#32
“What happened, Rubia? Your grades have plummeted.”
It’s already winter, and it’s mid-December.
After the last regular exams of the third-year students of Lorsen Academy were over, the homeroom professor, who called Rubia separately, said those words with a worried look.
did not contain the meaning. He was purely concerned about Rubia’s condition without any other intentions. There was good reason.
“… … I’m sorry, Professor.”
Although her physical condition cannot always be maintained at its peak, Rubia was a very outstanding student due to graduate from the top who had consistently achieved first place in the entire Ministry of Magic.
Of course, since Rubia is also a person, there were days when she slipped for a while and ended up in 2nd place on some days, but if it was a couple of times, it was rather a part of Rubia’s humanity.
However, Rubia’s grades calculated in advance in this regular exam are… … Surprisingly, it was 15th overall.
Rubia’s sincerity was well known to all the faculty of Lorsen Academy, so this result was truly surprising.
This test was not particularly difficult or anything like that.
Of course, as it was the last exam after graduation, there were a lot of complex questions that felt like a total settlement of what I had learned so far, but they were at a level that would have been easy to solve if it was a regular Rubia.
Such Rubia made more than 4 mistakes in her writing, and she made a mistake in the calculation in the practical skill, which was always close to a perfect score, and could not fully compose the presented magic form.
As a result, the goal was somehow achieved, but the spirit was not in good shape. Rubia’s magic, which was of near-perfect quality, looked like a novice wizard that day… …
“… … I must have been very unwell.”
Rubia bowed her head like a criminal.
Last regular exam.
badly ruined it
… … Still, since Rubia had still accumulated many things, there would be no such thing as a scheduled high school graduation evaporated overnight.
Instead, it became a big topic for others who knew Rubia to the extent that the homeroom professor called Rubia separately and worried about what was going on.
“I didn’t call you to criticize you. It’s a mistake, but anyone can make it… … Are you really okay? It seems that your face has not improved much. If something is seriously ill… … ”
“Oh, no. professor. It’s not like that… … It’s just that I made a mistake because I wasn’t really in good shape, so it’s okay. I am fine now.”
“… so? If anything happens, tell me anytime. Even if graduation is near, I want to take care of my students until the very end. Rubia I know that you are even a strong child, but it’s okay to rely on the people around you sometimes when you’re having a hard time.”
“… … Thank you professor.”
Rubia nodded her head again. The professor worried about Rubia until the very end, but he couldn’t hear another answer from Rubia.
profit-
Rubia, who left the professor’s lab with such a brief greeting, stopped in front of the closed door for a moment. He quietly closed his eyelids and let out a long sigh as it was.
“… … ha ha.”
Why are you doing this, me?
If I made a slightly bigger mistake in the process of taking the exam, I would have been unable to maintain the top position.
The amount of study I learned was not at all different from usual, no, maybe I invested more time than usual. Why the hell was that?
Well, it’s probably because it didn’t work properly. I was groaning in my head and studying hard, but I kept getting twisted one by one… …
There was only one reason why I didn’t do it.
… …
After the last visit to Mew to inquire about Ezio’s whereabouts, Rubia didn’t even get a chance to talk to Mew.
No, it is correct to think that it is not possible to do so. Because it was no longer visible.
It seems that the dormitory’s belongings have been cleaned up and they have already moved to somewhere else, and from what I’ve heard, they are confined to one place and only wield a sword. I don’t want to meet anyone in person, and I’m starting to immerse myself in the sword like a really crazy person… …
For more than three weeks already, strange rumors circulated that Myura, a sophomore in the swordsmanship club, defeated not only the seniors in the same department but also the swordsmanship faculty one by one like breaking a seal.
It is said that the students who had glimpsed even a part of the legendary figure were either terrified or busy admiring Mew’s extraordinary talent to the point where they were horrified.
Of course, those rumors didn’t really matter to Rubia… …
bruises, bruises.
As the professor said, Rubia, whose face became slightly pale, walked aimlessly on the hallway inside the annex. Her gaze, lost in direction, drooped and turned to the floor, and the atmosphere of Rubia, which was always soft and lively, was clearly duller than before.
… Ezio could not be found. It was increasingly a mystery. What the hell happened to Ezio? Where have you gone? No trace of Ezio could be found anywhere.
Not long ago, he looked good inside the academy, but now he can’t figure out exactly where he is, what he’s doing, or whether he’s really alive.
what what is it Where did you go without saying a word to me, Ezio… …
I didn’t know anything else, but if it was an important job like resigning, I thought I’d say something.
But it wasn’t.
… Have we gone too far?
Or maybe I was seriously injured without the ability to tell anyone… … It didn’t seem like that.
Mew knew more about Ezio’s news than he did. At least for Mew, it was clear that Ezio had said several things beforehand.
The melancholy feeling that surrounded Rubia as she walked down the hallway alone was a feeling of loneliness or isolation.
It reminds me of the memories of being lost and left alone in the dense forest as a child. It was truly a terrifying and frightening moment.
At that time, when Ezio appeared while walking through the bushes, Rubia’s tears, which had been squatting in her seat, were bound to stop as if in a lie.
The anxiety that filled Rubia’s head as it is now disappeared like snow in an instant… …
Rubia had been subtly relying on Ezio for her life. In other words, his existence alone was comforting.
But now it wasn’t. Having disappeared into a faraway place that could neither be found nor reached, Rubia, unable to see Ezio any longer, fell into a feeling of extreme helplessness.
Then it makes me think a little bit foolish.
… … Were you forced to have a conversation?
Even if it was a burden on Ezio, should he have had an active conversation? Would you have accepted Ezio’s discomfort and put the things I had hurt him into words?
It was only later that I started thinking about such foolish thoughts mixed with regret, but in the end, everything was already over.
Of course, there was no way to do anything now.
Ezio and himself were separated and separated without any turning point. There was no opportunity to resolve the lingering conflict. Ezio is gone, and he is left here.
Because of that, the fact that her body and mind were getting more and more exhausted right now, and it was all her fault.
… … After leaving the professor’s room like that, Rubia had about two afternoon classes in a row, but she couldn’t concentrate properly.
#33
A few days ago, the first snow of winter fell.
— Rubia, are you here? Come out for a second.
Even today, Rubia, who had been thinking deeply about how to inquire about Ezio’s whereabouts without doing any magic research in the lab, was instructed to stop doing what she was doing and go outside because someone was calling her.
Rubia, who looked a little thinner than before, hurriedly arranged the table. Then I took the lab key and left the door, and walked slowly to the place the professor had called me.
who called The answer to that could be quickly provided within a short period of time.
“It’s been a while, Rubia. How have you been?”
A young man with light brown hair, who was sitting on a chair under the low ceiling and enjoying the snowy scenery, waved his hand and greeted Rubia.
“… … Oh, Shriel-senpai?”
It wasn’t as much as Rubia, but he also seemed to have lost some weight. Was the activity in the tower difficult? It looked like a lot of trouble.
“First, sit here.”
“Ah yes. … … Hey-!”
Rubia went to the chair to the right that Shuriel had pointed to and sat down carefully. Because it was an outdoor chair, it was cold enough to make my hips shiver. Hearing Rubia’s faint scream, Shriel got up from her seat and tried to take off her coat.
“this. I forgot to put some clothes on.”
“Oh, no! Enough magic!”
Rubia, who restrained Shuriel’s actions, quickly finished the calculation. It was enough to close and open the eyelids.
——Woo… …
Rubia immediately brought the small red magic circle that appeared in her palm to the chair she was sitting on, and the wooden chair that had successfully absorbed the heat without burning it was dyed warmly.
Shuriel, seeing Rubia’s expression, which began to slowly melt as she took a breath, suddenly handed her a cup of coffee she had prepared in advance and opened her mouth.
“You’ve become quite slender, Rubia. What has happened in the meantime?”
“yes? ah… … I guess it’s just because I’ve been thinking a lot about this and that because of my graduation these days.”
Rubia, who took the cup of coffee with her head bowed briefly, blew it out and put it inside her lips. It was hot. But it tasted very good. With both hands wrapped around the coffee cup, Rubia asked a similar question to Shuriel.
“I think you’re a little skinny too.”
“Well? … is it? I was nothing special.”
“really? It doesn’t look that way at all… … ”
Shriel stroked my chin.
Then he laughed bitterly.
“Obviously, I didn’t do anything special. I haven’t been able to sleep lately because of the uproar around me.”
“… … Senior’s, are you around?”
“okay.”
what did it mean
Shriel didn’t say any more.
Shriel nodded and looked back at Rubia.
“I told you I would visit you someday.”
“Ah yes. Seniors.”
“Because I was busy with various things, I couldn’t have much time. I’ve barely found time to come to you, but I don’t have much time allowed to stay here. I’ll probably have to go back in thirty minutes.”
“Is that so… … ? How busy are you… ”
“… … ”
Shriel sip coffee without saying a word.
A little far away from where he was sitting, he said while keeping his gaze away from Rubia, who always maintained the same sense of distance.
“Are all the exams at school over?”
“Yes Yes.”
“Then it really means that only graduation is left.”
“Yes.”
Shriel looked quietly over the pure white forest.
“… … How can time go so fast I just closed my eyes and opened them, but two years have passed. Sometimes it’s unbelievable.”
“… … ”
“Well. It’s no different, that’s why I came here.”
Shriel continued.
“The last final exam of the year went as planned, and there are things I have to say to you, who are only graduating from the academy. You will have to decide your career path in January. As it is an important time, I came here to give advice from a senior position.”
“… … Thank you, senior. I don’t know if I can do this if I just keep getting help.”
From the position of Rubia, who owed him his life, Shriel had to meet him once. It’s because I haven’t been able to properly express my gratitude for that day.
However, it was difficult for both Rubia and Shriel to keep time with each other because they were busy, but today, Shuriel made time to come directly to Lorsen Academy.
Shriel smiled softly.
“Well, it’s something I want to do, so I don’t have to thank you. … … And, I didn’t really come here to give you advice.”
“… yes?”
“Listen, Rubia.”
Shriel held the coffee cup in one hand.
Then he started talking in a serious tone.
“You have a special talent. Such an amazing talent that can’t be found even compared to ordinary wizards. So, after graduating from the academy, there will be countless people looking for you. If we pick two representative places from there… The Star of the Giant Magic Tower, Akasha, and the Imperial Frontier Academy. That’s probably it. No, they will definitely need you.”
“… … ”
“As I said earlier, Akasha’s Star is a very suitable place to bring your talents to life. Moreover, in my opinion, you have already achieved the conditions for ascending the hierarchy. If you enter the Star of Akasha after graduation, you will be awarded the rank of official wizard right away. I’m not sure.”
“… … ”
“Frontier is… Well, it’s also a place where countless talented students gather, but if you want to be at a level comparable to yours, you’ll have to be in the Epic class over there. I heard that it is a class composed only of extraordinary hardy special guys who are different from ordinary people. Perhaps, Rubia, you will be able to pass the exam without too much difficulty.”
“… … ”
“However, even if the Frontier has a great curriculum, there is no facility on the continent with a level that can match Akasha’s star in magic. So, since the Star of Akasha was established a hundred years ago, it must have maintained an unrivaled position in the field of magic.”
“… … ”
“Did I say that you would seriously consider my invitation last time, Rubia?”
“… … Yes, sir.”
“I don’t have time, so I won’t be talking long.”
Whoa.
Shriel, taking a sip of coffee, immediately exhaled.
“I want you to enter the Star of Akasha.”
“… … ”
“I have no right to decide your future. As I said before, the choice is yours. … But if you want to do that, I will do my best to help you. There is no particular reason to lengthen the invitations, so I just want you to know that.”
“… … ”
Rubia did not answer easily.
Of course, it wasn’t that he didn’t think about the pylon at all. Because the future career path was really important in Rubia’s life.
However, the thought of the tower that Shuriel had recommended was unfortunately never thought deeply about recently.
Because, of course, a more important issue was covering Rubia’s head.
“… … ”
“… … ”
There was silence between the two for a moment. Shriel knew he didn’t have much time left to stay here, but silently sips his coffee.
I didn’t even expect that an answer would come out of Rubia’s mouth right away today, and much more time should be prepared for these important concerns.
Because depending on which choice you make, your life in the future could change drastically. There was no right to rehearse.
Yeah, I wasn’t expecting it anyway.
Rubia will need a little more time.
There will be plenty of time to think.
… … then.
The opportunity was now.
“Rubia.”
“… … Ah yes. Seniors.”
Rubia raised her bowed head.
Eyebrows that look a little lowered. The bright green eyes contained within. I liked the cherry blossom-colored hair that was always shiny and shiny enough to make Shriel smile naturally whenever she saw Rubia.
He is always kind to everyone, never harbors any evil in him, and he has very good talent, but he is basically humble, so he does not commit any acts that seem to deceive others.
He was a great figure who knows how to give warm praise before slandering others, and tries to see the good points before the bad points of others.
Because of this, even the children of noble families who still ignored and looked down on commoners in the changing times could not treat Rubia as recklessly.
Rubia had been building a high profile within the academy that much.
Most of all, it seemed to attract the popularity of many male students with her pretty appearance, making her jealous of many female students… … Unfortunately, none of the male students have succeeded in confessing so far.
There was no need to think it strange, and if you think about it, it was natural.
As much as the distance between Shuriel and Rubia sitting on the bench right away, Rubia didn’t want to get any closer than a certain distance to other male students.
It seemed that Shuriel was no exception.
That cold fact.
It was a bit bitter for Shriel, who thought he was the closest to Rubia among all the male students… …
“I wanted to treat you like a senior. I can’t say that I was completely fascinated by your different talents… … Aside from all that, I finally liked you, so I came to you and invited you to enter the Star of Akasha.”
There was nothing wrong with Shriel’s words. Ruby knew it too.
So I bow my head.
“… I am always grateful to my seniors. It was the same when you helped me, but this time especially—”
at that time,
“I’ve only been with you for a year, Rubia.”
“… … ?”
Rubia tilted her head slightly to the side.
Shuriel’s expression as she sighed coldly… It seemed indescribably complicated.
“That year has become an irreplaceable and precious time for me.”
“… … ”
the moment you finished speaking.
Rubia shut her mouth.
The snowy landscape seemed to have stopped like a picture in an instant, and the serious thoughts about Akasha’s star that Shriel had recommended until now disappeared completely, and all that was left was tension for no reason.
Whoo oh… …
Shuriel’s soft voices mixed in the cold wind.
“I never meant to appeal to my emotions. However, sometimes things don’t go as planned.”
“… … ”
“Rubia, if you don’t enter Akasha’s Star… … I may be a little sad. No, maybe it will be very difficult. For the past year apart from you, after your graduation, I struggled to figure out how to get you together in the same tower as me.”
“… … ”
“… … Yes, it is.”
“… … ”
“One year with you would have been great, but if I could spend the rest of my life with you, how much better it would be. Sometimes I thought of that. I’m still doing that. Maybe every day will be fun.”
at that point.
Rubia opened her mouth carefully.
“… … Me, senior.”
“Rubia. Now, not as your senior, but as Shriel de Laparat.”
Shuriel’s voice seemed calmer and more serious than usual. However, the inside was in a state of calm, like a calm sleep, because it had far surpassed the unprecedented tension.
“… … I didn’t want to throw another worry to you, who seems to have a lot of trouble. However, I thought that I had no chance but now, just before graduation. I came to you with all my heart in mind, so you may answer whatever you want right now in this place.”
tired.
Shriel opened her eyes slowly.
Recalling the memory of the day when he almost lost Rubia in front of his eyes, he also recalled his helplessness that he could not do anything on the spot.
Unlike myself like that, I did not give up and started… It reminded me of the face of a boy who, in the true sense of the word, had saved Rubia from death by dying.
Thanks to this, Shriel’s heart could be a little more at ease. why was it Perhaps it was because he had already anticipated the return result.
But—even if so.
Because I thought that if I ended up not trying anything like this, that would be something I would definitely regret in the future.
It was to finally express the old mind that had been just keeping it inside for the past two years.
The bitter wind blew again.
Shriel, with a bitter smile on her lips, finally revealed everything as she looked straight at Rubia, who swept the hair that was clinging to her cheeks behind her ears.
“… … As a junior, as a woman. I really love you, Rubia. So, won’t you come to Akasha’s Star with me?”
Damn! I’m sick of these boring love stories! Transition please!