Volume 1 Chapter 6: Flashback (Side: Fine)
Side: Fine
I have always possessed a mysterious power that allows me to heal any injury or illness in an instant.
At first, I thought this ability was some form of magic, but when I was told that there was no healing magic, I became even more confused about this power of mine.
However, Mother Hilda said, “It’s better if you don’t know. You don’t need to understand,” and cautioned me, “You mustn’t use this power in front of others without my permission.”
At that moment, I somewhat understood.
Mother Hilda must know about this power.
Nevertheless, she had taken care of me with all her heart until now.
So I believed her words were not wrong and accepted them without question.
I could only use my power with Mother Hilda’s permission, and only when someone was gravely injured and couldn’t be healed with potions or other means.
I lived peacefully in a remote orphanage with many younger brothers and sisters, following Mother Hilda’s teachings.
But three years ago, on that day, I broke Mother Hilda’s teachings.
That day, I had gone into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs.
However, the weather, which had been clear when I woke up in the morning, suddenly turned into a terrible thunderstorm.
Fortunately, I had been climbing that mountain since I was little, so I knew of a safe cave where I could take shelter from the rain and wind. Thus, I calmly headed there.
On my way, I encountered him.
With golden eyes and tawny hair, he was injured by a falling rock and wore an expression of agony.
His injuries were so severe that he could die if he didn’t get to a hospital in the town below soon.
But given the weather, going down the mountain was dangerous, so I decided to support the man and guide him to the cave.
Once we reached the cave, I laid him down and used my “power” without Mother Hilda’s permission.
Seeing his injuries heal before my eyes, the man widened his eyes and asked,
“I’ve never seen magic like this. Is this a special magical tool? Or are you perhaps a disciple of some famous magician?”
Without hiding anything, I simply replied,
“This is a power I’ve been able to use since I was little. I don’t know the details.”
He was further surprised by my answer, but he didn’t press me for more about this power.
However, when the thunderstorm stopped and it became possible to descend the mountain, the man asked me,
“Thanks to you, I managed to survive. I wish to express my gratitude. Would you mind telling me your name?”
In my hometown, crimes were nonexistent, and even if they did occur, they were merely trivial matters like bar fights.
Thus, I foolishly answered without caution.
“I… am Fine Shutaut. But there’s no need for gratitude. I only did what I thought was right as a person.”
In response to my answer, the tawny-haired man laughed heartily and said, “I’m even more interested in you now,” before he walked down the mountain on his own.
A year later, on a day when I had almost forgotten that event, a luxurious carriage pulled by beautiful white horses arrived in the village.
The well-dressed individuals who got out of the carriage came directly to the orphanage without hesitation and told Mother Hilda, “As a special exception, Miss Fine Shutaut has been granted admission to the Royal Magic Academy.”
Mother Hilda simply replied, “How fortunate,” and then called me to her side, asking if I wanted to attend the Royal Magic Academy.
I answered that I wanted to, if it meant saving more people with this power, and thus I decided to enroll in the Royal Magic Academy.
After that, my days were truly whirlwind-like.
I was taught the etiquette and language of noble society, common sense in the royal capital, and what it truly means to attend the Royal Magic Academy, and then the day came for me to leave my hometown.
The children at the orphanage and the villagers encouraged me as I headed to the royal capital, but I still remember how Mother Hilda wore a sad expression.
In any case, I set out for the royal capital, leaving my hometown for the first time in my life.
I was awed by the dazzling streets and lively boulevards, completely different from my village, feeling ambitious about living here for the next three years.
And when I arrived at the dormitory, I noticed the surrounding people looking at me with odd expressions.
This was to be expected. The Royal Magic Academy allows only nobles to enroll, and I was the only commoner among the new students.
“Are you Fine Shutaut? I’m Elise. Nice to meet you from now on!”
Among them was Elise, who approached me without flinching.
Elise and I quickly became friends and began to spend time together constantly.
Eventually, I grew to trust her enough to reveal my secret.
The only thing that puzzled me was her unusual concern for my daily schedule.
Every morning, she would ask about what classes I had that day, which buildings I was heading to, whether I was going out into town, and when I’d be back at the dormitory.
To be honest, I didn’t plan out my days meticulously, so I struggled to answer her.
Even so, I shared rough plans like “I’ll go to this class today” or “I’ll stay in the dorm tomorrow,” to which she would suggest, “You should take this class today” or “Maybe it’s better to go out into town tomorrow.”
It was really foolish, but since Elise was so kind to me, I believed her words and set my plans accordingly.
I didn’t know what specifically Elise did when I wasn’t around.
All I understood was that she was hoarding healing potions and that she treated Prince Alberich and others when they were injured.
And that she spread a rumor throughout the academy saying, “Fine Shutaut is threatening Elise Ringstadt using dark magic.”
By the time I finally grasped the situation, I was around the second year, and by then the gazes of my fellow students were filled with disdain and loathing, calling me “prostitute,” “villain,” and “witch.” There were even times when my textbooks were taken or water was dumped over my head.
I desperately pleaded my case.
I hadn’t done such things to Elise. Besides, I didn’t even possess any dark magic.
However, no one believed my words, and instead, my situation worsened.
The final blow came during another outdoor combat training session in the second year.
Outdoor combat training involves mastering basic combat skills and raising the level of second-year students through monster subjugation.
Court magicians and knights accompany us as guards, and we typically fight against monsters by class, so you’d expect to avoid injuries unless something extraordinary happens.
However, despite this, the combat techniques used by my classmates were very reckless.
I had fought monsters that appeared near the village to protect the children at the orphanage, but the other students from the Royal Magic Academy were inexperienced in real battles against anything other than humans.
So, to prevent any major injuries, I used my one magic spell, “Shield of Protection.”
…And that became the beginning of the end.
After the battle, those who participated in the same training surrounded me with displeased expressions, saying,
“What did you do to us?”
“That strange light you emitted was meant to get us killed by the monsters, right!?”
I desperately defended myself.
That was one of my only powers, “Shield of Protection,” and I hadn’t done it to trap you.
“‘Shield of Protection?’ I’ve never heard of a spell that can interfere with others unless it’s an attack.”
“So you were trying to trick us, huh?”
“Besides, we’re not so weak that we need the likes of you to look out for us.”
Yet, no one would listen to my explanation, and in the end, Prince Alberich looked at me with disgust and said,
“—Disgusting. Never use that foul power in front of us again.”
The despair and agony I felt then, the sensation of having everything about me denied, still lingers in my memory.
A little while later, I was summoned to a salon where only upper-ranking nobles were allowed, surrounded by Prince Alberich, Lord Eugene, Lord Recon, Lord David, and Elise.
Prince Alberich asked Elise, “Is this the girl Fine?” and she nervously nodded.
Then, with fiery expressions, they addressed me.
“We cannot overlook your misdeeds towards Elise. You are to leave this academy immediately.”
For a moment, I couldn’t comprehend what I was being told.
Misdeeds towards Elise? Expulsion from the academy? Was this a particularly cruel joke or something?
I poured out every thought that crossed my mind and hoped Elise would say this was just a prank.
However, my actions seemed to pour fuel onto the fire, and they grew angrier.
“Are you still spouting such disgraceful excuses? If you won’t admit it, we’ll have to destroy the orphanage that raised a wicked girl like you.”
When I heard that, the faces of my many younger siblings who had looked up to me and the always kind smile of Mother Hilda—my foster mother—flashed through my mind.
That warm place would be destroyed.
Realizing that, I knelt before the prince and pleaded, “I will leave the academy, so please don’t harm that orphanage.”
He seemed to accept that and ordered me to leave the academy dormitory immediately.
I don’t remember much after that.
I never had the luxury to bring many personal belongings, so I probably just walked out of the academy grounds.
By the time I realized what was happening, I had found myself in the back alleys of the royal capital.
But at that moment, I had completely exhausted both my physical and mental strength and was unable to use magic on myself.
Yet I felt a sense of relief rather than anxiety or fear.
Once I left the royal capital, I would no longer be Fine Shutaut but just a commoner. Regardless of my fate, the orphanage wouldn’t have to suffer.
A week passed like that.
“Hey, you. You’ll catch a cold if you stay here.”
It was then that someone appeared who genuinely worried about me.
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