- What Is a Friend?
Two students lay comfortably on the grassy shore of the forest lake within Basamiel Academy, their gazes turned toward the academy’s main building. A bell rang in the distance.
“……”
Mikhail looked toward the main building, then silently stared at Adrian, who lay sprawled across the grass with ease. He looked like he was hesitating.
“…Class might be in session right now.”
If it were Monday, it could be the public administration class. If not, then the bell might be signaling a different lecture. Still dripping wet, Mikhail spoke to Adrian, who was lounging as if without a care. At that mumble, Adrian rested both arms behind his head, cracked open one eye, and looked up at the hesitant prince.
“Whatever class it is, I’m skipping. There’s no way I’m going in like this.”
“…That’s true.”
“If you want to go, go ahead.”
Unlike Mikhail, who was still wavering, Adrian had clearly said his piece and shut his eyes again. After running through a burning lava cave, chasing after salamanders, this serene forest was a welcome reprieve. With his eyes closed, Adrian could hear the soft sounds of water and birdsong drifting through the air. And then—the telltale thump of someone flopping down beside him.
Good choice.
Adrian didn’t bother saying it aloud to his fellow truant. Instead, he let a faint smile tug at his lips.
The two of them remained there on the grass, soaking in the peace until the bell rang once more from the clocktower to mark the hour.
***
The weather was too nice, and with their uniforms drying in the sun, resisting sleep was practically impossible. The Gold Dragon awoke about an hour later. Stretching lightly, Adrian slowly sat up. He raked one hand through his soaked, now wildly tousled hair and turned to glance to the side—where Mikhail still lay fast asleep.
Adrian had watched him train a few times. The prince certainly had the makings of a fine swordsman, but whether he could reach the realm of a true Swordmaster was another question entirely. The scenes from the lava cave flickered behind Adrian’s eyes.
The fiery glow of Mikhail’s eyes, blazing red like rubies… the surging torrents of pure mana that even dragons couldn’t tame, let alone a human.
Adrian’s brow twitched slightly, as if something about the prince displeased him.
“…What?”
Mikhail, disturbed by that scrutinizing stare, slowly woke up. In that hazy moment, he seemed to forget he was a prince, or that he’d been sleeping on a lawn. His limbs felt stiff—this wasn’t the usual soft bed and quilt he was used to. Normally, he’d never lie down or fall asleep in a place like this, but perhaps their rough camping in Dohenia had rubbed off on him.
“Awake?”
Adrian greeted him casually, watching the prince’s dazed expression.
“……”
Mikhail rubbed at his cheek and temple with a palm, his silver hair sticking out in all directions. He gave a faint nod, sighed quietly, and pushed himself upright.
“I should head back to the dorm.”
His uniform was nearly dry, and if he were going to rest any further, he wanted to do it clean, after a proper shower and change of clothes. The Gold Dragon felt the same—he stood up too, yawning softly as he followed after the prince.
They had just stepped beyond the edge of the academy’s forest.
“Huh?”
Someone spotted them and waved enthusiastically. It was Yushi, along with Garnet and the other first-years, gathered in the central garden of the academy’s main building. Judging by the food and desserts laid out on the marble table—takeout from the academy dining hall—it looked like they were enjoying a late brunch.
“Hey! Where are you two coming from?”
Yushi called out as she waved, her cute snaggletooth peeking out as she smiled. Adrian thought that little imperfection was one of her charms and nodded in greeting. He was just wondering how to answer her question when—
“It’s a secret.”
Huh? Adrian snapped his head toward the prince. Was it supposed to be a secret?
Mikhail caught Adrian’s questioning look and slowly shook his head. Adrian hadn’t planned on babbling about all the strange things they’d gone through, but he hadn’t expected Mikhail to think the same. He decided to play along.
“…Yeah, it’s a secret. Nothing big happened anyway.”
Just to be sure, Adrian casually asked Yushi a quick question to confirm whether it was the weekend. If they’d missed a few classes, she’d probably have asked if something had happened.
“Yeah, something like that. Hi, Mikhail.”
Yushi looked up at Mikhail, who gave a slight nod from beside Adrian, and broke into a playful grin. The towering prince seemed completely unaware that the back of his hair was a mess, his expression indifferent. The contrast between his disheveled appearance and his usual composed demeanor was striking.
Good thing today’s not a class day.
After offering a half-hearted greeting, Mikhail made it obvious he wanted nothing more than to hurry back to the dorm. He took a step forward, and Adrian followed behind, dragging his feet.
“Um…”
One of the students sitting with Yushi called out to Adrian cautiously. At the sound, the Gold Dragon turned his head sharply. “Hm?” He responded reflexively, unsure whether the call had been meant for him. Mikhail, too, reluctantly glanced back.
“Do you… like cookies?”
The makeshift brunch table was lined with assorted desserts and teacups, among them several types of packaged cookies. The student who had called out carefully picked up one of the cookies and held it out toward Adrian.
Adrian glanced between Yushi, who was smiling with her little snaggletooth peeking out, and the student offering the cookie. He smiled faintly.
“Yeah, I do. Is this for me?”
The blonde girl smiled back, visibly relieved. Her cheeks were tinged red, and her hand trembled slightly as she offered the cookie.
Obvious.
Mikhail thought to himself, watching the exchange with a subtly amused look. He figured every single student sitting at that brunch table would probably agree with his assessment.
“Uh, yeah. I bought them yesterday while I was out. Take it.”
“Thanks.”
Adrian accepted the cookie with a light nod. The girl just stared blankly at him for a moment, dazed. Yushi gave her a quick nudge with her elbow, prompting the blonde student to snap back to her senses and speak. Adrian paused in the garden, quirking a brow.
“I’m Cage Ritana.”
Blushing, the blonde girl introduced herself.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Adrian Heather. We’re both in Garnet, so let’s say hi often.”
Adrian nodded politely, accepting the young human girl’s introduction with manners befitting him. That alone seemed to be more than enough for her—she nodded so hard it looked almost exaggerated.
“…Well then.”
Adrian turned and resumed walking toward the dorm. Mikhail, who had been watching the two from the side, also started moving again.
Crinkle—
As Adrian walked, the cookie wrapper rustled faintly with each step.
The moment he entered their dorm room, the Gold Dragon casually tossed the cookie onto his desk. The desk was already covered with books, parchment, and flowerpots. Once the cookie was added to the clutter, it became nearly impossible to tell it apart from the rest.
Mikhail stared at the cookie sitting there for a moment. Adrian gave off the air that he’d just leave it there and never give it a second thought.
“What? Want it?”
Adrian was in the middle of peeling off his still-damp uniform when he noticed Mikhail’s gaze and asked offhandedly. Mikhail frowned like he’d just heard something absurd.
“Me? Eat that? No thanks. You have it.”
“Suit yourself.”
The Gold Dragon shrugged indifferently, clearly unbothered.
Normally, Mikhail would’ve let it go—but this wasn’t something that should be brushed off so casually. A young lady had all but confessed, and Adrian treated it like a passing breeze. Mikhail decided to offer a bit of advice.
“Going by the vibes just now, that was basically a confession. Don’t tell me you’re that dense?”
Adrian, now tidying his discarded uniform, made his way toward the bathroom. At Mikhail’s jab, he tilted his head slightly to look back at the prince.
“Mikhail.”
His warm brown eyes stared steadily at Mikhail. Though he wore a faint smile, there were times—like now—when Mikhail found those eyes a little unsettling.
“…Yeah?”
He replied half a beat too late, caught off guard.
“If you’re not going to shower, I’ll go first.”
Adrian didn’t so much ask as state it matter-of-factly, then slam—shut the bathroom door behind him.
Cocky bastard.
A moment too slow, Mikhail dropped heavily into the chair at his desk. Then, catching sight of his own reflection in the mirror—specifically, his messy hair—he scowled.
I walked around the garden like that?!
