Chapter 67: A New Wave (3)
“…He’s late.”
The entrance of the Forbidden Forest.
The great stone gate, the only entrance to the Forbidden Forest surrounded by barriers.
Standing alone before that gate, Cecilia whispered softly as if to herself.
“Far too late.”
When she had first heard Lian’s story, she had expected it would take some time.
After all, he had said he was heading to the very center of that vast Forbidden Forest.
But still…
‘Even so, I thought he would be back around dinner.’
She had vaguely thought, ‘Surely he’ll be back by dinner.’
And it wasn’t without reason.
He had clearly said he would return today, and more importantly, the person who had gone with him was none other than Yeriel Poas, said to be the next Archmage.
She had heard with her own ears that he would make all the proper preparations, which only made her believe it all the more.
Yet in the end, the result had proven her expectations wrong.
As Cecilia stood absentmindedly gazing at the stone gate, she lightly touched the hilt of the sword at her side with her fingertips.
‘…He said we’d practice swordsmanship together today.’
Though she hadn’t shown it outwardly, she had secretly been looking forward to training with someone else.
To explain further, with Lian—yes, she had gone to bed later than usual just thinking about how they could train like close friends, helping each other sharpen their skills.
Truthfully, if she could, she would have preferred to train alone with him, without Allen.
But if it had come to that, Lian would surely have felt uncomfortable.
So she had forced down her disappointment and agreed to include Allen in their training.
Still, she had been excited at the thought of training together, but…
“……”
It seemed today’s promise would be difficult to keep.
In the end, Cecilia had no choice but to reluctantly accept that fact.
Dinner had already long since passed, and there were only a few hours left until curfew.
And with classes starting in earnest soon, it would only become harder to make time. Opportunities like today would be even rarer.
“……”
A new feeling, one she had never experienced before, gradually filled her chest.
Unable to put it into words, Cecilia simply kicked the pebbles at her feet with light thuds.
‘If I had known, I should have said I wanted to go with him too.’
Thinking so, Cecilia shook her head slightly.
If she had, Lian would surely have been troubled.
Judging from how he had gone straight to ask the Headmaster for permission, it must have been something important.
When she had looked at his expression then, he had seemed very serious.
Even Cecilia, with her limited experience in relationships, could tell it was not something she could intrude upon.
‘And more importantly….’
Hadn’t it been clearly written, both in the letter from her sister and in the books she borrowed from the library?
— No matter how close or intimate, one must always respect each other’s privacy and personal space.
Cecilia nodded to herself, taking a quiet breath as if to calm down.
What she wanted was simply for Lian and herself to consider each other best friends.
She didn’t want to be the only one thinking of him as a friend, while making him uncomfortable. That was the last kind of relationship she wished for.
Whatever anyone said, Lian was her very first special friend since birth.
Even if she had to wait a lifetime, she must not let impatience ruin things.
Recalling the ancestral words passed down in her family, she continued idly kicking pebbles.
“…Really?”
To anyone else, it would have looked as though she was suddenly speaking to thin air.
But Cecilia clearly saw the spirits that always lingered around her.
And she clearly heard the news they brought her.
— The man who was with him is on his way here.
At those words, Cecilia couldn’t help but smile brightly at the stone gate.
But the gate, firmly shut, showed no sign of opening.
Had the spirits played a trick on her? Just as she thought so—
“Ah, there you are.”
A voice came not from the stone gate, but another direction.
Turning her head, she saw Allen approaching, carrying a practice sword just like she was.
Staring at him, Cecilia muttered softly.
“…Liars.”
At her sighing lament, the spirits fluttered in a panic, circling her as if desperately trying to explain.
— It is the man who was with him!
As if they were shouting in protest.
Ignoring them, Cecilia instead bowed her head slightly to the approaching Allen.
“…Hello.”
“Yes, hello.”
He must have just come from training, as the tips of his red hair were damp with sweat.
Looking at Cecilia, he gave a slightly awkward smile.
“When neither of you showed up, I wondered if something had happened.”
At his words, Cecilia asked curiously.
Hadn’t she clearly left it in the right place?
“Didn’t you see the note? I’m sure I left one….”
“Note? …Ah.”
Fumbling briefly through his bag, which he carried along with his practice sword, Allen pulled out a neatly folded note.
“It was on my bag… but I didn’t realize it was from you, Miss Cecilia.”
“Yes, I left it. …But why didn’t you read it?”
“No one has ever given me this kind of note before.”
Allen muttered with the same awkward smile.
“Well, I have received notes before… but most of the time they were filled with insults or mockery. Otherwise, they were meant for someone else by mistake. So I assumed this was the same and didn’t bother checking.”
“…I see.”
It could have sounded like a strange excuse.
But Cecilia nodded firmly, understanding his answer.
Because she herself had gone through similar experiences more than once.
“I suppose that makes sense.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Allen said this while giving her a look that seemed to ask for an explanation.
But Cecilia only answered by continuing to stare at the firmly shut stone wall.
Seeing this, Allen asked with a doubtful expression,
“Don’t tell me Lian went into the Forbidden Forest?”
“Yes.”
“Is that so.”
Allen frowned briefly, then murmured quietly.
“The Forbidden Forest… Lian wouldn’t have sneaked in there without permission, of all people….”
Then Allen nodded, as if convinced, and said,
“But still, it’s impressive. To think he’s already been granted permission to enter the Forbidden Forest when he’s barely enrolled. I hear it’s not something even upperclassmen easily achieve….”
“……”
At Allen’s words, Cecilia pressed her lips together without realizing it.
He likely hadn’t meant it that way, but to her, his words sounded like bragging: ‘Lian and I are close enough to understand each other without knowing the details.’
“…I don’t know the details either.”
Still, she couldn’t just ignore him, so she muttered bluntly. It was the best she could manage.
“So, you didn’t even know when he’d be back.”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Ah, seeing you carrying your sword, I suppose you were also looking forward to today’s sparring session.”
“Yes.”
“Haha, ha….”
“……”
“……”
“……”
And so, once again, the two of them turned their eyes away at the same moment, sharing an awkward silence.
Cecilia still found it uncomfortable to converse with anyone other than Lian.
Allen wasn’t much different; though slightly better than her, he too preferred to avoid conversations with others whenever possible.
“……”
“……”
So, just like when they had gone out into the city a few days ago, they simply stood in silence.
Allen was the first to break it.
“Since it seems difficult today, shall we try again another time?”
“That would be best.”
Cecilia nodded.
Yet, despite her answer, she remained standing before the stone gate.
Seeing this, Allen asked her,
“You’re not leaving?”
“…As I said before, I don’t plan to train today. But I do plan to wait for Lian. There’s something important I need to tell him.”
Cecilia added,
“Something important. Something that cannot wait beyond today.”
“Ah….”
“…Lord Amiel, you may leave. It’s late at night, after all.”
So please, just go.
That was what Cecilia thought.
As if reading her mind, Allen nodded.
“Then I will wait with you.”
“…?!”
“The truth is, I also have something I wanted to discuss with Lian. And besides, as you said, it would be improper to leave you waiting alone this late at night.”
Before Cecilia could protest in surprise, Allen sat himself down at a suitable spot.
Seeing this, Cecilia couldn’t help but frown slightly—a rare expression for her.
— Should I scold him?
— Want me to chase him away?
The spirits chattered nonstop beside her, as if trying to make up for their earlier mistake, only adding to her weariness.
Cecilia was about to firmly tell them to be quiet—in a voice Allen could not hear—when—
Creakkk!
A quiet sound, unfitting for such a massive gate, yet loud enough to draw both their gazes.
The stone gate was opening.
Allen quickly stood up, while Cecilia fiddled nervously with her bangs.
Soon, two figures emerged from beyond the gate.
But they were not the ones they had been waiting for.
“Hm?”
“Oh my….”
They were none other than Deiare and Yul Runberg.
Both were professors in charge of the basic courses.
Contrary to my expectations, on our way back the Headmaster didn’t mention anything about the conversation I had with Airos.
He didn’t even ask in passing what I had meant, or what I knew.
He simply remarked that if we hurried, we’d make it back before curfew.
“We made good time.”
The great barrier, and the stone gate—the only entrance through it.
As it came into view, he broke his long silence.
“Well done, Gwendil.”
“Not at all. I only feel sorry for troubling you.”
“Hahaha, as I told you before, this is simply me repaying a debt. No need to feel sorry.”
With a grunt, he rubbed his neck and shoulders as he spoke.
“And what I said earlier—you can just take it as a joke.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, when I told you to call me Master. Just think of it as the poor jest of an old man.”
The Headmaster took a short breath and added,
“No matter how old I am, I’m not so foolish as to use a phrase that would draw so much attention. Imagine us calling each other Master and Disciple—it would be troublesome, especially for you.”
“……”
“But it’s different with the Grandmaster.”
He stopped walking, turning to look at me.
I too halted and met his gaze.
“The Grandmaster truly intends to take the three of you as disciples. And you accepted his offer. The ritual may not have been held yet, but you must not forget—you are already in a teacher-disciple relationship.”
“…I understand.”
“Then I have nothing more to say.”
His unfathomable eyes blinked slowly as they swept over me.
“The Grandmaster, your master, will surely be a great help to you.”
Especially for the troubles you carry now.
He said it with conviction.
“No matter how he appears, he is one of the last two Dragon Slayers still alive on this continent.”