Sincerely, Vanessa [EN]: Chapter 2

To the Teacher, From Vanessa (2/146)

February 9th, Edirne Calendar Year 1309

To the Teacher,

Am I sending letters too often? I hope you’re not getting bored.

I told you, didn’t I! There were days when I wrote in my diary three times a day.

It’s already been a week, so can I officially call myself a student of Bamberg now?

The professors have opened up basic classes for mid-term admissions.

As you know, I’m the only junior who joined mid-term, so I can’t slack off and have to sit in the front row during classes.

“Student Vanessa, what did I say were the three elements of magic yesterday?”

Then I stammer and mumble something.

It’s a bit tough trying to handle three subjects a day and over 50 pages of reading, but it’s fun. It feels so good when I actually understand something and can answer questions!

Teacher, Bamberg Academy is truly a wondrous place.

Like the hidden meaning in its name [Bamberg’s name likely alludes to its location in a mountainous region], a huge mountain surrounds it. In the deep lake on the left, they say fierce mermaids live. I tried hard to look, but all I saw was my own reflection.

The academy is as beautiful as a sparkling jewel when the sunlight shines, and sometimes when fog rolls in, it’s as dreamy as a castle where a prince once lived.

I somehow liked the foggy Bamberg more than the shining Bamberg.

And that’s not all. Countless spires and huge walls. The bricks that show the passage of time have a strange color.

The golden decorations adorning the spires and roofs are so elegant. And the numerous windows decorating them are so huge and plentiful that there’s no space without light.

The place I’ve been going to most often these days is the hidden space at the very top of the clock tower. Behind the huge clock facing outwards, intricate gears mesh together and turn.

Seeing them meshing without a single squeak makes me feel at peace. If only everything could run so smoothly!

A senior in her fifth year, who doesn’t go home even during vacation, showed me around the school. Her name is Alisa Bolton.

I’ve written down the conversation from that time as I remember it. It might not be accurate, but I hope my memory serves me well.

“There are hardly any juniors who join mid-term. How did you get in?”

“I don’t really know. I submitted my application and took the exam, and they said I had to enter the third year.”

“Hmm, there must be a reason. The professors don’t make mistakes. How old are you?”

“I’m 18 years old.”

“I see. You’re already an adult. I’m 19, and I joined relatively late too. Don’t worry. I was also a sophomore who joined mid-term. It wasn’t hard to adjust. Because….”

And she just stared at the distant mountains and swallowed the rest of her words. What was it? Do you know, Teacher?

Soon after, the classrooms that the senior showed me were all beautiful.

Not just uniform appearances, but in one classroom, there were models of airships and trains hanging from the ceiling, and they floated and moved in the air!

(This is the magical engineering classroom. It’s the worst, according to Senior Alisa.)

One classroom had a huge window that opened on one side, and in front of it, there was nothing but a few trees and a desolate landscape.

(This is where they teach swordsmanship and destructive magic to deal with monsters. It’s the worst.)

Next was the library. Oh my goodness, it was more beautiful than any place I’ve ever seen.

White stairs spiraling upwards, books filling every bookshelf, ladders hanging, and a huge desk worn smooth with age.

The chairs covered in red cloth looked invitingly soft.

(It might look beautiful now, but if you spend enough time here during exam periods, you’ll feel like throwing up just looking at it. It’s the worst. You know who said it, right?)

I always borrowed books from the local library, but someone’s graffiti or, um, dirty… stuff had dirtied the books.

I like graffiti. It feels like looking into someone’s thoughts. But everyone hates dirty marks, right?

The library here at the academy is different. Each book has a beautiful gold-leafed leather binding. Because of that, the librarian is watching everyone like a hawk.

Senior Alisa grabbed me, who couldn’t take my eyes off the library, and we returned to the dormitory.

I’m still alone in my room. Because of that, I study hard without any distractions, trying to ignore the bed that’s tempting me from behind.

What if I really fail?

After sending this letter, I absolutely will not lie down on the bed and will finish the rest of my assignments.

Wishing you good health,

Vanessa Rose, who is suffering from memorizing the proofs of each and every mathematical formula.

p.s. Is the letter too long? Are there too many digressions? If so, please tell me, I’ll shorten my words a bit.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

“Is the letter too long? …I’ll shorten my words a bit.”

The man smiled briefly.

The large hand that had put down the letter hesitated for a moment, unsure what to do.

Only after darkness had completely fallen outside the window did he pick up his pen.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

For Vanessa, who felt behind in her studies, a month before the start of the semester was never long enough. Rather, it felt terribly insufficient.

Vanessa had enough of being labeled an orphan, and she didn’t want to be considered stupid too. So she did her best in the supplementary classes that started the very next day.

The professors, who had only met her for two weeks but whose affection for their student was stronger than anyone else’s, seemed determined to alleviate Vanessa’s worries.

Right away, with a huge amount of classwork!

“I trust you all remember what we learned yesterday.”

Vanessa, sitting alone in the middle of the first row, wore an ambiguous expression. It’s not like there was only one or two things they learned yesterday.

But Professor Guido pretended not to notice and continued speaking.

“Today, let’s talk briefly about magical creatures.”

Professor Guido leisurely began writing on the board.

“According to the definition in the Priva National Dictionary [a fictional dictionary within the story’s world], magical creatures include various creatures such as monsters and fairies. Any creature with magical elements is collectively referred to as a magical creature. However, then it’s questionable. How do we define a monster?”

Vanessa tried to look as attentive as possible, but Professor Guido had no mercy.

“Why are you opening your eyes like that? Answer with your mouth instead of your eyes.”

“…Isn’t it judged by whether it harms people or not?”

Professor Guido wrote down Vanessa’s answer and then circled it largely above.

“That’s right. It’s an extremely human-centric definition, so there are many cases where something is not a monster and then becomes a monster at will. Recently, there are especially many things being reclassified as monsters.”

Professor Guido quickly rattled on, but he also asked Vanessa for her opinion. Because of that, Vanessa had no time to lose focus.

Learning about monsters and fairies that she had only seen in books was fun, but as she went into the detailed classifications, her interest quickly waned.

She learned for the first time that the angle of the fairies’ wings was so important for classification, but she doubted whether she would be able to recognize it even if she actually saw one.

Professor Guido’s class was still better, but when it was time for Professor Bombalow, who was in charge of math class, Vanessa felt as tired as if she had been beaten.

“How are you going to take my

She was practically beaten with the amount of homework.

By the time all the classes were over, it was already past 4 PM. A lonely Vanessa hugged a pile of books and trudged back to the dormitory.

Today, the math homework that Professor Bombalow gave her would probably be enough to fill the rest of the day. However, there were too many things she didn’t know, so she would have to find reference materials in the library.

She turned the slightly peeled golden key several times and opened the door to the dormitory. Things that were surprisingly beautiful at first were now just desks and beds.

“I want to lie down….”

But it was obvious that she would never get up if she lay down.

Vanessa sighed deeply, quickly organized her books, and was preparing to go to the library when she felt a sense of something being off. Even though it was always the same room.

Vanessa tilted her head, wondering what the problem was. And then her eyes widened.

A letter had fallen in front of Honir, which had a beautiful porcelain-like curve [Honir is likely a decorative object or statue].

Vanessa rubbed her eyes twice. Could it be a dream? But no matter how much she rubbed, the letter in front of her was still there.

Vanessa carefully picked up the letter.

A beautiful milky envelope and a red wax seal. On it, in slanted and decorative handwriting, was written “To Miss Vanessa Rose.”

Vanessa both wanted to know and didn’t want to know the contents of this incredibly beautiful letter.

But in the end, she broke the seal and carefully unfolded the letter.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

February 15th, Edirne Calendar Year 1309

To Miss Vanessa Rose.

This is the first time I am sending a reply. Since we are meeting for the first time in a letter, I must first say that I am glad to meet you.

Nice to meet you, Miss Vanessa Rose. As Miss Rose calls me, I will also call myself Teacher, although it is a very undeserved title.

I am enjoying reading your letters. I know you must be busy learning a lot at the academy.

Especially if you are a mid-term admission, it will be very difficult to catch up with the initial progress. If there is anything you need, please tell me anytime.

If you didn’t know, this is the first time I have personally chosen a protégé. It was also very coincidental that I stopped by that small town.

It is even more amazing that I happened to find Miss Rose there, walking as if dancing among the halos of light.

Since you didn’t say what you needed, I am sending several notebooks with beautiful pens and leather bindings.

There are no other conditions for sponsorship, so I hope you will learn and record a lot.

From the Teacher.

p.s. I can’t tell you how excited I get every time a thick envelope is placed inside Honir.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

Vanessa folded the letter and wiped her flushed cheeks.

The first reply she had ever received in her life was so touching that it brought tears to her eyes. And it gave strength to her fingertips.

Like magic.

Vanessa placed the letter under the sunny window. Just looking at it made her feel warm.

Vanessa bravely grabbed her math textbook and pen and headed to the library. The tired feeling was gone without a trace, and her steps were light.

⚜ ⚜ ⚜

For a while, Vanessa fell asleep only after 3 AM, fueled by the Teacher’s reply.

Because of that, her assignments were perfect, and she had no omissions in her review and preparation, so she was praised by the professors to the fullest.

But that strength seemed to have run out now, and she kept dozing off today.

Pinching her thighs had long lost its effect. Vanessa felt her head tilting onto the desk, but she had no strength to resist.

Then, Vanessa woke up with a start at the loud noise.

Something was banging on the door, and the doorknob was rattling.

Surprised, Vanessa carefully got up and grabbed a book thick enough to be used as a weapon next to her. She swallowed hard and waited in front of the door, walking stealthily.

One, two, three!

“Kyaa!”

“Aah!”

The two people screamed, facing each other.

“Wh-what! Who are you!”

“M-my name is Vanessa Rose….”

“You scared me!”

The girl in front of Vanessa sighed deeply, stroking her chest. She was a girl who looked like she was from a noble family, no matter who looked at her.

Her deliberately curled hair was glossy, and every piece of clothing she wore was formal. Not a speck of dirt was on her shoe tips, and they gleamed.

“Good. You’ll be sharing a room with me from now on. I hope you last a little longer.”

The girl smiled brightly and held out her hand.

“I’m Lina Delinaya, a junior. Nice to meet you.”