4.
Immediately after the train was attacked, Leter Yurt headed outside the cabin, whereas Isabelle Yurt remained inside.
The reason being, it was dangerous outside.
“Umm… what on earth is happening….”
Due to the triple protection magic her sister had cast moments ago, Isabelle couldn’t leave the cabin even if she wanted to.
Thus, Isabelle quietly sat in the leather chair, waiting for Leter to return. But then…
-Clunk.
-Clunk, clunk, clunk…!
“…Huh? Wh-what is this?!”
Through the cabin window, the train’s wheels began rising into the air before slicing through the clouds.
Her eyes blinked involuntarily at the sudden surreal sight.
It felt like a dream.
After all, a long train flying through the sky was something only possible in dreams.
-Squawk!
“Ahh!”
That’s why she pinched her cheek without thinking.
Despite the pain being more vivid than ever, she had to rub her cheek and groan.
“What… is this real…?”
Realizing everything she faced was indeed reality, Isabelle glanced beside her.
All she saw were the always-upward white clouds.
Still too young to understand the scene, she stared silently.
Why did the dizziness she felt when boarding vanish?
“Did Master do this…? Or Leter?”
Time passed, yet her doubts only grew stronger.
All potential answers were outside the cabin.
How much time had passed since then?
-Wobble.
“Eh?”
The previously stable train slowly tilted, forming an angle that made standing impossible.
Instinctively, Isabelle gripped the edge of the chair with her delicate arms.
Even the white clouds seen through the cabin window were passing by slanted.
Isabelle realized the train was plummeting sharply.
“Dad…!”
Just as fear overwhelmed her and she unknowingly squeezed her eyes shut, calling out desperately for her father…
-Rustle.
Tiny circles flew from somewhere and attached themselves all over Isabelle’s body.
Soon, crescents and octagrams appeared within the circles.
More intricate formulas etched across the now fully covered circles, resembling geometric patterns meant to control physical phenomena.
“『Inertia』”
“『Reverse』”
A familiar voice chanted two spells calmly as usual.
The small magic circles glowed faintly, vanishing along with the sensation of falling.
“…Uh… uh?”
Realizing the absence of the falling feeling, Isabelle’s eyelids slowly opened.
The train that was plummeting just moments ago had abruptly stopped mid-air.
It felt like time itself had frozen.
Only seconds later, the sound of train wheels aligning with the tracks reminded her of the flow of time.
The cabin door, which had been tightly closed, opened next.
Seeing the familiar face brought involuntary tears.
“Isabelle. You can come out now.”
“Leter, I, I… …sniff!!”
Though Isabelle had many questions and things to say to her sister who left her alone in the cabin, all she could produce were cries.
Living her entire life in the family mansion, these few minutes of events terrified the young girl.
She didn’t notice the gaze of the master standing behind her sister, nor the trembling voice trying to get her attention.
*
“Oh dear, your eyes are all puffy…”
A mix of regret and apology in the voice.
The damp towel summoned into the childish hands soon approached Isabelle’s tear-streaked eyes.
“This should help a bit.”
“…Thank you…”
Her cheeks flushed slightly upon hearing her sister’s ever-kind voice, embarrassed about crying so much while her sister stayed calm during the earlier chaos.
Nevertheless, due to their location being the headmaster’s office of Primus Academy with Grand Dragon Orpheon present…
“…I’ll have some tea. I think we need to calm down a bit.”
“Ah… yes.”
Slowly nodding at Headmaster ‘Ainel Delanova’s trembling voice, Isabelle eventually lifted the teacup in front of her, sipping the warm tea.
After a brief tea time, Ainel introduced herself officially.
“I am Ainel Delanova, the headmaster of Primus Academy.”
She explained the current situation of Primus briefly.
It was mentioned that normally, a far more complex test would be conducted to see if one is suitable as a professor.
However, since the ability check was already completed by resolving the train attack incident…
“I won’t ask how you’ve already reached such a level. But teaching students is another matter.”
Ainel wanted to confirm if the girl sitting in front of her truly possessed the qualities of a professor as claimed by the grand dragon.
Since teaching requires sufficient experience…
She decided to first test if the girl could help others understand and develop.
They would discuss the aftermath of the attack once Ainel was confident the girl suited the professor role.
-Swirl.
A diagram of a certain magic circle was presented.
It was also one of the test questions for the currently vacant “Design of Mana” subject, distorted in form.
“Deconstruct the magic circle, then reassemble it. I’d appreciate an explanation of the process as well.”
Everything Ainel requested required deep understanding of magic.
While reaching a conclusion might be possible, explaining the process to others was a different story.
Still, she intended to give some time.
The girl couldn’t immediately solve the problem and explain it to Ainel simultaneously.
“Let me know when you’re ready.”
At that moment, an unexpected reply came from the girl staring intently at Ainel.
“Can I start now…?”
Ainel’s gaze wavered slightly at the girl’s words.
“…Right now?”
“Yes. I’ll try explaining it to my sister.”
With an unwavering voice, Ainel finally allowed the girl to proceed.
Almost simultaneously, tiny lights floated gently from the girl.
Like feathers swaying in a strong wind, they gathered to form a massive circle.
“Hmm, this magic belongs to the illusion category. It focuses on replacing reality with illusion, essentially making fake things seem real.”
Gradually appearing tiny pentagrams within the smoothly drawn circle.
Triangles connecting them upside down.
“The most crucial part of illusion magic is confusing the mind and senses. So, disrupting the target’s senses comes first.”
Overlapping or colliding shapes completed the diagram without any hesitation or doubt in the process.
“The ultimate goal of illusion magic is to confuse the five senses. Therefore, it’s necessary to make the target perceive both reality and illusion simultaneously.”
Only confidence could be felt.
There was no possibility of error in the answer traced by her fingertips.
“Nothing is clearer than mixing reality and illusion in the same space. Lastly, scattering the sense of space will suffice.”
Finally, the reconstructed magic circle rose softly with a gentle glow, expanding until it covered the entire office.
Thus, with a light flick of the girl’s finger, all symbols inscribed in the magic circle began functioning.
Gradually disappearing scenery of the office replaced by scattered mana crystals.
Even the airflow completely reversed in the end.
The resulting view was a vast open plain.
For some reason, both the sun and moon floated in the distant sky.
The subtle spring breeze carried around, gently swaying Isabelle and Ainel’s hair.
“Wow… there really was wind!”
Isabelle’s voice marveled at the realistic illusion spread everywhere.
On the other hand, Ainel, who had intended to test the girl, was speechless.
“Is there anything else you’d like to know?”
A perfectly calm voice.
Ainel’s response contained not only words but also astonishment.
And a trace of reverence.
“…Master Orpheon, where did you find someone like this?”
“Hmm… If I told you where I found her, you’d be even more surprised.”
Once again, a gentle breeze swept across the vast plain.
An even more realistic sensation than any illusion magic encountered so far.
Thus, Ainel finally addressed the girl with the title of professor.
Looking forward to the future, she added.
“…Welcome to Primus. Professor Leter Yurt.”
