Chapter 19: Follow-Up to Magical Girl Flight Training

After Lu Ming carried Polaris back to the rooftop, the other magical girls rushed forward, looking worriedly at the pale, unconscious girl in Lu Ming’s arms.

“Flash, take over. Holding her like this… it’s not quite appropriate,” Lu Ming said, her eyes weary as she looked at Flash.

“Of course, leave it to me,” Flash nodded, her gaze full of pity as she took Polaris from Lu Ming’s arms.

She sat cross-legged on the spot, letting her lean against her chest.

Meanwhile, when Lu Ming handed Polaris to Flash, Jin Yan reached out to help but wasn’t sure what to do, so she withdrew her hand.

Instead, she knelt beside Flash and gently held Polaris’s limp hand.

“It’s okay, child. Everything’s fine,” Flash said softly, rocking her body gently while patting Polaris’s back.

Lu Ming watched the scene, her heart heavy.

How could she explain this? She’d failed her advisor’s trust—nearly, just nearly, she’d caused a disaster.

Though her… sister had a safety net, Lu Ming glanced at the girl comforting Polaris like a mother, her fists clenched so tightly her veins nearly burst.

This was her fault, Lu Ming reflected inwardly on the incident’s root.

First, she hadn’t done psychological assessments on Lu Yue or the other magical girls before flight training, forgetting that acrophobia existed even among naturally flying magical girls.

She hadn’t taken adequate precautions either.

By the time Polaris plummeted past the rooftop, she’d already lost consciousness.

As her advisor’s student, she was too careless.

Though Polaris hadn’t been hurt and she could cover it up, it was still her responsibility.

After today’s lesson, she’d message her advisor about what happened.

Looking at Lu Yue’s closed-eyed face, Lu Ming felt a pang of heartache.

Knowing Lu Yue was her advisor’s daughter—and that her advisor and… sister were close comrades—she’d always treated Lu Yue like a little sister.

Her advisor had been patient with her, generous with resources and knowledge.

To Lu Ming, Alicefiel was like an elder.

She’d once wondered why she felt an inexplicable closeness and admiration upon first seeing her beautiful advisor.

In time, Lu Ming realized her feelings for Alicefiel were purer than admiration—familial love.

Perhaps distance made the heart grow fonder.

Though she’d grown up with her sister, who fulfilled a mother’s role, her sister’s occasional childishness made some words hard to say after growing up.

Her sister remained youthful while Lu Ming matured—childhood endearments felt awkward now.

But with her advisor, though she couldn’t voice it, she saw Alicefiel as a mother figure.

Especially given her bond with her sister—it fit perfectly.

So, facing this non-blood-related “little sister,” Lu Ming taught her with utmost care, bordering on harshness.

Her sister hadn’t stopped the extra practice yesterday, but her pained expression said it all.

Lu Ming looked at Flash’s face, identical to her sister’s inadvertent slip yesterday, feeling helpless.

In this era, vile beast attacks were rare, but no one could guarantee peace forever.

Accelerating magical girls’ growth was necessary.

It risked forcing progress, but sweating now beat bleeding unprepared against a sudden beast.

“Mom… Mommy…” Polaris murmured with her eyes closed.

“I’m Mommy, little Polaris. I’m right here,” Flash said tenderly.

Soon, Polaris woke up.

Jin Yan lunged forward, hugging her tightly, the force nearly toppling Flash backward—only her arms kept her steady.

“Lu Yue, Lu Yue, I was so worried! You almost…” Jin Yan’s eyes welled up, wanting to pour out her fears, but words failed, leaving only whimpers.

“Ah, Mom… Mommy,” Polaris said, staring at Flash’s face, still disoriented.

Realizing her mistake, she scrambled up from Flash’s embrace, stammering awkwardly, “Sorry… thanks for the trouble, Flash.”

Her legs wobbled again, but Jin Yan steadied her from behind.

Polaris turned, seeing Jin Yan’s tear-streaked face, and blinked in a daze.

“And Jin Yan, why are you crying?”

“You don’t know…” Jin Yan sniffled.

“If Teacher Lu hadn’t caught you, you’d be gone,” Jin Yan said, clearly missing Polaris’s words.

So Teacher Lu saved me?

Polaris looked around, spotting Lu Ming at the rooftop entrance—one hand in her pocket, her face darkly overcast.

Of course—after such a mess, and she’d saved her, Lu Ming must resent her inwardly.

Catching Polaris’s gaze, Lu Ming exhaled heavily and walked over, stopping half a meter in front.

Polaris braced for a scolding, shrinking back instinctively.

But no storm came.

Lu Ming handed her a yellow potion vial.

“S-B Standard Mental Recovery Potion. Drink this to perk up,” Lu Ming said.

“O-okay,” Polaris took it carefully, sensing a shift in Lu Ming’s tone—more human, somehow?

She uncapped the soft vial and sipped like a kitten lapping milk.

The potion was smooth, thick, with a tangy sweetness—like the soup her mom made on late school nights.

The main difference? Mom’s was hot.

After finishing, Lu Yue felt her mind clear, the post-trauma exhaustion fading.

“You’re mostly recovered, but considering your acrophobia, skip the rest of today’s exercises.”

“You can watch or practice yesterday’s precise mana control. If you run low, grab a blue Standard Mana Recovery Potion.”

With that, Lu Ming led Jin Yan aside to correct her first exam item’s flaws.

Flash practiced others: curved flight, sudden stops, straight-line maintenance.

Polaris watched Lu Ming instruct Jin Yan—still serious and focused—but suddenly, she didn’t seem so detestable.

With that thought, Polaris started practicing on her own.

Lu Ming had saved her, so she couldn’t view her through old lenses.

She felt the warmth in Lu Ming’s flat words—like she truly cared for her safety.

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