"Not bad!" I said, deflecting Clare's sword.
"But not good enough!" I added, delivering a blow of my own. Although she blocked it, the blow deflected onto her arms. She clearly hadn't given up, so, enduring the pain, she began crossing swords with me again.
Ten years had passed since my arrival in this world, which for many seemed like a long time, but not for me. During that time, I explored practically the entire planet, but still couldn't find a single portal. This frustrated me a little, but there was nothing I could do about it.
During that time, Clare had grown from a little girl into a beautiful woman, and differed from the original in that she acted less like a lady—of course, when her mother wasn't looking, otherwise she'd get a scolding.
To be honest, she only wore a dress a few times during that time, and only to attend noble events, which I also attended in a dress...
Damn, I still shudder when I think back to that day when they used me as a decoration doll. But anyway, Clare almost always wears training clothes, since she spends most of her time sword-fighting with me. And she's doing very well. Sure, she might not defeat the sword goddess, but she'll definitely give her a good fight. She also received numerous marriage proposals, but she refused them all. Those who came in person, she offered a duel. In any case, all the men thought the duel would be easy, but they were wrong...
Clare mercilessly beat them and mocked them, for which she later had to listen to her mother lecture her about "ladylike manners."
She even blurted out once, during a conversation about marriage, that she liked women... Let's say her parents were shocked, to put it mildly, and it took them a while to accept it...
I remember Clare running away from the mansion back then, which worried Melia, so I had to look for her and bring her home. I eventually found her home and brought her back, after which she had a conversation with her parents and told them everything, including the upcoming events, her future wife, her future children, which delighted Melia. But then she became upset about Clare losing her mother, and why she was so insistent that she not go that day...
And yet, ten years have passed... I wonder if they've been looking for me... And when I return, will they remember me...
"Okay, Clare, that's enough! You have your first day at the academy tomorrow, go get ready," I said, parrying her final blow.
"But just a little bit more..."
"No!" I said, to which she pouted.
Sometimes she acts like a child.
"And anyway, you're coming with me tomorrow too!" she shouted, to which I simply rolled my eyes.
"Yes, but as your 'servant,'" I replied.
I was going specifically to follow the story and to protect Clare, although she didn't need protection, but you never know if someone stronger than her might appear.
"Okay, whatever you say! I'm going to wash up," she said, wiping the sweat from her brow.
The rest of the day was scheduled for preparations for the academy and a farewell dinner. Which, frankly, was pointless, since she could always come visit her parents for the weekend, but they made it seem like they wouldn't see their daughter for a long time, and even dragged me into it...
To be honest, even though Melia didn't say so, I clearly felt like she saw me as a second daughter... I think so...
The next morning, when everything was ready, we set off for the academy by carriage.
"Are you ready, Clare?" I asked, sitting across from her.
"Yes... Or at least I think so..." she said, lowering her head slightly.
"Is something wrong?" I asked.
"Well... It's all about Rae... When she 'came back to life,' she started clinging to me, and even though I treated her rather unpleasantly, she was still happy about it... but now I don't want to do that..." Clare said thoughtfully.
"Is Rae a masochist?" I asked, to which Clare shook her head.
"At first, it seemed like she was, but it was just a 'game' to stay with me. She even became my maid," Clare replied.
"Well, I think you can act however you want. You could even rush right up to her and start kissing her; I think she'd like that," I said, and Clare laughed.
We spent the rest of the ride in silence, well, except for Clare complaining about how uncomfortable her skirt was... And God, I remember the look Melia gave me when Clare said she didn't want to wear skirts or dresses...
As soon as we arrived at the academy, where many students from all over the kingdom had already gathered, we headed straight to the lecture hall, where the entrance ceremony was taking place.
Unlike me, Lene wasn't allowed to attend the entrance ceremony. I wanted to object, but Clare talked me out of it.
I could be almost always near Clare, because of her father did something, and in general now I can even attend classes.
Speaking of Lene, I was a little upset, of course, since she had also become a pretty good friend of mine, and naturally, I knew about her unhealthy love for her brother. But it wasn't a problem for me, and I didn't judge her. Everyone can love who they want, and not listen to what society imposes on them. While incest can still be unpleasant, especially in the case of having children, and the potential for genetic defects, Lena said they weren't planning on having children because she didn't want their child to be a "freak" that everyone would point fingers at. That doesn't mean they won't have children at all; they'll either adopt or use surrogacy. Of course, I had to explain that to her, but she really liked that option.
So, I'm sitting next to Clare, surrounded by a multitude of "children" who constantly cast interested glances at me. I hear whispers about "how beautiful I am" or "are my ears real?", but I don't pay attention.
Of course, I also saw the queen's three princes. The eldest was the typical "handsome" type that girls were crazy about, the middle one was a quiet bookworm, so to speak, and the youngest... uh... just cute? I don't know how people haven't figured that out yet, but looking at him, it's immediately clear he definitely can't be a man.
Speaking of the youngest prince... He was talking to someone else I recognized... A girl named Misha, a friend of Rae's... and judging by the way she was blushing, she was deeply in love with the third prince, and I think the feelings were mutual.
And of course, Rae was also there, a commoner who managed to get into this magic academy, only... she acted a bit like a robot... Although I can imagine why...
After the entrance ceremony, we were taken to the girls' dorms, where my room was next to Clare's, as if I were a student myself...
So, as for the plans, tomorrow will be the moment when Rae starts making advances towards Clare. I can't wait to see it.
Heh-heh.