#100
Iria looked at Persis with a bright smile that anyone could see. Feeling her gaze, Persis took his eyes off his book and looked at her. Between the two of them gazing at each other, I was like an unwelcome intruder. How did it come to this?
When it was time to start preparing for exams in earnest, I thought Iria would naturally suggest studying together with Persis. However, the first person Iria approached was none other than me.
With textbooks in hand and a clear smile, she suggested we prepare for the exams together—how could I refuse? I couldn’t say anything and just nodded after glancing nervously at Persis. That’s when Persis stepped forward, saying he would join us too.
‘Does His Esteemed Highness really need to prepare for exams with us? Isn’t he sufficient on his own? That’s what I think, anyway.’
‘Isn’t our school a place where one can focus on academics regardless of status? I’ve simply realized that there are limitations to studying alone as a student.’
‘Ah, so you’ve realized you have “limitations.” That’s fortunate. At least you’ve realized you’re not perfect.’
‘Yes. Well, I doubt there’s anything I could learn from you, but perhaps even someone as lacking as myself might be able to “help” you.’
‘I’m really looking forward to what kind of “help” our prince, who admitted it’s hard to study alone, can offer me.’
After such bickering, the three of us—Persis, Iria, and I—ended up preparing for the exams together. From swordsmanship to magic and written tests, the schedule was tighter than expected.
“I want to understand it precisely. That way, even if there’s a slightly twisted question, I can know the correct answer, right?”
“Hmm. You lack application skills, I see. Can’t be helped. Which part are you struggling with?”
Persis moved closer to Iria and looked at the part she had just pointed to. Iria frowned deeply and leaned back slightly, but she couldn’t stop Persis from examining the textbook.
Persis calmly explained the part Iria hadn’t understood in a low voice. Though reluctant, Iria had no choice but to listen to what Persis was saying.
I already knew it, but seeing them study together renewed my impression of how well they matched, like a scene from a painting. Though I should have been satisfied since this was the scene I had dreamed of, strangely, the inside of my throat felt rough. It was an uncomfortable feeling, as if something difficult to swallow was stuck. I drank the water in front of me to moisten my throat, but it didn’t get better easily.
“Ana?”
Persis, who had been continuing to teach Iria, called out to me. At that moment, my breath suddenly released, and the sensation that had been troubling me gradually disappeared.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Ah, no. I’m fine.”
“Andelion, if you’re not feeling well, shall we stop here?”
By now, Iria was also examining my complexion. I felt sorry for making them worry unnecessarily. I didn’t want to disturb them over something trivial. I waved both hands and smiled as naturally as possible.
“My throat was just a bit dry. I’m really fine. Don’t worry and please continue.”
At my words, Iria and Persis narrowed their eyes. They seemed to be judging whether my words were true or not. Then, though they hadn’t coordinated beforehand, they looked at each other and nodded. It was another moment that made me think they were indeed a well-matched pair.
Feeling something well up inside me again, I quickly grabbed my cup and gulped down the water. I didn’t understand why I was behaving this way. It was painful how emotions I didn’t recognize kept trying to emerge since I started using my power as a demon. I had thought that just watching the two of them would be healing, but the mana that didn’t follow its master’s will would surge up and torment me whenever I relaxed my guard slightly.
Just then, a loud thud resonated as Iria closed her book.
“Let’s go out.”
Not understanding Iria’s sudden suggestion, I opened my eyes wide. Regardless, Iria stood up with a bright smile.
“It’s stifling being inside all the time. It’s not just the written exams we need to prepare for. Let’s go outside and move our bodies a bit.”
“What?”
“That sounds good. Let’s go, Ana.”
Agreeing with her words, Persis also stood up. With a bewildered expression, I looked up at the two of them and slowly nodded.
* * *
Breathing the outside air made my tight chest feel a bit lighter, just as Iria had said. I definitely felt like I had been indoors too much. I took a slight breath in and out, taking in the scene unfolding before my eyes.
It was good to come outside. I had no intention of denying that. Though my insides felt better, now I felt my hands and feet grow cold with anxiety.
Through the rapidly clashing real swords, I could see fluttering red hair and light brown hair that could be mistaken for gold at a glance. A loud noise rang out with each exchange, but the participants themselves were looking at each other with indifferent faces, without shedding a single drop of sweat.
Watching the sudden sparring between Persis and Iria, I wondered how things had come to this. Was it a problem that the place we had come out to for fresh air was the training ground? Or was it because I couldn’t stop Persis and Iria from bickering?
To begin with, if this was practice sparring, why were they holding real swords instead of wooden ones?
‘Since we’ve come to the training ground, it would be a waste to just stand around, so let’s spar.’
‘If we want to practice properly, shouldn’t we use real swords?’
‘Wait, Persis!’
‘Will you be alright? I have more experience with real swords than you might think.’
It seemed like they had been joking at first, but somehow they ended up holding sharp real swords in their hands. Since then, I had been clasping my hands together, praying that no one would get hurt every time they moved.
The real sword gleaming in the sunset light cut off the ends of Iria’s hair. The flying hair strands were invisible due to the backlight, but when Iria rushed forward and blocked the light, they briefly appeared then disappeared.
Iria swung her sword upward, trying to make Persis drop his sword. However, Persis forcefully blocked her strike and took advantage of her lowered posture to kick at her legs. Iria’s body lurched forward as she lost her center of gravity. At this rate, Persis would win. But Iria didn’t give up until the end.
Iria’s sword, which had been raised upward, slid quickly downward along Persis’s sword. In that gap, Iria’s sword changed direction and aimed for Persis’s shoulder. At this rate, Iria’s sword would pierce Persis’s shoulder.
Startled, I tried to stop their duel. Even though the school had healers, there was no need for such a dangerous duel.
However, Persis had also noticed the direction of Iria’s sword tip. He moved his body sideways, avoiding Iria’s sword. In the end, the sparring ended with Iria losing her balance and falling to the ground.
Only then did Iria rise from her position with difficulty, breathing heavily. Persis laughed as if it had been fun and sheathed the sword he was holding.
“You’ve improved.”
“Not a comment I want to hear from the winner.”
What had been a hair-raising duel to me seemed like nothing to them. With a sigh of relief, I ran to the two of them. Apart from the cut ends of Iria’s hair, they didn’t seem to be injured anywhere.
Iria scratched her head with an awkward smile.
“Haha, was I rolling around too much?”
“I’m glad you’re not hurt. Even for sparring, real swords are too dangerous.”
“You’re right. That’s true.”
Despite being the first to pull out a real sword, Persis agreed with my words without a hint of guilty conscience. Then he picked up a wooden sword placed at the side of the training ground and threw it to me. I barely caught the wooden sword that suddenly flew toward me and looked at Persis.
“This time, let’s use wooden swords. Since we’re out here, Ana should move his body too.”
I gripped the wooden sword tightly and swallowed hard. I knew we needed to practice sparring for the exams, but I hadn’t expected to face none other than Persis. I could feel strength entering each joint of my hand holding the wooden sword. They say you have to try to know the long and short of it, but even a passerby would know the outcome of this match.
I calmed my slightly trembling breath and took the stance I had learned in class.
“I’ll be in your care.”
“Let’s keep it light.”
Persis stood in front of me with a grin. The tip of his wooden sword pointed at me. Though he hadn’t said he would yield the first move, Persis waited for me to move first. I suppose that’s the composure of the strong. As the weaker one, I knew I shouldn’t miss such an opportunity, but I couldn’t get a sense of what to do first.
Since I couldn’t just stand still, I took a step toward Persis. As I approached cautiously, Persis smiled as if amused. In my heart, I wanted to color Persis’s neat face with surprise, but that was impossible with my skills. If I used mana, it might be different, but that couldn’t be called a sword match.
In the end, unable to hold out, I tried swinging my wooden sword upward from below, but it was immediately blocked. After that, a tedious exchange followed. Even when I used my brain to look for openings, Persis easily blocked my wooden sword.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
