My name is Clariphon Saeli Thury. I am the eldest son of Viscount Clariphon of the Heedata Empire, and I am 16 years old, having entered Heedata Imperial University this spring.
There is a girl I am interested in. She is my classmate, Peris.
The first time I saw her was during the entrance exam of the university. We happened to be sitting next to each other, and although her purple hair was very unusual, I was so taken by her beauty that I took the written exam without looking up. I tried to recover my mind and answered the questions, but honestly speaking, I did not have confidence in myself.
I was also intimidated by the practical test on magic that followed. Well, not only me, but also the examiners.
In the practical test of magic, you are supposed to use the magic that you are good at. However, some of those who have been trained in magic since their childhood can use two or even three spells. In fact, I can use both wind and water magic. So, before the examination, the examiner called us like this.
Those who can use one magic should come to me, those who can use two magic should come to Mr. Sario, and those who can use three magic should come to Mr. Shuse.
Everyone starts to move apart. I can use two, so I go to Dr. Sario's place, and I try to go there, but Peris has a puzzled look on her face. I get up the courage to talk to her.
"What's the matter?
"Well... if I can use four, where do I go?"
"Yo, four?"
I spoke out loud in front of a woman. But I had no choice. I was really surprised.
Anyway, when I told one of the examiners that she could do four spells, he gave me a very skeptical look. Then, after the examiners got together to talk, only Peris was taken to another place.
Then the practical test began. Those who can use more than one kind of magic are first tested with the magic they are best at at maximum output. Most of them ran out of magic power after that. After a while, the rest of the magic is outputted and the test is carried out.
After I performed LV2 water barrette with my specialty water magic, I took a M! I drank a recovery potion and took a rest. Then I saw an unbelievable scene.
A huge pillar of fire was rising from Peris's place. It was supposed to be a burst of lvl. 3 fire magic. How is it possible for a 16 year old to control lvl. 3 magic? I couldn't help but think that I was M! I almost dropped my recovery medicine.
The examiners were frozen. Perris-chan, completely oblivious to the situation of the examiners, said
"Well... can I try shooting some other magic?"
"What? What about recovery medicine?"
"I think I'll be fine."
And with that, they started to perform magic one after the other. And all of them are above level 2! The water magic was even faster and more powerful than my water barrette. It was probably level 3. As expected, the examiner started to panic. It is true...at the age of 16, one can use LV3 magic. I honestly couldn't believe it either.
After being surrounded by the examiners for a while, Peris was taken away. She must have a lot of skills that I have no clue about. But there is one thing I do know. She has been admitted to the Imperial University. I knew that for sure.
To be honest, I was not sure if I had been accepted to the Imperial University or not. But if I did not pass, I could say that I would have little chance to meet her. If I fail, I will have to go back to Clariphon territory. Then the only time I would be able to come to the capital would be for the social gatherings held once a month. But since the capital is far from Clarifon, I will be able to come only once in February or March. Then I would have no chance to see her at all.
For the first time, I went to the church of my own will. I had been going to church halfway out of obligation, but for this one time I wanted to go to church. I prayed to the Lord God, Klimiana, to let me pass the entrance examination of Teito University.
Perhaps my prayers were answered, I was accepted. For the first time in my life, I was so happy that I cried.
As soon as I entered the university, I found Peris-chan. It's that hair color. I recognized her immediately. And her beauty...
She was a special student and would be studying in the same classroom as us nobles. The boys were calm for the moment, but it was clear that they were all aware of Peris.
To our surprise, she was a relative of the Marquis de Berthaume, a rising aristocrat. The Barsaam family is a prominent family that serves as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Juka, which has long had a hostile relationship with the Empire. After the Juka Kingdom was destroyed by the Great Demon King, they defected to the Empire. Although the current head of the family is an adopted son, he is married to His Majesty's younger sister, Princess Licolette, and has been given the title of honorary Marquis of the Empire, but the family has deep ties with the Imperial Family.
Naturally, she is a good match for us nobles. After all, she has a connection to the Bartham family. That means that she will be connected to the imperial family.
But soon she began to isolate herself from the rest of the class. Because her lifestyle is completely different from ours, her behavior patterns are different.
For example, eating. Basically, we ate in the salons in the university. It is a room that only the children of aristocrats have access to, and it also serves as a place to make various connections for when I take over the family.
However, Peris does not eat there. She always sits on the lawn of the university or eats in the library. What surprised me the most is that she is the one who prepares the meals. Cooking meals is something a maid or a slave does, not something a nobleman does. Some female students used to ridicule her for it. But in the House of Batham, every woman cooks her meals, even the Princess Ricoulette cooks everyone's meals.
I became more and more interested in Ms. Peris.
One day, she was unusually alone in the classroom. She was writing something in her mind. I was a little worried, but I decided to talk to her.
"Oh, um, aren't you going home?"
"What? Oh, I'm sorry..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I must have interrupted something."
Oh, no, no, I was just thinking about the dinner menu and it got a little late."
"Dinner menu... what kind of food?"
"I'm thinking of making gratin, but I'm wondering if I can improve the taste of the sauce..."
"The taste of the sauce, sir?"
Cooking is interesting. One pinch of salt makes all the difference in the taste.
"It's amazing."
No, it's not like that. The food you make is much tastier.
"What? Does the Honorable Marquis de Berthaume also cook meals?"
"Sometimes. But they are very tasty.
"Wow... I'd like to try it.
"Well, next time, shall I bring you something?"
"What? Is that okay?"
"I don't mind.
"Oh, um, my name is Clariphon Saeri-Thury."
"I am Peris. I'm Peris. I believe you were the one who guided me through the magic test, weren't you?
"You remember me?"
"Of course, of course!
This is how I and Peris became friends (?). I am now. He even made something for me. This must be a blessing from Lady Klimiana. I must go to the church in the capital to pray next time.