Published: September 6, 2025
There were two explosions near the spectator stands and one inside the arena where the students had gathered. Though all were far from Ehrenfest, the sound was so loud that I instinctively turned around. I saw pillars of fire rising where I looked back.
“...Kyaaaahhh!”
After a moment of silence, loud screams erupted from all around. The guard knights surrounding me immediately raised their shields, shouting “Gettilt!” They took defensive stances to protect me, a lord candidate. The students nearby, startled, began to raise their own shields to protect themselves, and the knight apprentices sprang into action to defend the lord candidate.
While protected by the shields of three guard knights, I summoned Shutzelia’s Shield.
“Goddess of wind Shutzelia, who governs protection, and the twelve retainers who serve by your side—”
Before I could finish my prayer, a loud explosion erupted nearby, and despite their shields, some civil official apprentices and attendant apprentices who had not undergone Ehrenfest’s combat training were thrown back as if repelled.
“Danger!”
Just as I looked up and reached out instinctively, a sharp voice scolded me.
“Do not move, Lady Rosemine! You are the one in danger!”
Startled by Leonore’s stern voice, I retracted my reaching hand. Meanwhile, explosions erupted here and there within the arena. But this time no flames rose, only loud noises echoed sporadically. Still, the effect was enough to cause growing screams and confusion among the students gathered in the arena.
“Your safety is our top priority, Lady Rosemine. Lord Bonifatius himself ordered it,” said Judith with a serious expression as she glanced around. The guard knights are here to protect the lord family. Civil officials and attendants come second.
...Calm down. Safety first. Healing comes afterward.
Closing my eyes to avoid seeing the injured, I offered my prayer.
“Goddess of wind Shutzelia, who governs protection, and the twelve retainers who serve by your side, hear my prayer. Grant me your sacred power. Let no harm come near. Wind shield, form in my hands.”
With a sharp, metallic sound, a translucent, yellow hemispherical shield formed. It was large enough to cover the designated area of Ehrenfest, though a few students standing near the edges were outside its range.
“Can everyone in Ehrenfest fit inside? Prioritize civil official apprentices and attendant apprentices who lack combat ability. First-years who can’t yet summon their own shields must be protected first.”
At my command, senior knight apprentices who were not close aides stepped outside the shield, making space for the first-years to enter. Brother Cornelius and the close aides around me looked up at Shutzelia’s Shield as if seeing something strange.
“Lady Rosemine, what is this...?”
“This is Shutzelia’s Shield. It’s like a slightly bigger Gettilt.”
“It’s not just ‘slightly,’ big sister,” Charlotte said, exhaling deeply and shaking her head as she compared the Gettilt and Shutzelia’s Shield held by the knight apprentices.
“Those who harbor ill intent toward me cannot enter this shield, so it is safe. Also, for those who were injured earlier because Shutzelia’s Shield wasn’t ready, please come within my range. I will heal you.”
“The injuries are minor—just scrapes and bruises,” some of the injured said, worried about wasting mana, but I shook my head.
“In situations like this, we never know when quick action will be needed. It’s better to be in perfect condition. Are the knight apprentices who participated in Ditter fully recovered? Use healing potions while there’s still time. We don’t know what might happen next.”
“Thank you very much, Lady Rosemine.”
Having summoned Shutzelia’s Shield and healed the injured, the safety of Ehrenfest was assured for the moment. Looking around after securing our own safety, I realized the territories were divided into those in chaos and those immediately bracing for defense.