"Mmm, my exposed skin helps me conduct electricity without harming myself." Seria delivers in a deadpan response.

"What... really?!" I exclaim.

You mean to say there is a real reason after all? Wow...

"No, of course not. I lied." She rebukes my new fantasy.

"Fufufufu... hahaha..." Seria nearly bursts into tears from splitting her sides.

Aria has face-palmed again (though is looking through said palm, not very sneakily). Kiku is shaking, her eyes covered by her fringe, and Kaede is trying out an eyebrow raising exercise.

"Hahaha! You looked so... so... oh my... you're actually serious?" Seria finally seems to realise.

"Well... aren't you interesting, boy?" She stretches outwards, rolling her shoulders, like a cat sunning itself... it’s pretty seductive in that outfit... "Mmm, I've not even really considered that this body could be of appeal to men." She follows up.

"No, it’s mostly just him, Seria-sama. Elijah is a serious lolicon pervert." Aria explains with her hannya face returned.

Seria looks over the group and smirks.

"Mmm, truly, how could it have slipped my mind to not notice your party has a certain theme? But I suppose I myself am supporting this further. To have an ability to subconsciously bring together girls of a certain age and configuration is another mystery you appear to conceal, boy… ufufufu…"

If you could figure out why this is happening, Seria, I'd actually be grateful. I could publish a self-help book about harem pheromones (or something) and live the easy life with lolis off the proceeds.

"Mmm... well, I guess I have no specific reason. It is easy to move around? Fufufu, what an interesting apprentice. Your very first question is not one covered by my extensive knowledge... how ludicrous! I'm certain our journey will be fun."

"Um... Journey...? So you will be joining us, Seria? I thought Sages couldn't leave their towers?" Kiku asks.

"Whoever perpetuated that rumour is either a fool, or a genius. Probably both. Of course we can leave. Mmmm... My crest will be diminished, less efficient on prana economy. But not to a heavy extent. And I never get many visitors in this day and age in any case." She explains. "Besides, among other things, I am long overdue a certain errand to retrieve a grimoire that I loaned to the last boy I taught."

"Oh? Who was your previous student?" I ask.

"Hmmm... who was it again...? something... ah yes... David? No... Dustin? No... Douglas! Yes! Douglas Mullight."

Aria almost falls over from shock.

"Whaaaatttt?!? The magic school headmaster? He was taught by you? But... what? You can't be... was this recently?" She exclaims.

"Oh yes. It wasn't too long ago... I think? He stayed for a year to learn the basics of thunder and lightning control. Quite an endearing young lad; full of ideals like all young men are. Very dirty too... would always tell me he'd jump in my bed if I had a big chest. Hmm... considering Elijah’s reaction too, perhaps I do underestimate my voluptuousness? I should be more aware of this in the future..."

Aria has fallen over properly now and is twitching on the sofa.

"Is something the matter, Aria?" Kiku pokes her with the sheath of one of her swords.

"I don't understand. I was taught in class by the headmaster a month ago..." she responds, muffled by a pillow.

Huh... oh! Wait a minute... this can't be what I'm thinking, right?

"Aria... how old is the headmaster?" I ask urgently.

"I don't know... but he must be at least...? Urrr... His granddaughter Rishya is one of my school friends!"

I almost forgot she doesn't do big numbers. But... it must be! In my excitement, I trigger Identify Other on Seria.

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SERIA SESSHOUIN

THE SAGE OF THUNDER

LEVEL 15 ARCHMAGE

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HP>> 13/17 (=STR+END)

MP>> 120/267 (=(INT+PER) x 3)

202 YEARS OLD (APPEARS 11)

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Strength 3

Agility 11

Endurance 14

Intellect 60

Perception 29

Charisma 17

> (Sage’s Inheritance. Passively converts local spiritual power into Electrical energy to boost spell power. Regenerates 30 MP per minute when at rest. Multiplies Max MP by x3.)

> (Sage’s Inheritance. Stores memories of all Thunder Sages, and their combined research. User can choose to imbue chosen individual with a portion of these memories.)

> (Sage’s Inheritance. Halts aging upon receipt of this power; increasing lifespan by x6. Passively boosts Endurance by +6.)

> (Foundation Thunder Magic, costs 6 MP, Fires a scatter burst of electric discharges, grounds quickly, but may paralyse.)

> (Foundation Thunder Magic, costs 7 MP, Creates a localised thunderclap, knocking back assailants with high force.)

> (Electromagnetic Magic, costs 13 MP. Magnetic field is projected, halting and reversing incoming metallic objects.)

> (Thunder Magic, costs 22 MP. Paints own magical field and that of the target with ionic imbalance, creating a lightning blast fuelled by own Prana.)

> (Thunder Magic, costs 12 MP. Allows self to transform into electrical current and ride other thunder spell to target.)

> (Meta-Thunder Modifier, costs +10 MP. Added to other Thunder Spell, increases electrical conductivity of targets selected, vastly increasing likelihood of lightning to fork and conduct this way after striking.)

> (Ultimate Electromagnetic Magic, costs 85 MP. Accelerates ferrous object to Mach 5.7 via a mass driver effect. Requires 100 Metre acceleration space.)

> (Ultimate Thunder Magic. Rapidly increases electrostatic potential of a target to deliver a lightning strike of infinitely high power. Infinite MP can utilised, with scaling voltage and area of effect.)

+19 other spells stored in Sage’s Crest (cannot be identified)

--------------

Holy crap. I was right! She's a real lolibaba. Amazing. Not to mention that crazy spell selection.

"Oho... scrying?" Seria looks under her eyes at me seductively. "Did you get a good peak behind my curtain, fufufu?"

"You... you're two hundred and two years old, Seria!?!?" I almost shout.

"Oh, that'll not do, student of mine, you should know better than to ask a maiden her age, teehee!" She puts a fist to her head and sticks out her tongue.

That all but confirms it... not that I have any reason to doubt Identify Others prowess...

Today, assembled gentleman, men of culture and taste, fellow lovers of certain age ranges, I have struck gold! I present, the never aging loli!!!!!