Chapter Text
*This is narrated from Claire's point of view*
I've always been told the same thing since I was little, the most valuable thing in this world is the magic you can master. It's easy to be born with magic, the hard part? Standing out with it. Thanks to that, there are two races that handle it, mine, which is human, is the one that predominates mostly among humanity and the second is not so different, except that they call themselves Tora's... similar to us only with the ability to change their human form to that of a fierce tiger, with great strength and bravery.
It is not known exactly when they appeared, but they did not last long among us, thanks to their abilities and characteristics they were classified as monsters or beasts, being hunted, until recently when the King banned it 20 years ago.
I was not really interested in them at all, after all I had never seen one in my life, for me they were no competition, I was born with a great attitude of fire magic, greater than nobles and commoners. Thanks to that I was integrated into the Bauer magic academy, although I myself am a noble there was no doubt about my great power, for some reason they called me "crimson queen."
I went through the same exams that any student must go through, thanks to my noble status I already have knowledge in the handling of my wand and I have been educated with the best teachers of Bauer, my knowledge in almost all subjects is exceptional without a doubt. Upon being approved in the academy I moved as quickly as possible to my room, all thanks to the help of Lene, my faithful servant and companion.
Checking my room I could notice how Catherine's things were already arranged in their place, but not seeing or feeling her here I could think that she was still moving out of her house. And so I spent the afternoon simply watching the day go by, I dedicated myself to reading a book that I had there to kill time, but at some point I felt too restless to simply sit down.
"Lene, I'm going out for a walk".
"Oh, let me accompany you, Miss Claire"
"It's not necessary, Lene, it's not dark yet and I don't want to interrupt you in your work."
"Are you sure, Miss Claire?" Lene said a little worried.
"Yes Lene, don't worry, it will only be a moment." And without saying anything else I left my room.
Walking on my own around the academy at the beginning of the cold night, out of a simple whim of mine, since I knew this place like the back of my hand, I felt a great desire to walk near the patio that overlooked the forest. Maybe it was because of the nostalgia of remembering when I played there as a child or simply because I have always been interested in going deeper than I have been allowed, however I could feel a fixed gaze on me since I approached, as if someone was watching me from the trees, I did not let that affect me and decided to illuminate with a sphere of fire and raise it to see what was really happening
I couldn't believe it, I froze with the image I saw, thanks to my sphere I could see the figure of a girl in the trees sitting looking at me, there was not much light and yet I could see how her eyes were shining watching me. I couldn't move, I looked like a ghost... my worst nightmare. From one moment to the next that girl jumped and landing on her feet and hands I could see more details, she had two round ears on her head and a long striped tail, without being able to process more this girl was at my height.
"Ah, did I scare you? Haha, sorry, I didn't mean to." She said while sticking her tongue out.
"Scare me? HA; Of course not. Don't you know who I am?" I'm said angrily to hide that she was partly right.
"Of course I do." She cleared her throat. "You are Claire Francois, only daughter of the kingdom's finance minister, Dole Francois." She said with a big smile on her face…
HER FACE, had striped patterns, it was clear now, those ears, her tail and her stripes…
"You are… you are a Tora."
"Ah, I didn't introduce myself, how bad of me hehe." She stood up and gave a small bow. "My name is Rei Taylor and yes, I am a Tora, a pleasure."
"What is a Tora doing… here?" I asked cautiously, not really knowing why I was here or how I had gotten there.
"Oh, haha, I was just taking a walk, I like being in the forest."
"A walk? In the trees?" I said with some anger, thanks to the scare I had gotten earlier.
"No, it's not what it seems, I climbed the trees when I saw you approaching, it's… something normal for me." She said lowering his gaze a little.
I don't really understand how it's possible to see a Tora around here, despite the fact that hunting them has been banned, they have remained hidden from society for fear of continuing to be rejected, or at least that's what the king himself has said.
"So Claire…"
"You dare to use my name like that? You said it yourself, I am the daughter of Finance Minister Dole Francois, you must address me with respect."
"Uh… Miss Claire? Is that okay?"
"Yes, that's right, Taylor."
When I said her last name something in her lit up, her eyes opened wide and a smile formed on her face.
"Well, Miss Claire, it was a pleasure meeting you here, but it's getting dark and it will be dangerous, so I'll say goodbye first." She says, bowing slightly.
"Ah, yes, you're right, the pleasure was all mine."
I finished saying that and saw how that girl gave me another smile and walked away from me, I didn't see a specific direction in her steps but I didn't care much either and I turned around and walked to my room.
Lene took care of getting me ready for bed and when she finished saying goodbye as she always did, I got out of my bed and took out a small notebook I had on my dresser and set about writing down the encounter I had with that girl. I wanted to write down the characteristics that shaped her. Maybe I wouldn't see a Tora again for a long time. While I was lost in my thoughts, the creaking of the bunk bed caught my attention. When I turned around, I could see happy and curious eyes.
“It's not normal for Claire-chan to be awake after going to bed.”
“I could say the same as you, Catherine.”
Catherine was more like a sister to me than my roommate. We've known each other since we were little and she's been there for me from the very beginning. Our physical resemblance is even fascinating, except that she had naturally wavy hair and pretty green eyes, but beyond that, it's easy to say that we're sisters.
"Well, hehe, it's because you're still awake. Tell me, Claire-chan, why do you write so much?"
"Today I met a Tora girl…"
"A TORA." She said it so loudly that I turned to look at her and I could admire how she almost fell off the bunk.
"Calm down Catherine, yes… it was a Tora girl, she had a striped tail, her hair adorned two black ears and her face… on her face she had a striped pattern…"
"Uhhh so Claire-chan was interested in a Tora."
"W-WHAT IS CATHERINE SAYING? " Now it was my turn to raise my voice at such a thing she said. "It's not interest, I was simply surprised to see a Tora of our age very close to the academy."
"Of our age? Wow, I haven't seen a Tora either, I've only heard about them."
"Exactly, that's why I'm recording it, not your fantasies."
"You're so boring Claire-chan"
And without further ado she turned around and went to bed.
"Good night to you too, Catherine..."
With that I closed my notebook and went to bed to sleep, while I did so I stared into space thinking about that girl... Why did she get so happy when I called her by her last name? It was something strange, but without further ado I let sleep take over me and let myself rest for the day, tomorrow the academy classes would begin.