As a professor at the School of Magic, it was important for me to choose my students.
　In this school, in the third year, each student is assigned an advisor.
　A good professor chooses an excellent pupil, and talented students also want to study under a good professor, so naturally the master and pupil's rank as a magician is proportional to each other.

　I had to choose an excellent student to carry on the magic of Lilla-sensei.
　Both Lilla-sensei and I were also one of the leading geniuses in the magic school, and then my disciple must be a genius as well.

　I could only take one to a few disciples at a time, otherwise I wouldn't be able to teach them.

　So I need to assess the qualities of my students carefully.
　This is especially true for me, since it's my first time taking a pupil.

　The first apprentice I tried to take was an eleven-year-old girl by the name of Sophia.
　Sophia was only nine years old when she entered the wizarding school, and after that, she had shown the highest talent in her grade, and she wanted the name of a genius.

　I had entered the wizarding school at a very young age, and I was familiar with Sophia's position.
　When I met Sophia in person, she was shy, but she was a very beautiful looking girl.
　Her magical talents were also comparable to mine, and I felt the urge to choose Sophia as my apprentice right now.

　What Lirra-sensei had taught to 'Crimson Lucy', I, the 'Crimson Lucy', would now teach Sophia.
　I had always admired Rilula-sensei, so now I wanted to be her teacher and recreate the same kind of master-disciple relationship that Rilula-sensei and I had.

　But Sophia didn't become my apprentice.

　The headmaster of the magic school, Glenn, didn't seem to be keen on me taking Sophia as my apprentice.

'Both you and Mr. Sophia are too immature,'

　'Principal Glenn, come to my lab.' He said this with a bitter smile.

'No, it's not!　I'm sure I can bring out the best in Sophia's talent!

I mean, you're both perfect in terms of talent. But you know what? Talent isn't everything.

'I don't know what Principal Glenn means,'

'A professor who is too young to teach a pupil who is too young will not necessarily produce good results. Sophia has a better teacher, and you have a more suitable pupil, I mean.

　Principal Glenn said, and then left.
　Despite Principal Glen's objections, I couldn't give up.

　Master and pupil choose each other.
　If Sophia strongly desired, she would be able to make me her apprentice over the headmaster's objections.

　At that time, I was very presumptuous, and I wanted Sophia to be my apprentice at all costs.
　I knew that doing so would be good for Sophia.

　Just as Miss Lirra had guided me.

　I met with Sophia many times to persuade her to join me.

　But Sophia chose another professor as her teacher, not me.
　I mean, I wasn't chosen.

　I was always at the top of my class throughout my time at the wizarding school, and I was good at everything I did, if I do say so myself.
　So when I couldn't take Sophia as an apprentice, I was filled with a sense of defeat.

　The other good students weren't far behind Sophia.
　On top of that, while I was spending all my time trying to convince Sophia, most of the top-performing students had decided on a master.

　I was in a hurry.
　I wanted to take Sophia as my pupil at all costs.
　It's not uncommon for students to change masters along the way, so there's still a chance to reel them in.

　While I kept thinking about this, one day while I was conducting my research, I made a terrible mistake by carelessness.
　I made a mistake in mixing the wrong amount of magic potion and let it go off in the lab.
　The chemical ignited violently and set the lab ablaze in an instant.

　I wanted to use my magic to put it out, but I didn't have my wand near me.
　Just as I was about to reach for my wand, I inhaled the toxic fumes.

　I fell to the ground, my consciousness fading fast.
　The flames were approaching in front of me and I was ready to die.

　I didn't know that I was going to have to go after Dr. Lilla for this.
　But I didn't die.

　The next thing I knew, I found myself being held by someone.
　And when I opened my eyes, I saw a boy looking into my face with concern.

　He was a wizarding school student in black robes, about fifteen or six years old.
　His eyes were shining with a strange brightness, which was striking.

''Are you alright, Lucy-sensei?''

"Yeah, yeah. Who are you?

I'm Solon, a junior.

　Solon.
　I've heard the name before.

　There was nothing remarkable about his grades or magical talents.
　He entered the school two years later than the standard entrance age, so he was already sixteen, even though he was a third year.

　However, he was the caretaker of his classmate Sophia, who was five years younger than him, and she trusted him immensely.
　I was told that Sophia rarely left Solon's side for a moment.

　Eventually I remembered that he would hold me in his arms.
　He had his hands around my back and legs, and his full weight was resting on me, on Solon.

　I couldn't help but blush and look at Solon.

'Uh...'

We need to get to the infirmary now.

The fire...

　I looked around the lab.
　The books and desks were charred to black and the lab was a mess, but the fire seemed to have stopped.
　Solon had apparently put it out with magic.

''I'm sorry. I wish I could have put it out a little sooner, but...''

　He says, apologetically.
　In other words, it seems Solon saved me.

　He was using some pretty dangerous magic chemicals, and the fire was bad.
　So I think he was risking his life to save me, too.

　I whispered, "Thank you.
　I said I could walk to the doctor's office by myself, but as soon as Solon dropped me off, I wandered off.

　Solon hurriedly held me in his arms.
　His hand was cool and comfortable as he took me in, and I felt a jolt.

He took me in his arms and I gasped. I'll take you to the infirmary.

　In other words, they're going to carry me in their arms like they did earlier.
　I was embarrassed, but I didn't have a choice.

''Can I ask........for a favor?''

Of course.

　Then Solon put his hands around my legs and back and held me in his arms, making me blush a little.　
　Solon looked embarrassed too, and I chuckled.

　As he walked, he tried to heal me with his healing magic, which he could use without his wand.
　I could see that his magical talent was very average.
　There didn't seem to be anything excellent about him at all.

　But Sophia trusts him.
　Why is that?

"I just happened to be passing by and saw that there was a huge fire, so I was very surprised. When I saw the doctor lying on the ground, I felt a twinge of sadness, but I'm glad he's recovered.

Why did you help me?

　Solon gave him a strange look.

'Do you need a reason to help?'

Because I think it was a very close call.

'I'm learning magic to help people in times like these, so there's no reason not to use it.

　Solon's words were new to me.

　What is the purpose of magic?
　I had never thought about that.

I had been studying magic to meet the expectations of my favorite teacher, Rilula, and to gain a higher reputation.
　There was no concept of the purpose of using magic there.

　Solon was still glancing at me with concern.
　And he had been using healing magic for a long time.

　I could be admired and respected, but he rarely worried about me.
　The only person who cared about me was Dr. Lilla.

　So, to me, Solon's concern was a bit ticklish and pleasing.

　I felt like I understood a little bit why Sophia trusted Solon so much.

　Later, when I was completely recovered, I called Solon into my tattered lab.
　I had decided to take Solon as my apprentice.

'Me?'　A genius disciple like Miss Lucy, is it okay for me to be a genius disciple like me?

I'm calling you here because I thought you'd be worthy of being my apprentice.

That's ... thank you very much.

So you'll be my disciple?

　What if they say no, like they did with Sophia?
　Being rejected was a surprisingly painful experience.

　It meant that he wasn't needed and he wasn't chosen.

　But Solon smiled.

''Of course I won't turn it down. A genius like Lucy-sensei chose me as her apprentice.''

　I felt my heart jump with that smile.

　I wanted to be a teacher like Rilula-sensei.
　Then my student doesn't have to be Sophia.

　A student I could trust.
　When I thought about it, it seemed like I had no other choice but to go with Solon.

　I stuck my index finger to Solon's forehead.

''Well you're inexperienced now, but I'm sure I'll make you a top-notch magician.

'Thank you. I'm looking forward to it.

　Solon was smiling at me, but I was getting restless.
　I feel my body temperature rise.

　How can I act like a master?

　I was the one who was inexperienced.
　I had the ability to be a sorcerer, but my experience as a teacher was nil.

　I remember the first time I met Lilla-sensei.
　The teacher looked into my young eyes and shook my hand.

　I looked at Solon, and Solon looked back at me.
　I held out my right hand and hesitated, murmuring, "Well...." and Solon understood my intentions and naturally shook my hand.

'From now on ... nice to meet you, Solon.

Yes. It's nice to meet you too, Dr. Lucy.

　Solon's hands were cool and pleasant.

　And so began Solon and I's life as a teacher and student.
　I didn't know how to deal with him, and I would say some pretty crazy things, but he always smiled at me and took it in stride.

　He was probably a lot more mature than I was.
　Unlike some of my classmates who once looked at me from afar and rejected me, Solon accepted me for who I was.
　Just like Dr. Lirra.

　Solon became more and more important to me.

　Then a decisive incident occurred.