By Zephyria 
The child rambled on about trivial things. I answered a few times.
But I didn’t know what I had answered, or what we had just talked about. I just felt distant. Rubel, who had been quietly observing my expression, got up.
He started walking again. I followed.
My steps led me to the martial arts training ground, which I had sought out to cut away the sorrow of long nights. It was the spot where I had sat with the child to watch the stars. Without realizing it, I looked up at the sky.
The blue sky was devoid of even a single cloud, let alone stars. This time, I spoke first.
“Shall we watch the stars for a bit?”
The child laughed.
“No.”
“…”
“There’s somewhere else I want to go.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I found myself clenching my fist tightly.
The child’s hair seemed a little longer as he looked around. Watching his black hair flutter whenever the wind stirred around his shoulders was dazzling.
Was it dazzling, or was it piercing?
The child surveyed every place quietly, as if the person he never wanted to forget was there. He meticulously examined every single wildflower, every tree branch, every pebble, then moved on.
The final destination of our steady steps was the main hall.
It was the auditorium where I had attended my first academy entrance ceremony. There were twelve chandeliers alone, and seven steps leading up to the podium. I remembered the spot where I had stood.
…And I remembered the spot where Rubel, this child, had stood.
Dressed in the uniform of a work-study student, Rubel stood on the left side of the hall, alongside other children, watching the new students.
At that time, among the children in the hall, only Rubel and Lucilla were First-rate martial artists. I remembered being unable to tear my eyes away from the sight of the boy and girl, who had just surpassed the realm of Geomancy, having reached the First-rate realm.
Feeling somewhat overwhelmed, I remained silent. Rubel laughed again.
“This is where I first saw you.”
“…”
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. I hesitated, unsure how to respond. A long sigh escaped me.
“You were a work-study student back then, Senior.”
“Haha, that’s right. Our eyes met.”
“…Yes.”
I couldn’t take my eyes off him, envious of how this young child had become so strong so early.
Looking back, it’s embarrassing. I was jealous of this lovely being. …That’s right. I didn’t know that in just two years, this child would be cherished so dearly.
Rubel continued to speak with a smile.
“It was the first time I saw someone staring at me like that. I was really surprised.”
“…It wasn’t staring.”
“It was amusing, and also strange…”
I felt my tongue curl inside my mouth. I felt anxious.
What if the child said he liked me? I hadn’t prepared a response. I couldn’t. I didn’t want to lose this child, nor did I have the confidence to fully accept his feelings.
I was afraid.
But Rubel didn’t say anything that would make me uncomfortable. He just smiled brightly like a flower and asked,
“Ah. It was really fun, wasn’t it?”
“…Ah…”
I wanted to say something, but my voice trembled, and I couldn’t form a proper sound. I cleared my throat. Rubel waited patiently until I could speak in a sufficiently calm voice. I tried my best to put on a smiling face.
However, I still found it difficult to gauge my own expression.
“Yes. …It was very fun. Thanks to you, Senior.”
“Me too. Even after I graduate, let’s stay close, like we are now.”
I looked at the hand he extended before me anew. I took his hand.
My hand, damp with tension, was warm.
I had learned about the recognition and affection conveyed by the greeting of grasping the pulse.
But this trembling emotion at my fingertips was something I didn’t know. Something I was unfamiliar with. I had never heard such a plea, made with a bright smile and trembling fingertips, promising a future together.
I want to protect him.
That thought surged within me. I wanted to protect him. I earnestly wished for this child to never lose his smile.
A black, pitiable bird flew deep into my chest and chose its nest. Each time, my insides tickled as if I might cough.
Rubel carefully withdrew his hand. Realizing belatedly that he had held on so tightly it left red marks on his hand, I was about to apologize, but Rubel was a step ahead.
“Can I also stroke Young Master Ernhardt’s hair?”
“…Yes.”
His hand gently touched my hair.
Just once. The gesture, a mere sweep from top to bottom, was so light and careful, yet it felt like a rake scraping the inside of me.
I looked up at Rubel’s face, bewildered. I worried he might cry, but he wasn’t at all.
Rubel was still smiling, and it was I who wanted to cry.
We spent about thirty minutes in the main hall.
When he suggested we go eat, I followed. We sat facing each other at Owen’s restaurant, which I had visited before, and shared food as we had done previously. This time too, I ate the aromatic herbs that Rubel couldn’t eat.
We talked about classes that would be good to take next year. We also talked about past assignments and my classmates. Rubel acted as he always did throughout, and so did I.
When our outing ended, I escorted Rubel to the entrance of the third-year dormitory. Instead of the usual cheerful goodbye saying “See you tomorrow,” Rubel said something different.
“I’m going to the Imperial Palace tomorrow morning, so I won’t be in the library tomorrow.”
“…I see.”
“In December, if you have time, please contact me.”
“Yes. I will.”
The child, who had smiled sweetly, then offered his head, saying, “Now, stroke me.”
I gently patted him, as I was accustomed to. As I softly stroked his meltingly soft hair, I already felt an unbearable sense of sadness. A wave of sorrow washed over me, pooling in my chest.
Rubel, accustomed to receiving affection, then lifted his head and smiled sweetly.
“Good night.”
“Yes, you too, Senior.”
My heart continued to flutter, unbelievably.
❖ ❖ ❖
Sunday morning.
For the first time since I picked up a sword after being born into this world, I was not heading to the martial arts training ground. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and stayed up all night. Lying in my soft, cozy bed, I fiddled with a crow doll.
The doll, which kept humming a familiar tune, had become smooth and worn from being handled so much. I often rubbed the space between its black eyes with my thumb. The way they shone reminded me of Rubel.
A servant boy who helped with chores peeked in front of my bedroom and delivered a message.
“…Professor Sanson?”
“Yes. He asked that Young Master Ernhardt visit his office sometime today, at his convenience.”
I checked the time.
It was already well past noon. Maelo Sanson had never summoned me like this before, which bewildered me, but my respect for him was always deep and profound.
I tried to shake off my troubled thoughts and got up.
“Could you please tell him I will visit in two hours?”
“Yes, I will do so.”
After watching the servant bow and leave, I glanced at the mirror placed nearby. Displeased with my disheveled appearance, I sat back down on the floor by my bed.
After calming my troubled mind with Circulating Qi and washing away my fatigue with cold water, I finally made my way to Maelo Sanson’s office.
Usually, when I had something to discuss with Sanson, we met at the martial arts training ground, so this felt very unfamiliar.
Sanson’s office was filled with various types of martial equipment showing signs of use, each displayed on a suitable stand. Apart from a large sofa and table placed in the center of the room, there were no desks or bookshelves to be found.
“Hey.”
“Yes, Professor. You summoned me.”
“Uh, I wanted to praise Mikael, who worked so hard… and ask for a favor.”
A favor? What could he possibly need a favor from me for?
Bewildered, I sat in the offered seat. Instead of offering tea, Sanson offered me a strawberry juice sold at the academy cafeteria, which I happily accepted as it was my favorite.
After watching me take a couple of sips of juice, Sanson spoke.
“You’ve been working really hard, haven’t you?”
“…Yes…?”
“Are you perhaps thinking of taking my classes again next year?”
“Yes.”
Sanson paused for a moment, then asked again with a suppressed smile.
“Even though I teach both beginner and advanced swordsmanship next year?”
“…”
“I’m telling you not to. You won’t learn anything even if you attend the beginner swordsmanship class.”
I was disappointed and couldn’t reply, so I fiddled with the juice glass in my hand.
Sanson let out the laugh he had been holding back, chuckling heartily, and sank into the sofa. His large frame caused the furniture to creak as it shifted backward.
“Instead, I’ll give you my afternoons.”
“…Yes?”
Maelo Sanson took out several sheets of paper, as if he had prepared them.
The timetables for each semester I had attended over the past two years were spread across four pages. They included the credits assigned to each class and my scores.
Seeing me still bewildered and confused for a moment, Sanson took out the graduation requirement documents and handed them over together.
“Thanks to you taking so many classes each semester, you’ve more than met the credits needed to graduate. I only teach classes in the mornings each semester, and my hobby is looking after energetic youngsters like you in the afternoons.”
“What you’re saying is…”
“Yes, I’m planning to open a special class that will count towards credits. Professor Mustang is also very keen on you. We’ve agreed that you’ll take the advanced swordsmanship classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and then Professor Douglas and I will each take you for instruction in the afternoons. Credits will be awarded based on the hours, and the content will be close to private tutoring. How about it, will you do it?”
It was an astonishingly generous and joyful offer. A gasp escaped my lips. Not wanting to show my excitement like a child, I carefully nodded.
“Yes, I will.”
“Great. Then, regarding the days of the week, we’ll discuss with Professor Mustang…”
“Ah.”
“Why?”
“I have a class with Professor Wilton Roberts on Wednesdays…”
“Wilton Roberts? The one who teaches throwing knife technique?”
“Yes.”
Maelo Sanson thought for a moment, then laughed heartily again, saying I had gained an unexpected rival. Leaning on his large hand as he patted my shoulder reassuringly, I smiled with a joyful face.