56 - Can I Cry Now?
Episode 56
Ibi, with her bag slung over her shoulder, walked briskly down the main building's hallway.
It was time for her mandatory liberal arts class, and she was on her way from Professor Malles's classroom after exchanging greetings with the three of them.
As she hurried to the next classroom, Ibi thought,
'I'm okay.'
She had realized why Ruska had acted that way earlier.
'Irene and Arcel were both worried about me.'
Unlike them, who could visit family or relatives outside the Academy for the Gifted, they were concerned about her having nowhere to go and being left alone here.
'Ruska was worried too, though.'
Ruska's face, when suggesting she go to the festival, didn't have the same sneer that Elam's upperclassmen used to have.
He genuinely wanted Ibi to go out and have fun.
So Ibi wasn't sad or upset.
Just a little disappointed.
'I do want to see what's outside the Academy for the Gifted.'
Ibi recalled the world she had seen.
Her earliest memory was the shed attached to the stable of an inn.
She woke up and went to sleep every day in a pile of hay, stacked as feed for the horses.
Back then, Ibi's world consisted only of the town where the inn was located and the forest next to it.
She had never even imagined the world beyond that.
Then, when she met the Headmaster and left the inn, Ibi saw a different world for the first time.
When she arrived in Elam City and saw the sea and the ships floating on it, she couldn't say a word for a long time, holding the Headmaster's hand.
She was so shocked to encounter the vast world she had only heard about.
There, she met children her age and people who didn't shout at her or spit on her for the first time.
And as she learned to read and went to school, Ibi realized.
That Elam City, where she was, was a small city, and far away there was a huge capital.
And that all of this belonged to a vast country called the Empire, and the owner of all these things was a person called the Emperor.
But she only understood it, and it was hard to imagine what it looked like.
'I'll probably live in Elam my whole life.'
It costs money to travel between cities.
Besides, I have no reason to go to another city.
So Ibi thought that Elam would be the entirety of her world.
But coming to the Academy for the Gifted, she saw another world.
Tall buildings that seemed to go on forever, all kinds of things, and people filling the streets.
But she only saw that amazing sight for a moment.
She had to come straight into the Academy for the Gifted without stopping anywhere.
Of course, the Academy for the Gifted was also a very amazing and wonderful place.
The magnificent buildings she was seeing for the first time in her life, as well as the various parts of the Imperial Palace seen from above, made her feel like her world was expanding just by looking at them.
'Still...'
She remembered the streets full of people.
'Besides, they said there's a festival.'
Ibi recalled the capital's festival she had read about in books.
There were many people who brought and sold strange things from all over the Empire.
There were also many foods that were only sold at the festival.
'That would be delicious...'
But she can't eat it.
'I don't have any money.'
So even if she went out, she would only be able to look around and come back.
'Besides, it's dangerous to go out alone.'
There are still many places in the Academy for the Gifted that she hasn't explored yet, and she doesn't have the courage to wander around the capital alone.
Ibi recalled the map of the capital that was hanging in the lobby of the Academy for the Gifted's main building.
The map showed the location of the Academy for the Gifted, so she could see how large the entire capital was.
How surprised she was when she saw that map and realized that the entire capital was hundreds of times the size of this Academy for the Gifted.
Moreover, there are buildings and roads in all those places.
She didn't have the confidence to go out alone in such a complicated place and return safely.
Besides, she doesn't know what is where.
'I should go out when I'm a little older.'
In the meantime, Ibi was passing by the faculty office.
"Oh, Ibi!"
The staff member inside saw Ibi and got up from her seat to call her.
Then she handed her a piece of paper.
"What is this?"
"It's the location of Professor Sian Roshen's office. I got a call this morning saying it was confirmed, and I was just about to contact the dormitory."
At those words, Ibi's face brightened.
"Thank you!"
Ibi's heart pounded as she walked away with the note.
'Now I'll be able to see Professor Sian more often.'
Ibi thought of the Magic Stone.
The light of the Magic Stone at night was always warm and beautiful.
A light that gently illuminates the surroundings without being dazzling.
Thanks to that, she no longer had scary thoughts when she went to sleep, and she fell asleep very comfortably.
Is it because he's the professor who gave her a night without fear?
Among the people Ibi had met since coming to the Academy for the Gifted, she really liked Professor Sian, whom she had only met twice.
It's a secret to everyone, but even more than Professor Malles, who takes care of her, even more than Irene, even more than Arcel and Ruska.
'I should go after class.'
Professor Malles said there was no need to bring more flowers, but Ibi was still going to the greenhouse in the morning to get the remaining flowers.
'Now I have to put them in Professor Sian's room too.'
Thinking that she had one more enjoyable thing to do from tomorrow, Ibi hurried her steps.
\ \ *
"Ouch, Irene, how hard did you kick that thing?"
"That thing? Show some respect to the young lady of the Terrence family."
"Young lady, my foot. Look here? Even being kicked by a horse wouldn't be this bad. Hey, don't marry her."
Ruska lifted his pants to show the bruising below his knee.
Sure enough, the mark of being kicked by the toe of a shoe was clear, as if she had kicked him on purpose. But there wasn't a shred of sympathy in Arcel's eyes as he looked at his friend's injury.
"It's because you acted without thinking. And don't just throw around words like marriage. It'll only increase the number of people who carelessly wag their tongues."
People believe that either Arcel or Ruska will become the Emperor's adopted son.
It was a fact that the two of them were somewhat aware of.
Unless there was someone very special among the children of this Academy for the Gifted, the Emperor would choose one of the two he had been watching since childhood.
The nobles were also aware of this, so they were on edge over the position of the future Crown Princess, which had not yet been decided.
Then Ruska said listlessly.
"But Irene Terrence doesn't seem to have any intention of marrying either of us."
At Ruska's words, Arcel stared at him blankly.
Ruska was right.
Irene didn't see them as marriage partners, but as bothersome things.
No, it was more like a look that saw them as very obstructive.
Nevertheless, the reason she continued to be with the two of them was obvious.
'It's to manage her reputation, and she must have thought of Ibi too.'
By Arcel and Ruska sticking together, Irene's position, which had almost fallen, was strengthened again.
The same was true for Ibi.
The help she received on the day she entered the Academy for the Gifted was actually poison to Ibi.
But when they showed that their relationship with the two was not a one-time thing, people quickly changed their attitude.
'Seeing that, she's definitely a member of the Terrence family.'
Anyway, Arcel also saw that the attitude of people towards Ibi changed thanks to Irene's actions.
That's why he's willingly adjusting to Irene's tune.
When Arcel didn't take his side, Ruska lowered his raised pants and pouted.
"I know I made a mistake... really, it was just a thoughtless remark..."
At Ruska's muttering, Arcel replied in a cold voice.
"Then start thinking before you speak from now on."
"Yes, I'm sorry... but I really wanted Ibi to go out and have fun."
Ruska, who had been grumbling for a while, snapped his fingers as if he had a good idea.
"Ah, should I just invite her to our house to play on the weekend? My brothers would really like it. They're always singing about how they wish they had a little sister. My parents also said they wanted to have at least one daughter."
Then Arcel, who had been walking ahead, stopped.
He stared blankly at Ruska, who was following him.
"Why, why are you looking at me like that?"
"...Because I'm pathetic."
With that answer, Arcel left Ruska behind and walked away alone.
"Hey! Arcel! Hey!"
Ruska, who was trying to follow him while limping, eventually gave up and muttered.
"Why is that guy suddenly getting angry and making a fuss?"
