Chapter 4

"Next, please."

The measurement for the commoners began.

As expected, the commoners all emitted about the same amount of light as Roselia did a moment ago, or slightly more.

"Last one! Mina"

"...Yes"

Called by her name, Mina stepped forward.

Feeling everyone's gaze on her because she was the last, she thought,

(I don't want to stand out...)

While thinking this, Mina placed her hand on the crystal. At that moment, a strong aqua light burst out.

"Ah!"

Surprised by the unexpected reaction, she instinctively pulled her hand away from the crystal.

"What...?"

"The color just now..."

The teachers began to murmur.

(What? Did I do something wrong...?)

"Um... isn't she a commoner?"

"That's quite a strong light."

The teachers' murmurs spread to the students.

"...Alright, that's it for today. Tomorrow morning, check the class assignments and go to your respective classrooms. Dismissed."

After looking over the students, the teacher glanced at Mina.

"Mina, stay behind."

"...Yes"

Mina nodded.

"Mina, are you okay?"

"Good luck."

She watched as Emma and Hanna left, looking worried.

"Your Highness..."

"I want to see her magic, don't you?"

Alphonse said with a princely smile.

(I don't want to be involved with this guy...)

Mina sighed at being recognized so early in her school life.

"...Well, that's fine. Mina, I have a few questions for you."

The teacher turned to Mina.

"Yes."

"You're from an orphanage, right? Do you know anything about your parents?"

"Yes... they were merchants in a town called Tailerman in the north."

Mina answered.

"They both died in the plague five years ago... and that's when I entered the orphanage."

The word "plague" made Alphonse react.

"I see, that must have been tough. When did you realize you could use magic?"

"Um... about three years ago. I used magic to heal an injured child at the orphanage, and that's how I found out."

"Hmm, so you can use healing magic."

One of the teachers, who had been silent until then, spoke up.

"So you are indeed a water element user."

"But that color is something I've never seen before."

Another female teacher responded.

"Color...?"

"Mr. Behrendorf, please place your hand on the crystal."

The main teacher speaking turned to the teacher who had reacted to the healing magic.

When Mr. Behrendorf placed his hand on the crystal, a strong blue light was emitted.

"This is the color of a water element user, much darker than Mina's."

The teacher pointed to the crystal.

"Only water element users can use healing magic. So Mina is a water element user, but the color is too light for that."

"Have you ever seen someone with a color like hers?"

Alphonse asked.

"No... I've never seen it before."

"Is there a relationship between the strength of magic and the color?"

"Never heard of such a thing. Mina, can you do it again?"

"...Yes"

Mina hesitantly placed her hand on the crystal. The same strong aqua light was emitted as before.

"See, Mina, your color is clearly lighter."

"Yes..."

"However, the amount of magic is very high."

"...I see..."

"You said you used healing magic earlier. Have you ever used attack magic?"

"...Yes"

"Can I see it?"

The teacher held out his palm, and a ball of fire appeared.

"Can you extinguish this?"

The floating fireball grew larger, bigger than a person's head.

"Mr. Leibniz, that's..."

"It's okay to fail, just try."

Ignoring the female teacher's attempt to stop him, Mr. Leibniz looked at Mina.

"...Yes"

Mina looked up at the fireball.

(It's hot... it looks real...)

But she decided it was an illusion.

If it were a real fireball, it could be extinguished by a water ball.

But in the case of an illusion...

Mina's right hand glowed, and an aqua light was emitted.

The light enveloped the fireball and then disappeared along with it.

"Huh?"

"What?"

"...Wow, that's impressive."

(Did I do something wrong again?!)

...That wasn't supposed to be a difficult spell.

Mina was flustered by the stunned expressions of the teachers and Alphonse.