This whole thing... it had finally begun.
The three of us walked side by side, our footsteps quiet against the cobblestone path, eyes drifting around to take in the unfamiliar surroundings.
There was sothing new in the air—sothing quietly overwhelming—as if the weight of what was to co had begun to settle on our shoulders.
Selene walked close to Leon.
Too close, in fact.
Her arm had curled tightly around his, almost like she belonged there, clinging to him with no intention of letting go.
They looked... intimate.
That simple sight sent a dull ache through my chest.
It was sothing sharp and hollow that quietly twisted deeper inside.
"Hey, Leon! Why is this building so big?" Selene asked, tilting her head as she stared up at the towering stone walls.
Leon scratched the side of his cheek, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Uh, well... I think it has sothing to do with how people used to think bigger structures were sturdier and more durable. So naturally, they built them that way."
"I see..." she nodded, eyes wide in fascination. "That’s great! So all of the buildings were made with strength in mind!"
"Well," Leon continued, his voice calm, "it’s been more than a century since all of this was built. Back then, war was a much bigger concern. Like you ntioned, the academy was designed with that in mind. It was established to train a special force—the Magic Knights—to preserve the stability of the Milham Kingdom. That’s how the Milham Academy for Magic Knights ca to exist."
"You’re so knowledgeable about this, Leon!" Selene said brightly, a hint of awe in her tone. "Are you smart... or sothing? Wait, since you’re the owner of Leonamon, you must be, right? I bet you’re also super powerful!"
Leon smiled faintly. "I like to keep a low profile, so... I’d appreciate it if you kept it a secret that I’m the owner of Leonamon, okay?"
Selene giggled. "Well, if you say so. But you owe sothing, then—give a gift!"
"A gift?"
"Make your girlfriend when I beco a cadet here!"
Leon let out a small laugh, his tone amused. "Hahaha... Okay."
He sounded like he was humoring her—like he wasn’t taking her seriously. Or maybe... he didn’t know how to.
Selene turned her head, glanced at , and suddenly stuck her tongue out before facing forward again and tugging Leon along with her.
What was she doing?
I couldn’t understand her at all.
But one thing was painfully clear—she was goading .
"Look, Leon! What’s that?"
"That’s a fountain," he said casually. "Is this the first ti you’re seeing one?"
"Yes!" she bead.
Seeing a fountain for the first ti... That was sothing I understood all too well.
We ca from a poor family. Our mother was the only one working, and now that she wouldn’t wake up... things had only gotten worse. Even going out just to look at sothing so basic—it wasn’t sothing we could afford.
We never went anywhere. The world beyond our neighborhood was a blur to us. It was unknown and out of reach. Everything we’d seen, touched, or stepped on had been limited.
Even sothing as ordinary as a fountain.
Back in my first year, I actually thought it was sothing you drank from. I rembered leaning down and sipping it. People had stared at like I was so kind of animal.
To them, fountains were decoration. To us... they were a mystery.
"Can you drink there, Leon?" Selene asked curiously.
"I wouldn’t recomnd it," Leon replied gently. "There’s a lot of bacteria in the water. Even though they do maintain it, there’s no guarantee it’s clean."
"I see..."
Selene still looked like she was enjoying herself—cheerful and carefree.
Then, out of nowhere, she squeezed her thighs together tightly.
"Uh, hehehe..." she chuckled softly. "Can you lead to a bathroom?"
She was about to pee.
Leon and I guided her quickly to a nearby building, where she slipped inside the restroom.
Now, it was just the two of us.
The air instantly shifted.
It felt awkward.
No—I felt very awkward.
Now that I was alone with him... standing this close... I couldn’t stop the flood of mories from rushing back.
That mont—when I had tried to offer myself to him.
Gods, it was so embarrassing.
I didn’t know what I was thinking, what made act so shalessly. Sure, I wanted to repay him sohow for everything he was doing for us—for my mother—but... I didn’t think I’d go that far.
Just rembering it made my whole body tense up. I wanted to scream. To hide. To crawl into a hole and vanish.
But Leon... he didn’t seem affected by it at all.
Maybe, to him, it was just a desperate attempt from a helpless girl. A way to say thank you when there were no other options. Or maybe... it was because I wasn’t even attractive enough for him to take seriously.
That thought made my chest tighten painfully.
"Zeruel."
His voice pulled back.
He had called my na.
"W-What is it?" I stamred, my voice shaking slightly.
"I wasn’t going to say anything about this," Leon began, his tone low and serious, "since there’s no guarantee that it’ll work on your mother. But... I think we might’ve found a way to wake her up."
"R-Really?!" I gasped, stepping closer without thinking, my hands grabbing his collar in sudden desperation.
Then I realized what I had done—and imdiately let go, stepping back as heat rushed to my cheeks.
"Yes," he nodded. "But... I don’t think it’s sothing that should be done to a human. That’s why I’m asking you first."
Sothing that shouldn’t be done to a human...?
What the hell could it be?
"I can’t really explain it here," he said, glancing around. "So, if you’re okay with it, I’d like to take you sowhere private after this. Is that fine?"
"T-That’s fine," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.
A way to wake my mother from her eternal sleep...
I wondered—what exactly was it?
I would co to know the answer soon enough.
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