The name Satsuki is human.
And the surname Rechmir is used by elves.
If Satsuki’s mother were not human, Satsuki would likely have received an Elven name like Rahne or Kirhine.
Pure-blood humans, unaware of the situation, thought the name Satsuki was a gift from a mother who loved her dearly. It wasn’t entirely wrong to think so. Satsuki was loved equally by both her father and mother in her childhood.
She was happy. At least, that’s how Satsuki felt.
However, the gazes around her seemed different.
The elves refused to pass down an elf’s name to Satsuki. In their eyes, Satsuki was the child of a human, and she was too “not-elven” to adapt to elven society.
Her ears were sharp but smaller than pure-blood elves, her body frail. Her hearing and sense of smell were lacking.
To them, Satsuki was unfit for the scouting team that jumped around the trees, which meant she could not contribute to elven society. They allowed her some stay in the village but opposed her becoming one of them.
So, Satsuki received the name Satsuki. It was a name gifted by her mother, meaning May. When Satsuki asked why her name meant May when her birthday is in August, her mother replied it was because she wished for her to be green and warm like spring forever.
She could inherit her father’s surname, Rechmir. Originally, even that was opposed by the elves. To conservative elves, Satsuki was an illegitimate child, and giving a family name to an illegitimate child was a taboo.
Satsuki was able to inherit the name Rechmir solely thanks to human law.
Abolition of discrimination. Regardless of the shape or number of ears, everyone is the same: a person.
In human society, marrying other races was legal, and passing down surnames to children of such unions was obligatory. In the human world, Satsuki could naturally appear on her father’s family relationship certificate.
However, in human society, Satsuki was an outsider.
Her ears were shorter than those of pure-blood elves but obviously longer than those of humans. At night, her eyes, although weak, glowed a bluish hue.
Those who thought, “What a snobby brat who fled from the outside,” gazed at her in disdain,
And those who thought, “What a rare race we rarely see,” looked at her as if she were an animal in a zoo with curiosity.
If anyone ever recognized that she was of mixed heritage, they looked at her with pity.
Satsuki could feel all these gazes, more acutely than ordinary humans.
She understood the disdainful looks. Elves also held contempt for humans, beast-people, and gnomes. She could also comprehend the curious stares since elves rarely walked in the middle of human cities.
However, she found it hard to endure the pitying glances.
Satsuki never once felt regret over not living in the elven village. On the contrary, she was proud of not being a bigot like those elves. If she were the same as them, her mother would have discriminated as well.
Satsuki had never lived in poverty. She couldn’t say she was wealthy, but both her father and mother had jobs, so she never lacked to the point of needing sympathy.
Satsuki’s parents loved her and were kind to one another. When Satsuki passed the academy entrance exam, they were overjoyed. It must have been a day she would never forget, filled with happiness.
However, just because she came to the academy didn’t mean she was free from those gazes.
There were hardly any disdainful or curious stares, to be fair. Once accepted into the academy, most students wanted to be heroes, and heroes couldn’t despise others merely for being different races.
However, while those stares diminished, the pitying stares didn’t go away.
The first week was fine. There were no other elves in Satsuki’s class, and everyone treated her just normally, thinking of her simply as an elf.
But as it became known that there was a pure-blood elf in E-Class, the gazes directed at Satsuki gradually began to shift.
It was due to everyone’s vague knowledge. Half-elves were not treated as elves, could not return to their homeland, and often had tumultuous parental relationships—
But what could she do? She had no choice but to endure.
Denying it would only bring more strange looks.
Satsuki merely hoped that those attentions would slowly fade away with time.
*
In that sense, Clara was a peculiar existence.
It was already unusual that there were three nuns in the same class. Among those three nuns, Clara was at the center.
The other two nuns, Linea and Aurora, always seemed to move protectively around Clara, leading Satsuki to think that Clara might be the child of someone quite high up in the church.
However, she later learned that most nuns raised orphans and that while there were cases of outsiders being scouted, there were no children of church members. Since priests don’t marry in the first place.
Satsuki didn’t know much about the church, even though she vaguely understood elven religion, leading to a misunderstanding.
Anyway, for reasons unknown, Clara didn’t seem to care at all that Satsuki was half-elf.
Even her friends, who had gotten close to her, didn’t glance at her ears, which she was unaware of at first.
“Hello.”
Whenever they met in the morning, she always greeted politely. When she greeted, she would make eye contact first and then shyly lower her gaze, which looked extremely graceful.
“Hello.”
She maintained almost the same attitude towards others.
Satsuki found that refreshing.
It wasn’t an uncomfortable attitude, like she’d step on a landmine or anything; instead, it was as if everyone sitting nearby was as normal as she was.
Perhaps it was because Clara was such a person.
Linea and Aurora, as well as Selena and Jian, all treated Satsuki with that same attitude. Satsuki could naturally blend into that atmosphere and became friends.
And she liked that atmosphere.
For the first time outside of home, it was a place where she could sit and feel at ease.
A place where they treated her just like everyone else, no different from them.
Even though it was a place that could break if they changed grades or moved classes, or would vanish once they graduated from school, she wished she could feel it for as long as possible.
This was the form of friendship Satsuki cherished the most among all she had felt.
*
Clara was pure.
At least, that’s how Satsuki felt.
In Satsuki’s view, a person who can wear such a short skirt while confidently showing her panties and does a drop kick must be completely oblivious to that side of things.
Rina Hicks, who took the drop kick without any defenses, spun seven times in the air before hitting the ground.
Before admiration, it looked like a physically impossible stunt.
“Why did that happen? Didn’t you just say you’d give me something earlier?”
As Clara fell perfectly and got up, dusting off her clothes, Satsuki asked her.
“Because I wanted to be friends,” Clara replied with a bizarre answer.
And as it turned out, Clara really bought bread and milk for Rina.
After that, Rina and Clara seemed to have become friends.
The reason Satsuki said “seemed” was that if someone had not witnessed Rina’s previous behavior towards others in their class, they would never have thought that.
But when the two clashed in their training matches, Satsuki thought both looked genuinely happy.
Rina seemed frustrated but eager to challenge, while Clara wore an expression of excitement.
Yet, she still believed Clara was pure. Even after her clothes were torn, the fact that she wanted to keep going made Satsuki think she was quite naive about certain matters.
Clara was pure.
Satsuki was sure of it.
If she weren’t that naive, she wouldn’t willingly want to go die when someone practically told her to.
Satsuki didn’t know what had happened between Clara and the Cardinal. However, she found herself unconsciously labeling the Cardinal as a villain.
“Clara won’t be alone!”
“Clara won’t go alone!”
The first to speak up were Linea and Aurora.
“Selena Lowell here. I want to go along too.”
Next was Selena.
“I’m Jian. I want to join as well.”
Then came Jian.
And finally,
“I’m Satsuki Rechmir. I want to go too!”
Satsuki stood up surprised. She answered without a moment’s hesitation.
After hearing a few more scrapings of chairs being pulled in, she could finally think about why she rose.
I want to be with these guys.
To protect this space that made me feel at ease. To help Clara, who created this space. That’s why I wanted to go along.
She felt no fear.
She didn’t even find it strange.
Putting one’s life on the line for a friend.
Perhaps this too is a form of friendship.
*
Recently, Clara had dark bags under her eyes.
Not just Clara, Selena and Jian were the same. Even Rina, sitting far away, had them.
“Lately, we’ve just been training continuously…”
When she asked Selena, that was her reply.
“Clara and… yawn… you know Rina. We’re always training. It would be great if there were a decisive win, but both Rina and Clara keep improving, so it’s a continuous draw.”
“Why do you all look so tired when Clara and Rina are the ones fighting?”
“Well, that’s because Jian is teaching Rina swordsmanship.”
Satsuki turned her gaze to Jian, staring intently. Teaching swordsmanship? Throughout the night?
“No, it’s not weird at all.”
When Jian said that, Selena’s face flushed bright red.
“I-I didn’t say it was weird!”
Seeing Selena’s reaction, Satsuki began to suspect why her eyes were puffy.
Probably, seeing Jian and Rina practicing through the night, Selena must have attached herself to them. Then something embarrassing must have slipped from Selena’s mouth.
“Really?”
Satsuki turned her glance further back to Clara’s seat. Clara, who would normally sit up straight, was now dozing off in her seat.
“…Are we training today too?”
“Um… Probably until the day we participate.”
But they hadn’t even decided on the participation date yet?
“Who is Clara learning from?”
“Me.”
Lineas proudly puffed out her chest and confidently proclaimed it.
“Her skills are improving every day. I’m so proud as a teacher.”
“You seem fine, at least.”
When Satsuki asked sincerely, Linea answered with a proud expression as if her face would glow.
“Hmm, I trained with the knight order, so of course, teaching is less tiring than learning.”
Since it seemed like she felt her earlier words were too boastful, she quickly added a reason. Linea, who usually carried herself more sternly than ordinary adults, occasionally had this cute child-like side. It was really, really occasional, though.
“I’m teaching too!”
Aurora raised a hand like she was volunteering.
“I’m teaching her how to properly control her holy power every night. Of course, Clara’s holy power is superior, but in battle, it’s always best to conserve it as much as possible.”
“Every night? Until what time?”
“Last night we finished a bit earlier, around 2 a.m.”
“2 a.m… ”
Satsuki was left speechless.
“You’re all fine?”
“Yeah. Normally, I’m busy organizing paperwork, so it’s just usual to sleep around that time.”
“Paperwork… ”
Satsuki wondered if life in a convent was surprisingly filled with tasks. She tried to imagine it but found it hard. She had hardly ever thought about religion due to her lack of interest. While not doubting the existence of gods, she didn’t go out of her way to pray.
“Is it possible to train in such a state?”
Satsuki glanced back and forth between Rina, who was blatantly asleep on her desk, and Clara, who was dozing off in her seat. Judging by the lack of response, it was as if they were simply asleep.
“No need to worry. Training is progressing normally.”
With a proud expression that practically had “satisfaction” written on her forehead, Linea said.
“…What’s truly amazing is how much they keep improving.”
Despite the tired look on her face, Selena dutifully responded.
“Really…?”
“Yeah. Honestly, it’s quite impressive. The problem is, the better they get, the tireder I become.”
Satsuki recalled the battles she had witnessed. Rina’s swordsmanship was commendable, but frankly, Clara’s skill was a bit embarrassing to call skill. She felt guilty as a friend, but giving someone a weapon who knows nothing would feel something like that.
Of course, her speed in swinging was extraordinary.
“Then can I observe today? You’re doing it after school, right?”
To Satsuki’s words, all four nodded.
Clara, who had been dozing in the back, didn’t particularly respond, but her bobbing head looked almost like it was nodding in agreement, which made Satsuki chuckle slightly.
*
“Looks like we have more spectators.”
Tsk, Rina clicked her tongue, making Satsuki jump.
Of course, she wasn’t surprised by Rina’s aggressive tone; rather, she was shocked that Rina had spoken to her. Normally, she never cared whether people were around or not.
“Yeah, I heard your skills improved.”
“Are you trying to be class president or something? I’d appreciate it if you didn’t get in my way.”
Though it was clearly meant as a provocation,
“You know I’m the class president, right?”
Satsuki was even more surprised. It was vastly different from her first impression. She couldn’t believe it was Rina, who wouldn’t respond to her even if she initiated conversation.
“…”
Perhaps not liking the fact that Satsuki seemed surprised, Rina simply turned away.
“Alright, let’s do what we usually do. Clara, Rina, forward.”
“I know even without saying.”
Selena grumbled, stepping forward. Satsuki was astonished beyond belief; Rina was actually engaging in normal conversation…?!
“Things have really changed, huh?”
Jian, standing beside her, murmured.
“I was surprised too. When she first asked to be taught swordsmanship, I thought I’d misheard.”
Ah, that’s right.
Something like that occurred.
Selena seemed agitated about it, but she didn’t think Rina had really been learning up until now. Their skill levels were so vastly different; she thought Rina would get tired of it quickly.
“She doesn’t know the meaning of giving up. No matter how many times she’s knocked down, she gets back up. Seems she really wants to beat Clara.”
Having a rival is a good thing, Jian added with a smile.
And then, the training began.
Bang!
A loud boom.
The sound of the two colliding.
Rina swung her sword with all her might, while Clara blocked with her shield. Deep gashes appeared in the thick shield. There were countless marks already on the shield, which had seemed untouched when she first saw it—surely this was a collection of scars built through their many training sessions.
Clara’s footwork and tactics were very straightforward. She would block with the shield and quickly strike down with her morningstar at the slightest opportunity.
She wouldn’t aim to deflect the attacks or awkwardly evade. When Rina attacked, she inserted the shield between them to nullify the attack, immediately swinging down whenever a gap appeared—her movements were rigorously practical, resembling military training rather than a martial art of a specific school.
Yet Clara’s basic talent made every single movement extremely threatening.
She was entirely different from before when she was just swinging a mace in thin air.
Conversely, Rina’s fighting style had changed immensely, but the direction was entirely opposite.
She incorporated techniques into her swordplay. She would swing as if cutting, then redirect her strike in another direction, jab towards the edge of Clara’s shield, and twist her steps to induce a miss from her opponent. She wouldn’t attack when it was the right moment; she would boldly rush in, dodging just enough to avoid her opponent’s strikes, and then immediately follow up with quick strikes.
While the average speed didn’t change, she eliminated the middle ground, interspersing slow strikes with very fast ones to confuse her opponent about her next action.
With such completely different fighting styles clashing, it became impossible to predict who would win.
In just under a month, both of their skills had improved like this.
“It seems that real battles indeed help.”
Selena, who had somehow approached, said proudly as she looked at the duo.
“Rina is desperately rushing at Jian. It’s as if even after such a fierce match, she still isn’t tired. No, maybe she is tired, and that’s why. Her stamina seems to have increased quite a bit.”
“As long as someone wants to win, they can do that.”
Jian said, gazing into the distance.
“…”
Satsuki watched in awe as the two continued their bout.
As they fought, droplets of sweat flew into the air. Both of their bodies glistened covered in sweat, and their clothes clung tightly to them.
However, only a few people could have thoughts other than sheer fighting spirit while watching.
Satsuki gazed at the faces of Clara and Rina clashing.
Both were only staring at each other. The fire in their eyes burned with intense fighting spirit. It looked as if the first one who fell would eat the other alive.
But for some reason, Satsuki found both of their faces to be remarkably joyful.
In a setting protected by a strong barrier that prevented death, it was clearly an intense scene where they would be trying to kill each other.
A rival, they called it.
Indeed, she thought, could such a form of friendship exist?
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