Almost.
Put your left foot on that bulge there.
That's it.
Grab this branch.
That hole.
Face the other way.
I made it!
Congrats.
Hey!
No climbing where the grown-ups and familiars can't see you!
Okay.
You're such a good teacher.
And you can climb faster than I can.
That's not true.
Have you two gotten used to College yet?
Chise's a mage, and this is Zoe's first time going to school, right?
Well...
I'm still not used to being around so many people.
Yeah.
Other than that, it's fun.
There's a lot of subjects I like, too.
There's a bunch of different activities in P.E., too.
Today's...
Bouldering.
We do a lot of P.E. so we're always ready to act.
I'd rather study than exercise.
Not that I'd enjoy either one.
You there!
Get a move on if you're done resting!
I'm going.
See you.
That was impressive.
Thanks.
Down she goes.
Are you all right, Lucy?
Don't freak out like that.
You'll make it look like a big deal.
Sorry.
Why do you keep...
I'm fine.
I'm not hurt.
Your turn to go up and fall.
Okay.
Do you have any advice?
Are you worried?
You're watching her all the time when you don't have classes.
You could see me, huh?
I may not have much magic power, but my eyesight's decent enough.
She makes faces here that she doesn't show me.
Does that upset you?
I suppose it does.
But I can't look away, either.
I think I understand.
You do?
I do.
I remember a lot of bad things,
but good memories come with them at the same time.
Something like that.
So I can't help but reminisce.
It doesn't make sense, but it happens.
I see you making that face often lately.
What are you thinking about?
Well...
Living for as long as I have, there's a lot to think about.
But I often remember my hometown of Dresden.
Dresden? Of Germany?
It was a beautiful city.
The River Elbe, with the linden trees along its banks...
The corner bakery.
The tailor's shop where I bought my coat.
I left my home long before the war broke out.
By the time I returned after it ended, there was nothing but rubble.
Everything I remembered was buried.
Once you lose everything, you remember all kinds of things.
I still can't decide if such memories are a good thing or a bad thing.
All you're doing is remembering.
And it's not as though you can recall everything.
It's too complicated to say if any one memory is good or bad.
Perhaps if the experience isn't uncomfortable, then it's a good memory.
Should it really be that simple?
There isn't much more to it.
You should try asking various people more of those types of questions.
You'll hear all kinds of answers.
That girl there is my master.
I don't intend on asking others for their teachings too much.
But I'll keep that in mind.
He doesn't seem malicious.
Well, whatever.
I was just chasing him down to give him some documents.
No wonder his appearance hasn't changed much since I first met him.
He's a mage of sorts.
You might be putting too much strength into your hold.
It's important not to use more stamina than you need to.
You've become friends with her, huh?
I don't know.
I know you're not good at talking to people.
You should take this opportunity to talk to her more.
Is that...
Is that an order?
There's nothing wrong with caring for others, but you'd best get to bed.
"I'm really sorry that I couldn't do the morning routine.
I am going back to my house because I was called.
I'll be back by tomorrow."
"I'll be back by tomorrow."
Miss Veronica!
Good morning, ma'am!
Morning.
I'll have to be ready to console her tomorrow.
Welcome home, miss.
I'm back.
Where is Grandmother?
In her study, as usual.
Well, well, she's back.
Who's she again?
Some slob who wastes her time going to a worthless so-called College.
Grandmother is calling.
Pardon me.
"Grandmother," she says.
As if she sees her as her grandchild.
She's the child of a woman who stole the succession.
Alcyone.
I'm here.
A new student at the College caught onto me while I was concealed.
Well.
But we're capable of erasing almost all of our odors and magic scent.
And yet I was noticed.
Is this new student a student of sorcery?
No.
She seems to be a mage.
Why is a mage there?
I don't know what her goals are.
She has a dog familiar.
That may be why she was able to notice us.
In that case, it wouldn't have been your aura, odor,
or magic scent that she'd picked up.
What, then?
I've heard that mages and witches
that are close to that world are sensitive to the scent.
The scent?
The scents of certain emotions,
their changes and transitions, or even their very presence...
Some say it's the smell of the soul itself.
What shall I do?
I'll think of something.
Please give me some time.
Okay.
Come in.
You're late.
I apologize, Grandmother.
Is Miss Veronica still well?
Yes.
We had no intention of sending you to the College.
You are only permitted to attend by her charity.
Do not embarrass me.
Yes.
Are you keeping up with your studies?
Yes.
You have no need for such an education,
but as you are receiving it, you mustn't be negligent.
Yes.
We have no need for a follower who only knows how to say "yes."
I'm sorry.
You look as pale as ever.
Are you taking proper care of your health?
And here I was, about to give you a gift today.
I never said you could raise your head.
Greedy child.
Do not anger me with your ineptitude.
I'm sorry.
Never mind.
It's not as though you've ever been any better.
Sit down over there.
I trust that you remember why I called you home today.
Yes.
Damn.
Swayne.
I see you're working hard.
Can I help you?
I've never seen you so focused.
What's changed?
Nothing's changed, sir.
At least tell a more convincing lie.
You've been booking a lot of time in the training area.
I heard you haven't been skipping classes, either.
And you're using your dorm room again even though you left once already.
Oh, I'm not admonishing you or anything!
I mean, one of the College's functions is to train protectors.
There's nothing wrong with that.
So what do you want from me, then?
Everything's fine, but it's always the keen ones that end up taking it too far.
Just look at me.
I couldn't help myself.
I couldn't help but keep working on my experiments, and now look at me.
I was conscious when my skin came apart and melted and fused...
It was pretty traumatic!
It's only now that partial transfiguration, transformations, burns,
and injuries are something to be proud of.
But I used to get laughed at before, and it's not exactly convenient.
I have to hide from people all the time.
I suppose you're too young to care about any of that.
It's just that...
Someone said something I really didn't want to hear.
So I wanna impress 'em.
You can go ahead and increase your ammo and target cap.
I'll take care of the budget for you.
Thanks a ton!
Ah, sure.
The ammo and target cap, right?
No problem.
We can handle that.
We have plenty of far more unreasonable requests.
Yes.
Bye.
Something must have happened.
You haven't started venting at all, even though you've got a drink ready.
I'm not in the mood today.
You're always in the mood to vent when you're here.
You sure have grown.
Or grown old, rather.
Even a baby will be ready to drink after twenty years.
I made a mistake, teaching you to love alcohol.
You were the one who brought me a bottle for my graduation.
I never would have let you take a sip if I'd known you'd be such a nasty drunk.
I...
I want her to stay a child until the time comes.
She's 18 now.
She's too old for me to be ordering around.
It's up to her to decide her own future.
But I...
I don't want Alice to end up like me or my dad.
Whenever there was something we wanted to do,
we couldn't wait to become grown-ups, remember?
And when we finally get older, we think we're finally grown-ups.
But do you think we've actually become grown-ups?
What's your point?
Maybe what a kid wants to do and what a grown-up wants to do aren't all that different.
You must know that girl's been desperate to make herself useful to you.
That's the problem.
He's got to know that she's just going to resist if he tries to push her away.
I guess emotions don't always agree with logic.
Sheesh, I never knew my senior was such a pain.
You're more of an upperclassman in every way.
No way.
You graduated first, and you're the first one leaving.
I'm the junior. That's how it ought to be.
Some oddball junior you are.
Nothing in life's ever gone my way.
At least let me have this.
Jeez, I wish I could get drunk on so little.
I feel like I've been taking care of kids all the time lately.
I should head home for once.
Use my paid leave.
Bushcraft?
Yup.
What's that?
It's like camping.
You learn the skills you need to live in nature.
You don't know what's going to happen, or when.
So you get yourself ready for whatever happens.
As vessels of the knowledge of sorcery, our biggest priority is to survive.
And cooking is part of that, too.
So you learn to camp without using sorcery.
It's fun.
You switched tasks?
I can never tell how gentle I need to be with the peeler.
Where are we headed this year, again?
Scotland, apparently.
Man, it's so cold out there.
You hate the cold, don't you, Martin?
Camping...
Okay, everyone, pair up!
I'm having flashbacks to my elementary and middle school field trips.
No, it'll be fine.
No one's like that here.
And I've changed a bit, too.
It can come in handy, I guess.
I'll try looking forward to it.
Scotland, though...
I have a feeling Elias is going insist on coming along.
Oh?
Listen up!
This is going to be our campground.
Split up and work with your groups.
Securing your sleeping area, maintaining your fire, acquiring water...
Those are your top priorities.
Yes, sir.
We can cut it up and eat it.
But we brought food!
I think I'm good for now.
For now?!
Can I have it, then?
I'm not eating that, Beatrice!
I didn't think there were any forests until we got here.
I was wrong, huh?
How are you not tired?
Our groupmates are almost the same as our roommates.
I look forward to it.
Sure, whatever.
All right, let's find wood for fuel and setting up our tent.
Okay.