She took a deep breath, opened Basic Spellcraft Introduction to the “Flame Arrow” page, raised her wand, and aimed at the target again.