Character Story Alma/Episode 1 - Storyline

I Was Getting Bored

Teacher	Today's outdoor recreation activity will be a group practice with teams of three. Please take a look at today's schedule as a group.
Classmate A	...
Classmate B	...
Alma	(I just got into this school and it's already a pain... Ugh, group projects.)
Classmate A	This practice will give me a chance to show off my magic!
Classmate B	Me too!
Alma	(Seems like the others are weirdly into it. They're way too fired up.) (Excited to get to know each other, I guess. Or, more likely, desperate for other people to know them.) (I guess all witches are like that. All the witches I've seen so far have been like that.) (It's boring how they all think the same. Well, I shouldn't point fingers... I'm cut from the same cloth since I'm here, too.) (Ugh. Can't something interesting happen for once?)
Lisbeth	Hey, you're Alma...right?
Alma	Yeah?
Lisbeth	This is the first time we've properly talked, right? I'm Lisbeth! We're in the same group together!
Alma	Oh... Is that so?
Lisbeth	Yup! Let's do our best!
Alma	Hmmm. Sure, Lisbeth.
Teacher	Today's assignment is for each group to make a magic stew with different effects. Your evaluation will be based on your group's teamwork and ability to reproduce the recipe. Also...you are not to use magic at all!
Classmate A	What! Why?!
Classmate B	But I thought I'd be able to show off my magic!
Teacher	Silence! This practice is to test whether you've absorbed the knowledge about magic ingredients you should have learned up to this point. No magic may be used, whether for cooking or gathering materials or anything else. I will be watching and grading you all from a different location. Make sure to cooperate well with the other members in your group. Now then, please start your practice.
Alma	Huh. Well, this is new, I guess.
Lisbeth	Our team's assignment is "a recipe that can heal someone in any physical condition"!
Classmate C	Don't you wish they would just teach us magic normally instead of making us do something weird like this?
Lisbeth	Really? I think it'll be interesting. Magic is still hard for me, but I have made stew with my mom before. Besides, even witches should be able to make a good meal. So let's give it our all!
Classmate C	Sigh... But it's more important for elite witches to be able to do magic than cook.
Lisbeth	What? Why? Even witches have to eat. Plus, making food yourself is fun!
Classmate C	Huh?
Alma	Ahaha! Sure! I guess first up is making something we can eat, then. (I haven't talked to Lisbeth that much before, but she seems kinda interesting.) (...No, all witches are the same in the end.) (They kick each other down and steal people's lovers... They all only think of themselves. They're all selfish, narrow-minded people.) (It's clear as day to me. I've seen them do the same thing over and over, and I'm going to use that to my advantage.) (I've sold so much information about them in order for me to live on my own. Witch scandals are especially profitable.) (But I lose hope every time I get my hands on new information about witches only focused on their ambitions, witches with loose lips... They're all the same. All of them.)
Lisbeth	Alma?
Alma	Hmm?
Lisbeth	What's wrong? Are you not feeling well?
Alma	No, I'm fine. I just spaced out for a second.
A moment later...
Alma	Looks like the stew needs to simmer for a bit longer. And we're almost out of firewood. Lisbeth's still not back yet. Just how far did she go to get firewood? I guess I should go check on her.
Classmate C	I'm sure she's fine. She's bad at magic, so she goes above and beyond to do things like this so she can get more points. She's just faking it. Don't you think so, too?
Alma	Maybe.
Classmate C	That's why she talks to guys so easily and talks about insects like they're human or whatever. She doesn't have the self-awareness necessary to become a noble witch. You, on the other hand, are very promising, Alma. You're athletic, calm, collected, and can fade into the background, in a good way.
Alma	You have a lot to say with Lisbeth gone... So what's your point?
Classmate C	In short, I think you could become an elite of the elite of witches! We should work together! We'll swap out the other groups' herbs with this and take everyone else out. How about it?
Alma	Is this what you used in that other class a little while ago? The stuff that made your stomach hurt when you ate it? Sigh... I was wondering what you were going to suggest. I don't do things that seem like a hassle.
Classmate C	But if you get good grades, your tuition will be waived. Your family's poor... I mean, I heard money is tight for you, so...
Alma	Oh, there's rumors going around about me? I would love to hear where you heard that from...but right now we have to finish up this stew. So I'm going to go gather firewood after all.
A moment later...
Alma	(Sigh... I feel sick. Nothing good comes from working in groups.) (Toxic herbs, stupid gossip, cheap tricks... She wants to become an 'elite' that badly?) (She may still be a student, but she's definitely got alllll the terrible parts of witches down pat.) Witches all only think about themselves. They're the worst. (But I guess since I'm selling other people's information to survive, I'm just like them, huh.)
Lisbeth	Oh? Is that you, Alma?! What are you doing here?
Alma	Well, I thought it would be difficult to carry firewood by yourself, so I... Huh?
Matthew	...
Lisbeth	Oh, thank you, Alma! And look at this! Matthew helped me gather firewood! That's why there's so much.
Alma	I see. Thank you.
Matthew	No, I just...
Alma	Oh. Matthew, you hurt your hand. Even small wounds can fester. We have to sterilize it. Here, put this on it and it'll speed up the healing.
Matthew	I didn't even notice. Thank you.
Lisbeth	Alma, you're amazing! Good job noticing a small wound like that! Do you know a lot about medicinal plants?
Alma	I'm not that knowledgeable, but I guess I've got practical knowledge? I guess collecting information on a regular basis was worth something.
Lisbeth	See, you are amazing! Hehe. Plus, you're kind.
Alma	Kind? Me? Ehehe. That's the first time someone has ever called me that.
Lisbeth	Really? I wonder why?
Alma	Never mind that. Let's get this firewood back quickly. Practice is almost over.
Lisbeth	Oh! Right! We have to hurry—whoa!
Alma	Geez. That's what you get for running with all that firewood. Honestly... You need to be more careful. (Huh? I was annoyed up until a second ago, but it's all gone away now.)
A moment later...
Classmate C	Huh? Lisbeth... What did you just say?
Lisbeth	Yeah? I said that Matthew showed me a place where there's a lot of firewood.
Classmate C	Eeeeek! That's this wood?! I can't believe it! A man touched this firewood!
Lisbeth	Huh?! What?! What is it?! Is something wrong?
Classmate C	Everything is wrong!
Alma	(Sheesh, just because a man touched it. Firewood is firewood.) (Although, I guess someone like Lisbeth who can be so open with everyone is rare.) Well, the fire is already lit and we already started using it, so it can't be helped. So let's just simmer the stew a little more and...
Classmates	Aaaaah!
Alma	What?! What's going on?
Lisbeth	Everyone over there seems like they're panicking. What's happening?!
Classmate A	Everyone, run! Monsters are attacking!
Everyone	Monsters?!
Classmate B	...
Classmate D	...
Monsters	Grraaaah!
Teacher	Oh no!
Monster	...
Teacher	This is an emergency! You are now all permitted to use magic to fight them! Everyone, vanquish the monsters nearest you!
Alma	We got the green light from the teacher now, which means we'd better do something. Let's go!