I went down the stairs after hearing the good news, intending to test my new spell outside. However, as I went down, the sound of raised voices suddenly reached my ears.

"Are they arguing?" I wondered.

Just like a good eavesdropper would do, I stopped in my tracks to listen to what was happening.

"Why won't you take any responsibility?!" that was Elizabeth raising her voice; I could recognize her.

"Why would I?" the other one replied. This girl's voice seemed full of confidence and nonchalance, as if she didn't care.

"Because of you, a member of the Armonia died and one is permanently injured! We risked losing one of us, too!" Elizabeth countered.

"Because of me?" the other girl retorted, annoyance in her voice.

After that, the distinct sound of a thud, as if someone had been slammed against a wall.

"Who was the coordinator when that happened? And don't bother lying, Elizabeth. I've read the reports," she added, now sounding almost... playful?

Elizabeth didn't answer that.

"I couldn't hear you," the other girl teased.

"I was..." Elizabeth murmured, reluctantly.

"That's right, you. I wasn't even present. So, instead of placing the blame on others, face the reality that someone lost their life because you simply suck, and drown in your own incompetence. Is that clear, 'strongest mage'?" she mocked, her tone tinted with spite.

After that, silence fell, accompanied by a strange tension in the air.

"And you!" the other girl suddenly raised her voice, shattering the moment. "How long do you intend to stand on those stairs?"

"Hm?" Elizabeth emitted in confusion.

How?!

Taken aback, I decided to reveal myself, descending the final stairs.

"Oh, the new girl," she said, approaching me.

I wanted to ask right away how she detected me, but etiquette dictated introductions first, unfortunately. So, I extended my hand. "I'm Argenta, nice to meet you."

Her etiquette, however, was nowhere to be found; she grabbed my arm, pulling me closer to her.

"Hmm... you do seem interesting, indeed. In contrast to that stupid girl with the big hat..." she remarked with a slightly raspy voice, a smile playing on her lips as she drew me closer.

She was close... too close. Dangerously close! Was she about to kiss me or something?!

"Crimson! I'm still right here!" Elizabeth raised her voice in frustration.

So she was Crimson... Well, her look did her name justice; everything was crimson red about her. Her eyes, her hair, her nails... her lips.

"Unfortunately, I'm well aware... Unlike you, I don't have any problem displaying my sentiments towards you, Elizabeth," Crimson continued her mockery.

The situation already looked bizarre, so I just decided to ask right away. Somehow, perhaps I could've changed the subject of the conversation.

"How did you know I was standing there?"

She casually ran her fingers through my hair, soothingly guiding them behind my ear; her other arm encircled my waist, pressing my body against hers. "Your mana is all over the place, Snowflake," she softly replied with a smile.

"My... mana?" I tilted my head. "And how did you just call me...?"

"Have you ever looked in the mirror? You're just as white as snow. A little snowflake."

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Crimson... let Argenta go. We still have matters to discuss!" Elizabeth exclaimed, her voice trembling. She felt ignored, I could tell; it was written all over her face.

Crimson sighed before finally releasing me. "No. We have nothing to discuss. Unlike you, Elizabeth, I have real things to attend to. I have to go to the tavern. So, I'll see you."

Dismissing Elizabeth, she approached the table, picking up some papers that were lying on it. It was then that I realized something peculiar floating around her. It was a red ball, like a sphere, or an orb. I couldn't quite understand what it was. A magical item, perhaps?

Crimson then, continuing to ignore Elizabeth, moved toward the door. She stopped right before leaving, turning her attention to me. "Would you like to keep me company, Snowflake?"

"Huh..."

I was quite in a situation... On my right, Elizabeth, clutching tightly her staff in her hands, pursing her lips and with her eyes looking as if she were about to cry in frustration. And on the left, this peculiar girl full of mysteries... I kept drifting my eyes towards them, until I finally made my decision.

"Well... alright," I replied to Crimson, stepping closer to her. I could hear Elizabeth whimpering, but I still followed out the door...

... She nonchalantly walked with her hands tucked behind her back while she carried the papers, with the red orb floating around her. I walked right beside her. I could tell right away... this girl is strong. Her confidence, the way she acts; everything pointed in that direction.

"Hey, just for curiosity... to chit-chat a little and break the ice," she started, stealing a sidelong glance at me. "Are you perhaps an assassin?"

"Wh- Huh?!" my mind crashed for a second at that question.

I halted in my steps, instinctively raising my guard, sharpening my senses, fixing my eyes on her. She stopped as well, turning her body towards me to face me directly.

"Hmm, it would seem I hit the mark," she said proudly.

Who was this girl?! And how had she made such an assumption?

"Relax, I'm not your enemy. If anything, that only makes you more interesting," she added.

"What makes you think I am an assassin?" I asked.

"The way you move... You were walking right next to me. Yet, aside from your mana, I could barely sense you. You make no sounds. I believe this is an assassination technique, am I wrong? Whoever taught you that, must have been extremely skilled to impart something like this as a habit. It's fascinating... But you should be more careful; habits could prove to be double-edged blades," she explained as a smirk curled across her face.

She seemed... weird; first of all. But at the same time... interesting, and strangely sincere about it... Upon hearing that, I gradually lowered my guard.

"Besides, your mana reacted when I called you an assassin. You gave it away," she said, giving away a smirk.

"What is this 'mana' you keep talking about?" I asked once again, starting to feel annoyed by it.

"Oh, you really are ignorant about it," she replied, her eyes wide in surprise, before resuming her walk towards the tavern. "Follow me; I shall enlighten you."

Despite me still being confused, I followed behind.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked.

"You can, Snowflake."

"What is that red ball that keeps floating around you?"

"Oh, it's my divine weapon. It's an orb," she flatly replied.

"A flying orb? How does that work?"

She shrugged. "It just follows me wherever I go, but I can also freely control it with my mind, if I want, just as easily as I breathe. I don't even have to be in contact with it to use spells," she then replied, side-eyeing me.

"Hmm? How are you able to do that?"

"I'm highly sensitive to mana, and I can freely manipulate it. I can do it with my codex, too. Observe," she explained, a smug smile on her face as she freely and effortlessly levitated her codex around without touching it.

I looked at her in astonishment. This girl was a problem. How would someone even disarm her? Having the chance to freely move both codex and personal weapon in the air...? I wouldn't want to face an enemy like that.

"You can have it; take it," she offered, redirecting the orb towards me.

"Oh-"

The orb unexpectedly flew right towards me, I flinched at the view before instinctively catching it. I was now holding a visually appealing red ball. It was smooth to the touch, neither hot nor cold, and big enough for someone to sit on it. Somehow... I expected something different.

"So, are you going to show me how to manipulate mana as well?" I asked her.

"That's impossible," she immediately shut me down. "I am just that special. But I can teach you how to feel it and expel it from your body. It seems it may be troublesome for you."

"Huh... thanks. Well, yes. I don't like being detected just because of this 'mana'," I replied.

"I shall advise you, though. my information isn't free," she declared, glancing at me.

"I supposed as much... So, what do you want?" I asked, not surprised.

Even being part of the same guild, no information is free in this world... Had it been free, it would've been too good to be true.

"Hmm, how about..." she came closer, sliding her hand around my waist, pulling me against her, "... you?"

- - - - - - -

I went to the kitchen, with the intent to prepare lunch, now part of my routine, when my ears caught someone crying.

"Elizabeth! What's wrong?" I asked her, approaching.

Elizabeth sat on a chair, her face buried in her knees, crying.

"I hate her... I hate Crimson. I hate her," she murmured, her voice choked as she struggled to wipe away the tears cascading down from her eyes.

"What happened?" I gently placed my hand on her back, trying to comfort her, lending at the same time a handkerchief I brought inside my cloak.

"It's Crimson... Argenta followed her. I bet they're shit-talking about me behind my back now, and Argenta won't want anything to do with me," she replied, accepting the handkerchief, wiping away the tears as they kept accumulating in her eyes.

"No way... You don't have to worry about that. I know Argenta, she wouldn't let herself be influenced like that. You can trust me," I reassured her with a smile.

She met my gaze, although the sadness in her eyes remained. "But you don't know Crimson, Joey... In the end, she always gets what she wants..."