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Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume9 Chapter3

2010-06-25T18:15:28Z

65.69.64.108: /* Chapter 3: Wish */

===Chapter 3: Wish===

His mood had gone to the bottom of what was called the “worst” in the past few months. Nothing much had happened since the Military Arts Competition with Myath, but now… Even Layfon was at a loss.

(Aa, what should I do? I just ran off.)

The anger in him when he argued with Nina had now faded. Right now, he felt guilty for leaving work and throwing a tantrum at Nina. He walked on the empty road in low spirits.

Though he wanted to go back, he felt the Captain would chase him all the way to the dormitory. No, perhaps she wouldn’t come……

He strode around his dormitory, saw something shining and went over like a moth attracted to light. It was an area designed for vending machines. It had everything, from drinks and snacks to fast food and cleaning liquid. No wind blew here, as a roof had been constructed over the area. People who stayed late would sometimes sleep here for a night. Tonight, no one was about. Layfon sat down on a long bench.

“Ha……..” he sighed. He wished he could release all the feelings stuffed inside him.

To hold the Katana again meant he had to inherit Psyharden. His adopted father had forgiven him, and that should make him happier than anything else.

He shouldn’t be unhappy at this.

<center>◇</center>

He recalled snatches of memories from when he was small. His adopted father was dancing with a weapon in the dojo. In silence, he swung the wooden Katana, his upper body naked. Metal was embedded in the wooden Katana to give it a heavier feel similar to a real Dite. The air vibrated every time he swung the Katana. At the time, the Katana had accidentally hit little Layfon, and he sat down, seemingly paralyzed, but he didn’t cry out.

Layfon watched the air flow enveloping his adopted father’s muscles as he swung the Katana. He was also watching the other thing rushing out of Derek.

Back then, he didn’t know that was Kei.

Having finished practicing, his adopted father smiled at him. No one else was in the dojo. At that time, the dojo was extremely empty. It was simple to count the number of people who came in to train. Most people had joined the other dojos. Derek had already retired.

“Do you want to hold it?”

He had said that to Layfon.

“You’re the only Military Artist left in the orphanage. You’ll one day hold a Dite and fight for the people of Grendan.”

Layfon took the Katana with both hands. The handle, glistening with sweat, was heavy. Unable to take that weight, he again sat down on the floor. All he could do was fall. Tears fought to fall from his eyes.

His adopted father smiled and held him up in his arm. “No need to rush. I’ll protect you all till you’ve grown. And after that, it’s your turn.”

He had decided from that moment on to hold the Katana. He wanted to become a hero like his adopted father.

<center>◇</center>

He should be happy. His adopted father willed for him to hold the Katana that he thought he could never touch again. This, however, didn’t mean what happened in the past was cancelled. He had tainted the name of a Heaven’s Blade. He had betrayed the people of Grendan……. Those things meant nothing for Layfon except for the fact that they had tainted the name of Psyharden. He had insulted the father who had sworn to protect them.

When he took up the sword, he wanted to let those who wished to study under Psyharden’s name to know that he had cut his ties with Psyharden. His actions had gained Deruk many students, but later on, the dojo went back to its desolate state. That didn’t concern Layfon much as he was plagued by guilt.

Most of the students came to learn the Psyharden techniques because Layfon was a Heaven’s Blade successor. However, that thinking alone was not enough to grasp hold of the essence of Psyharden. Back then, Layfon knew a Military Artist in the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang also used Psyharden, and that the Gang’s reputation had far exceeded that of Grendan’s. What he didn’t know was that the leader of the Gang was the apprentice of Derek’s brother from the same Military Arts school.

Many people came to learn the Psyharden techniques, but many of them had stopped coming.

“They’re just techniques taught to mercenaries,” one of the students said and left the dojo.

That didn’t sit well with Layfon.

What happened to that person afterwards?

He remembered seeing him once in a public battle. That was it. If that person was still alive, he must still be fighting in Grendan. If that was the case, he might now realize that he had misunderstood the essence of Psyharden.

Some people speculated that Layfon had abandoned Psyharden techniques because he was dissatisfied with them. He was angry, but he chose to ignore the speculation. War. War meant survival. It did not have room for contempt and nostalgia. One couldn’t fight if one died. And if one died, one could protect nothing. The dead could only return to the earth. What was wrong with that saying? Everyone thought the same way in war.

“I know what you want to say……..” Layfon burst out.

Yet he wanted to deny it. If he could accept a rational truth, he should have kept calm at the start. But he acted foolishly under the urgency of the situation. As such, he tried his best to keep calm during his fights. That was so he could keep on living. He couldn’t lose that feeling.

He sometimes thought of the teachings of Psyharden even though he didn’t hold the Katana.

Hearing footsteps, Layfon lifted his head, took out his cash card in a fluster and hurried to stand before a vending machine. He didn’t want anyone to see him feeling down in the middle of the night, sitting with his head down on a bench.

While he was deciding on which juice to pick…

“……. What’re you doing?”

“Eh?”

Though it was deep into the night, Felli was still in uniform.

“Felli too. Why are you here?”

“I was reading in a certain place and forgot the time. I came over since I am hungry.”

“I see, but…….”

“I don’t go out in my pajamas,” she concluded and went to buy some juice and a snack.

Layfon thought she would return home after that, but she sat down on a chair before a table, and opened the packet she bought.

“Felli?”

“Feel free. I have something to talk to you about.”

“Uh, ok,” he nodded and pressed a button. He only realized he had chosen a hot drink when he took the can.

“Fon Fon, will you not accept it no matter what?”

“……. So it’s still about that,” he said. He didn’t want to discuss it.

“Is it the captain? Well, it’s not like I don’t understand your feelings.”

“Ha.”

“But that’s just natural. You’ve been forgiven, but you still choose to refuse it. That’s hard to accept. Besides, Leerin let us hear the conversation. I think she wants us to make a decision too.”

“………”

“I think you should accept it.”

“Why?”

“Because you have to fight,” she touched the surface of the can. “You don’t have to take it if you give up on Military Arts. Because that would only cause you nostalgia.”

Nostalgia. That word caused him pain. He wanted to deny it, but he hardly resisted it when he held the Dite. Although he did resist when the Student President blackmailed him into fighting, now he didn’t really dislike what had happened. That was because he enjoyed the time he had spent with Nina and the 17th platoon.

He didn’t hate Karian now. While Nina had gone missing and Zuellni was on a rampage, the Student President had chosen to negotiate with the filth monster even though he had no fighting strength. He fought in a way that differed from Nina’s. And Layfon respected him.

“But after, if you choose to continue to fight filth monsters, you should take up the Katana.”

“I don’t want to hold it…….”

“If you don’t hold a Heaven’s Blade, what you now have is just an ordinary Dite. Don’t you find that imperfect?”

“Uh………..”

He couldn’t deny what she said. No Dites except the Heaven’s Blades could sustain the Kei released by him. He hadn’t mentioned this to anyone else. He didn’t find that painful at first, since he only had to bear with it until he had the Heaven’s Blade. Just who had noticed it?

“Did the Captain say something?”

“Why so sudden?”

“You look like you’ve been wronged. The Captain’s opinion is probably the same as mine. I want to know what she said to make you look like this. She probably didn’t mean to, but I guess I’ll have to guide you.”

“Wronged….” He couldn’t deny her.

Wronged….. No. He was angry with what she said. What was it? Oh yes.

“I can’t support you.”

That line. But she said before that she wanted to become strong with him.

“Isn’t that natural.”

“Eh?”

He felt like Felli had sneaked in a laugh behind his back.

“You said that after you know how powerful you are.”

“Uh, no, I mean………”

“I think you should apologize to the Captain.”

“Why?”

“I heard that you were the one who took down the enemy’s flag in the intercity match with Myath.”

“Ah, yes.”

Felli had been kidnapped during that time, so Layfon had gone alone to fight Haia. Nina and the others had the job of taking the enemy’s flag. In the end, Zuellni won the match.

“Haia wasn’t an easy opponent since he’s the leader of a famous Mercenary Gang. No one in Zuellni could win against him besides you. And while fighting him, you helped the Captain.”

Layfon could tell what she wanted to say.

“…… Of course, that was all because I got kidnapped. Sorry.”

“That wasn’t your fault……..”

In fact, it was his fault. Haia wanted to fight him because they both inherited the Psyharden skills. Felli just got caught up in this fight between brothers from the same Military Arts school.

Karian had arranged for Layfon to enter Military Arts to guarantee their victory in the Military Arts Competition. He had also hired the Mercenary Gang to boost the students’ strength.

Layfon couldn’t underestimate Haia’s strength. That proof was shown in the injury on his left hand.

“That wound on your left hand is a problem.”

“Well………”

“Would you be calm if I or the Captain got hurt?”

“Wu…….”

“You’re strong. So strong that you could spare time to help the Captain while fighting Haia. We can’t support you. I don’t really know what the Captain thinks since I’m a psychokinesist, but as someone fighting in the frontline, she probably understands that more than me. When you truly need help, she might not be able to provide the support you need. And she blames herself for it. That’s why she wants to do something for you, and she also hopes you can do something. Do you understand that feeling?”

“……… Even if I take up the Katana, that can’t solve the problem of the Dite.”

“Even so, you can do something if you take up the Katana.”

That was it.

“Whether it’s just one out of 100%, or one out of a million chances. As long as it increases the chance of your survival, I hope you can take up the Katana.”

“That probability means nothing. When you die, you can’t escape it. I’ve seen that many times,” he protested.

Felli stood up and raised her right hand. He avoided the attack…….. But he swallowed at the expression on her face. Face red with eyes widened……… No matter how he looked at her, he knew she was angry.

And next, the sound of something hitting his cheek.

“You don’t know that,” she said emotionally. Even she herself didn’t know why she was feeling this way. “You don’t understand what it feels like when you can’t do anything!” she ran off.

“……… I knew it would turn out like this,” he sighed.

Only defeat awaited him if he went to battle without any preparation. All he did was flee to this city. But what should he do when he had nowhere to escape to?

<center>◇</center>

When she came to, it was already night. She knew immediately she was in the hospital, but all she could think of was why she was wasting time here.

“Right. I fainted,” Leerin sighed.

This was her first time being admitted to a hospital. She had visited others in the hospital a couple of times though. That time when she visited Layfon here in Zuellni, and back at Grendan when her adopted father was attacked by filth monster and had to stay in the hospital.

She watched the ceiling, never thinking she would have to stay in a hospital once too.

Her first time taking a long journey. Her first time coming to another city. She did her best to keep going no matter how many first times she encountered. Perhaps all the stress she had been bearing had burst out at once. The drip attached to her arm prevented her from moving.

“I thought I was quite healthy too,” she said, looking out the window at the nighttime scenery of Zuellni.

Three months. Though she was used to Zuellni’s streetscape, she felt today’s scenery was different from usual. Was this because of the change in the color of the sky? Compared to Grendan, the building style here was different. But the color of the sky shouldn’t deviate much. Was it because of the stars?

Leaving alone the theory that had no basis, her thoughts turned to the people living here. No Synola. None of Leerin’s other good friends. No classmates from Grendan’s school. No orphanage and no adopted father. In here, she only had Layfon, the Layfon who had disappeared from Grendan.

“…… What should I do?”

Someone knocked on the door.

Leerin glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It was midnight. Who was it? Someone from the hospital? She gave an answer and the door slid open quietly.

“Layfon……..”

The light in the corridor lit up his figure.

“Sorry, did I wake you?”

“No,” she shook her head in a fluster as he came to stand by her bedside.

“Are you feeling ok?”

“Yeah, it’s all right now. I’m just a bit tired.”

“The Captain said you fainted due to exhaustion.”

“I see.”

The emergency lighting in the room wasn’t enough to clearly illuminate his face.

What should she do? They had never had such a huge argument. In the past, Layfon was always the first to complain, Leerin then got angry, and he then apologized. She’d then forgive him. But what about this time? Though she thought he was in the wrong, should she still act angry? She was sad when he refused the Dite. The thing she had taken with her all the way to Zuellni had become worthless. Perhaps Layfon had forgotten all that had happened in Grendan. Of course, that wasn’t wrong in his perspective. Since he couldn’t return to Grendan, he could only cut ties with it. Hence, the Dite she brought with her might have interfered with his decision.

“Layfon, am I a bother?”

“Not at all,” he lightly shook his head. “I’m happy. I’m really happy. I never thought father would forgive me. Nothing makes me happier than that.”

“Then…….”

“But it troubles me to suddenly take up what I’ve determined to give up……… I need time to tidy my feelings.”

“I see……..”

They fell silent. Was this the only reason? Did he want to forget everything that had happened in Grendan? She wanted to ask. She wanted to know. And her journey might truly come to an end when she heard his reason. Should she ask or not ask? In the end, she decided to ask the question, but what she managed to confirm was something else.

“How many times have you been to the hospital since coming to Zuellni?”

“Eh?’

“I heard from Nina that you’ve been admitted to the hospital several times.”

The time when the larvae attacked the school. The time when he investigated in the ruined city. The time when the ground of Zuellni collapsed. The time when he fought Haia. Four times altogether.

“……… Um.”

“But you stayed in the hospital only once in Grendan. You sustained many injuries but you never had to be admitted.”

That one time of the hospital visit was after he had become a Heaven’s Blade successor, caused by some training that he did.

“Yeah.”

“Do you know why you get wounded so many times in here?”

After looking at the confusion and chaos governing the people in Myath at the news of filth monster attack, Leerin understood how unusual Grendan was. The incidence had also made her realize how safe Grendan was. It was lucky for them to have strong Military Artists, and they also had the elites – the 12 Heaven’s Blade successors. No city could be luckier than Grendan. At the same time, this was lucky for the Heaven’s Blade successors as they could reduce each other’s burden. They didn’t have to consider being forced into a corner. Even if they made a mistake, Military Artists as strong as them could fill in any gaps left by an error. This meant one didn’t have to push oneself too much in a fight. Of course, there were other reasons. For example, Layfon didn’t have a Heaven’s Blade and had to use a normal Dite that failed to maximize his potential. Things like that.

“Yeah,” he nodded.

Though she didn’t know whether he truly knew, she didn’t feel impatient. That was because he had come to visit her.

“Yes, I wouldn’t have to force myself if I was in Grendan. I only needed to fight enemies who were on par with my strength. As you said, I wouldn’t use any other Dites,” he said, stammering in his speech. “There were Sensei and Savaris-san. No other situation could be better than that. That might be the most fortunate place for a Military Artist. Because of that, I know I should accept the Katana and choose the road to enable me to become stronger.”

“In that case…..”

“I know. I’m really happy. In the end, I’m still a Psyharden Military Artist. Nothing can make me happier than father’s forgiveness. Looking at Haia holding the Katana so naturally, so matter of fact, I was jealous of him.”

Leerin had heard that Haia was the leader of the Salinvan Guidance Mercenary Gang.

“……. Can I, can I really have that Katana?” he said with a trembling voice.

She now understood why he didn’t immediately take the Katana – He was afraid. Tears filled her eyes. He was afraid, speculating and doubting whether the forgiveness was not a lie. He even thought that perhaps the thing inside the box wasn’t a Dite.

She once again recalled the past he might have wanted to forget. But from the current Layfon, it was clear that he wouldn’t have forgotten it. At that time, the people in the orphanage refused him. They called him a traitor, a contemptuous person. Father didn’t say anything to comfort him. That couldn’t be helped, since he was also in shock.

“Father said that he’s been in battles for too long. Because he spent a long time teaching students in the dojo, something had restricted him without his knowing. The techniques of Psyharden. The techniques that he learnt in order to survive, he’s forgotten them.”

“Father………..”

His shoulders shook under the dim light. She didn’t know when, but her voice trembled.

“Father knows your path will only get more difficult. He didn’t give this to you to inherit Psyharden. He thinks he has nothing left to teach you. He wishes you to grow freely and not be bounded by anything.”

She remembered that time back in the past. Layfon was too small to accept father’s training. In a distance, she watched him swing the wooden Katana on his own. She watched him sway and stagger, unable to take its weight. Even so, he imitated father’s stance.

“Does that make you happy?” she had asked.

Back then, she didn’t know the difference between normal people and Military Artists. She thought effort alone could make one become a Military Artist. Sometimes, the boys at the orphanage would play with drawing paper and tree branches, using them as swords in their play. Sometimes, they used those things to tease the girls, so Leerin had hated Military Artists. She didn’t understand Layfon’s dream to become one.

Layfon wanted to become a Military Artist. Well, he was a boy after all. He was always spacing out and he didn’t mix with the other kids. And Leerin was disappointed that he was, after all, just like the other boys. She had wanted to invite him to play dolls with her……

“Yeah,” he had smiled at her in response as he fell on the ground under the weight of the wooden Katana. Somehow, she felt that smile to be different from the usual Layfon’s look. It seemed to sparkle.

….. After that, she understood the difference between Military Artists and normal people, and she knew Layfon was a Military Artist.

Father had prepared him a wooden Katana once he started training with him. She watched him damage the Katana again and again. She watched him swing it again and again. She watched him become a Heaven’s Blade successor. And….. and she watched him leave Grendan to come to Zuellni.

“I’m happy. I’m really happy.”

“Yeah……..”

Even without looking at each other, they knew they were both crying. She felt his tears from her ears, and her tears fell on his neck. They no longer knew who did the hugging first. Tears stole away their strength, and they held each other to give themselves support.

This was great. Layfon didn’t plan to toss away his past in Grendan. She had thought he had sealed her away in his memories, but truth revealed otherwise. She was really happy.

“Don’t forget us.”

“How could I.”

When they confirmed their faces were wet with tears, their lips overlapped naturally.

<center>◇</center>

At this time, Alsheyra had gone to visit the usual bar as Synola.

“Uh~?” she watched the ceiling, feeling a bit drunk. Though the lighting was dim, the structure on the ceiling stood out vividly. Submerged a long time in smoke and oil, the color of the ceiling had changed.

“What’s it?” the owner of the bar asked. He was originally her classmate. It was usual for Synola to act strange, so he only asked out of curiosity.

“Um~” she responded.

The owner turned away. “You look bored. Is it because that kid’s not here?”

“Yeah, if I had known, I wouldn’t have let her go so far away. Ahah, my stress is piling up~~”

“You’re strange. Anyone who wants to get close to you would probably get scared away. Though you’re a beauty. What a waste.”

“What, you want to date me?”

“Be at ease. I’ve already given up.”

“Tsk~”

She put her cheek on the bar. Smiling at her bitterly, he poured wine into a glass and went to deliver it to a client.

She made another “Um~” noise. “So strange, Grendan’s route hasn’t changed.”

She meant the destination of the city. At that time, Grendan was moving in the direction of the filth monster that Cauntia and Reverse had defeated. The filth monster didn’t really flee. It was forced to leave. According to old tradition, they would give it a name, but that hadn’t been done yet. Hence, that problem was pushed aside. At present, Grendan should have returned to its usual route in an attempt to quickly decide the outcome of the battle. People called Grendan the insane city. It even ignored the basic rule of moving to the locations of selenium mines.

“Is that escaped filth monster a big someone? I don’t think so.”

Though it was chased away, it did impress upon her a true sense of “strength” that she couldn’t feel from other filth monsters.

“…….. Speaking of which, how does this relate to the intruders?” Bothered by this point, she left the bar.

Barmelin would probably be outraged if she found out that there was another way into the Inner Court. However, only the royalty knew of this route, so the other Heaven’s Blades could only bear the nasty smell through the usual route. If only the intruder had died in the maze.

Synola came to the door that would open into the Inner Court.

It had been one week since the intruder got here. The city’s auto-repair ability had wiped clean the traces left by the previous fight. Synola stood at the door, looking a bit drunk. No handles were built into the door. A shallow trench split the middle of the door, yet seams filled that trench. Protruding holes and depressions covered the door like a puzzle. Even Synola couldn’t open this door. Behind this door laid Grendan’s real consciousness. When would this consciousness wake? What did the intruder come here for? Should she not have asked Barmelin to come?

But she couldn’t fight him if that intruder was related to the Wolf Faces. Since she would be pulled to another side, someone needed to fight that person. Besides, it was a high possibility that the Wolf Faces knew of the Inner Court.

“Ah, so restricted.”

Her complaint disappeared without an echo.

“I want to see some change here, but things stay the same.”

The combination of the environment and a match had given birth to the monster called Alsheyra Almonise. Her strength far exceeded any Heaven’s Blade successor. Though her strength couldn’t be compared to the combined strength of all 12 Heaven’s Blade successors, she far exceeded the strength of individual Heaven’s Blades. But no one could lead her to that thing as long as the consciousness of Grendan remained in its slumber. Just what was she to do?

“Should I give up?” she asked. Of course, no one replied her. She felt uncomfortable at the silence.

“Well, shouldn’t I ask Grendan about the route?” she turned, her back facing the door as her train of thought turned to the Haikizoku.

She hadn’t seen it for a long time even though she was the Queen. The encounter of that time was because Leerin was in danger, and Grendan responded to it. She knew when she first met Leerin. Tears had slid down Leerin’s face in her first encounter with Synola. She knew, after looking at the figure in the depth of Leerin’s pupils…… Along with the cruelty of fate, that moment had given Synola, Alsheyra Almonise, the sign that the person she was waiting for had appeared. The time was here. It was time for Grendan to fulfill its mission.

Yes, she knew. She herself and the 12 Heaven’s Blades were not enough. The royal family of Grendan lacked a true successor. But…….. Why did Grendan appear in front of Leerin?

It wasn’t rare for the blood that made up of the three families of the royal line to slip into the ordinary populace. Though Grendan had a long history, it didn’t have the power to enable all three royal families to live a rich life. It was rare for that strength to appear in the populace of Grendan, but it wasn’t extremely unusual. But why………? Synola asked again, gritting her teeth.

“If possible, I want that child to be happy.”

Military Artists were born to keep the world in balance. As a normal person, why did Leerin have to face that? That was why Synola let her leave the city. If it could be done, she wanted her to stay away and live happily with Layfon. If she had stayed in Grendan, she would get caught in something bad.

In order to head for the Mechanical Department through the secret passage in the Inner Court, Synola must first head back to the palace. Though she found that troublesome, she preferred this road over the nasty smelling maze. Because she could use this privilege, she couldn’t help but think of Barmelin’s expression of hate. Barmelin always talked to others like she was an elder.

Synola hummed.

She entered the palace and halted her steps.

“Your Majesty,” Kanaris said, waiting in the private room for the King. As a shadow Military Artist, she had been using this palace. She looked like the Queen, as if she were Synola’s shadow.

“Where have you gone to? I asked Delbone-sama, but she wouldn’t tell me a thing. I’ve been looking for you.”

“That’s one of the seven secrets of the Queen.”

“That’s just……..” Kanaris sighed.

This wasn’t fun at all. Synola wouldn’t have minded if she kept asking “what are the other six secrets?” or something like that.

“So what is it? It’s late.”

“I have something to report.”

“What’s it?” she looked at the document in her hand.

A gene report. But the name of the person who wrote this report wasn’t on the document. On the other hand, someone else’s name was on it.

“What do you mean?” Synola….. Alsheyra asked.

“………. I did this while Your Majesty was outside posing as Synola. I’m sorry. I wasn’t interested in it at the beginning, but my thinking changed after so many things have happened.”

“Uh……..”

“Why did Grendan appear before that girl? Because of the filth monster? But Your Majesty has already controlled the Haikizoku. Your Majesty wouldn’t have ignored it, besides, you were already there. You could have arrived there before Grendan showed up without the girl noticing. But Grendan appeared before her as if to become her shield.”

Alsheyra’s gaze kept glued to the name on the report.

“My doubt began there. I took a strand of hair from that girl and did an investigation……… And the result is what you’re seeing now.”

It was easy for Kanaris to take a strand of hair of a normal person. And then she knew about her.

“Your Majesty, you know……..!”

It was enough.

“Kanaris. I knew. This isn’t because you’ve overstepped.”

She grabbed hold of Kanaris’s neck and lifted her up. Her eyes rolled to show white.

“But you’re too loyal to your duty. This isn’t loyalty to me. If I weren’t the Queen, you’d probably carry out your duty under the next King.”

“Ah….. Wu…….! Wu!”

She coldly watched her struggling legs.

Should she kill her off here? This woman knew. It wasn’t strange for Alsheyra to know since she was from the royal line.

“But you’re now my subordinate. You must finish your mission under my orders. Don’t you think you shouldn’t do what I don’t wish to be done? Though you’re good at preparations, can’t you give my feelings some consideration?”

“………..”

The legs gradually stopped struggling. No more strength to even make a noise. Alsheyra released her hold.

“You’re wrong if you think I can’t kill you……… I won’t allow this to happen again.”

“I’m……. very sorry.”

Alsheyra destroyed the report and returned to her private room. The Kei in her hand had turned the document into powder in an instant. The maids coming in tomorrow would clean that up. The Queen cocked her head at the powder.

She recalled the name on the document.

Herder Eutnohl, the eldest son of Eutnohl, one of the three royal families. He was her fiancé. If she had married him, they would have given birth to a child who would have borne Leerin’s fate. But he had eloped with a normal girl. He was a fool under a curse.

“Why did you stay in Grendan. You idiot………”

According to the calculations based on the year when he went missing, Leerin’s age matched the results perfectly. She understood that. She had already considered this possibility.

She just didn’t want to confirm it.

<noinclude>
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|-
| Back to [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9_Chapter2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Chrome_Shelled_Regios:Volume9_Chapter4|Chapter 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Chrome Shelled Regios:Volume9 Chapter1

2010-06-25T17:59:13Z

65.69.64.108: /* Chapter 1 - Summer */

===Chapter 1 - Summer===

“Summer~~”

“I like swimsuits~~ the best~~"

Nina frowned at the shouts coming from the lake. “Who’s saying those shameful things?”

People crowded the swimming area of the lake. It was hard to find the person who shouted out those words, even for a Military Artist.

“No no, I understand his feelings.” Sharnid nodded. “The passion sealed within uniforms can now be released. That’s the song of a man’s soul. It’s a joyful song.”

“Shut up, you lowlife,” Dalshena tossed her bag to him. “Can’t you live seriously?”

“Of course, I’m always serious.”

“Sorry, it’s my fault. It’s useless talking to you.”

“So mean,” he smiled.

Dalshena sighed.

Nina gradually lost interest in their interaction.

Felli was looking around, holding an umbrella with a “nothing to do with me” attitude. And Layfon was watching them with a funny smile.

“Ah, unexpected, but of course, but there’re so many people here,” Mifi said, shielding her eyes with her hand as she watched the crowd. “Wonder whether the changing room has any space?”

“It should be full,” Mei-Shen said uneasily.

And……….

“All lockers are full. We can still use the changing room, but we have to watch our luggage,” Leerin said, reading from the notice.

“Ah, I’ll look after the luggage,” Harley raised his hand. Beside him, Kiriku was glaring at the sun with an unhappy expression.

“Is it ok?”

“Of course. We aren’t gonna swim.”

“Then what did you come here for?”

“To sunbathe,” he gave a quick reply to Nina and Leerin, who were still hesitating. Kiriku seemed to be saying something, but it must be something that was displeasing.

Layfon deeply felt that they were used to her. Leerin. She had been here for three months now. Many things happened during that time. The number of roaming buses had decreased because it was still wartime, so she had decided to temporarily stay here and study. As a third year student, she lived with Nina because she heard the rent was cheap. That really was like her. And she had also found a part time job at the fast food place near the dormitory of the first year.

Three months had passed by in the blink of an eye. Leerin had completely merged into Zuellni’s atmosphere.

(Is this good?)

It wasn’t that he had to think like this. Grendan was there. But Leerin really couldn’t return in this situation, and she didn’t want to drag down her studies. Though she had been easily adaptable when she was young. Anyways, he couldn’t help but worry.

(Is the Dojo ok?)

Leerin was the oldest in the orphanage now. The orphanage should be all right since people from nearby orphanages would come and help. Besides, Leerin had already left the place when she went to study.

She said she had applied for leave in the school at Grendan. Everything could be solved once she obtained proof from Zuellni and took her exams for the next grade. But something still felt…….

(Is this okay?)

“What?” It was Leerin.

“Uh, nothing,” he shook his head vaguely.

(But……..)

What was it? He wasn’t sure. He just felt………. Something…… He felt……… hard to concentrate.

“What happened?”

“Really, nothing,” he cocked his head at her, shaking his head. His vague expression made her angry.

“Ok, then hurry up and get changed,” Sharnid said. Everybody moved.

They didn’t have school and training today. They just came here for a fun day.

“We should enjoy some fun,” Sharnid said excitedly as he waved his hand. This was three days ago after training in the training room.

Nina made a face at the word “fun”. For her, who enjoyed training, even if she acknowledged a holiday, she wouldn’t acknowledge “fun”. Felli’s reaction was cold from a corner. Seemed like she was about to say “what a fool”. Dalshena’s expression was similar. Sharnid hadn’t directed his question to Naruki at all. It appeared she might need to learn how to react to this senpai.

Layfon was thinking of how to react to him.

“Yes, yes,” Harley agreed. “It’s already summer. The lake will be opened.”

“If we want to swim, we can always swim in the pool.”

“Stupid!” Nina said.

Sharnid reproved her angrily. “We can’t let this sealed space suppress our youth.”

“Wh…….!”

“Blue sky, glaring sun, hot sand. We can only release the colors of our youth at that place.”

“Oh!” Harley was the only person to agree. Everyone else was uninterested.

“…… Truth to say, I think sometimes we need rest. It’s not bad to go once a while,” Sharnid said solemnly, perhaps realizing the atmosphere around him.

Nina sighed. “True. We’ve just been training.”

“Yes, holidays is important too, whether they are for the heart or the body.”

“Your motivation doesn’t seem pure, but, never mind. That suggestion is fine.”

“Good~~”

……. As such, team 17 had gone on holiday. This might explain why Sharnid’s emotions were stronger than usual.

“Layfon, what is this. This spiritless swimsuit?” Sharnid reproached him when he came out of the changing room.

“A swimsuit doesn’t have a spirit………” he said, feeling troublesome as he looked at his swimsuit. It was a fairly normal piece.

Sharnid’s swimsuit was the same style as Kiriku’s. It fitted him, but it was too tight.

“Oh, oh, my forest is ready for anything. Don’t give me too passionate a gaze.”

“Ah, just what’s this situation? Besides, when did I get intimate with you? Be careful of what you say.”

“Ho, beauty is honed by curves.”

Not knowing what to say, Layfon moved his gaze away from him. Nina and the girls emerged from the changing room.

Females usually took longer to change, but since both the male and female changing rooms were full, it took them about the same amount of time to get changed.

Nina took the lead. Next came Naruki, Mifi, Mei-Shen and Leerin, chatting as they walked. Felli was the last one, as if hiding behind the girls.

“Look, Layfon. The female team is so imposing.”

“Ha………”

Urged by Sharnid, Layfon observed their swimsuits. True, they suited their owners’ personalities.

“Don’t you find them beautiful?” Sharnid said in a small voice.

“Ha………” Layfon’s reply wasn’t keen at all.

“The light hidden by the uniform is now in bloom. What do you think? It shines, doesn’t it? Don’t you think this is what the light of youth is like?”

“Ha……..”

“….. Why are you so listless?”

“I don’t quite know how to swim.”

“Swim? You planned to swim?”

“Eh, isn’t that what we’re doing?”

“You….. How do you want me to explain to you what youth is? From the start? Or a folk tale first?”

“What folk tale can explain youth?”

Sharnid hugged his head.

“Really…. Listen up! The place of physical contact that guys and girls can’t touch usually. That’s the place! The interaction between adults. We’re standing on the boundary that can get us beyond the usual boy-girl relationship.”

“So….. this is the limit?”

“Of course, or do you like seeing their underwear beneath their uniforms more?”

“Not, not at all!”

“Right. Then let’s feel the beauty now? And look. Look,” he turned Layfon’s head around.

The girls were criticizing each other’s swimsuit.

“Don’t you think they made a serious choice in choosing their swimsuits?”

“Uh……. They’re pretty.”

“Since you’ve emotional perception, then look more troubled.”

“Look more troubled……..”

“In other words, desire for the flesh. What do you think?”

“It’s not good to be so direct.”

“Listen up, three desires exist between guys and girls. One of them is lust. That’s because of the nervous system……….”

“Please don’t suddenly discuss such a serious topic.”

“I’m always serious……. Anyway, this is the end of boy girl relationship. Humans can treat it as happiness. All hail humans. Got it?”

“I don’t get anything you just said.”

“Really, just what do you want me to say?”

Layfon thought Sharnid’s words were quite problematic, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on why.

“Really, look. Nina’s even worn that, though she’s slow as you.”

But Nina’s sports style swimsuit was very common.

“That fool! I’m not saying you have to wear something unexpected. Listen up……….”

While Sharnid was speaking………

“What’re you doing? Everyone’s waiting.”

“Ah, sorry, Shena………” he cut himself off.

Because Layfon’s head was lightly bent, he first saw her feet. Sharnid was probably the same. Above the delicate toes were her calves that had gone through training. Next came the thighs that looked to be pretty bouncy. The V shape swimsuit showed her curves.

Sharnid wanted to say something but…… He got cut off.

“What?” she frowned at his suspicious look.

“Ah, no. I want to ask what do you want to do?”

She seemed to get his original intention. Her frown deepened. “Nothing much about “what do I come to do”? I came to swim.”

Goggles sat on her head. A white swim cap for the purpose of racing hid her golden hair. Of course, that cap failed to cover all of her hair, letting some hair loose down her back.

“I don’t like to do nothing though we’re here to have fun. I’m going ahead for a swim,” she left him looking confused, and headed for the beach.

“Uh, Layfon, you get it now?” he asked, watching her leave.

“Um……. A bit.”

“Yeah?” Sharnid said, feeling down.

Layfon headed for the beach too.

And their holiday began.

A large area of the lake was opened up for swimming. There was a beach, and the area for swimming wasn’t particularly deep. The depth of the banned area was the height of two grown men put together. Canoes were provided along with other swimming gears. Target practices for water shooting could be seen on the opposite shore. There were also people who just relaxed on the beach to sunbathe. Men who chatted with others, girls who waited for guys to walk up to them……. All kinds of people were here today.

Layfon was waiting for everyone in the restaurant “Home of the Lake” near the beach. This building had no walls, so everything inside could be seen from the outside. Tables were put in rows, and deeper inside the shop was the kitchen. The shop owner had put in several life buoys. Some beach umbrellas were also there for rent.

Layfon sat on the edge of the raised floor, dangling his feet above the sand with nothing to do. Harley and Kiriku were watching the luggage on the beach. Layfon saw them discussing something in their notes when he went to deliver some drinks to them. Nina and Dalshena seemed to be competing over swimming. He could see them clearly, though they were in the banned area. Sharnid had gone to do something else for a change of mood. Who knew where he had gone off to. Leerin, Mei-Shen, Naruki and Mifi were playing in the water. Felli…….

“You found a nice place,” Felli said, suddenly sitting beside him as she drank from the cool drink in her hand. She had her jacket spread on her back. “It’s so hot. I don’t get why they still want to play.”

“It must be more comfortable in the water.”

“Fon Fon?”

“I don’t quite know how to swim,” he said, moving his gaze away from her.

(Sharnid senpai……)

All because of the strange things that Sharnid had said, making Layfon think strange thoughts. He felt something looking at Felli’s mouth as she drank. Many things had happened in the past three months. Many things had happened, but he couldn’t quite remember them. He thought of them as accidents and that was why he forgot them. In fact, he did forget about them until this day came. What Sharnid said had made him recall the past.

Felli was wearing her swimsuit with her jacket covering her back and her breasts. A swimsuit with little flower pattern. As she hadn’t done up the buttons of the jacket, Layfon could see her stomach. Very white skin. The second piece of her swimsuit was in the style of a skirt that covered her waist and more. Her sandal-covered feet swung back and forth.

Felli was so delicate. Thinking of that, he remembered that he had carried her a few times.

(Ahhh, no, no, wait, don’t think……)

At the time during training for the intercity match, and at the time in the ruined city. Those scenes surfaced in his mind.

“What’s it?”

“…. No, nothing,” he said, hugging his head and stopping himself from thinking more, yet it failed…. The feeling of Felli’s light weight in his arms, the feeling of when he took hold of her legs, the feeling when she sat on his shoulders….

(Ahhhhhhh!)

“Are you all right?”

“I’m all…… all right.”

“Do you feel unwell? You’ve been forcing yourself lately. What happened……”

“No. Really. Nothing!”

Stop my memory! He prayed with all of his concentration. But at that time….

“Ah, exercise really is great. Felli, you’re not going to swim? This is a good chance for some practice.”

“No way.”

“Practice is great so that you don’t drown.”

Nina and Dalshena had returned.

“Uh? What’s with Layfon?”

“Ah, no…….” he lifted his head and his gaze met Nina’s.

(Aa……..)

More memories surfaced. The time when he was at Nina and Leerin’s place. Nina fainted and……..

(No, no. That was an accident. Accident. Accident. Accident!)

But…….

“You look strange.”

“Layfon, if you feel unwell……” Nina put her hand on his forehead.

(Wu!)

Her action brought her breasts before him.

(Wuwu……)

Everything that happened on that day jumped out to him. He had wrapped her with the swimming bag that day for the race……

(As I said, it was an accident!)

“No fever, but your face is really red. Are you ok?”

“Ah, well, just a little….!”

When her hand left his forehead, he seized the chance to stand up and walk past her. But two more figures appeared in his path and made him halt.

“What? What’s wrong?”

Leerin and Mei-Shen were back.

“Layfon looks strange,” Nina explained.

“Eh?”

Both girls looked worried.

“Layfon?”

“Are you all right?”

Both girls walked up to him to confirm his situation, bringing their faces close to him.

(Ahah, again…….)

That scene flashed past him. On that day at Grendan’s bus station, a place filled with rumbling. Leerin’s teary eyes….

“Ah…….”

This moment when he made a voice without knowing.

“Eh?”

He seemed to hear someone’s voice. Along with a feeling that rushed up to his brain, he fainted.

In the end, he fainted with a reddened face.

“So what happened?”

They put him underneath an umbrella. Originally they intended to send him to the hospital, but Sharnid had stopped them.

“He’s burnt.”

Burnt? As in a heatstroke?

“Not sure.”

Though he was flippant, Sharnid wasn’t the type of guy who would leave someone in a life and death situation. Since he said Layfon was all right, he probably would be all right then.

“Even so…… I still don’t get it,” Nina said.

Leerin and Mei-Shen stayed behind to look after Layfon. Dalshena went swimming again. And Sharnid had gone with her. Naruki and Mifi went to do something else. Felli stayed at “Home of the Lake” to read her book. Nina had nothing to do and nowhere to go.

“That’s difficult…….”

It felt strange that she had nowhere to go on a beach so full of people. She looked around. She wanted to look after Layfon with Leerin and Mei-Shen, but she felt it was difficult to just sit there with them.

Wearing sand-covered sandals, she walked along the beach aimlessly, enjoying the sun and the sand. She saw groups of boys and girls on the beach. There were couples around too. Though they were all students at Zuellni, Nina didn’t know all of them. She did, however, come across a few familiar faces. Some of them were with the same gender, some came with their lover.

“Um.”

Nina’s gaze suddenly stopped on the couple that had walked past her.

“Ah.”

“Ah.”

She didn’t immediately recognize her because she looked different than usual. Feuda looked at her with an “oh no” expression. Feuda lived in the same dormitory as Nina, and they were once classmates in first year. Nina recognized the guy beside her. Someone from Military Arts who seemed to be also in the same class in first year.

“Come over a sec…….” Feuda took Nina’s hand and pulled her away.

“Wh, what?” Nina said in a fluster.

“How should I put it…. Well……”

Feuda frowned, not knowing how to say what she wanted to say. Her hands seemed directionless. She seemed to want to push something up before her eyes and suddenly realized that the glasses weren’t there. Glasses were inconvenient since she was here to swim.

“That’s why you refused the invitation. I see. In that case, it’d have been better if you just said so before,” Nina said.

“No. It isn’t like that. No……”

“I heard from Serina.”

“Wu. Aa. Really!” Feuda moaned. It was rare for her to be in a fluster when she was usually cold and calm.

“Never mind. It’s nothing even though Nina knows…… Nothing. Nothing at all!”

“Why are you angry?”

“No, I’m not angry,” she lowered her head.

Nina didn’t understand why her emotions fluctuated so much. Speaking aside, Serina seemed to be hiding something when she mentioned that Feuda had a boyfriend.

(Because she’s shy?)

Perhaps. Perhaps so. Nina could only guess, since she herself didn’t have a boyfriend.

“Uh?”

Nina cocked her head. Feuda was laughing in a bad way.

“What’s it?”

“You came here with the platoon, right? How come you’re alone?”

“Aaa…… Nothing.”

“….. Isn’t that answer a bit too forced?”

“Nah, Layfon fainted.”

“Again?” Feuda asked. “He can faint. Is his body that weak?”

“Not really…. Seems to be burnt.”

“Burnt?”

“Aa. What happened? It isn’t a heatstroke though.”

“Uh…… Ah, perhaps.”

“What. Thought of something?”

“Not really….. only……. No, perhaps…….” She studied Nina. “Um…….. It’s not bad. Your muscles aren’t that thick.”

“What’re you saying?”

Feuda ignored her and touched her arm and leg.

“Hey, what’re you doing?”

“Your muscles aren’t that bad. Just a little bit hard. Your stomach doesn’t have any unnecessary meat.”

“What’re you touching?”

“Nah. I think it’d be interesting if he fainted because of your charm.”

“Ha?”

Charm?

“What’re you saying?”

“Wrong. You shouldn’t be asking me with such a serious expression. You should blush.”

“No, as I was saying…..”

“Hey, do you know you’re a girl?”

“Of course.”

“I sometimes wonder whether you might think of yourself as a man.”

“Stupid.”

“Then why do you not blush?”

Even so, that would be hard for her.

Nina knew what Feuda meant now, but she might not be the only reason even if Layfon fainted because of a lady’s charm. At that time, Felli, Leerin, Mei-Shen and Dalshena were around him. All of them were beauties. Sharnid would probably cry with joy.

She understood Layfon’s fainting had nothing to do with her own charm.

“Well, I don’t know. Besides, men’s hobbies aren’t the same.”

“But.”

“Well, for example. Don’t you find it hard to accept? Don’t you find strange if a guy you find revolting actually has a pretty girlfriend? Hard to accept, right? Don’t you think that girl has done something against nature?”

“I don’t think so……..”

“Right. Then perhaps Layfon likes your type of girl.”

“Wu………”

“That’s right. Since it’s rare to get to relax, don’t stand here. Go do something fun,” Feuda said. “Ah…….”

“What’re you thinking? It must be something bad.”

Feuda went back to her boyfriend. Her good point was her ability to tell Nina what to do while holding an indifferent attitude. But now…… Would Layfon like Nina’s type?

“Wu…….” She stayed rooted on the spot, troubled.

They had barbeque for dinner, and it was dusk when they finished eating. The number of people on the beach had increased. Some had set up stalls along the beach. Layfon and the others changed into their clothes and went to check out the stalls.

“So many people,” Leerin said with a sigh.

“Yes,” Layfon said with a sigh too.

“What, what? You don’t see this much? It’s just a normal summer festival,” Mifi said.

“We don’t have many summers in Grendan.”

“Ah, just three times.”

“And we didn’t have huge festivals.”

“Just at the beginning of the New Year. It was grand, but all other smaller events were done within small areas.”

“Wa, so old-fashioned.”

“Are there many festivals in Joeldem?” Leerin asked.

“Many. The Electronic Fairy Festival is on every single season……”

“Really.”

“Joeldem must be rich.”

Mifi began to explain Joeldem’s festivals to them. Both of them sighed at hearing other festivals.

“Though I thought of it when I came to Zuellni, Grendan really is very poor,” Layfon said.

“What? You only found out now?” Leerin said. “It’s always fighting. It shouldn’t have that much money.”

“Ah, I see.”

“Geez, you should use your brain. It’s the same whether it’s money at home or money used to run a country.”

“Aa, only Leerin would think of that though.”

The two of them continued to admire the stalls as they argued.

“Oi, it’s almost time,” Sharnid said, checking his watch. “Hurry.”

“But all the good seats are taken now,” Dalshena protested.

“Not really. We can just use our brains more, and that’s what makes it meaningful,” he said.

Light blossomed.

“Wa……. So pretty.”

Fireworks lit up the sky above the quiet lake. Leerin sighed from the imaginary flowers that were blossoming above her.

“They use real fireworks in formal situations. The sound would be very loud. As expected, we don’t have the budget and the technology,” Nina said to Leerin, who looked unhappy.

White and red light painted Leerin’s face. The fireworks were only images projected in the sky.

“That must be done by the Message Team. I saw them recruiting a short while ago.”

“Ahah, those guys are cutting corners this year.”

Harley and Kiriku. Though Kiriku had pointed out the weakness of this year’s fireworks, he cheered like everyone else under the grand decoration of the fake fireworks.

“Use your brain….. This is what you mean?” Dalshena looked around, not interested. They were on the roof of a research building. It usually banned normal students from entering, but the research students were here appreciating the fireworks.

“Huh, still can’t quite see it clearly,” Mei-Shen smiled bitterly. Naruki looked uncomfortable.

“Sorry,” she said.

“No worries. We’re in a festival. You’ve been busy this year too. Don’t have much time to relax and rest. Take this opportunity to enjoy your time,” Sharnid said.

“Yes, yes,” Naruki said in a small voice to Mei-Shen.

“Look, you’re making it difficult for the first year, doing whatever you like,” Dalshena glared at him.

“No one wouldn’t want to be the guy whom girls can rely on. The problem is just how the opposite gender thinks.”

“What. Are they in that kind of relationship?” Dalshena understood now.

“I’m happy to have you rely on me.”

“Not in my life.”

“So mean,” he shrugged.

She glared at him. Her gaze then alleviated.

“But, great suggestion for the holidays.”

“Isn’t it? Youth is short. Summer is even shorter. It’d have been a waste if we didn’t enjoy it.”

“I don’t mean that. I mean Nina.”

Nina often sank into contemplation recently with a serious expression. Though she hid that expression once she noticed someone looking at her, she had failed to escape Dalshena’s eyes. Dalshena didn’t know what she was contemplating. The busy schedule of the recent Military Arts Competition was a timely relief for the Captain. However, that limit was close to its breaking point. Dalshena feared something might happen, and that was exactly the time when Sharnid made his suggestion.

“Well, that person’s too passionate.”

“Passionate?”

“Her brain gets heated up. She needs to cool down before losing control,” he said and smiled, thinking of something. “Every day is so hot. Other symptoms might just explode together.”

“Your joke isn’t funny,” she said. Her expression turned lonely. “That guy would probably look bitter if he heard this foolish talk.”

“What? Thought of something?”

“You can’t think of it?”

“Who knows,” he turned his face away.

“At least, I don’t have the right to sympathize with him.”

“Sympathy. He’d probably hate it.”

“Perhaps.”

They lifted their gazes to the fireworks, thinking of their still unconscious friend.

Mei-Shen and Mifi watched the two of them from behind. “And that is the injury between the two of them.”

“Is, is that so?” Mei-Shen said, confused.

They couldn’t hear the conversation from here, and eavesdropping wasn’t good. But she felt like the scene of the lonely two of them watching the fireworks really feels like a painting.

“This adultlike feeling is too much for Mei.”

“Wuwu…..”

That must be it since it came from Mifi.

“Then let’s use a more direct method. Contact. Direct and enthusiastic body contact!”

“…… Wait, don’t you find what you’re saying strange?”

“There’s no other way though.”

Mei-Shen’s face must be very red. She wanted to stop Mifi but she still looked at the direction she was pointing.

At where Layfon and Leerin were watching the fireworks together. Perhaps they weren’t used to watching fireworks. The two of them looked at the sky like little kids.

“You have to show something of yourself like the fireworks.”

“Eh?”

“If you can’t do that, then it’ll never come to you. Look over there.”

She followed Mifi’s direction again. Felli and Nina were standing somewhere not too far from Layfon and Leerin. A distance that wasn’t too far and too close to the other two. A distance that allowed them to speak to the other pair at any moment.

“Look, they’re waiting too. You’re also thinking of pushing them away, pushing Leerin away and wrapping your arm around his. That kind of an initiative.”

“No, I can’t.”

That was too much for her. But…..

(Wu……)

But she should be able to take up her courage again. That was what Mei-Shen thought. She knew she was weak, and that troubled her every time she thought of it. She could only be like this because she was born timid. But if she could have more courage…

“What, Mei. Your face is red.”

“No, nothing.”

But she could only blush and think, imagining herself in that place as she looked at Layfon and Leerin. And self-hatred rushed up in her, knowing she could only imagine and not do anything.

(I want courage.) She thought as she watched Leerin. She felt that everything would end in the blink of an eye.

Nina walked with exhaustion. Students filled the tram station, waiting for a tram to take them home. Layfon and the others planned to walk a little before parting to head home. Dalshena and Sharnid decided to just walk. Naruki and her friends stayed back at the tram station, saying they wanted to get back faster. Harley and Kiriku returned to the lab.

That left Layfon with Nina, Felli and Leerin. At first, Layfon and Leerin talked from one thing to another. This was their first time experiencing the fireworks of summer. They were really happy, and Nina’s expression softened as she watched them. Felli wasn’t as indifferent as before. She didn’t keep her distance but instead, she showed interest in joining the conversation. But by then everyone had quieted down.

(Too tired?)

Only Leerin wasn’t a Military Artist. She had a full day, and she also swam. She must be reaching her limit now.

(Let’s not force her. We’ll take the tram in the next station.) Felli thought.

Though Felli was a psychokinesist, her physical strength wasn’t as strong as Nina and Layfon’s. However, she did do training, so she was in better shape than Leerin. Even so, she felt uneasy with her current steps. As she thought, the next station was her limit.

The station appeared soon, and that was the parting point for them. Nina and Leerin lived in the same dormitory, while Layfon and Felli lived in the same suburb. Felli heard a light sigh when they were about to reach the station.

“Right, let’s take the tram here,” Nina suggested.

Layfon nodded.

“……. Sorry, please wait,” Leerin said, stopping.

“What’s it?”

The streetlight didn’t reach her face, so the others couldn’t make out her expression. Was she not well because of her tiredness? Should Felli have taken the bags? But Leerin had insisted on carrying it.

“I’ve something to say to Layfon,” Leerin said, her hand on the bag on her shoulder.

“Ah, then we’ll……..” Nina said, feeling the unusual atmosphere.

It had been three months since Leerin arrived at Zuellni. But she had not once said why she was here. Academy Cities had fewer encounters with filth monsters, so they were safer than other cities. But in truth, Nina witnessed a ruined city on her way to Zuellni, and filth monsters did attack Zuellni recently. The journey on a roaming bus was unsafe, yet Leerin had traveled all the way to here. Why? Many people should have already asked her directly or indirectly, but she kept diverting the conversation. This time, she was going to say it.

Nina swallowed, feeling the tension. It felt different from when she was in battle. It was a feeling of knowing she shouldn’t be here. She exchanged a glance with Felli. The other girl was also hesitating.

“No. I want you to hear too. I want you to hear because you understand Layfon, the Military Artist whom I don’t quite understand.”

“Uh….. um.”

“…. … ok.”

Layfon waited with a tense expression too.

“Layfon…….”

“Uh………”

Leerin watched him as if confirming he really was him.

“…… When I read the letter that you wanted to stay as a Military Artist, I was relieved.”

“Eh?”

“You wrote that in the letter. Though I was happy and troubled, I was happy that you told me you wanted to stay a Military Artist. I’ve always thought of you as a Military Artist. It feels like if you’re not a Military Artist, then you’re not the Layfon that I know. Then you’d have disappeared, and I would really hate that feeling.”

“Leerin………”

“But I thought of it. If I could see Layfon again, I wanted to observe you, and I’d give up if you were a Military Artist that people hated. This isn’t related to Zuellni. I’m not a Military Artist, but I’ve heard from father, so I understand the cruelty of battles. If that were the case, then nothing good would come out of being beside you.”

Her words nailed Nina’s heart. She didn’t want Layfon to fight again, yet he did, all because of the lack of maturity in the Military Artists here. All because she herself was too useless. She had thought of this many times, but who helped her climb back to her feet? Layfon. Who helped her to make her stronger? Layfon.

In Nina’s eyes, she could do nothing to catch up to Layfon’s strength. The term “help” probably meant nothing much to him. Because no one could catch up to him…… They could only rely on him.

Leerin’s hand reached into the bag. “But the present Layfon isn’t repulsive. I don’t know how you think, but I’m glad that you aren’t repulsive at all.”

“I was going to give up Military Arts…….”

“That’s good. At least, I now know Layfon can’t give up Military Arts.”

“Leerin…….”

“So, to the present Layfon…… No, it’s because you’re you now, that I think this is essential to you.”

She took out something from the bag. It was a thin, long box, wrapped in a piece of clean cloth adorned with gold and silver threads. A crest was carved into the cover of the box. Nina didn’t know what was inside it. She glanced at Layfon and saw him frozen with shock.

“This is……..”

“Father has already forgiven you. And he feels he owes you, so he hopes you can accept this.”

Father…….. Nina recalled the school of Psyharden. Layfon sealed those techniques of his but Haia had always been using those Katana skills. She didn’t know what was inside the box. Did Leerin want Layfon to pick up the Katana? Or was it because Layfon had greatly improved, so? He had become stronger than before? In that case……

But Layfon quietly shook his head.

“I’m sorry. I can’t take this.”

The events that happened after that night were like raging waves. It was very hard to make sense of them.

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