By Zephyria 
Thursday morning arrived.
I originally would patrol the martial arts training ground behind the dormitory every morning at dawn, practice Circulating Qi, shower, and then head to the main martial arts training ground for swordsmanship class thirty minutes before it began to wait for Maelo Sanson.
This was how it had always been.
However, today, I felt too embarrassed to face Walter Orgen, so I was lingering halfway to the main martial arts training ground.
Even though I knew the children taking advanced swordsmanship class would be waiting, the scene from lunch yesterday was so vivid that I hesitated.
No, it’s the fault of the ones who did that on a public path, so there’s no reason for me to feel embarrassed. Even with that firm resolve, it was still difficult to take a step forward.
Just then, a familiar voice called out, “Yo.”
“Hey, kid. We have something to talk about, don’t we?”
“…”
Without being able to answer yes or no, I looked up at Walter, who had put an arm around my shoulder.
He was, as always, with his long hair neatly braided and pulled back tightly against the back of his head. He guided me along with a friendly smile.
He must have known I’d come out earlier than class and waited for me.
Walter pulled me behind the small warehouse next to the training ground. He removed his hand from my shoulder and, surprisingly politely, began with an apology.
“First off, I’m sorry you had to see such a mess.”
“Huh? No, no… it’s alright.”
“I was too flustered yesterday to even think about taking care of you. You looked like you were almost crawling away in shock. Did you get lost on the way back?”
“There’s no way I would have…”
Walter Orgen smiled brightly.
The way his eyes curved into thin lines, which I had previously thought of as merely kind, now seemed rather sly.
I hesitated for a moment, but since the child’s demeanor was so casual, I decided to act confidently as well.
“Did you get into a fight yesterday?”
“Well, you could say that?”
“…”
“No, you don’t have to look so stiff. I’m really fine. I don’t know about my brother, but I’m someone I want to boast about to everyone, saying he’s mine.”
Brother.
At that word, Calypse Agrigent’s passionate expression flashed in my mind, and I was taken aback. Seeing him casually use a term his lover disliked, I wondered if he had a surprisingly mischievous side…
As I stood there blankly, thinking such thoughts, Walter patted my shoulder and smiled again. His white, even teeth added to his bright impression.
“Class is about to start. Let’s talk later. Don’t worry about it, it wasn’t a big deal.”
“Ah… yes.”
What else was there to talk about? I had apologized, and he had accepted it.
If he had something he didn’t want me to tell others, I wished he would have said it now. I was not the kind of man who would casually bring up such base matters.
Today, Rubel and Lucilla took the sparring stage in advanced swordsmanship class. The scenes and stories I had momentarily forgotten while throwing Flying Daggers yesterday were swirling complexly in my head, making it impossible to concentrate on the sparring.
Then, suddenly, I realized something strange.
Was it because I had come to live in Sierren? Why was I so interested in the romantic entanglements of others?
For the past several decades, I had lived quite well without knowing what love or romance was. I had felt fulfilled by vanquishing evil and helping my kin and the virtuous with a comfortable and peaceful heart.
I wondered if my heart had grown young along with my body, but even so, I couldn’t help but tut-tut, thinking I shouldn’t let my thoughts become so childish.
Lucilla won the sparring match today.
Rubel, with a slightly dejected look, came over to me and mentioned that he was bothered by the many mistakes he made during the spar.
However, I hadn’t watched the match closely and had nothing to offer in terms of commentary. I just told him it was okay and he did well, which only made the dejected child more dejected.
Seeing him so pitiful, I promised to watch closely next time and pinky-swore.
I wondered what this was, like looking after a child performing in a talent show, but I did it because he was cute.
Being with my friends, it was difficult to find time to speak with Walter separately after class. It was even more so because it was not something that could be said in front of others.
Since we had agreed to meet again, I simply exchanged a knowing glance without any further words and moved to have a meal with the children.
Still, in my heart, I was truly relieved that Walter was a sensible person and hadn’t said anything embarrassing to me.
I knew I would have been unable to bear it and would have fled the spot if he had said something frivolous.
My mind was still unsettled.
❖ ❖ ❖
Thursday afternoon.
Mage Boulder’s crying was louder than the Peng family’s shouting, so I covered my ears.
This was the first time I had seen Boulder since the winter break ended. It was uncomfortable to hear a grown man whining and throwing a tantrum.
“Why! Why did you just leave it! The formation of non-moving mana crystals had been observed in other mana collection processes before, so it was obvious this would happen! This time, by practicing Circulating Qi without using the Middle Dantian, we could have prevented random mana crystal formation, or by using the Godex Metami potion, we could have made the mana collected in the mana crystal-preventing drug flow consistently and remain in place!”
“Ah… yes.”
“How was your enjoyable break! Was it fun! Exciting! Happy!”
“Yes.”
“At least pretend to listen! How much I’ve waited for Young Master Ernhardt for the past two months!”
“So, what should I do first?”
Douglas swallowed a laugh and looked up at the ceiling for a moment.
Boulder, after spewing a few more words, quickly opened the bundle of documents he had brought.
Half of the words written in the report were incomprehensible even with explanations, but another half were understandable with explanations.
And the remaining portion was the problem and homework that I had to solve.
Finally, that damned Golem had stopped practicing Circulating Qi.
Boulder pulled out Mana Stones from the Golem’s fingers and then, with a sharp dagger, instantly cut open the Golem’s chest.
Inside the Golem’s Middle Dantian was a blue orb the size of an adult’s fist.
“See, this is the mana crystal that formed over about four months of Circulating Qi practice since last October. Before the winter break started, it was the size of a pinky nail, but it grew this much.”
As if not disgusted, he rummaged through the Golem’s insides and measured the width of the now thicker passages with a ruler, where the energy had flowed.
Still, I had become a little accustomed to it and didn’t feel nauseous like I did at first. I just thought I should not get any closer to that man.
Speaking of which, I see Rubel often, but I don’t know if that child Edwin is doing well.
Since our living spaces were so far apart, it was difficult to check on him even when I intended to.
As if sensing I was lost in thought, Boulder waved the hand holding the mana crystal in front of me. I quickly dodged his hand, which was wet with some unknown liquid, while keeping my eyes open.
It seemed he was done playing with the Golem’s innards. That was a relief.
“The process of forming the first crystal was long, but once the seed was created, its growth was visible day by day. It has higher purity than normal Mana Stones. It certainly seems that the Circulating Qi process greatly aids in collecting mana.”
“What is collection?”
“I’ve been saying it since earlier. Collection is the act of separating and gathering trace components within a certain substance through various methods. In this case, it means drawing in the mana from the atmosphere and accumulating it within the body.”
“Ah… And what does ‘higher purity’ mean?”
“When we received the Jin Gi Do In before, you and Professor Mustang expelled waste products through your skin, right?”
“We did.”
“Sierren doesn’t use mana in that way. There are no filters or purification devices. It’s a system of accepting whatever comes in and expelling the same amount back out. This is largely the same for Mages and Knights.”
“Right.”
“However, during Circulating Qi practice, with each repetition, the acupoints and mana itself seem to show a tendency to reject impure elements within them.”
“Because it is about upholding the benevolent will of the heavens.”
“Th-yes. Well… it sounds religious, but it is true, isn’t it…”
Religious? Come to think of it, I had never met a religious person in Sierren.
I had heard the Creation Myth of the Nine Gods so much that my ears were ringing, but I suddenly wondered where those temples were located. Would they use the power of gods, or mana?
Boulder made a great effort to explain it in language I could understand.
I tried to listen diligently, but I only became more certain that he was a talkative person. Boulder, who had been chattering away, finally got to the main point after a long while.
“Currently, Young Master Ernhardt has a living, moving mana crystal in his lower abdomen, but the problem with the Golem is that it’s frozen mana, like a Mana Stone. Young Master Ernhardt said the cause was the lack of human will infused into the Circulating Qi process.”
“Yes.”
“So, starting today!”
“Mage Boulder and I will take turns practicing Circulating Qi.”
Douglas, who had been standing by, letting Boulder ramble on, interjected.
Yes, yes! Boulder nodded enthusiastically, and I looked from him to Douglas, then let out a sigh.
So it’s finally happening.
I wasn’t too surprised, as Douglas had given me a heads-up beforehand.
Still, I was relieved that Boulder had strongly insisted on going first. As I gave my permission, I watched him assume the Lotus Position, placing his hands on his knees.
“Is this the correct posture?”
“Yes. Your hands should be slightly… curled as if holding an egg. Yes, close your mouth. Straighten your back more. Open your chest wide. Slightly lift your chin as if looking up at the sky. You can close your eyes.”
I wondered inwardly if I could follow the form and direction of the Great Expansive Divine Skill of Azure Sky correctly without having properly received its secret incantations.
Indeed, Boulder struggled for thirty minutes, then spent thirty minutes uncoiling his circles, and cried and threw a tantrum for an hour.
Watching him made me feel incredibly tired and dizzy.