A Maiden and the Dawn

“Forget it. I have a pretty good idea who’s behind these rumors,” Ariel said, rubbing her temples with a weary sigh. Besides the academy’s Newspaper Club—a pack of scoundrels who, unable to find any real news, had taken to manufacturing it for their own amusement, who else could possibly be this bored? “Looks like I’ll have to pay them a visit. I can’t let these rumors fester.”

“Eh? But the president of the Newspaper Club is that famous Mingott from the sixth year. Do you think he’ll listen to you?” Lilia asked, blinking her wide, worried eyes. While Ariel had gained some notoriety among the students, it was nothing compared to a sixth-year senior.

“I have to try,” Ariel said, gritting her teeth. “There is no way in hell I’m going to be known as Ewan Campbell’s ex-girlfriend.” The thought of being pointed at and whispered about like that was worse than death.

“Not just his ex-girlfriend. His ex-girlfriend who had an abortion,” Lilia added with a perfectly straight face.

“…Alright, you little minx. We haven’t seen each other in forever, and the first thing you do is roast me?” Ariel slammed her ancient book under her pillow, her almond-shaped eyes flashing with a dangerous light. A wicked, rumbling laugh escaped her lips as she pounced on Lilia. “Come here and let me inspect your body! Let’s see if you’ve gotten any fatter!”

“I have not! Stop it, that tickles… hehehe…”

“Aha! You say you haven’t, but after just one vacation, you’ve secretly gone up a bra size! Lilia Angel, you are too much!” Enraged by this unacceptable discovery, Ariel declared, “Today, you shall face divine punishment!”

“Ngh… get away from me… it tickles so much, hehehe…” Lilia shrieked, dodging Ariel’s demonic claws. “I can’t help it if they grow! Actually, I’m jealous of you! At least your shoulders don’t ache when you walk, and you don’t feel suffocated when you sleep…”

“Damn it, damn it all, you’re still talking! You’re still talking!” A certain super-flat-chested individual, feeling her very identity had been insulted, launched an even more ferocious assault. The dorm room was instantly filled with the sweet, innocent sounds of girlish roughhousing.

…

The moonlight was cool and clear.

After their tussle, Ariel had lost all interest in reading. She leaned against the windowsill, gazing at the bright moon as she combed through her now-messy hair. Lilia, her cheeks still slightly flushed, timidly approached her.

“So?”

“So what?”

“So, Ewan Campbell’s apology.” Lilia rested her chin in her hands, looking at Ariel. “What do you think? Are you going to forgive him?”

“Are you kidding me?” Ariel rolled her eyes. “He did so many awful things to me. You think a single apology can just wipe the slate clean? I’m not that nice.”

“That’s true. But…” Lilia thought for a moment. “It’s Ewan Campbell we’re talking about. The son of a duke. He was so arrogant before, and now he’s suddenly apologizing to you in front of so many people. I think he must have really made up his mind to change.”

“Please. I think it’s more likely some kind of scheme.” Comparing today’s Ewan Campbell to the one in her memories, Ariel still found it hard to believe that a single vacation could change a person so drastically. Was he really possessed by an Evil God? Maybe I should trick him into going to the Church of Life for a purification ritual one of these days. “Besides, the sincerity of his apology is highly questionable.” Ariel said with a renewed sense of indignation. “Do you know what his apology gift was? A half-eaten kebab! Do you call that sincere?”

“Er… maybe it was just a spur-of-the-moment thing?”

“Well, he did say he would make it up to me with a proper gift later. But knowing his usual tacky taste, it’ll probably just be some expensive gems or jewelry.”

“Well, gems and jewelry are tacky, but don’t you want them?” Lilia stared at Ariel, a mischievous, all-knowing glint in her eyes. “Miss Ariel, who, despite being the heir to a count, is still as poor as a church mouse… don’t you want them?”

“Aaaah, of course I want them! But all the things I’m trying to do are so expensive!” Ariel wailed, grabbing Lilia’s leg. “Lady Lilia, have mercy! Lend me some more!”

“I’ve already lent you all my money!” Lilia pouted. “I don’t even know what you’re secretly doing that costs so much, and you won’t even tell me.”

“Hehe, actually, I’m researching the secret recipe for the one-and-only Pacici Cake!” Ariel declared with a grave expression.

“Right, right. You do that.” Lilia clearly didn’t believe her, but she had no interest in prying into other people’s secrets. She waved her hand in farewell. “It’s getting late. I’m going back to my dorm.”

“Okay! Be careful on your way back!”

“Oh, right.” Just as she was about to leave, Lilia turned back, a serious look on her face. “The opening ceremony is tomorrow. Don’t you dare be late.”

“As if.” Ariel puffed out her chest. “Am I the kind of person who would be late for an important event?”

“Are you asking me?” Lilia said, deadpan. “The very same Miss Ariel who had the most points deducted for being late last semester?”

“Hehe…”

“Forget it. I’ll come and wake you up tomorrow. Goodnight…”

“Goodnight, Lilia-chan.”

…

After Lilia left, Ariel slumped over her desk with a heavy sigh. “Studying magic is so expensive.”

Although she was now the heir to a count, she still had no access to the Bourgard family’s finances. Her monthly allowance was barely enough to get by, especially since she was not walking the path of a conventional mage. Her unique path was more powerful, but it was also a massive money sink. It was truly infuriating.

“Well, they don’t call magic ‘the plaything of nobles’ for nothing. The saying that ‘the lower classes are full of brutes’ is not so much a mockery as it is a cruel reflection of this world’s class divide.”

The candlelight flickered. A wisp of ethereal blue smoke rose from the simple, ancient-looking ring on Ariel’s finger, gradually coalescing into a graceful, feminine figure.

“Master, do you have any ideas on how to make money?” Seeing the figure, Ariel’s wailing grew even more pathetic. “Your beloved disciple is about to starve to death.”

“Of course,” the graceful, hazy figure—Ariel’s master—said. “You are now a Gold-rank mage. There are countless ways for you to earn money.” Mages burned through money quickly, but they also earned it quickly. A few magic scrolls could fetch a handsome sum.

“But…” Ariel’s master continued, “you know the situation. It’s not that we can’t earn money; it’s that we have nowhere to earn it from. Because of that incident, most of the underground black markets in Belland have been temporarily shut down. There’s nothing even I can do about that.”

“Ugh… and it’s all because the ancient magic you taught me is too conspicuous. If I could just sell my scrolls through normal channels, I wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“You could always learn ordinary magic, you know. It’s not too late,” the hazy beauty said with a teasing smile.

“No way.” Ancient magic is so much more powerful. Why would I ever learn anything else?

“Speaking of which, that incident has a little something to do with me,” Ariel said, staring at the candle flame, a hint of regret in her eyes. Back at the ducal estate, she had clearly sensed that something was wrong. But, out of trust for the Duke, and the irresistible allure of Pacici Cake, she had chosen not to investigate.

And then, it had happened.

Princess Celicia was attacked.

Ewan Campbell was implicated and severely injured.

The Duke and the Emperor, in a fit of rage, had launched a thunderous crackdown on Belland’s underworld. Now, the entire criminal element of the city was hiding like rats in a sewer. Never mind the black market; these days, if you even wore a hooded cloak on the street, a group of burly men would suddenly appear and invite you for a nice cup of “tea.” The entire city of Belland was so peaceful that there weren’t even any petty thieves left.

“If only I had taken one more step back then,” Ariel sighed. To save Celicia in a moment of crisis… what a perfect opportunity to rack up affection points! And she had let it slip right through her fingers. What a shame!

But, there was one thing that did make her a little happy.

Celicia was attacked, but the one who ended up severely injured was Ewan Campbell. Celicia must be completely and utterly disappointed in that useless man now!

(Note: The ducal estate had suppressed the news of the princess’s assassination. Ariel’s information came from a special, and incomplete, source.)

“Come to think of it, I just remembered a good way to make money,” the hazy beauty said suddenly. “It’s simple, fast, and very convenient.”

“Oh?” Ariel’s eyes lit up. “Please, Master, tell me.”

“Didn’t that Ewan Campbell say he would give you a proper apology gift later?” the hazy beauty said with a smile. “Just tell him that if he gives you a million, you’ll forgive him. He’ll probably be more than happy to hand it over.”

“Impossible!” Ariel slammed her hand on the table, flatly refusing. “Am I the kind of frivolous woman who would abandon her principles for a mere million? If Ewan Campbell wants my forgiveness, he’ll have to truly change his ways and earn my respect. Otherwise, it’s absolutely impossible!”

“Really?”

“Of course! It’s as real as a pearl!” Ariel said, her voice full of conviction.

“Is that so? What a pity.” The hazy beauty sighed, resting her chin on her hand. “I, for one, thought that Ewan Campbell seemed quite sincere today.”

…

Morning.

The fog was thick and hazy, and the world was still quiet.

But Professor Planck was already up and about, taking his customary morning walk. It wasn’t for exercise, but to fulfill his duty as an outstanding educator.

“The early bird gets the worm. This year’s students are no good. They don’t even understand such a simple principle!” Professor Planck stood on a path lined with sycamore trees, looking at the silent dormitory area and shaking his head in disapproval. “I remember when I taught the ‘Golden Generation.’ Those prodigies were up studying and training before the sun even rose. But this year’s batch… the opening ceremony is in just two hours, and not a single one of them is up yet. Sigh. They’re terrible, just terrible. They have no sense of pride as students of Saint Marika.”

Professor Planck sighed again at the decadence of the current generation and was already thinking of suggesting to the headmaster that they tighten the reins on these future pillars of the empire. He was about to turn back when he heard the sound of hurried, rhythmic footsteps, exceptionally clear in the quiet of the sycamore grove.

“This is…”

Professor Planck’s eyes lit up. Could it be that there was, in fact, an outstanding student who had not wasted the most important hours of the day? He turned back, a pleased smile on his face. He decided he would praise this student, and even hold him up as a model example at the ceremony later, to show all the other lazy bums what a true student should be. Look, look! This is what a model student looks like! Learn from him, you lazy good-for-nothings!

“Good morning, Professor.”

“Mm, good morning, Ew… Ewan Camp—BELL!”

“Eh?”

Startled by the old man’s sudden roar, Ewan’s PTSD flared up, and he almost kicked him out of pure reflex. Thankfully, he remembered he was at the academy, where Evil Gods were unlikely to pop up, and managed to restrain himself. “I-is there something I can help you with?” Ewan asked cautiously.

He had to be careful. He recognized the old man with eyes as wide as saucers. It was Planck Rohninger, the head of the magic department, the most senior magic professor at the academy, and the one the original Ewan had feared the most. The reason for that fear… was probably because after a whole year under his tutelage, he had only learned “Light,” and was terrified that the enraged professor would one day eat him alive.

“Ewan Campbell, what are you doing?”

Realizing his outburst, Professor Planck cleared his throat and composed himself.

“Me? I’m on my morning run,” Ewan replied, jogging in place even as he spoke.

“Morning run!”

Professor Planck’s eyes widened in a mixture of shock, disbelief, and utter confusion. It was like watching a terminally ill patient leap out of bed, slap his own ass, and then proceed to run a full marathon. He stared into Ewan’s eyes and asked, dead serious, “Are you sure you weren’t just peeping on the girls’ dormitory and are now making your escape?”

“Why would you think that, Professor?!” Ewan was shocked. “The girls’ dormitory isn’t even in this direction!”

“Or perhaps you were on your way to the girls’ dormitory?” Professor Planck conjectured with a straight face.

“I was not!”

“Then it’s very strange.” Professor Planck stroked his beard, his expression grave, as if he had just encountered a century-old magical enigma. “For you, Ewan Campbell, to be up so early, and dressed so scandalously… if you’re not up to no good, it just doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m not up to no good! Am I really that kind of person in your eyes, Professor?” Ewan was shocked again. “And this is just a workout shirt. How is that scandalous?”

“Is there any other kind?” Professor Planck was shocked as well. “Did you not cause enough trouble last semester?”

“…”

You’re bringing up last semester?

You’re really going to bring up last semester?

Well, if you’re going to bring up last semester… then I guess I have nothing to say.

After all, it was all true. Ewan Campbell had indeed been a complete menace last semester.

“In… in any case, I really am just on a morning run,” Ewan said with a sigh. “Please don’t overthink it, Professor.”

“But this level of morning run shouldn’t have any real training effect, should it?” Professor Planck himself had a decent foundation as a martial artist, so he knew that for a second-rank warrior, let alone a late-stage first-rank one, simple physical exercise was no longer effective.

“I know,” Ewan said. “I’m just doing this to wake myself up.”

“Wake yourself up?”

“That’s right. A little exercise in the morning, followed by a cold shower, and I’ll be full of energy for the rest of the day,” Ewan smiled. “That way, at least I won’t fall asleep in class, right?”

“Won’t fall asleep in class…”

Professor Planck’s eyes widened again. It was like watching a giant shrimp walk past him, dragging its own balls. You bastard. How dare you say that? You slept through every single one of my classes last semester!

“Well, I’ll be going now, Professor. Goodbye.”

Feeling that sticking around would only lead to trouble, Ewan seized the opportunity to make his escape. Before Professor Planck could react, he was off, his footsteps light as he ran through the fallen leaves, quickly disappearing into the morning mist.

“Can a person really change so much in such a short time?”

Watching Ewan’s disappearing back, even Professor Planck, who had taught countless students, couldn’t suppress the shock in his heart. Watching from a distance yesterday hadn’t had the same impact. But now, up close, he found that… Ewan’s actions… seemed to have a ring of truth to them.

Lost in thought, Professor Planck unconsciously peeled a piece of bark from a nearby sycamore tree and stuck it in his mouth.

Ugh, so bitter!

If my desk tastes like this…

Ah, no, no. How could I be swayed so easily? Don’t be fooled, Planck Rohninger! Go and expose Ewan Campbell’s charade! For the sake of your desk… for the sake of your fifty years of dignity as an educator!

“Hmph.”

Professor Planck bit down hard on the piece of bark and sneered. “Just you wait, Ewan Campbell. From now on, I’ll be watching you. I’ll be watching you very, very closely!”

…

“Yikes—”

As he was jogging, Ewan suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. He shivered and looked around warily. “Why do I suddenly have the feeling that I’m being watched by a yandere?”

“Strange. This is Saint Marika Academy. Anne shouldn’t be able to get in.”

…

The first light of dawn was breaking.

The usual tranquility in front of the main building was shattered by the crisp click of heels on stone. A sleepy-looking girl with her hair in buns, who had been dozing off by the door, was suddenly startled awake. She hurriedly looked at the stunningly beautiful, silver-haired girl before her and stood up straight. “Your Highness!”

“I told you not to call me that at the academy.” Celicia glanced at the girl’s—Vera’s—hastily wiped but still slightly drool-stained mouth and said, “And stop staying up all night reading those ‘Overbearing Evil God Fell in Love with Me’ novels. It affects your work.”

“Yes, President,” Vera said, her cheeks flushing.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing that Vera had understood, Celicia wasted no more words and walked into the empty building. She followed the familiar corridors and stairs up to a room with a plaque that read “Student Council Room.”

“I’m back,” Celicia whispered to herself, and then pushed the door open.

Opposite the door was a simple desk and a rather plain-looking chair. On the side of the room were a bookshelf filled with books and a sofa for receiving guests. There was nothing else. It was simple, unadorned, and just as it had always been. But after two months of neglect, a thin layer of dust had settled over everything.

A cold wind swept through the room, and in an instant, it was spotless.

“Wow, no matter how many times I see it, the President’s ability is so convenient,” Vera marveled from behind her.

“If you had taken the time to come and clean during the vacation, it would have been even more convenient than any ability.” Celicia shot a look at her secretary, who had spent the entire vacation gallivanting who-knows-where, and walked into the room, wiping a thin layer of frost from the desk with her hand.

“Ehehe.” Vera stuck out her tongue, playing dumb. But a moment later, she was almost frozen solid by the chill in the room. “S-so cold, President!”

“…” Celicia sighed softly. She walked to the window and pushed it open, letting in the outside air, which, though carrying the first chill of autumn, was much warmer than the freshly-blasted room. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves of the sycamore trees, and amidst the rustling sound, Celicia heard the faint, yet distinct, crunch of leaves being stepped on.

It was a small thing, not worth noticing. But for some reason, Celicia found herself looking in the direction of the sound.

And then she saw him.

A golden-haired young man, with the morning sun glinting in his hair, dressed in a neat set of workout clothes, jogging along the quiet path through the sycamore grove.

Him?

A flicker of something passed through Celicia’s eyes. She suddenly turned to Vera and asked, “What time is it?”

“Eh? Right now? Let’s see… six-oh-six.”

“When does the opening ceremony start?”

“Eight o’clock sharp.”

“So he’s at least two hours early?” Celicia’s long, silvery-white eyelashes fluttered, her thoughts a mystery.

“President, what are you looking at?” Vera, her curiosity piqued, leaned over to look as well. And then she too saw the jogging, golden-haired young man below. “Ah, Ewan Campbell.” Vera’s voice was a soft gasp. Then, she suddenly turned her head and spat on the ground with a vicious “ptui!”

“Scumbag!”

“…What did he do now?” Celicia turned back and asked.

“You don’t know, President?” Vera looked at her with an expression of pure shock, as if to say, “How could you not know about something this huge? Are you from Mars?” Then, she suddenly pulled out a few crumpled newspapers from behind her back.

“Hm?”

Celicia took the newspapers and looked at them.

SHOCKING! ARROGANT YOUNG NOBLE EWAN CAMPBELL BOWS HIS HEAD TO ARIEL! THE HIDDEN TRUTH REVEALED!

The headline was emblazoned across the top of the page in big, bold, red letters.

“Bows his head in apology?” Celicia’s brow arched slightly. Below the headline was a magical photograph, a still image of the very moment Ewan had bowed to Ariel. Just as she was feeling a sense of surprise, her eyes were drawn to the text below.

“FORMER LOVERS? THE UNTOLD STORY OF EWAN CAMPBELL AND ARIEL BOURGARD BEFORE THEY CAME TO THE ACADEMY!”

“WORSE THAN A BEAST! THEY HAD A CHILD TOGETHER!”

“CHEATING WITH THIRTEEN OTHERS! WAS SHE THE FLAGSHIP OF HIS FLEET?”

“…”

Exaggerated rhetoric. Sensationalist language. Not a shred of credibility.

If it had been the old Celicia, she would have at most glanced at it before looking away, not wasting her precious time on such nonsense. But for some reason, this time, she found herself patiently reading the entire article, word for word.

After reading about how the hateful scumbag Ewan Campbell had toyed with the poor, pitiful Ariel Bourgard’s emotions three times, made her have five abortions, driven her to attempt suicide seven times, and left her with an incurable disease that had almost gotten her run over by a carriage nine times…

Celicia finally found, at the very bottom of the page, a line of text so small that it was almost invisible.

—”The above is purely the subjective speculation of the Newspaper Club, intended for entertainment purposes only, and does not represent the actual situation.”

And so, as the first ray of dawn crested the treetops and fell upon her cold, elegant face, her brow smoothed out slightly. But a moment later, her gaze turned icy.

“Well? Isn’t that Ewan Campbell a complete and utter scumbag?” Vera said, leaning in with a look of righteous indignation.

“You.” Celicia looked away and sighed. She rolled up the newspaper and lightly tapped Vera on the head with it. “Stop reading this stuff. It’ll make you stupid.”