Back to School

The long, long winter break was over.

It felt like the start of the new term would never come.

But it seems that time has steadily flowed, even without me realizing it.

‘……A lot has happened.’

It was a truly intense two months.

I doubt you could find a student who spent their break more fiercely than I did.

I smiled faintly.

My mood was peculiar.

Just a few days ago, I didn’t really think much about the break ending.

But now that the day to leave for the Academy has arrived, I feel a lingering attachment.

A quiet thought flickers through my mind.

‘If only there was… a little more time.’

If the break had been a little longer, I could have done so much more.

I had only just untied the knots in my life.

Maybe I could have truly enjoyed a leisurely vacation.

-Hehehe!! I’ll show you what a real snowball fight is, big bro!

-W-wait a minute… Isn’t using ice magic cheating?

Ariel, wearing a knit hat pulled down low, was having a blast with a snowball fight.

-It’s been so long since we had such a peaceful tea time… I guess I just feel comfortable next to Raiden.

-Indeed, Your Highness.

Having tea with Lucy in a garden full of snowdrops.

-You seem to be drinking more lately. Try to hold back, too much alcohol isn’t good for you.

-Pfft… I don’t think that’s something you should be saying, Father.

Sharing drinks with Father late in the evening.

-Apples are not round at all… It’s because they crunch.

-……Oh my god.

Sharing some dry jokes with Gilbert, who has an other-worldly sense of humor.

-Is it really okay for you to keep sticking around me…? I feel like I’m taking up too much of your time.

-There’s plenty of time for the Princess, so please don’t worry.

Looking after Maharet, who is still not entirely of sound mind.

-Young master, you shouldn’t sleep on the sofa like this.

-I feel so drowsy… Let me just lean for a bit.

-……Just for a bit, really?

Everyday life, where you feel a small warmth, sitting side by side in front of a warm fireplace.

Just imagining those scenes brought a smile to my face.

And that’s why I felt a sense of longing.

But it was okay.

There’s always next time.

I’ve promised not to run or disappear anymore, so there’s enough time.

There’s no need to rush.

‘For the returning summer break… maybe we should all take a trip to the villa by the sea.’

I murmured, wearing a smile.

As I calmly envisioned the future, a voice calling my name reached my ear.

“Young master? It’s time to leave.”

It was Rachel.

I quietly nodded and began to walk.

A carriage was waiting before me.

It seemed Lucy and Ariel were already inside.

I was shoved into the carriage as if led by Rachel’s urging.

“Then, I’ll be off, Father.”

“Return safely.”

A brief exchange between father and son amidst the confusion.

After making eye contact with the rest of the servants, I boarded the carriage.

-Heeheeheeing!!

The carriage immediately began to move.

Following the wheels as they slowly gained speed, I watched the mansion recede into the distance.

I settled the lingering unease in my chest.

The feeling of reluctance soon bloomed into a single flower of tenderness.

I didn’t bother looking back.

After all, it was a home I would return to.

Now was simply the time to move forward towards a new story.

*

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage gently came to a halt, and the coachman’s voice announced our destination.

We ignored it and disembarked.

The academy building came into view in the bright daylight.

It was as large as a decent-sized city, but not hectic, and as magnificent as a duke’s mansion, but not excessive in its beauty.

It was truly an awe-inspiring sight, even seeing it again.

I savored a hint of joy as I took my first steps.

“…It’s been a while.”

It had only been two months since I’d left.

Yet, it felt like I was returning after years away.

As I slowly made my way along the path, surrendering to the winter breeze, a memory of a past day grazed my ear.

-My goodness! Young master…! Look outside! It’s huge!!

-Alright, alright, I get it, so sit down. What if you get hurt?

-I’m fine! I’m always training to maintain my balance so I can become a perfect servant…! Ugh?!

The day I stepped foot into the academy, following the status window.

The memory was vivid: trembling in a state of shabby fear and anxiety, yet also filled with hope for happiness and a firm sense of determination.

That it’s already been half a year since that happened.

I exhaled, keenly aware of how quickly time had flown.

It wasn’t just me caught in this strange reverie.

The other kids moving alongside me were showing the same reaction.

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

“It feels weird, Oppa… I hated the idea of school starting, but seeing it like this, it seems okay.”

“The facilities are all spick-and-span, too? It was a mess right up until break… the academy’s got some serious power.”

We strolled slowly, looking around.

It was as if the academy was denying that there had been an invasion just three months ago, having completely returned to its former state.

No, it even felt cleaner than before.

Lost in thought as we took in the scenery, a familiar shout came from behind us.

“Yo~! Who’ve we got here?”

A familiar yet utterly flippant tone.

I knew immediately who it was, turning to look at him and speaking his name.

“Geum Taeyang…?”

“Long time no see, you brute!”

Geum Taeyang casually waved.

The blonde boy approached us with his usual swagger.

Had he also returned to the academy for the start of the term?

It seemed like we’d just bumped into each other.

A face I hadn’t seen in ages.

I gazed for a moment into his distinctive deep-blue eyes, then clicked my tongue softly.

“…Tch.”

“Hold on! What’s with that blatant reaction?! Don’t give me that ‘some annoying guy just stuck to me’ look!”

“What are you on about.”

“I’m really hurt~! We haven’t seen each other in ages! You should at least greet me!!”

“I don’t have any greetings for the likes of you.”

“Eeeeeek!!!”

The blonde, tanned idiot was making a fuss.

I couldn’t help but smile at the same old him.

“……Huh?”

“What now?”

“No, it just feels like the vibe’s changed. Your face seems a bit brighter, doesn’t it?”

“Really?”

He tilted his head, touching his lips, but didn’t feel any different than usual.

I don’t really know.

Well, whatever, it’s not like my complexion was rotten, and he said it’s better now.

I brushed it off, then tossed a casual question at him.

“How was your break?”

“Meh~ Nothing much, just met some distant relatives.”

“Huh? Didn’t you say you were an orphan last time?”

“Just because I’m an orphan doesn’t mean I can’t have relatives? Orphans are people too, you know!!”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

As far as I know, this guy didn’t have any blood relatives.

Was I wrong about that?

As I floated a question mark above my head, his jabbering complaints interrupted my thoughts.

“Yeah, I see, our great noble lord here doesn’t even think a common orphan is human, huh? I swear, I’m so wronged, I’m gonna be born as a noble in my next life…”

“Okay, okay, shut your mouth already.”

“Yes~ I must listen to our young master’s words.”

“……”

Did he lose his touch during the break or what?

My temples throbbed.

I touched my forehead once, then raised my palm high towards the sky.

And then, I brought it down hard.

Naturally, the target of the spike was his back.

-CRACK!!

The sound of a resounding smash.

At the same time, the golden boy, who had been chattering, froze solid.

His lips hardened and his pupils trembled.

Not long after, we heard the familiar scream burst out.

“Ughhhaaack!!”

He jumped like he was in excruciating pain, but whatever.

I moved my hand a few more times.

-Slap! Slap! Slap!

Each echoing crack sent Goldie writhing.

“It hurts! It hurts!! I, I won’t act up anymore, just stop hitting me!!”

Why’s he crying?

He knew he was gonna get it from the start.

Acting like he didn’t deserve it after asking for it, I decided to fix his damn habit this time.

“Kyaaak!”

So loud.

*

A few hours later.

The training grounds near the Academy’s main building.

It had been almost three months since I’d last been here, and I was having a light spar with Goldie.

Coming here and doing this right away might seem weird, but.

I’d been cooped up in the manor all break, my body was itching for movement.

And since there was a personal punching bag here, I figured I’d loosen up a bit.

The sound of the cool air being sliced through echoed in my ears.

-Sweeaaash!!

A fist flying straight in.

I was stepping, and I just turned my head to easily dodge the attack.

“Tch… you’re annoyingly good at dodging!”

Goldie clicked his tongue softly.

Despite the repeated failed hits, he persistently dug into my defenses.

I calmly dealt with him, keeping a consistent distance.

Normally, I’d have kept him at bay with a long, drawn-out sword strike, but.

This spar was different.

It was different from our usual spars.

This time neither of us held any weapons in our hands.

Just a raw brawl, fists flying.

Giving up space when you don’t have a solid reach isn’t smart.

Especially against a brute like Goldensun, a mountain of raw power.

“Take this!!”

Goldensun, like he’s bursting with fury, unleashes a wide swing.

Looks like he’s raging out of control, but thinking it’s an opening would be a mistake.

It’s a feint.

If I reach out to punch at what looks like a gap, he’d grab my arm and toss me.

Goldensun, despite his looks, is surprisingly calculating.

Our sparring matches always turned into these mind games.

But this time, I saw through his plan, so I didn’t have to fall for it.

“Haaah…!”

I deliberately grunted and moved my arm.

To draw his attention to my upper body.

He twitched the corner of his mouth, thinking I’d walked into his trap, but that too was just a deception.

The real attack wasn’t a punch.

It was the middle kick I’d been waiting to use.

-Slam!!

The kick, a beat faster, connected with his gut.

“Ugh…!!”

Goldensun staggered back, retching.

He wobbled for a moment, then slumped to the ground with a groan.

“Ugh, I lost… urgh…”

Followed by the sound of defeat.

I quietly steadied my ragged breathing.

Wiping the beads of sweat from my forehead, I heard Goldensun’s dying voice reach my ear.

“Hurgh… damn, you… are a work of art when it comes to using your body…”

A particularly pathetic sight, that of a defeated man.

It was a strange feeling.

He seemed even weaker than when we last sparred…?

Was he sick or something?

“Are you not feeling well?”

“What, how did you know?”

“You can feel it when you bump into someone. Anyway, where does it hurt?”

“Well~ would you believe me if I said your lifespan’s been shortened by, like, 1000 years?”

“You’re spouting nonsense again…”

He didn’t seem to want to tell me.

If he’s avoiding the answer like this, there’s no point in forcing him.

I quietly sat down next to him.

Then, Goldie, who’d been sprawled out, suddenly asked me abruptly.

“By the way… were you hurt or anything in that last incident?”

“Last incident?”

If it’s an incident, he’s probably talking about the academy invasion right before break.

I stared at him with a dumbfounded look.

“You’re asking awfully late…? It was three whole months ago.”

“Well~ we didn’t exactly run into each other, did we?”

Goldie scratched his head, looking sheepish.

“Aren’t you going to ask me if I’m okay?”

“Nope.”

“Why?!”

“Because I know your skills. I don’t think you’re the type to die in some petty chaos like that.”

“Oh… what is this. It feels like I’ve been acknowledged somehow?”

“More nonsense.”

Goldie looked at me with a somewhat touched expression.

I lightly pushed him away and got up, brushing myself off.

It’s already been three hours at the training ground, it’s about time to head back.

Everyone’ll be waiting at the dorms.

And once I’m done unpacking, I need to check if Maharet’s back at the academy too.

“I’m leaving now.”

“Alright.”

Golden Sun waved an arm vaguely in greeting.

His eyes, strangely alight with a hint of freedom, were irritating, but there wasn’t time to linger.

Just as I was about to take a step, chewing back disappointment,

“Ah, right… Brat!”

“What is it.”

“Next week’s thing, you’re going, right?”

“Thing?”

“What, you didn’t even know what’s going on next week?”

Was there some special event happening?

I’d only just arrived at the academy, so it seemed I hadn’t received any notices yet.

I stared blankly down at him, conveying that I didn’t know.

Golden Sun, lifting his upper body from where it had been sprawled on the ground, pursed his lips.

The playfulness had vanished from his face, replaced by a somewhat serious air.

“Next weekend… there’s supposed to be a memorial service for the victims of the last incident.”

“Ah…”

Victims.

The word, forgotten, had me gasp a silent breath.