Frieren: Understand Humans, Aura!

Aura was deep in thought, her purple eyes flashing with a dangerous gleam beneath the brim of her hat.

Demons are inherently treacherous and cunning. In just ten seconds, Aura's mind had already flashed through a complete method of kidnapping, interrogating, and destroying the body.

The young mage with the cute mushroom hat, who was being watched by Aura, suddenly shivered and looked around, feeling a vague sense of dread.

And Aura herself also suddenly shivered.

"Aura, what are you looking at?"

The tall mage leaned over from behind, her chin resting lazily on Aura's shoulder. A stray lock of orange hair tickled her cheek, and their eyes met at an unsettlingly close distance. Flamme's green eyes studied her with quiet amusement, her expression warm and familiar. There was no suspicion, no hidden threat—only the easy confidence of someone who saw Aura as a cherished friend and an invaluable mentor, someone she could trust without question.

Aura swallowed hard, trying to suppress the instinctual terror creeping up her spine.

"I... I... I..."

Caught in Flamme's grip, Aura's entire body tensed. She ducked her head, trembling, and before she could stop herself, her eyes burned with unshed tears. One slid down her cheek. A shameful display.

"Are you looking for your seat?" Flamme asked, her voice laced with knowing amusement.

"Yes, yes, I'm looking for my seat!" Aura answered too quickly, nodding frantically.

"The back is full," Flamme mused, scanning the rows of occupied chairs. "Today's lecture is on strengthening mana foundations. The students are really engaged."

"Yes! Yes! Too many people—completely full! I'll leave now… I'll come back next time… come back next time—"

"No need, Aura. I've saved you a seat for today's meeting."

"Ah... huh?"

"Come sit next to me."

Aura turned to stone.

With effortless grace, Flamme straightened and strode toward the front row, settling into one of the most central seats. She patted the empty chair beside her before turning back with a knowing smirk.

Aura's first instinct was to turn and bolt, but under Flamme's unwavering gaze—the kind of gaze that could send demons fleeing in terror—her feet betrayed her.

She moved sluggishly, head bowed, shoulders rigid, each step feeling like she was marching toward her execution. Finally, she sank into the seat, muscles stiff with tension.

Sweat beaded along her brow. Her hands gripped the edge of the chair like a lifeline. All thoughts of espionage had been obliterated. Any grand plans of gathering human secrets had crumbled under sheer panic.

Meanwhile, Flamme sat beside her, perfectly at ease, flipping through her notes. Occasionally, she would pause to jot something down, her brows furrowing slightly in concentration. Aura, on the other hand, kept her gaze fixed downward, afraid to move, afraid to breathe too loudly.

Then, halfway through the meeting, a servant arrived with a tray of fruit and snacks. Without a word, Flamme picked up a piece of peeled fruit and held it up to Aura's lips.

ed, as if immensely pleased, and continued peeling fruit, slipping them between Aura's lips at a steady rhythm. Every now and then, she would pat Aura's head, her touch light and patronizing, as though she were soothing a particularly unruly pet.

Aura blinked.

Flamme tilted her head. "Eat."

Aura hesitated, but under Flamme's expectant stare, she obeyed, biting down. Sweetness flooded her mouth, but she barely registered the taste.

Flamme chuckled, as if immensely pleased, and continued peeling fruit, slipping them between Aura's lips at a steady rhythm. Every now and then, she would pat Aura's head, her touch light and patronizing, as though she were soothing a particularly unruly pet.

Aura didn't dare resist, allowing herself to be handled by Flamme.

Sitting in the front row, right next to the legendary mage Flamme, the one who had single-handedly stabilized the entire demon army's front line, their interaction clearly suggested a close relationship. Naturally, the young mages seated behind them began speculating about Aura's identity.

"Who's that in the front row? The one with the hat?"

"I don't know, strange. I recognize all the first-class mages who reside in Kribi, but she seems unfamiliar."

"Could she be one of the elusive great mages? There are only seven publicly recognized great mages on the continent, most of whom are hard to track, and half of them are only known by name, with even their gender being kept secret. Could she be one of them?"

"That's impossible. She's too young. Even Lady Flamme only became a Great Mage in her twenties, and she's considered the most talented mage in history… Look at her height and face. She can't be older than sixteen. Becoming a Great Mage isn't that easy."

"Wait... Purple high hat, I think I remember someone like that..."

"I know who you're thinking of, but that's impossible. The age doesn't match. The first president has been retired for many years. The students she taught were from the same generation as Lady Flamme. Those veterans are now the backbone of the war against demons… Their teacher couldn't possibly be some little girl shorter than us."

"Her outfit looks like the portraits of the legendary mage, except the hat is a bit tilted."

"But she looks so much like the faceless portrait in the textbooks. Her hat is just a little tilted."

"She's probably just an imitator. Didn't the academy have a trend recently where students dressed up like young versions of historical magic pioneers? That fad should've died down by now, but I guess some people are still keeping it up. Kind of funny, actually. Wonder where it started?"

"Probably from the noble circles. They have plenty of money. While they may not be naturally gifted in magic, they surely have the best magical equipment. It wouldn't be hard for them to get customized clothes that match the style of magical pioneers."

"Which country's Fürstäbtissin is she from? That's possible. Look at her innocent eyes. She doesn't look like she has experienced any hardships. She is so timid and cowardly that she is afraid to be around Lady Flamme." 

*AN: Fürstäbtissin = Princess

"She's... so cute?"

"Really cute!!"

"I want to bully her!"

"I want to bully her~~"

"I want to eat her!!"

"I want to... report you. We've been classmates for three years, but I didn't realize you were a spy for the demons. This is my dereliction of duty."

"Eh, it was just a joke."

"I've already recorded it. I'll show it to the instructor. Let him see the cannibalistic side of his favorite student."

"Hey, don't! Please—"

"Haha..."

The quiet chatter was drowned out by the louder sound of the lecture. Though many people secretly cast curious glances at Aura, surprised by her resemblance to the legendary first president of the magic association, they kept their distance out of politeness.

No one would dare openly question Aura about her connection to the first president, let alone whether they were relatives—such impolite behavior was usually suppressed among mages.

Even those few who couldn't suppress their curiosity, upon seeing Flamme's care for Aura, decided against approaching her.

Young mages still in their studies often held the older generation in awe, much like they would revere a teacher.

The meeting ended amid both overt and covert noise.

Finally, Aura found her chance to escape from Flamme's grip.

After the meeting, the mages who had given presentations invited Flamme to stay and discuss some cutting-edge magical topics. Flamme, unable to refuse, stayed. Meanwhile, Aura took advantage of the moment when Flamme's attention was diverted. With a few swift rolls, she slipped out of the meeting room.

"Ha—"

"So scary."

"I felt like I was going to be eaten."

Aura wiped the sweat from her brow. When she sat next to Flamme, it felt like her mana was being suppressed, the flow of her mana slowing down.

'Had Flamme always been this strong?'

Aura thought back to the demon records about Flamme, the so-called progenitor of human magic. The legends were terrifying, but none of them suggested that Flamme could instantly kill four great demons—or that even one of the Seven Sages, like herself, would feel her mana being suppressed just by being near her.

'What had changed? Why she's so much stronger than what it's described?'