65 – stand alone

“Okay. Professor, I just have a question.”

“Tell me.”

“Why is Trisha being treated this way? If she’s just freed, there won’t be any reason for me to get involved.”

Ella let out a long puff of smoke, then paused for a moment before speaking.

“If you’re going to stay with us, you need to know a few things about Trisha. First of all, Trisha doesn’t belong entirely to Eternia. She’s half Eternia and half other places. .”

Ella recalled that when discussing admission to Azelis, the church spokesmanly.

A child who is chronically frustrated, rebellious, and commits dangerous eccentricities if left unattended. That was the church’s overall evaluation of Azelis.

A disposition close to confinement was strongly desired by the church. Following that, he wanted to permanently station the Church’s forces in Eternia and even have the Church’s bodyguards enter undercover to constantly monitor and protect Azelis.

It ended thanks to Azelis being extremely disgusted and committing a tongue-biting suicide performance.

“Are you going to become a princess?”

“More than that.”

“…I can’t imagine.”

“Just accept it.”

Even if a unit of the princess was brought in, it could not be changed. Azelis had that much value.

In the history of Eternia, Plantera’s first and foremost code of conduct has always been ‘Protect Eternia’, and it has never changed.

And the first rule, which Azelis had established after entering school, has changed.

‘Protect Azelis, even if Eternia perishes.’

And no one disagreed with this change.

The current Saint Flence is too old to give strength to the North.

Azelis, who would succeed him, was different. She had the potential to end daily tragedies on the northern perimeter and change the fate of the entire continent.

Azelis was struggling to get out of the church’s control somehow. Since he personally staged a suicide commotion, saying that he would rather die than be restrained in the name of protection, it was obvious that any further perseverance would only have an adverse effect.

There was a strange feeling in Damian’s eyes. It was difficult to guess what emotions he was feeling. I felt it every time I saw him, but he was a boy with extremely few changes in his expression.

The story of biting his tongue was meant to be kept a secret from Damian. It’s not good to start a relationship with preconceived notions.

When Damian was silent, Ella asked.

“Is there anything else you want to know?”

“There is not.”

“Okay, let’s get this far for now. If you have any questions, please come to the library.”

***

In the evening sunset, Silverin was sitting by the fountain.

Next to it is our carriage. And around it were surrounded by knights wearing golden armor.

As I approached Sylverine, she brushed my hair and spoke kindly.

“how. Is it worth it?”

“I get along well, even in places infested with rats and bed bugs. I feel rich.”

“Good.”

“But what are they doing here?”

“… For an important matter, let’s talk about the rest in the carriage.”

When we boarded the wagon, the knights also got on the horse in unison. They wrapped around and moved like escorts around a wagon.

Silverin glared at the knights outside the carriage window for a moment, then nervously drew the curtains.

She looks away from me and is silent for a moment. I struggled to open my mouth.

“My disciple. I have to go far away because I have something urgent to do.”

“Where are you?”

“As a saint. Do you know where it is?”

A sacred city where all buildings sparkle with golden light. The castle was a mysterious place that I had only heard of in books.

no wonder. The attire of the knights was unusual, but they must have come from Chengdu.

“Yes. When are you leaving?”

Silverin paused for a moment before opening her mouth.

“… Tomorrow.”

Tomorrow?

My heart sank, and I was speechless for a moment.

I knew that when I started my school life, I couldn’t stick around every day like I used to. I have been mentally prepared to some extent, but this is too sudden.

“… When are you coming back?”

“I don’t know exactly. It could be several months.”

“Are you sure you have to go?”

“… yes.”

Should I be embarrassed or sad? Feelings that are difficult to express in words squeezed my heart.

It was not natural to be with Silverin every day. It may have to come off overnight like this.

Because Silverin is a great wizard. There must be a lot of people to rely on and a lot to bear.

It’s only now that you realize it.

It’s only a few months at most, but why does it feel like such a long time?

“I don’t think we can go to the entrance ceremony together.”

“…it’s okay.”

Silverin avoided my gaze and was silent.

Until we got to the mansion, we couldn’t say a word.

***

Late at night, Silverin came down the stairs of the mansion with a candle in her nightgown.

I passed through such a dark and silent hallway and stopped in front of the door.

And knocked cautiously.

“…a disciple.”

As quiet as a dead mouse.

It was common to have Damian come up to him when he had business to do.

Silverin couldn’t spend the night as it was, so she eventually came down to Damian’s room.

“Are you sleeping?”

Silverin quietly opened the door and poked her head into the room. The room is as dark as pitch black.

Damian was sound asleep in bed.

Silverin silently approached the bed. I put a candle on the bedside table and sat down on the bed.

Then, he slowly brushed Damian’s hair as he slept.

When I saw his face sleeping peacefully in the world, I felt a pain in my heart.

“I struggle to sleep at night thinking about you, do you sleep happily?”

Then he pricked Damian’s cheek with his finger until he didn’t wake up.

He seemed to be in a deep sleep and didn’t budge.

Seeing that peaceful scene made my heart heavy again.

“I’m falling for a while, but why do I care so much… .”

Silverin herself couldn’t understand why she was doing this.

Although she was a child who could be strong enough on her own, the anxiety could not be washed away.

Silverin slightly lifted the covers and pushed herself into them. Lying down next to Damian, he whispered softly.

“Disciple, I won’t see you for a while, so I’ll be greedy.”

After that, I wrapped my arms around Damian’s body and closed my eyes.

***

Damian and the attendants came to the courtyard early in the morning to meet Silverin, who was leaving for the Saints.

Silverin approached Damian and handed him a dagger and a small glass bottle.

“My disciple. Can you put some blood in it?”

“Yes?”

“It’s your blood. With that dagger.”

Damian slashed his palms with a dagger without saying anything and let the blood flow into a glass bottle. When the bottle was half full, the flowing blood gradually decreased.

“Where are you going to write this?”

“I know when I see it.”

Then he held out his palm to Damian.

Two metal cubes the size of fingernails were placed in Silverin’s hand.

“Take one and swallow it.”

“Yes?”

“Put it in your mouth and swallow it.”

Damian glared at the cube for a moment, then quickly swallowed it.

Silverin put the remaining cube into a vial containing Damian’s blood.

Soon after, the cube reacted to the blood and began to glow.

“I never thought I would use this precious thing for a boy much younger than me. Can you feel it?”

Silverine closed the bottle with a cork and brought it to Damian’s cheek. The bottle rang at regular intervals.

“… What is thumping?”

“Can you feel it? it’s your heartbeat With this, you can feel your heartbeat even if you are on the other side of the continent.”

“… How amazing.”

“Even if you are far away, I need to know what condition you are in. This cube is also made from star fragments. While I’m on my way, I’m going to use this to get an oracle.”

“It’s an oracle… ?”

“yes. I will come to hear only good stories. don’t worry.”

It was time to leave, but Silverine couldn’t bear to move.

She took the potion and carefully healed Damian’s hand.

After that, Silverine slightly bent her waist to meet Damian’s eye level. And he caressed Damian’s cheek for a while.

It’s only been a couple of months, but they looked affectionate, like people who have to be apart for several years.

“I can’t move my feet because of you. disciple.”

“Don’t worry about me. I used to live well alone.”

“You mean you’ll eat well and live well without me?”

“Nope… . It’s not like that… .”

“yes. Even if it’s less than when you’re with me, you should be fine.”

“Yes.”

“And listen carefully, disciple. Eternia is not a safe place. The outside world is unusually dangerous, so Eternia just feels relatively safe.”

“it’s okay. I live in the safest place in Eternia.”

“No barrier or magic can be perfect, and there are vulnerabilities. And the Labyrinth, the safest place in Eternia, also has vulnerabilities.”

Silverin said as she tapped the mask tucked into Damian’s chest with her finger.

“Do you know why you have to wear a mask in the labyrinth? The center of the labyrinth was once devastated by an insignificant beast called Doppler. Now, Doppler is blocked by a barrier and it is possible to deal with it by just wearing a mask, but at that time Doppler was never reported in the academic world. It was a type of demonic beast that no one had ever seen before, and it was the first time anyone had ever experienced it. So it was impossible to deal with.”

“… .”

“Even these days, reports about monsters that no one has ever experienced come to the Magic Society from time to time. Some have high intelligence, and some even have magical abilities. Eternia can’t predict and stop them all. I mean, something strange could come and destroy it at any time.”

“I will be careful.”

Silverin grabbed both of Damian’s cheeks. Then, after thinking for a while, he spoke in a stronger tone.

“Disciple, you are a child with a strong sense of independence. You do not rely on others and try to solve any problem by yourself. Even with someone like me by your side. I love making and doing anything. It’s the way of life you’ve adhered to all your life, and that’s how you grew up. And if you’re by my side, I can prevent most problems.”

When we talked about the recipe, Damien sneaked away from Sylveryn’s gaze, as if he was stung. Then she grabbed Damian’s chin and fixed it back.

“But now I’m not by your side. You know what I’m most worried about? You’re not willing to spare your life. That’s what I sometimes feel when I see you. Act like someone who doesn’t care if you die. It was like that when I first met you. You’ll be the only crazy person you’re dealing with. Sing back. I’m a crazy person.”

“…”

“hurry.”

“I’m… crazy… a pro-boy.”

Inside Silverin, what he had been holding back for so long bubbled up. She expressed her raging emotions unfiltered.

“So, then, don’t do anything dangerous. Remember? I’ve decided to take care of you. What if you risked your life while I was away? When I return, you will lose all of your freedom. All dangerous recipes will be confiscated.” I will manage and control everything myself, what to eat, where to go, what classes to take, what clothes to wear, who to meet and what friends to make.

Damian’s pupils shook strongly at Sylverin’s high-handed attitude upon meeting him for the first time.

“Be serious… ?”

“Do I look like I’m joking?”

“… I know. I will be careful.”

“yes.”

Silverin calmed her raging heart for a moment and took out Stitch from her bosom.

“Have you tried this before? Wait a minute.”

When she blows on her index finger, a small flame rises.

Then, with that finger, he began to carve his initials into the stitches.

The metal surface burns black as it moves.

S♡D

She put the stitch in Damian’s hand and said.

“It’s precious, so keep it. If something happens, use this. It’ll be passed on to me right away. You know? There aren’t many stitches that fly directly to me, so don’t lose them.”

“I’ll keep it.”

“And here’s your homework for me while I’m gone. Listen carefully.”

“Yes.”

“First, eat three good meals.”

“Second, keep practicing swordsmanship, spiritism, and magical powers.”

“Third, send a letter of more than 10 lines to the teacher every week, no, every five days.”

Damian was half-conscious because he was so depressed.

“…Yes.”

“Did you memorize it?”

“Yes?”

“Let’s check if you’ve memorized it. First.”

“Eat well.”

“second.”

“…training hard.”

“third.”

“Even…one week…that, I forgot.”

Silverin frowned and said.

“There’s something else to forget.”

With all her heart and all her strength, she pinched Damian’s cheek.

“Again, first.”

Damian, whose cheeks stretched like dough, said in a trembling voice.

“That…send a letter every day. Jeong, wholeheartedly.”

Silverin glared at Damian for a moment, then released her pinched hand and gently rubbed her reddened cheek.

“Yeah… that’s enough.”

Very slowly, she thrust her face into Damian.

So he kissed Damien’s cheek tightly.

“I’ll go.”

After confirming that there was a dark mark left, Silverin took a difficult step and climbed onto the carriage.