Clockwork Maiden, Literally.

The R.E.D Thingy

--Chronodia Household, 0810 hours--

Another day to uphold and an upstart magician like me to study in that academy. Sigh…

Yesterday, I didn’t tell my dad the exact result of my first test. Well, he didn’t ask about it, so I don’t feel like telling him for the time being. I DID tell about it to Aria, you know, the maid. She wasn’t all that impressed about hearing it, though… it appears Madame Rozenflame—shite, I get too attached to call her that… anyway, it appears she was right. The result of the first test could not be used as a main indicator of anyone’s magic affinity.

Talking about Aria… she apologized greatly to me yesterday. I forgot under what reason she begged my pardon, to be honest, until Sir Al-Qadim arrived on scene welcoming me as well. Aria told me that she lost my pair of silver gloves… she cannot find it anywhere in the manor. I was like: oh… OHHHH…..!!!

I said to her that it’s okay and no need to worry about them—although they’re insanely important to me, they’re my catalysts, you know?

Sir Al-Qadim came near me and said to me that he found an unusual pair of gloves on the living room table yesterday. That’s when the tide turned, where Al-Qadim bowed down and begged for forgiveness from me. These maids… and Sir Al-Qadim the butler… they’re doing their best. I stated that it’s okay. Well, the gloves were still existent so why bother throwing my rage onto them?

Anyway, I was enforced to wear the same dress from yesterday. You know… that one black école steampunk dress with white long sleeves? I thought I had thrown them into washing, but shockingly they’re ready to wear this morning. Good god, just how fast they wash these clothes?

Right now, I’m preparing to go to Rozenflame Academy again. Honestly, I have some PTSD meeting that tall woman again. But I can’t stop now. I’ve started it… hopefully I’ll end it swiftly. This time I had everything set and ready, my gloves and my belt are ready, although mom wanted to confiscate my gloves but I managed to ensure her that it’s okay.

Phew… mom’s ability as a fashion stylist is second to none, even the costs were also considered by her.

This time, only me and my dad departed to the Rozenflame Academy. My mother had some works to be done, of course governmental stuffs.

On the way, dad still smiles as usual as he drove the car past the street like a pro driver. I still felt a little bit down for shouting to him yesterday. I have to say something to him…

“Um… dad?”

“Hm?”

“I’m s-s-sorry.”

“Eh? For what? You lost your pencils?” he replied offhandedly.

“Eheh, stop joking dad, I’m serious…”

“Then?”

“It’s yesterday…”

“Oh… didn’t I tell you it’s alright?”

“N-No… I mean… I felt bad for… um… shouting at you, dad.” I said in remorse. “That’s why… please forgive me… I… shouldn’t be…”

“Oh, my good dearest daughter… you’re so kind.”

“I’m dead serious, dad!”

“And your seriousness in doing so makes me feel thrilled. Of course, I’m sorry too, for not telling you about yesterday’s gonna have some tests to be done.” He conveyed sincerely.

“I forgive you, dad.” I can finally open my smile to him once again.

“Eva, my dear… I’m proud of you. With your attitude I believe you can best the tests given by Mrs. Arc. I’m 100% sure of it.”

“Eheheh… that’s not how I thought it would be…”

“Why? You’ve passed the first test, so you should be able to pass the rest of ‘em. Have some courage, my dear!”

Little did my dad know about the creepy situation I was in yesterday… one that I haven’t told him, of course.

…

..

.

--Rozenflame Academy, 0858 hours--

We’ve reached the building waaay earlier than yesterday. I don’t know for sure why, but dad told me that Mrs. Arc liked students who came early. Well, let’s hope my dad’s right. I don’t want to speed up my trouble by meeting her again this soon.

When we got out of the car, my nape hair suddenly rises to a maximum extent. Hiii!!! What’s with this goosebumps I’m having?!

I veered into the academy’s front door, only to find the world’s no.1 tallest woman walking slowly to us. C-Crap… what am I supposed to do… this is too early!

My dad recognized her and stands in front of his car facing her. Suddenly, he posed menacingly and says:

“Ho…? You’re approaching me?”

“I’ve no time for your jokes, Sir Edward.” Mrs. Arc destroyed his roleplay.

“Eh…? How unfunny… oh! You wanna meet my daughter in person? My… she must’ve been a good girl ain’t she, aaahahahaha!”

She leaned down and grabbed both of my hands, I can’t avoid her at all, I’m stone-frozen at where I’m standing. I’m scared, somebody help! This woman is scary!

“Yes… a good girl, indeed…” she grinned menacingly.

“Well, then, have fun, Eva… please take care of her for me, Mrs. Arc.”

“Sure do, Sir Edward, safe journey,” She slightly waved goodbye to my dad. Dad… please don’t leave me alone!

“Bye Eva, have a good time~!” *VROOM *VROOOOOOOOOM*

The car has left the server—I mean the car has left the area.

…

“Aaahahahah… good m-morning, Madame…” I greeted in a scared tone.

“Uh,” she nodded, “good morning to you as well.”

Oh, it appears she’s not as scary as yesterday… I slowly turn my face to her, only to find an afterimage of her last position as she suddenly got SUUUPER close to me, just an inch from my right ear! EEEEGH! Someone, send help! My sweat is uncontrollable! It pours greater than a rainstorm!

She whispers deeply, “You have guts to return here, aren’t ya?”

My legs are greatly trembling when she speaks up close like this. Mrs. Arc moved back and grinned while seeing me.

“Very well… if that’s your wish, Eva Chronodia, come on in… hehe.” She turned around and walked into the building.

I had no other place to go, it’s not the time to RUN AWAY like that, I must finish this, so that I may explore Gardia City!

I’ll try to encourage myself to not get scared by her attitude. Honestly, she’s crazy.

…

Huh… wondering about one particular person that hasn’t been seen in my sights so far…

“Where’s Nirva…? Oh! There she is—huh? Why she’s looking away from me?”

She suddenly returned to her previous attitude like when we first met, this time she acted cold. I wonder why… no, not that, it’s more like: What did Mrs. Arc indoctrinate to her poor childish mind?

Heh, I suddenly sounded like I’m framing that tall woman as a bad person. Oof… I should stop that. There’s no proof she did such a thing, hehe.

Anyways… it felt weird to be treated like that by her, when previously I thought I’ve succeeded in changing her attitude. It appears I was wrong.

I was instructed to enter a class by one of the students—which I thought they’re non-existent beforehand—to study together. They’re pretty nice to me. I also realized why mom wanted me to wear this dress: it looked the same as this academy’s students’ uniform! Ooh… mom… why you don’t tell me anytime sooner? I could’ve happily wears this anyway…

…

--Rozenflame Academy, 0915 hours--

I sat in the famous back row seat. Well that’s the only seat left in here. I saw Nirva sitting in the left corner most front row seat, while I sat beside a… skinny middle-aged man. Huh…

“You’re new here, aren’t you?” he asked.

“Yes, good sir…”

“Jeez, stop that, I’m not even that old, you know?”

“O-Oh! S-Sorry, um…”

“Gerald’s the name. Gerald Johan. And you?”

“Eva. Eva Chronodia, nice to meet you, err… Gerald.”

“Nice to meet you too, Eva.”

“Yes, that’s it, that’s it… enough talking everyone.” Mrs. Arc entered the class… with a caped man. Hm… do I remember him from somewhere?

The dark-red clothing with some black stripes on its edges…

*DING

OHH!!! He’s one of the renowned CRIMSON MEISTER!!!

“Huh… you look excited, Eva.”

“Why not? He’s a genuine Crimson Meister, you know?”

“Yup, he is. He’s been teaching us for three months now.”

“Alright, class… and honorable Madame Rozenflame… I hereby announce my return from hell after a while. Today, I’ll start teaching again, and this day’s material is: The R.E.D.”

“Good sir!” one of the students called.

“Yes?” he replied.

“I’m sorry, but where have you been all this time?”

“Ah… I’ve been from hell-mington, if you want to know.” He replied.

“Haha, funny joke, teach.”

“I’m trying my best, you know, hahaha!” the meister laughed followed with the other students.

Huh… I DO believe I’ve seen this dude from somewhere… wait a sec— hell-mington… Helmington? He’s from Helmington City?!

Wait a second… don’t say… just please don’t say… he’s that very meister that dropped that red shiny brooch in that alleyway back at Helmington City?!?!

Oooooookaaaaay…. That makes SUPER sense… that’s why I felt like I’ve met him before… that’s why his cape is rather recognizable by my eyes… not just that…! He doesn’t have the red brooch with him! It IS HIM!

Okay, calm down-calm down-calm down me… he’s yet to notice me.

“Hey, you!” the meister called to me.

“YES?!” I reflexed replying loudly.

Everyone bursts into laughter. Eeeeeh…. How embarrassing…

“My, no need to shout like that, you know?” said one of the students.

“He might be a meister but he’s a kind man!” one of the students added.

“Okay, class, that’s enough, we’ll begin our study right away. And try to hold yourself when I call you alright~?”

“Y-Yes, s-sir…”

Ouch, that’s too embarrassing.

…

..

.

The meister gave a serious lecture to us.

“So, class… today’s material will be about the Red Eye Device, or R.E.D. for short. They are the tools that allow non-magicians to become full-fledged magicians. So if any of you were not a gifted magician, then with the Red Eye, you’ll be able to become one.”

“Teach!”

“Yes?”

“How does it work?”

“Good question. Very well, I’ll answer it. The R.E.D. device works as stamina converter, the greater the stamina you had the greater the magical affinity it shall give to you. For us magicians, these devices were known as Catalysts to channel our magic into activation. So once you’re able to properly control the device, you can try testing your capability as enacting this tool as a Catalyst. Not limited to this device, though… you can use anything else to become your catalysts as long as they’re compatible…”

…

..

.

The lecture lasted about three hours long. I wonder whether dad knew about this man or not… I dare say he knew, heh.

I realized I had created two catalysts for myself already: the metal belt and the silver gloves. I never thought that catalysts were above-normal class to make. Huh… I don’t know if I can make more, though… but not only some simple materialistic stuffs that meister gave to us. He also showed some formula for us to use in later situations… which… I don’t know when exactly it will be used.

“Alright, then, class,” the meister closed his thicc book and swiped his hair. I don’t know why he’s doing it though…

“Prepare yourselves, we’ll begin some simple practice with the device. No need to worry, it won’t be hard.”

“Eh?” I flinched.

“Oh… there’s a practice as well? Goodity, I’m looking for one after some time…” said Gerald as he sighed long.

I saw Madame Rozenflame staring at me. Coldly. Yet she grins highly as if I’m her most delicious prey.

Harrumph! Please don’t make some stupid traps along the practice, Madame… I didn’t mean to be a bad girl last time.

Please don’t make traps for me… that’s what I hope. But judging by her scary grin that even the meister won’t dare pick an eye to her face… ahahahaha… I’m in danger. Again.

Sigh…