Daien took me next to the yole tree, a place no one seemed to approach. There, under its yellow foliage, I noticed the strange arrangement of branches that seemed to bloom from the dirt. Like an arrangement of muscular tissue, twirling over itself in a static permanence - the tree was built of many as one, like a unit that could fall apart at any second.

The roots of each little branch were white, circling and twirling towards the trunk - an ashy brown. At the highest branches, burnt black lines traveled between the leaves. The tree’s pale colors and strange structure gave it an alien stance. The feeling of a twisted corpse.

Corpses.

There were dead bugs resting at its roots; none of them were craved by the living. They stayed there, carcasses intact, letting the dirt claim them. There were birds nested amongst the many branches, but almost none of them sang. The multitude of creatures that inhabited the tree had no voice.

Laying on their deathbed, the yole tree shone as brightly as ever.

- “Von.” – Daien let go of my hand to hold her staff properly.

- “Yes?”

- “This is a yole tree.”

- “Y-Yeah.”

- “It’s dangerous.”

- “I assumed so.”

- “We need to get a branch from it. So choose one.”

- “Wait- Wait- Take it slow. Why do we need to take a branch?”

- “For your staff.”

- “…Can’t I get one like- from the training bunch or something?”

- “All mages make their own staves! You need to start now so it’s done soon!”

- “…Alright. But aren’t we supposed to not touch them with our bare hands?”

- “I was going to get the branch for you.”

- “I mean- It’s a staff, I’ll have to carve it.”

- “Gloves, of course! Use gloves! Now choose a branch!”

I stared at the tree, trying to choose the right one. One that wasn’t too high up, nor too heavy, and that was straight enough. And Daien, well-. She just climbed to get it, despite the clear fact that she shouldn’t be touching the tree directly.

Even if she was rather chubby, she had no trouble moving around. It was almost surprising how she just went and chopped off a tree branch, without even letting go of her own staff. I guess I had forgotten that she was a mage and, by definition, had trained to be a soldier.

On the floor again, branch in hand, she smiled and led me to the back of the Academy. On the way, I fixed her hair and brushed the leaves and dirt out of her clothes. What a pleasant pair of minutes.

The workshop was as one would expect. A picturesque little shack full of tools and training gear. Spare uniforms, staves, gloves, woodworking knives, and so on. The dust was accumulating from lack of use – as Daien told me, the first years had their classes delayed due to the war, so they still haven’t started to work on their staves.

- “I don’t think I’ve done any woodworking in a while.”

- “Don’t worry, I’ll help you.” – Daien said, while gathering a few tools. – “But the most important thing is to feel the movement of the wood. The wood will tell you how it wants to look.”

- “…I don’t think I caught that… But I’ll figure it out.”

I grabbed a pair of spare gloves so we could start smoothing out the wood. It had a strange feeling - like it was soft and easily malleable, despite the branch being tough and stable enough to work as a cane. It was similar to a willow branch when you touched it.

The aforementioned yole branch was roughly the size of my arm, just like Daien’s staff. Knowing that she carved it herself - the white wood turning into perfectly sharp diamond shaped disks – I felt compelled to admire her hard work.

- “Did you make these too?” – I pointed at the diamond-shaped hairpins she wore.

- “Yup! But they are made with regular wood. Dad taught me, and it’s a lot of fun. I like to make instruments too.”

- “Oh! Is it alright if I see them one day?”

- “I can teach you to make some! Want to learn?”

- “Sure- If I can manage with practice first, we-”

We heard some clanking outside, and the door of the shack suddenly opened.

- “Hi, hey, can you get me- Oh, Dai!” – A tall person with a ponytail, tan skin, and full armor. They stood by the door and waved at us with a smile. – “Oooh, so that’s the guy from another world. Heyo.”

Daien waved at them without answering. The stranger just walked inside and kept talking.

- “I’m Minerva, by the way. And you? Ah, pass me a pair of gloves, they’re right behind you. No, not those, the small ones. They are for milady. Uhhh no, those are dirty. I don’t think milady would like them. Lemme- move a bit, I’ll look.”

Minerva gently moved me aside, chair and all. I barely had a chance to answer her.

- “Ah, huh…”

- “Got the gloves. Ah, you’re carving your staff already? With those noodle arms, too.”

- “Can I like- answer? I mean, you talk too loudl-”

- “Ah, sorry, sorry. Out there is noisy so I’m used- Anyways. Your turn.”

- “I’m Von, nice to meet you.”

- “Ahá, well done! You finally said it!” - She wasn’t being sarcastic or anything. She was just genuinely cheering me on, patting my back and all. – “So, so. I heard you’ve got cool magic. Can I see?”

I looked at Daien, hoping she would answer for me.

- “That’s a good idea, Von. If Minerva is here, Renime is here too. She is really talented, so she can give you feedback.”

- “Ah- Daien, I think I’m fine- I don’t think I’m ready for that-”

- “It will be fine, Von. Renime is a good girl. Minerva is also a good girl.”

- “…Fine. I trust you, so.”

My to-be staff was left aside in a corner. I grabbed one of the spare ones, and we left the little shack. The evening sun was hidden - it had gotten cloudy in the few minutes I wasn’t looking at it. Maybe with some luck, I wished, I would live my first rain in another world. A spring shower.

- “So Renime is that ‘milady’ of yours?” – I asked Minerva, fidgeting with my mage license.

- “Yes- Renime Meilar. Haven’t you heard of her?”

- “…Mei…Meilar…As in Duke Meilar?”

- “…Yeah. She’s his daughter!”

- “Oh-”

Daien, who was once again holding my hand, whispered to me with a silly smile.

- “Renime is the Prince’s fiancée.”

- “O-Oh.”

Minerva patted my back again, making my whole body resound.

- “You’ll like her! She’s a real cutie. But don’t eye her too much. Renime is suuuuper mad in love with the Prince, so.”

- “…I see.”

- “Ah, but don’t tell her I said that! She would get mad at me!” – Minerva’s smile was strangely bright. Pure and sincere, with a hint of mischief. A transparent person. That’s how she seemed to me.

A few moments later we arrived at where the second-year students – alongside the recruits - were training. It felt weird to wear the same uniform as them. Then I looked at Minerva again.

- “W-Wait, you are a mage too?”

- “Yeah- You didn’t notice? There is clearly a uniform under my armor.”

- “Is just- I thought mages didn’t wear armor.”

- “Normally, yeah. But I like swinging a halberd around more than I like throwing punches. It’s more fun.”

- “F-Fun, you say…”

- “Ah, come on. If you are gonna be on the battlefield, it’s better to enjoy it as much as possible.”

- “Y-You went to war too?”

- “No, no! I’m only a second year! Third years and above are the only ones allowed to fight. But there is a rumor that we might get an early promotion! So maybe when the war resumes, I can go and get some action.”

- “I…Is nice that you are optimistic about it, I guess…”

- “Then again, I think Dai also didn’t go to war? You had to take care of the regulations and all, right?”

- “…It was a lot of paperwork.” – Daien sounded…defeated. – “I don’t want to do that again… But the Director says I have to do my part…”

Mid-ramble, a tiny girl approached us. She walked high and mighty, furrowed eyebrows pointing at us. Her uniform was more of a dress than a robe, royal blue contrasting against the crowd. A skirt of soft, pastel red blossomed around her, floating and jumping like a flower bud carried by the wind. Its fairytalesque elegance declared her superiority.

It was easy to see she was the Duke’s daughter – they shared the dark red hair and slightly pointy ears. But I was stunned after noticing her dark magenta eyes. It reminded me, once again, that this was a different world.

- “Minerva! Come on, give me the gloves!”

- “Yes, milady, here they are. The smallest size I could find.”

- “Thanks. I can’t believe I los-…Daien! Hiiii!” – Apparently, she hadn’t noticed us.

- “Hello. Are you okay? Your hands are red.”

- “I’m fine, just sparring. Pincoy set my gloves on fire by accident.”

- “Ah, alright. Be careful though.”

- “Wait she burned her hands-“ – I tried to say.

- “I will, Daien! Don’t worry! I’m totes, totes fine.” – But Renime spoke extra loudly.

- “Well, milady- Care to go against me next?”

- “Without the halberd - you need to practice projecting more.”

I was blatantly ignored. It didn’t feel that bad, to be honest.

They almost walked away, but Daien remembered I existed.

- “Renime-. Can you spar with Von too?”

- “Who?”

- “Him, the-”

- “I don’t see anyone! I don’t see any husband snatchers!”

- “Milady, that’s-”

- “A~ny~ways. Let’s go. Let’s gooooo!” – So, Renime walked away, towards the improvised arena they had on the patio. Minerva followed her, and I had the luck of watching them spar. A knight in full armor going melee against a girl that looked like a small and fragile princess.

They placed themselves inside the small circle marked on the ground.

After Minerva gave her heavy first step forward, Renime charged. A punch from the right was directed at her ribs, but she redirected it with her staff.

There was an explosive flow around her, melding with her bloodstream and flooding the tips of her fingers. A river of light that felt as visible as air. Renime knew exactly when and how to use it to make herself ever-so-slightly faster, just enough to get the job done. And once her fingers caught a glance of Minerva’s armor, the river extended towards it. It twirled and curled over itself like a creeping vine. The slight sight of an opposing flow, Minerva’s answer, was quickly extinguished by the gleam of the dominating roots.

Minerva pushed Renime aside at the right moment, making her fall down. But the armor that covered her right arm was starting to glow from the heat – the flow of energy wasn’t severed, even if Renime was away from her. It was no more than half a minute, and it was already over.

- “Aight, aight! I give up!” – Minerva threw her burning glove to the floor. Renime got up like it was nothing, her face dirty. The stream of energy showed that she was cooling down the steel.

- “You won’t be able to win if you don’t try.” – She smiled at the soldier.

- “I did try! I’m just not that good all that fast stuff!”

- “Then try harder.” – Such a blunt statement made Minerva laugh and pat her on the back. Renime moved aside while Minerva put her glove back on.

It was surprising to say, how someone smaller than me could do that well. She wasn’t especially muscular nor anything. She just seemed to be extremely smart in how she used her magic.

Minerva sat down with a smile on her face while other students used the circle. They were all fired up after watching, even to the point some were yelling as they threw punches.

Renime was trying to clean her dress while glaring at me (yeah, at the same time).

- “How was that, cheater? Oh, but I bet you can do so much better, right?”

- “I… I really don’t know why you are so ma-”

- “Oh, you know why! Every time I come to spend time with Arsa he just talks about you!”

- “I-”

- “He just goes on and on- ‘Ren, the other day he let me touch his hair!’ ‘Ren, I was able to talk to him!’ ‘Ren, he is so cute!’ Like I care!!”

I felt the blood rush to my head, everyone was looking at us now.

It was such a foreign concept, to think that Arsamira talks about me. But to think he was saying these kinds of things - and not only that, but saying them to his fiancée!

Oh goodness.

If second-hand embarrassment could kill, I would be on my fifth life already.

- “Well, I had no idea he thought like that!”

- “Then stop being all lovey - dovey with him!”

- “I’m not even-! He’s a prick! Why would I like him!?”

- “Well! He’s handsome, and charismatic, and a prince!

And his smile is beautiful and he’s so kind and sweet and-!”

- “He’s an inconsiderate idiot who doesn’t even know how to apologize!”

- “You take that back! My Arsa is the most chivalrous-”

-“You two really should tone it down, shouldn’t you?”

Arsamira was right next to us with a silly, embarrassed smile. He put a hand on our shoulders and looked at the students, who quickly turned around and pretended to not see anything.

Daien held my hand in hers, looking strangely sad. Worried, maybe.

- “I’m sorry Arsa, I…” – Renime was the first to apologize.

- “It’s fine. I’m sorry I bored you with my comments. I’ll make sure to not let it happen again.” – The prince smiled at her before turning to me. – “And, well-”

- “So you actually know how to apologize.”

- “Eh- V-Von?”

- “Don’t look at me like that, Arsamira. You know damn well why I’m pissed.”

- “I don- W-What?”

I thought for a second, staring as his dumbfounded face. I had the choice to go on a full-on rant in front of him and make a scene, or to save it for later and not embarrass him in front of a bunch of students and his fiancée.

I took a deep breath, and focused on Daien’s hands. She was nervous already, there was no need to make it worse.

- “Nothing.” – Sigh. – “Sorry. Why are you here?”

- “Ah, well! I had come to see how you did on the test, but seeing how you’ve got your license, congratulations!”

- “Uh… Thank you.”

- “And me, Arsa? Did you see me? Wasn’t I really cool back then?” – Renime took his hand with the biggest lovestruck smile I’ve ever seen.

- “Yes, yes, you did very well too. I’m proud of you, Ren.” – But Arsamira just smiled and pet her softly.

Things were too… awkward at the moment, so I just… walked away with Daien. The day was getting darker and darker, calling for a storm rather than a light rain.

We sat on the grass, huddled together against the slightly violent wind. She, who never let go of my hand, kept looking at the floor.

- “Daien-”

- “Uh…”

- “Sorry for earlier.”

- “Are you mad?”

- “A tad bit. But not with you.”

- “I was also… One of the ones that brought you here.”

- “I know, but you haven’t done anything bad.”

- “I… But I knew what we were doing. Brother asked me if I could help them. I didn’t want the prince or him… to be so worried… And I know, too. That if we don’t fight, we-… We are just going to get killed. All of us…”

- “D-Daien-… Well, yes. It’s probably true.”

- “It is. I’ve read stories from the other continent. There on Balanka, many ethnic groups disappeared. I just thought… If Zeliram has contact with Balanka, they might as well also push for genocide on us too!”

Ah, so it’s not that different here, in the end. Should’ve guessed that by now.

- “I can’t just say that… Brother said I shouldn’t. That I would just get the Court unnecessarily angry. That they don’t take me seriously.”

- “…I get his point, thought. He doesn’t want the backlash of telling all those things to the Court, or pushing for the use of questionable methods. So… the reason I’m here is to do that.”

- “No, no-. You are here to help. You are here to help us. Only for that.”

- “Daien…”

- “Okay? Don’t push yourself just because brother asks you to. Please.”

- “…I won’t. Don’t worry.”

- “You promise?”

- “…I… I don’t think I can promise that, Daien.”

- “…Oki. But if they are bullying you too much, you can come to me. I’ll fight them.”

I smiled at her and ruffled her hair. What a lovely, precious girl. She leaned on my shoulder, with that sad look on her face. She started picking up pieces of grass on impulse.

Arsamira and co. joined us not long after telling the students to go home. Renime wasn’t clinging to him anymore, but she still directed a bitter glare at me.

Minerva - who was still laughing at the discussion we had before - and I decided to head for the shack so I could get my to-be staff, and to return the gloves.

Soon enough I noticed my dilemma. So, I kept my gloves, no other way to carry my staff.

Both of us alone, I looked at Minerva, who was bright and cheerful. She was tall, dependable, and strong. It felt like she was everything I couldn’t be for the kingdom. If they had people like this, it was no wonder that I disappointed Arsamira so much. When they have so many heroes already, what were they expecting of me?

I slapped my cheek.

‘Stop thinking, idiot.’

It had been a long day. My mind was tired of holding it together.

Every little crinkle of leaves was a threat to the tired hearts.

Or was I just being over-dramatic?

Probably a bit of both.

As the storm was coming close, we hurried to the place the carriages were at. I saw Kio in the distance, getting up from the carriage. A bit closer, and I noticed his hair was messy - as if he had taken a nap.

- “Kio!”

I probably walked a little too fast to greet him. The air was cold, and some drops had already started to fall. But he was so warm and cozy…

- “S-Sir?”

- “Ah, sorry…”

Actually, no, I wasn’t sorry at all. Be it because I was pissed and nervous, or because it was cold, or just due to what happened the previous day, seeing Kio just made me feel ten times better. I unapologetically hugged him for a little while. Just a simple, silly indulgence.

Then, I felt another person join the hug.

- “He’s warm…” – Daien was smiling warmly. Kio hesitated, but still closed his arms a little to hold us.

- “Ehem.” – The prince cleared his throat. – “Let’s hurry, shall we?”

- “Y-Yes sir.” – We let go of Kio, who immediately opened the door for us.

Since Arsamira had invited Renime to wait for the storm to calm down at the castle, we ended up all cramped in one carriage, while Luze and Minerva drove the two other – now empty carriages - behind us. The duke’s daughter was pretty clear on her intentions of spending the night there, and how happy it made her.

I whispered to Daien.

- “…How old is she?”

- “14 harvest moons, I think.”

- “S-She’s- She’s just a child. Should I be worried?”

- “It’s fine. She’s more of a little sister to all of us.”

I looked at them again. Arsamira spoiled her like one would a child, with half-hearted listening and brotherly love. The contrast between an extremely capable soldier and an excited and childish teen was striking.

I felt strangely sorry for her. A child who loved so much, yet all she gets back is being shoved in her face how the man she’s engaged with doesn’t love her.

Well, in one of the worst ways possible.

The ride back went by pretty quickly, and I spent most of the time looking through the window.

Lie.

I spent most of the time asking Kio if he was okay, because the carriage had no way to cover him from the rain.

But lo and behold, we arrived at the castle with not much trouble.

In the end I didn’t get to practice any magic, huh.