THE Academy of Magic was located a little outside of the city center of Gardelia, the capital of the Kingdom of Elvador.
“We made it…somehow…” Standing in front of the gates of the Academy, Yuffie exhaled in relief.
The sky was beginning to turn orange with the sun setting, but there was still some time before it got dark. Despite the misunderstanding earlier when the guard at the gates of the school thought she was suspicious, she had somehow managed to convince him she was, in fact, a new student. He had let her through, and here she was now, safely on the grounds.
She was nervous that someone would question Friend, who’d been on her shoulder the whole time, but no one said a thing. Perhaps the Academy was tolerant of pets.
“Wow… This is so…incredible.”
Yuffie sighed dreamily as she surveyed the majestic establishments the Academy of Magic boasted. The stone school buildings sported tall spires, and granite carvings adorned the walls. Stained-glass windows suffused the place with a mystical color thanks to the sunlight streaming in.
But it wasn’t just made of inorganic material. The garden was lined with a variety of trees and seasonal flowers in full bloom. A sense of tranquility permeated the space, as if time passed slowly here.
Needless to say, the church in her village of Millil didn’t hold a candle to the massive educational institution.
“Hi.”
JOLT!
Surprised by the sudden voice coming from behind, Yuffie dropped her backpack on the ground and crouched, using it as a shield to hide behind.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Why are you acting like that?”
“Oh! I’m sorry, it’s just a bad habit…”
She peeked out from behind her backpack to see who had called out to her. And found…a handsome young man standing there. His blue eyes reminded her of the sea. His nose was straight, and his blond hair, looking soft to the touch, glimmered in the sunlight. He was so inhumanly beautiful that Yuffie thought this must have been what the first man looked like when God created him.
He was tall and slender, but by no means skinny. The ripples in his clothes suggested a lean, muscular build, and he wore his school uniform like it was the formal attire of a royal family.
Aaaaaaaaaah, this is too much for me! I’m blinded by a person made of pure light!
FWISH!
“Huh. There you go, hiding again,” he commented.
“I’m sorry… This just isn’t something a human of darkness should see…” she muttered.
“Aha ha ha! Where the heck did that even come from?” The young man covered his mouth as he chuckled. “You’re funny.”
“Funny…?” Yuffie popped her head out again. “Am I really?!”
“Does the thought make you that happy?”
“Oh, I’m sorry… I got carried away. Please don’t hate me…”
“Why would I? I mean, it’s the first time I’m meeting you.”
The young man smiled the whole time.
✦ ✦ ✦
“I’m Lyle. And you are?”
“Um, I’m Yu-Yu…Yu…Yu-Yuffie.”
“YuYuYuYuYuffie, huh? An unusual name.”
“N-N-N-N-, that’s wrong. Please take out four of the ‘Yus’…”
“Then just ‘Yuffie,’ huh? I like that. You a new student?”
“Oh, yes, I am.”
“Me too. Nice to meet you.” Lyle held out his hand.
I-Is this…the friendly handshake I’ve heard rumors about…?!
A zap went through her head like a lightning strike, and excitement bubbled in her chest. But at the same time, negative thoughts gathered like dark rain clouds unleashing a sudden downpour.
Such beautiful hands… Is a loser like me even allowed to touch them…?
“Um, Yuffie? What’s wrong?”
“Ahhhh! I’m sorry!”
She came to her senses and made up her mind. It would be rude to refuse a friendly handshake here. Mustering what little courage she had, barely the size of her pinky finger, she timidly took Lyle’s hand.
“N-Nice to meet you too…” Her voice was as reedy as a dying insect’s final chirp.
“Yeah, let’s have a great year.”
Seeing Lyle’s refreshing smile, Yuffie felt a bit relieved. It would be rude to hide forever, so she hoisted her backpack on again.
“Um… Well…”
What should I talk about? She had no idea what topic to bring up. Having only spoken to her family for the past few years, her communication skills were next to nonexistent. Wait… I know!
Yuffie was ready for a situation exactly like this and opened her backpack. She quickly took out a long, dark brown object and offered it to Lyle.
“Um, here you go…”
“Is this…burdock?”
She nodded eagerly. The burdock was a specialty of Millil, and she’d washed and dried it thoroughly. Gifts are the best thing to give as a sign of friendship! With this in mind, Yuffie had brought a large amount of it from home as a secret weapon, and it took up most of the space in her bulging backpack.
Lyle’s eyes widened for a moment before he smiled and said, “Thank you. I’m looking forward to eating it.”
End of conversation.
Uuungh! What do we talk about now…?!
Maybe reading her mind, Lyle broke the silence. “Is that cat your familiar?” He seemed interested in Friend, who was grooming himself on Yuffie’s shoulder.
“No, he’s Friend.”
“Ahhh, so you’re friends, huh? That’s great.”
“Um… No, he was under attack from a Black Wolf earlier, and I saved him, is all.”
“A Black Wolf?! Seriously?!”
“Yeees?!” Yuffie wheezed out when Lyle suddenly raised his voice.
“Where and when?!”
“J-J-Just now, in the forest on the way to this school…”
“The Funnel Forest! I guess that makes sense… Are you all right? You’re not hurt anywhere?”
“Oh, yes! I managed to take it down, so I’m totally fine!”
His eyebrows twitched at her response. “Meaning…you had a guard with you?”
“No…?”
“Then you can use swordsmanship?”
“I can’t even use a kitchen knife…”
“Then are you actually a boy dressed as a girl, Yuffie?”
“What? How did you even arrive at that conclusion?!”
Lyle burst out laughing. “Well, if you beat a Black Wolf on your own, the only way you could have was by using attack magic.”
“A-About that…”
“Relax, I’m only kidding!” Lyle replied nonchalantly. “Since you were pulling my leg, I thought I’d do the same. You were trying to lighten the mood, right?”
“Um, well…” She couldn’t keep up with his train of thought.
“I mean, come on.” After a pause, Lyle continued, “Only men can use offensive magic. Everyone knows that.”
“Eep!” she squeaked.
“Why did you suddenly look away?”
“…N-No reason. None at all,” she got out awkwardly. She was desperately trying to conceal her agitation from him.
“All right, if you say so. Then…” He looked at Yuffie again before speaking. “Sorry to keep you for so long, Yuffie. I had fun talking to you. Thanks.”
“O-Oh, the p-pweasur…” Having lisped out of nerves, she wanted to die.
“I still have a few things to take care of, so I’ll see you around campus,” he said.
“Yes, of course! See you!” She bowed so deeply that it felt like her hips would give out.
“You don’t have to be so formal. We are classmates, you know.” With a soft laugh, Lyle bade goodbye and strode away.
Yuffie stared blankly at his back for a while. “What a strange boy…” Then a sudden idea popped into her head. “It’d be fun to have someone like him as a friend… No, no, not for me.” She shook her head vigorously, banishing the thought.
We live in two completely different worlds… There’s no way he’d be friends with me.
Her self-deprecating sigh puzzled Friend, who asked her, “What’s wrong, Yuffie?”
“Nothing. Nothing at all.”
After patting Friend, Yuffie started walking.
💠🌸💠