"Eh?!"
Tohsaka Sakura looked at her stepsister with a confused expression. She tilted her head, trying to understand what Luvia had just said.
"Clock Tower? What kind of place is that?" Sakura asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. She had never heard of such a place before.
"..."
Luvia looked at her stepsister Tohsaka Sakura with a suspicious gaze. She narrowed her eyes, wondering if Sakura was pretending not to know.
"Sakura, are you pretending to be confused?" Luvia asked, her tone a bit sharp. She found it hard to believe that Sakura didn't know about the Clock Tower.
"If you were born into a family of magi, you should at least know the name Clock Tower, right?" Luvia continued, expecting Sakura to have some knowledge of the magical world.
"Um..." Tohsaka Sakura fiddled with her fingers, looking very apologetic. She felt bad for not knowing the answer.
"I'm sorry, Luvia-san," Sakura said softly, lowering her head slightly.
"But—"
"I really don't know. Papa never mentioned this place to me before," Sakura explained honestly. She had always felt a bit out of the loop when it came to the magical side of her family.
"..."
Luvia looked at Tohsaka Sakura without saying anything. She knew Sakura wasn't lying. There was a genuine innocence in her eyes.
There was nothing she could do. The young lady had to accept the fact that her stepsister knew absolutely nothing about it. Luvia sighed softly, realizing she would have to explain everything.
She took a breath and then started to explain.
"The Clock Tower is the highest institution for studying magic. It's also the center of the Mage's Association. You could even say it is the Mage's Association itself," Luvia said, her voice becoming more serious as she explained the importance of the Clock Tower.
"Excellent magi from all over the world gather there to exchange ideas and research magic-related problems together," Luvia continued, emphasizing the prestige of the institution.
"In other words—"
"If you can get into the Clock Tower, you won't have to worry about not learning magic," Luvia concluded, hoping this simple explanation would help Sakura understand.
Luvia's explanation helped Tohsaka Sakura understand the general idea. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the information.
Her stepsister was planning to go to a super amazing place! Sakura thought, feeling a mix of awe and excitement.
"Wow~" the little girl exclaimed, her voice filled with surprise.
"That sounds amazing! So, that's what the Clock Tower is like?!" Sakura said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. She couldn't wait to learn more.
"What kind of life have you been living?" Luvia looked at Tohsaka Sakura with even more confusion. She couldn't believe someone from a magus family didn't know about the Clock Tower.
"How could you not even know about the Clock Tower?" Luvia asked, her tone a bit incredulous.
"Is magical education in Japan really that behind?" Luvia wondered aloud, a hint of concern in her voice.
"I don't know," Tohsaka Sakura scratched her cheek sheepishly, looking a little embarrassed. "Maybe I'm just not very smart, so I didn't remember it."
"No, you're not dumb at all."
Luvia firmly denied Tohsaka Sakura's words. She didn't want Sakura to think badly of herself.
"Or let me put it another way. We Edelfelts never keep anyone who's dumb, you know?" Luvia said, her tone leaving no room for argument. She considered Sakura part of their family now.
"..."
Knowing that Luvia truly considered her family, Tohsaka Sakura felt a warm feeling spread through her chest. She looked at Luvia with gratitude.
Then, she nodded very seriously.
"I understand!" Sakura said, her voice filled with newfound confidence.
"But—"
"Luvia-san, what are we going there to do?" Sakura asked, her curiosity still lingering. She wanted to know the specific reason for their trip.
Realizing that Tohsaka Sakura wasn't pretending to be confused—she really didn't know what they were going to do—Luvia stopped beating around the bush and directly revealed her true thoughts.
"Listen, we're going for an early visit," Luvia said, her tone casual but her words significant.
"An early visit?" Sakura repeated, looking at Luvia with a questioning gaze.
"Yeah," Luvia crossed her arms, saying something quite shocking in the most calm way. She acted as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"We're definitely going to study at the Clock Tower in the future," Luvia stated confidently.
"So—"
"While we have some free time now, we'll go for a visit beforehand. That way, when classes really start, we won't be so flustered," Luvia explained her reasoning, always thinking ahead.
Tohsaka Sakura was taken aback at first. Then, she suddenly realized something important. Her eyes widened in surprise and a hint of excitement.
"We?" the little girl pointed a finger at herself. "Luvia-san, can I study at the Clock Tower too?" Sakura asked, her voice filled with hope.
"What kind of question is that?"
Luvia lightly knocked Tohsaka Sakura's head with her knuckles. She looked a little annoyed that Sakura would even ask such a thing.
"Do you think the Edelfelt family can't afford to support you?" Luvia asked, raising an eyebrow. She wanted to make it clear that Sakura was now part of their family.
"That's not it," Tohsaka Sakura rubbed her head, looking a little flustered. "I just didn't think I was good enough to go." She still had some insecurities about her place in the magical world.
"Nonsense!"
Luvia "scolded" Tohsaka Sakura, looking very annoyed. She didn't want Sakura to underestimate herself.
"You're part of the Edelfelt family now!" Luvia declared firmly.
"If only I go and you don't, do you want the Edelfelt family to become a laughingstock to outsiders?" Luvia asked, her tone a bit dramatic.
"No! I didn't think of it that way!" Sakura quickly denied, shaking her head vigorously. She would never want to bring shame to the Edelfelt family.
"Then that's settled!" Luvia glared at Tohsaka Sakura. "You want to go, and we can afford it. Is there any problem with that?" Luvia's logic was straightforward and left no room for argument.
"Um, well..."
Seeing that Luvia had once again completed her logical circle, Tohsaka Sakura didn't argue anymore. She knew Luvia's personality well by now.
She knew her stepsister had a habit of using the harshest tone to say things that were actually very considerate of the other person.
"I understand. Thank you, Luvia-san," Sakura said with a grateful smile.
"That's more like it." Luvia was very satisfied with Tohsaka Sakura's obedient response. A small smile touched her lips.
"Hurry up and pack your things. We're leaving tomorrow," Luvia said, eager to start their trip.
"Got it!" Sakura replied enthusiastically, already thinking about what to pack.
[Going to the Clock Tower became Tohsaka Sakura's top priority.]
[She happily started packing her things, a big smile on her face.]
[And during this process, she didn't forget to share her joy with you.]
"Ghost-san!"
Tohsaka Sakura placed her favorite rabbit plushie carefully into her suitcase. She wanted to bring it along for comfort on their trip.
"We're going to the Clock Tower!" Sakura announced happily to the empty air.
"I know," Mr. Ghost's reply came quickly. His voice was gentle and reassuring.
"Sakura, don't forget... I'm always by your side," Mr. Ghost reminded her softly.
"Hehe, that's right~" Tohsaka Sakura gave a silly smile. This was an expression she only showed to people she was very close to.
"But I'm really so happy!"
Tohsaka Sakura looked up at the empty space, her eyes shining with excitement.
"Ghost-san, Luvia-san really treats me like family!" Sakura exclaimed, her voice filled with joy.
Hearing this, Mr. Ghost chuckled softly.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Mr. Ghost asked gently.
"Isn't that what you've always hoped for, Sakura?" Mr. Ghost added, knowing how much Sakura longed for a sense of belonging.
[Even though you didn't actively chat with Tohsaka Sakura, that didn't mean you weren't observing her life.]
[On the contrary, you were actually watching over her all the time, just without speaking.]
[This also made you realize the reason why Tohsaka Tokiomi's two seemingly similar actions had yielded completely different results.]
[Ultimately, everything stemmed from the attitude of the adoptive family towards Tohsaka Sakura.]
[The Matou family had shown a completely indifferent attitude from beginning to end. It was purely a transaction for their own benefit.]
[The Edelfelt family, although a bit arrogant at first, had come to value Tohsaka Sakura quite a lot in the end, all thanks to Luvia.]
[With such different approaches, the difference in outcome was almost inevitable.]
"Yeah~"
A happy smile bloomed on Tohsaka Sakura's face. But soon, as if she remembered something sad, she lowered her head.
"But—"
"There's something I forgot to tell Luvia-san today," Sakura said, her voice a little downcast.
"What is it?" Mr. Ghost asked, sensing her change in mood.
"It's just..."
Tohsaka Sakura looked at the empty space beside her, her eyes filled with concern.
"I forgot to ask Luvia-san if you ever appeared, could she also let you go to the Clock Tower?" Sakura asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"..."
[You never expected Tohsaka Sakura to be thinking about such a question.]
[You had thought that whatever she had forgotten would be something more important, but you didn't expect her thoughts to turn to you at this moment.]
[You felt a little touched.]
[But you didn't want her to feel endlessly guilty because of this.]
"Well—"
"Sakura might be looking down on me a little bit," Mr. Ghost said gently, trying to lighten the mood.
"Eh?" Mr. Ghost's words immediately made Tohsaka Sakura nervous. "I didn't mean that!" she exclaimed, shaking her head quickly.
"I really think it's a shame I didn't tell Luvia-san about it," Sakura said, her voice filled with regret.
"But have you ever thought... that I might not need you to worry so much?" Mr. Ghost asked, his voice still gentle and reassuring.
"Don't forget," Mr. Ghost continued.
"I... might be a human being just like you. If I really do appear in this world one day, then I'll definitely be able to find my own way of life," Mr. Ghost said confidently.
"Or—"
"Do you not believe I have that ability, Sakura?" Mr. Ghost asked playfully.
"No, that's not it!" the little girl quickly denied. "I've always believed in Ghost-san!" She had complete faith in him.
"Then that's all that matters, isn't it?" Mr. Ghost continued. "Since you believe I have that ability, there's no need to be sad about not saying it, right?"
Mr. Ghost's guidance was as helpful as ever. Tohsaka Sakura quickly understood his point.
"Ghost-san, I understand!" Sakura said, her voice now filled with understanding and relief.
"That's good."
"Oh, right—! Ghost-san!"
"What is it?" Mr. Ghost asked, curious about what Sakura wanted to say.
"Never mind... it's nothing."
Tohsaka Sakura lay in bed, feeling a little shy. She didn't even know why she suddenly wanted to call out to Mr. Ghost—maybe she just wanted to hear his voice a little longer?
[Amidst Tohsaka Sakura's joy, the trip to the Clock Tower began.]
[She and her stepsister Luvia boarded the same airplane flight.]
[After some time, they arrived in London, England, where the Clock Tower was located.]
Outside London.
The main building of the Clock Tower—a structure with a style similar to the Houses of Parliament (i.e., Big Ben)—stood prominently in this area. This was the Department of Policies, also known as the First Department, and the foundation of the Clock Tower. All other subjects in the Clock Tower were developed based on this.
Of course.
The identity of a magus was not really something suitable for openly appearing in front of other people. Let alone developing a large-scale organization like an educational institution.
Therefore, powerful magical barriers were placed around the Clock Tower. They not only kept ordinary people away but also served to create a separation from reality.
Simply put, it allowed the existence of the Clock Tower but also made it unobservable to normal people. This method had proven to be effective.
Later, the other departments of the Clock Tower were also placed in different areas of London in the same way. They provided strong protection, so even someone with Luvia's status would not be able to find the Clock Tower's true location without permission to enter.
After a long journey, Tohsaka Sakura finally arrived at her destination with her stepsister. As soon as she entered, she was stunned by the sight before her.
Just a moment ago, this area had been empty. She had only taken one more step forward, and now the entire academy was in front of her eyes. This kind of shock was something Tohsaka Sakura had never experienced in her life before.
"Wow—!" she couldn't help but exclaim.
But as soon as she shouted, her stepsister Luvia, who was beside her, couldn't sit still. A few small veins popped out on her forehead, and she immediately reached out and covered her stepsister's mouth.
"Sakura!" Luvia hissed, her eyes narrowed.
"Don't shout so loudly! People will think you're some country bumpkin!" Luvia scolded, her voice low but firm.
"I don't want to be embarrassed because of you!" Luvia declared, not wanting Sakura to make a bad impression.
"Mmmph~"
Seeing Tohsaka Sakura nod, Luvia finally let go of her hand. She looked at the buildings in front of them and then spoke with a calm tone that didn't suit her age.
"I know this looks very magical," Luvia said, trying to sound composed.
"But—"
"Since you've come out with me, you represent the Edelfelt family." Luvia reminded Sakura of her responsibility.
"You absolutely cannot do anything embarrassing so carelessly, understand?" Luvia emphasized, looking at Sakura sternly.
"..."
Tohsaka Sakura felt a sense of responsibility weigh on her shoulders. She looked at her stepsister Luvia very seriously and nodded.
She nodded very seriously, replying to her stepsister Luvia.
"I understand!" Sakura said, her voice filled with determination to behave properly.
[During the rest of the tour, Tohsaka Sakura restrained herself.]
[Even though there were indeed many magical sights inside the Clock Tower due to the operation of magic.]
[Like objects floating in the air, or sculptures driven by magical power.]
[But she always kept the promise she had made with her stepsister, burying all her surprise in her heart.]
[Of course, Tohsaka Sakura must have been feeling incredibly stifled inside.]
[But as soon as she thought about not wanting to embarrass the Edelfelt family, she endured it all.]
Around the corner of the hallway.
Luvia praised Tohsaka Sakura's excellent behavior throughout the tour.
"Very good job! That's how someone from the Edelfelt family should behave!" Luvia said, sounding genuinely pleased.
"R-really?"
Tohsaka Sakura was overjoyed by her stepsister's praise. She beamed with happiness.
Just as Luvia was about to say more, a staff member nearby leaned closer to her and whispered something softly in her ear. The staff member was young but already commanded respect from others.
Although she wasn't very old, she already had considerable authority in front of others. And after hearing what the other person said, the Finnish young lady showed a look of disdain.
"Tch." Luvia clicked her tongue, looking annoyed.
"We haven't even enrolled yet, and they're already trying to get money out of our family?" Luvia muttered to herself, sounding irritated.
"Oh well... it's not like we can't afford it anyway." Luvia sighed, accepting the situation.
While saying this, Luvia turned her head and looked at her stepsister.
"Sakura, can you wait here for a moment, okay?" Luvia asked, her tone gentle.
"Hmm~"
Without thinking too much, Luvia settled her stepsister down and directly followed the person who seemed to be "asking for money." She trusted that Sakura would be safe here.
There was a protection agreement within the Clock Tower, so it was absolutely safe. She wasn't worried about her stepsister being in any danger while waiting.
And Tohsaka Sakura was very obedient. She stood right there, patiently waiting for her stepsister to return.
But something unexpected happened at this moment.
Tohsaka Sakura heard the sound of sobbing. Her ears perked up, and she looked around to see where it was coming from.
She followed the sound and found that it was coming from the room right across from her. The door was slightly ajar.
The kind-hearted little girl hesitated for a moment. But then, she decided to see if there was anything she could do to help. If she could make the person stop crying, that would be even better.
With this thought in mind, Tohsaka Sakura tiptoed forward and then peered through the crack in the door to observe what was happening inside.
She saw a silver-haired woman with a voluptuous figure, dressed in rather mature clothing, sitting on a chair and wiping away tears. Her shoulders shook with each sob.
Her eyes were so sad, as if all hope had been destroyed. The expression on her face was one of utter despair.
The woman had a Clock Tower employee ID card hanging around her neck. Tohsaka Sakura squinted her eyes for a moment and then read the name on it.
"Vivian...?" Sakura whispered the name, her heart filled with concern for the crying woman.