"Eh?"
Sakura Tohsaka was first taken aback, then she processed what Vivian had just said. Her surprise was evident.
"Teach me magecraft?" The little girl pointed at herself with a surprised expression. "Vivian-San, you want to teach me magecraft?" She couldn't believe her ears.
"Yes," Vivian nodded with a smile. "I want to teach you magecraft." Her offer was sincere.
"Wow—!"
Sakura Tohsaka's mouth formed a small "O" shape, showing just how happy she was. Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
But after a few seconds, she seemed to think of something else, and her expression became a little downcast. A shadow crossed her features.
"Vivian-San, maybe you shouldn't teach me after all." Sakura said hesitantly.
"Hmm?" Noticing that there was something more to it, Vivian bent down and knelt in front of Sakura Tohsaka, reaching out to stroke her head gently. She wanted to understand the sudden change.
"What's wrong?" Vivian asked softly, her gaze filled with concern.
"Weren't you very happy just now? Why don't you want Onee-san to teach you anymore all of a sudden?" Vivian's gentle inquiry sought to uncover the reason for Sakura's hesitation.
"Do you think Onee-san doesn't have that kind of ability?" Vivian playfully challenged.
"No, no, that's not it!" Sakura Tohsaka waved her hands in denial. She didn't doubt Vivian's abilities.
"I… I just think I'm too slow. If Vivian-San teaches me, I'll definitely make you angry." Sakura expressed her insecurity.
Hearing Sakura Tohsaka's words, Vivian chuckled softly. She found Sakura's self-doubt endearing.
"Have you ever heard a saying? 'There are no stupid students, only teachers who aren't skilled enough.'" Vivian shared a piece of wisdom.
"Even a mischievous child like Mordred, I was able to teach her all sorts of magecraft. I don't think you'd be that difficult." Vivian reassured Sakura with confidence.
"Eh?"
Sakura Tohsaka realized she seemed to have heard a rather familiar name. Her ears perked up.
"Mordred… that sounds so familiar~" Sakura pondered where she might have heard that name before.
"Whether it sounds familiar or not doesn't really matter." Vivian quickly ended that topic. She didn't want to get sidetracked.
"You just need to know one thing." Vivian stated firmly.
"If you're willing to learn, I have the means to teach you any level of magecraft, understand?" Vivian's confidence was unwavering.
Vivian's words were filled with an uncontainable confidence. She spoke with an air of authority.
At this moment, she seemed to be declaring that she was the most skilled magus in the entire Clock Tower. Her self-assurance was palpable.
And more importantly, Sakura Tohsaka didn't feel like this was a lie at all. There was a truthfulness in Vivian's demeanor.
Her lips moved slightly, and it looked like she was about to agree to Vivian's offer. She was clearly tempted.
But just at this moment, she heard Mr. Ghost's voice. His gentle guidance always came at the right time.
"Sakura, go ask Luvia first if she agrees." You advised, reminding her of her responsibilities.
[You didn't doubt that the woman in front of you, who claimed to be Vivian, possessed the ability to teach Sakura Tohsaka.]
[On the contrary, you instinctively felt that she was capable of such a thing.]
[You just didn't want Sakura Tohsaka to forget her identity—she was now a member of the Edelfelt family.]
[She couldn't overlook this before doing anything.]
[Learning magecraft was naturally included in this.]
[Only by respecting Luvia's opinion could Sakura Tohsaka live better in the Edelfelt household.]
[This was without a doubt.]
"Oh, that's right, I have to ask Onee-san!" Sakura exclaimed, remembering her adopted sister.
Sakura Tohsaka's gaze landed on Vivian in front of her, with a hint of negotiation in her eyes. She wanted to find a way to make everyone happy.
"Um—Vivian-San, I really want to learn magecraft from you~" Sakura said earnestly.
"But, I want to ask Luvia Onee-san for her opinion first… otherwise, if I decide on my own, she'll definitely get angry." Sakura explained her predicament.
"..."
Vivian was silent for a moment, then nodded. She understood the importance of family dynamics.
"That's right." Vivian conceded.
"Then bring her over here first." Vivian suggested a solution.
"Okay!"
[After getting Vivian's approval, Sakura Tohsaka immediately ran out of the room.]
[She saw Luvia, who was looking for her everywhere, at a glance, and also witnessed an unexpected situation.]
[The sister who usually emphasized the importance of the family's image was now questioning people everywhere like a madwoman.]
["Where did my Sakura go?!" "Did you guys hide my sister?!"]
[Despite not being very old herself, she was as fierce as a woman in her thirties or forties, leaving a group of adults stunned.]
Realizing that something was wrong, Sakura Tohsaka quickly called out: She needed to reassure her worried sister.
"Luvia-san, I'm here!"
Hearing the familiar voice, Luvia turned her head back. A look of joy first appeared on her face, which then instantly transformed into extreme anger. Her relief quickly turned to fury.
She stomped over to Sakura Tohsaka, raising her hand as if she was going to slap her sister. Luvia was beside herself with worry and frustration.
But in the end, Luvia didn't do that. Instead, she forcefully pinched Sakura Tohsaka's cheek and then said rather angrily: She couldn't bring herself to hurt her sister.
"Sakura!" Luvia's voice was filled with exasperation.
"Didn't I tell you to wait for me in the same place, and that I'd be right back?!" Luvia's concern had reached its peak.
"How did you start running around everywhere in the blink of an eye?!" Luvia demanded, her voice laced with disbelief.
"Ouch—!"
Touching her cheek, which had been pinched red by her adopted sister, Sakura Tohsaka felt a little wronged. Her eyes welled up slightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!" Sakura apologized profusely, feeling guilty for causing her sister worry.
"I just heard someone crying… so I just wanted to go over and comfort her!" Sakura explained her good intentions.
"Crying?"
Luvia frowned slightly, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked at her adopted sister. She was trying to understand.
Having spent the past two years together, the Finnish heiress actually had a certain understanding of Sakura Tohsaka, who was from Japan. She had come to know her well.
She was very gentle and lacked assertiveness. Sakura's kindness was a defining trait.
While having a good temper, she was also particularly kind-hearted, often protecting servants who had previously spoken ill of her but then made mistakes. Luvia had observed this pattern.
In a way, Luvia felt that this was her other side—she couldn't find this level of compatibility even with her own blood relatives. Their personalities complemented each other in unexpected ways.
So—when Sakura Tohsaka said that she wanted to comfort someone who was crying, Luvia didn't doubt her at all. It was completely in character for Sakura.
Because that was the kind of thing her adopted sister would do. Luvia knew Sakura's compassionate nature.
Of course, trust was trust. Luvia believed Sakura's intentions were pure.
Luvia still had to ask what had happened. She continued to inquire: Her curiosity was piqued.
"I see."
"Then—where is that person now?" Luvia asked, her gaze searching for the individual Sakura had mentioned.
"There!" Sakura Tohsaka held out her small hand, pointing towards the room where Vivian was.
"Has she finished crying?" Luvia asked, wanting to know the current state of affairs.
"She's finished crying! But…"
"Just say it directly." Luvia tapped Sakura Tohsaka's head lightly. "You should know that the thing I dislike the most is beating around the bush." Luvia preferred direct communication.
"I know!"
Sakura Tohsaka covered her head and explained her true intentions. She took a deep breath before speaking.
"Luvia-san," Sakura began, her voice a little hesitant. "Vivian-San—the older sister I went to comfort just now, said she wants to teach me magecraft!" Sakura revealed the unexpected offer.
"What?!"
Luvia flew into a rage. Her temper flared instantly.
"What kind of magus dares to boast such a thing?!" Luvia's anger was directed at the audacity of the offer.
"Eh?"
[Sakura Tohsaka didn't understand why Luvia was so angry.]
[But you knew very well.]
[Although the Clock Tower organization was indeed very powerful, the Edelfelt family was not ordinary either; they were a famous family of magi.]
[Under this premise, if it was just an ordinary magus, they would definitely not be qualified to teach someone from the Edelfelt family. The standards were very high.]
[But for some reason.]
[Even though you were meeting Vivian for the first time.]
[There was a voice in your heart telling you—she did indeed have the ability to teach Sakura Tohsaka.]
[After careful consideration, you decided to side with Vivian.]
[You conveyed your opinion to Sakura Tohsaka.]
"..."
Listening to the analysis given by Ghost-San in her ear, Sakura Tohsaka nodded thoughtfully. She considered your words carefully.
"Luvia-san," Sakura began, her voice a little more confident now.
"Are you worried that Vivian-San isn't qualified to teach me?" Sakura directly addressed Luvia's potential concerns.
"Of course!" Luvia didn't have any intention of hiding her thoughts from Sakura Tohsaka. She spoke her mind freely.
"Not just anyone is qualified to teach someone from our Edelfelt family!" Luvia emphasized their family's prestige.
"That's true…"
Sakura Tohsaka turned her head back to look at the room where Vivian was. She pondered the situation.
"But, Luvia-san," Sakura continued, her tone suggesting a compromise.
"I think it would be better if you went to take a look at her… I feel like Vivian-San is very amazing!" Sakura shared her positive impression.
"..."
[Your thoughts were conveyed to Luvia through Sakura Tohsaka's words—of course, this was also Sakura Tohsaka's own intention.]
[The Finnish heiress was still a little unhappy in her heart.]
[But for the sake of her sister, she still agreed.]
"Fine."
Luvia nodded. She decided to trust Sakura's judgment for now.
"Since you said so, Sakura, I'd like to see who has the ability to make you praise her so much." Luvia's curiosity was piqued.
"But let's get one thing straight first." Luvia added a condition.
"If I'm not satisfied, I'll refuse immediately." Luvia made her expectations clear.
"Okay~"
[After some commotion, Luvia finally entered Vivian's room with Sakura Tohsaka.]
[This should have been a rather tense meeting—but you didn't feel any pressure at all.]
[You realized that you seemed to subconsciously believe that Vivian could do such a thing.]
[This was quite a magical experience, but you didn't understand why.]
[And the development of the situation didn't exceed your expectations.]
[Vivian resolved the issue in a "swift and decisive" manner.]
Inside Vivian's office.
The mature older sister was looking at Luvia and Sakura Tohsaka with a pleased expression. She seemed to enjoy their company.
"So you're adopted sisters?" Vivian observed, her gaze shifting between the two girls.
"But—" Vivian looked at the two little girls holding hands. "You must have a very good relationship." She noted their close bond.
"I… I'm really envious." Vivian admitted, a hint of longing in her voice.
"Don't say that!"
Luvia didn't become friendly because of Vivian's words. She remained wary.
Having just been asked for a sponsorship, she didn't have a good impression of the Clock Tower staff at the moment. Her guard was up.
"If you think you have the ability to teach Sakura—then show us some convincing proof!" Luvia demanded, her tone challenging.
"..."
Vivian's brow furrowed slightly—she didn't seem to like Luvia's tone. She found it impolite.
But seeing the expectant look in Sakura Tohsaka's eyes, the mature older sister also suppressed her displeasure, which was already extremely difficult to detect. She decided to be diplomatic for Sakura's sake.
"Indeed." Vivian agreed calmly.
"If there's no proof, it would feel like a scam." Vivian acknowledged Luvia's point.
"In that case—Luvia," Vivian looked at the drill-haired heiress in front of her, "give me your hand." Vivian made a direct request.
"..."
Although she didn't know what Vivian wanted to do, since the other woman was there to prove her ability to teach Sakura, Luvia wouldn't refuse to give her face. She decided to cooperate.
Following the request, she held out her hand.
—Touch—
—Release—
The process took less than three seconds. It was incredibly quick.
A barely perceptible blue light flashed in Vivian's eyes. She seemed to be analyzing something.
Then, she stated the results as if reporting a list. Her analysis was precise.
"What you excel at is magecraft using jewels as a medium—of course, other things similar to jewels can also have the same effect." Vivian began her assessment.
"The quality and quantity of your magic circuits are above the average level, but there is still a considerable distance to reach the top tier." Vivian provided a detailed analysis of Luvia's magical abilities.
"However—"
Vivian looked at Sakura Tohsaka beside her. Her focus shifted to the younger sister.
"If you can cast magecraft together with a familiar sister, you might be able to make further progress in a short period of time." Vivian offered an insightful observation about their potential.
"Miss Luvia." Vivian addressed her formally.
"What I said—was it all correct?" Vivian sought confirmation of her analysis.
Sakura Tohsaka didn't quite understand what Vivian was saying, but she thought her analysis was very impressive. She was in awe of Vivian's knowledge.
The cute little girl looked at her adopted sister beside her, trying to get an answer from her expression. She wanted to know if Vivian's assessment was accurate.
And Sakura Tohsaka indeed got her answer. Luvia's reaction was telling.
Luvia stared dumbfounded at Vivian, who had only touched her hand for less than three seconds. Her speech became a little stammered. She was completely taken aback.
"How did you know all that?" Luvia asked in disbelief.
"You, did you look at my file?" Luvia suspected Vivian had prior information.
"I have no interest in that." Vivian sneered coldly. "Besides, isn't this your first day here?" Vivian dismissed the idea.
"I've never seen you before." Vivian stated firmly.
"Then—you should also know that it's impossible for me to have access to your information beforehand." Vivian's logic was sound.
"..."
Luvia didn't refute Vivian's words. She knew Vivian's points were valid.
Because she knew that this trip had indeed undergone extremely strict secrecy—after all, she and Sakura Tohsaka were, in a way, the top heirs of their families. Security measures were paramount.
The necessary safety precautions had been taken.
"Alright." Luvia didn't intend to stubbornly cling to her pride. She acknowledged Vivian's abilities.
"Vivian, you are indeed very skilled." Luvia admitted grudgingly.
"I apologize for my previous rashness." Luvia offered a sincere apology.
"It's fine." Vivian didn't continue to dwell on it. She accepted the apology.
"As long as you understand that I am absolutely qualified to teach Sakura" Vivian reiterated her capability.
"Then—"
Luvia's throat moved slightly. She had a question.
"Can I… join in as well?" Luvia asked hesitantly.
"Don't worry, the corresponding compensation will be paid by the Edelfelt family in double." Luvia offered a generous payment.
"No."
Vivian refused without hesitation, her gaze landing on Sakura Tohsaka. Her decision was firm.
"I'm only interested in her." Vivian stated unequivocally.
"..."
Luvia's expression became a little embarrassed—she realized that although Vivian hadn't expressed her anger, she was still quite upset. Luvia felt a pang of guilt.
Faced with this situation, Sakura Tohsaka hesitated for a moment, then spoke softly: She wanted to smooth things over.
"In that case, maybe I shouldn't learn then." Sakura offered to withdraw.
The little girl looked at Luvia beside her, forcing a smile. She didn't want to cause any trouble.
"I'm not actually that interested anyway~" Sakura tried to downplay her initial excitement.
"..."
Luvia's emotional intelligence wasn't low. She quickly realized that her adopted sister was afraid of making her unhappy. Luvia understood Sakura's concern.
After all, Vivian had specifically asked for Sakura alone, which was equivalent to rejecting her, the older sister. Luvia recognized the subtle slight.
But as the future (or rather, current) heir of the Edelfelt family, her heart wasn't that narrow-minded. Luvia's perspective was broader than that.
Especially towards her adopted sister Sakura Tohsaka—if Sakura became stronger, it wouldn't be a bad thing for her at all. Luvia saw the potential benefits.
"No, you must learn!" Luvia declared firmly.
"A teacher this skilled isn't someone you can just find anywhere." Luvia recognized a valuable opportunity.
Luvia took a deep breath, then bowed to Vivian and apologized again. Her sincerity was evident.
"Please, Miss Vivian!" Luvia pleaded.
"Please teach my sister well!"
"..."
Faced with such a sincere apology, Morgan's brow gradually unfurled. Her initial displeasure began to fade.
"You can rest assured." Morgan said calmly.
"Even without you saying it, I will definitely teach her well." Morgan's commitment was clear.