Extra Story: Alyssa and Cicely

I was told that my name, Cicely, was taken from a woman who appears in the scriptures of the Divine Grant Religion.

That woman was a female knight who followed the Saint, traveling across the continent alongside her to save people suffering from hunger and injury.

My parents, both devout believers, likely chose that name in the hope that I would grow into such a strong and kind woman. I’m certain that when I was born, they never could have imagined I would actually become a Holy Knight and be chosen as an attendant to the Saint herself.

I was born and raised in a small village near the Holy City of the Divine Grant Religion, located in the southern part of the kingdom.

The fourth of seven children in a farming family, I was dragged along by my older brothers nearly every day, playing at being a knight with wooden sticks for swords.

Apparently, I had a talent for the blade.

Before I knew it, I had become stronger than any of my siblings in our pretend games. Eventually, unable to beat me, they grew bored of playing knight and moved on to other games.

I, however, continued to swing my sword alone in silence.

It wasn't that I had some grand goal or noble ambition. I simply harbored a vague longing for the world outside the village.

If I want to leave this place, I have to be strong. Even as a child, that much I understood.

The years passed, and on my fifteenth birthday, by some twist of fate, I was granted the 《Swordsmanship》 skill by the heavens.

My parents thanked God, believing He had been watching over me as I honed my skills since childhood.

As for me… I felt a bit conflicted.

It felt as though all the effort I’d put into swinging my sword to become strong had suddenly been rendered meaningless.

From that day on, I stopped swinging my sword and devoted myself to my studies. Since the 《Swordsmanship》 skill is highly useful for warfare, it was decided that I would take the entrance exam for the Royal Academy the following year.

The entrance exam consists of two parts: a practical exam to demonstrate the utility of one’s skill, and a written exam to ensure the candidate possesses sufficient academic ability for the academy.

The priest at the village church told me that with a skill like 《Swordsmanship》, I would likely pass unless something catastrophic happened, but I didn't want to leave anything to chance.

I didn't want to lose my only opportunity to see the world beyond the village.

Up until then, my only interest had been the sword, and I had almost no exposure to academics.

Thanks to my parents’ influence, I had read the scriptures since I was young, so I could read and write simple characters, but that was the extent of it.

I was nervous about my lack of knowledge, but as I asked the village priest to teach me calculation and history bit by bit, I realized that studying was actually quite interesting.

It seems I’m the type of person who gets easily absorbed in a single task, so studying wasn't a burden at all.

Then came the day of the Royal Academy’s entrance exam.

I ended up enrolling at the academy with the top scores in both the practical and written portions.

Apparently, it was an unprecedented feat for a commoner to pass as the valedictorian in the history of the Royal Academy.

I watched the frantic reactions of those around me with a sense of detachment, as if it were someone else’s success entirely.

The life that followed at the Royal Academy was not a comfortable one for me.

To put it bluntly, having been raised in a farming village, I wasn't accustomed to socializing with the nobility.

Right from the start, I found myself isolated in class. The nobles targeted me, and the other commoner students kept their distance. Even the teachers at the academy seemed to find my presence tiresome.

Then, one day...

When I returned to the classroom after using the restroom, not a single person was there. Apparently, a room change had been decided while I was away. I had been left behind without anyone informing me.

I considered searching the entire school to rejoin the class… but then I decided against it.

They’d only laugh at me anyway.

I looked out the window to see a beautiful, clear blue sky.

Feeling rebellious, I decided I might as well skip class altogether and headed outside the school building.

Listening to the bell chime the start of the period, I walked aimlessly away from the classrooms. I kept going toward a secluded area until I eventually stumbled upon an open clearing behind the faculty dorms.

There was someone already there.

“Oh? Class started a while ago, y'know. You skipping? What a bad girl, I guess. Hehe!”

Laughing at me while completely ignoring her own situation was a female student with purple hair tied back on the left side of her head.

The color of her necktie told me she was a senior, one grade above me.

I let out a sigh and turned on my heel. I wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone… or so I thought.

“Hey, Junior!”

“What is it—gah?!”

The moment I turned around at her call, a wooden sword was flying straight toward my face.

I scrambled to catch it, and the purple-haired senior offered a smile. “Nice catch!”

“What do you think you’re doing, throwing a wooden sword at someone out of the blue?! What if I’d been hurt?!”

“Don't be so dramatic. You’re not gonna get hurt by that. Besides, you’re this year’s valedictorian, aren't you? It was a huge deal even in my grade—a commoner taking the top spot at the Royal Academy.”

“...And what of it?”

“I figure meeting here is fate or something. How about a quick match?”

With that, the purple-haired senior took a stance against me. Her movements were more refined than any student I’d faced at the academy. My 《Swordsmanship》 skill told me instantly that she was no amateur.

Still, she was no match for me. Between the years I’d spent swinging a wooden sword and the blessing of my 《Swordsmanship》 skill, I doubted there was anyone at the Royal Academy who could beat me.

The boys from noble families usually learned some swordsmanship before enrolling, but it was nothing more than a hobby for them. In fact, none of my classmates—male or female—had been able to last a minute against me in our practical lessons.

“Fine.”

I figured this senior would be the same as my classmates. While I felt it was a waste of time, I decided to take her up on the offer. To be honest, I just wanted to vent some frustration.

“Come at me whenever you’re ready.”

“All right then, I’m coming in hot!”

The purple-haired senior charged straight at me with honest aggression. I let out a sigh, preparing to parry her casually—

—And the next thing I knew, I was sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.

I couldn't understand it. I had swung a wooden sword every day since I was a child, and more importantly, I had the blessing of the 《Swordsmanship》 skill. And yet, my sword hadn't even touched her.

I could tell she hadn't used a skill. If she had, my own skill would have picked up on it. This was nothing more than a pure, overwhelming difference in raw ability.

“A-again! Please, one more time!”

“Eh? Again? That was the third time already, y'know.”

The purple-haired senior sighed, looking half-exasperated as I scrambled back up for a rematch.

Being the type of person who gets obsessed with things, I had become completely fixated on beating her.

She mumbled, “I guess I have no choice,” and started to take her stance again, but just then, the bell signaling the end of the period echoed from the distance.

Hearing it, she relaxed her posture. “That’s it for today.”

“Don't look at me like a puppy that’s been kicked to the curb.”

“Who’s a puppy?!” I snapped.

Even as I said it, I knew I was sulking.

I hadn't won a single time, but the time I’d spent crossing swords with her was the most fun and meaningful time I’d had since entering the academy—perhaps even in my entire life.

I found myself wishing that moment could last forever.

“Hmm. Well, how about we meet here every morning? I can't keep skipping class every time, y'know.”

“Eh…? You mean it?”

“Of course. I don't see any reason to say no. Looking forward to it, Miss Valedictorian.”

“I-it’s Cicely! Purple-haired senior!”

“And I’m Alyssa Swift, I guess.”

That was how I met Alyssa-senpai.

From that day on, I started spending more and more time with her.

Morning training wasn't enough; I’d rush out of the classroom during lunch breaks and even short breaks between classes to find her. Looking back, I realize how much of a nuisance I must have been, but Alyssa-senpai always accepted me, even if she looked a bit tired of my antics.

My classmates found my behavior suspicious, but since I only had eyes for Alyssa-senpai, I didn't care. I’d always known I was a bit thick-skinned, but Alyssa-senpai’s influence likely made it even worse.

“Cicely, you’re the second strongest person in this school after me. You should act like you own the place,” she’d say.

Taking her casual advice to heart, I stopped worrying about others entirely.

I crushed my opponents in swordsmanship class, used "physical persuasion" to keep my class in line during competitions, and led the first-years to the finals.

We lost the final match by a hair to Alyssa-senpai’s class, but by then, not a single student dared to mess with me. Whenever I spoke to someone, they would respond with twitching faces and stiff smiles. I felt like I might have taken a decisively wrong turn somewhere, but oh well.

At the time, I truly believed that as long as I had Alyssa-senpai, that was enough.

Looking back, it was probably just the arrogance of youth.

I took advantage of her kindness and leaned on her far too much.

“Looking at you, Cicely, reminds me of the dog we used to have back home,” she once told me.

“Thank you, Senpai. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Well, if you’re happy with that, I won’t argue, I guess.”

Despite such exchanges, the two of us pushed each other to new heights through our morning training.

Each time we sparred, my sword became sharper.

I couldn't match her in speed or technique. So, I decided to master the sheer power of a single strike.

The style I developed would serve me well after graduation, but I never once managed to beat Alyssa-senpai in a duel.

That was how refined her swordsmanship was. Countless hours of repeating forms. Certain techniques backed by immense effort, and a free-spirited, unpredictable style born from her own creativity.

Even with the 《Swordsmanship》 skill, I couldn't catch up.

If anything, it was because I had the skill that I could truly feel the gap between us.

Even as a second-year at the academy, her sword had reached a height that no skill could ever touch.

“Why are you trying so hard to master the sword…?” I asked her one morning after training. I was lying on the ground, gasping for air, while she had already started her practice swings as if nothing had happened.

She looked back and gave me a grin.

“Isn't it obvious? I want to be strong.”

“Y-you plan on getting even stronger?!”

“Of course. I have to be a lot stronger if I want to be his right hand.”

“...His?”

Alyssa-senpai resumed her swings with a clear, focused gaze.

This person she was working so hard for—the person whose right hand she wanted to be.

The question of who it was died in my throat.

For some reason, at that moment, I was terrified to know who it was that made her so serious.

◇

Time passed, and a year and a half had flown by since I met Alyssa-senpai.

As a third-year, she received a scout from the Kingdom Knights—an elite force made up of the most skilled swordsmen in the country—and made an unprecedented early enlistment while still a student.

“Congratulations on joining the Kingdom Knights, Alyssa-senpai!”

“Thanks, Cicely.”

We held a private celebration in her room. I’d spent all the money my parents had sent me to buy a whole cake—her favorite—and lined it with candles.

She’d chuckled and said, “It's not my birthday, y'know,” but as usual, she accepted it with a gentle smile.

“It’s truly incredible, Senpai. The Kingdom Knights are an elite group that only the most talented swordsmen can join. To be the youngest, a woman, and to join without any sword-related skills? It's amazing!”

“Heh, I guess I am pretty great!”

She nodded happily, sipping a glass of wine.

I took a sip of my own and was surprised by how good it tasted. Although I’d become an adult at fifteen and was allowed to drink, I’d never had any interest in alcohol.

The expensive wine I’d bought to go with the cake had a sophisticated aroma and a faint acidity that gave way to a gentle sweetness on the tongue. It paired perfectly with the cake. Before I knew it, my glass was empty as soon as I filled it.

“Finally, your strength is being recognized! I’m so proud, it's like it happened to me! Go on, Reese Kingdom’s number one genius beauty swordsman!”

“You’re drinking too much, Cicely…”

“I’m f-fine! Perfectly fine! You should drink more too, Senpai! It’s a day of celebration!”

“Yeah, yeah, I guess…”

While she sipped her wine, I kept refilling my glass to the brim and gulping it down like an idiot.

My memories from that point on are incredibly hazy.

“Seriously, I told you you were drinking too much. Come on, you’ll catch a cold if you sleep here.”

“Senpaaaaai, hold meeeee.”

“You really are a handful, I guess…”

I remember her carrying me to the bed.

“Senpai, kissy.”

And I think I remember dragging her onto the bed and stealing a kiss from her lips.

I mean, I was really drunk! It was just a momentary impulse!

Beyond that, I have no memory. When I woke up, it was morning. I was alone in the bed. She was nowhere to be found, so I checked the clock and rushed to the clearing behind the faculty dorms.

There she was, swinging her wooden sword in silence as always. When she noticed me, she turned around with her usual smile.

“You’re late, Cicely.”

“S-sorry, Senpai! Um, about last night… I think I might have been incredibly rude to you…”

“Not really. You didn't do anything you need to apologize for.”

“R-really?”

I let out a sigh of relief. Maybe the memory of me drunkenly clinging to her and kissing her had just been a dream. That would be its own problem, but if it was a dream, it was fine!

But then, she pointed a finger at me. “But!”

“Y-yes?”

“You have to make one promise to me.”

“A promise…?”

“Never drink alcohol with anyone but me. Got it?”

“Y-yes…!”

She poked my lips with her finger and said, “It's a promise, y'know,” with a smile before returning to her swings.

Her movements were as refined as ever. As I watched her back, I noticed that the nape of her neck was slightly redder than usual.

The sensation of her finger stayed on my lips.

It really was a dream… right? I didn't have the courage to ask.

◇

Spring came, and Senpai graduated from the Royal Academy to join the Kingdom Knights.

…That said, the training grounds for the knights were less than thirty minutes by carriage from the academy.

Even after graduating, she visited frequently and told me stories about life in the knights.

How it was a bunch of smelly guys, how she’d taken down bandits here or there, how the Vice Commander was a total slob, but his 《Sword Master》 skill was the real deal, and how he could actually be pretty cool and reliable sometimes…

Gradually, her stories became centered on the Vice Commander of the Kingdom Knights, Roan Ashblade—reputed to be the strongest swordsman in the kingdom. I listened to her talk as I spent my remaining days at the academy.

Life at the academy without Alyssa-senpai.

I’d been worried at first, but after two years, I’d managed to build some social circles.

I just hadn't noticed because I was always with her, but there were plenty of juniors who looked up to me and roommates and classmates who called me a friend.

Since she visited so often out of concern, my third year at the academy was a peaceful and fun time.

As a third-year, however, I had to think about my future path.

The choices had already been narrowed down to two: the Kingdom Knights or the Holy Knights of the Divine Grant Religion.

While I wasn't on Alyssa-senpai’s level, I had achieved excellent results in tournaments both in and out of the academy, so I had been approached by several organizations.

Those two were the most persistent.

“Cicely, you absolutely have to join the Kingdom Knights!”

Alyssa-senpai was my biggest advocate. Apparently, she’d even introduced me to the 《Sword Master》 himself, and under her pressure, they’d offered me a spot.

As for the Holy Knights, I had recommendations from the priest in my home village and the Great Cathedral in the capital. While I had no direct connection to the cathedral, they reportedly approached any student rumored to be skilled with a blade, so the offer was expected.

My parents, being devout believers, probably wanted me to join the Holy Knights. But my heart leaned toward the Kingdom Knights, mostly because Alyssa-senpai was there.

Yet, something held me back from making a final decision.

Then, one day...

“Well, you should at least come for a visit, then.”

Perhaps she’d grown impatient with my indecisiveness.

Alyssa-senpai invited me to the Kingdom Knights’ training grounds.

I figured a simple visit couldn't hurt, so I followed her, only to be forced to participate in their notoriously grueling training from dawn to dusk. It was a nightmare.

Thanks to the two years of training with her, I had the stamina and grit to survive, earning high praise from the other knights. “As expected of Alyssa’s junior!” they’d shouted.

The knights, whom I’d imagined to be intimidating, were all friendly and welcomed me warmly. Some even shook my hand, telling me they looked forward to working with me. I was starting to think I really would join them after graduation… but then.

“Whoa, did you seriously make a student do the full routine?! You’re a monster…”

“Oh, shut up. Cicely can handle it. She’s my junior, after all!”

“Don't compare her to a muscle-brained freak like you. Poor girl.”

The one talking so familiarly with Alyssa-senpai was a lean, middle-aged man with messy hair and a stubbly beard.

Ah. So this is him.

The Vice Commander of the Kingdom Knights. The strongest swordsman in the kingdom, possessor of the 《Sword Master》 skill—Roan Ashblade.

The person Alyssa-senpai had worked so hard to be the right hand for.

“Ah, you’re Cicely, right? Sorry about Alyssa acting up while I was out. I know you’ve been dealing with her since your student days, but the full knight routine must have been rough. You’re not hurt, are you?”

“N-no. I’m fine.”

“Hey, Master! Why are you acting all nice to Cicely?! You treat me totally differently, y'know?!”

“I’m not acting nice, and I told you to stop calling me Master! Besides, there’s no way I’m gonna treat a lovely young lady like her the same as a crude brat like you!”

“Haaaaaaaah?! Who are you calling crude, you old bearded geezer?!”

“Who are you calling a geezer, you damn subordinate?!”

Alyssa-senpai and Roan started a full-blown scuffle. The other knights just watched with weary expressions, muttering things like, “Here they go again,” or “Take your lovers’ spat elsewhere.”

A lovers’ spat…

If I joined the Kingdom Knights, this would be my everyday life.

Watching Alyssa-senpai—a version of her I didn't know—bickering so affectionately with someone who wasn't me.

Watching that every day would be… painful.

“Um, excuse me. I’m going home now.”

I bowed, turned on my heel, and left the training grounds.

Alyssa-senpai offered to walk me back, but I politely declined.

I walked back to the Royal Academy alone.

Before I knew it, tears were streaming down my face. It was then that I decided my future would be with the Holy Knights.

◇

Alyssa-senpai grumbled and complained, but my mind was set until graduation.

“Fine! I don't care about you anymore, Cicely!”

She puffed out her cheeks in a pout and stomped away.

But she’d taken time out of her busy schedule to attend my graduation. Deep down, she was a kind person.

She probably acted like the villain on purpose so I wouldn't feel guilty for choosing a different path.

…Though, there’s a good chance she was actually being serious.

From there, I became a Holy Knight, and thanks to my training with her, I rose through the ranks quickly.

That said, the reason I was chosen as the bodyguard for the Saint after only three years was mostly because I was the same gender and around the same age as the newly appointed Saint.

Still, it was a great honor. When I returned home to report it, my parents wept with joy.

My relationship with the new Saint, Rosalie-sama, was also good.

With her friendly personality, she looked up to me like an older sister, and I grew fond of her too—seeing her not as a Saint, but as a girl who was like a clumsy younger sister.

I hadn't seen Alyssa-senpai once since my graduation. I figured my new life would continue, and I’d eventually forget about her.

…Or so I thought.

“Heh, I never would have thought I’d be colleagues with you as a teacher at the Royal Academy, y'know.”

In Alyssa-senpai’s private room in the faculty dorms, she sat across the table, swirling a glass of wine with the same smile she’d had during our student days.

“I am only an assistant teacher, as my primary duty is to guard Rosalie-sama…”

“Details, details. More importantly, have you kept your promise?”

“Yes, I have. I haven't even had the chance to drink.”

The Holy Knights practiced frugality. Lavish meals and alcohol were forbidden. This might actually be the first time I’d tasted wine since that incident with her.

Remembering my past mistake, I sipped the wine slowly.

The familiar taste spread through my mouth, threatening to stir up the memories and emotions of my student years.

“Good. You become a total clingy mess when you’re drunk, Cicely. A guy would be head-over-heels for you in a second. You’re dangerous, y'know.”

“Honestly! Forget about those days already! I’m not the same person I was back then!”

The girl who did nothing but lean on her was gone.

I’d graduated from the academy, and I’d graduated from her. I was standing on my own two feet now.

“Well, that’s a little lonely to hear, I guess…”

“Eh…?”

She muttered it under her breath, resting her chin on her hand. Her eyes were glazed over from the wine; perhaps she didn't even realize she’d said it.

Senpai… feels lonely?

The shock of hearing that, combined with the wine, caused the emotions I’d buried deep inside to come flooding back all at once.

“You really are unfair, Senpai.”

Having lost my restraint, I drank far more than I should have and lost consciousness.

The next morning, I woke up in her bed. She was nowhere in the room.

From outside the window, I could hear the nostalgic sound of a wooden sword cutting through the air.