"Henny!"
The moment she saw Henny, Erica was instantly filled with joy.
Ever since the last academy break, she had not seen Professor Viktor's little assistant again.
She heard that Henny had now become an associate professor, and Erica had been happy about that for a long time.
But she was also a bit surprised.
Because Henny had jumped directly from assistant to associate professor, skipping the lecturer rank.
Her knowledge was certainly enough, but did she have the matching strength?
Erica felt a little worried.
Then, she saw Henny staring at the contents of her spellbook and raising her hand.
The aura of magic slowly rose in her palm.
"This is a very simple spell."
"Like this."
Several curved streams of energy suddenly emerged from Henny's hand, circling in the air a few times before gradually gathering together.
In the end, they formed a strangely colored, curved ring that continuously rotated in midair.
The dim room instantly brightened under the ring's glow. The dazzling light was so strong that Erica could barely open her eyes.
[Second-tier Magic: Triple Arc Bend]
Erica stared at the magical arc in Henny's hand, completely shocked.
'Th-this… this isn't right, is it?'
She had studied this spell for a long time and still could not understand its principles, yet Henny cast it after just one glance?
Could it be that… she had already learned it long ago?
At that moment, Henny pinched her fingers together, and the arc in the air shattered into three-colored starlight.
The starlight gently scattered across the floor, then slowly faded away.
"Just like I said earlier, as long as you understand the principle, it's enough."
"In fact, this is also my first time using this spell."
"Why don't you try?"
Erica blinked in a daze.
From Henny's words, she could not help but feel the gap between people.
Still, following Henny's guidance, she cautiously raised her hand.
The magic circle gradually formed, carrying a rich magical aura.
Soon, a strangely colored curved ring also began to rotate in the air.
'It worked!'
Erica stood there blankly, not knowing what to say.
She was convinced.
Henny's knowledge completely won her over.
It was not that Henny's accumulated knowledge was deeper than those old mages.
Rather, Henny had her own unique understanding of magic.
Through her teaching, magic became much easier to understand.
Erica had to admit that Henny would definitely become an excellent instructor.
'But as an associate professor…'
'Wait a second?'
This spellbook recorded second-tier magic.
But Henny actually cast it?
Erica turned her head back in confusion and looked at Henny.
"Henny, you…"
Henny smiled and nodded at her.
"Just as you see."
A second-tier mage.
The academy break had only lasted two months.
In two months, Henny went from an ordinary person to a second-tier mage.
What exactly had she experienced?
Erica could not understand.
She thought her own improvement speed was already fast.
But now that she saw this, was Henny's talent actually the most outrageous?
Erica came back to her senses and thought about how Henny could understand a spell's principles at a glance.
It seemed that reality might really match what she was thinking.
Confusion, shock, doubt…
All kinds of emotions mixed together like a wave crashing toward Erica.
When she finally recovered from the chaotic emotions, she suddenly realized something.
Wait, why was Henny at her house, and even inside her bedroom?
Since Henny was here, didn't that mean… The professor was here too?
She felt a burst of surprise and excitement and was just about to stand up and go downstairs to take a look.
But Henny placed her hand on Erica's shoulder and shook her head at her.
"The professor is discussing something very important. Let's wait a bit."
Hearing Henny's advice, Erica sat back down.
She stared blankly at Henny.
It felt like… compared to before, Henny had changed a lot.
Before, Henny seemed like a small assistant who knew nothing but studying.
When she first substituted for Professor Viktor's class, she was extremely nervous.
She even needed Erica's help.
And now… it felt like a completely different person.
She was like a mature older sister now, composed and well-mannered.
And that gentle warmth that made people unconsciously want to rely on her and stay close.
"Henny…"
"Yes? What is it?"
Henny blinked her glowing yellow eyes and looked seriously at Erica.
Erica snapped out of it and quickly waved her hands.
"Ah, nothing, nothing."
"I just remembered there are still several things I don't really understand. Can I ask you about them?"
Henny simply smiled easily and said, "Of course."
Erica turned back to flip through her spellbook. Henny stood behind her, carefully looking at the questions on the page.
"This is a rather uncommon composite spell. You need to combine two elements and runes…"
Erica seemed unable to hear the rest.
She secretly glanced at Henny's side profile out of the corner of her eye.
She felt a bit dazed.
She was no longer timid like before. The change was so great that Erica almost could not recognize her.
In just two short months…
When would she be able to become this reliable too, like Henny?
Erica did not know.
She gradually came back to her senses and quietly listened to Henny's special tutoring session.
Time always passed quickly while studying.
Even Erica herself did not know how much time had passed when, finally, a soft knock sounded at the door.
A servant stood outside and said to them, "Miss Henny, Count Viktor is looking for you."
"The count says it's time to go home."
Hearing this, Erica froze slightly.
But Henny had already straightened up and said to Erica, "If you have questions, ask me again after school starts."
After saying that, Henny waved at her and turned to walk out the door.
The servant led Henny away, leaving Erica alone, blinking in place.
"Huh? Ah?"
'What did the servant just say?'
'Henny, time to go home?'
'Which home?'
She suddenly realized something that shocked her deeply.
'Henny and Professor Viktor… live together!?'
She hurried to the window and leaned out to look downstairs.
After a while, a figure walked out the door.
It was her father, Levi.
And behind him, the man in the black coat was Viktor.
Then, behind Professor Viktor, wearing an extremely mismatched, oversized robe, was clearly Henny.
Levi escorted Viktor and Henny to the carriage at the gate.
Erica watched as the two of them got into the carriage that had no horses pulling it.
Her mind went completely blank.
She no longer had any desire to study, as if there was something extremely important she needed to understand.
She hurriedly pushed the door open and ran downstairs.
———
Inside the carriage, Viktor looked through the window at Levi, who was standing at the gate.
"Then please keep an eye on those 'believers,' Duke."
Levi nodded, his tone relaxed.
"Of course. For them to appear within the empire is my failure."
"It's late. I won't see you off any further."
Viktor nodded.
As if thinking of something, he asked, "By the way, it seems you don't have a butler at home?"
Duke Levi blinked, looking a bit puzzled, and replied, "As you can see, our household has never hired a butler."
Viktor was silent for a moment, then nodded.
"I understand."
"Please go rest, Duke."
As if deliberately pointing at something, his gaze passed over Levi and looked behind him.
"Don't let your daughter worry too much."
Levi froze and turned around.
At the entrance of the estate, Erica was standing there.
She looked hurried and was slightly out of breath, as if she had just run out.
Behind her were several servants, desperately trying to catch up.
"Miss, it's cold at night. At least put on a coat!"
Viktor saw Erica and gave her a faint smile.
Then, the curtain automatically closed.
The wheels turned, rolling over the bluestone road with clattering sounds.
Erica stood there, blankly watching as the carriage gradually left.
Levi walked over and draped his coat over Erica's shoulders.
Erica looked up at her father.
Her expression held confusion and helplessness.
Levi looked at his daughter, pain evident in his eyes.
"That's why I told you from the beginning, Erica."
"Don't get too close to Viktor."
There were simply far too many girls around Viktor.
Even the princess herself.
His Majesty had always silently approved of her contact with Viktor.
Even knowing full well that Viktor already had a fiancée.
Compared to that, Erica had no advantage at all.
Levi sighed.
At the same time, Viktor was definitely not the type to toy with others' feelings.
This visit was not solely about the Calamity.
His fiancee, Gwen Delrin, had been unconscious for two days.
And the reason was those so-called "believers."
Those people had long been old acquaintances of Levi.
Thinking of this, Levi narrowed his eyes, anger rising in his heart.
'Cultists.'
'How many more of your companions do I have to kill before you understand?'
'The empire will never be a place for filth like you.'
———
Inside the carriage, Viktor and Henny sat facing each other.
Henny lowered her head, not daring to meet Viktor's gaze.
No matter how much she had grown, once she was alone with Professor Viktor, she would still become extremely flustered.
Just smelling the professor's scent made her body heat up slightly.
She really wanted… to hug the professor tightly.
To merge with the professor…
At that moment, the crow flapped its wings, and the fluttering sound pulled Henny's thoughts back.
She looked up and met Viktor's gaze directly.
Henny's face immediately turned red.
Thinking of the image in her mind, she became even more afraid to look at the professor.
Then, Viktor's voice sounded.
"Take a few days off and come out with me."
Henny froze slightly. Before she could fully react, Viktor continued, "I've thought about it. I really have neglected you lately."
Hearing this, Henny's cheeks instantly flushed even more, and she hurriedly said, "N-no… no no no, I don't think that at all, Professor!"
"I know you're very busy, so I would never say anything like that… ah no, that's not right, I wouldn't dare say it… no, that's not right either…"
She became flustered and incoherent, desperately trying to express herself but unable to calm down.
Until she was so anxious she was almost about to cry.
A hand landed on Henny's head and gently stroked her hair.
"Don't rush. I said before, I will always make use of you."
"Until you completely break."
Henny froze slightly, her eyes becoming a bit moist.
Viktor's gentle voice sounded by her ear.
"So, just think of it as doing it for me."
"Professor…"
Henny raised her head, her eyes filled with obsession and intoxication.
She reached out with both hands and grasped the hand resting on her head.
She placed it against her own cheek.
Like autumn ripples stirred by a soft breeze, raising waves called tenderness.
'I am forever yours.'
'Forever, belonging to you.'
"Mm!"