Sanity and insanity

Nimue's heart stopped momentarily, her body tensing up. Her throat felt suddenly dry, and icy rivulets of sweat ran down her spine. Her fingers trembled, the threads of mana swaying as if caught in a turbulent gust. Her eyes locked onto the Liveren Princess with a fierce intensity, her gaze a mix of shock and barely concealed hostility. The words of the green-haired elf hung low, their echo reverberating in her skull.

Tension rose in the air rapidly.

"=...what did you say?=" Nimue asked quietly.

"=Since Limen's ****, nobody outside of the royal circle knew of him. All of his coworkers are dead as well,=" Seraphina squinted. The spirit next to her let out a faint, jingle-like sound as it charged up, ready to fire a bolt of magic at the moment's notice. "=Which means you had a connection to him other than that.="

Nimue didn't answer. Her mouth parted slightly, but no sound came out as she exhaled shallowly. She appeared to be picking words for an answer.

However, Seraphina wasn't going to give her any time.

"=And you don't possess your own mana, but instead use what is in the air. Other than dragons, only one type of being can do that,=" Seraphina took a defined step forward. Her aura, starkly different from Nimue's, clashed against the maid's as the two focused on each other fiercely. "=Limen's creations, ho--!=" Seraphina's words suddenly stopped as she noticed the maid move.

Nimue's hand jerked with precision and speed reminiscent of a wild snake. In less than half a second, the Liveren Princess found herself ensnared, an array of blue threads sprawled over her body. They stretched immediately, forcing her limbs apart. A chilling sensation emanated from the bindings, biting into her skin.

The light spirit right next to her reacted. The mana stored in its body shot out, forming a bolt of magic that traveled at the maid. Or rather, it tried to.

*WHOOSH!*

Nimue's other hand moved with lightning speed, faster than Seraphina's eyes could register. A single thread of mana sliced through the air, obliterating the spirit's attack in a brilliant flash before skewering it cleanly. The spirit let out a final, almost pitiful sound before it dissolved into a shower of glittering particles, vanishing into the void.

'What?!' Seraphina's eyes widened. She did not expect her to be able to strike at the small spirit with such accuracy, nor that it would be destroyed in one strike. She looked at the maid, aghast. A dreadful chill went down her spine.

"=You know some nasty words,=" Nimue spoke, power booming from her voice. Gone was her timid and peaceful attitude, instead hostility seeping from her posture. The green of her eyes shone almost ominously.

Seraphina tried to move. The threads holding her in place tensed up slightly, but their hold was absolute. 'I can't... I-I can't summon a spirit.' she realized. 'She's blocking my connection. How...?' "=...you... what did you do to Cileres?=" she asked, trying to assess the situation better.

Nimue's face showed a momentary ponder that entered her mind. Almost immediately, however, she raised a hand, the threads behind her shifting, lifting a familiar ball of black fur around her head's level.

"=So, you're the one who sent a spy after me,=" she said almost off-handedly, eyeing the squirming cat. "=Foolish.="

Seraphina's heart skipped a beat. Cileres didn't look hurt, but she could imagine the way the threads were tied around his body did not feel pleasant. And most of all...

'She can destroy spirits with a single strike, block my connection to them, and even prevent Cileres from liquefaction... None of Limen’s records mentioned anything like this...' Seraphina thought, the implications sending a chill down her spine. The more she learned about the maid, the more she was certain: she was extremely dangerous.

"=I was--="

"=Now, then,=" Nimue cut her off in an instant. "=What do you want?=" she asked, naught a notion of respect toward the elven princess. In fact, there was an almost tangible layer of disgust staining her tone.

"=I was... curious about you, is all,= Seraphina admitted, her voice cautiously measured. "=I didn’t think you’d be one of Limen’s... children. You must be one of the newest ones, to still be alive. But how?="

Nimue's brow twitched. A glint of confusion permeated the green of her eyes. "=How... what?=" she asked cautiously, scanning the Liveren Princess.

"=I’ve read about your kin,= Seraphina’s voice softened slightly. It was almost as though she spoke more to herself than to the maid in front. "=They couldn’t survive for long, nor control their power... but you are different. You control it freely, meaning you have trained it. How did you manage to escape punishment? How are you still alive?="

Nimue's hands clenched, her knuckles becoming white. The air in the corridor appeared to become chiller as the black-haired woman took a step forward, less than a meter of distance between them. Seraphina silently shuddered, feeling that the reality of maid's rage was nigh-incomprehensible to her understanding.

"=You seem to know quite a lot,=" Nimue hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. "=That fucker must still have fans even after what he'd done.="

Seraphina's thoughts raced, sensing the venom dripping from Nimue's words. '...something's off,' she mused, unease creeping into her mind. 'Her kin was always said to be loyal to Limen to ****... but she sounds like she would rip him apart if given the chance. I should be careful with my words.'

"=...we merely study what he was doing before passing,=" she said slowly. "=We don't commend what he had done.="

"=Exact same words he had for us when he justified his actions,=" the maid answered sharply. Her anger only seemed to increase further by the second. "=And now, here you are, asking me like I'm going to tell you. All of you are the same,=" her voice was stained with disdain reflected in her eyes.

Seraphina remained silent at the accusation. Her breath came out in shallow puffs, momentarily misting the air before her. However, that was promptly forgotten as she felt the threads shift, digging slightly deeper into her. Her bust was squished tighter by multiple lines, causing it to push against her silver dress. Her hands, each cast to the side, had spiraling patterns on them. Though she couldn’t see, she could feel the same intricate designs coiling around her legs, binding her with an ironclad grip.

She took in the moment of calm, trying to decipher Nimue's calculative expression. Just what could this small maid be thinking about?

"=...what do you want from Lucas?=" Nimue finally broke the silence. "=Why did you meet him?="

'She's protective of Lucas...' Seraphina reminded herself, noticing the surge of mana around the maid. "=I have no ill intent toward him. It was a coincidence.="

Nimue squinted. Her black hair swung lightly as she looked slightly to the side, almost as though deconcentrating. "=Don't lie to me,=" the maid said through her teeth. Raising a hand, her fingers curled into her palm. In an instant, Seraphina's binds tightened. The faint groan from her mouth confirmed that her discomfort was amplified. "=You wouldn't have gon--!=" Nimue's words were cut off as her breath halted, a brief flicker of pain crossing her features. Her eyes widened in surprise and pain.

*COUGH! COUGH*

Before Seraphina could react, Nimue dropped to her knees, a violent cough wracking her body. She pressed a hand to her mouth, trying to suppress the fit, but it only grew worse. Her other hand clutched at her chest as though she was stabbed through the heart. Tears espaced her eyes, her ears twitching unsteadily. She hunched over and lay on the ground in a fetal position, unable to even keep herself up. Seraphina could tell that whatever happened to the maid was painful, evident in the maid's tensed muscles and contorted facial expression.

The threads of mana, once spread across the corridor, almost instantly receded, some disappearing outright while others surged back into Nimue's hands to vanish there. The binds around Seraphina's body were no different, and the Liveren Princess steadied herself on the ground almost immediately. The unpleasant cold on her skin remained, but the air around her immediately felt warmer. In an instant, the black cat skittered to her side, its fur bristled and fangs barred at the maid.

After a few seconds, Nimue began calming down. Her coughing lost its power, and the spike of pain permeating her body appeared to diminish. She rose to a sitting position, newfound exhaustion etched on her face. Slowly taking the hand from her mouth, she noticed some blood staining her fingers. The same scarlet fluid was visible on her lower lip before she swiped it with a sleeve.

"=So, you can't escape the punishment,=" she heard Seraphina speak. "=You can only postpone it.="

"=As if you *huff* know anything,=" Nimue replied with a pained rasp as she shot a glare at Seraphina.

A few seconds of silence passed. The green-haired elf, free of the restraints, looked at the cat by her feet. Sensing her stare, Cileres glanced at her, the bronze of his eyes glimmering as though telling her they needed to escape as soon as possible.

Seraphina, however, did not listen to the intangible request. Her blue eyes focused on the black-haired maid again.

"=Does Lucas know?=" she asked.

"=Don't. Say. His. Name,=" Nimue said through her teeth. Her fist clenched, a loud cracking noise emanating as her skin turned white. Leaning on a wall for support, she grabbed a doorframe. The wooden surface almost splintered as she clutched her fingers around it.

"=Why not? I'm not the one who's lying to him,=" the Liveren Princess answered. "=Because you didn't tell him, did you? Nobody knows they live under one roof with a monster.="

Nimue's eyes narrowed, her expression hardening bitterly. "=You don't know anything about me,=" she spat back, her voice rising as she stood tall once more in spite of her weakened state. "=Do you think I wanted this? All I wanted was ****. Instead, I was torn to shreds and put back together in the name of some 'progress' in a war I never signed up for. But you wouldn't get it. You in the royal circles never cared, did you?=" she demanded, her tone dripping with contempt. Her breath came in ragged gasps, each one a testament to the pain she endured. "=None of you wanted to save us.="

Seraphina was silent, her mind racing with the implications of Nimue's words. There was something about her that made the Liveren Princess want to believe the words. Perhaps it was the anguish in Nimue's eyes or the seething resentment toward Limen clear in her voice... she wasn't sure.

"=Then, why are you doing this?=" Seraphina asked cautiously. "=Why are you hiding like this? What do you hope to achieve with this?="

Nimue let out a prolonged breath. "=All I want is to live a peaceful life. Away from Limen, my past, and that stupid war you assist the dragons in. And I will NOT have a pretentious brat stand in my way,=" Nimue said, her voice echoing with power within Seraphina's skull.

The green-haired woman moved her hands slightly. Mana welled up in her palms, coating her skin in a thin layer as she prepared to use it. However, a pang of hesitation welled in her spirit, dispersing the mana after a moment of silence.

"=...You know you can't stay hidden forever,=" she said, but for the first time, her tone shifted. Instead of being cold or neutral, it was tinged with a bit of compassion. "=How long do you think you can keep this up? What if someone finds out? ...What if Lucas does?="

Nimue’s eyes flickered, her expression momentarily faltering as if Seraphina's words had found a weak spot. But then, just as quickly, the anger returned, blazing in her emerald eyes.

She moved. No, rather, her body seemed to instantly flash from one point to another. It was a movement imperceptible to the naked eye, even one as keen as Seraphina's.

Before the Liveren Princess could blink, the maid closed the distance of almost two meters. Her small hand pushed on Seraphina's sternum with immense power, effortlessly forcing her back against a nearby wall. Her palm pressed itself against her neck softly. A few small threads shot from Nimue's other hand, restraining Cileres before the cat had the chance to even flinch. The wrath in the maid's eyes was evident, greater than ever before. What was the most chilling thing, however, was just how controlled she still was.

"=Let me be clear with you,=" she hissed through clenched teeth. "=If anyone learns of this... especially Lucas,=" she emphasized, her voice lowering. Her hand clenched tighter around Seraphina's throat briefly. "=I will make sure the war with Ureliar is the least of your concerns, even if it's the last thing I'll ever do. Do not forget that.="

As the threat hung in the air, Seraphina’s breath caught in her throat. For a fleeting moment, she saw something change in Nimue’s gaze - a flash of gold in her left eye that sent a chill down her spine. It was more than just anger; it was something primal that stirred a deep, instinctual fear within her. It was nothing like before. Now, she felt like her every bone could be crushed with the maid's single gesture.

Nimue's hand around her throat loosened its grip.

Seraphina’s eyes widened, the world around her blurring and dimming. Her legs gave out, forcing her to her knees. Her limbs limped, unable to muster any strength. The instinctual feeling deep within her soul went rampant, her every nerve screaming at her to flee, to escape this monstrous **** that threatened to consume her. But all she could do was stay there, paralyzed, as Nimue passed by her. After a few seconds, the maid was gone, as were the threads of mana that bound Cileres.

...

...

...

Nimue broke into a run almost as soon as she disappeared behind the corner. Her steps were frantic and unsteady. The rhythmic sway of her chest went unnoticed, as did the headwear that threatened to slip from her disheveled hair with each stride.

Her vision was blurry. She barely registered the descent, nearly tripping as her feet pounded against the steps. The thick carpet, usually plush and inviting, felt like a dead weight beneath her boots, its colors drained of life. The faint shine of light coming from the windows felt almost ominous, casting prolonged, eerie shadows on the ground.

Barely able to hold herself together, Nimue hurried through the underground corridors. The sharp clicks of her boots against the floor sounded distant and muffled, as though they belonged to someone else. The narrow passage felt suffocating. Several times, she had to pause, **** back the coughs that threatened to tear through her throat, and swallowing down the metallic taste that lingered on her tongue.

Finally, she arrived in her room. Nimue cared little for how loud she was, slamming the door with a resonating boom. Her body felt weak as she rummaged in a pocket with a hand, the other locking the entryway.

Her veins pulsed ominously. Her muscles felt stiff. Every last cell in her body felt like they were being frozen over.

Nimue collapsed against the door, her bum hitting the ground with a dull thud. She **** herself to focus, trying to quell the storm inside her guts. A deep breath in, a slow exhale out - just as she was taught. Her fingers probed for the vial hidden in her pocket, her trembling hand lifting it with **** haste.

She uncorked the container and downed the contents in an instant. The sour taste didn't even register. All that mattered was the effects.

Deep within her mind, something stirred. If she could give it form, Nimue would describe it as a pair of golden eyes—an elusive presence, faint yet terrifyingly powerful.

*BA-THUM!*

Nimue exhaled shallowly. She felt dizzy and nauseous like she was suffering the worst case of food poisoning in her life. Her eyes couldn't focus, the emerald orbs staring blankly at the dimly lit manalamp near her.

Seconds dragged into what felt like an eternity. Gradually, she could feel the icy grip on her body loosening, the frost in her veins slowly melting away.

*BA-THUM!*

A crushing wave of exhaustion hit her, numbing her senses and dulling her thoughts to fragments. But the oppressive **** that had loomed over her, the ominous presence watching from the recesses of her mind, began to fade into nothingness.

As darkness crept over her consciousness, Nimue found solace in its embrace. She wasn't afraid. Within her, she knew: she was safe now.

-Meanwhile-

Lucas walked quickly through the Academy's corridors. The students that used to be in the corridors have long since dispersed. Some likely still had their classes, but most simply left for their homes or dormitories.

One or two people passed him on the way. A bulky man walking around with a wand, casting it every now and again on the walls and windows - one of the janitors, Lucas figured. An elderly woman with gray hair and a large binder in her hands - the young Stormrider recognized her from the library as one of the people who oversaw the young librarian who welcomed him before. A duo of somewhat young men talking about something that Lucas vaguely caught on to be some theory on 'Magic Static Field' or some such - he figured they were either students in a research group or some doctors.

The thoughts of who he saw, however, quickly lost meaning as he descended on a stairwell. Quickly making his way in one of the corridors, he looked into the Academy's courtyard momentarily. Tracing his memories, he confirmed that the perspective was more or less the same, meaning he was on the correct floor, and not that far from his destination.

He sighed, slowing down slightly.

'Alright, last checkup.' he thought, his hands going over his attire. He swiped his hair a little, letting it spring back to its natural shape while wiping away any droplets of sweat that had formed. Tugging at his robe a little, the tall man confirmed that it was secured on him properly and didn't have any stains he could've attained on the way. 'I just hope they're nice. If they really don't care about my class as Professor Schweizer said, I guess they won't have a reason not to be. Well, but I won't know until I meet them.'

Ensuring everything was in order, the young Stormrider focused fully on the path ahead. Knowing that the research group was centered around alchemy, he felt relieved. Alchemy had been in his life for a long time. He knew his way around the apparatus even if he didn't use it that often. He was certain that would be a good first impression.

Suddenly, as he focused ahead, he noticed a familiar face. The small professor's legs moved as she walked calmly, a few small papers in her hands. Almost as though sensing his gaze, she looked at him.

"Hello, Lucas," Professor Schweizer called out, approaching. "Or, rather, I should call you 'Mister Stormrider'," she added, her mouth curving gently.

"Good afternoon, Professor Schweizer," Lucas nodded as he closed the distance, joining the petite woman. "Just my name is alright by me. I'm not used to being titled."

"Hah," she gave him a short chuckle. "You're already speaking like you've been in the group for a year. You'll fit right in with that attitude."

Lucas nodded in response.

Their silent walk continued, neither he nor the professor speaking anymore as they approached the door to the classroom. Elaine put a hand on the handle before shooting a scrutinizing glance down the corridor.

"Seems like they're already in. Let's not keep them waiting," she said before opening the door and letting them both enter.

Lucas almost immediately let out a shallow exhale. His amethyst eyes looked around the room, finding two women sitting behind a desk.

The one further from him, hazel-eyed with ginger hair, instantly looked at him. Her hand slammed on the table, the cards she held thrown across the surface, a few even landing on the ground. The robe around her rather tall stature shifted as she stood up.

"Dorothea, Alisha," Elaine glanced at the woman, then at the other. "I hope you've been doing well."

"Yeah, amazin'," the ginger-haired woman answered with a wide smile, skittering to pick up the fallen items. Her voice had a rough edge, similar to Elaine's but much more pronounced. Similarly, her body seemed more visible under the robe, but the entire shape was difficult to make out.

"Just so so," the other one nodded, her long, dirty blonde hair swaying against her chair. A faint clattering sound resonated as she put down a small cup of steaming liquid. She gave the two a gentle smile. Her amber eyes lit up with intelligence and softness.

"Well, I want you two to meet the new person in the group. I think the four of you will get along nicely," Professor Schweizer nodded, stepping toward her desk. Shuffling a few papers, she gave Lucas room to act on his own, seemingly forgetting about everyone's presence.

The ginger-haired woman immediately walked over to him. She was roughly half a head lower than him, and her eyes glimmered with wit and curiosity. Just as Lucas thought she was going for a handshake, she suddenly walked around him, her gaze scanning his body several times. The scrutinizing gaze of the hazel eyes seemed piercing, making the man suddenly feel naked in front of her.

'She seems a little... eccentric...' Lucas judged, trying not to flinch as the woman made the third circle and came to a stop. He suddenly felt her hand clasp around his firmly, accepting his greeting.

"Dorothea," she said. "But eh, call me 'Dory', ya?"

"Uh, Lucas," he answered, trying not to wince in pain. "And sure."

'Gods damn it, her grip strength is crazy.' he judged, feeling the numbness in his hand despite Dory's hand no longer squeezing it. 'She might be near Aveline's level of Strength... but she doesn't look the part at all.'

Dory gave him a somewhat cocky smile, but strangely, it didn't seem to be aimed to intimidate him. Standing beside him, she got a hand around his shoulder and pushed slightly, prompting him to walk forward to the other student.

"Dory," Alisha spoke softly. "Respect people's personal space," she looked at the woman before slowly ascending from her position. As her gaze turned to Lucas, she smiled warmly with a nod. "I'm Alisha. I hope we'll work well together," she extended a hand.

"Yes, I hope for that too," Lucas reciprocated the gesture. Unlike the vice-like grip of Dorothea's, Alisha's hand grasped his with tenderness and care. In a way, it felt like a motherly gesture.

"Here, have a seat," she nodded to her side.

Lucas almost immediately heeded, skittering to an empty chair by the woman. Dorothea sat on Alisha's other side, glancing at the man for a second before turning to the professor still in the middle of organizing some documents. However, as Elaine noticed the silence permeating the classroom, she glanced at the trio. With a sigh, she put the documents down and stepped forward.

"Now that you've made acquaintances, allow me to explain what we do here," she turned to Lucas. "Research groups gather to brainstorm new ideas and theories, and search for methods to test those. Something like 'The effect of 2nd-circle barrier on a 3th-circle attack spell will be such and such' and a way to quantify what is found out, confirmed, and disproven. That is, of course, put under scrutiny by others, especially the group's overseer (in Riverut, they call them promoters). If your theory holds itself properly, you're allowed to perform the practical tests. Do you understand thus far?" she raised a brow, analyzing his expression.

"Yes," Lucas nodded, looking at Alisha for a moment. The woman's figure was slightly more apparent in the position, showing the man that she was rather voluptuous, especially up top. She listened carefully, her teacup raised as she sipped its contents slowly.

"But it's slightly different with alchemy and artifacts. The theory ends very quickly here. More often than not, it's easier to set a question, experiment with the framework you provide yourself with, and then scribble down what you found out. That's why it's important to take care and do things slowly if possible. Haphazard use of materials can be disastrous, and I want you to be extremely aware of that. Unlike in normal groups, messing up in here can easily end in severe injuries."

"I understand," he replied.

"As your overseer, I can provide you with some ideas, especially at the start. Last year, the project was about the resonance of mana in different types of artifacts. My proposition this year would be to focus on alchemy," Elaine pulled a sheet of paper and gave it to Alisha. "Of course, that's not set in stone," she turned to Lucas. "If the group agrees, you are free to think of your own project assignment. In fact, I would even encourage it. You have two semesters to finish the project, so don't feel pressured at the moment. Take a while to exchange ideas and opinions. If anything comes up outside of the assembly meetings, feel free to come to my office to discuss it."

A moment of silence passed. Dorothea snatched the paper from Alisha's hands, eyeing the lines of text with curiosity.

"Hoh, ah like 'em," she said roughly, looking at Elaine. "Could be fun."

The professor gave her a smile and a nod.

"*Sigh* Seems like Arand will be late," she said, looking at Alisha. "I hoped to begin with all of you here," she grimaced, a hand swiping away some hair.

'Right... Professor did say 'you four' while there are three of us.' Lucas realized, stealing a glance at the two women. A momentary question as to why the man called Arand was absent, but he decided not to voice it.

"Well, you can begin on your own once he comes," Elaine sighed, walking over to the desk. "The last thing to do today is to designate a leader. I think that Alisha, as a person who has been here for two years already, is the most suitable choice. Alisha, what do you think?"

"I'm alright with that, as long as Dory and Lucas don't have objections," the blonde woman said, looking at them.

"Nah," the ginger-haired student shrugged. "Ye deserve it."

Lucas nodded, agreeing with Dorothea's words. 'If she's been in the group for two years, she's the final year. She's definitely the most experienced.'

Elaine smiled, her hand going for something on the desk.

"I must go to the deanery to talk with them about a couple of issues," she said, throwing an item toward Alisha. "I don't know how long it'll take. Once you've wrapped up the situation here, you're free to go."

"Of course, Professor," the blonde answered with a gentle smile. Shuffling her hand a little, she exposed the large key Elaine threw to her. Lucas figured it must've been the key to the classroom.

"Good. Then, welcome to the group, Lucas," the professor nodded at the man. Her robe shuffled as she picked up the binder with the documents and turned to the door. "Now excuse me, I'll be--"

*SLAM!*

The sound rang throughout the classroom as the door suddenly opened from the forceful entry. Everyone's heads suddenly turned in the direction, everyone equally surprised.

The heavy sound of a boot resonated as a tall man entered. He was somewhat bulky, standing at the very least as tall as Lucas. The rather dark carnation of his face glistened with multiple sweat droplets, reflecting the light from manalamps above. The robe on his body seemed slightly too small for his wide frame.

The man's dark brown eyes scanned the room. His gaze was rather soft, but it did turn surprised when he met Lucas's. However, he quickly turned to the petite professor.

"Haaaaaaah," he exhaled heavily. "Made it," he made a faint smile.

"Arand," Elaine looked up at the man. "Something held you back?"

"I'm sorry, Professor," Arand rasped, leaning on the doorframe to catch a breath. "My classes just ended."

"I see..." Elaine frowned. Lucas could see that there was something on her mind that she did not let out. "Well, I suppose we can now confirm. Any objections to Alisha being the group leader?"

"Not at all," the man replied, swiping sweat from his forehead and brushing his short, dark hair. "She's the most suited for it, I reckon."

Lucas heard Alisha giggle softly at Arand's words. Her lips were curved in a benign smile, her eyes watching the man. Taking a sip of her tea, she glanced at the white-haired man, who immediately averted his gaze.

"Good," Elaine nodded. "Go ahead, make acquaintances with the newcomer, and you can start thinking about what project you want to do this year. I need to go. My duty hours in this year are on the back of the paper."

"Sure thing, Professor," the huge man nodded. Then, he stepped to the side, not blocking her way anymore.

Elaine took the opportunity. Whilst stepping forth, she turned to the three seated by the table and gave them a smiling nod, which they reciprocated.

The door closed, leaving the four in the room on their own.

...

Lucas exhaled shallowly.

Alisha sipped some tea.

Dorothea stood up.

Arand came closer.

"Hi," he extended his large hand toward Lucas. "Name's Arand."

"Hello, I'm Lucas," the white-haired man stood up to shake the man's hand.

'He's huge...' he noted, seeing that Arand stood about as tall to him as he did to Dorothea. 'I'm rather tall myself, but he's on a whole another level.'

"Oi, runnin' late, are ye?" Dorothea's voice brought Lucas out of his ponders. The snicker in her tone was unmissable.

"Oi, I just finished my training, cut me some slack. I ran all the way from the swordsmanship faculty here," Arand replied with a cut tongue, watching the ginger-haired woman stand up and walk in front of the desk, facing him better.

'Training? Swordsmanship faculty?' Lucas frowned at the words, sitting down. 'He's a swordsman?'

"Hoh?" Dorothea made a strange sound, standing in front of the man daringly. "All ah hear is excuses, ye big oaf."

"All ah hear is yappin', ye small menace," Arand answered mockingly, imitating the smaller woman's rough speaking style.

"Oh, yappin' yappin', 'course we yappin'," Dorothea repeated, her hair swinging as she made an overbearingly big gesture that Lucas could not decipher the meaning of. "We thought 'bout kicking yer ass out of the group."

"Kicking me out?" Arand's brow raised daringly. He took a breath in, his body pumping up ever so slightly. "Oi, you want to try your strength?"

"Anytime!" Dorothea was not fazed by the man's action. Rather, her expression turned to an amused one. Her hands clenched as she raised them.

Wait... what?

'Why does it look like she's about to jump him?' Lucas frowned. Everything about the silent standoff between the two suggested that it would come down to a physical confrontation. Hell, the way one flinched slightly as the other moved only proved that they were expecting one of them to throw the first blow.

His gaze turned to Alisha. The blonde woman looked at the two, but she appeared completely unfazed by the sight. She looked like she was seeing an old couple bicker.

She shot a glance at him. Seeing his surprised expression, her lips curved in a smile as she giggled.

"Don't worry, it's normal for them," she calmly answered the obvious question. "They've been like this even before dating or joining the group."

"???" Lucas made a completely perplexed expression.

Alisha giggled at his reaction.

However, before she spoke, the situation before them escalated. Before Lucas even managed to capture what happened, Dorothea already had her hands locked with the huge man. The huge smiles on their faces seemed to contradict their actions of actively trying to overpower the other.

Arand let out a heavy chuckle as he saw the woman's form faltering slightly. In an instant, his feet moved to take advantage of that. As his position changed, he lifted his hands slightly, forcing Dorothea into an unpleasant position.

The woman immediately answered, bending her legs and letting the man loom over her. Using the position, she pulled with all she had, causing the man to topple in her direction. However, bending herself to the side slightly, she managed to turn them around, forcing Arand on his back while she toppled him.

'...what the hell is happening...?'

Lucas watched the two, unsure what his reaction should be. Looking at Alisha, he noticed her looking into her empty teacup.

"*Sigh* There go the children again," she commented.

"...Should we... stop them?" he asked hesitantly, clutching his robe between his fingers.

"It's alright," Alisha shook her head gently. "You won't get through Dorothea's skull anyway. People from Melidan are quite fond of aggressive approaches to situations. Besides, they two have fought like this many times. It rarely gets them hurt."

"..." Lucas didn't answer. The perplexity in his mind only mounted further at Alisha's explanation. 'I've heard that Melidan people like direct approach, but... Dorothea seems to be taking it to the ****.' he conceded silently, seeing the woman struggling out of a bear hug the man gave her to restrain her movement.

Alisha's voice suddenly brought him out of his ponders, "Would you like some tea?" she looked at him with her amber eyes.

Lucas shook his head. The confusion about the situation was almost overwhelming for him. Seeing the woman stand up, he followed her with her gaze until he noticed that she approached an alembic that had something boiling inside, faint amounts of an unidentified vapor escaping through its top.

Alisha's hand found a valve on the side. Almost immediately, a bronze-colored liquid flowed into the teacup she raised. As it reached a satisfactory level, the buxom blonde dropped inside a cube of sugar from a nearby container. Then, she walked calmly to her chair, glancing briefly at the fight before sitting.

'Using an alembic to brew tea...?' he formed the thought, but he wasn't even sure if it was his own. In truth, he was so confused that he felt like he was dreaming.

'Now I see why these guys don't care about one's class.'

His gaze swept across the three. Dorothea was sitting on Arand, pinning his hands with her knees as she loomed over his upper torso. The swirl of her ginger hair hid her expression from Lucas, but he could imagine that she was smiling with pride. The man struggled under her, but he was having difficulties in responding to her ****. Or, perhaps, he didn't want to yet. All the while this was happening, Alisha was calmly sipping the tea she had made in the alembic, watching the struggling two like they were having a simple word exchange.

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