Clockwork Maiden, Literally.

Magician's Beginner Course, Kinda.

--Rozenflame Academy, 1234 hours--

All of us went to the very back of the academy with the meister. I just blended myself in with the crowd of students here, hehehe. When we reached the back room, I got a bit confused…

“Master Teach!” I called the meister.

“Good god! I’m not a scary pirate!” he shakes his head funnily, “call me simply ‘teach’ okay?” he replied to my call.

“Yes, Teach!” I replied. “Hm! Much better,” he responded. Huh… why does the word Teach have something to do with pirates? I dunno… I’ve no idea, my brain didn’t catch his phrase, so I yessed him anyway, heh.

“So! What do you want to ask of me, young girl?” he asked kindly yet with a joy. He walked towards me, his boots are quite the noisy when they stomp the wooden floor. His sturdy build and his military garb made me sweating reflectively.

“Huh? Eva? What’s wrong?” Gerald asked me in a confusion sight. You know I’m new here, right?! I was not told about a meister being an instructor in here!

“U-Um…” I’m seriously sweating here, he’ll surely recognize me—wait a sec, did he even saw me back at Helmington in the first place?—the hell do I care, I can’t stop trembling! But good thing is that the entire building was poorly lighted. My wetted cloth won’t me too obvious.

“Uh… you are…” he said in a slow tone. Oh no! He’s going to notice me…

“…a newbie, huh?”

“Eh?” I’m surprised at his reaction, but I’m holding my shocked feelings to not embarrass myself again.

“As I said, you’re new here, aren’t you?” he asked kindly as he lowers his face to my level. H-Huh…? He didn’t know me…?

My little brain reflexes as my eyes send signal about his not-knowing-about-me attitude. It caused me to play it as if I never met him as well. Welp, here we go!

“Um… yes! I’m new here, sssir…” I got stuttered in the last one. Shite.

“Teach!” the meister spouted funnily.

“Ah! P-Pardon me, teach! I’m a… err… a bit nervous, hehehe,” I said as I rubbed the back of my head uselessly. I can see everyone’s looking at me; I dare not to look into their expressions.

“Nervous… nervous… nervous… hm… everyone’s been like that, but since you’re a newbie…” He suddenly points me with his finger—wait, hold up, are you gonna shoot me with your magic or what?!

Unexpectedly, he draws a star-symbol in the air using… I don’t know what’s that twinkling dusts coming out from his finger.

[Soothed Souls!] he yelled.

All of sudden, the star-symbol he made earlier forms a white magic circle. That magic circle circulates in a slow yet calm move as it shifts closer to me. The brightness isn’t too bright and isn’t too dim… it’s strangely… making me feel better. The follow up of it was a big white dust sprinkled at my face head on. I thought it might get in the eye, but it didn’t affect them. Instead I feel much better. I can feel my bravery and calmness flowing back to my body. That’s odd… I’m super-nervous and incredibly troubled when talking to this meister.

*FWAASH*

The magic circle flashes off returning the dimness of the building once again.

“Feeling better?” he asked kindly.

“U-Uh…” I nodded reflectively. That’s… strange… I don’t feel scared nor do I feel nervous in front of him.

“Good.”

Shortly, everyone claps and says random compliments like: “BRAVO!” “Yeah, that’s our teach!” “You’re super-good at this!”

“Enough with the flattery, continue on to the next room,” he commanded boldly.

“Aye-aye, sir!” everyone followed his instruction and walked into the next room directly up front… except Gerald.

“You look flustered, Eva,” said him in a rather worried face. “K-Kinda… I guess it’s fine, I’m new here, after all, hehe.”

His worried face shifted into a smile, what a moody man. “Fine, then, we’ll wait for you at the next room, see ya there,” he brisk-walking into the room followed by the meister.

“Coming, Miss Eva?”

“Y-Yes…” I reflectively followed him. And again, I don’t feel scared or sweating anymore. Could it be the magic he used on me…?

Without me realizing, I had forgotten to ask the meister about something. Oh, well. I think it’ll be alright, hopefully.

…

..

.

--Rozenflame Academy, Empty Room, 1239 hours—

“Teach? Where are you taking us now?” one of the students asked.

“Oh, I hope it’ll be a desert-themed one!”

“Impossible, dude, that’s one helluva work to be made.”

“I’d prefer a beach…”

Eh? What are they talking about? Desert? Beach? What the fridge are you bastards spouting about?

“Alright, *CLAP *CLAP everyone gather around,” the meister commanded softly. “Now, close your eyes.”

Huh, dunno what’s that for, but alright, it’s worth a shot. I closed my eyes for a second.

“Okay, you can open your eyes again.”

I’m extremely agape at the sight I saw in front of me—no, surrounding me! It’s all green landscapes like those I’ve read in novels and comics! It’s so… beautiful!

I was captivated until Gerald and a girl looked at me with a mocking sight.

“Heh, first time?” said Gerald.

“Gotta love the meister’s magecraft, *wink* you’re gonna love it!”

Eh? What’s that wink for?

I dismissed their speaking and realized that the entire students had taken formation in front of the meister… and Madame Rozenflame. Sheesh, she’s still keeping up that creepy smile. Anyways, I joined the flock and listens to what they’re gonna say.

“Today’s practice would be energy ball casting,” said the meister.

“As you all may know—well, some may’ve not, hehe,” said Mrs. Arc with a giggle. “Energy Balls are the most basic concept of magecrafts. You can even cast them without spelling any magecraft lines or whatever you’d call ‘em. Even a beginner can do it, hehe.”

GOOD GOD! Everytime she giggles she looked at me. That’s scaring me out—although I couldn’t feel that way, for some reason.

“Now, Nirva, show to your friends of your capability lately…” she commanded her.

“Yes, Madame,”

She stood in front of us and aimed both of her hands up high into the sky. Her eyes are still closed, though.

“Ha!” she yelled softly. From her tiny hands appeared rampaging blasts of energy ball into the sky.

GEEEEEZ! That’s cool! She did tell me that she’s a great magecraft user, but I didn’t know she’ll be that great! W-Wait a second, she’s gasping? I looked around me and these students are also watching with a grim look in their faces. What am I supposed to do…?

“Why are you forcing yourself again, Nirva? This is the result of casting a magecraft without a single catalyst!” one of the students shouted followed by many others as well. “It must be her curse, that’s what!” “Yeah, that must be it!”

Eh? What? Why are you guys… insulting her like that…?

“ENOUGH!” Rozenflame shouted. Everyone quickly silenced. Her vociferous shout breaks the student’s harshness towards Nirva.

[Recovery!]

A light falls upon her from Rozenflame’s palm as she touches the silver-haired girl. Soon, she was able to walk normally again. Phew, good thing she’s fine.

“Ahem! Sorry to interrupt, but… I appreciate her attempt to try and break her limits by casting without a catalyst,” said the meister, he’s serious now.

“But I will not forgive anyone who dares to throw away their lives in the sake of magecrafting, I abhor people with such thoughts.” He said in a stiffly serious face.

“That’s why…” he loosens his stiffened face into his laid-back attitude, “…all of you must learn how to use the simplest piece of catalyst, the Red Eye Device!” he showed us the mentioned device which… looks like a small ball with a red light on it.

Everyone went agape as they look into it. It is as if they’re looking at some limited edition product that has cheap cost yet looked extremely useful. But for me, I don’t know. I’m not a smarty fella that would learn about it in the first place.

“I’ll give everyone a chance to try them out—“

“—can I be the first one?” asked Nirva to the meister. “Su—

“—NO! Don’t let her use it. She’ll blow it up!” said one of the students cutting the meister’s acceptance.

“She’s an accursed girl, don’t let her!” said one of the girl students.

“A-Ah…” Nirva sounded scared, I wanna reach her out but she’s literally AVOIDING me!

“Don’t be like that, everyone! That’s just mean. Everyone in here are welcome to try the Red Eye Device. Don’t worry of breaking it apart, it’ll be replaced less than a minute.”

What I heard from these student ramblings… Nirva… was an accursed girl? B-But under what reason a poor small child like her being treated in such way?