18. Searching for Humans
Several days after starting her new school life, Emma was relaxing in the Luminous College common room, petting the Claw Cat on her lap.
"Emma, that Claw Cat seems really attached to you, but you haven't cast any magic on it, right?"
His name was Finn Harper. He was friendly and had a bright personality, getting along easily with everyone.
"Yeah, I like magic, and I'm happy he is friendly with me, but forcing a bond with magic just feels... wrong to me..."
"You're an interesting one! But be careful, okay?"
"Thanks, but I think I'll be fine."
"No, no."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Finn, with his usual light smile, lowered his voice so others couldn't hear.
"There's a rumor going around lately that some students who resent having a human on campus are hunting for humans and attacking other students, you know? If you do things without magic, you might get suspected of being human. Well, I guess you'd probably be fine even if you were attacked, Emma!"
"Be careful" Finn said before leaving. Emma felt uneasy at his words but didn't stop petting the Claw Cat.
Emma returned to her room with the Claw Cat, deciding to prepare for her classes. The Claw Cat curled up on the bed, while Vira, the dog-shaped magical spirit, floated and darted around Emma as she read her book.
Suddenly, Louis appeared.
"How's school life treating you?"
"Louis! Yeah, I'm doing my best! Oh, let me introduce you. The one on the bed is the Claw Cat, Kuro!"
"...Having a pet is fine, but did you properly cast magic on it?"
"I haven't, but it seems okay."
As Emma replied, Louis's pocket began to glow, and a cat-shaped magical spirit emerged from within. Louis's spirit started darting around Emma along with her own spirit.
"Louis's magical spirit looks like a little cat! So cute! Oh, more importantly, Louis! I'm a 12-year-old lady now, so please knock when you come to my room!"
"Lady? More importantly, there's something I need to talk about."
Louis's expression suddenly turned serious.
"It seems you've become a topic of rumor on campus lately. That 'there's a human within the school'. I'm not particularly worried, but if anything happens, use Vira to contact me immediately."
"I'll be careful. Thank you."
Just then, from the hallway, a voice called out, "Emmaaa! Are you there? I'm coming in" and her classmate, Sophia, appeared.
"Oh? Am I interrupting? I'll come back later."
Sophia glanced briefly at Louis but left without saying anything else. In that instant, a faint tension ran through Emma's chest.
"Did Sophia hear us...?"
"If she's your friend, it shouldn't matter if she heard. But don't let your guard down."
Emma nodded, holding an unspoken anxiety within her heart.
