Chapter 8

5. PACT Leminus had grown around Alestra Academy. The capital of O’ltmenia had no room to accommodate an officers’ academy, so one had been built nearby, and that had attracted all sorts of people. Its population was roughly a third of the capital’s, but the town still flourished, developing thanks to both external and internal trade of ironwork and other local goods, earning it the moniker the “Iron City.” Due to its proximity to Alestra Academy, many students used the town to restock their supplies. And on this day, Rain, along with another dozen or so students, had changed into casual clothes to pay it a visit. “We’re gonna meet back here at noon, got it?” Orca ordered. And with that, the students scattered across the city. Since Alestra Academy’s students knew state secrets, they needed to apply for the privilege of visiting Leminus. As such, their rather infrequent outings were almost vacations. The cadets often lacked free time, and they were running over to assorted hobby shops and restaurants with Orca in the lead. Rain, however, slipped through the stream of classmates and headed toward an antique bookstore. Hmm… Books were stacked haphazardly across the shelves in the store, but there was also a rather large collection of old newspapers. And Rain had made it his mission to scour through all the ones from a century ago. “I didn’t expect much, but still…” While looking through the large collection of old newspapers, which were encased in thin glass to prevent any degradation, he’d found what he was looking for. “…Bull’s-eye.” Major battle between cadets and Lenox military. Major step forward. Military headquarters to mull over the benefit of manufacturing more arms. “Guess it wasn’t a lie…” Air had told him the truth. One hundred years ago, at the tail end of the first war, a group of cadets had saved the East. But at some point, reports on their achievements had suddenly ceased, which served as ample proof of the military suppressing the information. That didn’t prove Air had led the unit, but it did instill a sense of confidence in Rain. He was convinced that the girl who’d called herself a Ghost truly was, in fact, someone from one hundred years ago. After coming to that conclusion, Rain ordered copies of a few articles from that time period, then returned to town. “Oh, Rain.” Rain had noticed Athly as he gazed at a fruit store’s display. She’d ready to leave the town square, but she stopped and turned to face him when she got close. “Done with your shopping?” “Yeah, I picked up a few magazines and some cold compresses. By the way, Rain…” “What?” “Today’s actually my birthday.” “Oh…” “You don’t have to sound so annoyed!” “No, that’s not it, really!” Rain wanted to celebrate with her, but this trip was his chance to learn more about Air, as well as Ghosts in general. Alestra Academy had limited records, which he’d already pored over, so stores in Leminus were his only other option. Well, I guess I have some spare time. He’d noticed that Athly had been plagued with anxieties on the battlefield as of late, so he hesitated to brush her off. Ever since he’d gained the Devil’s Bullet, he’d forced Athly through battle after exhausting battle, barking orders at her nonstop. The Devil’s Bullet had the ability to completely erase a person’s existence, but the fact needed to remain a secret. Which was why he’d kept it from Athly. All those factors had come together to create an extreme sense of guilt. “Well, in that case, you have anything in mind?” “I sure do!” “Actually, I already picked something out. It’s over here!” “…You picked something out?” Athly had dragged Rain over to a jewelry store, then asked him to buy her one of the items sitting in the showcase. It was a hairpin with a rather high price tag on it. “Ugh…” It’s really expensive. It cost 100,000 zels. Even Rain had to admit the blue pin was cute, and Athly was showering him with thank-yous, but… “Do you really want it that badly?” The price was outrageous. The shop’s owner was an amicable middle-aged man who realized they were cadets and tried to present them with cheaper pieces, but Athly stuck to her guns. And eventually, Rain gave in and bought her what she wanted. However, for some odd reason, Athly refused to have the hairpin wrapped, and she started doing her hair in the middle of the store. “You’re gonna put it on here?” “Well, how often do I get presents? I don’t want to wait until I get home.” Pulling her hair together, she put it into a ponytail. And after she added the pin, she asked, “How do I look?” “Wow…” She looked like the kind of attractive girl Rain often saw around town. “You’re pretty damn cute when you act like a normal girl, you know that?” “It’s no act. I am a normal girl!” “Do you seriously believe that?” “Of course I do. I’ll leave it like this when I go home, then.” “Home…” Rain suddenly remembered something. “Your family lives here in Leminus, right?” “Yeah…” Home… Athly’s expression had clouded over as she’d said that.