"Fufu~ Ellie, even though you are good at Math and Art, you're so clumsy when it comes to magic circle formation even though it's a combination of the two~"

"U-Uuuuhh... I-I'm sorry, Alterisa-sama... But I just can't wrap my head around the concept... It's two opposing processes of thinking. How could you combine it into one?"

"Math and Art have one thing in common, and that is pattern. Magic circles are simply various patterns combined together into one to create various effects~ See? You can see three kinds of patterns in this fireball magic circle which defines the consumption of fuel, its size, and its power~"

"Uhn... Now that you've pointed it out, I do recognize it. But it's still a bit difficult for me to recognize it on my own, let alone create it from scratch."

"Don't worry, I'll continue to help you and teach you slowly until you understand, okay~?"

"T-T-Thank you very much!"

Fufufu~ She's so cute and diligent~ Is this how Lawliela-sama feels about me~? After all, I'm as cute and as diligent as her too, right~? Ufufufufu~

As promised, Ellie, Evelyn, Celine, Noir, Illya, Valerie and I went to the private rooms in the library to study. And since Ellie is the one having some trouble with a few subjects related to magic, I volunteered to teach her and sat right next to her.

After all, how can I miss the chance to teach such a cute girl~?!

Evelyn, Celine, Noir, Illya, and Valerie are already so bright and smart that there's nothing I need to teach them. So this is the first time I've ever taught a cute girl seriously~!

Fufufu~ I'm so lucky to find such a cute girl as my student~

"Ah! I-I did it! Alterisa-sama, I successfully created the magic circle for Icicle!"

"Uhn~! Good job, Ellie~ You're such a fast learner~! What a good girl~!"

"Ehehehe~"

I patted Ellie's head and she began to giggle and squirm a bit in embarrassment.

And as I was having fun teaching Ellie, I didn't notice the girls' conversations.

"Uuuuuh... I wished I had some difficulty with the lessons so Risa-chan can teach me and pet me like that too...! If only Mother didn't push me that hard!"

Valerie whispered as she puffed her cheeks and pouted, watching me teach Ellie.

"A-Ahahaha... I think your wish is a bit misplaced, but I agree. I wish I was taught by Alterisa-sama as well..."

Noir smiled helplessly before she turned her gaze towards me.

"Mm... She seems to be so happy... I am envious of Ellie."

Illya nodded in agreement.

"H-Hmph... She's just playing around...! We're supposed to study...!"

Celine huffed and crossed her arms.

"Fufufu~ Now now~ There's no need to feel envious~ After all, Risa-sama is extremely kind~ Even if you don't have any difficulties, I'm sure she will teach you patiently if you just ask~ Please watch~"

The girls all turned towards Evelyn and watched her as she moved closer towards me and tapped me on the shoulders.

"Risa-sama~?"

"Hm? What's wrong, Evelyn?"

"Please forgive me for disturbing you from teaching Ellie, but there is something I wish to ask you regarding this..."

"Oh? Okay. In the meantime, Ellie, please try to formulate a magic circle for ice wall, okay? It's a bit harder than Icicle, but I'm sure you can do it~! If you have any difficulties, then you can ask me for a hint."

"Y-Yes! I will do my best!"

"Uhn~ Good girl~"

I petted Ellie's fluffy hair and turned towards Evelyn, who already has an opened book before her.

"Fufu~ Where are you having trouble, Evelyn~?"

I leaned in closer and asked her excitedly. And in response, she also leaned closer to me, close enough that our shoulders were touching, and pointed at a section on the textbook.

"It's related to this, Risa-sama~"

"Oh~ So it's related to the theory of combining two different elements into one spell, is it~?"

"Yes. Although I can understand its concept, I can't really do it in practice..."

Uhn uhn, I can see why this is pretty difficult. It took me a while to actually do it successfully.

The concept of combining two different elements into a spell is quite simple. The sub-element simply needs to support and enhance the effect of the main element. But this can only be done with elements that can naturally support and enhance the other.

For example, combining the water element and the ice element would be much easier than combining water with fire.

But both are still naturally extremely difficult to do. Even Lawliela-sama said she had a hard time doing it.

I managed to do it when I was five years old, but that's only because I practiced really hard... It was when I'm trying to combine my water element and ice element to... make ice cream.

I didn't know why it was difficult at the time, so I just tried my hardest and actually did it in a few months. And when Lawliela-sama saw me making some ice cream using that spell, she lock- I mean... made me stay in her office for a few days and interviewed me from dawn to dusk...

Since then, I've been helping her figure out the different ways to combine two seemingly opposite elements into one. And we've made quite a bit of breakthroughs.

We managed to make a way to combine water and fire to create a spell that produces steam... The moment mom and Sonia-sama heard of it, they immediately asked Lawliela-sama and I to make a magic item with that spell and make a sauna in their private baths.

And then, the four of us would enjoy it daily along with our family.

Fufufu~ Good days~

"Fufufu~ Don't worry, Evelyn. You just need time and practice. Let me give you a hint. Stop thinking about how you can enhance one element with the other. Think about what kind of effect you want to produce with both of these elements."

"What kind of effect..."

"Uhn! For example..."

I opened the palm of my hand and created a small snow blizzard on my palm.

"Wow..."

"This is a combination of the wind and ice element. On a glance, you might not know how wind enhances the power of ice or the other way around. But when you think of what kind of phenomenon you want to create, you can easily do it~"

"Risa-sama... That's amazing!!! I can't believe you can produce a combination spell with an element you don't have a natural affinity with! "

"Fufu~ Thank you~ But this is because I've been training a lot with Fubuki~ I can use her element as much as I can do with mine~"

I've told Evelyn and the girls about Fubuki being a Celestial Fox who had given me her blessings. They were super shocked at first, but they surprisingly accepted it quickly. Moreover, they accepted it because they think it's only natural for me to do such a thing.

It feels like they're complimenting me... But it can also mean that I do ridiculous things often that they're used to it...

Nah~ They must've meant it to be the former~ After all, they're such good girls~

"I see! Thank you very much, Risa-sama~!"

"Uhn~ Do your best, okay? If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask me~ I'll do my best to answer~"

"Yes~"

Evelyn returned to her seat gracefully. And just then, I felt many gazes directed towards me.

""...""

Hm? What's wrong? Why are you girls staring at me like that?

In the next moment, Valerie-chan, Noir, Illya, and Celine suddenly lunged at me and sat around me, leaning and pushing their soft, warm bodies against mine...

"Risa-chan! Teach me this too!"

"Alterisa-sama~ I'm having a bit of difficulty with this~ May I borrow your wisdom~?"

"A-Alterisa-sama! I'm also having a bit of trouble understanding this part of the passage!"

"H-Help me with this! In exchange, I'll help you if you have something you don't understand too!"

"A-Alterisa-sama, I-I'm done. P-Please check my work~"

A-Ahhh! I-Is this heaven?! I-I didn't know heaven can descend upon me while studying~

Guhehehe... Guhehehehe~ I'm surrounded by cuties~ I feel like I'm on cloud nine~

"Fufufu~ Please calm down, everyone~ I'll do my best to answer your questions, so please come one by one~"

I then spent the rest of the day studying with the girls before we all went and eat dinner together.

--------------------------------X--------------------------------

[3rd Person POV]

Within the student council office, three out of the five members of the student council spent their time studying for their mid-semester exams.

Cleo, despite having a very shy personality, took it upon himself to teach Elyria and his fiancee, Yulia, in their studies.

Meanwhile, Alexus, who had done his studies, worked on the student council's paperworks. He was helped by Lucas, who was also confident in his abilities to achieve a high score in the coming exam.

Alexus went through his paperworks at incredible speeds, completely focused on his task, before he suddenly stopped his hand.

Noticing it, Lucas glanced and turned his attention towards him.

"What's wrong?"

His words broke the silence and attracted the attention of the other three, who immediately looked up and turned their gazes towards the president.

"No... It's nothing... I just felt a sudden bad feeling..."

"Hm?"

Lucas raised his eyebrows, looking at the golden-haired prince in confusion along with the rest of the council members.

"Lucas... What is Risa currently doing?"

Alexus looked up and met gazes with his beloved fiancee's brother and best friend.

"Risa? She's studying with her friends. What's wrong?"

"Eh? With... her friends...?"

"Yes. She told me she'll be studying with the girls in a private room in the library."

"Eeeeh~? Really? Hah... If I knew, I would've joined her~"

Elyria let out a regretful sigh. Alterisa was not only known for her beauty, magic skills, and business skills, but also her brilliance. She had gotten perfect scores in nearly every academic lesson she went through, and the fact still stands even after she entered the royal academy. It was an amazing addition to all her other sparkling feats she had achieved.

Yulia, and even Cleo who was known to be a genius and prodigy, were also interested in her brilliance. Perhaps, they could even learn something from her.

"Hah... She got me..."

Alexus sighed deeply, resting his head on his hand.

"Evelyn must've been the one orchestrating it, right?"

"Hm? Perhaps. What, are you jealous?"

Lucas smirked teasingly at his best friend, and judging by the slight grimace shown in his face, he had hit the mark perfectly.

"Hah... You don't understand. She's even more dangerous than any men when it comes to Risa. I bet she's now using "studying" as an excuse to stick extremely closely to her."

"Oh my~"

"Ah! I wanna get closer to Alterisa-sama too~!"

"E-Eh?! D-Does Silium-sama h-hold romantic feelings for L-Lorya-sama?"

Alexus let out another deep sigh and simply went back to his task, trying to distract himself.

And instead of him, Lucas was the one to answer Cleo.

"She holds Risa dear, just like all of her friends."

He said with a giggle before continuing.

"And well... It couldn't be helped. Ever since she was young, she had always captivated the hearts of many just by being herself. It's difficult to control it, which is why the prince is troubled."

"Ufufufu~ It seems like you have your own share of trouble as well, president~"

"... You don't even know, Yulia."







AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please vote and comment your thoughts~!