By Zephyria 
Friday.
The most difficult part of the magical creature exam was writing down thirty magical creature names.
However, I was relieved because it seemed most of the questions about each magical creature’s physical characteristics, usable abilities, and basic common knowledge were answered correctly.
Edwin, who was checking the answers with his exam paper beside him, chided me for getting an easy question wrong, but I played dumb, thinking I had done reasonably well.
Alan Lager, after briefly glancing at the answer sheets the children handed him, nodded with a smile.
“You all did well. Judging by a quick look, you should be able to expect good scores. Now, please attach the name tags to the necks of the Ranunculuses you’ve raised for a semester and place them inside these cages.”
A work-study student walked around, handing out ribbons with paper for writing names.
Michael Ernhardt. The Ranunculus with my name on its neck blinked its black eyes and fluttered its blue feathers. It knew we were about to part.
I scratched the feathers under its neck and released a final bit of mana into it.
“Thank you.”
“Thank you. Thank you!”
“Yes, you were a very good one.”
I scooped it up as if to embrace it and placed it inside the cage.
I was afraid of growing attached to it since we would part so soon, so I never even gave it a name, just calling it ‘birdie, birdie.’ Some children made sniffling sounds, reluctant to part with their beloved Ranunculuses.
Alan Lager counted to make sure all the Ranunculuses were settled inside the cages and spoke kindly.
“These ones will now go to the First Magic Tower, where they will be fed plenty of mana, grow considerably, and then travel the world delivering messages. Perhaps, if you get the chance someday, you might meet a Ranunculus that remembers you again.”
It was a poignant speech. My gaze was fixed on a sky-blue Ranunculus. It was busy preening its feathers with other Ranunculuses, too engrossed to look my way.
“Thank you for your hard work this semester. I look forward to seeing you again. I hope you all have a wonderful break.”
Alan Lager lifted the cages with his large hands effortlessly. The birds fluttered excitedly amongst themselves, then danced in circles within the spacious cages.
“Yes, thank you.”
As the children bowed in unison, I also offered my thanks.
I learned something truly wonderful.
Being able to contact the Ernhardt family even when away from home was a tremendous advantage.
Edwin, puffing out his chest, told me to thank him again, so I showered him with effusive words of gratitude.
❖ ❖ ❖
It was customary to take a carriage right after the exams ended on the weekend.
But this week was different. It was because I had decided to spend the winter break in the capital.
Autumn is the season of harvest, and winter is the season of storage. Since my father was busy with work and planned to come up to the Valentia townhouse in December, I could stay at the academy dormitory for another week.
I didn’t need to worry about what to do over the weekend. On Saturday morning, I met Marianne at the familiar martial arts training ground.
“Oh, you didn’t go home?”
“No. I heard my family won’t be arriving at the townhouse until next week. What about you, Marianne?”
“Students who don’t have townhouses in the capital are allowed to use the dormitories. It’s not far from the Imperial Palace, so I’ll probably spend my break like this.”
“Hmm.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it just means you can still come to the training ground during the break.”
“Oh! Are you serious? You’ll train me during the break?”
“Not every day.”
I took a moment to look around the training ground.
Marianne could now run five laps of this training ground without slowing down.
I had seen her run five laps, cast a recovery spell, run another five laps, and cast another recovery spell, repeatedly practicing both stamina and spell formula implementation.
“I’ll set a quota for you.”
“…A quota?”
“Yes. Starting today, for a week, you will run seven laps of this training ground every day, and perform the five exercises I’m about to teach you one hundred times each with proper form.”
“Wh-what? No, wait, just a moment. Michael.”
“Then I’ll check your condition next week and give you the next assignment. However, I’ll likely be busy on weekends too, so it would be good to set a specific day. How about Tuesday?”
“Wow, no, no, wait. Are you serious? You know my legs are shaking after just five laps right now.”
“Will you say the same thing in the Yuil Mountains?”
“…No, I suppose not… Ah, sigh, alright. I’ll do it.”
“Excellent. Let’s start today.”
I headed towards the direction of the landscaping trees, which I habitually used as the starting point. Marianne, following behind me, gently tugged at my collar, so I turned around. The child smiled sheepishly.
“Thank you, Michael.”
“…You’re welcome.”
I felt immensely pleased.
I meticulously taught Marianne, who was groaning in pain, how to do push-ups, hold a horse stance, and the proper form for the Three Calamities Sword Technique.
Even if her form faltered, I would see her again in a week, so I had no worries.
After training and showering, I visited the library just in case and met Rubel.
Rubel was sitting alone at the large table where we always studied. The child looked up at me with dark eyes. He hadn’t brought anything to study.
Neither had I. My empty hands felt hollow, so I hid my clenched fists behind my back.
After a brief nod to greet him, I asked, “The exams are over, why are you here?”
“And what about Young Master Ernhardt?”
“…”
Indeed, why had I come here?
Seeing me unable to answer, Rubel smiled faintly. It was a pitiful and lovely smile, as always.
Every time I saw a blush creep onto those pale cheeks, my insides tickled as if I had swallowed dandelion seeds.
“I just thought Young Master would come… I wanted to give you this.”
“…What is this?”
“A tea party invitation.”
I accepted it and examined it. It was printed on fine paper with ornate ink, bearing the crest of the Sierran Empire, and below it, the seal of the Second Prince.
Only after examining Rubel Anti Searon’s signature, written in elegant script, did I look up.
Knowing I needed an explanation without me having to ask, Rubel spoke in a gentle voice.
“The Debutante… lasts for fifteen days starting from the last day of the year. Before and after that, tea parties are often held. Sometimes you’re introduced to new people, but it’s also called a tea party when close acquaintances gather just to chat.”
“…Mm.”
“This is, well… an invitation to come to the Second Prince’s Palace. Just let me know three days in advance, and I’ll adjust to your convenient time. Please come visit with this invitation.”
It felt so sudden.
I could clearly feel that Rubel was graduating. I traced the corner of the invitation with my fingertip before finally speaking.
“Are you going to teach me to dance again?”
Rubel laughed brightly even at my silly joke. He sparkled. He shone beautifully.
“Who knows. Perhaps?”
“I will make time to come. Sometime in December.”
“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”
The child stood up. I stood there, unsure of what to do.
It was Rubel who led me again. Still smiling, speaking in a gentle voice, he whispered as if tickling me.
“And today, shall we take a walk together? Since I’m graduating now… I want to revisit the places I loved at the academy. I’d like Young Master Ernhardt to accompany me.”
“…Yes. Let’s do that.”
Rubel gazed for a long time at the study table where we had sat and studied together for hours.
The large table was thick and heavy, looking as if it would remain in place for hundreds more years. Rubel ran his hand over its polished surface and then moved on.
I followed.
We arrived at the 11th martial arts training ground, where we took advanced swordsmanship classes.
Advanced swordsmanship classes consist of sparring, sparring, and more sparring. The 11th training ground is divided into areas about five jang in size to prevent students from merely running away without clashing swords during sparring. There were no fences, but the flooring material had different colors in some sections.
Rubel stood at a point on the south side, looking out at the sparring area. I stood beside him. For the past two years, we had stood like this.
Just as it always was during class, there was a gaze fixed on my cheek.
I couldn’t bring myself to speak. Rubel smiled gently and walked away with soft footsteps. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his black head as he meticulously surveyed the training ground. Rubel carefully examined the rough, clumsy aura marks he had scratched here and there on the stone floor, then called me, “Let’s go.”
We moved on.
At the next place we arrived, I couldn’t help but let out a muffled sound.
It was the pond we had often visited when talking with Rubel. Fallen leaves had formed a thin layer of ice around the not-so-large pond. The weather had grown quite cold, so not a single fish dared to show its head.
Rubel, standing on the bridge crossing over the pond, beckoned me.
“Why aren’t you coming?”
“…”
My breath caught in my throat.
I walked silently to his side. I looked down at the dark pool of water. For a different reason than the day I had looked down with a heavy heart, my throat felt tight, making it difficult to breathe.
Rubel, who had been watching me kindly, opened his mouth softly.
“While attending the academy, I think this was my favorite place. Just standing here…”
“…”
“Even though it’s such a low bridge, I felt like I was standing in a very high place.”
“…Really?”
“Yes. I also liked waiting.”
I didn’t ask what he was waiting for.
The child no longer reached for my hand. I had made him stop. Rubel walked again. I followed behind him.
Rubel sat on the bench we had sought out to appease him when he was upset. I did not sit. Our gazes met. Rubel squinted his dark eyes and smiled.
I still couldn’t bring myself to smile.
“Why?”
“…It’s nothing.”
I was always the one asking. Today, Rubel asked. I knew the answer but couldn’t reply.