Catalyst of Enigma

"Apologies, young master, but I cannot", the maid said softly, bowing her head slightly, the tips of her hair brushing against Aizer's chest. 

Hearing this, Aizer felt a pang of disappointment, though it didn't linger.

[She said she couldn't teach me. That doesn't mean someone else can't.] 

"Why not?" he asked, tilting his head, his brows furrowed in puzzlement. 

"Well, young master", she began hesitantly, "for one, we don't yet know what element you possess. And secondly… how could a lowly maid like myself presume to teach you?" 

[Lowly maid?] Aizer's thoughts churned as he released her shoulders and stepped back.

[Didn't headmaids in those novels I read have the authority to teach? Or was that just the nannies? Or… wait, maybe it was the tutors.] 

Shaking off his wandering thoughts, he asked, "Alright, if you can't teach me, then who can?" 

"That would be the instructors at the academy, specialised tutors, or even others who share your element. Of course, what you learn depends on their expertise and how well they understand their power." 

[So those are my options, huh…] 

Aizer crossed his arms, pondering as he studied the head maid's face.

[First things first: I'll need to find out what my element is.] 

"Is something wrong, young master?" she asked, noticing his silence. 

"No, just thinking", Aizer replied.

After a moment, he asked the question that had been swirling in his mind. "Where do I go to get my element tested?" 

"That can be done at the academy or by purchasing a volme", the maid explained. 

"A volme? What's that?" 

"It's a device used to detect an individual's elemental affinity." 

"And this volme, along with tutors and any necessary equipment, can all be found at the academy, correct?" 

"Correct, young master." 

[So, to learn magic, I need to get my element tested using a volme. And the academy is where it all happens.] 

Aizer frowned, his thoughts growing heavier. 

[Wait… doesn't this mean I'll have to go back to school? Ugh. I just got here, and I was planning to live a carefree life.] 

He began pacing back and forth in the hallway, his steps echoing faintly against the polished floors as the three staff members exchanged confused glances. 

[Tsk. Guess I don't have a choice. Who from my world would pass up the chance to learn magic?] 

He stopped abruptly, his eyes bright with newfound resolve. "Alright, I've decided—I want to go to the academy." 

"Young master, you cannot", the head maid interjected immediately. 

"What? Why not?" Aizer demanded, his frustration evident. 

"You've only just woken up, young master. You'll need a thorough check-up first", she explained calmly. "Judging by your behaviour, it seems you've experienced some memory loss during your coma. I'd like Mary here to escort you back to your room to rest." 

Although he felt like arguing, Aizer bit back his retort. [I don't know enough about this world yet. It's better to play along for now.] 

Silently, he nodded and followed Mary as she gestured for him to return to his chambers. 

As the two disappeared down the hallway, the head maid sighed heavily, turning on her heel to walk in the opposite direction, the butler following at her side. 

"Well, Delara", the butler began, his voice tinged with amusement, "are you going to report this, or should I?" 

"Damn it, why the hell should we?" Delara snapped, her tone sharp as she glared ahead. "There are spies crawling all over this damned estate, and they still expect us to deliver news? I bet you all my wages that by the time I leave this mansion the Empress and all those royal brats will have already been informed of this freak's awakening!" 

"I guess that means you're doing it", the butler said with a smirk, quickening his pace. 

"Damn it, Ron, are you even listening to me?" Delara spat, her frustration boiling over. 

"Of course I am", Ron replied dryly, casting her a sideways glance. 

"But honestly, I still can't figure out how someone like you became headmaid. You don't exactly scream proper or respectable." 

"Tch! It's not like I took this job willingly", Delara shot back, her hands balling into fists. "The real head maid's bedridden, so I'm just filling in." 

"Well, whatever the case", Ron said with mock indifference, "you'd better pull yourself together. You're going to be reporting this to the royal butler, after all." 

"Bastard", Delara muttered under her breath, glaring daggers at his retreating back.

[Damn bastard thinks he's better than me just because he wags his tail for the fifth prince.] 

With a final curse, Delara walked off, her steps heavy with simmering resentment.