AN: No beta we die like hilichurls

If one were to tell Noelle that she would be writing a light novel after only two months of reading novels from the library and that she had to do it all in under three to two weeks, she would've politely chuckled and brushed the thought off without a hint of thought before she would get back to whatever task she would have been doing at the time.

But that might've been a different timeline, with a different Noelle, and a very different outcome.

Because she, Noelle, the Maid of the Knights of Favonius was going to write a light novel after only two months of reading novels from the library. And she had to do it all in three weeks!

"Twenty-one… Twenty-two… Noelle, are you paying attention?"

That timeframe was almost unreasonable! How short did they expect it to be?

"Twenty-three… Twenty-four… Anybody in there?"

Rather, a better question would be how long they expected it to be.

"Twenty-five… Twenty-six… Anybody home? Hello?"

Miss Hertha didn't really give an expected word count, nor did she give any tips on how to write one, or where one should start. Granted she understood that it would've been unfair to the other participant to be given special treatment, but she would've appreciated a bit of guidance in direction!

"Noelle!"

"AH! THE LIGHT NOVEL CONTEST IS THREE WEEKS AWAY DON'T RUSH ME." Noelle suddenly exclaimed. Quickly realizing what she had done, she bowed her head as she tried to hide her embarrassment. "Sorry, Ellin."

Ellin chuckled as she slowly brought her legs out of Noelle's grasp and sat cross-legged on the yoga mat below them. "No problem. I could tell something was going on in your mind lately. But to think it was that contest. And it was enough to shake your thoughts out of our daily exercises too."

"I… Yes, I apologize." Noelle scratched her cheek as she put her head up.

Ellin had been doing crunches while Noelle held her knees to avoid them going up, or moving out of place. After a set, they would switch places, and after that, they would do the other portion of their exercises.

It was something they did every day, mostly in Noelle's room or the training area where Ellin was always located. It was their way of training, and also bonding with each other. Noelle had quickly learned that sometimes training with someone else was… different from training by herself. It was a good different, though she couldn't exactly place the feeling.

"No need to apologize. We're friends!" Ellin gave her a smile, which she returned almost immediately. "Now switch places, it's your turn."

"Oh, right, of course." Noelle said as she used the space that Ellin had just vacated on the mat.

"Wow, you're really out of it today."

"I… well, this light novel writing has had me at an impasse." Noelle sighed. "I haven't even started yet and I'm already stuck."

"Well, tell me about it."

"Huh?" Noelle raised an eyebrow.

"Tell me about what's bothering you. Who knows, I might be able to help out." Ellin winked.

"You would do that?"

"Of course, I would. We're friends. Besides, I do read a lot of novels." Ellin shrugged as Noelle began her crunches.

Noelle gave her a stare. "Like the novel where the male lead sparkles in the sunlight?"

"Hey! Don't knock it till you try it!"

As much as she wanted to sit, ponder, and do something productive for her light novel brainstorming like drawing on the sand by the coast with a stick for hours on end, she simply couldn't.

She still had her tasks, after all. Though she supposed they would make good distractions to keep the anxiety out of her mind.

"I've heard about it, and I've seen it, but girl you sure work fast." Ellin remarked as the girl wiped a pot down with a small towel.

Now if only she could make Ellin realize that she could handle cleaning the hall all by herself.

"Must you really assist me?"

"Huh? Oh, I see how it is. 'It's alright, Ellin. You can go do whatever you wish and I can handle this all by myself.'" Ellin gave her a stare. "Is that it?"

"Uh… No?"

"You can't lie. Don't even try."

Noelle pouted. It wasn't fair.

"Don't worry about me. Besides, even if I can't add anything to the efficiency of your job, I can at least keep you company, you know?"

Noelle sighed as she brushed down some stray dust on the ceiling.

"I do appreciate it."

Ellin was someone she was happy to have as a friend. She didn't quite understand it yet, but with Ellin, she could act differently from how she would act with the other knights.

Whether it was because they had common goals, or they shared similar traits, she didn't know. Perhaps it was because they were close to the same age?

"So! Think of a genre for your novel yet?"

"A genre… no, I don't think so." she shook her head.

"Yeah, I guess that's fair. It hasn't been that long since you agreed to this thing anyway." Ellin shrugged. "Actually, I think a better question would be what kind of novels do you like."

"What novels… I like?" Noelle raised an eyebrow. "What does that have to do with writing mine?"

"Everything, of course! Your favorite genre is may as well be the genre of your novel. What else would you want your novel to be other than something with similar themes as one of your favorites?"

Noelle nodded as she picked a potted plant up with one hand to clean under it. "I see." she put the plant back down. "We may need to visit the library for that later. I already returned the books I've already read. Including what you may call my favorites."

"Sure thing. I have plenty of time to spend with my best buddy."

Noelle blushed. She was teasing, but her statement's hint of truth embarrassed her. "You seem to be quite knowledgeable about this topic, Ellin."

"Why, of course! I am but a teenage girl who wishes to be lost in her fantasy-"

"Not just that, but with the prospect of writing one too." Noelle wanted to give this… teasing… a try. "Perhaps, have you written one before?"

"-Hurk."

"Am I right? If I go to your room in the future, will I see notebooks filled with short stories?"

"...N-No."

"Really? No notebooks about glowing, shining, people? No books about several men surrounding a single female lead?"

"That's… N-No, of course not-"

"No notebooks where you've written down your fantasies and dreams of being whisked away to neverland by handsome, sharp-chinned boys?! Do you write fanfiction, Ellin?!"

Admittedly, she had gotten pretty heated with that one. But the effect was plain to see.

"I-I can explain! It's- It's different! Okay! And- And I wrote those when I was way younger!" Red-faced, steam coming out of her ears, and swirls for eyes, Ellin almost stumbled over her words.

Noelle could see why some people loved to tease the people they were fond of and the people they adored.

'This is fun.'

After a while, they had finished her tasks and Noelle had found herself to be free from them for quite a little bit of time.

And of course, as they were still hot on writing light novels and all, they decided to visit the one place in the Knights of Favonius where she may be able to find even a sliver of help.

And, as they were looking for a particular book, the one person that would know what to do appeared exactly as they needed her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lisa." they simultaneously greeted, with a bow to top things off.

"Oh, well if it isn't Noelle, and Ellin too." Lisa smiled. "What brings you two cuties to the library?" She said as she approached them.

"Noelle's planning on participating in the Light Novel Writing contest!" Ellin enthusiastically told her.

"Oh? That would be in three or four weeks if I heard correctly. Plenty of time to work on your writing." Lisa mused.

Noelle nodded. "Yes, that is true. But I'm afraid I don't know where to begin with writing a light novel and-"

"And you decided to come here. For reference, maybe?" Lisa chuckled. "Sorry to disappoint you but I don't have many light novels in here. It's mostly research papers from Inazuma and all."

"Ah, well, there should at least be something here that may assist me in writing, right? Just light novels in general?" Noelle asked.

"Yeah, it doesn't have to be specific. Just something to give the edge Noelle needs to start." Ellin backed her up.

Lisa looked at both of them, before she chuckled.

"I admire your enthusiasm. But remember, you can't rush something like writing. It takes time. That's all there is to it."

"I… yes. I will keep that in mind." Noelle nodded.

"Great. Now come with me. I think I have what you may need."

Ellin and Noelle's eyes widened.

"You mean-"

"Truly?"

Lisa smiled.

"Yes. I'll help you. Now come. There is much to teach you about story making and writing."

AN: The end isn't really like what I wanted it to be. But I couldn't let it go on any further. This arc is gonna have to be on pause for an arc that will span the next four chapters, though it is still connected to this one.

As for how it's connected, let me worry about that.