It was a summer day.
　I was in Professor Lucy's lab.

　I was a fourth year student at the school of magic, and it had been two years since I became Lucy's apprentice.

　Lately I've been spending a lot of time in Lucy's lab.
　There was a reason for that.

　That's because the middle school mage exam, which is held in the fall semester of fourth year, is a tough one!
　This is an examination conducted by the Imperial government to certify the competence of mages, and students of the Imperial School of Magic are required to pass it without exception.
　If you fail the exam, you will not be able to advance to the next level, and on the other hand, if you get a good grade, you will be given privileges such as the ability to choose a more advanced class.

　That's why Lucy had to stay with me and teach me how to study.

'Okay, Solon?　I won't forgive you if you flunk out.

　Lucy said, tapping her fingers on the desk with a thump.
　We were facing each other across the desk.

'It's okay. As of now, we have a good chance of passing the test itself with plenty of time to spare.

Hmm.

It's all thanks to Dr. Lucy, isn't it?

　I smiled and said, and Lucy blushed and looked away.
　I wonder if she's embarrassed.

'And anyway, don't get distracted!　And you have to pass with good grades. Aim for the best!

''Haha, that's indeed impossible. The one who will pass in first place will be Sophia.

　Sophia is showing overwhelming talent in the practical skills of magic.
　Even Creon is rapidly improving his magical abilities, and there's also a guy named Serene, who is the honor student for his grade.
　Furthermore, it's not just the students of the magic school who take the test.

　It's unrealistic to expect me to be first.

''I passed first, so you, my apprentice, have to get first place too.

'Don't be ridiculous. I'm not a genius like Miss Lucy.

'Oh, I'm afraid so. In practicing magic, Solon is certainly not as good as I used to be. But there are some subjects in which he does very well.

It's a bunch of low-paying electives, though.

　Subjects that are not directly related to magic, such as herbology and imperial history, are also included in the secondary mage exam.
　It is said that in order to play an active role as a full-fledged mage, you have to know more than just magic.

　And when it comes to those subjects, I did indeed do much better than the other students.
　I'm good at a lot of things that require a lot of detailed knowledge.

You're really good at it. How do you know so much about so many things?

''Originally, I was going to be a nobleman's steward. Learning the knowledge and skills to support my master was more important than being able to use magic.

Yeah. That kind of thing?

'It is the role of the master nobles to use magic. They have a noble duty to protect the people with magic. And the steward is expected to support them in all aspects of their work.

'I was born of noble birth, but Miss Lilla took me in when I was little, so I don't know much about that sort of thing.

　Lucy was born into one of the most prestigious aristocrats in the empire, but she doesn't have an aristocratic vibe in a good way.
　That's probably because she became the apprentice of a magician from a commoner's background at an early age.

''Is it also because Solon is so good at Alemanian that he was about to become a steward?

'Huh?　Who told you that I speak Alemanian?

'I overheard Sophia talking to one of the other kids. She said happily, 'Solon can do everything and he speaks a lot of foreign languages very well.

Oh, I see.

'It's somehow not funny that Sophia knew something that I, as a master, didn't,'

　Lucy puffs out her cheeks and glares at me.

　I was at a loss for a reply.
　I didn't mean to hide anything from Lucy, but.

≪''So, teach me some Alemanian.

　I almost dropped the quill from my hand in surprise.
　Because Lucy spoke, no doubt, in Alemanian.

'Surprised?　I had to do some studying.

Why did you have to learn Alemanian again?

'When I heard that Solon could speak, I was intrigued. But I guess there are limits to what I can learn on my own.

'Well, there aren't that many books to learn, and it's a pain in the ass to pronounce them and all that.

'That's why I've asked Solon to teach me. Is that alright?

"I'll teach Miss Lucy?

Yeah. I just thought it would be fun to have that happen sometimes. Right?

　Lucy looked at me with her crimson eyes.
　I'm always helping Lucy, and if I can repay her, however trivial, it's no problem.
　Besides, the fact that the genius master, Lucy, is being taught by an ordinary apprentice of mine is certainly a bit interesting.
　I'm sure he'll be able to learn it right away, given the fact that he's Lucy.

　I smiled.

I'm sure you're right. If it's okay with me, I can help you. But I don't think learning Alemanian would be that useful...''

I don't need to be useful. Do you understand?

　Lucy chuckled.
　Then she popped the magic theory reference book on her desk and indicated it by tapping it.

''For that.......I have to pass the secondary mage exam properly. After the exam is over, we can take a trip to Alemania.

　Lucy chuckled and put a cup of freshly brewed tea in front of me.
　I looked down at the reference book for the exam again, thinking that Lucy was in a good mood today.

'Hey, Solon...'

　Lucy calls my name as if to sweeten it.

　I looked up at Lucy's words........as I should have.
　The one who was smiling in front of me was Filia.


　☆


Hey, Solon, wake up.

　I was startled and tried to jump up, and he put a finger to my forehead.
　I was lying on the bed, and Filia was on top of me.

　Filia was wearing a thin negligee, and I was thrown off.
　It's troubling to be held so closely in such a state, though.

　Filia smiled softly and gently placed her lips close to my ear.

''I'm sorry for waking you up at this hour, okay?''

　It was still early morning when I looked at the clock.
　Sophia and the others in the same room were sleeping soundly. Clarice was tossing and turning in her sleep with a happy look on her face, and Sophia was mumbling in her sleep with a small smile, "I can't eat anymore.......

　I'm sure they're both dreaming peacefully.

　I was apparently having a dream too.
　It was also a dream a long time ago.

　The fourth year of magic school has been six years ago.

　I was 17 and Lucy was 20.
　Many things have changed between then and now.

　Based on the information I got from Creon and Arte, do I go and save Lucy?
　It was yesterday that I had to make a decision, and today I had to start taking concrete action as soon as possible.

　As I collapsed on the bed, I asked Filia a question.

'Do you want to talk to me in private?

'Huh?　How did you know?

Otherwise, Lady Filia wouldn't be waking me up at this hour.

　Me, Filia, Sophia and Clarice are always in a room together, so it's not often that we're alone together.
　Filia looked up at me.

'Why don't we go for a little walk in the garden?'

Are you still in your pajamas?

Who's watching?

'Well, yes, that's true but you'll catch a cold.

Yeah?　Ah........

　I gently put the cardigan on Filia and popped her on the shoulder.
　She twisted around ticklishly and smiled happily.

　I threw on my jacket and took Filia out into the garden with me.
　The early morning air was clear and pleasant.
　The garden of this mansion was originally owned by a nobleman, so it was a decent size.

　However, since the purchase, the garden had remained untouched and was in disrepair except for a minimal path.
　I think I can understand why there was a rumor that it was a haunted house.

'I don't think I've ever walked in a garden like this before, have I?

Well, it's not yet in a state where it's fun to stroll around. At some point, I'd like to take good care of the grasses and flowers, and at the same time grow some medicinal plants and other plants to make the garden suitable for the residence of Her Imperial Highness.

This will be fun. I'll help you with that.

'Thank you. Shall we have Lady Filia do the same?

Yes. But it's fun for me just to know that I'm walking with him.

　Filia stopped abruptly and spun around to look back at me.
　The hem of her negligee swayed softly.

　Then Filia looked straight at me.

'Hey, is Solon going to help Lucy?　Alone in the basement of the War and Navy Department?

　I blinked my eyes.
　I wasn't supposed to let Filia know about Lucy's whereabouts yesterday, though.

'Clarice told me,'

'Oh, I see.'

Please don't blame Clarice. I asked you to do it.

　I've met with Creon and I've been to Arte's room.
　Then I'm sure you'd be wondering what we were talking about.

"Hey, Solon. "Hey Solon, can I come with you to help Lucy?

　I shook my head.

'I can't bring Lady Filia with me.

Because I'm not good enough?

　I looked at Filia in surprise.
　Filia has an unusually anxious look on her face.

''Why do you say that?''

Because.........if it were true, I was supposed to learn Lucy's grimoire magic, help Solon and fight with him. But I can't even use intermediate magic properly, so I couldn't be of any help to Solon...

　It seems that Filia is dragging the failure of yesterday's enhancement spell with her.
　I bent down and made eye contact with Filia.

'Everyone has things that go wrong. If you keep worrying about it, the things that work will not work anymore.''

But....

'Besides, if you learn Miss Lucy's amazing magic so quickly, you'll be in trouble.

Why?

''An ordinary sorcerer like me would lose his position. Besides, if Filia-sama learns magic without any stumbles, I won't be able to teach her anymore.

I don't think so.

'No. The Master is there for the disciple when he stumbles. Master is there for his students when they falter, so Master Filia doesn't have to feel depressed or lose confidence. Master Filia is not a useless person, she is a brilliantly gifted magician's spawn.

　Filia blushed a little and listened to my words.
　And then she crossed her little hands in front of her chest, as if she were praying. ,.

Then I want to go and help Lucy. I want to help Solon.

'Thank you. Someday, I'm sure Master Filia will be a magician who surpasses me. When that happens, please help me with my helplessness. But now is not the time for that yet.

　Yes.
　Even though I know it's a trap, I'll still go to Lucy's aid.
　I can't just leave her in there with her in danger.

　And I'm the only one who will infiltrate the Army and Navy Ministry.
　I'm not taking Filia, or even Sophia with me.

　That was partly because I didn't want to put everyone in danger, but there was another reason.

　I was the only one who could speak Alemanian.
　The ability to speak Alemanian was essential to the mission to save Lucy.