Gardenia’s Heart

Walking along the stage, the beautiful woman with rabbit ears twirled the black brush between her fingers.

”I know not all of you have spent your entire lives within the walls of Caligo. However, I can’t help but think that, at least once, each of you has come into contact with a monster in some way.”

Selene studied the faces of her students as she spoke. Whether it was sadness, fear, or anger—though they were young—everyone in that room bore a significant memory tied to a monster.

”I can’t begin to imagine the situations you’ve faced or the kind of feelings that might have been seared into your hearts. But if you wish to become mages, your path will eventually lead you to face a monster, and when that day comes, I must ensure you’re ready.”

Without approaching the blackboard, Selene began moving her brush through the air. Some students furrowed their brows in confusion, wondering what she was doing. However, their doubts didn’t last long. Within moments, a greenish ink-like substance began to flow from the tip of her stardust brush.

Up and down, side to side. Her sweeping motions, both bold and graceful, made it clear what was happening.

She was painting a picture—without a canvas.

With effortless skill, her fingers guided the brush with elegance and speed, and now, covering the entire stage area was a three-dimensional painting of a forest.

The artwork wasn’t hyper-detailed to make the viewer feel as though they were physically there, but it stirred a profound sense of reality in anyone who gazed upon it.

With a subtle motion, Selene tucked the brush back into her waist. As she stepped down from the stage, she walked along the front row of desks. Within the floating, ink-drawn forest, a small rodent scurried through the leaves, carefully searching for nuts in the undergrowth.

The students watched the lovely scene unfold with curiosity and delight. However, their expressions quickly shifted to shock as a fox suddenly pounced, jaws wide open, towards the unsuspecting rodent.

Some students turned their faces away, while others widened their eyes in disbelief. Without even a second of struggle, the tiny creature met its end between the fox’s fangs. There was no subtlety, no mercy—only the raw brutality of the wild reflected in the blood dripping from the lifeless body.

”Though predators kill what crosses their path, we do not call them monsters.” Selene’s voice echoed clearly across the classroom, her golden twin-tailed hair swaying with each word. ”This is because animals do not kill for pleasure, but for survival.”

As the fox fed on its prey, another rodent appeared from the undergrowth. Their eyes met, yet no conflict arose.

”Their actions are not driven by complex emotions or ideals. They merely do what they must to endure. When they are satisfied or their territory is secure, animals cease their hunt. However, the same cannot be said for what we call monsters.”

In the green ink-formed scene, standing out starkly from everything around it, a white fox appeared. The creature, with two tails and sharp claws, advanced swiftly, snowflakes falling along the battlefield it had just created.

Even faster than the ordinary fox, the ice fox, crafted from white ink, obliterated everything in its path—whether it was the poor rodent, the fox feasting on its meal, or the surrounding trees. All were reduced to rubble as the creature approached.

”Monsters do not hunt for sustenance. They simply kill for the sake of killing. Be it humans, demi-humans, animals, or even other monsters.”

The ice fox then leaped out of the painted forest, stepping onto the classroom floor as if to show everyone that no place was truly safe. With rapid movements, it rushed toward Selene, its sharp claws aimed straight at her neck.

”They don’t distinguish what they’re fighting. They simply kill. That is why we call them monsters.”

With a single stroke of her brush, a piercing jet of red ink sliced through the air, cutting the white ink fox cleanly in half. As the two severed halves of the creature hit the ground, Selene allowed herself a small smile, clearly satisfied by the shocked expressions on her students’ faces.

”Alright, it wouldn’t be fun if I just kept talking, would it?” Clapping her hands together several times and speaking in a cheerful voice, Selene climbed back onto the stage. ”Can someone tell me what makes monsters so dangerous?”

Her pink eyes scanned the rows of students, searching for someone willing to answer. Finally, a young man raised his hand.

”Their innate abilities?”

”Perfect!”

Without missing a beat, Selene blinked with delight, practically skipping across the stage as she returned to the floating forest she had painted.

”Do you see the snowflakes falling where the ice fox passed? This type of monster, aside from being able to manifest ice crystals, also affects the surrounding temperature, creating phenomena like this.” She gestured as she held the white ink that represented the cold snow. ”Though many assume it’s some form of magic since it requires mana, innate abilities are part of what defines a monster. There’s no spell or complex logic behind it—it’s as natural to them as breathing is to us.”

With a simple wave of her brush, Selene erased the painted forest. Then, she raised both hands to the base of her rabbit ears.

”My species, for example, has the innate ability of enhanced hearing. With it, I can distinguish sounds from great distances, which helps me avoid being caught off guard when traveling through the woods.”

Selene’s long white ears twitched slightly, emphasizing her point. Her cheerful smile and skipping steps around the classroom were only interrupted when a sudden voice reached her.

”Then why aren’t demi-humans considered monsters?”

The question came from a girl sitting in the front row. However, the moment she finished speaking, her face paled as she quickly clamped her hands over her mouth.

Everyone in the classroom realized that, without meaning to, she had just called the headmistress a monster.

The room fell into complete silence.

Panic overtook the girl’s face as she frantically waved her hands, already preparing to beg for permission to remain in school.

“D-Director Leontar, that’s not what I meant!” Her wide eyes perfectly reflected the fear she felt.

What would the headmistress do to her? That thought consumed everyone as they watched Selene approach the girl’s desk.

A delicate hand reached toward her, and the panicked student couldn’t even form the words to beg for forgiveness. However, before her fear completely overwhelmed her, those warm hands gently rested on her shoulders.

“Oh, my dear, calm yourself, alright?” Blinking once and swaying the hem of her red dress, Selene reassured the girl. “There’s no need to worry about that. I would never feel offended by a question from any of you. In fact, I encourage you to keep asking. Prejudice against demi-humans is not something we can overcome if we don’t bring these points up for discussion.”

Returning to the stage, Selene smiled warmly at the students, especially those among them who were demi-humans.

“There is a definitive factor that separates demi-humans—or any subspecies, really—from monsters. And that factor is how they are born and how they survive.”

Noting how the students’ expressions shifted from distressed—over the perceived danger their classmate had been in—to confused by her explanation, Selene couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“Just like all of you, we demi-humans are born from a mother and a father. Monsters, on the other hand, are born from the condensation of dark mana present in the atmosphere. Unlike us, they absorb dark mana to sustain themselves, requiring neither water, air, nor food.”

Some students began taking notes, prompting Selene to pause for a moment to give them time before continuing.

“Though some monsters have physical traits that suggest a gender, there has never been a documented case of monsters reproducing to increase their numbers. However, the Demon King’s miasma has increased the density of mana—and dark mana—in the atmosphere, leading to a more frequent emergence of monsters.”

“Director Leontar, if monsters are born from dark mana in the air, could they be born inside our homes?”

Selene turned her head to see the same girl from before asking the question. Noticing that her earlier words seemed to have given the student confidence to speak again, Selene wouldn’t let the opportunity slip by.

“As for that, rest assured—it’s not something you need to worry about. While there is some dark mana present in cities, the constant activity and movement of people make it difficult for it to accumulate enough to form monsters.” Selene’s smile widened, her twin tails bouncing slightly beside her rabbit ears. “However, in forests, labyrinths, and the far eastern reaches of the world, the concentration of dark mana builds much more easily, so encountering monsters there is quite common.”

“Is there any way to avoid them?” The girl placed a hand on her chin, her dominant hand never ceasing to jot down every word Selene spoke.

“Monster repellents, like ivory herb, are an example of how to set up relatively safe camps when traveling. The flowers don’t harm monsters directly but release an essence that exhausts their bodies and causes discomfort, keeping them at bay.”

Upon hearing this, the girl furrowed her brow slightly. Not missing this subtle shift in expression, Selene smiled, already anticipating the next question.

“But… if the herbs are so effective, why don’t people just surround entire cities with them?” the student asked, clearly wondering why such an obvious solution hadn’t been implemented.

“Mana herbs are already rare, and since we can’t control which type will grow, obtaining them in large quantities is unfeasible. Besides, gathering a large supply would be extremely expensive. It’s simply not practical to surround entire cities or villages with them, especially since, even as mana herbs, they wouldn’t last more than a few months,” Selene explained, pacing back and forth across the stage. “Furthermore, keep in mind that methods like ivory herb are not omnipotent. The more monsters in the area, the more diluted the flower’s effects will become among them. Of course, if a single monster is exposed to a large quantity, it can be disoriented enough not to attack, but I can assure you it’s far from the most efficient way to handle the situation, as you will almost always encounter them in groups.”

As Selene finished her explanation, she noticed the downcast expressions on several students’ faces. For those who had never studied this topic before, it felt as though a means of protecting themselves when venturing into the world had been taken away.

“No more sad faces here!” Clapping her hands several times, Selene did her best to cheer up the students. “Ensuring that you can defend yourselves out there is the responsibility of this institution, so don’t worry about it for now. Let’s see... How about we change the subject? Can anyone tell me why monsters can’t use magic?”

Once again, her pink eyes scanned the students, but this time, no answers came. One by one, they avoided Selene’s enthusiastic gaze, unwilling to risk offering a guess.

It was only when she was about to give up and elaborate on the topic herself that a voice echoed from the back of the classroom.

“They don’t have a mind.”

Raising her eyes to the source of the voice, Selene spotted a silver-haired girl sitting in the last row. The monotone voice matched her expressionless face, her single visible eye peering out from beneath her bangs, staring back at Selene without much interest.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen your face around here before.” Selene crossed one arm under the other, resting her chin thoughtfully in her hand as she observed the girl from across the room. Her gaze was filled not with surprise, but curiosity.

“So, am I wrong?” the girl asked flatly, her half-lidded eyes making it seem as though the conversation was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

Sighing softly, Selene shook her head, her gaze steady.

“Explain a bit further,” her clear, commanding voice echoed through the classroom.

Raising an eyebrow at the demand, the silver-haired girl let out a faint sigh, her fingers intertwining atop her desk.

“Monsters are irrational creatures capable of following only basic instructions. They lack something like a mind or personal identity, which means they can’t create spells.”

A sharp whistle escaped Selene’s lips.

“You’re absolutely right. The reason monsters can’t use magic is that they are beings incapable of thought.”

As the question no one had dared to answer was finally resolved, the entire class turned to stare at the girl who had given the correct response. Murmurs spread rapidly across the room, with students whispering questions about her name or year. The beautiful silver-haired girl, however, remained as expressionless as ever, seemingly unbothered by the attention.

“That was an excellent answer, especially given how niche this field of study is. It’s only been a few years since the subject was brought into academic discussion, so it’s rare to see someone take such an interest.”

Step by step, Selene made her way through the classroom toward the last row of desks. Her smile widened, and her golden hair swayed gently, reflecting the growing amusement in her heart.

“However, I’ve never come across any studies supporting the idea that monsters receive instructions from any kind of source. The way you say it makes it sound as if there’s a higher entity commanding them to act as they do.” Selene stopped beside the girl, both eyes fully focused on her.

As if no one else in the room was allowed to speak, the entire class remained silent, hanging on to every word exchanged between the two women.

“If monsters are beings incapable of thought yet still manage to claim vast forest territories or explicitly guard labyrinth interiors, isn’t it obvious to deduce they follow some kind of order?” the girl responded coldly, almost bored, her voice devoid of emotion. “To run, gather, surround, or kill. Whether the instructions are simple or complex doesn’t matter—they will follow them, and that’s why they pose such a threat, despite being even more savage than beasts.”

Selene listened silently. Even when the girl finished speaking, the rabbit-eared woman remained thoughtful for a few moments before the corners of her lips curled slightly.

“The way you speak... it sounds less like research and more like you’ve heard such instructions yourself before.”

Selene’s pink eyes narrowed as she studied the emotionless face of the silver-haired girl. The tension in the air was almost palpable, but the girl didn’t so much as flinch.

“When you have to fight so many monsters just to survive, it’s only natural to learn a thing or two. I expected the same from you, but it seems I was wrong.” The silver-haired girl sighed, meeting Selene’s gaze for the first time.

The two long rabbit ears atop Selene’s head perked up to their fullest, and faint blue mana began to ripple irregularly from her body.

“Could you tell me your name?” Selene asked, her smile remaining but failing to reach her eyes.

For the first time, the silver-haired girl didn’t respond immediately. She shook her head slowly as if weighing the question, her eyes closed in thought.

“Lily.” Her tone was flat, yet if one listened closely, there was a subtle trace of emotion hidden in her voice—an almost imperceptible hint of delight.

Upon finally hearing the girl’s name, Selene twirled her pointer brush between her fingers.

“You seem quite confident in your magic, Lily. How about helping me with a little practical lesson? It’s been some time since I’ve given the students a combat simulation—this could be an excellent learning opportunity.” Selene’s pink eyes narrowed further as if daring the girl to refuse.

“If my help will be useful.” The same monotonous voice returned, stripped of all traces of emotion once more.

“Everyone, it’s a bit late to mention this, but we’ll be changing today’s lesson location to the arena.”

Clapping her hands together, Selene redirected the entire class’s attention. The once puzzled and thoughtful expressions of those trying to understand the situation shifted into an eruption of excitement as they realized they’d get to see a mage of Selene’s caliber in action.

“No way—a combat lesson with the Headmistress!?”

“Quick, let’s run to the dorms and wake those idiots who skipped the afternoon class!”

“Come on, we need a spot in the front row!”

Various voices mixed together as the students rushed out of the classroom toward the arena. It didn’t take long before only Selene and Lily remained in the room. The sunlight filtering through the mist grew weaker as night approached, soon replaced by the bluish glow of the lampposts outside.

“You can find the arena even though you’re not a student here, can’t you?” Selene said, winking before stepping out of the room, her red dress and twin tails swaying with each step. “Ah, right, tell the two hiding in the hallway they’re welcome to come watch as well.”

With one last smile, Selene left the classroom, and seconds later, two figures rushed inside.

“What are you thinking!? Weren’t you listening to me, Lady Lily? She’s a two-star mage, just like Velmont! You can’t just go around challenging people to fights like this!” Abelia said desperately, almost tempted to grab the girl’s shoulders and shake her.

“If you were listening from the beginning, you’d have noticed she’s the one who invited me to the practice, not the other way around.” Lily—or rather, Nia—replied in her usual monotone voice, the need to interact with so many people other than her wife becoming more of a nuisance by the second.

“That’s sophistry! We couldn’t hear everything clearly, but I’m sure you provoked her! What will we do? What if she refuses to listen to us?” The noble tone Abelia had been using vanished, her obsidian eyes wide with worry as she imagined what could happen to the girl in front of her.

“I’ll make sure she listens.” Speaking in a low voice, Nia stood up. Though still wearing the school uniform, a black cloak materialized around her neck and shoulders, now that her disguise was pointless.

Seeing the silver-haired girl heading toward the door without another word, Abelia considered running after her again. However, before she could, her shoulders were gently held by Cleomel.

“Calm yourself, Lady Abelia. I may not fully understand what’s happening, but considering all our past attempts, this might be the only way to make Lady Leontar listen to us.” Cleomel’s gentle restraint made her intentions clear—she understood Abelia’s feelings all too well.

Hearing even her beloved knight agreeing with the silver-haired girl’s plan left Abelia with no further arguments.

Sighing to steady her breath, Abelia placed her hand over Cleomel’s on her shoulder and turned to face Lily.

“Lady Lily, I am not a mage like you. I can’t feel mana or cast even the simplest spells. But I know how strong you are, and I know people’s hearts well enough to see how much you’re still hiding.” Her free hand pressed firmly against her chest, eyes intense as they focused on the black cloak of the girl before her. “Be honest with me—if you two fight, what will happen?”

Before leaving the room, Nia tilted her head slightly at those words. Her next response was delivered in the same flat tone, as though stating the most obvious fact.

“I win.”