[Episode 189] Backstage Maneuvers (5)
Early in the morning, the Holy City’s escort was waiting in front of the inn. Scholar of the Magic Sword, Rober Feis, expressed his reluctance upon seeing the golden-armored holy knights behind Silveryn.
“What are those men?”
“There’s no need to be afraid. They won’t harm you.”
“This is… completely unexpected.”
“The Church harbors resentment towards the vampire race as a whole, not individual hatred towards each vampire. Especially not for a civilized vampire like yourself.”
Rober Feis looked somewhat embarrassed.
“Either way, it seems I’m destined to die by a dark mage or a holy knight.”
“No, the Church takes this matter seriously enough to put aside their antipathy.”
The history of vampires is stained with blood. The race as a whole has been blinded by desire and committed unforgivable sins, and at times, they have been the victims of mass killings by humans. The Church has always been entangled in that sordid history.
Most humans who directly witnessed that history have died of old age, but not vampires. For Rober Feis, who had seen that carnage, the Church was inevitably an uncomfortable presence.
He sighed and with a tone of half-resignation, asked,
“Am I being taken to the Holy City?”
“That place is the safest for you. If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to.”
He bit his lip briefly.
“…I’m not sure what to do. That strange woman said something to me in an ancient language that nobody speaks anymore. I pored over old texts and vaguely translated it to ‘You have nowhere to run.’ That’s what she said.”
Silveryn remained silent for a moment.
“I’ve been having strange dreams ever since. Dreams of meeting a peculiar man by a black lake.”
“…”
T h is wa s c o p i e d f r o m ki n gm t l . o r g
“Each time I have that dream, I wake up drenched in sweat. This too, this must be some kind of curse.”
“It’s likely a premonition of a curse. Strictly speaking… it might be better to accept that facing a dark mage is a curse in itself. It seems excessive, but that’s how black magic operates.”
The frightening aspect of black magic is that its start and end are utterly unpredictable. It does not require magical power as a price, but it takes something equivalent. Sometimes the cost is paid by an individual, sometimes by an entire nation. It’s more akin to something of a higher dimension, created to toy with humans, than to magic.
Looking at the Church’s golden carriage, he muttered in resignation,
“A curse, a curse… I’ve been ensnared by a curse.”
Silveryn looked down at him coldly and nodded.
“It’d be a significant loss to us if you die wasting time in the wrong place.”
A curse is like ink dropped into a glass of water. Once mixed, it’s impossible to separate the ink alone. The Church did not believe they could save him. Their goal was to preserve his life as long as possible to extract useful information.
His face grew darker.
“I fear what price I might pay for resisting…”
“Whether you like it or not, you must go to the Holy City, where there are healers. And even if you comply, you won’t meet a good end.”
He nodded.
“Very well. I’ll go to the Holy City.”
***
While talking with Jenia, Haley was twisting and tearing off her clothes with such violence that it seemed they might rip.
“This rag of a dress!”
She then threw the discarded garment on the floor.
It was a dress that oozed luxury, but obviously not to Haley’s liking.
Stripped down to her undergarments, she didn’t care to cover up despite the greenhouse’s transparent walls. The other female students, used to her ways, approached to shield her from view.
Watching this, Jenia tipped me off.
“Rookie, be careful approaching Haley for about a week before and after the ball. She can get quite hysterical.”
Th i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g m t l. o r g
“More importantly… are you okay, Senior?”
Jenia was in a worse situation. The ball was ruined for both of them, but at least Haley could still walk around.
With a composed face, she replied,
“…Just accept it when everything goes to hell.”
It’s sometimes hard to get used to the way such a refined and dignified face could spout such vulgar words.
“…”
“Anyway, I didn’t want to dance with any of them. All my peers are just a bunch of unlucky and irritating guys.”
Perhaps this was her way of protecting herself from the sense of deprivation. It struck me as a bad idea to stir the pot by mentioning dancing.
“Can you walk on your own?”
“I’m fine. I’m not some fragile girl who whines over something like this. My duel opponent is now bandaged up in bed.”
“Still, I’ll help you.”
***
As the art department class ended and students streamed out like rapids, I approached Jenia, who sat alone in front of her easel, preparing to move with her cane.
“May I carry you?”
Jenia looked at me and shook her head.
“No, if people see that, they’ll say I made a fool of myself in front of a decent junior. If you want to help, carry my bag.”
T h i s w as co p i e d f ro m k i n g m t l . o r g
She handed me a bag full of textbooks.
I slung the bag over one shoulder and grabbed Jenia’s wrist with my other hand to prevent her from falling.
“Look at this guy.”
Jenia appeared a bit flustered but didn’t pull away.
Matching my pace, we slowly walked out of the greenhouse.
“Where to, Senior?”
“…The Department of Magic building.”
We remained silent cutting across the Academy campus.
I’m not much of a talker, but I didn’t expect the usually chatty Jenia to keep quiet.
Finally, as the Department of Magic building came into distant view, she spoke up.
“Rookie.”
“Yes, Senior?”
T h i s w as c op i e d f r o m k i ng m t l. o r g
“You’re… commendable.”
“You’ve always taken care of me, Senior.”
“Yeah, I looked after other rookies too, but I was especially fond of you.”
“Thank you.”
“So stick with the art department.”
“…”
Jenia seemed to ponder deeply, contrary to her usual spirited demeanor, before speaking up.
“Rookie, there’s something I want to tell you.”
“Yes?”
“It might be something you don’t want to hear.”
T h i s w a s c opie d f r om k i n g m t l .o r g
“Please speak freely.”
“I like everything about you, really. But there’s just one thing that bothers me.”
“…?”
T h i s wa s c o p i e d f r o m k i n g mt l . o r g
“It seems like you have no intention to deeply connect with your peers or seniors in the art department. That’s a shame.”
“…”
“I easily follow you, and so does Haley, but you don’t interact with the others. Newcomer Lilith seems sweet and pretty, and Marietta is also cheerful and cute.”
T hi s w as c op i e d fr o m ki n gm t l .or g
“…”
“The other first years in the art department are all getting along, creating a supportive environment, but you seem to be adrift.”
“I’m content as I am now.”
“Sigh, when you don’t form connections, it looks like you’re always ready to leave. Even if that’s not your intent, that’s how it appears to us. It makes us anxious. Don’t tell me the art department is just a fleeting amusement for you?”
“…It’s not.”
“Do you prefer being alone? I thought you’d have plenty of friends, but it turns out that little theater club kid is all you have? Only he and… the blonde-haired one really seem to care when you’re in trouble. I don’t know how you live, but when I see you… sigh.”
Jenia sighed as if the whole matter was deeply troubling to her.
She had shrewdly touched upon something I couldn’t deny.
I prepare myself to leave at any moment, conserving energy like animals bracing for winter. It might have become an ingrained habit.
At the orphanage, when I was taken in by Silveryn, I was always ready to be abandoned. It was the same in the art department. I never fully relaxed, always preparing for everything to fall apart.
I had lived a life where survival meant not getting too attached.
When we reached the Department of Magic building, she shook off my hand and hobbled up the stairs. Halfway up, she turned abruptly and said,
“Even if it’s not with the art department, I hope you make friends. I’m just saying it because it crossed my mind. Even if you insist on your way, I’ll still care for you, so don’t feel burdened.”
“…”
“Hey, rookie, but why does that one keep looking at us? Did we do something wrong?”
Jenia pointed somewhere. There, a white wolf peeked out from between the shrubbery, sitting still. As we looked, the spirit turned and vanished into the bushes.
It was Luna’s wolf spirit.
***
During lunchtime, I ate quietly in a corner, forcing down meat while musing over Jenia’s words. Just then, someone appeared before me, placing a plate and sitting down across from me.
It was Olivia, the fiancée of my duel assessment opponent, Ruskeus.
She settled in without a greeting and began to eat.
A faint bruise, looking a bit old, was visible on the corner of Olivia’s mouth.
After a moment of contemplation, I spoke up.
“…Senior.”
“Yes?”
T h is w a s c o p i e d f r om k i n g mt l. o r g
“Has anything happened?”
“You thrashed Ruskeus. Of course, something happened.”
“…”
Th i s w a s c o p i e d f r o m k i ng mtl . or g
“Ah, the aftermath was a bit scary, but it was so satisfying. You looked the coolest in the world to me.”
“What happened afterward?”
“Oh, haven’t you heard? He was about to cause another incident, but just then, the Grand Duchy’s ambassador showed up right on time.”
“…”
“The Grand Duchy’s embassy is filled with nobles and royals who keep their identities secret in Eternia for diplomatic reasons. The ambassador saw it and reported it straight to the authorities. Thanks to that, Ruskeus got confined.”
“Is that good?”
Olivia grinned and replied,
“His family found out and turned everything upside down, so now he won’t dare to lay a hand on anyone freely. I can breathe easy.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“The embassy has also sent me a letter saying they won’t spare any support for me since I helped them out.”
“…”
Thi s was c op i e d f ro m k i n gmt l . o rg
Olivia put down her fork and looked at me intently.
“You had a hand in this, didn’t you?”
I finished the meat in my mouth and shook my head.
“It has nothing to do with me.”
She didn’t seem to believe my words, but she didn’t press further.
“Anyway, I wanted to thank you. I owe you big this time, so if there’s anything I can help with, I’ll step in whenever I can.”
Olivia finished her meal and got up, holding her plate.
What kind of help could she offer me? Either way, having one more ally is good news.
Actually, there was one thing.
I caught up with Olivia as she was about to leave.
“Senior.”
“Yes?”
“Could you do me a favor?”