“Ouch…”
“I figure you’ll be fine, but go see the priest if it’s hurtin’ ya.”
“I-I’m okay…”
After that first punch of the day, I kept going. I challenged him again and again, too many times to count, but I never beat him. Instructor Brad’s from a knightly lineage…so although he’s not a swordsman, he knows a lot about fighting them. That’s what makes his advice so good, and easy to understand…though he is a bit harsh, I suppose. Still, this is fun.
Back when I trained with Master Elka, I was so focused on getting stronger that I didn’t think about anything else. But now Instructor Brad is teaching me how to use that strength. No matter how much it hurts, how hard it gets…it’s all new for me, and that’s pretty fun. Everything I have now—it’s all thanks to those days I spent training with the master. Without her, I would never even have made it to the starting line. Thank you, master…truly.
“How do I put this…you seem sorta desperate, Abel,” Instructor Brad said, his voice pulling me back to reality. “Like you’re in a dangerous place right now.”
“D-do you really think so?” I replied, startled.
“Yeah. Not gonna pry, ’cause I ain’t really all that interested…but don’t rush yourself, okay?”
“Rush myself…”
Something in those words caused me to stop and think. Was I rushing? I didn’t think I had been—at least, not until he pointed it out.
“Yeah. You look like you’re try’na go too fast, from my perspective. You’re too damn focused on gettin’ stronger, if I had to say it.”
“Yes…you might be right.”
“It’s good to be hungry, but gettin’ so desperate that you get sloppy…that’s gonna put blinders on you. It’ll only hurt you in the end, gettin’ all focused on climbing higher at any cost,” he said gruffly. “Tends to be the narrow-minded guys with no time to think that make all the dumbest choices.”
“…”
He might be right about all that…I’m desperate for strength. Hopelessly so.
“Listen, okay? You know why only a small number of students ever make it into this academy? It’s so that we can raise you up properly—give you everythin’ we’ve got. We instructors are serious about you kids, y’got that? Don’t keep everything to yourself.”
Ah, right…I really am fortunate, aren’t I?
“Thank you!”
“…Ah, man, it ain’t my style to say stuff like that! That’s enough for today! Get outta my sight!”
“Y-yes sir!”
Instructor Brad shooed me away with a wave of his hand.
He can be harsh, and a bit scary at times…but I know by now that he’s a really good person.
I headed for the exit, and turned to bow to him one last time before I left.
“Thank you very much!”
“…Sure. Catch you later.”
With that, I opened the door and left the magic training area behind me.
I’m so tired… Training with Instructor Brad is really tough. I just want to go curl up and take a nap somewhere. My whole body aches with every step, but it’s…kind of nice, somehow. I think it’s the feeling of satisfaction.
I’m so glad I got to come to this academy. All the people here are so nice. Almost everyone is an aristocrat except me, so I thought they might make fun of me at first, but there’s been none of that. I guess that might just come down to everything else on their minds, though. Life here’s kinda tough for all of us.
Suddenly, I caught sight of Instructor Freya. She appeared from around a corner, then began to walk in the same direction I was heading in.
Huh? Did she not notice me? A-am I really that forgettable…? I’m a bit shocked at that…
To be fair, she seemed distracted. It even looked like she might be muttering to herself as she walked.
Maybe she’s thinking about something important. I shouldn’t go and talk to her…ah, but maybe it’s rude if I don’t greet her… Okay, yeah! I should say hello!
I quickened my pace a little, closed the distance from behind, and raised my voice to call out to her.
“E-excuse me!”
My voice was a little louder than usual, as I wanted to be sure that she noticed me. That, in retrospect, might have been the problem.
“Gyaaugh!”
She let out an odd, shrill cry as she jumped in surprise. The stack of papers she’d been carrying was promptly sent fluttering up into the air.
G-gyaaugh…? What kind of weird sound was that? N-no, that doesn’t matter now! What have I done?! A-all I wanted to do was talk to her, and now—
“Abel.”
Despite the initial fright, Instructor Freya seemed completely unfazed now. She looked at me calmly as a blizzard of papers fell around her. Her arms were crossed, with her sharp, frosty eyes fixed directly on me.
“Startling your teachers to enjoy their reactions, are you? I see. What a fine pastime you have found for yourself.”
I wasn’t sure what she was saying at first. Unlike Instructor Freya, I was incredibly frazzled by this entire encounter. It took me a minute to realize just how badly she had misunderstood my intentions.
“Th-that’s not…! I only meant to say hello, I swear! I really didn’t mean to scare you!”
“Oh, just a greeting? Then I suppose you’re trying to say that I am in the wrong for being startled by a mere hello?”
“N-not at all! I’m in the wrong! Ah, um…th-that is…I mean…”
“Enough. I must gather these papers. Assist me.”
“O-of course!”
Instructor Freya sure is scary… She’s a bit like Alice, I suppose, so it makes sense that I’m not very good at dealing with her.
I started to help her pick up her papers.
“…Incidentally, Abel,” Instructor Freya began.
Just the fact that Instructor Freya was speaking to me made my heart skip a beat.
“Y-yes…?”
“Have you…heard anything?” she asked vaguely. “For instance, well…specifically, anything about me? Maybe from Luke in particular…?”
I really had nothing to tell her about that, and so with no cause to lie, I answered with complete, genuine honesty.
“Eh…? From Luke? Nothing in particular… He isn’t really the type to gossip about things like that…”
“Wh-what about the other students? Have they said anything?”
This energy she’s giving off is sort of scaring me…
“N-no…not that I know of.”
“I see…”
Instructor Freya smiled, with what looked like relief…apparently? Maybe that was just my imagination.