By Zephyria 
The pale green drink, tinged with a yellowish hue like new shoots, was sweet without me knowing its flavor. It didn’t help much with quenching my thirst, but its sweet taste was palatable, so I didn’t say anything.
However, I felt awkward, as if all the students in the academy thought I liked sweet food.
Instead of talking about the food, I said what I wanted to say.
“I want to take Professor Maelo Sanson’s class next year too, but I’m worried because second-year students have to take intermediate Swordsmanship. Professor Sanson only taught beginner and advanced Swordsmanship this year…”
“Next year, Professor Sanson will be teaching intermediate and advanced Swordsmanship, so it probably won’t be much different.”
“Hmm?”
“Do you know that there are four full professors in the Swordsmanship Department, including Professor Sanson?”
“…”
“Professor Maelo Sanson is the homeroom professor for the first-year Swordsmanship Department right now. The second and third-year Swordsmanship Departments have their own homeroom professors. And if one of the professors has an issue, another full professor often comes to the academy to substitute for the homeroom professor.”
“Ho…”
I realized again that I had been short-sighted.
After all, the Swordsmanship Department isn’t just for first-years, so I had naturally assumed Maelo Sanson would be in charge of all grades.
It’s easy to forget that even a master of Hwagyeong is still only one person.
As I remained silent, not understanding the connection between different homeroom professors for each grade and Maelo Sanson teaching intermediate Swordsmanship next year, Rubel kindly added an explanation in a gentle voice.
“Generally, when a professor is in charge of a grade, they teach that grade until graduation. The other three are also masters who have reached the realm of Sword Master, so they are more than capable of teaching beginner and intermediate Swordsmanship. My homeroom professor isn’t Professor Sanson either.”
“Hooor…”
“Of course, Young Master Ernhardt gets along very well with Professor Maelo Sanson, but each professor has a different teaching method, so there are preferences. For example… if a student wants to learn about different types of Sword Arts or their characteristics, they might not have gotten along well with Professor Sanson.”
“What’s the point of learning Swordsmanship only through theory?”
“Research, I suppose?”
“…Ah.”
The answer, given as if it were obvious, left me speechless.
That’s right. It was the same for Douglas Mustang. He had mastered Swordsmanship, but scholars who researched how to make not just himself, but tens or hundreds of people stronger, supported Sierren.
I opened my mouth to say something, then closed it again. Rubel, giving me a moment to think, smiled and continued gently.
“For beginner and intermediate Swordsmanship, the timetable is usually arranged so you can take your homeroom professor’s class. If the professor and student’s personalities don’t match, you can take another professor’s class, but you’ll have to attend with students from other grades.”
“Hmm…”
“Of course, for advanced Swordsmanship, only students with the potential to become Sword Masters qualify, so Professor Maelo Sanson teaches it every year… but if Young Master Ernhardt wishes, he could take only Professor Maelo Sanson’s classes until graduation. You don’t have to worry.”
“Is that so?”
“There are also many associate professors who teach things other than the main Sword Art, like throwing knife technique classes, so you can choose those well. I know a bit about them too, so feel free to ask if you have any questions.”
“Yes.”
But for now, I had no further questions. As the dessert plates after the meal, enjoyed with a relaxed mind, numbered past three, I lost interest. When I suggested going to see the other greenhouses, Rubel readily stood up as well.
I peered at a space that had been closed off before, preventing me from seeing inside.
Soon, a caretaker came out and opened the door for us, and we walked along the path they indicated. Unlike the other greenhouses, which were round, we entered a greenhouse that was pointed and triangular like a spire. Inside, there was another door woven from a net.
Chirp, chirp. The sound of birds reached my ears. Hundreds of birds chirped and flocked together.
Like many things about Sierren, it was a landscape not of this world.
Among the exotic flowers and plants of every color, with their large, ornate leaves hanging long, birds of brilliant plumage, round and small or long and large, flew about.
Those with soft feathers seemed accustomed to people and approached without hesitation. If I held out my hand, they would perch on my palm, and if I tilted my head, they would rest on my shoulder.
I stopped in my tracks, unable to move.
I brought my arms together in front of me to support the one nestled in my embrace. While letting it rub its cheek against mine, I thought it would be a big problem if it pecked my eye.
I gently stroked the neck of the docile bird, as one would pet a cat or dog. The sensation, soft enough to make me melt, filled me with wonder.
Looking back, only Rubel and I were walking on two legs; it seemed all the inhabitants of this strange place were birds.
I followed the words on the sign, which reached up to my chest, with my eyes.
“After 5 PM, it is the birds’ resting time. Food can be purchased at the information desk. Please remain quiet so as not to startle the birds. When opening doors, please check that birds do not follow you out…”
The large, heavy bird nestled in my arms resembled a crow.
I found it lovely and fascinating that its tail feathers had various colored feathers inserted, and then I laughed upon seeing a single long peacock feather. How skillful! I gently scratched the space between its wing feathers. It opened its beak and yawned widely.
I had never seen a bird yawn before. Amused and amazed, I turned to Rubel, who also had a bird perched on his shoulder.
“Did you see that?”
“Huh? Uh… uh. What, what did you see?”
“This child just…”
I realized I had used informal speech without thinking and quickly corrected myself.
“Its yawn was quite cute, wasn’t it?”
“…Ah. Right, uh, I saw it too… uh.”
I saw Rubel blinking his black eyes as if entranced.
If this scene was so overwhelming and enchanting to me, I wondered how it must appear to this young child, and my spirits soared.
I gently stroked the black thing wriggling in my arms, and when it seemed ready to fly off, I let it go.
Some jumped into my open palm, thinking I was offering food, while others suddenly perched on my shoulder and chirped.
They were both cute and fascinating.
It was the first time in my life I had seen so many tamed animals together. I knew anyone I brought here would be delighted and happy.
Looking back, a bright yellow bird had made a nest on Rubel’s head. I laughed out loud at the cuteness. The boy, still with a dazed expression, blushed belatedly and looked embarrassed.
“It suits you very well. It would be lovely as a hair ornament too.”
“…Could you help me a little?”
“Why? Isn’t it okay to leave it there a bit longer?”
“I can’t… turn my head…”
His concern that the bird might fall and get hurt, even while it was perched on his head, was endearing and kind. I carefully cupped the bright yellow thing on his head and sent it flying far away.
My heart filled with joy, I bought bird feed, scattered it, and fed them, spending a delightful time.
Even as we headed to another greenhouse, the thought from a moment ago lingered, and a smile escaped my lips. Taking a feather stuck to my collar and holding it in my hand, I suddenly spoke.
“Yellow things suit you well, Senior.”
“…Yellow things?”
“Like that bird earlier, or chicks.”
“…Me? …Me?”
“Yes.”
His black eyes widened as he turned to look at me, which was incredibly cute.
I stroked his head a couple more times, smoothing his hair. I suddenly thought that the reason my hand kept going to it was also because he had nice hair.
The birds I had petted and played with earlier felt just like this.
I pulled the shy child along, looking around more, and when we decided to rest for a bit, we sat side-by-side on a bench where Marianne had once sat with her lover.
Before us lay a vast, open pond, and a fountain that shot upwards in time with music.
The rising water was amazing, but the sight of numerous thin streams falling and shattering simultaneously was as refreshing as a waterfall.
After sitting in silence for a long time, Rubel stood up, saying he would go buy us something to drink, and I allowed it.
Before, I had been so lost in watching the children laugh and play, or looking at Marianne’s happy smile, that I hadn’t noticed many things. Today, however, I saw many.
I hadn’t known until now that I was capable of laughing so heartily. Even after I was left alone and the surroundings grew quiet, a smile lingered on my lips.
Taking a deep breath, the crisp scent of grass filled my lungs. Listening closely, the sound of water droplets plunging into the surface was as cheerful as the clash of swords. The distant sound of instruments, the loud laughter of people, the warm sunlight breaking overhead…
It was a happiness so perfect it made me feel uneasy.
If I hadn’t been constantly learning about the laws and rules governing how this world works, I wouldn’t have been able to endure such happiness. I tilted my head back, letting the light fall on my face.
Every time I realized my shortcomings, I was impatient to grow up quickly, yet I also wished for the happiness of this moment to continue endlessly.
Familiar footsteps approached with a soft patter and then stopped for a moment.
I didn’t open my eyes, reluctant for this time to pass. Rubel stood still, about a yard away.
I was curious about what he was thinking but didn’t ask.
After a long while, he approached and handed me a drink that was as sweet as before. We spent the time in quiet companionship. It was like being an immortal in a celestial realm.
❖ ❖ ❖
The next day, I spent time in the library.
My friends, who had marveled at my diligence in studying even the week after exams, one by one, came to me with their camping reports to write.
Rubel, who had initially sat beside me, left first, saying he had urgent business, after Shaden and then Damian also sat before me.
Jenny and Ivan also heard the news and came, and we moved to a small meeting room.
After sitting together and leisurely finishing our assignments, I felt a sense of contentment and ease, which was pleasant.