He’d told Fia about the flute he heard when he was in the woods with Lilty, and she must have taken his report seriously.
“We’ve been patrolling more often because of that.”
“You must be working hard,” Almark said, noting to himself that he should tell Nelson to try to not go out at night for a while.
“Were you studying all evening, Almark?”
“Yes. Professor Illmis is giving me supplementary lessons.”
“Is he now…?” Zeid nodded. “I guess that makes sense. You must have a lot to cover if you’re going to catch up with the other third-years.”
“Right.”
Before long, the conversation naturally turned to the day they first met.
“I was surprised back then, you know. A student showing up out of nowhere, asking to join the institute. I didn’t know what to say.”
Almark smiled sheepishly, remembering their talk by the gate. “Honestly, I was just so emotional that I’d finally made it to the institute. Being told to turn back and leave made me desperate.”
“I can imagine.” Zeid nodded earnestly. “When I heard you came all the way from the North, I realized why you were so desperate.”
“I’m glad you let me in, Zeid. You saved my life.”
“Oh, stop.” Zeid shook his head, which made the lantern in his hand waver. “It’s a good thing I don’t have the authority to send a student like you back home.” He looked at Almark. “I mean, you spent two years traveling here all the way from the North,” Zeid added with the utmost respect for Almark. “All that way, with nothing but that longsword on your back.”
Zeid’s expression darkened as he recalled how heavy Almark’s sword was. The cold glint of the blade he’d seen in Almark’s room in turn reminded him that Almark was the son of an infamous Northern mercenary. Not only that, Zeid himself had been the one to urge Almark to keep his background a secret while at the institute.
“How have things been going, by the way?” Zeid asked hesitantly. “Getting along with your classmates?”
“They’ve been very kind to me.” Almark smiled. “Every day, they help me out in all sorts of ways.”
“That’s great.” Zeid looked relieved. “Really, I’m glad to hear that.”
“Which reminds me, Professor Fia mentioned you.”
“Huh?!” Zeid exclaimed. “Me? She talked about me?”
“She did.”
“What did she say?”
“That she’d been running into you on patrol more often lately.”
“Oh…” Zeid scratched his head. “Right. I wonder why… Ah-ha-ha…” He stared questioningly at Almark. “Is that all Professor Fia said about me?”
“Yes.”
Zeid dropped his shoulders. “Figures.” But then he regained his spirits and looked back at Almark. “Well, if you’re ever in trouble, Almark, you can come to me at the gate.”
“Thank you.” Almark beamed.
Relieved by that smile, Zeid looked up at the darkening sky. “Anyway, I should get back to work.”
“Right. Be careful, Zeid.”
Waving goodbye, Almark watched Zeid leave and resumed his trek to the dorms. Seeing Zeid reminded him of how he felt on his first day at the institute.
The first day he put on the uniform robes. The day he had to start hiding the fact he was a mercenary’s son.
Right… I went as far as keeping Father’s profession a secret in order to enroll here. And I did all of it… Almark took a deep breath. …so I could become a mage.
He took a lungful of Southern air—warm and soft—and slowly exhaled. It calmed his thoughts.
The place I’m in now, and every day I spend working in these robes. How much closer am I to being a mage?
Every day is full of unknowns, and I keep relying on Wendy and Nelson, asking them questions all the time. Professor Illmis spends time giving me extra lessons, but it doesn’t feel like my meditation’s improved much.
I traveled to this institute all on my own, but now that I’m here, I can’t do anything by myself. No matter what I try to do, I have to rely on my friends and teachers.
I know that it’s not my fault, but still. I want to be strong enough that I won’t need to rely on others.
Assuming I can even be of use to someone…
Almark recalled the position he was in and cracked a strained smile before continuing down the dark path to the dorms.
A few days later, after school, Almark went to ask Illmis for permission to go into the woods to collect herbs for class the next day. The sun was still high in the sky. Normally, he’d go right to meditation training, so walking to the woods under bright sunlight made for a new, unusual take on the road there.
As he walked to the woods, he watched the first-years running about cheerfully while the second- and third-years chatted or practiced spells, each forming groups in their own spots. As he got closer to the woods, the groups of students became sparser. Those who went into the forest were grouped up around streams or in open fields.
“…Mm?”
But then, Almark spotted a petite figure running from the direction of the woods. It was someone quite familiar…
“Cecily?”
It was the first-year girl, Cecily, running desperately. Her shoulders rose and fell as she struggled for air.
“Cecily, what’s wrong?” Almark called out.
Once Cecily caught sight of him, her face fell, and large tears spilled from her eyes.
Almark ran over to her. “What happened?”
“Eldo… Eldo…”
“Calm down, Cecily. What’s going on with Eldo?” Almark asked. He could tell that something serious was going on.
“A-a monster… A monster dragged him away…”
Almark’s eyes widened in shock. Cecily toppled into Almark’s chest, like she couldn’t stay upright anymore.