Chapter 140 - Spirit of the Guardian Tree (19)

The atmosphere sank further.

It was an insolent answer that could be interpreted as making light of matters regarding the Duchess.

The expressions of the retainers and guards positioned around her instantly twisted.

Damian wasn't joking. His eyes facing the Principality's heir burned intensely like molten lava.

What was the source of such courage from a boy who had nothing except the label of Silveryn's disciple?

Bibi showed her displeasure without filter.

"Proud yet arrogant. I'll expect skills matching your words."

Even if he was hiding his abilities, they wouldn't overwhelmingly surpass others. As a mere first-year, he couldn't even compare to Bibi's elite guards.

Even renowned guards prostrated themselves before Bibi.

Perhaps he was just ignorant and immature, letting emotions take precedence.

Bibi continued, "I, Bibi Gainax, legitimate heir to the Yulisia Principality and first daughter of Grand Duke Gainax, hereby employ you, Damian, and incorporate you into my guard. Your body and sword shall work for me, and I, too, shall entrust my neck to your sword and body. Though you are but a mercenary, remember you bear a heavier mission than any knight of the Principality."

Bibi stood up.

She walked before Damian and extended her hand. This was part of the contract procedure.

"Kiss my hand to swear loyalty, and declare your resolve before me."

Damian looked up at Bibi. He gave a faint bitter smile, lifted her hand, and kissed it deeply.

Up close, his refined features stood out more. Silveryn wouldn't have taken him in just out of pity. That witch was no philanthropist.

"Though I am lowly and insignificant, I will fight for you with my whole being. Even if fate itself abandons you, I will save you."

"..."

It was a grand resolve unfitting his position. He was resolute as if he were the last remaining knight of a kingdom. Though she wanted to verify if he would truly keep his word, unfortunately, he wouldn't face such trials during their journey.

Perhaps Silveryn had discovered this boy's immense potential as a political tool. As this thought occurred, Bibi roughly withdrew her hand.

"I'll remember your resolve. From today, your body moves for me."

The contract was sealed.

He would have to handle the dirty, unpleasant work in place of his master.

***

"Sit down."

Professor Candinella sat cross-legged, pressing her temples with her fingertips as if nursing a headache.

"..."

"You declined the Duchess' offer but ended up accepting?"

"Yes."

"I still oppose your dispatch. It's still early in the semester, and you especially shouldn't be wandering around freely. Understand?"

"I understand."

"The day before yesterday, Silveryn suddenly went berserk asking what happened to you. I told her 'he's fine.' But how quickly things change."

Oh, so Silveryn really did fall for my flimsy wordplay.

"I'll continue to rely on your help."

"You insolent, ill-mannered brat. Are you asking me to keep deceiving Silveryn? Have you never seen her angry?"

"..."

"No. It's not safe. This mission won't happen in the first place. Eternia's decision takes precedence over your wishes. I'll nullify everything even if it means taking on dishonor, so just prepare for your next class."

"It's alright. I... wasn't safe at Eternia either."

"Yes, that's why the professors abandoned the north and returned to Eternia. Now Eternia is safe, so stay put."

The decision couldn't be reversed now.

"I had a prophetic dream."

"...What?"

"That dream led me to Professor Silveryn and eventually to Eternia. And recently, as if squeezing out its last strength, my dying prophetic ability showed me the future."

At the mention of prophetic dreams, Professor Candinella's attitude changed.

"...What are you saying? You don't have any magical abilities at all."

"I must go."

Professor Candinella's eyes widened.

"You have no magic... no, if it's prophetic dreams, that's different. Silveryn must know about this. Let me ask one thing. Are you certain? Do you have a definite plan and future?"

I shook my head.

"I can't be certain of anything."

Candinella swept back her hair with a troubled expression.

"You're honest. If you'd said you had a perfect plan, I would have stopped you. The future always betrays and deceives human expectations. Hmm... but we shouldn't completely ignore it either. That power still has something to tell you."

"Are you giving permission?"

Candinella stared at my eyes, furrowing her brow. After a moment of silence, she spoke again, "...Yes, I'll allow it. Haa, do you need anything or have any requests?"

"There is one thing I need."

***

Cecil walked through the darkening campus, hugging a thick book. With classes finished and students in their dormitories, the paths were empty.

Walking by moonlight, a light flickered between the street trees. It looked like a will-o'-wisp. Curious, Cecil followed the light with muffled steps.

"...?"

Up close, it was a bird about the size of a fist.

Seeing sparks fly with each wing flap, it was clearly a spirit. It looked somewhat burdened by flight, plump with fat.

The bird flew diligently and disappeared behind a tree.

As Cecil carefully followed, she found Candy hiding behind the tree.

The plump spirit sat on Candy's hand, catching its breath.

Cecil spoke happily seeing him, "Let's make a secret place just for us two. Somewhere quiet where sound doesn't leak and we won't be noticed."

"Somewhere where I can quickly take you back to the dormitory when you're drunk would be good."

Cecil hit Candy's shoulder with her book.

"I'm never drinking with you again."

After exercising some violence, she swept back her disheveled hair and said, "So, why did you suddenly appear?"

"I just need your he—“

"If you're going to say you need help, I'm just going to continue on my way."

He smoothly changed his words.

"...The night path is scary, so I'll walk you to the dormitory."

Cecil smiled and said, "Perfect!"

She walked with Candy, casually linking arms with him.

He made light conversation.

"Studying late."

"Magic scholars have so much to study. And I've been especially busy lately because of a strange friend making difficult requests."

"...You have a bad friend. Don't play with someone like that."

"The problem is my heart is too soft. If they weren't so cute, I would've cut ties immediately. But, what was that sparrow earlier?"

"My spirit."

"It seems too fat to fly well... is it okay? I've never seen such a chubby spirit before."

"I’m planning to make it exercise soon."

"It's so funny thinking about you training that tiny sparrow."

Before they knew it, they reached Witdruff Hall.

"We're here. Thanks for the effort!"

"Go in quickly."

After releasing his arm, Cecil climbed the dormitory entrance steps, leaving him behind.

As she grabbed the door handle to push it open, she paused briefly. Then she sighed and turned around.

"Haa, I give up. So what did you want to ask?"

"I came to walk you home."

"Are you really going in? Stop being stubborn and tell me."

Candy hesitated briefly before speaking.

"...I need the circulatory system magic stone and frost wind bombs I left with you."

"How many bombs do you need?"

"As many as possible."

"What for? Are you going to war or something?"

"I thought they'd be useful for exercising the spirit."

It was an obvious lie. Cecil narrowed her eyes and stared at him suspiciously before sighing deeply.

"Candy, do you know how much each bomb costs? They don't just get made because you want them. And you're using them to burn spirit fat?"

"...Put it on my tab. Take plenty of interest too."

He seemed to be planning something but had no intention of sharing the plan.

"...Alright. I'll bring them. I don't know what you're planning, but don't get hurt."

***

I packed my things at Thorn Garden for the escort mission. Erzsebet's bracelet, wooden sword, Griffin Potion, and other recovery potions. I needed to pack everything I could. Since I would be acting as a mere Combat Department student, not Masters Class, I also needed to hide things thoroughly.

Then I recalled last night's dream. I was running while holding the Duchess' hand. And those chasing us were the very guards I met today.

I couldn't understand it no matter how I thought about it.

Am I going to kidnap the Duchess? 

It was a situation that couldn't possibly arise through normal circumstances.

How twisted was the dream? Will that scene really happen exactly as shown?

Creak—

While lost in thought, suddenly the room door opened without a knock. I stopped organizing and looked at the door.

Trisha entered silently with her white hair loose.

She was dragging a thick pillow in one hand. Had something bad happened? Her expression was uncharacteristically dark.

"What's wrong?"

"I heard the rumor. They say you're going on an escort mission."

"Yeah, somehow."

She came before me and suddenly swung the pillow. The soft object struck my body.

"...!"

"You! Need! To! Be! Punished! Just causing worry, never listening, doing strange things alone, leaving for somewhere far without telling your friend, why do you live just causing worry!"

The pillow struck my body mercilessly.

After swinging the pillow several times, Trisha dropped it. But she didn't stop there, clenching her fists, she started hitting me at random.

Though it didn't hurt much due to her weak strength, it didn't feel good.

I quickly grabbed her wrists tightly.

Still agitated, she resisted wildly, shaking her arms.

"Let go! Let go! You need more hitting!"

"Trisha."

"I'm stupid for saying I'd be your friend!"

"Trisha."

"Let go! I said let go!"

As she gradually realized her strength was useless no matter how much she shook her arms, her resistance slowly subsided.

I hurriedly poured out words to calm her.

"...I'll learn court cooking in Yulisia Principality and bring it back."

"I won't play with you anymore!"

"Okay, just don't play with me for about two weeks and I'll be back."

"..."

"I'll help you practice your script then too."

Since she still looked completely upset, I added one more promise.

"..."

"What do you want to eat?"

After an internal conflict, Trisha reluctantly spoke, "...Pumpkin cream cheese pie."

"I'll make it before I leave in the morning."

***

The next morning, a Principality attendant brought a carriage to the living quarters to pick me up. Due to the Duchess' tightly packed schedule, I, too, had to prepare frantically. The longer the schedule stretched, the longer my academic absence would be, so being busy was better.

I finished packing my clothes at Witdruff Hall. I had packed Cecil's frost wind bombs and the circulatory system magic stone, with just one thing remaining.

I went down to the first floor and stood before the fireplace in the central lounge. It was quiet with no one around at this early hour.

I held the unopened birthday gift box in one hand. I hadn't opened it, and the "Happy Birthday" note written in familiar handwriting remained as it was.

Past memories crawl back, linking one after another.

Those memories no longer bring me happiness.

Lisa and I have run separately for a long time.

We had grown so far apart that nothing could return us to how we were before.

I slowly tilted my palm toward the fireplace. This small box slid slowly and fell onto the blazing firewood.

The box was engulfed in flames and distorted instantly. Soon it turned to unrecognizable ashes along with its contents.