Chapter 25
Looking back was burdensome. She reluctantly turned her head. As expected, Yuriene was approaching them. His gaze passed over Ekinesia and reached Ian.
"An apology? What are you talking about?"
"...There was a dispute between cadets."
Ian replied with an awkward smile. Yuriene's gaze lingered on Ian's face for a long time. His expression was cool and expressionless. He soon turned to Eki.
"What kind of dispute is it, Cadet Ekinesia?"
"It's a personal matter, Commander."
Eki said firmly. She had no intention of informing him. Of course, she had no intention of receiving help. They weren't in that kind of relationship, and she didn't need help. Whether Ian Pelletro was manipulating the match schedule or Bread was doing something strange under the guise of an apology.
Yuriene looked down at Eki, who had a resolute expression. He tilted his head slightly. It felt like a subtle questioning. His eyes narrowed, and his blue eyes slowly scanned her face. Soon, he turned his gaze away from Eki and looked at Ian.
"Cadet Representative. Do you have anything more to say to Cadet Ekinesia?"
"Yes? Ah... Well."
Ian looked embarrassed. Eki spoke to him.
"Tell him to come and apologize in person if he wants to, Senior."
"...Okay, I'll tell him that."
Ian skillfully finished his about-to-crumble face with a smile. Yuriene, who had been waiting, spoke in an indifferent voice.
"If you're done, you may leave. I have something to say to Cadet Ekinesia."
"Understood, Commander. Then."
He saluted Yuriene and left. Eki was looking down. What else could he have to say?
Once Ian was completely gone, Yuriene's gaze fixed on her. Her already dizzy head felt like it was spinning. She didn't raise her head.
"Something..."
Yuriene started to speak, then paused and hesitated for a long time. She could feel him sighing softly. Eki finally raised her head. Blue eyes were looking at her with a vague light.
"...Is there anything... I can do to help you..."
His words trailed off and were very cautious. Because of that, Eki didn't quite understand what he was saying. She hesitated and opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't hear you properly, Commander."
"...No, it's nothing."
Yuriene gave a bitter smile and covered his mouth with one hand. He looked at her face in detail again, then turned and said.
"Follow me, Cadet Ekinesia."
"...Yes."
She wanted to just go back and bury herself in bed and sleep. But she couldn't. Eki obediently followed him. Yuriene passed the stables and stopped in front of the Azure Knights headquarters building, told her to wait a moment, and went inside.
A moment later, he came out with something in his hands and started walking again. Eki followed him without thinking.
Yuriene walks with his back straight and as upright as if measured with a ruler. He made almost no sound when he walked. Long training and innate elegance were evident in his gait.
His loosely tied silver hair swayed in a regular rhythm. The shaded parts were grayish-white, and the parts that received sunlight sparkled white, like finely drawn pure silver gathered together.
Her mind was blank, and she kept looking at only that. Because of that, Eki realized belatedly that they had arrived in front of the women's dormitory. It was quiet near the dormitory, probably because everyone was training for the freshman ranking match the next day.
Yuriene approached her at the dormitory entrance. He held out a small paper bag. When Eki dazedly accepted it, he smiled faintly.
"Don't overdo it."
His voice was low, and his approaching hand lightly rested on her shoulder before falling away. It was a light touch, like a feather brushing against her. He left without waiting for an answer.
Only after he disappeared did Eki look down at the paper bag in her hand. She opened the bag. Inside were two small glass bottles and two flat metal containers each.
She went back to her room, sat at her desk, and took them out one by one.
A blue metal container and a red metal container, both engraved with the Azure Knights' hawk emblem. They were quite famous items, so she knew what they were as soon as she saw them. They were specially made ointments used by the Azure Knights.
She had heard that the red container, which contained the blessings of the Ajenka Temple priests, was effective in treating external wounds, and the blue container was good for sprained ligaments and muscle pain. Along with their excellent effects, they were famous for being difficult to obtain even with money. The priests only made a small amount by hand, so only the Azure Knights could use them.
Both types of the precious ointment were included. Next, she checked the glass bottles.
One of the two glass bottles, the brown one, had a label on it. Antibiotic syrup. Inside the other clear glass bottle were yellowish pieces pickled in honey. When she opened the lid, the scent of ginger wafted strongly through the sweet honey scent. It was ginger tea.
Eki laid them out on her desk and stared blankly at them. No matter how much she looked, the contents didn't change. Things that would be given to a patient with a cold.
"...How did he know?"
[Know what? What is this? Is it poison?]
The Demon Sword asked innocently. Eki didn't answer and jumped up to look in the mirror. No matter how she looked, her face, which was even made up, didn't look sick. Even Baraha, who had been teaching her all morning, didn't notice at all.
She returned to her desk and fiddled with the ginger tea bottle. She ran her hand along the smooth feel of the glass, then collapsed on the desk and buried her face.
[Huh? What's wrong? Your face is red? Do you have a fever?]
"I don't know, shut up."
She felt very strange. Like the scent of ginger tea, a mixture of pungent and sweet smells.
She wished he wouldn't remember. She wished that they had first seen each other at the birthday banquet last year, and that they had remembered each other then, and that they had reunited in Ajenka. She had that thought.
April 26th, the day of the freshman ranking match, dawned. It was drizzling from the morning.
The freshman ranking match was held in the annex right next to the main building. If it hadn't rained, it would have been held in the main training ground in front of the main building, but because of the rain, it was held in the indoor training ground.
The match schedule was posted at the entrance to the training ground. A curly-haired blond boy stood in front of it, staring intently at the schedule.
Hair that sparkled as if gold had been poured on it, green eyes close to lime green, skin as white as porcelain, a straight nose, and rosy lips. The boy looked like an angel who had jumped out of a masterpiece.
"Mikhail, what are you doing?"
A brown-haired cadet sauntered over and put his arm around his shoulder. Mikhail frowned and turned to look at his roommate and classmate.
"Theo. About my first match opponent."
"Why? Who is it?"
"Isn't it that girl?"
Mikhail pointed to the match schedule. Theo read the name written where he was pointing. Ekinesia Roaz. He couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Wow, wow, I'm really looking forward to your first match."
"What for."
"A battle between a lady and an angel, it'll be a sight to see. Don't you think? It'll be a feast for the eyes."
Theo chuckled and patted Mikhail's shoulder. Mikhail frowned and glared at him.
"I told you not to call me an angel."
"Anyone who sees your face would agree with the nickname angel."
"Bullshit."
Mikhail cursed and kicked Theo's butt. Theo kept laughing even as he was being hit. Mikhail irritably swept back his hair that had fallen down.
He was the younger brother of Teresa von Fran Almary, one of only three Giosa Owners in the Azure Knights and the only female Giosa Owner.
His sister, who was eleven years older than him, didn't welcome Mikhail's entry into the royal guard. The boy, who was beautiful and delicate to anyone who looked at him, had been physically weak in his childhood, just like his appearance. It had been like that until Teresa left for Ajenka.
He became healthier after puberty and realized that he had a talent for swordsmanship, but to Teresa, Mikhail was always just her weak younger brother.
"It doesn't matter who the opponent is. I'm going to win, I'm going to be number one. If I participate in Monster subjugation and perform well, my sister will look at me differently. I'm not a child she needs to worry about anymore."
Mikhail muttered as if making a resolution. Theo, who heard his words next to him, chuckled and said one word.
"Siscon."
"If you don't shut up, I'll make sure that mouth of yours never blabbers again."
"What if you lose to the 'lady'?"
"Lose? Me?"
Mikhail smiled, raising his red lips.
"Do you think I'll lose to a girl like that?"
"The one who looks the most like a girl is saying that. Hey, but Ekinesia Roaz was the top of the class, wasn't she? You were third."
"Haven't you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors? Ah, that the lady got in through illegal admission?"
The rumors surrounding Ekinesia Roaz's entrance exam scores and Squire designation had been recklessly inflated. It was because her Squire designation, which was difficult for anyone to understand, and the fact that she didn't show much outstanding ability during the duel on her first day of admission.
The rumors started with a few bad people, including Bread, but these days, most of the cadets knew about the rumors.
Rumors that most people know are sometimes treated as truth simply because everyone knows them. There is a suspicion that the rumors wouldn't be circulating to this extent if there wasn't a basis.
"It is suspicious. Even so, a Squire designation on the first day is a bit much. It's not like she's a genius of the century."
"Her true skills will be revealed nakedly today, that girl's."
"Anyway, you look pretty, but your mouth is rough. Does your sister know you're like this?"
"The day my sister finds out, she'll take care of you first."
When his green eyes flashed fiercely, Theo clicked his tongue.
"I'm still older than you, you brat."
"You're just a classmate who's only one year older than me, what kind of older brother are you?"
Mikhail scoffed and picked up his sword. It was time for the freshman ranking match to begin.
The stands in the indoor training ground were already packed with cadets. They had to attend because it was easier to prepare for the next overall ranking match if they knew the skills of the freshmen.
The cadet representative who was conducting the ranking match was standing in the center with a few third-year students who were helping.
Mikhail headed to the waiting room below the stands. The arena in the center was clearly visible from the waiting room, which was open on the front. Most of the freshmen had already arrived and were waiting.
"Hey, she's over there."
Theo poked Mikhail in the side and whispered. Ekinesia Roaz stood out even among the gathered cadets.
Long pink hair and a white dress. Half of her hair was tied up with a gold ribbon with a short decorative veil. White gloves on her hands, white stockings and white ribbon shoes, everything was white except for the gold decorations and the gold thread embroidery on the edges of the dress. Pearl earrings dangled from her ears.
