When was it?

　No, I think now that I was like that before I can remember.

[Elemental Factor Separation Project]

　Many of the memories of young Alice grew up in a research facility.
　Her parents would come to see her every day. Her father with his gentle nature and her mother with her beautiful, gentle looks, and her smile, even if it was only for a short time.
　And they always waved goodbye sadly and said, "I'll be here again tomorrow.
　That was the norm for Alice. That's why she was looking forward to the day she would see him more than she was dissatisfied.

　Alice was born into a difficult economic situation and was a blessing in disguise.
　She wasn't wealthy, but there was a happy family there.

　Shortly after Alice turned five years old. She had to go to the hospital for a thorough examination from an epidemic disease. The cost, which was not cheap, put the Tirakes in debt to a family that could not afford it. It was a choice that, of course, did not involve regret. If there is any regret, it's why it wasn't in a large, state-owned hospital.

　It was too cruel an offer to call it a turning point.

　After a thorough examination, Alice was confirmed to have the elemental qualities that were considered rare.
　It was a perfect specimen for a plan that the country had just begun to implement as a measure. The elements, which were originally few in number, were expected to be a powerful symbol of power at the time.

　My parents were immediately approached about being a specimen. Fortunately, they had just developed a special medicine for the disease, so it didn't take long for them to recover from it, but it wasn't mass-produced, and the unit price was far too high to torment the Tirake family.
　There was no one to blame.

"Don't worry. It's just a matter of examining every detail of your body, including the wavelength of your magic,

　A physically relaxed expression was a common phrase of persuasion.
　And then they offered me a sum of money I had never seen before as a reward for my cooperation in the research. It was a generous sum, even after deducting the cost of the tests. It was more than enough to get by without working.

　Alice's parents slammed the desk in exasperation at this offer. I'm sure they didn't have any doubts. At least that's what Alice had heard.

'It's not about the money!

　Looking coolly at his father's fury, the state bureaucrat continued.

'Your child's cooperation may help to save humanity, sir.

　I couldn't rebel against that right away. At that time, although they had prevented the demons from invading, they could have been attacked at any time. The number of magicians was small, and even if they were inexperienced, they could be sent to the front lines based on their magical qualities alone.
　Alice was bound to be drafted into the army at some point.

'The term is three years. Your visitation time will be one hour a day.

　With that, a stack of documents filled with detailed schedules was placed on the desk.
　My parents struggled to repeat all those letters, even if they didn't understand them.
　In hindsight, I don't think I could have vetoed it.

　It was only after a full week of deadlines that I made up my mind. It was a painful choice that I agonized over until the last minute.
　And so we shook hands on the contract. I received enough money to play and live....

　But my parents drew only the minimum amount of money and did not touch it any more.


　But it can be said that they were naive in their thinking.
　This was the year they entered the second year of living in the facility.
The [Elemental Factor Isolation Project] was aimed at replicating the elemental factor, but that plan had stalled and was on the verge of collapse.

　
　The ethical issues are easily dissolved by a single heinous act.

　Alice's body had left traces of it. Since the experiment was for actual testing, it was not physically harmful.

　After being kept quiet, Alice has no choice but to behave stoutly in front of her parents.
　There was no other choice but to nod to Alice if she was cited for a visit to her parents.

'Mum, when are we going to be able to live together?'
We're almost there. Just hang on a little longer, okay? Mum's looking forward to living with Alice.

　She smiled like a flower at her mother.

I'm sure you'll be surprised when you get home. You'll be amazed at the stuffed animals like this one.

　Her father made a large circle with both hands, much to Alice's delight.
　Alice didn't even remember what her house looked like, but that was a minor detail. The three of them could live together, because it was the only thing that mattered to her.


　It was only after this that her parents, who had visited her almost every day, stopped coming.

　The staff at the home had told me that they were busy with their work. Even though I was a child, I understood, even if I didn't agree with it. No, I had to put up with it.
　He told himself that he would be able to live with them in a short time.

　But it came sooner than I expected.
　One of the test subjects who had been living with me died.
　Whatever the cause, at least the experiment was a major factor. When the state recognized it and came to inspect the site, the human experiments were discovered and the project was abandoned less than three years later.

　Alice was taken into custody by the military, and she has little recollection of the details of what happened afterwards except for the conclusion.
　The first words of the soldier, however, are still fresh in his mind.

Your parents are dead.

　I didn't understand the death in me, but I only know that it was gone.
　That was the moment when something snapped inside Alice.
　The front of her eyes lost color. The voice of a mature man, who seemed to be a military man, sounded as if it wasn't coming from the same person.
　My empty heart felt as if it had been secretly gouged out, no, I thought, it is this world that is empty.

　It didn't calm down, but then the soldier let Alice hear it over the long months.
　All Alice could hear in the middle of it was that they had been broken into and stabbed by a robber.
　The perpetrator had already been caught and leaked the secret that it had been handled privately because of the distant cause of the human experiments.


　Alice, twelve years old.
　Alice had a fortune left by her parents. She is too young to live on her own, so she has decided to go to a state-run shelter. Maybe it was because she didn't want to touch the money they left her.　
　I was used to having no one there. Sure, there were other kids around her age, but they weren't in Alice's eyes.

　Perhaps it was inevitable that she had come to want to become a magician. There were a number of options, but this loosely cursed predisposition had been given to her by her parents, so Alice didn't hesitate.

　As it was a state institution, there was also a dojo nearby.
　It was there that she was first taught spearmanship. At first she wanted to train in magic, but she quickly got into it. Time flew by in a blink of an eye as long as I was wielding a spear.

　I don't have a great idea of becoming a magician and protecting humanity. It's just a matter of using this power to live.

　You met Tesfia when you were fourteen years old at a private training school for wizards.



♢ ♢ ♢


Is this really how you know?

　Alice asked incredulously, unimaginable from her own experience.

'Oh, if we don't move,'

　With that, Alice changed into a thin piece of cloth and changed into an inspection suit and laid down on a pedestal above the equipment.
　Her hands are held in place to prevent them from falling off at one point.

'Don't worry Alice, if Al tries anything, I'll defeat him.

　Tesfia, sitting in a chair with her arms crossed, took a sharp aim at the glittering.

　Ars stared at the LCD screen in front of the equipment while bathed in an unwarranted pressure on his back.


　It was a week after he finished his extracurricular class.　The date is June 7th, and it's the lab after school.
　Today, apart from the training, a new Ars research begins.
　It's related to Alice's light system, and there's no specific goal, just that it might be useful for the new magic.

　Elements are scarce, but in fact they are not that different from other strains. It's one of the useful issues that has been neglected in research because of its scarcity.

''The measurements are done, so we're done.

　He got up with a munchkin and took Tesfia with him and looked in.

'What does this tell you?'
I mean, do you really know?

　This red-haired girl has this attitude as soon as she unravels the structure of the Mystrotain. It's moderately irreverent even if you subtract your friend's concern.
　Ars ignores Tesfia's question.

''Is it easier to understand Alice's body's affinity with magic, or rather the synchronization rate?''

　I've already got a question mark floating around, but since they're the ones who asked, I'll just scratch out what they're doing.

In other words, I'm analyzing the information body that Alice's magic contains. I'm sure you'll find a lot of information mixed in with it besides experience and mindfulness, so we'll get an accurate grasp of it first.
Huh.

　Tesfia takes a right to left.

'I see!'

　I'm not sure if she's a know-it-all or not. Or maybe she's trying to force herself to understand.

Here's your tea.
Thank you.

　Loki's tea, made from hand-picked tea leaves, has become Ars's favorite.
　It was a nice time to freshen up.

'Thanks.
Thanks, Loki.

　I think the feud with them has decreased considerably when they prepare for both of them firmly.

　Tesfia's brow wrinkled as she took a mouthful.

''Bitter!''
I don't know.

　Loki looks down with satisfaction.
　It's elaborate to make it thicker for one person. If it's only this good it's probably still good.
　Ars closed his eyes, keeping his teacup to his mouth.


'Let's move on to training when you've taken a breath.

　As expected, it would be a complete disaster if he ended up just doing an inspection without training.
　And once the inspection is done, the rest is up to Ars.

Then I'm going to get dressed.

　Alice walked into the bedroom and closed the door.


　I'm not doing as well in training the suppression of magic power as I did in the first stage. The command to directionality is weak, but this is the only thing that will have to be done over time.

　This is like holding separate conversations with one to three people at the same time.
　It's not a rotation of thoughts, but in terms of difficulty. You need to concentrate your entire body's magic power to instruct a number of actions at the same time.


''It's time to try it on the training ground.

　Easy help. The result of deciding that it was unlikely to end during their first year at this point.

　The fact that the two of them smiled with glee was probably because they had gotten a real battle with a demon and had some thoughts about it.
　I'm sure the frustration must be quite high because I could see that he was itching to continue his humble training, moreover.

　Speaking of which, there was something that had been bothering me.
　After the two of them finished their training, they started to prepare to leave when they saw that it was getting dark. This is also the same as usual.

'Hey, why are you leaving me here?'
Heh--!
Hmm?

　I told him that he was not only using a training stick that he uses every day, but he was also not going to leave his bag without it.
　It's true that there are lockers in the school that can be used as a placeholder, but I didn't think the two of them, who have a reputation for excellence, would do that.
　That should have been pointed out to them three days ago.


''Tomorrow........see, there's a lot of classroom learning!
Yeah, yeah.

　So it would be too self-serving to ask them to put it down, but I didn't mean to blame them from the beginning.

　The reason for this is also in Ars's training. You can't help but feel that Ars can't help but feel blame when they bring back the stick firmly.

''I don't mind, but it's time for a test.

　Of course, it's the first semester exam.

"..........!

　They were both dumbfounded and stunned.
　As far as Tesfia was concerned, she was dropping the stick.

''Valuable........''
What can I do? Your mother will be furious.

　Tesfia clearly looked aghast. So it's already a bad outcome, right?
　He didn't say that it was nonsense to go into it, but instead offered the information.

'But we still have two weeks to go,'

　I don't know how he perceived that, but he probably thought, "There's only one way to do it.

'If it was a bad result ... bad ... rating ... points ...'

　He muttered like a curse, but he seemed to have the quickness to beg for immediate relief.

'Please, Alice, tell me,'

　Her eyes, moist as an abandoned dog's, turned to Alice. It was as if, if I didn't help her, what was she as a person?　It was almost as if he was going to say.

'Yeah, yeah - I'm not so sure either.'

　Ars interjects with what the two of them are whining about together.

'I thought you guys weren't brilliant?'

　He thought that Ars, who he assumed to be a literate student, would not be as bad as he worried.
　The two of them, like all the other students, have been listening to their classes properly and, unlike Ars, attending them.

　To begin with, if all you want to do is get the credits, the two of you are already fixed.
　It's a good idea to get a good score on the test if you want to get a higher grade.

''Haha, your motivation is high, but your mind can't catch up.

　He scoffs at the idea that it's silly.

"Even if you get a good grade, you don't know if you'll get a credit.
..........

　In comparison to the actual number of days of attendance, it is honestly risky.
　But...

Do you think I'm going to fail, I'm the only one who has contributed so much to the academy. Don't lick the power of the chancellor.

　I know it's pathetic to say that I'm being altruistic, but all Ars originally wanted was time.
　I owe the Chancellor a debt of gratitude for the extracurriculars, so he needs to do this much.

''It's not fair!''
'Hmm I can't imagine anyone studying the vulgarities of the world.

　Alice replaced an exasperated Tesfia and tried to change the subject.

'Speaking of which, what's going to happen to Loki-chan?'
Maybe you're not exempt this quarter?
No, I was told that the test results would be used to grade me before I transferred.

　Loki's face does not show the same impatience as Tesfia's. It's a rather cool face.

''Yo, there's no room.''

　The spare Tesfia rebelled weakly. The first person to leave the joint front of camaraderie that was selfishly put into the framework was Loki.

''I have already mastered my studies up to the third year, sir.
Nah!
You're a smart guy, Loki.

　Loki raised his eyebrows slightly as he was mocked, but he tried to resolve the situation by turning the point of view to Tesfia.
　He looked down at her and then gave a snorting laugh.

''So I don't know how anyone could stumble over it after a year or so.
Ggh...!

　He silenced Tesfia by covering Ars's words.

''It's not a 'goof.' You'll learn as soon as you understand. In the meantime, I'll cut back on your training days.
I'm not going to lose it...
I wouldn't mind losing it, but only if I didn't want all my training to go to waste.
".........!
Oh, no no no.

　The furious rebellion was mixed with anxiety now for the test.
　I thought it was a bit over the top, but since magic manipulation needed to be learned as a habit, it would take me a while to regain my senses after two weeks, even if it wasn't the first time.


'It might be weird to say if it was, but.......tell me about it, Al.'
Nice Alice.

　It wasn't nice, and it was definitely weird. Perhaps it was a suggestion if it didn't reduce training, but frankly, it was too brazen for Ars, who was devoting his time to training.

''Enough with the two of you.......''

　Loki couldn't take it anymore, but he screamed.

'No!　I'm busy. I'm only doing that because I promised I'd help you out on how to slay demons, and I'm not going to take the time to do anything else, as I've said before.

　I thought I had put the facts out there as facts, but Alice was visibly depressed.

'And no matter how much magic I teach you, if you're not smart enough, you can't even use what you can use. You'll have to learn for yourself.

　It was Ars's own way of encouraging her, but clumsy words were often misleading.

''That's right,''
Alice...

　Sadness mixed into the heavy air from a sniffling Alice.

'It's only a little, you know?　I'm not asking you to get a perfect score...

　Tesfia clasped her palms together to worship down in front of her face. It must mean that she is in such dire need that she would go this far with Ars.

''And even if I tell you to defeat a demon, if you think in Ars's logic, doesn't that mean you also need knowledge?

　I've certainly taken on that area in a fuzzy way. It's difficult to slaughter a demon if it's only technical. But that knowledge is not always what is taught at the academy.
　In the first place, you need a certain amount of knowledge about mastering magic as well. It's also necessary to unravel the compositional stages of magic, and it's important to understand the magic formula. Of course, there is a difference between the mastery that Ars requires and the mastery that the students of the academy call for.

　''So, you know?'' And although the sight of Tesfia holding out the sword of righteousness and mockingly asking for help is annoying, if it's only about appearances, you can't blame her for being tricked by Colossus. From Ars, who knows what's inside, it's petty.
　Loki reacted with a jerk, but controlled it with his eyes. He always does.
　He put a finger to his forehead (as if to pinch his forehead with his thumb and forefinger) and broke off in dismay.

'At least I'll tell you the part about magic and demons,'

　It was an unspoken suggestion if it was of some benefit to the training. To tell the truth, I wanted that much to be known.
　Loki was surprised, but he didn't interrupt Ars's words aloud.

'Thank you!

　Alice smiles like a flower blooming.　

'Please, Sen, Sen, Sen, I.'

　Tesfia grinned and bowed lightly.
　The two men turned their backs and shook hands tightly.

　Ars closed his eyes and sipped his tea. You can't help but sigh at the rich aroma exhaled.