In the Fitoa region, the nights of October were often filled with mist.
Although the city of Roa itself was a bustling commercial hub, the Fitoa region as a whole was still predominantly an agricultural economy. This resulted in vast, endless farmlands and economically valuable orchards surrounding Roa. The mist would roll in from the countryside, climb over the high city walls, and permeate the city. Even with the lively hustle and bustle of Roa in the early morning, the mist could not be dispelled so easily.
If the ridge of the Red Dragon Mountains was its proud head, then the forest below was its beard. And below that? The rolling hills, like the claws of the Red Dragon, gripped the entire Fitoa region. The lord's mansion was built upon one such 'claw.'
It had rained this morning. The 'claw' was high, and the mansion felt colder than the rest of Roa.
And so, outside the window, it was a smoky, rainy autumn morning.
"Sylphie! Eris is skipping class again!"
Sylphie stood up. Hearing Rudeus's frantic shout about what should have been a 'serious' matter, her expression was not one of anxiety. She slowly pushed back her chair and walked towards the door.
Her bare feet padded across the carpet, leaving behind slowly rising indentations. A soft creaking sound followed—the carpet had been replaced yesterday by the beast-women maids with the soft, fur-like texture they used in late March and early April. The hard-surfaced carpet used during the summer for better heat dissipation had been discarded. And this one was a new carpet.
So last night, Sylphie had chosen to take off her shoes at the door and walk barefoot on the carpet. It was very comfortable.
But halfway to the door, she suddenly stopped. Her eyelashes trembled, and her reddish-brown eyes looked down. She was still wearing her comfortable, soft, and well-made silk pajamas—a gift from Hilda before the autumn began.
Sylphie turned around.
Two steps.
She walked to the wardrobe and opened the door.
On the left were all sorts of dresses, but most of them were white. The materials varied. There was a long-sleeved dress with fine stitching made by her mother, Norn; the moon-white long dress gifted to her by Hilda; and one bought when she went 'shopping' with the others. In the end, Sylphie had managed to stop Alan from trying to fulfill his promise all at once and present her with ten dresses in a sycophantic display.
What she had said was, "Alan… you can give them to me one at a time, over a period. After all, we have a long, long time."
At the time, Alan had looked at her, clearly stunned for a moment, then nodded.
Then he had watched as her gaze wandered from a blue dress to a white one beside it.
She chose it, they bought it, and it was packed up.
Alan paid, carrying the bags and trailing behind the others.
Seeing this, Eris seemed to find it very amusing and naturally, very smoothly, hung the things she had bought on Alan as well.
It had to be said, it was quite a 'good fit.' It seemed Alan was a natural-born 'clothes rack.'
Sylphie blinked. This sudden memory and thought made a small smile touch her lips, but then she remembered Alan's current situation, and the nascent smile vanished instantly.
She placed her hands on her long pajama top, which had a hood with Boreas-style cat ears.
She grabbed the hem and lifted it.
In that instant, though the window was closed, the misty rain from outside seemed to seep into the bedroom through the cracks. The early autumn morning rain was damp and stuffy. A fine layer of transparent sweat beaded on her skin.
As her skin was exposed to the air, the edge of her pajamas caught on her thighs, pausing for a moment before gliding over the slight curve of her hips, taking the sweat with it.
Sylphie pulled the pajamas off over her head, her long ears twitching in the air.
She glanced out the window, feeling the stuffiness of the morning, and then placed her hand on the dress Alan had given her in Buena Village. The fabric of this one was thinner and firmer, making it cooler.
She took the dress off the hanger and deftly pulled it on over her head.
She let go.
The hem of the dress fell in the air in front of her legs. It swayed back and forth. The hem, which used to reach her knees, was now ten centimeters higher, turning it into a short dress.
Her movements didn't stop.
She slipped her feet into the small, laced leather shoes, the same style as Eris's.
She bent down and fastened the buckles.
She stood up, casually gathering her slightly messy white hair, and walked towards the door.
This entire series of actions took less than ten seconds.
Ten months ago, Sylphie would have frantically grabbed any old clothes, hastily changed, and rushed out. But after ten months of etiquette lessons and the almost-daily 'lady's tea parties,' her movements were now deft and quick, yet they naturally carried a hint of elegance.
With a soft creak, the door opened.
In the classroom directly opposite, only the most un-student-like 'student' was sitting at a desk. She was looking down at the reading and writing homework Rudeus had assigned yesterday, her brow furrowed.
Her cat ears were perked up spiritedly on top of her head.
It was Ghislaine.
Sylphie glanced at Ghislaine, sighed softly, and turned her head.
In her line of sight, Rudeus was leaning against a nearby wall, his hands spread wide, his face a picture of helplessness. He gestured with his chin towards the empty classroom.
"See? Skipped class again. But why are you up so late today, Miss Class Monitor?"
Sylphie blinked. After ten months of being influenced by Rudeus, she had gradually come to understand this term he had 'invented' from who-knows-where. It was a role within the classroom designed to pacify unruly children during a tantrum. A bit like a classroom version of a maid.
Seeing the look on Sylphie's face, Rudeus instantly realized what she was thinking, and his mouth twitched. The first time he had heard Sylphie's interpretation, he had been astounded. He had never thought that 'class monitor' could be moe-ified into a maid. At the time, Rudeus had tried to explain, but Alan, with a look of sudden enlightenment and an exaggerated tone, had clapped his hands and said, 'So that's what a class monitor is! I've learned something!'
Fine. A classroom maid.
Then a classroom maid it is.
Alan's expression had been quite amusing.
Heh, the 'stupid' natives of this sword and magic continent.
Sylphie's voice sounded, pulling him from his thoughts.
"I didn't oversleep, Rudeus. I was reading the letter Lilia brought this morning, so I was a little delayed."
"But."
"If Eris isn't here, then there's no need for this 'class monitor' to be in the classroom either, right? After all, I'm a teacher, not a student."
Hearing this, Rudeus's mouth twitched.
"At the beginning, we agreed that everyone would be a 'student' and attend class together. Why are you learning from Alan now? If this keeps up, there will be no one left in reading and writing class!"
As he finished, they looked at each other and sighed in unison.
This wasn't the first time Eris had skipped class. That's why Sylphie was so used to it.
And where was Alan?
Alan was practicing his sword.
Under the guise of taking leave, he was, in fact, skipping class.
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