18. 3 years ago (1)

If you talk about the major educational institutions of the Riant Kingdom, the ones usually named are the Magic Tower, the Royal University, and the Raven Knight Academy.

The Magic Tower stands tall on the outskirts of the Royal Capital, serving as the final destination for the Kingdom’s most outstanding mages and nurturing new mages. The Royal University mainly cultivates administrators. Many children of the court nobles flock here. If the children of the civil official families enroll here, they can be guaranteed success.

And the Raven Knight Academy is where the Kingdom’s swords are forged. Not all great knights have graduated from the Academy, but the cadets who have graduated from it can usually be said to have become excellent knights.

In the winter three years ago, the Raven Knight Academy was busy preparing for the exams to wrap up the semester. Maxim continued to sharpen and polish his sword even after entering the graduating class. It felt long, but looking back, it was a short time that suited such a cliché expression.

“Where do you want to go after graduation?”

Tactical Theory class was over. Amidst the boisterous chatter of the Raven Knight Academy cadets leaving the lecture hall, Maxim was sitting at the very back of the lecture hall, closest to the exit, rubbing his sleepy eyes.

As the final exams of the second semester approached, the cadets were busy preparing in their own ways. As they became seniors, the amount of practical training increased significantly. The exams are also conducted in a very realistic manner, so the ability to handle real-life situations is becoming increasingly important. Even during their free time after class, most graduating cadets pick up their swords, spears, or shields and head to the training grounds.

Graduation.

Maxim had a vague expectation. Cadets who graduated from the Imperial Raven Knight Academy had to serve for at least 5 years under the control of the Central Knights. After that, they could be relatively free from personnel orders. It doesn’t matter if they go to the territory they want or continue to serve in the Central Knights.

Still, I’ll probably continue to serve directly under the Imperial Palace, right? If I’m lucky, I might be able to join the knights who guard the Imperial presence. Or with Theodora…

Maxim’s thoughts were cut off there.

“Max, where do you want to go?”

The right arm on which Maxim was resting his chin was suddenly pushed away, and his head dropped with a thud.

“Ack.”
“Hey, Maxim Apart. You’re not listening to me right now.”

Maxim came to his senses. To his left, a girl with long platinum blonde hair glared at him with puffed cheeks. Her clear, shining gray eyes resembled rain clouds. Maxim apologized to Theodora as he cracked his stiff neck.

“Sorry, but I was listening.”
“What did I say then?”
“That you love me?”
“That was funny, so I’ll forgive you.”

Theodora laughed and snorted. A loose fist that had lost all its strength touched Maxim’s arm.

“I asked where you want to go after graduation.”

Maxim shrugged his shoulders.

“I haven’t really thought about where I want to go… But if possible, I’d like to serve in the Capital. Or go to a really rough place. To build up my skills and fame.”
“A rough place… Like the Wilderness?”
“The Wilderness is good, and the Kips region is good too.”

Theodora pouted her lips.

“Kips, hmm… I don’t like cold places though.”
“The border might be good too. The Engen Kingdom has been quite noisy.”

The sound of people walking in the hallway could be heard. People were laughing loudly, grumbling, and having pleasant conversations.

And Theodora.

Theodora looked at Maxim and gave a silent smile. That silent smile captured Maxim’s surroundings more loudly than any other sound in the world. Maxim, as if enchanted by that smile, asked.

“Where do you want to go, Theo?”
“Wherever you want to go is where I want to go.”

Theodora smiles. Without realizing it, Maxim cups her smiling cheeks with his hands. Her face, which fits entirely in both hands, is so small.

“What, why…”

Theodora mumbled, wriggling her lips. Maxim playfully, lightly kissed those lips. He could feel the extremely soft and slightly dry lips.

“Ah.”

Theodora’s face turned red. Maxim smiled and raised his hand to ruffle her hair, finding that quite lovable appearance.

“Ah, I told you not to touch my hair like that.”

Theodora reached up to protect her disheveled platinum blonde hair but didn’t push Maxim’s hand away. Instead, she simply placed her hand on top of his to make his touch on her hair gentler and less messy.

“Like this, gently. So it doesn’t get messed up. Is that so hard?”
“Yeah. It’s hard. Looking at you right now, anyone would want to ruffle your hair like that.”
“Please… Even if it’s hard, do it.”

Theodora firmly said so, holding out one finger in front of Maxim. Maxim felt the urge to mess up her hair even more at that sight, but he gently stroked her hair as Theodora’s hand guided him. That platinum blonde hair was much softer than velvet and shone more beautifully than real platinum.

“The next lecture is about to start. Let’s hurry.”

Theodora stood up, holding Maxim’s hand. Maxim slowly got up from his seat, following her. The next class was Melee Combat. He was excited to see how that final exam would be conducted.

The two stepped out of the lecture hall and let go of each other’s hands. In principle, relationships between the opposite sex were prohibited at the Academy. Theodora looked at Maxim’s falling hand with a regretful look in her eyes.

“I think it would be okay to at least hold hands. The academy rules are too much.”

Maxim laughed at Theodora’s grumbling. As they left the lecture hall and began walking down the corridor, Theodora’s face changed to the one she used when dealing with people externally. A cold and noble atmosphere. Theodora Bening, the object of reverence for all students, scattering her gray gaze. Maxim loved this side of her as well.

“The weather has gotten much colder.”

But why does that flawless face melt away when she looks at him? Her eyes maintained composure, but Maxim could see Theodora’s wobbling lips.

“It sure has. Winter is winter.”
“I hope it snows.”

Theodora said, slightly shrinking her body.

Frost had fogged up the corridor windows. Looking out the window, Theodora’s face was white and pale, tinged with the cold like frost.

Maxim wrapped the scarf he was wearing around Theodora’s neck. Her face turned bright red as if startled, and she flapped her arms stiffly. After confirming that no one was around, she accepted his touch. Maxim looked at her with a warm smile.

“You don’t like the cold, but you don’t dress warmly.”

Maxim said playfully. Theodora shook her head, her face red like a pretty peach, but still trying to maintain her composure.

“How can I dress warmly when you take care of me like this?”

While expressing embarrassment, she could now show her heart as it was. Maxim was just happy that she had changed in such a good way.

“Theo,”
“What?”

She tried to maintain her composure, but her face was still red. Maxim clearly remembered the sight of her half-turned towards him.

“Nothing.”
“Hmph, you’re no fun.”

Theodora smiled prettily, raising the corners of her mouth. Then she lifted the scarf wrapped around her to hide her expression.

The outdoor training ground where the Melee Combat lecture was held had an oddly clear sky. The sun was high, but it wasn’t warm. The cadets of the graduating class were lined up, waiting for the instructor to begin speaking. The instructor was a muscular, bald knight with a grim look. The blood vessels protruding above his head made it seem like his head was also filled with muscles. In reality, it wasn’t much different.

The instructor cleared his throat with a cough.

“Before we begin class, I will announce the final exam.”

When the topic of the final exam came up, the atmosphere among the cadets changed and became tense. The instructor looked at the cadets with a satisfied look and began to speak.

“The Academy’s final exam will always be conducted in a form as similar to real combat as possible, as usual. And it’s unknown whether it will take the form of monster subjugation or a duel against people.”

The bald instructor lowered his voice menacingly.

“So, be prepared to handle all forms of combat perfectly.”

However, the instructor soon relaxed his expression, and a smile, equally rough as his face, appeared on his rough face. It was a scary expression, but the cadets who had already adapted to the Academy knew that the smile stemmed from satisfaction and friendliness.

“That being said, you guys are probably already preparing as much as you can. I think you’ve passed the stage where I have to tell you that.”

The cadets’ expressions slightly softened at the instructor’s unusual encouragement. The instructor clapped his hands to lighten the mood.

“Well, let’s start today’s training too. Form your own groups and start sparring. If anyone needs help, come to me anytime.”

Begin!

As soon as the instructor finished speaking, Maxim faced Theodora, who approached him as if they had promised. The scarf he had wrapped around her fluttered in the wind. Their surroundings were already getting noisy with the shouts and clashing sounds of the sparring that had begun.

“What if the scarf gets torn?”

Theodora muttered softly. Maxim’s ears clearly heard her voice.

“I don’t mind if it gets torn, Theo. But will you let that scarf get torn by my sword?”

Maxim drew his sword and provoked Theodora. Whoosh, whoosh, the blade Maxim swung fiercely cut through the winter air, making a sharp sound. Theodora seemed to have accepted his childish provocation, shaking her head boldly while fluttering the scarf.

“I won’t. Do you have the confidence to tear it, Maxi?”

Rather, she grabbed the end of the scarf and provoked him back. Receiving that playful smile, Maxim readjusted his grip on the sword.

“If you do this, I might keep aiming only at the scarf.”
“Then I’ll get angry, so do it properly.”

Maxim laughed and circulated mana. The blade of the sword he was holding gradually turned golden from the root, resembling the color of his eyes. Although he lacked talent in mana, his swordsmanship allowed him to awaken the Aura Blade, albeit belatedly.

A genius of the sword.

Although he didn’t stand out due to his lack of aura, Maxim was someone who deserved to be called that.

“Yeah, that’s better.”

Theodora smiled brightly and dyed her sword platinum.

==

After class, Theodora, who had returned to the girls’ dormitory, rubbed her pleasantly aching right arm after the match with Maxim. The lobby of the senior dormitory was quiet. Theodora was probably the only one who could afford some leisure. The fireplace crackled pleasantly. She felt the warmth and let out a long sigh.

“Bening, Theodora Bening?”

At that moment, an instructor entered the dormitory lobby. Theodora looked up and faced the instructor, who had an evident look of fatigue.

“What is it?”
“Your weekday outing has been approved.”

Theodora frowned slightly. A weekday outing? She was sure she hadn’t applied for one this week.

“I didn’t apply for a weekday outing this week…”
“I know. It’s not your application…”

The instructor rummaged through his chest and took out a paper that appeared to be an outing permit.

“Take it for now.”
“What’s going on?”

The instructor sighed and said, scratching his head.

“Well… Count Leon Bening has left his territory and come to the Imperial Capital for a while, and he said he misses his daughter.”

Father.

Theodora accepted the outing permit with a complicated expression. It wasn’t a very happy expression.

“Well, go out for now. Make sure to return on time… is what I want to say, but even if you can’t, I can understand, so don’t feel too burdened and go.”

He’s not usually the type to come so suddenly like this.

Theodora frowned. Her father was still a difficult existence for her. The instructor scratched his head and threw out his words as if he had finished his job.

“A coachman will be waiting for you outside the main gate. Quickly change into your outing clothes.”

The instructor left the dormitory lobby, leaving Theodora behind. She alternately looked at the back of the instructor leaving the lobby and the outing permit delivered to her.

First, I should meet my father.

Theodora thought so and returned to her room to change into her outing clothes.