6. Late sparkles

Fate...

Fate has decided so...

What will thou do?

Be a slave to fate?

Or be a L̵̯̰̻̰͚͚͙͙̩̥̖̥̘̉̑͊̌͂͜ờ̶̙̮̞͓͍͙̑̇̈́̽̋͆͐ṙ̸̭̜̬̑̌͘͜d̶̢̰͚̗̹̗̣̣̗̙͙̖̓̏ͅ?

Beady blue eyes scrutinized the dormant specimen, shrouded in a fog so thick and black, it seemed to swallow all light.

Shall thou become or not? Shall thou die or not? Shall the world consume thee…

Nay, it seemeth I know thine answer…

Arise from thine slumber…

Rise ye weak, ye talentless, ye death.

For it is engraved…

AWAKEN!

"Wahhh?!"

A boy jolted upright, heart hammering in his chest. His breath came in ragged gasps as his eyes darted around, expecting to find the familiar comfort of home, his parents' voices calling him from another room.

"Where…?"

Instead, he found himself in an unfamiliar place—a king-sized bed in the knights' quarters, the scent of medicine and freshly laundered sheets lingering in the air. His fingers brushed against the bandages wrapped around his chest. A dull ache spread through his body, and fatigue pressed heavily upon him, making it difficult to sit up straight.

"Ugh… my head… my stomach…"

A low growl rumbled from his stomach. He was starving. How long had he been asleep? The weight of exhaustion suggested over a full day—perhaps longer.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, his hazy gaze drifted toward the wooden table near the window. A small basket rested on top, the soft flicker of candlelight casting shadows over it. Curious, he stood, albeit unsteadily, and approached it. Inside, a neatly wrapped package and a small slip of paper caught his eye.

"Saka-san…"

His fingers unfolded the note with care:

I went to the tavern with everyone. I didn't know what kind of meat you liked, so forgive me if you don't like Great Boar Meat.

P.S: Please don't do that reckless move again…HMPH!

Seiito's lips twitched at the last part. She even wrote 'HMPH'... Shaking his head, he unwrapped the tinfoil and took a bite. The savory, rich taste of the boar meat hit his tongue, and he sighed in relief. At this point, anything would taste good—his hunger wasn't in the mood to be picky.

"Thanks, Saka-san…"

As he ate, his gaze wandered toward the window. The night sky stretched infinitely before him, illuminated by twin moons—one yellow, the other an eerie shade of green.

"W-wow…" He murmured in awe, staring at the celestial bodies. "What the hell? Is that even scientifically possible?"

His thoughts spiraled, grasping at the logical impossibility of this world's physics. Then, a single realization hit him.

"Magic…"

As if responding to his muttering, the glint of metal caught his eye. His Status Plate rested inside the basket, neatly placed beside the empty tinfoil wrap.

"Uwah…She must've seen it…how embarrassing…"

Saka had definitely checked it. A shiver ran down Seiito's spine. He grabbed the plate and, feeling restless, decided to step outside. It's not like I can fall asleep again…

The corridor was eerily quiet, moonlight filtering through the stained-glass windows, painting soft hues across the stone walls.

"How late is it?" He mused, glancing at the grand clock stationed in the hall. The answer eluded him, but given the stillness of the quarters, he guessed it was well past midnight.

As he walked toward the common area, his eyes caught a figure on the wide balcony, bathed in the glow of the moons. Golden strands swayed in the gentle breeze—

Saka.

She sat alone, gazing at the vast expanse of the night sky.

Seiito's breath hitched. S-Should I go talk to her? His face heated up as he hesitated; his heart was pounding.

No way! I shouldn't bother her! His flustered thoughts shattered when his eyes fully registered her attire—a delicate nightgown that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. The gentle fabric draped over her frame, accentuating her delicate features, while her slightly tousled hair framed her face in soft waves.

She was breathtaking.

"Seiito-kun?"

He stiffened.

Scrambling to compose himself, he stepped forward, pretending he hadn't just been staring. "H-Hey, Saka-san… What are you doing out here so late?"

His voice cracked slightly, betraying his nervousness. He quickly sat beside her, diverting his gaze to the city lights below.

"I've been… thinking about stuff." Her voice was softer than usual, laced with something he couldn't quite place.

Seiito turned his head slightly. Her expression was thoughtful, yet tinged with something melancholic. A gentle breeze lifted a strand of her hair, and she absentmindedly clutched her chest before taking a slow breath.

"I can listen, if… if you want to talk about it," he offered, hesitant but sincere.

Saka's lips parted slightly, as if surprised. Then, with a small nod, she spoke.

"Seiito-kun… after being brought here, after hearing the king's words, after watching everyone fight… I finally realized something." Her fingers curled around her Status Plate, the title Spiritus Ignis reflecting in her pupils. "I'm scared. I've never fought before…let alone been in a war."

Seiito listened in silence. Her voice trembled slightly, but she pressed on.

"The weight of human expectations, their very lives… it's all on our shoulders. I…I don't know if I'm ready."

He took in her unease, her fear. And yet, even in her vulnerability, she was strong.

With a gentle smile, he reassured her. "Saka-san, it'll be alright. As long as we stick together, nothing can defeat us. And given how bright your red light was...I'm sure you're pretty strong."

A pinkish hue dusted her cheeks. "You haven't changed…"

Seiito blinked. Again with that…? His memories of her remained a blur, but before he could question it, she met his gaze and smiled warmly.

"Will you heal me whenever I get hurt?" she asked playfully.

Seiito nearly choked. "Y-You saw it?!"

She giggled, nodding. "Yeah. You're incredible, Seiito-kun."

His mind short-circuited. His stats were pathetic—barely above a commoner's. Yet, she looked at him with admiration, as if he were something more.

Seiito only laughed wryly, "B-but… I'm weak. I'll probably just be a burden…"

Saka shook her head. "That's not true. You fought Kōji even though you knew how strong he was. And when I saw your determined gaze, it was so…"

She stopped abruptly, clearing her throat.

Seiito, now thoroughly flustered, scratched his cheek. "You're too kind, Saka-san…"

A sudden pout crossed her lips. "Seiito-baka."

"D-Did I piss her off?!"

With a small huff, she stood up, dusting off her nightgown. "It's late. I'm heading back."

Seiito nodded, still dazed. Before leaving, she turned back, a radiant smile gracing her lips.

"Do your best, Seiito-kun!"

Seiito's heart skipped a beat.

Unseen in the darkness, a figure clenched its fists. Seiito…You should know your place.