Chapter 23: Kaisha's offer

"Wait, a partner?"

Standing in the middle of the Archarity's garden, Fen could only stare at Nadia with a visible confusion on his face. While from the context of what she said, it was obvious that Kaisha came to visit, but how was that something to be bothered about?

"Eee… Is who am I sitting with during the classes really that important?"

It was an undeniable fact that although the young man learned a small bit about the arcanism in the past few days! But despite that, when it came to the social norms he was just as clueless as he was before his damned execution!

"Sitting during the class? What the hell are you talking about? Becoming arcanist partners during your apprenticeship means that not only you will be working together during all the exercises, but you are also expected to help each other out in your free time! Mark! Don't tell me you didn't tell him about it!"

Moving her head to the side, Nadia finally freed the young man from her deadly stare, switching her focus to Fen's saviour.

"What there is to talk about? I left everything in Stiel's hands, so if he decided that pairing him with future priestess would be for the best, I'm all down for it."

Completely unbothered by the lashing he was receiving, Mark took another sip from the bottle, effectively emptying out fifth or sixth one ever since he came to the garden. But rather than acting like a proper drunkard would, he looked at Fen, clearly dissatisfied with how he stopped training.

"For now, go and meet with that girl. Since I know what will happen here, let me save you from the gruesome experience of Nadia's wrath…"

Releasing a deep sigh, Mark waved Fen's presence away. And the young man wasn't someone who would ignore such a great opportunity to escape! Despite knowing those people for only a few days, he already learned that there was some kind of deep strife going on between the two of them. No matter what, they would always find a way to go at each other's throat, even if for something as small as a misplaced pillow!

Moving at the fastest pace that wouldn't qualify itself for a run, Fen made his way out of the garden. All he had to do to get back to the main hall was to cross two sets of doors and follow the main corridor down. And just like expected, as soon as he returned to the place he was already starting to get familiar with, a figure that instantly made him tense was there.

"Hey, did you need something?"

Seeing the girl in her usual clothing rather than the set of robes that she would pick for the class, made Fen forget all the crafty ways to ask for her purpose in visiting him. With a thin, whitish shirt only serving to accent her charms, she would look like she was wearing a nightgown if not for an addition of a frilly half-cape that reached all the way down from her shoulders to her hips. Yet, even this piece of cloth embroiled with the symbol od Draconis skull that Fen saw all over the cathedral was unable to pull his eyes away from how the short pants of the girl exposed her long, slim legs!

"Are you done staring now?"

As hostile as her words alone would sound, the wide smile and slight blush on Kaisha's face indicated that she wasn't unhappy with Fen's reaction. As it to nail this point even further, she caught the bottom of her frilly half-cape, raised it on both sides of her waist and swirled around in place, before making a graceful curtsey.

"So, how do I look?"

Stunned by both cute and to some degree sexy sight right in front of his eyes, Fen audibly gulped down his saliva.

"W-well, you look insane in those clothes…"

Despite how he was supposed to be wary of this girl, with all the help that she offered without reservation to him so far, not to speak how welcoming her character was, Fen was simply unable to perceive her as some kind of threat. While it was given that he would never be able to relax near her, at this point, this young man couldn't be so sure it was truly caused by her allegation rather than how he was starting to like her!

"Thank you!"

It didn't take a genius to realise that Fen's world clearly pleased the girl from how much brighter her already happy smile became. Before the atmosphere could turn awkward though, Kaisha moved a few paces forward, effectively closing the distance between the two of them, before leaning over Fen's ear.

"I assumed that since you had troubles with control in class, that might be the case back in archarity as well."

At this point, Fen could tell that if not for Firo's presence and a fierce look in her eyes, then Kaisha's hands would surely find their way behind his neck, turning this slight whisper into an intimate hug!

"Sadly, that seems to be the case."

Unwilling to step on landmine right in the place he would live in for the foreseeable future, Fen forced himself to put his hands on his classmate's shoulders, before lightly pushing her aside whilst ignoring how soft her exposed arms were.

"That's great!"

Nearly jumping from joy, it took only a moment before Kaisha realised how her words sounded, instantly damping her happiness.

"I-I mean… I think I might be able to help you out with that!"

Stuttering as she spoke, for the first time since Fen got to meet her, Kaisha had a truly embarrassed look on her face. Regardless of how natural it was after this kind of mishap, just her expression alone was enough to melt Fen's heart!

"Well, if you can help me, then I would have to be stupid to refuse your offer… But before that, I need to ask you one, important question."

Noticing that Firo's eyes returned to their usual cloudiness, Fen could breathe a sigh of relief. Given how she acted back during his first bath, the young man was honestly scared of what she was capable of doing once infuriated. But with this threat gone from the list, he once again focused on the cute girl in front of him, with all the seriousness returning back to his face.

"Can you explain in details what this entire class partnership is about?"