The Runefelt School of Sorcery

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The branch office in Ettelstad was a snug three-story mansion, just as Johanna had said.
 
 THe mansion, located on the edge of the high-end residential area, was originally built by a local merchant.
 
 “Well, that’s all the staff.”
 
 Johanna immediately gathered the people working here once we arrived.
 
 Including Glen and Johanna, there were 5 staff members who welcomed us.
 
 One was a female telegraphist who handled the magic communications device, and the others were a vibrant aunty who handled all the domestic chores and a taciturn uncle as the cook.
 
 Incidentally, the aunty and uncle are a married couple, and everybody was formal staff of the Foreign Affairs residence.
 
 “It’s getting late, so let’s talk about tomorrow after dinner. I’ll show you two to your rooms, so follow me.”
 
 And so, Johanna showed us to our rooms, and we rested our bodies until dinnertime.
 
 
 
 After dinner, Anna and I were able to hear various things about the sorcery school from Johanna.
 
 The main purpose of tomorrow’s trip will be to apply for the entrance exam.
 
 There are no specific requirements for admission, and students of any age, gender, nationality or race can take the exam, but the procedure must be completed by the person themselves in-person, and needs to be done by the day before the exam.
 
 THe entrance exam consists of a simple written exam and practical test, and students are split into classes based on the result.
 
 … and so on and so forth.
 
 I knew from my research beforehand that the enrollment period was two years with a boarding system, but it was the first time I’d heard that the dorms were two people per room, or that there was an enhancement sorcery course, apart from the sorcerer course, for learning how to enhance weapon attacks through sorcery.
 
 By the way, Anna’s reaction when she heard 『the dorm rooms are allocated such that people from the same town don’t stay together』 was incredible.
 
 “No way… then who would take care of Ojou-sama?!”
 
 Anna lashed out at Johanna.
 The sorcery school graduate just returned a wry smile.
 
 “You’re not allowed to have a caretaker with you. It’s to establish an independent personality and lifestyle as a magician… or so they say.”
 
 “What, that’s outrageous!!”
 
 “By the way, these rules basically apply to all students, including the sons and daughters of nobility, without exception. Well, the only thing you can do is pray to the heavens that some sort of slip-up happens.”
 
 “Ughh… I’ll pray to the Goddess.”
 
 “I see. Well, that’s fine.”
 
 Saying so, Johanna laughed.
 
 Like that, our first night on this freezing continent wore on.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The next morning.
 Having had breakfast, we headed out to the school immediately.
 
 “How far away is the school?”
 
 I posed this question to Johanna as we were rocked back and forth from the bed of the covered-wagon, who then murmured “hmm” as she pondered.
 
 “It’s close to the main gate, but…”
 
 “?”
 
 As I tilted my head, she stood up and leaned out the canopy.
 
 “Look, over there!”
 
 Anna and I got off our seats and looked in the direction she pointed.
 
 “Woahh…!!”
 
 We both gasped.
 
 Before our eyes, a large, sparkling lake spread out with the sun’s rays reflecting off of it, with a magnificent old castle floating upon its surface.
 
 
 
 “It’s so wonderful, being able to go to the school building by boat!”
 
 Aboard the ferry.
 Hearing my words from beside me, Johanna gave a wry smile.
 
 “Although it’ll also feel annoying when you’re in a hurry. The ferry makes a round trip during the daytime every hour during your school term.”
 
 Pushing through the lake surface, the sailing boat kept going.
 It’s appearance is probably close to that of a tour boat.
 
 When I asked about it earlier, they said that it has a fixed capacity of 30 passengers.
 At the beginning of the school term when passenger numbers are high, they also run a medium-sized boat that can accommodate 80 passengers.
 
 Right now, there were several groups of young people on the boat as well, who I guess were going to apply to write the exam as well.
 
 The boat ride took more than 15 minutes.
 
 Then something happened as we got close to the old castle.
 
 
 
 “Hm?”
 
 With my hands on the boat’s edge, I peered into the lake’s surface.
 
 “Ojo—… Letia, what’s wrong?”
 
 Anna, who was about to say Ojou-sama, hurriedly caught herself and corrected it to my false name.
 
 After our discussion yesterday, we decided that we were 『sisters of different ages, who come from a family branched off of nobility』.
 
 I am Letia Ainbell.
 Anna is my older sister, Anna Ainbell.
 
 By the way, I prohibited her from wearing her beloved maid clothes while on this continent.
 I feel sorry for her, but it can’t be helped.
 So as to also not invite extra trouble, we can’t have her revealing personal information.
 
 Anna pleaded with tears in her eyes, but when I mentioned me cutting my hair as an example, I somehow managed to convince her.
 
 
 
 That’s besides the point.
 
 When my 『older sister』 asked me that question, I replied while still staring into the water.
 
 “Onee-sama. I can feel magic power in the water.”
 
 “Magic power?”
 
 Tilting her head, Anna placed her hand on the edge of the boat in the same way.
 
 “…… ah, indeed. It’s faint, but I can feel a magic power stronger than on land.”
 
 As we were having that conversation———
 
 “As expected.”
 
 Johanna came over and pointed into the lake.
 
 “Below this lake is the 『Ettelna Lake Labyrinth』.”
 
 “Uh, a dungeon at the bottom of the lake?”
 
 When I asked back in surprise, Johanna chuckled.
 
 “Or rather, it’s more accurate to say that the school is built on top of the dungeon. There is the entrance to the lake dungeon in the basement of the school building, and is used for combat drills and exams. The dungeon here has various traits that make it just right for the curriculum.”
 
 “Huh…”
 
 I once again gazed down into the lake.
 
 For a fleeting moment, I had a feeling that I caught a glimpse of what appeared to be ruins.
 
 “Almost like a fantasy world, huh.”
 
 “?”
 
 Anna tilted her head.
 
 “What kind of school life awaits us, I wonder. I’m looking forward to it.”
 
 “I guess so.”
 
 The two of us laughed together.
 
 Before we knew it, the Runefelt School of Sorcery’s main building had come right before us.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 “For those who are applying for the exam, please take an application form and continue to the hall!”
 
 Having landed on the island, students who seemed to be doing part-time jobs were guiding us with arrow signs in hand.
 
 “Is that the sorcery school’s uniform?”
 
 When I asked her, Johanna nodded, saying 『that’s right』.
 
 “It’s pretty cute, isn’t it?”
 
 “They changed it a little while ago. It was rather unfashionable when I was still a student. ——— most likely, they’re trying to gather more students.”
 
 “Gathering more students?”
 
 “A new sorcery school opened in the capital about five years ago. I’ve heard that, unlike Runefelt which is for aspiring adventurers, this school has a curriculum which is designed to train magicians who can play an active role in the national army and state research labs.”
 
 “Huh, so there are competing schools.”
 
 It happened as I murmured that.
 
 
 
 Slap!
 
 The sound of a hand hitting something rang out.
 
 Looking around to see what was going on———
 
 “Why is a lowly girl like you doing here?”
 
 – from the shadows of the building, I could hear a harsh voice.