Chapter 16 : I'll catch up too!

The carriage rolled smoothly over the stone-paved road, its wheels humming a quiet rhythm. Inside, the space was lined with soft velvet seats, the air perfumed lightly with lavender. Lady Reina sat with her hands folded gracefully on her lap, eyes closed in silent thought. Beside her, Lord Haruki read over a sealed scroll with narrowed eyes, his posture as rigid as ever.

Across from them, Shin sat quietly by the window, his elbow resting against the sill as he watched the countryside pass in a blur of green and gold. The sun was rising steadily now, casting warm light through the glass.

He stared without truly seeing, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

Is she going to be okay…?

The image of Sakura’s wide eyes and trembling smile lingered in his mind.

Back at the estate, the training hall was silent.

Sakura still sat on the wooden floor, her breathing slow and uneven, strands of hair clinging to her damp cheeks. The frustration from earlier had dulled into a simmering ache, but her gaze had changed.

Focused. Fierce.

The Grand Magic Battle… she thought.

Her eyes flicked open, fire burning behind them.

She stood up in one swift motion, wiped the tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand, and smiled.

“I need to learn more about it!”

Without another thought, she turned on her heel and sprinted toward the library.

The hallways of the mansion echoed with the light taps of her hurried footsteps. Maids paused in their duties and bowed respectfully as she passed.

“Good morning, Lady Sakura!”

“Lady Sakura, careful—!”

But she only flashed them a grin as she dashed by, her hair fluttering behind her like a banner of determination.

The grand double doors of the library creaked open.

Sunlight poured in through the tall arched windows, casting golden patches over rows upon rows of bookshelves. It was a world of parchment, ink, and hidden secrets—silent and wise.

Sakura stepped in, breathless but beaming.

She marched toward the magical history section, scanning shelf after shelf for anything titled Grand Magic Battle. Her fingers skimmed over book spines until—

“Ah—!”

Her foot caught the edge of a slightly open drawer.

Books tumbled.

So did she.

Sakura landed with a thud and a squeal, vanishing in a mountain of dusty tomes.

She sat up groaning, books sliding off her lap and back.

“Ow—! Seriously!?”

She looked down and noticed a small cut on her knee, blood already trickling down.

For a second, she blinked.

Then—

She laughed.

“Haha! Wow. That was… impressive,” she muttered to herself.

Ignoring the sting, she stood, brushed herself off, and went right back to searching.

By the time she was done, she had a towering stack of ten books cradled in her arms, her cheeks flushed from the effort but her eyes shining.

She plopped them down onto one of the big reading tables, pulled up a chair, and sat with a grin stretched from ear to ear.

“I’ll finish all this today!” she declared.

And with that, she opened the first book, ready to chase the path her brother walked—even if she had to crawl through every page of it.

Far from the capital, nestled in the gentle curve of a misty valley, stood an old mansion draped in ivy and age. The stone walls bore the marks of time, yet the spirit of youth echoed within it.

In the wide courtyard surrounded by tall hedges and crumbling statues, a group of children trained and played under the midmorning sun. Wooden training dummies stood crooked, blades of grass danced under their feet, and laughter carried on the breeze.

Emi, Kai, Hana, Ren, and Ryo were gathered near the edge, chatting between rounds of mock battles.

Only Haru stood apart.

Quiet. Still. His small figure faced the arched main gate, eyes fixed on the path beyond it.

He hadn't said a word in over an hour.

Emi noticed and stepped away from the group. She knelt beside him, brushing a lock of hair from his face. “Still thinking about Sakura?”

Haru didn’t respond right away. Just nodded slightly.

Emi smiled softly. “Don’t worry. It’s almost time. She’ll be here soon.”

Haru glanced at her, his large eyes filled with quiet hope. He gave a tiny nod, then looked back toward the gate.

After a while, he joined the others, trying to copy Kai’s sword stance as Ren cheered him on. Emi stood nearby, arms crossed, carefully observing their form.

“All right,” she clapped her hands. “Time to practice for real!”

The children quickly formed a line, their practice weapons in hand.

Blades clashed. Wind stirred. The air filled with the sharp calls of effort and movement.

But Haru soon wandered back to Emi.

He tugged at her sleeve with his tiny fingers.

“Emi…”

She looked down.

“It’s already been hours…” he whispered, his voice trembling. “But Sakura’s not here…”

Tears welled up in his eyes. “Won’t she come?”

Emi’s heart twisted.

She knelt again and pulled him into a gentle hug. “Maybe… maybe she’s stuck in something. Don’t worry, Haru. She promised, remember? She’ll come.”

“But…” His little voice cracked. “Is she really in trouble…?”

His tears began to fall.

Hearing the sound, the others stopped training and turned toward them.

“Emi? What’s wrong?” Hana asked, concern in her voice.

Emi looked up and sighed, still holding Haru gently. “Sakura hasn’t come yet. Haru’s worried.”

Hana blinked. “You’re right… she hasn’t come.”

Kai frowned. “See? I told you. She was never really our friend.”

“Kai!” Emi snapped, eyes sharp.

Kai flinched.

“She is our friend,” Emi said firmly. “She’s just… delayed. That’s all.”

Ryo stepped forward and patted Haru’s head. “Don’t cry, okay? She’ll be here.”

Ren added with a grin, “And when she comes, we’ll all show her how much stronger we’ve gotten!”

Hana knelt beside Haru and gave him a sweet smile. “Let’s wait a little longer, alright?”

Sniffling, Haru wiped his tears with his sleeve and gave a small nod.

And so, the six children stood together under the sun, a little quieter now, a little closer—united by hope, and waiting for the girl who had yet to arrive.