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　A lonely girl who makes you feel alone and lonely. She beats herself against the night wind, enduring and warning.
　Even in the heated room since that day, the shiver of anxiety lurking in the depths of her being never subsided.

　I had never experienced such a cold in my survival zone. The coldness that rubbed her skin with a file made the girl feel strong.
　There had even been a warning about the difference in temperature within the academy, and the seven countries that had become part of the outside world had to adapt to the various changes in their environment.

　The girl - Fiona - was sitting on a bench alone in the dark. She holds her knees and places her slender chin between her two knees.
　Her body is cold and her exhaled breath blends into the darkness like residue.

　She took a moment to focus on the figures going to school and was relieved to see them moving away. She hadn't been very conscious of it, but still (,) her eyes worked at night.
　The grounds of the academy, with trees planted at equal intervals in between the vast pathways to school. It's as if Fiona is weaving her way through the gaps between the trees, staring single-mindedly into the dim darkness and then turning her head down when the darkness tries to penetrate her mind.

　The trees within her survival zone have grown up in a relatively warm environment, and the leaves rustle as if confused by the cold wind.

　I wanted to be alone, and I didn't want anyone to interfere with me. The self-doubt I was reminded of is anathema in the academy.
　Even if no one knows the real thing, every student in the academy is equally committed. They want to become a magician with all their might and in earnest.

　As if the night air was making it so, Fiona buried her face and guffawed at her eyes.
　Then I am.........

　He shook his face weakly, but that was the self he wanted to deny, and that was probably far from the truth. Fiona was more aware of that than anyone else, more than Ars.
　She was sure that if she gave it her all and didn't compromise at all, she would be a great wizard.

　But in reality, that was not the case. All I did was go out of my way to go all the way around and accumulate barrenness. No one would praise me. No one who knows everything will ever say, "You did a great job.
　Because you didn't do your best from the beginning. It's the equivalent of a foolish act.

　To refine something other than your own lineage, there may not be many such travesties in this schoolhouse. Fiona thinks to herself........it's ridiculous.

''........Haha.''

　A dry sneer fell from her throat with a sadness.
　The result of starving for trapped affection and striving to have it acknowledged is this. There is no way I could get approval from anyone - not even my parents.


　The thin, mocking laughter she spat out remained in her ears forever.
　Still, Fiona did not come here to be alone in such a cold weather. It was because she wanted one answer to the folly of not seeing a way out.

　Perhaps she should have asked Ars, the person in charge of making her realize it, directly, but that would surely be going in circles. Nothing can change, nothing can become anything - not even herself.

　So--

'They're here!

　An unnatural rustling sound of crunching leaves sounded, and Fiona poured her gaze into the darkness.
　The signs of a gradually approaching wind were reminiscent of a whimsical gust of wind. As darkness descended, creating shadows, the presence blending into the eerie blackness was leading with the wind in tow.

'Wait, Noir!

　The wind breezes past Fiona, who stands up vigorously and opens her hands to pass through - leaving only a shadow.

'Heh~ I could see so well.'

　Noir alighted lightly behind Fiona, climbing dexterously on the back of the bench.

'You're going back to the girls' dormitory. Would you like to come home with me?

　Fiona turned fearfully, and Fiona squeezed out to avoid being pressured by the sullen noir expression on her face. While her fantastic hair danced in the moonlit night, her face also seemed to contain some irritation.

　It was surely like pouring cold water on the heightened emotions, turning her cold eyes to Fiona.

　Fiona knows that Noir often slips out of the academy, and even if she doesn't, she often misses classes. It was also clear from the attitudes of the faculty and the head of the dormitory that she wasn't simply skipping class. The proof of this is that Noir is exempt from some of her credits.

　The time of return also varies, but Noir seems to be relatively concerned about the curfew of the girls' dormitory.
　It's not just a matter of time before you're able to get your hands on a new one.
　So, he expected that if he put up a fight, he would surely pass. More time had passed than I expected, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity. The time to agonize over it was self-imposed, because it had been concluded.

''I don't mind. It's just that........''

　Noir claps his hands idly as he slings a thin, swinging stick over his shoulder.

'I hate you so much it's irritating, so please don't speak up.
"What--?

　Looking down, Noir's eyes reflected disgust, and his mouth was filled with a flattering smile.
　She has a toothless manner, and for better or worse, she is honest with herself - or should I say, her nature.
　That's why Fiona needs to have a conversation with her.

　Once he takes a deep breath, taking in the cold air that numbed his entire body, he lets out a shuddering breath of warmth.

'Not so fast. I need to ask you ... no, I need you to tell me something!'

　Despite the hesitation, the light of courage lit deep in his eyes shines brightly in the dark night. Small and weak like a lantern, yet there was definitely a light that was lit there.
　Squinting, Noir looked up at the heavens depressingly for once, and then........

''--!

　It was set around Fiona's neck like a stick covered in a thin haze as it slipped. The haze was removed and the stick was transformed into a scythe with a long crescent moon blade snapping to a halt at the back of the neck.

Then you can choose your words. If it's going to offend you I'm going to eat it.

　Noir licked her lips with her glossy tongue.

'Hee--!'

　Clearing her throat, Fiona saw the red color on the blade of the scythe. It seemed to be dry, but the odd smell of iron could certainly be felt even in the dark.

'If I mow well, I can put three heads on this scythe.

　Noir pulls the scythe slightly, as if he wants you to see the results.

　The scent of blood that actually got onto the blade was terrible and viscerally rejected. It was as if the body was refusing to accept it.

''Did you kill someone?''
'Gusun ... hic ... hic ... hic ... hic ...'

　The gesture of wiping her eyes made Fiona seem as if she hadn't meant it. She seemed to be saying that it was an accident, that it was inevitable, that she didn't want to kill anyone, but she didn't want to.
　But--

'Ahaha ... just a little bit, just a little bit ... oh, but I don't remember anything from ten onwards, haha.

　The frightened Noir didn't take offense and counted the number of people he'd killed with a snap of his fingers, but in the end, ten wasn't enough.

'It's necessary, isn't it?'
..........

　The denial did not come from Noir.
　There's no way such a scandal could happen within this academy, which is controlled by the state, and by the military, for that matter. She is unable to go around killing indiscriminately when she is acquainted with Ars.

　I know this because I'm beside her as a chaperone for Noir. That she is related to the military.

'That's your job, isn't it?
.... so what?
No.....

　Fiona was relieved to see that she had hit the target. And the scythe that still stuck to the back of his neck was not just a little bit scary anymore.

　In fact, Noir had dared to slip up in order to scare her. For better or worse, Fiona was so opposite to Noir that she, too, felt like she was looking into a mirror. Like a mirror reflected upside down.