Everyone stared at the paper, their eyes darting quickly as they read the slightly damp newspaper. Their skin crawled with goosebumps, and the sweat on their faces seemed to flee from what they had just read.
Hands trembling, some people immediately closed their shops—even though they had just reopened after the mysterious fog had disappeared. Now, the terror of scent had begun.
"What kind of news is this?!" shouted a citizen angrily. He crumpled the newspaper into a ball and threw it far away before stomping his foot on the beach.
"This isn't true, right?" someone asked. Some elves nearby wept, while others shed silent tears.
Once again, several Muslim merchants shut their shops. The elves and dwarves could feel how heavy the burden was.
The bright sky that had been absent for so long had finally returned—only to bring sorrow after the people were shown a piece of horrifying news:
The Fall of Ogmundur City from the Dwarvest Republic and the City of Velicia from the CyFil Empire.
Elaina Arcveil:
What? That was the only word that could describe Elena's expression, filled with confusion as she looked at someone who resembled her so closely.
"You still don't believe it, Elena?" Aunt Chintya asked, as Elena stared at her in disbelief, struggling to accept that she had an older sister.
"You never told me this," she said, clearly disappointed, just seconds before Elaina began to explain everything.
Elaina started to speak at the lunch table, explaining why she had never told her sister or asked Aunt Chintya to do so—until she could meet Elena in person.
Wein lifted his knife and sliced through a thick piece of meat—his seventh one, and he still hadn't stopped eating.
"In that case, can I ask you something?" Elena said awkwardly, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at Elaina.
Elaina smiled. "Of course." She lifted her glass elegantly, sipping slowly and unhurriedly as she waited for the question.
"Do you use a sword like Wein, or a bow like me?" she asked curiously. The Arcveil family held both weapons in high regard, passing them down to each child.
Wein used a sword because he had been taught—or rather, had inherited—the art of the blade, while Elena inherited extraordinary talent in archery with remarkable precision.
Elaina sighed. "I'm not talented in archery, so..." She paused for a moment, noticing the disappointment on Elena's face. "I use a sword," she said with a smile.
Elena leaned back, disappointed, while Elaina, trying to change the topic, brought something else up.
She looked toward Loraine and asked, "Student Council President, is there anyone still staying at the Academy during winter break?"
Loraine looked up and thought for a moment. "As far as I remember, no one should be there," she said uncertainly.
"Is that so? Then who did I see before I came here?"
"Maybe some professors who haven't gone home yet?" Her voice was slightly shaky as she addressed Gladius, which made her nervous.
"Could be, but I'm not so sure."
The room fell silent for a moment. Wein felt a ticklish vibration on his thigh—it was coming from his pocket. He leaned back slightly and reached for the item inside.
At the same time, Loraine raised her pocket watch and answered the call, pressing a button and bringing it close to her ear.
"Hello, Eleanoir speaking," she said softly.
The watch vibrated and then released a gentle voice. "This is Servant Veria. I will be picking you up at Aetheris Academy tonight as per the Eleanoir Family's request."
The call ended. Not long after, one of the servants entered the room and handed a rolled-up piece of paper to Loraine, who quickly unrolled it.
"Can't you just ask them to pick you up here instead?" Wein asked as she read the letter.
"The City of the Elves has fallen. Velicia has fallen, so I must return. The storm has also passed. I'll head to the Academy tonight. Thank you, Wein, Aunt Chintya, Elena, and Gladius… Elaina," she said reluctantly.
"That's sad. Do you really have to leave so soon?" asked Aunt Chintya. Elena, also saddened, looked at Loraine.
"I'm sorry I can't stay longer, but CyFil is in trouble," she said seriously with a faint smile.
After lunch, Loraine quickly packed her things. Wein, Elaina, and Elena went off to train until evening. Later, Elaina, Wein, and Loraine sat in the same spot where Wein and Loraine had once watched the aurora together at night.
---
"I think it's time," said Loraine. She stood up from the bench and began to walk, followed by Elaina and Wein, heading toward the horse-drawn carriage.
Under the orange sky, several servants were preparing Loraine's belongings and placing them into the carriage.
"All ready, miss," said one of the servants. He shut the luggage compartment before opening the carriage door and gesturing for Loraine to enter.
Loraine said her warm goodbyes to Wein and thanked Aunt Chintya, giving everyone a final farewell before stepping slowly into the carriage.
Wein waved as she sat inside. The carriage began to move, turning slowly and taking a few minutes to leave the area.
As the temperature dropped, they couldn't stay outside much longer. Elaina quickly wrapped her arm around Wein and brought him back inside.
"You've got good taste in girls," Elaina teased.
He dodged the remark and gave a bitter smile, the unease in his chest starting to grow. Wein was forced back inside, and Aunt Chintya couldn't help but tease him too.
"You don't seem very lively when Loraine's not around, Wein," she chuckled, lifting a cup of warm tea.
Wein shook his head and quickly headed upstairs to his room to take a shower before coming back down for dinner.
He turned on the shower, removed his shirt, and stood beneath the flowing water, just standing there like it was rain, doing nothing at all.
He closed his eyes.
"Wein? Why aren't you eating?" asked Aunt Chintya, puzzled. Elaina, who hadn't stopped teasing him, also paused and noticed his odd behavior.
Wein slowly came to his senses as he raised the fork—already pierced into a piece of meat—and finally began to eat.
"I have a bad feeling about the Academy," he said suddenly, chewing, then slicing a piece of fish before eating it again.
Elaina sighed and shook her head. "That's normal when you deeply care about someone you love. Loraine will be fine—"
"No! Something is waiting there. I'm not sure things will be fine," Wein said more firmly. He pushed himself up from the table, both hands planted on its surface.
"Wein!" Aunt Chintya snapped.
Wein turned around firmly, his expression blank. Aura began to swirl around his body along with mana. He walked out of the dining room and spoke firmly to one of the servants.
"Prepare a carriage to Aetheris Academy." He paused briefly before continuing, "NOW!" he shouted, his voice thundering through the room, startling Elena.
__________
T. Moriarty is Back Everyone!
Thank you for your patience