Chapter 8 (2/2)
Cute young lady. The corners of his lips lifted higher.
“The mages of the Magic Tower did this. Because they can become the next Rikasha if they eliminate the current one.”
“… They would go that far?”
“There are a lot of people who bore animosity because a 12-year-old became a Rikasha. Someone with aptitude trained their whole life but has yet to become an Elder, but the current Rikasha is only a 12-year old that hasn’t even had his Second Awakening yet. It’s only natural they wouldn’t look at me favourably.”
“…”
To think that his life is constantly being threatened despite being all of 12 years old. Kynemeia lightly clenched her fist. Even if she didn’t want to sympathize, his circumstances made her unable to feel anything but sympathy. Watching her wariness slowly waver, Eian once again feigned a mournful expression.
“That’s why I might just get killed on my way out of the Grand Duke’s castle…”
You won’t get killed, you’ll probably seek revenge! I feel like I would be less worried if you would just die instead. No, maybe that was too much.
A little sigh escaped her, her mind currently burdened with the risks of when she had to send him away. The scale between danger and resentment oscillated back and forth. As danger and resentment were confronting each other, something abruptly popped up in between them— human morality. Because sending off a 12-year-old with a pierced side to a deadly situation wouldn’t be humane.
“It’s just… until your injury heals…”
“I knew it, our Miss Lady’s generosity truly knows no bounds.”
“You asked if I was going to do human hunting when we first met.”
“That was a joke, of course.”
“You seemed sincere though.”
But Eian just laughed soundlessly, as if he heard something fascinating. There were so many things about him that bugged her but Kynemeia just nodded her head slowly.
“… Don’t lose me this time.”
“I won’t.”
He smiled as he glanced down at the mumbling girl. Kynemeia was pursing her lips, somehow not masking her expression that admitted she hated him to death.
‘Why does she despise me so much?
‘Moreover, from our very first meeting.’
There was no way that it was just his feeling. Eian had always been fine-tuned to other people’s perception of him. To add to that, he knew full well that his appearance was agreeable to anyone and of the power he held as a Rikasha. However, far from expressing any interest in his looks or status, this Lady of the Grand Duke went as far as to shudder.
Why is it? Eian was sinking deep in thou—
“Hand.”
“Huh?”
Kynemeia extended her hand.
“There are a lot of people there. I would be troubled if I lose you again… So… Well, if you don’t want to—”
“Ah, you’re right.”
Eian grinned as he cut off her words before he proceeded to clasp her outstretched hand.
“Just grab up to this part.”
Kynemeia was taken aback when he grabbed her hand, completely covering it, so she yanked back her hand and made it so that he could only grasp the tips of her fingers. Eian, who could only touch her nails, accused in a sulky tone.
“But, Miss Lady, your hand is so small I feel like it would just slip out.”
“Then strive hard so it won’t.”
“Yeess…”
Even as he replied jokingly, Eian blinked sluggishly. Her zeal from earlier had disappeared and the tip of her pure white hand was trembling faintly. He wondered if she had been shivering since earlier… In front of that man who was of no consequence at all.
I was convinced she was hiding her mana.
If that’s not the case, then I wonder how such indomitable zeal emerges from such a small body.
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After exiting the alley, Eian grasped onto Kynemeia’s hand tighter. Her hand was so small that it felt like it would slip away if anything went awry. Suddenly, Eian remembered how his peers in the novitiate took care of a bird.
After passing the devilish exams, the entire class of the novitiate back in the Magic Tower picked up a wounded bird and nursed it with love. They put a splint on it, tended to its wounds, fed it, and chased away any predator that posed a threat to it. Eian couldn’t comprehend why they would go to such great lengths. They had so many other duties to fulfil, and they were already lacking rest as they were. But even if his peers were pressed for time, they wouldn’t stop taking care of the bird. As if the time they spent on it made them very happy.
Taking care of something or someone else was a foreign concept to Eian. After all, he had been abandoned at seven. Before the Master of the Magic Tower picked him up and placed him in the novitiate, Eian had to fight to survive day to day in the back alleys, avoiding the adults’ notice and looking after himself.
‘See, it’s slipping out.’
Eian held onto Kynemeia’s slipping hand tighter.
Looking after another was such a cumbersome thing that required so much to do and pay heed to. Having to keep his eyes on Kynemeia, save her from an idiotic man, shield her so she wouldn’t get run over by people, hold her hand tightly, and…
At that moment, Kynemeia was jostled by someone and her head crashed onto Eian’s back.
“Ah, sorry.”
The girl smiled awkwardly and fixed her hair. A sudden thump echoed in his chest.
“Someone pushed me from behind…”
As Kynemeia became unnerved and explained herself, Eian frowned slightly.
‘What is this?’
Eian stopped in his tracks as he found the sound from his heart odd.
“Why?”
Kynemeia tilted her head. She was asking why he was frozen like that.
“No…”
He rubbed the area where his heart resided.
Did I turn weird after getting injured not long ago? Or is it nearly the time for my Second Awakening?
royals: YES, YES CATCH THE FEELS