Without knowing when someone had neared her, Elia turned around to that voice.
“Oh… You’re Earl Willdan’s…” [Elia]
When Elia turned around, shock visibly showed on the face of the person who had called her. And she quickly introduced herself as she bowed her head.
“Please pardon my rudeness. My name is Michelle, the first daughter of Earl Willdan. I was unable to distinguish the lady as the daughter of Duke Jamil from behind, please excuse my lack of manners.” [Michelle]
She is Michelle Willdan. Although the daughter of an earl, she is an unladylike female student. Her short hair that’s too short to reach her shoulders has been cut without much thought. Her clothes are a mix of a man’s pants and a woman’s shirt. Her belongings look to place greater emphasis on practicality rather than on looks as she carried with her a big, plain, black bag. And her androgynous face made her appear to be a boy merely disguising as a girl.
“Rude? The differences in social classses don’t apply to this place, you know? Besides I’m not particular about it either myself.” [Elia]
This school makes all of its students wear uniforms regardless of whether one is a noble or a commoner under the pretense of having no distinction between social classes. However, they don’t regulate accessories. Because of that the noble students purposely wear gaudy hair pins made out of gold or jeweled rings in order to show off their status.
Elia, however, isn’t wearing any of those gaudy accessories. And although she might be wearing the proper school attire, because of the lack of accessories, Michelle mistook her for a commoner female student.
“Thank you very much.” [Michelle]
As Michelle said that, she laughed. Unlike the others, Elia couldn’t feel any sense of wanting to avoid her from Michelle. Because of that Elia decided to try talking to her.
“Would it be fine to call you Michelle-san?” [Elia]
“Of course, milady.”
“Please call me Elia. I’ve said it before just now too. Social status has no relevance in this place.” [Elia]
Hearing that, Michelle smiled and said,
“… Fufu, then I’ll be calling you Elia. Also, I’d like to keep our speech less formal if you don’t mind, it’s exhausting after all.” [Michelle]
“Very well then. I prefer it that way myself actually.” [Elia]
“I see. By the way, I asked the same thing a while ago, but… is anything the matter?” [Michelle]
“No, there aren’t any problems in particular. It’s just that this school’s classes are rather…” [Elia]
“Ahh… I know exactly what you mean. I’m also only pretending to be taking the classes, and during break times, I avoid talking to people in order not to be caught in some weird clique.” [Michelle]
“Oh, is that how it is? I was under the impression that you were popular?” [Elia]
Michelle laughed.
“Haha, well certainly at first. The girls mistook me for a guy and got quite attached – oh by the way I’m wearing this cause it’s comfortable – anyway as soon as they found out that I’m a girl, they distanced themselves from me. Well it’s not that much of a problem though, after all I’m not really that sociable. Besides it was troublesome, so I was actually gradually avoiding it.” [Michelle]
“I see. Then why are you here today?” [Elia]
“Today’s different. Because today I specifically came here to experiment with this.” [Michelle]
As she said that, she took a piece of paper from her bag. On that paper was a magic formation drawn by pencil. Seeing that, Elia said,
“Magic formation… Michelle-san are you an alchemist?” [Elia]
At those words, Michelle’s eyes opened wide for a moment, but immediately after her face turned into a smile bigger than any of the smiles she’s showed so far.
“Unfortunately, I’m not an alchemist. I’m only studying magic formations.” [Michelle]
“Magic formations, was it?” [Elia]
Magic formation is an extremely minor branch of study in this world. It stems from the phenomenon where magic power is able to pass through to alchemy’s magic formation, causing it to shine bright. The study of magic formation is all about answering the question why the formation is able to do that.
As she said that, Elia looked deeply at the piece of paper with a magic formation drawn on it with pencil.
“So there was that kind of study.” [Elia]
“It’s a study that branches from alchemy, but because of the lack of results, it’s gradually declined. I came here to this school because I heard that there was a teacher who teaches it here… But unfortunately, the teacher has apparently retired last year, so now I have no choice but to study it by myself. Well at least I have plenty of time.” [Michelle]
“So that’s how it is.” [Elia]
“That’s right. By the way, Elia.” [Michelle]
“What is it?” [Elia]
“You seem to be quite familiar with how alchemy uses magic formation, huh? There’re plenty of rumors going around regarding alchemy, saying a magic formation isn’t needed, instead some sort of medicine or sacrifice is a requirement. Moreover, you don’t seem to have any ill will towards alchemy either.” [Michelle]
Hearing that, Elia couldn’t help but think to herself, “Oops.” At that moment, Michelle, sensing something was amiss, quickly revised her words in a panic.
“For the record, I’m not prejudiced against alchemy or anything. In fact, if I had to say what I thought of it, then I’d lean towards being interested in it.” [Michelle]
“Interest?” [Elia]
“It’s because the study of magic formations originated from alchemy, so I have some interest in its roots as well. It’s not really that strange, right? Although I do hate those alchemists who use alchemy as a way to commit fraud, I don’t believe that all alchemists are like that. There are also alchemists in this world who like scholars of the field of magic formation continue in their research without bearing fruit. Or at the very least, I believe this to be the case.” [Michelle]
Hearing that, Elia was a little relieved.
“I see.” [Elia]
“If possible, I’d like you to teach me a bit about alchemy, but…” [Michelle]
But even if she says that, Elia herself doesn’t know any alchemy. Well she knows a little from Ryouma, but it’s not at a level where she could teach it to other people. And more than anything, even if she does claim to have no prejudice, Elia still can’t help but feel hesitant to talk about Ryouma being an alchemist to other people. And Elia definitely won’t tell anyone about the things he makes.
“Unfortunately, I’ve only had the opportunity to meet with an alchemist, and I’m not actually studying it.” [Elia]
Elia refused as if it was a given. In response, Michelle didn’t say anything more, and she meekly backed down. Then she began to prepare for her experiment.
Michelle then laid the paper on the floor, and she opened it. After which she then took out some pink colored grains from her bag, and mixed it with ink.
“Michelle-san, what is that?” [Elia]
“This ink is just an ink. As for the grains, they’re fire and neutral magic jewels that were pulverized and mixed together. Our magic formation differs from the magic formation of alchemists in that magic power can’t pass through to the formation with the formation alone. Without mixing ink and powdered jewels, it’s not possible to pass magic power to it. And in the end, what we accomplish isn’t the same magic formation the alchemist’s use but our own version of the magic formation.” [Michelle]
“Then in that case, is there anything different?” [Elia]
“From what I currently know, the effect of the magic formation changes based on the attributes of the magic jewel powder that the ink was mixed into. While the ratio of the distribution of the magic jewel only adjusts its power.
For example, if the ink is mixed with a fire attribute magic jewel, and from that a magic formation is drawn, then any magic power that passes through it will be fire attribute. As for the strength of the fire, the distribution of the ink will deal with that, and the formation will be responsible for managing the flames.
The formation isn’t just some scribbles either. First, one must draw a circle. Then inside that, a pattern should be drawn, but I don’t understand that part much.” [Michelle]
“What do you mean you don’t understand much?” [Elia]