ISMFF53

Chapter 53

Train Journey (3)

Temia certainly knew better. The first thing she had checked while investigating him was his personal information. Granted, it was only the basics, but she had memorized them meticulously. Of course, this was information she could never reveal to him. She had never asked him about his age directly.

‘But… isn’t it the other way around? Doesn’t he not know my age? If I were older, why is he so confident?’

Temia, who valued respect and consideration for elders, felt a twinge of irritation and glanced at him with a slightly sour expression.

“…He’s probably around my age.”

Had he actually been younger, she would have interrogated him on the spot. The fact that she couldn’t made her feel strangely disappointed.

‘What a perfect chance to straighten him out! I should have at least lied…’

As Temia clicked her tongue in regret, he spoke up.

“Hmm, I’d say I’m definitely older than you, Temia.”
“Why do you think that?!”
“Because your thoughts are so obvious on your face. Why, would it be a problem if I were younger than you?”

The magician smirked mischievously. In truth, he had deduced Temia’s age when taking Lady Lacroix’s request, and from that, he could easily guess her friend’s age as well—but he had no intention of telling her.

Temia, unaware of this, imagined how she would have boxed him immediately if he had been younger. Feeling her impudent thoughts creeping up, she raised a hand to partially cover her face, realizing she was being rather unruly.

‘Does it really show that much? I mustn’t let it slip in front of him!’

She realized that she had always been the one prying into others’ affairs, yet somehow found herself constantly on the receiving end. Even now, as she tried to bring up her academy days, he seemed to have read her mind first.

Perhaps her displeasure was already visible on her face. She mentally resolved to practice a poker face in front of mirrors once they returned.

“Hah, fine, fine! You must have graduated early if you entered the academy early. But you claimed to be a genius—surely you didn’t graduate with perfect marks?”

Temia turned the conversation back to the topic at hand. The magician followed smoothly.

“I did graduate earlier than average, yes. I could have finished even sooner, but I had to spend about an extra year, which was disappointing.”
“An extra year?! You’re saying a so-called prodigy had to repeat a year?”
“Me? Temia, you’ve gotten quite jokey. No, nothing like that. I just… accumulated some penalty points, which delayed my graduation.”

Temia, who had lived her entire life as a model student, had never heard of such a thing. Her jaw dropped involuntarily, and Lowell chuckled, tapping her cheek lightly.

“You’ll break your jaw like that. Is it really that shocking?”
“Wait, wait. Penalty points…? For what? Harassing innocent friends? Damaging property? Did you do something like that?!”

She wondered how severe the infractions had to be at the academy to accrue enough points to delay graduation. With his noble status, most would have gone easy on him…

‘So he really was a troublemaker back then?’

Narrowing her eyes, she gave him a sharp look. Lowell’s expression shifted to one of feigned innocence.

“Huh? You really think I was that violent? I just skipped a few classes.”
“Skipped classes?! Attendance is a student’s basic duty!”
“The weather was nice, but the lecture was dull. Sometimes I just wanted to go outside. Exams too—I already had everything in my head, so listing it all seemed tedious.”
“…?”

The more she listened, the more incredulous she became. If anything, her sympathy for the academy’s head, whom she had never even met, began to rise.

‘The head of a magic school must be quite considerate if they cared even for a student like him.’

Had she been at the same academy, she might have clashed with him before even gathering evidence, turning him into an arch-enemy.

“I’m glad I didn’t go to the same academy…”

The thought alone made her shiver. She muttered quietly to herself, letting out a relieved breath.

Stepping off the train, the three of them immediately focused on the enormous building visible from the station. Standing beside the indifferent-looking Lowell, Temia’s gaze darted around, taking in the sight of Terium Academy for the first time. She had heard descriptions before but never seen it in person.

“Wow! This is my first time seeing it. And seeing it in person… it’s even bigger than I imagined. It feels almost like a city!”
“Well… every magician worldwide must legally come here, so the scale has to be enormous. Calling it a city is accurate. That’s also why Rostia, as a neutral country, receives astronomical support from other nations every year.”
“I knew that, but I didn’t expect it to be this huge! And magicians are rare too, right?”
“When you gather them all at once, the number isn’t small. And they all live here throughout their studies, not just passing through.”

Truly, it was a specialized institution worthy of a kingdom’s reputation in magic. Buildings stretched endlessly in every direction. The concept of housing magicians from across the continent in a neutral country for education was strange yet politically entangled, so Temia simply wandered in awe.

Lowell chuckled at her wide-eyed wonder. To him, it was merely a familiar place, nothing more. But Temia pressed on.

“The kingdom’s academy was known for its size too, but it can’t compare to Terium.”
“I told you, ordinary buildings couldn’t manage such numbers. Plus, this academy functions as Rostia’s core for all magical matters and doubles as a diplomatic institution. Have you heard of the ‘Tower of Zero’?”
“Ah! Yes. Rostia doesn’t have its own tower, but Terium Academy fulfills that role. That’s why it’s called the Tower of Zero, right?”
“Exactly. Until the students return to the scattered towers across the continent, it’s filled with non-nationals… meaning you get to see fools from various cultures. That’s one perk.”
“Ah! Please, don’t say that where anyone can hear! I get that you’re brilliant, but don’t call others fools!”
“…It’s true.”

Lowell replied with a deadpan expression, imagining his school days. Relie fluttered quietly above, sensing her master’s mood.

As in any large group, there was a mix of people. The same applied to Terium Academy. Students with detectable magical power from all over the continent were gathered here, resulting in a chaotic mix of cultures and abilities. Only a few stood out among them. Many could not withstand intense magical challenges, while others, forcibly brought from their families abroad, lacked interest in classes.

Yet, those who truly loved magic still studied deeply. The academy’s mandatory curriculum was varied in reception due to these differences.

Even so, Terium Academy was universally recognized for fully supporting magicians regardless of status. Tuition and living expenses were covered, as were benefits for families. The system compensated for the restrictions imposed on magicians, creating admiration rather than pity. The path to working at the royal court seemed well-paved, even for commoners.

‘Ah… is that how magician superiority started?’

Yet, rationalizing rebellion by claiming to abolish hierarchy still meant separating magicians and non-magicians into another class. Since magicians were fewer than the entire noble class, full control would have increased the suffering population, explaining the public’s resistance.

Temia’s thoughts swirled as she paused, lost in contemplation. Lowell, noticing her distraction, called out with a smile.

“Shall I go ahead?”
“Ah! W-wait! I’m coming right behind you!”

Temia hurried to catch up. Lowell, wearing a bored expression, slowed his pace to match hers. Relie, excited by the new scenery, fluttered above their heads.

Trying not to reveal her inner thoughts, Temia spoke, glancing at the bustling surroundings.

“My old school felt more serene, but this place is quite lively.”
“It can be noisy, yes. That was a downside for me too.”
“But you graduated here. Isn’t that too harsh a critique?”
“It’s true. Still, if you look carefully, there are quiet spots to rest. Not sure if they’re still around now.”

Lowell’s smile softened as he looked ahead, eyes briefly drifting into memories. The fleeting expression vanished quickly, replaced by his usual professional smile as he pointed to the next building.