Love Letter From The Future

The morning wrapped in tranquility came to the Academy.

It had been a place troubled by long battles. Although there had been disturbances such as students falling under curses or seeking refuge, the Academy had somehow begun to reclaim its daily life.

It was the end of a summer that seemed eternal.

The earth, relieved from the incessant heat, exuded a fresh scent. This fragrance, only discernible in the time before harvest, stirred a joy engraved in our genes since ancient times.

The faces of students gathered in small groups showed no signs of shadow for the first time in a while, as if trying to compensate for the time spent trembling under an unknown threat.

However, how could there be no scars left behind?

Amidst the vitality the Academy had regained, an unspoken sadness lingered. Those who were unaware of the incidents might not understand, but the deeper the involvement in those events, the more profound the scars left behind.

For instance, the nation.

My body was riddled with injuries, to the point where there was not a single unhurt spot. Having overused healing magic, my body could not easily recover, even with the healing potions possessed by the Imperial Court.

Even after wrapping bandages around my whole body, I struggled to move comfortably.

Sharp pain assaulted my joints every time I tried to move my limbs. Under normal circumstances, I should have been lying in bed all day, waiting for painkillers, but I could not bring myself to do that.

Because there were many who were injured more severely than I was.

I was here to visit one of them.

Knock, knock.

“Ceria?”

A man wrapped in pristine white bandages was visiting a female junior living alone.

It was a situation that could easily lead to misunderstandings, but there was no one here to gossip about me. Rather, they would likely be here to offer me comfort.

I had come to fulfill my duty on behalf of all.

The responsibility to bring a wounded comrade back to daily life.

Thankfully, Ceria was a lovely junior who respected and relied on me. Naturally, I couldn’t help but hope that if I showed up, she would at least show her face, but that was a mistake.

Ceria’s wounds were too deep.

The heart of the girl who had secluded herself and refused all visitors seemed firmly shut. The evidence was right in front of me.

The door showed no signs of opening, and a message was posted on it.

“Sorry.”

What could she possibly be sorry for?

Ceria had done nothing wrong. Most of it was simply the result of not being able to overcome her mother’s bloodline. No matter how wicked a being might be, they could not be born of sin from the outset.

Yet, Ceria was burying herself in a grave of guilt.

This couldn’t continue.

With an unsolved question in my mind, I knocked on the door again.

Knock, knock.

“Ceria? Are you okay? I heard you hadn’t eaten lately… Even if it’s just for a moment, could you come out and talk…?”

“Sorry.”

It was just those few words.

In that powerless tone, drenched in fatigue and self-blame, I felt my heart sink. It had been so long since I had heard my junior’s voice.

Like a sailor discovering an island in the vast sea, my heart involuntarily spilled out words.

“Ceria, are you okay? Please come out… I’ve heard the circumstances. But it’s not your fault, right? No one among us blames you….”

“Sorry.”

But that was the end.

No matter how much I tried to converse afterward, there was no reply from Ceria. I considered forcibly opening the door and entering, but how could I gauge the heart of a wounded girl?

In the end, in my frustration, I struck the door with my hand as if to break it down.

Bang, bang, bang!

Yet still, no voice returned.

With a final thud, my head hit the door. The smell of wood wafted up, and a deep sigh escaped from the depths of my chest.

“…Damn it.”

Celin was still nowhere to be seen, and Ceria had imprisoned herself.

The chill of the encroaching temperature was becoming painfully apparent. The season was now autumn.

A time when all life prepared for trials.

They say good things and evil are like needle and thread.

Even though I was troubled by the issues of my two juniors, tragedy was not the only thing awaiting me. Rather, one might say those two were exceptions.

There was an abundance of good news.

First and foremost, the Grand Witch.

“You are the ‘first’.”

It was a lackluster declaration.

Even I, called out unexpectedly, was taken aback. This place was the most secretive location within the Academy’s main building.

It was a venue where major figures from various countries gathered to deal with the aftermath of a major incident. To hear such words in front of dozens of powerful individuals meant it was certainly not a joke.

A single question flickered through my mind, along with everyone else’s gaze.

What does that mean?

It didn’t take long to find the answer.

“The second is that brat from Rainelle, and the last one is…”

First, second, youngest.

It was uncommon for someone of the Grand Witch’s stature to use such titles. Perhaps if she had remaining family, but she had recently killed off the last of her bloodline with her own hands.

If that were the case, there could only be one remaining possibility.

It meant she was referring to someone like family.

A master-student relationship.

One of the masters of the era was personally selecting a successor to pass on his vision. There were very few with the audacity to debate this matter, but unfortunately, one of those few was present here.

“…Wait a minute!”

It was a loud call for order.

A middle-aged man with impressive gray hair and beard stood out. His bleached features testified to his considerable age, yet his physique was remarkably robust compared to that of a young man.

The Empire’s Sword Saint.

Undoubtedly recognized as the continent’s best swordsman, he had come here on behalf of the Emperor, who was the elder of the Imperial Court.

His somewhat hostile tone froze the atmosphere instantly.

“Old hag, are you out of your mind?”

The words were spat out, gritting teeth.

If he set his mind to it, he could decimate an entire nation’s army. Just as the surrounding magical energy began to respond to his intent, answering his will.

Swallowing heavily, someone could be heard.

This is dangerous.

It was different from before; after the defeat of the vampire, the Grand Witch had regained her full power. Although her appearance remained that of a young girl, it was no longer the same.

What would happen if the two masters clashed here?

One or two buildings would collapse effortlessly. Naturally, the lives of everyone gathered here would be at risk.

Whether aware of such thoughts or not, the Sword Saint furrowed his brow and raised his voice even higher.

“I should have told you earlier, that little brat will be the Empire’s protector after me…!”

It was just then that the Grand Witch’s cold voice followed.

“The last one will be the royal brat… So, was her name Shi-en?”

“…It’s supposed to be, but it wouldn’t be bad to forge a connection this way either! Hahaha!”

It happened in an instant.

At the Grand Witch’s naming, the Sword Saint’s anger melted like snow under the spring sun. Indeed, it was a foolish sight reflective of a ‘fool’ who loved his granddaughter.

Of course, that was not the end.

As those of us, including myself, were in a state of disbelief, the Sword Saint even patted my back encouragingly.

“Come on! Although she’s not as good as me, the elder’s vision is also quite useful, so be sure to learn well. Who knows? Maybe a masterpiece combining the visions of the two masters will emerge later?”

“Nonsense.”

However, this pleasant atmosphere would not last long.

The Grand Witch quickly scoffed and raised her dissent.

“Unless you do it separately, combining the two visions into one? That’s impossible… Even if it were possible, it would require countless trials and errors. If you fail even once, your brain would burst.”

It was a remark made without malice.

Mages had this aspect. With their worlds being too fixed, they unwittingly articulated their opinions. Even if facing someone who held social prestige.

Especially, the Sword Saint, being a master of the Empire and an elder of the Imperial Court.

He wouldn’t just sit quietly and accept it.

The Sword Saint did not hide his displeasure, sneering.

“…Hmph, that’s still not a known matter.”

The childish clash of pride between the two elders might have been deemed a trivial incident if it had ended there, but the fact that the Sword Saint was clashing with the Grand Witch was the problem.

What is a mage?

As previously explained, they were thick-headed beings with no sense of subtlety, relying solely on their pride. The Grand Witch was no exception.

In the end, the woman would speak the hidden truth.

“Tsk, how absurd. Did that girl turn into a woman in just a few days, and her heart became so too… Gyaah?! Is she insane?!”

The result was always the same.

The Sword Saint drew his sword, and the secrets fell into the darkness of the Empire.

It was indeed a peacefully uneventful day.

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