Chapter 131 - Spriit of the Guardian Tree (10)

The silence shattered in an instant. Everyone's attention focused there.

"I'm sorry."

Fabella bowed her head deeply and began cleaning up the spilled tools and paints. For some reason, her hands were trembling.

Nearby female students came to help her. Judging her condition poor, they asked worriedly, "Fabella, are you alright?"

Fabella seemed uncomfortable with the attention.

"Sorry. I'll handle it myself."

Fabella hugged the tools haphazardly, not caring that her clothes were being ruined by paint. She appeared quite flustered by the sudden situation.

She hurried outside. At Georgia's direction, several female students followed her. The situation settled for now.

Trisha blinked blankly and asked, "Is she really okay?"

"Let's focus on our work."

"You're so cold sometimes. Like you have two personalities."

"..."

"By the way... Damian, isn't it cold?"

"Not really."

"Strange. The air feels chilly."

Warm sunlight was streaming into the greenhouse. It was impossible for it to get cold.

"Maybe your clothes are too thin? Should have worn something over them."

Trisha's expression suddenly fell. She seemed to think I was criticizing her after she'd made such an effort to dress up.

"..."

"I wasn't criticizing, just worried."

"Dummy."

Just then, the greenhouse door opened and Fabella entered, her clothes stained with paint. Her head was bowed, hair hanging down hiding her face.

She went to Professor Georgia and exchanged some words. Georgia nodded with a sympathetic expression. Then, Fabella gathered her things and left the greenhouse. She seemed unwell and skipped class.

Watching silently from the corner of her eye, Trisha said.

"She seems pitiful."

"You don't need to worry. She has friends and a fiancé, and lives well enough."

Trisha pondered deeply.

"...Is that why you're acting so distant, because she has a fiancé?"

"It wouldn't be polite to approach unnecessarily."

Moreover, hadn't Fabella drawn that line herself? I had no reason to care.

Trisha asked me an unexpected question with a curious expression, "Damian, what would you do if I got a fiancé?"

"..."

Trisha stared at my face for a moment, then glanced away and nibbled her cookie awkwardly.

"Was that too difficult a question? I guess... you'd be really disappointed!"

"Having a fiancé doesn't end friendships."

"What if I had to choose between my friend and fiancé?"

I answered without much thought, "Send you to your fiancé and cut ties."

Trisha exercised her imagination and continued questioning, "Tch, so cold.... What if it was a forced arrangement by the family?"

"..."

"What's wrong?"

"Let's stop this conversation here. It's distracting."

"But I want to know!"

"Haa, your own will matters more. Maybe someone just wants to abandon their friend but doesn't want to be the bad guy, so they use 'family orders' as an excuse. I can't know. What would you want to do in that situation?"

Trisha spoke, slightly deflated, "...I'd abandon everything and play with you."

"Easy to say."

Sorry Trisha, but I don't believe in promises made during immature times. Especially not from women with faded hair.

"Really. And if I can't avoid a political marriage, I'll bite my tongue and die."

"..."

This I could believe. Trisha did seem like someone who couldn't handle a political marriage.

"And then my spirit will curse the friend who abandoned me until they die."

I continued painting, dismissing Trisha's semi-threatening words.

"Do as you like, but fix your expression. The painting's losing consistency."

"...No fun."

Seeing my lack of reaction, Trisha deflated further. When even the cookies weren't helping, I quickly offered another reward.

"Since you helped with my art assignment, I'll grant you a favor in return. Need anything?"

"Yes, yes, yes! Help me practice my script!"

"Alright, but stay still. Don't lean forward."

***

After class ended, some students stayed to continue working.

Trisha and I were among them.

While we focused on working, clouds gathered and soon thin raindrops tapped the greenhouse ceiling.

Looking up at the rain streaming down the transparent ceiling, Trisha said, "We don't have umbrellas..."

It would be troublesome if it poured while she was wearing her cherished clothes. I should get an umbrella even if I get wet.

Before the rain got heavier, several students hurriedly left the greenhouse.

Rubbing her waist, Trisha said, "I think I'm getting a cramp!"

"Let's take a break."

No sooner had I finished speaking than Trisha stood and stretched.

"I have class soon, need to go!"

"Should we stop for today then?"

It was getting dark anyway, and continuing would only break the background's consistency.

"Yes. Take me there!"

"Wait."

I finished organizing my tools. Meanwhile, Trisha put a last cookie in her mouth and looked around at the empty easels.

Then, she stopped in front of Fabella's painting and quietly observed it.

I gathered my things and approached Trisha's side.

Trisha looked at the painting sympathetically.

"Such a waste..."

She had painted the sea. On the yet-uncolored beach, two figures, seemingly a man and woman, sat watching the ocean.

And across the middle, there was a diagonal line in a single color. The painting was ruined because of it. Rather than drawn in anger, it looked like an accidental brush slip.

It was a major mistake, seemingly difficult to fix even by painting over it. The painting looked better off discarded.

Looking at the painting, Trisha said, "It looks so tender. Such a waste."

"...If you're done looking, let's go."

"I want to see your painting too!"

I pointed to the painting of Silveryn.

"It's over there. Go look."

Trisha moved quickly in the indicated direction but stopped midway at another painting.

She made a strange expression and couldn't take her eyes off it.

"If you keep getting distracted, I'm leaving without you."

Only then did she move at my prompting.

While Trisha looked at the paintings, I searched for something to use as an umbrella. There were plants with large fan-like leaves along the way, but I couldn't just take them to use as umbrellas. With no choice, I took off my coat.

After viewing the painting, Trisha ran to my side and shared her impression.

"They feel similar."

"What does?"

"That senior's painting and yours."

"...Stop saying strange things and hold still."

I put my coat over Trisha's head. Then tied the sleeves like gift wrapping.

This should block the rain while moving between buildings.

As I carefully wrapped and adjusted the coat, dimples appeared on Trisha's face.

"What about you!"

"I'm fine, let's go."

The heavy rain turned capricious, becoming a drizzle. I grabbed Trisha's wrist and left the greenhouse.

While walking, Trisha looked up at me worriedly and said, "You shouldn't get wet!"

Then, she placed her palm on top of my head. Though completely inadequate for blocking rain, the idea was strangely amusing and made me smile.

As we walked together in the rain, Trisha suddenly seemed to remember something and said, "By the way... I saw a strange painting."

"Tell me."

"It was a painting of a woman with hair like mine sitting at the Guardian Tree."

It was what a male senior had been painting throughout class. Definitely the masked person from yesterday, though he didn't seem particularly intent on hiding his identity.

"That's why I told you to be careful. That senior must have seen you somehow."

"How...?"

"Probably when you snuck out. He mistook you for the Guardian Tree's priestess."

Trisha spoke as if something was odd, "Something's strange. How could that be?"

"We both need to be careful. Sometimes I get nervous about my identity being discovered too."

"No, I've never gone to the Guardian Tree without my disguise."

"...What do you mean?"

"Even when I sneak out, I never go without my disguise!"

"..."

"And the woman in the painting had silver hair. Mine is pure white. That's a huge difference."

I stopped walking. Trisha belatedly stopped and turned to look at me questioningly.

"It's raining, what are you doing!"

Like lightning, another presence flashed through my mind.

If not Trisha.

If that was true, it could be another person I knew.

That person must be attending Eternia normally too. As long as I was settled here, I'd meet them someday.

I just hope that day was pushed far into the future.

One corner of my heart gradually ached like a toothache.

I denied my own thoughts. If not Trisha, maybe the Guardian Tree's priestess really did appear.

I just want to think that way.

Trisha wrapped her arms around herself, seeming cold.

"Why is it so cold? Let's hurry!"

We continued walking until stopping at the Magic Department lecture building's entrance porch. Trisha apparently had class here.

Trisha untied my coat and handed it back. Then worriedly put her hands on my cheeks and kneaded them.

I narrowed my eyes and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Damian, you look unwell. Were you pretending not to be cold? You fool!"

"No, I'm fine. Tell me when your class ends. I'll bring an umbrella and come get you."

"Ends in three hours. What will you do?"

"Train."

"...In the rain?"

When feeling unwell, I needed to move my body. Otherwise, thoughts would consume me.

"Yes."