Episode
The Royal Academy at Last, Part 2
You think you're good enough to insult him? Not in a million years.
Do you realize what you're doing?!
Lydia!
Why don't you leave it at—
Gerard,
you're next.
What are you doing?! Defend me!
That's enough.
Allen! I thought you'd never get here!
H-How did you get here?
I received a message and came running.
What happened to spoil such a special day?
What is the meaning of this?
Explain this commotion.
Today, we appoint new court sorcerers. It is a cause for celebration.
Lydia Leinster, state your reasons for this conflict.
With all due respect, this isn't the place.
And why not?
I believe Your Majesty is well aware.
Father!
It all began when my kindhearted friends offered her a word of advice.
"You can't play the fool forever," they said!
"Choose your associates with care!"
But far from showing gratitude, the girl flew into a violent rage!
Utterly scandalous conduct!
Gerard.
Have you ever considered how your actions tarnish the Royal Guard's reputation?
Why, fancy meeting you here, sir.
May I suggest you save your advice for your sister?
The little fool has refused my hand in marriage time and again.
Father!
Punish the girl!
Your Majesty,
may I say a few words?
Know your place!
A lowborn wretch like you has no business—
Very well.
You may speak.
Thank you, sir.
Lady Lydia has won renown as the Lady of the Sword.
She would never draw that sword without just cause.
After more than four years at her side, I know that better than anyone.
Lady Lydia has told you that she cannot state her reasons in this place.
I beseech you to consider her intentions.
Rank insolence!
The likes of you shouldn't be frequenting Leinster residences in the first place!
You're a failure, unfit to join the court sorcerers!
Gerard...
Hmm? Oh, of course.
Your family are Wolf Clan, aren't they?
Perhaps their animal stink has rubbed off on Lydia.
Who but a brute would resort to violence so quickly?
Prince Gerard.
I will happily accept any insults you direct at me personally.
However, I cannot stand by while you slander Her Highness and my family.
Your Royal Highness just wielded a sword of words,
a keen blade capable of mortally wounding a heart.
Suppose—and this is merely speculation, mind you—
but is it conceivable that Lady Lydia drew her own blade
in answer to Your Royal Highness's sword of words?
That's enough of that.
I sentence Gerard and Lydia to one month under house arrest.
And I forbid Gerard all contact with these two henceforth.
Father!
I've done nothing wrong!
Their impudence knows no bounds!
Take him away.
Yes, sir!
Father! Father!
Sorry.
I guess that won't look good on your record.
You got it worse.
"I forbid you to enter the palace except by express permission?"
It seems like a fair compromise to me, with the prince's reputation to consider.
But still...
Lydia, you lost your temper on my behalf, didn't you?
Thank you.
Allen!
You were awesome out there!
Professor. Gil. You were there?
Your little skit was well worth watching.
You sat back and watched when your students were in peril?
Make yourself useful once in a while.
You've got it all wrong.
The king only showed up because the professor pulled strings.
His Majesty happened to be nearby. I merely advised him.
Well, you know what they say: All's well that ends well.
To think that the future Duke Leinster could not act for fear of his own sister.
I see someone is overdue to get reacquainted with the paving stones!
I'd better get back to my duties.
Bye, Allen!
See you!
Shelley!
Well done, my lady.
Wait, where's Mr. Allen?
As it happens...
What?!
And so you see, Mr. Allen is currently at the Leinster residence.
That explains why I lost sight of him partway through the ceremony.
Then shall we call on the Leinsters posthaste?
Huh?
Huh?!
We hoped that we might take this opportunity to accompany you.
Start driving.
What's going on here?!
Well then, give my best to Lisa.
Not so fast.
Stay the night.
On such short notice? I couldn't possibly.
What's the problem? It's just one night.
I have lessons to prepare.
I'll call again.
Wait!
Lydia?
Don't look at me.
Stay put and listen.
Remember: You can't leave me.
What does it matter that I'm a duke's daughter and you're a commoner?
If anyone tries to tear us apart,
I'll renounce my house.
Then I'll go abroad with you.
Lydia...
Didn't I tell you not to look at me?
Sorry.
As punishment...
As punishment?
Come see me every day.
Huh?
Ow, ow, ow.
Sorry. I heard you.
I'll come as often as I can.
Unbelievable. The nerve of you...
Sir!
Girls! What are you doing here?
We were worried about you, sir.
Wh-What exactly have you been doing here?!
We were talking, that's all.
T-Talking about wh-what?!
Dear Sister, this isn't fair!
Well...
My. I haven't seen you since that palace ball.
It's been far too long.
I might as well say it.
Congratulations on placing first.
Thank you very much.
It was, um, all thanks to Mr. Allen!
I only made it this far because he came to teach me!
I'll beat you on the next exam.
No you won't!
Oh yes I will!
I'll win!
No, I will!
Anyone can see I'll beat you!
You mean that I'll beat you!
How would you like him to teach you, too, Lynne?
Learn from my dear brother? May I really?
I'll speak to Mother about it.
Teach all three of them at our house.
I won't take no for an answer.
Well...
Wait just one moment.
I don't want to learn with her!
Dear me. Are you afraid I'll outshine you?
Allen!
I've been waiting for you.
Caren?
Sorry, it's been a busy day.
No excuses.
Come with me!
Caren?
I heard about your tutoring job and about what happened with Lydia.
And you've been worried, I see.
Not particularly.
I only think you ought to be more mindful of your sister from now on.
I understand.
Thank you, Caren.
I know I've told you before, but you conducted that ceremony beautifully.
D-Do you think so?
Caren, I'm so sorry!
It's later than I—
My brother, Allen.
Mr. Allen...?
Stella?
Stella, come back to us.
This is my friend Stella.
She looks up to you and Lydia.
I am Stella Howard!
Your illustrious reputation precedes you!
Your sister has done more for me than I can say!
Likewise. I've learned a great deal from Lady Tina.
You dropped this.
Thank you very much!
I'll cut to the chase.
The headmaster asked me to deliver this.
He says he's been called away on urgent business,
and he regrets that he couldn't be here to meet you in person.
I see.
So that's why you were waiting for me.
How dare the headmaster use Caren.
What is he scheming?
Allen, I'd like to ask a favor of you.
I've strengthened campus security, but I'm a busy man.
You see, it concerns Prince Gerard.
He only just gave up on Lydia, and now he's set his sights on Lynne?
He's supposed to be confined to his quarters. What is he planning now?
Is something the matter?
Nothing to worry about.
He wants to hire me as a temporary teacher.
What?!
A temporary teacher?!
This is today's class roster.
Thank you very much.
Allow me to guide you and observe your lessons.
I'm sorry. I know you must be busy,
but Caren says she has a mandatory class at this time.
It's no trouble at all.
I'll be happy to show you around in her place!
Your ribbon matches Tina's, except for the color.
Yes. It's a memento of our mother.
I feel as though I hold my head higher when I wear it.
As heir to the Dukedom of Howard, I must live a life worthy of my name.
Like sister, like sister.
Once they make up their minds, nothing can sway them.
I hope you and your sister can inspire each other to new heights.
Yes, Tina and I have said the same thing in our letters.
Oh, we've been corresponding for ages.
She's told me so many things about you.
You must be great friends.
I won't ask what she said about me.
She often wrote that "Mr. Allen is as mean as they come!"
I certainly don't mean to be.
Permit me to take my dear little sister's word for it.
Huh?
What?!
Who's he?
No idea.
All of you, the lesson is about to begin.
Take your seats.
It's a pleasure to meet you.
My name is Allen, and I'll be teaching you for a short time.
I'm a graduate of this academy, for what it's worth.
I look forward to our lessons together.
I don't recall seeing anyone so young listed among the instructors.
Everyone in this class passed the entrance exam with honors.
Can a substitute teach us anything new?
Mind your manners!
Tina.
Now, let's begin.
We won't be using textbooks. I prefer practical magic.
First, let's review the grades of spell.
Can anyone here explain them for me?
I can!
Please do.
Spells are divided into elementary, intermediate, and advanced grades
based on their power and effects.
The supreme spells passed down in the Four Great Ducal Houses,
including my own House of Leinster, are an exception,
but few ever master them.
Yes, that's correct.
Can anyone here cast an advanced spell?
I can!
Seriously?
I shouldn't be surprised.
Well then, Lynne, please demonstrate.
Yes, sir.
Do you want me to cast it here?
Don't worry. I'll set a barrier.
Very well.
This is an example of advanced magic.
It's so powerful that it risks causing collateral damage, so treat it with care.
Well done, Lynne.
Sir! Me next!
All right, Tina. Be my guest.
What manner of advanced magic will you show us, Miss First Place?
Surely it will leave my second-place effort in its dust.
Is this... ice?
Wh-What is this?
She wants to wow them with a Blizzard Wolf, does she?
Tina, that's enough!
B-But sir!
Honestly, Miss First Place.
Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.
As if you didn't goad me into it.
My. I'm so scared.
All right. Enough of that.
As the top two students in your year,
you stand head and shoulders above your peers.
But with power comes responsibility.
You must never forget that fact.
Yes, sir.
Next, we'll look at compound spellcasting.
Give it a try.
You can even do things like this once you get the hang of it.
Why all the fuss? It's only water and fire.
I wonder what he's capable of.
Mr. Allen!
Yes, Patricia? Go ahead.
Are you able to combine light and darkness?
Or would that be too difficult for you?
Let's find out.
Wow.
Would you look at that!
Gorgeous.
It's beautiful...
Lydia pestered me to make that spell to entertain her. I'm glad it came in handy.
What did you think of that?
Study hard, and you'll learn to do as much yourselves.
Mr. Allen, I've read that a skilled sorcerer can conjure creatures of magic.
Can you do that as well?
Yes. Why don't I show you?
These are magical creatures of eight different elements.
Feel free to touch them. They aren't hostile.
It's so cute!
I'd like—
Oh, it's adorable!
How cute!
You'd think they were real.
Excuse me, um, Allen, sir.
I'd like to make some too.
It won't be easy, but we'll give it a try. Your hand.
Y-Yessir.
Thank you.
Let's try it with dark magic.
Deploy the spell.
I'll try.
Now do as I do.
Easy does it.
Try to picture Anko.
Anko...
Next, try doing it all on your own.
Yessir! Thank you so much!
Whoa.
I could never.
Abandon any notions of what you can and can't do.
I once knew someone who couldn't do even elementary magic.
But she never gave up.
She practiced the sword harder than anyone
and became a master of the blade so skilled she could slice through spells.
The key is to keep heart and take action.
A "master of the blade"?
Could he mean the Lady of the Sword?!
He knows Lady Lydia Leinster?!
The Brain of the Lady of the Sword?!
Now, class, take your seats.
Before we finish, does anyone have any questions?
I do.
Mr. Allen, please permit a question from a student not in this class.
Can you—that is, well, are you able to cast a supreme spell?
No.
I likely have the lowest mana capacity of any person here.
Intermediate spells are my limit.
I can construct advanced formulae but can't activate them.
However, I still managed to graduate from the Royal Academy and University.
Both schools look for more than simple mana capacity.
What do they look for, then?
In my opinion, the perseverance to keep applying oneself,
without sloth, conceit, or concern for the opinions of others.
Stop telling yourselves that you "could never" and keep attempting new challenges.
That concludes our lesson.
Sir!
Aren't you the partner of the Lady of the Sword?!
Please, tell us more about her!
Teaching all three of them here was a good idea. I ought to thank Lydia.
It will make it easier to guard Lynne.
I've brought tea for every—
Whoa there!
Are you all right?
Y-Yessir.
Thank goodness.
Oh no! I know this feeling!
And what do you think you're doing?
Well, you see...
It looks like I need to beat better sense into my servant.
Wait! It was just an accident!
No excuses.
J-Just hear me—
Forget I said anything!