18. 3 years ago (1)

The three major educational institutions in the kingdom are usually the Mage’s Tower, the Royal University, and the Knight Academy.

The Mage Tower, which stands on the most outskirts of the royal capital, is the final destination for the most outstanding wizards in the kingdom and trains up-and-coming wizards. The Royal College mainly trains administrators. A large number of children from court aristocrats flock here, and if children from civil servant families also enter here, their success is guaranteed.

And the knight academy is a place where the royal sword is cultivated. Not all great knights graduated from knight academies, but cadets who graduated from knight academies usually became good knights.

In the winter of three years ago, the knight academy was busy preparing for the final exam for the semester. Maxim continued to sharpen his sword every day even after entering his senior year. It seems like it was long, but looking back, it was short. It was a day that suits such an obvious expression.

“Where do you want to go when you graduate?”

Tactics class is over. While the chattering knight academy cadets rushed out of the classroom, Maxim was sitting at the desk at the far end of the classroom, close to the exit, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

With the final exams of the second semester approaching, the cadets were busy with their own preparations. As I graduated, the number of practical training increased significantly. Because the test is really like a real battle, the ability to cope with the real battle is becoming more important. Even during the break time after class, most of the graduating class cadets headed to the gymnasium carrying swords, spears, and shields.

Graduated.

Maxim had vague expectations. If a cadet graduated from the Royal Knights Academy, it was mandatory to work for more than 5 years under the control of the Central Knights. After that, you can be relatively free from personnel orders. It means that it doesn’t matter whether you go to the territory you want or continue to work for the Central Knights.

Still, I’ll continue to work under the direct control of the palace, right? If you’re lucky, you might even join the knights guarding the palace. Or with Theodora…

Maxim’s thoughts were interrupted there.

“Maxi, where do you want to go?”

The right arm supporting Maxim’s chin was pushed away, and Maxim’s head fell.

“Ouch.”

“Hey, Maxim Appart. You are not listening to me right now.”

Maxim came to his senses. The long blonde-haired girl sitting to his left was glaring at him with puffy cheeks. Clear, gray eyes resembling dark clouds. Maxim bent his neck and apologized to Theodora.

“Sorry, but I was listening.”

“What did I say?”

“I say I love you?”

“It’s funny, so I’ll forgive you.”

Theodora chuckled and laughed. Suddenly, the fist, which had been drained of all strength, touched Maxim’s arm.

“Where do you want to go after graduation?”

Maxim shrugged.

“I’ve never thought about where I want to go… I’d rather work in the royal capital. Or go to a rough place altogether. Grow your skills and your name.”

“If it’s a wild place… no man’s land?”

“I like no man’s land, and I like Kips.”

Theodora pouted.

“Kips, um… I don’t like cold places.”

“Or the border would be fine. Like the side that is attached to the Engen Kingdom.”

I could hear people walking in the hallway. There were loud laughs, grunts, and pleasant conversations.

and Theodora.

Theodora smiled silently at Maxim. That silent smile captivated Maxim’s surroundings louder than any other sound in the world. Maxim asked as if bewitched by that smile.

“Where does Theo want to go?”

“Where you want to go is where I want to go.”

Theodora laughs. Maxim involuntarily wrapped his hands around the cheeks that smiled. Her face was too small to fit in both hands.

“What, why?”

Theodora pursed her lips and said. Maxim playfully and lightly kissed the lips. My lips felt extremely soft and slightly dry.

“ah.”

Theodora’s face turned red. Maxim smiled and raised his hand to her lovely figure, stroking her hair.

“Oh, even though I told you not to touch my hair like that.”

Theodora held up her hand to protect her messy platinum hair, but did not push Maxim’s hand away. Instead, he just put his hand on top of Maxim’s hand, which was randomly combing his hair, to change it to something softer.

“Like this, softly. don’t break your head Is it that difficult?”

“yes. It’s hard. Looking at you now, anyone would want to be stroked like that.”

“no. Even if it is difficult, overcome it.”

Theodora said, firmly holding a finger in front of Maxim. Maxim felt the urge to mess up her hair more, but as Theodora’s hand guided her, she slowly stroked her hair. Her platinum hair was softer than velvet, and more beautiful than real platinum.

“Start the next lecture. Let’s go.”

Theodora took Maxim’s hand and stood up. Maxim followed her and slowly rose from his seat. The next class was hand-to-hand combat. Indeed, how the final exams will be held, Maxim inflated his anticipation to the fullest.

The two walked out of the classroom and gently let go of their hands. In principle, dating between the sexes was forbidden in the academy. Theodora looked at Maxim’s falling hand with pity.

“It would be okay if I held your hand. The academy rules are too strict.”

Maxim laughed at Theodora’s voice. As I left the classroom and started walking down the hallway, Theodora’s face changed back to that of a public face. A cold, noble atmosphere. Theodora Benning, who scatters gray eyes and is in awe of all students. Maxim loved her like this too.

“The weather has become very cold.”

But why does that flawless face melt when you look at yourself? His eyes remained calm, but Maxim could see Theodora’s mouth watering.

“Yes, winter is winter.”

“I hope it snows.”

said Theodora, shrinking slightly.

The windows in the hallway were fogged with frost. Theodora’s face, looking out the window, was pale and white as frost.

Maxim wrapped his scarf around Theodora’s neck. Theodora blushed as if embarrassed and waved her arms stiffly, but after confirming that no one was around, she accepted the hand. Maxim looked at Theodora and smiled warmly.

It had been almost three years since they had been dating her, but Theodora showed a consistent response to each and every touch she made. His face blushed, he smiled that he was happy, and he said thank you and that he loved you with a bit of shyness, but with a much more natural tone than before.

“I hate being cold. Dress warmly and come out.”

Maxim said playfully. Theodora shook her head, her face flushed like a pretty peach.

“If you take care of me like this, how can I dress warmly?”

What’s not consistent is that she’s been so candid. She was able to show her true feelings while blushing and expressing her shame. Maxim was just glad that she had turned in such a good way.

“Theo,”

“why?”

He tries to keep his composure, but his face is still red. Maxim clearly imprinted in his head the image of her half-turned towards him.

“no.”

“Blood, not funny.”

Theodora raised the corner of her mouth and smiled pretty. That white mouth, and the eyes that were folded while drawing long eyelashes. It was pretty enough to melt a person’s heart. Theodora then hid her expression by raising the scarf she had wrapped around her mouth.

The outdoor gymnasium where hand-to-hand combat lectures were held, the sky was strangely clear. The sun was high and not warm. The graduating year cadets were lined up waiting for the instructor to start talking. The instructor was a muscular bald knight with a stern look. The blood vessels protruding above his head made him look like a person whose head was filled with muscles. It wasn’t really that different.

The instructor cleared his throat and cleared his throat.

“First, before classes begin, I will inform you about the final exam.”

When the story of the final exam came out, the atmosphere of the cadets stiffened and changed. The instructor looked around at the cadets with satisfaction and began to speak.

“The final exam at the academy, as always, will be done in a form similar to the actual match as much as possible. And you won’t know whether it will be a form of subjugating monsters or fighting against people.”

The bald instructor lowered his voice sternly.

“So, make sure you are perfectly prepared for all types of combat.”

However, the instructor immediately relaxed his expression, and the same grim smile appeared on his grim face. It was a scary expression, but the cadets who had already adjusted to the academy knew that the smile was a smile of satisfaction and friendliness.

“Even if I say that, you guys should already be prepared as much as you can. I think the stage where I have to tell you guys about it has passed.”

The expression of the cadets slightly relaxed at the bald instructor’s unanswerable encouragement. The instructor cheered the atmosphere by clapping his hands.

“Well, with that said, let’s start today’s training. Get into groups and start an autonomous sparring. Anyone who needs help comes to me anytime.”

start!

After the instructor finished talking, Maxim faced Theodora who was approaching him as if he had promised. The scarf he had wrapped around him swayed in the wind. Their surroundings were noisy with the screams and gongs of the contest that had already begun.

“What if the scarf tears?”

Theodora’s voice, which seemed to mumble in a small voice, was clearly heard in Maxim’s ears.

“I don’t mind being torn, Theo. Are you going to let that scarf rip through my sword?”

Maxim drew his sword and provoked Theodora. The blade of Maxim’s sword made a sharp sound as it sliced through the winter air. Theodora shook her head, fluttering her scarf boldly, as if she had decided to accept Maxim’s childish provocation.

“Don’t let it go. Do you have the confidence that Maxi will tear it up?”

Rather, he grabs the end of the scarf and provokes it in reverse. Receiving that mischievous smile, Maxim straightened his sword.

“If you do this, I think I’ll just keep aiming for the scarf.”

“Then you’ll get angry, so do it right.”

Maxim smiled and circulated mana. The blade of the sword Maxim was holding gradually turned golden from the root, resembling his pupils. Although his talent for mana was lacking, his sword talent allowed him to come late and break the blade.

sword genius.

Although he did not stand out due to his lack of aura, Maxim was worthy of being called that.

“Yeah, I like that too.”

Theodora smiled brightly and dyed her sword platinum.

—

After class, back at the girls’ dormitory, Theodora massaged her throbbing right arm with satisfaction after the contest with Maxim. The lobby of the senior dormitory was quiet. Theodora would be the only one who could afford some leeway. The fireplace burned with a pleasing sound. Theodora felt the warmth and let out a long sigh.

“Benning, Theodora Benning?”

At that time, the instructor entered the dormitory lobby. Theodora looked up to face the tired instructor.

“what’s going on?”

“Approval for going out on weekdays has been issued.”

Theodora frowned slightly. Weekday outing? I’m sure you didn’t remember applying this week?

“I haven’t applied for a weekday outing this week…”

“Know. It’s not your request…”

The instructor rummaged through his pockets and took out a piece of paper that looked like an outing permit.

“Take it at once.”

“What is it?”

The instructor sighed and scratched his head.

“That… Count Leon Benning left the estate and came to the capital for a while, but he said he wanted to see his daughter.”

Father.

Theodora accepted the pass and put on a complicated expression. It didn’t look very happy.

“Well, go out and come. I’d like to say, keep the return time well… but even if you can’t keep it, they can understand, so don’t be too pressured and come back.”

You’re not the type to come to me so suddenly.

Theodora frowned. Her father was still a difficult person for her. The instructor scratched his head and said as if his job was done.

“The coachman will be waiting outside the front door. So that I can quickly change and go out.”

The instructor left Theodora behind and left the dormitory lobby. Theodora looked back and forth between the back of the instructor leaving the lobby and the pass that had been delivered to her.

First of all, I need to meet my father.

Theodora thought so and went back to her room to change into street clothes.