"El."
"What?"
"My Name, Eljin, but you can call me El." I reiterated.
"Well then, El it is." As she spoke, her smile returned once more.
I looked toward the carriage window, watching the trees speed by. It looked to be late afternoon; it was only a matter of time before we stopped to make camp for the night.
"Are you also headed to the academy?"
"Scanta Nevaria?"
"Where else?" she asked.
The only reason I knew of that place was because Fidelia had told me herself. I think she mentioned something about hoping she could pass the entrance examination. Scanta Nevaria is the only academy in the entire Empire where those not of high noble birth—commoners and low-ranking nobles—have a chance. It is owned and funded directly by the Empire, so they don't charge a fortune like the others do. Not only that, but most commoners attend on scholarships; all you have to do is be a talented genius. That's all it takes.
At first, I didn't understand why the Empire was being so generous. But now that Shelly had hinted at the existence of what could likely be a great threat to human existence, it made sense. They are preparing for a war that could happen at any time.
"No, I don't think I have what it takes," I responded.
"Huh? But you can't be that bad, right?"
I gave a strained smile, and in response, she simply hummed in thought. I turned back to the window, my eyes tracing the passing greenery.
Now, what the fuck do I do?
I have a feeling that once I arrive at Pehedro, the system will try to force me into the academy with some sort of compulsory mission. Now that I actually think about it, the academy might be my only true solution to my inability to use magic. The chances of finding someone kind enough to teach me magic are a slim 10%. But I have to pass the entrance examination to some degree just to gain entry.
Sigh. Kill me.
"I don't get it. You have ether. So what do you mean you don't have what it takes to get in?"
I turned around, and there she was—in such close proximity that our foreheads would have collided if I had leaned in. Shelly was looking me right in the eyes.
"Can you not be so close?" I calmly and cautiously pushed her back by her shoulders.
"...So?"
"It's complicated."
"...And?"
"Well..."
"Well, what?"
Ugh. Telling her would mean losing any kind of power balance between us, as she would instantly label me as weak. But then again, she successfully knocked me out back then, so she probably already thinks that.
"I can't use it," I said.
"You can't use ether?" she muttered to herself in shock. She stayed in a daze, churning over the thought for a long while before she looked at me and smiled.
Huh?
"Help!!!"
Wait...
What the fuck?!