Sakuramoria

After her glorious, almost, if you squint and look from a distance, victory in the tournament, Leila expected that this would be enough to at least return to her previous, sixth-place position in the rankings. As it turned out, these hopes were in vain – she could only be happy that she hadn't fallen even lower. Although, no, there was a small correction: there were two more sources of joy. The first was Gideon, the academy's golden boy, who successfully made it to first place. Considering that, with the caveat of Futaba's status, he was the face of their class, it was especially important for him to show himself in the best possible light. The second was the unexpected success of her friend, who once again failed to properly enjoy the tournament. The first time, her path was cut short by Vailis, who disappeared somewhere before the second tournament, and then by the Barbarian. It was as if the first class had conspired among themselves again, without informing the time mage. But despite these conspiracies, real or imagined, Ixora excelled in other areas and was already breathing down Gideon's neck. Perhaps she will even be breathing down his neck in the third tournament if the schemes of his minions fail.
“Congratulations,” Leila said, patting the ingredient mage on the shoulder approvingly, “taking third place, with such a variety of different tests, can rightfully be considered an achievement.”

***

At the beginning of the new week, remembering that she had not yet returned the scandalous journal about the scandalous king to the library, Leila headed there. The time mage had no particular reason to reread it, but the information recorded there should be useful to her peers. Of course, if the king's bodyguard doesn't take up all the attention of some of them.