By Zephyria 
A flying dagger, shot swiftly, aimed for Wilton Roberts’s brow.
The flying dagger, imbued with aura, curved slightly just before Wilton’s nose. However, Wilton didn’t even blink, catching the flying dagger with his index and middle fingers.
Meeting the deep smile that spread across his face, I also grinned.
“Perfect score. Well done, Ernhardt.”
“Thank you.”
The children who took the class with me applauded loudly and whistled in celebration.
Though it was a bit embarrassing, I felt immensely proud and gratefully accepted their congratulations. It was very satisfying to have finally gained the ability to use flying daggers freely, a skill I had diligently practiced for a full year since last semester.
They say there’s no end to learning, no matter one’s age, and it truly was so. Even Jegal Amugae, who could supposedly read the future, would not have predicted I would become so adept at handling flying daggers.
Wilton had given me advance notice that he wouldn’t be able to provide after-school tutoring today because he had something to attend to after the exam, and I would be leaving the academy for the entire break.
Instead, he promised that next semester, he would continue giving me private lessons at night, even without me taking the flying dagger technique class.
It was a great kindness. I bowed deeply and saw Wilton off.
After exchanging brief greetings with the children I had taken the flying dagger technique class with all semester, I sensed a familiar presence as I left the practice grounds. I walked straight towards Rubel, who was waiting for me in the distance.
“Why are you here, Senior?”
“I might not have time tomorrow… and you’re leaving on Friday.”
He had come to say goodbye before the break.
While we would be taking the Introduction to Monsters class together, I found his concern a bit excessive. However, the incident where I had hurt his feelings last time remained a vivid memory for me, so I readily agreed.
“Shall we walk for a bit?”
“Yes, let’s.”
We headed towards the familiar pond. We stood side-by-side on the small bridge, leaning against the railing. The sky was densely packed with stars, and the numerous streetlights made the night more brilliant than the day. In a night where even the insects held their breath, startled by our presence, it was atmospheric to gaze at the moon reflected on the water.
Perhaps because summer was fast approaching, even this small pond area felt refreshingly cool by the water. A cool night breeze brushed past my forehead.
I no longer asked Rubel why he had called me. I had come to understand that he was now content simply being in the same space in silence.
His thoughtfulness was so tender and pitiable that I felt awkward, thinking I wanted to grant whatever Rubel wished to say.
Instead, I brought up a different topic.
“You’ll be staying in the capital this summer break as well, won’t you?”
“…I suppose so. What about you, Young Master Ernhardt?”
“I plan to go to my family’s estate, to Young Count Ernhardt’s Residence.”
“I see… I wish I could go with you.”
That was a funny thing to say. I took it as a joke and laughed briefly. There was no way he, an imperial prince, would visit Young Count Ernhardt’s Residence. Probably never.
“Still, this winter break… I’ll be in the capital then.”
“That’s right. It’s not long now, Young Master Ernhardt’s Debutante.”
“You won’t be as bored then, Senior.”
“Yes. …I’m already worried. The social circles will be in an uproar once Young Master Ernhardt makes his debut.”
I laughed again. I had heard countless times about how remarkable my mother, Seiren, had been when she was Young Lady Valentia. I had no intention of basking in her reflected glory.
“I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?”
“I’m not particularly worried. Because you’ll help me.”
“…That’s, …right.”
Rubel chuckled briefly and tilted his head towards me. I gently stroked his hair. My touch was more cautious than before.
I caught sight of his reddened ears but tried not to dwell on it.
Rubel said it was enough and took my wrist. I felt a pang of regret but easily shook it off.
❖ ❖ ❖
Thursday afternoon, the third week of May. I bid a proper farewell to Douglas and Boulder.
I had felt a lingering unease about abandoning my experiments last winter break to rush to Duke Valentia’s estate. Because of that, I had diligently visited Douglas’s office even during exam periods.
However, each time I visited, I couldn’t help but frown.
The sight of three golems sitting in a row, facing the wall in Douglas’s office, was unsightly.
I had heard him mention that he had kept the golems activated for a long time last winter break to gather more concrete evidence, and he intended to do so again this time.
When I suggested keeping them in the Magic Tower, he explained that any curious mage might try to steal them, so all three golems would remain in Douglas’s office.
Douglas, being good-natured and agreeable, had readily consented, leading to this recurring spectacle.
Fortunately, I had strongly insisted that they face the wall rather than the room, and they were placed at the edges.
Their headpieces were all the same height, so if one squinted, they could almost pass for peculiar decorative ornaments.
Curiosity struck me, and I asked Boulder, “Why do all three of these golems have the same face as Mage Boulder?”
“Well… Ah, can I model them after Young Master Ernhardt?”
“No.”
“That’s why, I guess. Professor Douglas wouldn’t allow that either.”
…It was a perfectly understandable explanation.
Douglas smiled gently and reassured me, telling me to enjoy my break and not to worry about the golems during that time.
It was far more pleasant to hear than Boulder’s grumbling about wanting me to come up with more ideas for Breathing and Regulating Energy.
I politely said goodbye, promising to see them next semester, and left the office.
After my intermediate swordsmanship class on Friday, I also expressed my gratitude to Maelo Sanson.
Maelo had been pestered by me during every break last year. I regretted not spending much separate time with him this semester, as I had been spending time with Wilton Roberts.
He seemed to feel the same, kindly telling me that he would have plenty of free time next semester and to rest well and seek him out if I had any questions. I thanked him several more times, deeply appreciative.
Bill Brown was waiting for me outside the exam hall after the Introduction to Monsters exam.
This was because the Brown family was planning to visit Young Count Ernhardt’s Residence during the summer break.
It seemed my mother was closer to Baroness Brown than I had realized. Her excitement was palpable even through the letter as she spoke of receiving an invitation to spend the summer break at the Brown Barony.
Bill Brown had managed to adopt a rather polite and mature demeanor over the semester.
When I first met him, he was like a young puppy wagging its tail, but now he possessed a dignity befitting his stature.
When Bill Brown politely bowed to Rubel, Rubel smiled kindly and offered him encouraging words.
“Then I’ll see you next semester, Senior.”
“Yes, Young Master Brown, have a good break too.”
I observed Rubel closely to see if he harbored any resentment, but I could discern nothing else from his innocent smile.
I took Bill with me to get a carriage. As we walked, Bill kept nudging me, which was bothersome. I patted his broad back and admonished him to walk straight.
Most of my time with Bill had been during intermediate swordsmanship class. I had worried it might be awkward being alone with him for the first time, but Bill was so friendly that there was no room for such feelings.
Sitting opposite him in the carriage, I asked if he was always this affectionate, and learned something unexpected.
“Although I’m strong and healthy now, I was actually born very weak.”
Scratching his cheek or rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, Bill continued in a shy voice, saying it was something he really wanted to tell me.
“They say I nearly died several times before I turned five. That’s why we had a small party for my fifth birthday. Because they didn’t know when I might die… Well, I had a younger sibling too…”
“…”
“Back then, I just accepted it. That I was someone who would die soon, something like that… Even as a child, you understand things. After Mom hugged me once, she’d run out of the room and cry…”
Even that great magic couldn’t change his innate constitution.
While magic could fix external injuries, restoring something unnatural or sudden back to its original state, it was of little use for innate weakness or curing new illnesses, as I had learned in class.
As I listened silently, Bill smiled.
“But then, you picked up a sword when you were five, Brother.”
“…Mm.”
“That became quite the rumor. At first, it was just that you picked up a sword at five, but later everyone called you the Five-Year-Old Sword Master. You might know this, Brother, but…”
I had no idea. I hummed in response.
“And you’re the eldest son of William Ernhardt and Seiren Valentia. It was incredible. Perhaps it was amplified by Aunt Seiren completely disappearing from the social scene after her marriage…”
“Right. …So?”
“Hearing that made me so curious. I was about to die soon, but even a five-year-old could do it, and I was six… I thought I wanted to swing a sword once before I died.”
“…That’s.”
“So, as I swung the sword, I got healthier, and as I got healthier, I felt grateful, and I wanted to become closer to you, Brother… That’s the story. That’s why Mom likes you so much too. Because you saved me.”
“I… didn’t know at all.”
“Still.”
Bill smiled cheerfully. I let out a small sigh. As the child smiled and lowered his head again, I stroked his rough hair.
This boy had overcome his near-death experiences thanks to me. I found it hard to believe.
Whenever I stroked his head, Bill would squint and smile.
“Before you entered the academy, not many people had seen you, so they only heard things like, ‘He’s just training his swordsmanship,’ ‘He’s training his swordsmanship again,’ ‘He seems to have reached a certain realm’…”
“…”
“But after you enrolled in Shierun Academy, you were just… incredibly amazing.”
“…Is that so.”
“So I really wanted to meet you quickly.”
He grinned and looked up at my face from a close distance. Feeling embarrassed, I pushed his forehead to make him sit up straight.