The First Letter (52)

The Academy was peaceful at midday, as always.

As usual, I bought a drink from the tea shop in the student center. Then I leaned back against my chair and noisily sucked on the straw.

A fragrant tea scent rose into the air. It was the smell of new vitality being supplied to a mind worn out by long hours of training and study.

This was my daily life. A solid routine that had not fallen apart despite three years at the Academy. And by my side as I spent those days, there was usually one of two people.

Celin Haster or Reto Einstein.

Today was no different. A man with slightly wavy brown hair and green eyes touched with fatigue sat across from me.

It was Reto, my childhood friend and one of my closest friends. He was looking at me with an incredulous expression today, too.

“So, what did that Yurdina brat say?”

“Nothing? Her face just turned cold, and she didn’t say a word until we parted.”

Oh boy, a sigh escaped Reto as he heard me. He rubbed his face with both hands. His reaction let me grasp the situation, at least roughly...