Fifth year of life in the Imperial Capital.
The day after Agusheed and Flamme returned home—
The court mages' routine vacation had just ended.
Seeing the date on the calendar, they began their journey, walking to class.
Bathed in the morning sunlight, they moved at a leisurely pace toward the classroom.
Passing one towering wall after another—all formed from bookshelves filled with Spell Books—
The court mages gradually arrived at the room where Flamme regularly gave her lectures.
Once they found their usual seats, they silently sat down.
Watching the ticking of the clock's hands inch forward, they waited quietly for Flamme to arrive.
No one spoke, but some began to feel something was off.
Still no sign of Flamme, and now the mages wore increasingly puzzled expressions.
Thirty… thirty-five minutes—
As the hour hand crept past "Ⅸ",
All the court mages present came to a unanimous realization—
Their teacher, the Empire's greatest magic user—
"You've got to be kidding. I remember even when the Emperor was nearly assassinated, she didn't miss a lesson."
"I've never heard of such a thing. Lady Flamme being late?"
"So what happened while we were on break?"
"Maybe Lady Flamme has transcended magic itself and been summoned to the Aureole by the Goddess!!"
"Is there any other explanation?"
"Now that you say it… that does kind of make sense."
"Or maybe… Lord Agusheed and Lady Flamme finally had a child?"
"A child… isn't Miss Frieren their daughter?"
"Come on, how could a human and human have a child that's an elf…"
Normally a quiet bunch, the court mages were in total chaos.
One wild speculation after another churned the classroom into an uproar.
But then—footsteps echoed from beyond the classroom door, gradually silencing the room.
Two distinct footsteps—one light, one heavy—signaled that more than one person was approaching.
But the person who entered was not their expected teacher.
It was her reclusive but overwhelmingly powerful husband—Agusheed, their grandmaster.
There had clearly been two different footsteps—
The mages instinctively looked down.
Mini Flamme, scowling at them with a tiny frown.
She said it just like always.
This child is… Lady Flamme?
Their shocked outcry nearly blew the roof off the building.
"Mr. Agusheed, are you sure this child isn't your daughter with Lady Flamme?"
"There's actually a spell that can reverse aging?"
"This is really Lady Flamme as a child?"
"Mr. Agusheed, don't tell me you're into—"
In a chaotic chorus of curiosity, the court mages swarmed forward, bombarding him with questions.
But as the discussion started veering into dangerous territory, a few embarrassed peers dragged certain offenders away.
Eventually, they nominated one representative to speak for everyone.
"Ahem… Mr. Agusheed."
The chosen spokesperson cleared his throat and solemnly asked:
"Can you explain what happened?"
"Is this really Lady Flamme?"
"And if so, how did she end up ?"
Agusheed glanced at the Mini Flamme beside him.
Just as he was about to ask for her thoughts, he noticed her expression darkening by the second.
Mini Flamme smiled as she stepped forward. Under the wide-eyed stares of the students—
She casually rolled up the Spell Book in her hands—
Then simultaneously cast Clone Magic and Flight Magic.
The rolled-up Spell Book slammed down heavily onto all their heads!
Every court mage knelt respectfully at their seats, listening as Mini Flamme expressionlessly explained:
"While researching the Magic of Eternal Youth with Agusheed, there was an accident."
"Although I did successfully learn the magic, I've temporarily become a child."
"This side effect will wear off in time—"
"That's all. Got it?"
The court mages all nodded—and then all shook their heads.
"You. Say what you didn't understand."
Flamme pointed randomly to one of her normally well-behaved students.
"Um… Teacher, does the Magic of Eternal Youth mean what I think it means?"
The chosen court mage stood and asked timidly.
"Yes, it's just as it sounds—it's a magic that prevents aging."
Hearing Flamme's confirmation,
Even though they had mentally prepared themselves, whispers filled the room:
"No way… I thought 'reversed aging' was already unbelievable…"
"Eternal Youth… even His Majesty would crave that—"
Such a spell was enough to send the entire room into a frenzy.
So, they all asked the obvious question in unison:
"Teacher, can we learn this magic?"
"No. With your talents, it would take you at least a hundred years."
That was Flamme's answer.
She wasn't lying—in fact, she even gave them the spell's incantation so they could try themselves.
And when they realized it really would take a century to learn,
A new question arose:
"Teacher, if it takes a hundred years to learn, how did you and Mr. Agusheed master it?"
This time, Flamme lied.
She glanced sheepishly at Agusheed, who was standing quietly beside her.
Though she hated lying—
That answer explained why she had mastered the Magic of Eternal Youth.
And justified why Agusheed's appearance wouldn't change in the future.
A little white lie for the greater good…
The incantation's right there. If you doubt it—go try learning it. See how long you last.
"Alright, Q&A is over."
Flamme clapped her hands on the lectern and said with meaning:
"Class officially begins now!"