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Inside the old atelier, where the wooden walls breathed with the scent of ink and aged paper, a warm silence lingered, broken only by the noise of memories. The girls were no longer those little apprentices fumbling through the path of magic; they had become four mature young women taking their first steps beyond the threshold of apprenticeship.
Everyone sat together in a cozy circle, chatting about the graduation ceremony. While pride gleamed in their eyes, a daring idea slipped into Qifrey’s mind.
He approached them carrying barrels of wine, that innocent smile on his lips once hiding far more than it appeared to be.
“Sensei… don’t tell me you actually—” Agott muttered flatly, raising one eyebrow in suspicion.
With pride, he set the barrels down and replied,
“You’ve all become proper young ladies now. It’s time we celebrate your graduation like adults, not apprentices!”
Tetia cheered with the same lively energy the years had only made brighter, while Coco’s golden eyes sparkled with childish excitement that had never left her despite the maturity in her features.
“Finally! I’m going to experience this ‘being drunk’ thing everyone talks about!”
Coco’s comment alone was enough to make Olruggio shoot his companion a sleepy, doubtful look, silently blaming him for opening this door in the first place. But Qifrey had already begun pouring the purple liquid with the enthusiastic assistance of Tetia, while Agott maintained her composure and dignity, watching the scene with a poise completely opposite to Tetia’s incoming chaos.
The moment the first sip touched Coco’s tongue, a sharp bitterness invaded her throat. Her golden eyes watered and her face twisted as she cried out in a choked voice,
“It burns!”
Olruggio replied dryly while sipping from his own cup with perfect calm,
“And what exactly were you expecting? Fruit juice?”
Time passed, and the warmth of the wine slowly melted away the formalities. Laughter grew louder and louder, reaching its peak when Coco began laughing foolishly at the simplest things.
While everyone was at their most relaxed, Tetia wiped a tear from laughing too hard and said,
“What an unbelievable thought! Coco finally graduated… even though she almost caused a devastating tornado instead of a gentle breeze during her final exam!”
In that instant, the scene turned surreal.
Qifrey spat the wine in his mouth directly into Olruggio’s face. The teacher froze in place as Qifrey stared at Coco in shock and shouted,
“Wha—?! A tornado?!”
Coco swayed tiredly, covering her flushed face with both hands.
“Ah… Tetia… don’t mention that in front of Qifrey-sensei right now…”
Then suddenly, she jerked upright in drunken defiance.
“I can draw the most complicated spells without making a single mistake! What happened during the exam was… was merely an external factor!”
Tetia narrowed her eyes mischievously and leaned closer.
“Oh really? Then I challenge you right now… draw a spell that makes a rooster lay eggs!”
Time itself seemed to stop for a moment.
Coco’s face shrank in exaggerated disgust.
“Does disgusting magic like that even exist?!”
Olruggio slowly nodded while wiping wine off his face with complete exhaustion.
Coco’s jaw tightened. She swallowed her shock, then turned excitedly toward her teacher.
“Qifrey-sensei! Show me that spell immediately!”
Without warning, Qifrey raised his arm dramatically into the air, answering in a loud heroic voice,
“Certainly! Let’s see your skills, my dear!”
Coco’s feather pen trembled lightly above a medium-sized sheet of paper while Qifrey leaned beside her, guiding her hand with excessive enthusiasm and drunken encouragement.
“Come on, Coco… show them your true magic!”
Agott rolled her eyes with deadly boredom as she watched the ridiculous scene, then turned toward Olruggio and asked dryly,
“Olruggio-sensei… isn’t biological manipulation like this considered forbidden magic?”
Olruggio, however, was in an entirely different world. His body sat with them, but his mind had wandered into a distant mental inventory of food supplies. He muttered disconnectedly while staring into space.
“Rooster… eggs… eggs… food… protein… no, this makes no sense…”
Meanwhile, Tetia’s tongue continued indulging in its favorite hobby: provoking people.
“Coco’s so slow… are you drawing the spell or writing an entire book?”
Coco’s hand shook as her nerves snapped under the combined effects of the wine and Tetia’s yelling.
“Stop distracting me, Tetia! Magic requires… requires absolute concentration!… h-hic…”
As Coco added the final touches with unfocused concentration, Richeh quietly observed the strange magic circle and spoke in an unsettlingly calm tone.
“Don’t you all feel like you forgot something important?”
Qifrey smiled foolishly and waved dismissively.
“Don’t worry. Olruggio’s here.”
“You bastard!”
Olruggio growled under his breath.
“I finished it!”
Coco suddenly shouted, raising the paper high into the air without any preparation or safety precautions whatsoever.
A heavy silence blanketed the room for several long seconds that felt eternal.
Agott pressed her fingers against her forehead while staring carefully at Olruggio, causing the teacher to tense up and snap sharply,
“What?!”
The excitement faded from Tetia’s eyes as she sighed in disappointment.
“What a shame… no eggs are coming out of Olruggio-sensei.”
At that, Olruggio’s eyes bulged as the last remnants of his patience shattered.
“How drunk ARE you people?!”
Richeh answered with her usual calmness, casually pointing toward the opposite corner.
“Drunk enough to see Qifrey-sensei kissing Coco right now…”
Everyone turned in perfect synchronization, as if controlled by a spell, only to freeze before a scene no one could have imagined.
Qifrey had both hands around Coco’s neck and cheeks with shocking boldness, his lips devouring hers in a deep, impulsive kiss. Coco stood completely stiff, her eyes wide with absolute disbelief, unable to process what was happening.
After Olruggio finally swallowed down his massive shock, he looked at the empty wine bottle, then at his reckless friend, and muttered with sarcastic admiration,
“What powerful wine… it accomplished what magic failed to do for years.”
○○○○○○○○○
Everything began normally and familiarly for Coco, if not for those irritating rays of sunlight creeping into the corners of her room, forcing her eyelids to flutter open in discomfort. The green-haired girl groaned as she turned restlessly from side to side, trying to escape the light, but a strange sting on her lips made her pause.
She brushed her fingertips over them, only to find them oddly numb. And when she lightly licked the corner of her mouth, a metallic bitterness—like the taste of iron—spread across her tongue.
Her memory had failed her completely; she could not recall how she had returned to her room. The last thing lingering in her mind was the chaos of the drinking party they had held for the first time. The moment she tried to sit up, a loud ringing exploded inside her head. A sharp headache bloomed instantly, planting the first seeds of regret deep in her chest.
She cast a quick glance toward her roommate’s bed. The other girl was still fast asleep in her outdoor clothes, hair scattered across the pillow, her body sprawled in a way that screamed total exhaustion.
Coco let out a tired sigh and dragged her heavy steps outside with obvious laziness.
Olruggio was already awake, cleaning up last night’s mess. She approached him weakly and muttered,
“Good morning.”
“Good morning,”
he replied calmly without looking away from what he was doing.
She swallowed nervously before asking in a hesitant voice,
“Did I… drink too much last night?”
He straightened slightly, rubbing the back of his neck in exhaustion.
“I barely remember the details myself, but judging by the state I found you in… yes. You went far beyond your limit.”
Her cheeks instantly burned with embarrassment as she stammered,
“So you were the one who brought me back to bed… thank you, Olruggio-sensei.”
He sighed.
“You weren’t the only one. Everyone was in a miserable state.”
At that moment, Richeh’s voice suddenly called out from the kitchen,
“And don’t forget who helped you gather up the disaster!”
Olruggio added,
“That’s true. Richeh helped me a lot, and she’s making breakfast now.”
Coco suddenly raised her voice, trying to regain some energy.
“Give me a few minutes and I’ll come help you, Richeh!”
In those few minutes, Coco raced against time. She changed her clothes, fixed her unruly hair, and washed her face to chase away the remnants of sleep. Even though standing near the stove with that headache felt like torture, she refused to leave Richeh and Olruggio alone to deal with last night’s chaos while everyone else remained unconscious.
It did not take long before the others slowly gathered around the table, their dazed expressions speaking louder than any question about what they remembered.
In the silence surrounding the table, Qifrey broke the stillness as he admired the dish before him.
“This method of preparation… and the perfect level of cooking. These are definitely your touches, Coco.”
Coco smiled foolishly, her cheeks turning pink once more.
“That’s right, Qifrey-sensei.”
Agott reached for another portion of the omelet, but Qifrey suddenly pulled the plate away. Agott stared at him in disbelief.
“Wait!”
Qifrey replied casually,
“You expect me to let others eat what Coco prepared for me?”
Agott searched his eyes for any trace of humor, but the white-haired man’s expression remained perfectly neutral. Then suddenly, his face broke into a smile as he returned the plate to its place.
“Just a joke.”
Coco tried to ignore the strangely possessive tone in his voice and merely forced out a soft laugh to ease the tension.
Agott pressed her fingers against her forehead before standing up from her seat.
“I’m going to make ginger tea with honey.”
Tetia spoke up immediately.
“Good idea. Make two cups, please. This headache is killing me.”
Coco cleared her throat awkwardly.
“Three.”
“Even you too, Coco? Looks like we’re not suited for adult things after all. Let’s go back to hot chocolate milk instead,”
Tetia teased, making Coco laugh lightly.
“So no nighttime outings in the city like we planned?”
“What outings?”
Olruggio suddenly interrupted, one eyebrow raised.
Richeh answered while her mouth was still full of food.
“That place you and Qifrey always disappear to.”
Qifrey turned toward Coco curiously.
“And why exactly do you want to go there?”
“I mean… Olruggio-sensei always refers to it as a place for fun, so…”
Her nervousness was obvious as she tried to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks.
“Do you even have the slightest idea what happens there?”
“Of course I do. I’ve heard a little about it. We’re adults after all.”
Qifrey’s expression darkened, and his gentle voice dropped into a rougher tone.
“You are not going to a place like that.”
“What?! Why only me?”
For a moment, Qifrey looked like a man who had accidentally exposed a crime. He lowered his gaze toward his food.
“That’s because you’re the most curious one, Coco. Your curiosity will drag you into troubles you’re not prepared to deal with.”
“What about Tetia? She’s the most excited out of all of us.”
“Then Tetia is staying too.”
Tetia pouted childishly.
“You’re not my father.”
Olruggio said coolly,
“Let the girls enjoy themselves freely. They’re not children anymore, man.”
Agott returned carrying three cups of ginger tea. Throughout the entire time Coco drank hers, she could feel sharp stares directed at her from Qifrey. She could not understand their nature; they were simply too intense, too focused—as if he could see beneath her skin itself.
Later, Coco stood before the sink washing dishes when the last person approached carrying the remaining plates—the blue-eyed man himself. He stood close beside her, silently asking for enough space to help.
The top of her head barely reached the middle of his neck, and the distance between their arms had almost disappeared entirely.
Suddenly, he broke the silence.
“I apologize for my reaction. I couldn’t accept the idea of young men being around you…”
Soap bubbles rose around the sides of her green hair as she answered with her usual smile.
“There’s no need to apologize, Qifrey-sensei. I know you’re just like an overly protective older brother.”
“Brother?”
Coco froze in shock at the drastic change in his tone. It had not sounded surprised—it sounded offended.
A shiver ran through her body as she suddenly became aware of how close he truly was. Their elbows were touching, yet it was not the first time they had shared innocent physical closeness like hugs. But for the first time ever, his proximity made her feel strangely tense.
Then, after drying his hands, he quietly broke the contact between them.
○○○○○○○
Coco sat on a low chair, letting the water rise until it covered her from the top of her head down to her fingertips. Her green hair floated gently behind her back, tamed for once, as she kept it at its usual length. Everything about her remained unchanged—except her body, her thoughts, her abilities… and—
She did not want to dwell on the last hours too much, but the solitude beneath the water did not help. Instead, she found herself thinking more and more about her teacher.
However, when she felt she was overthinking something trivial, she shook her head firmly, rejecting any conclusions. Since she herself was the subject, she would inevitably reach biased and false assumptions. She needed to see things from a perspective that wasn’t her own.
While getting dressed, she considered speaking to Agott, but given Agott’s practical and methodical personality, she dismissed the idea. That left her with only two options—and of course, not Olruggio or Qifrey.
As soon as she knocked and entered, Tetia greeted her with playful sarcasm:
“Welcome to the one who just finished her bath.”
Coco smiled faintly and said in a low voice,
“What do you think about drinking hot chocolate milk?”
Richeh’s ears perked up as she was absorbed in her drawing, and Tetia instantly became alert. When one of them suggested hot chocolate, it always meant a private discussion.
Once they prepared their drinks, they closed the door and windows and drew the curtains.
A few seconds of silence passed. Coco felt nervous about how to begin.
Tetia looked at her closely while loudly sipping her drink.
“So? What is it?”
“It’s about Qifrey-sensei.”
The girl with wavy hair looked surprised at the topic, while her companion seemed ready for what was coming.
Coco continued slowly, as if afraid of her own words.
“I hope I’m just overthinking things… but Qifrey-sensei seemed strange today. During breakfast, he looked… kind of… jealous.”
Tetia relaxed her shoulders.
“Oh, you mean his reaction about our future outings? Girl, he’s just overprotective—you know him!”
“That’s what I told him too! But when I called him an older brother… he didn’t seem pleased.”
“How is that possible?” Tetia raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
Coco looked almost like she was defending herself.
“And when I joined him while doing the dishes… his voice… his closeness… it wasn’t like usual.”
The pink-haired girl bit her lower lip, narrowing her eyes with a teasing glint.
“I think the problem isn’t Qifrey-sensei.”
Coco flinched in misunderstanding, eyes widening.
“W-Wait, I didn’t—”
“Maybe it wasn’t a dream,” Richeh interrupted softly, staring into the distance as if piecing together a puzzle.
“What wasn’t a dream?” Tetia asked.
Richeh turned back to Coco, her tone quieter than before.
“It would explain the cut on your lip, Coco… it was Qifrey-sensei.”
Tetia gasped in panic.
“Explain properly, Richeh, before my dirty imagination wakes up!”
“And it was intense.”
Tetia’s nerves snapped. She screamed in shock and stumbled backward, falling to the floor. As for Coco, she froze completely. Her heartbeat roared in her ears louder than anything else, her entire body burning as a scorching blush flooded her face.
Tetia gripped the table, her fingers trembling.
“M-Maybe it was just a d-dream, right?”
Richeh placed a finger under her chin, recalling carefully.
“No. I remember clearly now… he challenged himself and kissed Coco more than fifty times.”
Both of them shouted in unison,
“W-What?!”
“And he succeeded.”
That second blow shattered Coco completely. Her mind stopped functioning properly. Her tongue failed her, flailing uselessly as if it had become a fish out of water, producing incoherent sounds.
Tetia fixed her hair nervously, though there was no real need, and asked in a strained voice,
“W-Why would he do something like that?”
At that moment, Richeh’s expression turned serious.
“A spell.”
As if the atmosphere shifted into another dimension, silence fell—sharp enough to cut.
“That’s what I think,” she continued. “Because the moment Coco finished drawing that circle, Qifrey’s behavior completely changed.”
Tetia instinctively covered her mouth, staring at Coco. The heat in Coco’s face had vanished entirely, as if someone had poured ice over her. The urge to run disappeared, replaced by a heavy, crushing silence as she finally understood the weight of what she had drawn.
“What did I do?!” Coco’s face went pale as all color drained away.
Richeh said firmly,
“You need to undo whatever spell you cast on him. It’s a forbidden spell—we need a countermeasure.”
Coco stood up abruptly.
“I’ll look for the spell I drew.”
Richeh followed immediately.
“We’ll help you—me and Tetia. She’s the one who challenged you into drawing it using Qifrey-sensei’s spellbook anyway.”
Tetia, still recovering from shock, forced a strained smile.
“We’re partners in crime. Of course we’ll fix it together.”
Coco returned the smile and nodded.
“I’ll search Qifrey’s room. You tell Agott. She might help us find a counter-spell.”
○○○○○○○○○
After making sure his room was empty, Coco slipped inside with feather-light steps. She lifted her gaze to the high stone ceiling and its vast walls. The windows were enormous and circular, allowing as much light as possible to pour in. She noticed a library filled with books and magical tools in a somewhat chaotic arrangement.
Feeling as though she was intruding on his privacy, she carefully shifted her attention toward his desk, searching through the books.
Seeing complex spell diagrams, she began recalling fragmented flashes of her own hand drawing something on paper. She muttered in confusion,
“Why would he have a forbidden spell like this?”
As her fingers sifted through his belongings, she suddenly gasped and pulled her hand back—she had not noticed a teapot among his things.
She quickly realized Qifrey might return at any moment, so she hastily continued reading. Yet she found no page about a love spell or anything involving mind manipulation.
“Coco!”
A low, cold voice came from behind her.
She froze. She had been caught red-handed.
Her body trembled lightly, unable to control itself, each step of his approach tightening her nerves further. His calm, noble voice followed.
“What are you doing in my room, my dear Coco?”
“I… I…”
Her voice came out strained, revealing how tense she was as his presence closed in, leaving only a narrow space between them.
He stepped forward until her back pressed against the edge of the desk. Then he leaned down toward her, shrinking the distance to the point where even air could not pass between them.
His breath lightly brushed her forehead, warm and close, while the scent of herbal tea wrapped around her senses like an invisible restraint.
His eyes moved over her face with frightening concentration—not a passing glance, but a detailed examination, as if memorizing her entirely. From the flutter of her lashes to the deepening blush on her cheeks, all the way to her averted gaze.
Then she noticed something she had never clearly seen before.
His pupils had widened, swallowing the surrounding color until only a deep, shining darkness remained—like a sea stripped of light. His gaze carried possessive intensity mixed with astonishment, as if he was seeing her for the first time, stripped of all her defenses.
There was no doubt left.
Every movement of his suggested he was under the influence of a love spell, and she was now trapped beneath him.
A shiver ran down her neck as he slowly tilted his head, his breath brushing her bare skin. When he spoke, his voice was low and hoarse, velvet-heavy, brushing against her senses.
“I didn’t expect such behavior from you.”
With a light motion, he pulled her hand from behind her back, revealing one of his books she had been holding. His brows furrowed into a sharp line above his narrowed blue eyes, and his mouth tightened slightly into a restrained frown.
“I’m sorry…”
Her breath wavered as she saw his cold expression. Her apology came weak and breathless, softened into a fragile whisper.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by approaching footsteps and a familiar voice calling out,
“Qifrey!”
Everything froze for a single second. Their eyes met in panic.
Before Coco could fully process what was happening, she felt his strong hand pull her swiftly—dragging her under the folds of his wide cloak in an instant. He pressed them both onto his bed, pulling her tightly against his chest in the dark, enclosed space beneath the covers.
Instinctively, he placed a hand over her mouth to suppress any accidental sound, while his body pressed fully against hers so they would remain hidden.
She could hear the rustling of clothes as someone entered the room.
“I’ll borrow a physics book on metals.”
Qifrey did not move. Instead, he answered from beneath the covers in a voice that tried to sound normal, though it came out rough and slightly strained.
“Go ahead.”
Olruggio approached to retrieve what he needed, but paused, noticing the strange shape under the blanket.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yes… you can leave.”
Coco heard Olruggio’s footsteps and the rustling of his clothes as he departed.
Qifrey’s gaze shifted to her flushed face. Even in the darkness, he could see every detail. Their bodies were pressed closely together; every breath she took rose and fell against his chest, and their legs were tangled beneath the covers.
He pulled back quickly before things could escalate further. He did not trust himself in that moment.
Coco shivered from the sudden cool air and took a deep breath before trying to sit up—but he caught her wrist.
“What happened to your lips?”
Unable to face him any longer, she pulled her hand away and rushed out of his room.
She nearly collided with Olruggio, who now confirmed his suspicions.
He entered Qifrey’s room with heavy steps.
“I knew something was off.”
But Qifrey did not meet his gaze. He stared into the void, lost in thought.
“I think I need your help, Olruggio.”
His friend sighed.
“If I’m not mistaken… this has something to do with Coco.”
“Why am I… so impulsive… I don’t know…”
He lifted his gaze upward, unable to finish his thoughts. His hands moved restlessly before he covered his face.
“Maybe you’re just… in need of it.”
“What?”
“Try being unfair for once—and go to the place you forbade her from going.”
○○○○○○○○○
Coco ran to her companions, covering her face with her hands. Embarrassment was eating her from the inside. She stopped in front of them without making any eye contact.
“I think going to Qifrey’s room wasn’t a good idea…”
Tetia asked,
“What happened?”
Agott crossed her arms and answered confidently, her tone hiding a trace of sarcasm.
“Let me guess—you had a little moment with someone under the influence of a love spell. What a surprise.”
Their companion nodded awkwardly.
Agott let out a tired sigh, then gave a faint reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine. We found what you drew.”
Coco lifted her gaze, looking surprised.
“How?”
Tetia replied lazily,
“You put it in your pocket right after you finished it.”
The golden-eyed girl thought for a moment that the Coco from last night and the Coco standing here now felt like two completely different people.
○○○○○○○○
Under a velvet sky where the stars were not merely points of light but living planets, they shimmered like jewels scattered across a royal cloak. Between them drifted magical dust like threads of diamond light.
In the heart of the square, great torches blazed, casting warm shadows over the faces of people absorbed in the festival’s noise. Hot loaves of bread and jugs of aged wine passed from hand to hand, while laughter rose from men and women intoxicated by joy, blending with the sound of wooden cups clashing in a communal toast.
The true spirit of the night came from the corners of the square, where the strings of an old oud wept and the tones of a kânnara echoed with haunting folk melodies.
Where mud and gold intertwined, the nights shone with a magic unknown to daylight.
The watchful eye turned away from his companion, observing him from a distance, giving space for every charming woman to be drawn to his companion’s handsome face.
Clear annoyance showed on Qifrey’s face, prompting his companion to shrug roughly.
“As long as you keep that sour expression, not even the most shameless prostitute will approach you.”
Anger lingered beneath his whisper.
“I don’t want to do this.”
“You were the one who asked for help. So wipe that ugliness off your face and act like a proper young man.”
Gradually, his expression softened. He settled into a neutral look, doing nothing but sipping diluted wine—until a striking woman sat beside him. Olruggio bit his lower lip, watching closely, sensing his plan was finally working.
The woman remained silent at first, then leaned toward Qifrey and spoke. Qifrey greeted her with a wide smile. Everything seemed to be going according to plan under Olruggio’s watchful eye—until suddenly, the woman slapped Qifrey and stood up abruptly, storming off.
Olruggio immediately approached his companion, who was still holding his cheek.
“I can’t believe this turned out like that. How did you let her slap you?”
“It’s my fault.”
“What did you say to her?”
“Nothing… I just advised her to buy scented soap.”
Olruggio froze in place, his head spinning at his friend’s blunt honesty.
“I can’t believe you said something like that!”
Qifrey let out a heavy, defeated sigh and dropped his head onto the wooden table. In a low voice filled with exhaustion, he muttered,
“I failed… should we just pack up and leave now?”
But Olruggio was not the type to give up so easily. His expression hardened in protest, and he grabbed his friend’s shoulders with a firm grip, forcing him upright to face him.
“The night is still young. Pull yourself together—this is not over yet.”
○○○○○○○○○○
Hours passed heavily, and the dust of the night finally settled to reveal results that could only be described as a diplomatic disaster.
Olruggio stood there with dark circles under his eyes that told the story of suffering itself, picking up the shattered remains of his dignity. Beside him, Qifrey stood with a foolishly bright smile and a face so cheerful it looked as if he had just returned from a walk through rose fields.
Qifrey spoke in an irritatingly innocent tone:
“What’s with that gloomy face, my friend? Didn’t your plan succeed? I even got to spend time with many ladies tonight!”
Olruggio exhaled so sharply it felt like his clothes might burn. His voice was tight with suppressed frustration.
“Yes… I did get to ‘spend time’ with them! I spent the entire night apologizing to every single woman who had even a trace of Coco in her, and that’s not even the worst part!”
Qifrey immediately jumped in defensively, almost theatrically.
“What now?! Are you talking about that light tap on one girl’s backside? Didn’t you see her face? She was glowing with happiness! I swear she would’ve thanked me if people hadn’t interrupted!”
Olruggio’s eyes widened in utter disbelief.
“Happiness?! She was screaming for help, you idiot! Do you realize that makes you sound like someone who needs to be locked in the deepest cell of the tower?!”
An awkward silence fell between them, broken only by the distant sound of a cricket. Qifrey still looked like he was trying to convince himself that his interpretation was correct.
Olruggio rubbed his forehead in utter exhaustion and delivered the final blow.
“Forget it… I have no doubt now. You are so in love with Coco that your brain has officially resigned.”
The two mages crossed the threshold of the atelier, where silence hung heavily in the air—until Agott suddenly emerged from the shadows.
She held a quill and an incomplete spell with sharp focus. In one swift motion, she completed the magic circle, and a glowing beam erupted, cutting through the darkness of the room and striking Qifrey in the chest.
His body froze instantly. His breath stopped in pure shock as the light faded around him.
Olruggio shouted in panic,
“What have you done?!”
But his words were cut off when Coco’s body suddenly shot forward like an arrow toward Qifrey.
She grabbed his robe roughly, breaking his composure, and rose on her tiptoes, leaning toward him with unexpectedly bold intent, her lips approaching his.
With quick reflexes, Qifrey placed a hand between them, gently blocking her advance, whispering in confusion:
“Coco…?”
She stumbled back two steps. A heavy silence fell, as if time itself had stopped—before she suddenly broke it with a loud, triumphant cry.
“It worked!”
Tetia and Riche cheered behind her, while Qifrey turned his head in every direction, completely stunned by the chaos erupting around him.
“What exactly worked? What are you talking about?”
Agott stepped forward confidently, her eyes studying him with cold precision.
“Have you felt anything strange recently, Qifrey-sensei?”
Qifrey hummed in confusion, but before he could answer, Olruggio interrupted. He stepped forward heavily, his presence dark and suffocating, and spoke in a voice that seemed to freeze the air itself.
“I did… and you all owe us a full explanation. Now.”
A cold shiver ran through Coco’s body, and Tetia visibly trembled.
In that moment, they both realized what awaited them.
After a harsh interrogation, the truth was revealed.
It had all been triggered by a dose of alcohol from the previous night. While that explanation spared them severe punishment, Olruggio did not let it slide easily. He looked at them sternly and assigned a mild disciplinary punishment—not for the experiment itself, but for the recklessness of hiding something so dangerous from their teachers.
○○○○○○○○
It was not the punishment that occupied Coco’s mind, but rather the relief that washed over her at Qifrey’s return to his normal self.
Before going to bed, she saw him sitting in front of the large window, lost in the silence of the night, his features calm as if he were drawing comfort directly from the moonlight.
She approached him with slow, careful steps. If he were still under the influence of that spell, she would not have dared to come near him—not out of fear, but because the enchanted Qifrey stirred emotions within her that felt too unstable, too dangerous to trust as anything more than illusion.
She sat beside him and, in a soft voice carrying sincerity she could no longer hold back, said,
“I hope what happened… won’t ruin things between us.”
She lowered her head in embarrassment and continued quietly,
“It was my mistake. I’m truly sorry. I promise I won’t go near alcohol again.”
Qifrey turned to her, a warm smile forming on his lips that filled her with quiet reassurance as he replied,
“It’s alright, Coco… I know your heart never intended any harm.”
Coco felt the sincerity in his words and relaxed slightly. Trying to shake off her embarrassment, she gave a nervous laugh while scratching her temple.
“And also… I’m sorry for trying to ambush you with that kiss. I just wanted to make sure you were okay! I promise I won’t do anything that disgusting again.”
Time seemed to stop for a moment.
The warm smile on Qifrey’s face faded, replaced by a deep, unreadable gaze that made the air between them feel heavier. He murmured,
“Disgusting?”
Coco was confused by his tone, but he did not give her time to process it. His voice dropped lower, rougher.
“If the others hadn’t been there at that moment… I would have returned that kiss.”
The blood drained from Coco’s face. A sudden heat rushed through her cheeks, and her body trembled uncontrollably. She stammered,
“W-what…? You would have… what?”
A playful smile curved his lips as he leaned closer slowly, deliberately narrowing the distance between them. His eyes fixed on her lips with such focus that her heart began to pound violently. He whispered,
“And if you want… we can try again now. Without anyone interrupting us.”
Coco felt heat surge through her entire body as if she might burn from within. Her breathing tangled, incoherent sounds escaping her in pure panic before she suddenly jolted up and fled toward her room in stiff, almost comedic panic, shouting without looking back,
“G-good night!!”
Qifrey leaned back slightly, his smile widening into something far more satisfied. He was certain now—Coco no longer saw him merely as a teacher. She was beginning to see him as a man.
But his moment of triumph did not last long.
Olruggio suddenly appeared, cutting through the atmosphere. He stood there with his imposing presence, arms crossed over his chest, eyes sharp and unforgiving.
“I’ll be keeping an eye on you for a while. Don’t think this is over.”
Qifrey responded with an innocent-looking smile that only made Olruggio more irritated.
“Why so suspicious? The spell has been broken, and its effect is gone.”
Olruggio grabbed the front of Qifrey’s robe and yanked him forward roughly, growling in his face,
“Don’t play dumb with me! We both know exactly what kind of curse that was.”
---
An hour earlier…
Tetia had handed the spell to Olruggio, muttering awkwardly,
“Who would’ve thought a small mistake in the drawing could completely reverse the spell’s effect?”
Olruggio examined the parchment for a moment, a strange chill creeping into his fingers. The symbols were unfamiliar.
He retreated into his workshop, flipping through ancient grimoires, searching through forgotten branches of love magic. Then suddenly, his eyes widened in shock as he discovered the true meaning behind those warped lines.
---
Back in the present…
Olruggio stood before his companion and stated the truth he had uncovered.
“It was never a love spell… it was a boldness spell.”
“Really? What a shocking revelation!”
Qifrey replied theatrically, feigning surprise that never reached his bright eyes.
“Stop provoking me! You knew from the beginning, didn’t you?”
Qifrey let his defenses drop slightly, his voice softening with honesty.
“I wasn’t certain… but I never believed it was a love spell. My feelings, even before the spell, were real—not something the spell created.”
He struck his fist into his palm as if completing a puzzle.
“And now everything makes sense.”
Olruggio sighed deeply, rubbing his aching temple.
“So that’s the end of your little attempts to test the waters. You no longer have any excuse to hide behind.”
Qifrey did not respond immediately. Instead, he lifted his gaze toward the star-filled indigo sky, where the stars shimmered like fragments of his own hopes.
Then, in a warm, steady voice full of quiet determination, he murmured,
“I don’t need excuses anymore. I will continue… again and again… until I see that same spark in her eyes looking back at me.
And I won’t suppress what I feel anymore… I’ll take my time, and start testing the waters—step by step.”