╭(●｀●)╯Caught Red-Handed
The waiting area in the Mage Association's hall was quite pleasant. The chairs had soft cushions, the room was spacious, and the air was fresh—not like the stuffy, filthy hovels found in most other places.
Even so, Irena still couldn't sit still.
"Um..."
"Teacher Annie?"
After waiting a while, she leaned closer to Annie and asked in a nervous whisper, quiet enough for only the two of them to hear:
"Do you think..."
"Will that old steward named Lairen let us take the exam?"
As she spoke, she glanced toward the registration desk again.
"..."
(^o^)/
Annie, on the other hand, wasn't nervous at all. From across the hall, she cheerfully waved her little hand at the old man at the front desk. He had arrived a few minutes ago and was now scrutinizing their two "Staff of the Holy" pendants, frequently casting assessing looks toward the waiting area. Annie even gave him a huge, radiant smile.
Then, when he continued examining the pendants, she turned back to Irena and declared with complete confidence:
"Of course he will, right?"
—
(゜-゜)
"If that old hag Frieren got to sign up with one of these, why shouldn't we?"
(˙o˙)
"Our 'Staffs of the Holy' are just as good as hers!"
Despite saying that, Irena wasn't reassured at all. If anything, she seemed even more nervous.
So she lowered her voice and leaned close to Annie again:
"But..."
"That's different!"
"Teacher Annie, our two..."
"They're f-fake!"
"Frieren's is real. How can those be compared?"
How could anyone else know? Irena knew perfectly well.
The two "Staff of the Holy" pendants they'd just brought out were obviously replicas that the troublesome little girl in front of her had made herself!
How could she not feel guilty?
"Fake?"
(.)
Annie gave Irena