Chapter 19: Folia’s love affair

Razé: “Folia, are you writing a letter again?”

Folia: “Un.”

Folia sealed the letter she wrote with candle wax. Her roommate, Razé, had just returned from her daily routine of running.

They both were commoner and get along well with each other. Razé was smart and strong. She was so excellent; she entered the academy as a scholarship student.

As for Folia, she could follow the theory lessons but she was not good at practical. The teaches gave her make-up classes, but that alone couldn’t improve her skills. She used to practice by herself in her free time, but now Luca, who was very good at magic, helped her with her practice.

Zale-sama had told me to do my best, but I’m letting him down …

Folia looked down at the letter. When she remembered the man with jet-black hair and golden eyes, her chest hurt.

I wonder what he is doing now.

She was fully aware that he only saw her as a child. When she was young, she only saw him as ‘a brother who came to the church’ and she was a bit scared of him. But Folia fell in love with Zale.

“Folia～, this is for you!” Razé noticed Folia looked dispirited. She took out a box from the closet and gave it to her.

Razé: “I found this at the shopping district yesterday. I thought it’s cute and suits you well.”

Folia: “For me?”

Razé: “Un.”

When Folia opened the box, she saw a jewelry case with lock.

Razé: “I thought maybe you could use it as letter case.”

Folia was surprised. The letters she received from Zale was like treasure to her. This gift was so perfect. It seemed that Razé knew her very well.

Folia: “Thank you, Razé-chan. I’m so happy. Can I really take this?”

Razé: “Of course. I bought it for you.”

Folia was touched by Razé’s gesture. She was happy to have such a reliable friend. Folia turned towards Razé.

Folia: “Hmm. Razé-chan. Will you listen to my story?”

Razé: “Sure.”

Folia wanted to tell Razé about her worries. She slowly started to tell Razé about Zale.

Folia: “The person who wrote me these letters seems a bit cold and a little scary but actually he is a very kind person.”

At that moment, Razé realized what Folia was going to tell her. She thought, I’d better prepare myself or I’m going to vomit sugar [1]. Folia was going to tell her a love story so her stomach was giving her a warning sign to prepare herself.

Folia: “At first I thought of him as a brother that was a bit scary. But before I realize it, my eyes were always chasing him …”

Razé: “Un.”

Folia: “He always helps me whenever I was in trouble.”

Razé: “Un.”

Folia: “I think it was about 2 years ago, an abnormal phenomenon occurred near the church. We were attacked by a large number of beasts.”

Folia closed her eyes as she recalled what happened back then. Zale had screamed her name as he ran towards her with a worried look. Folia couldn’t forget how he had hugged her tightly that day.

Folia: “When he hugged me tightly, I was so relieved that my tears came out. At that moment, I realized that I like him.”

Razé: “…Un.”

Razé felt the story sounded familiar.

Razé: “Sorry to interrupt you. The church that you mentioned, was it the Gardersen Church in Soruen?”

Folia: “Huh! Razé-chan, you know about the church?”

Razé: “I will never forget about that incident. It must have been tough on you.”

Of course I know about it. I had to sacrifice my holiday and went to hunt the beasts down. Razé was shocked to find an unexpected connection between them.

Folia: “Yeah. It seems that the beasts were hunted down immediately, but I was very scared of their roar.”

Razé never expected that the victim of that incident was right next to her. How could you frighten my angel Folia, you unforgivable beasts!

Razé could defeat the beasts and secure the safety of the people but she could do nothing about their emotional care and this was causing her mixed feelings.

Hey, wait a minute!

In the otome game, Folia would use her healing magic during the incident and because of her contribution, she then would enter Centrior on recommendation. However, in this world, Folia did not enter the academy on recommendation.

Which meant that Razé had ruined the plot.

According to the plot in the game, there would be a lot of people who died in that incident. The heroine spent the whole day healing the victims at the scene. It made her wanted to learn magic and then she entered the Centrior Imperial Magic Academy.

So, the plot had changed from the beginning. Razé was convinced that the plot could be changed. Then, the plot for Carna could be changed too. This was good news. She felt that she could save her own life too.

Razé: “I’m glad that you were okay. And I’m sure that that person was also glad that you were okay too. Judging from how he has been diligently sending letters to you every week, it seems he must care a lot about you.”

Folia: “You think so?

Razé: “Un.”

Razé smiled at Folia. Folia felt relieved and eased the tension in her shoulder.

Folia: “I miss him …”

Razé: “The Star Festival will be coming soon. And after that, there is the Battle Fiesta. The parents could visit the academy at that time. I’m sure he will come to see you.”

Folia: “Yes. I need to make sure that I can use attack skill by then.”

Razé was relieved to see that Folia cheered up. She had been worried because the girl looked like she was forcing herself.

Razé: “By the way, Folia.”

Folia: “Yes?”

Razé: “Actually, you don’t need to be adamant about attack skill.”

Folia: “What?”

Razé decided to give a hint to Folia because she had been so hardworking.

Razé: “Why don’t you think about your specialty? I’m sure you will realize it.”

Folia: “Huh? Okay, I’ll think about it.”

It was Folia strong suits that she could accept advice obediently. Razé hoped that Folia could surprise Lord Moldir at the Battle Fiesta as she cheered for her in her heart.

* * *

Razé-chan is so great. I felt relieved after talking to her.

Folia had cleared her worries. She was currently taking an art class with undivided attention. She created the sculpture as she had imagined, and her finished work was a breathtaking masterpiece.

“Good job, Cresias-san. I’ve never seen such a great masterpiece.” The art teacher, Sheena Vik Avro gave her an extremely high praise.

Folia actually made it while thinking about the person she liked. It was a secret that only she knew.

“Compared to that, Granoli-san …” Avro look at Razé’s artwork and let out a sigh.

Avro: “I’ve work here for 15 years. You’re the only who could make such a bizarre piece of art.”

Razé: “I think this is one of those artworks that will be popular when the artist passed away.”

Avro: “Yeah, right. If you say ‘art is an explosion’ [2], I’m going to get mad. I will acknowledge your effort though.”

Razé: “Alright.”

Razé Granoli had zero talent in art. She looked at her finished work and was puzzled. She also didn’t know how did it turn out like this. Folia looked at her having a hard time and laughed.

After the class was over, Razé puffed out her cheeks and said, “Folia, don’t laugh-”

Folia: “Sorry. It turns out that there is something that you’re not good at.”

Razé: “Of course. I’m an ordinary human.”

When Folia heard that, she softened her expression. She might have been too nervous up until now.

Carna: “I’m so surprised with your artwork. It was not something than a human could make.”

Razé: “Carna-sama, not you too!”

Folia: “Hahaha!”

Folia laughed with a carefree smile. She thought that she must write this in her letter. Also, she would like to express her gratitude once again to him for being her guardian and for sponsoring her tuition fees.

Zale-sama, thank you for getting me into the academy. Thanks to you, I have made wonderful friends!

Folia was in a good mood when she saw her cute friends on her sides. Looking at Folia’s happy face, Carna and Razé joined her and laughed together.

[1] This refers to Japanese slang ‘It so sweet, I’m going to vomit sugar’ ↩

[2] Art is an explosion: famous meme by Deidara (Naruto) ↩