27

As their classes end for the day, Sion stands up. He looks at Anima.

“I'm going home. Are you staying longer?”

“Yeah. Linea asked me to meet with her today. But you usually end up staying long too. Do you have something to do at the manor?”

“I have a feeling that Regn’s there. I’ll see you later, Eva, Anima.”

Sion stands up and leaves. Anima gets up soon after. However, before she can take a step, Scima starts talking.

“Y’know, I feel like Sion’s been ignoring me for a while now.” Anima cocks her head, confused.

“Did you only just realize?”

“Well, he’s never looked entirely displeased to see me with Lady Eva, but I just realized that he seems to be completely ignoring me. It’s been a pretty long time since he spoke to me directly.”

“He’s been upset with you this whole time.”

“Upset with me? The only thing I can think of is the Uro thing, but that can’t be it…”

“No, I’m pretty sure that’s why. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Me and Sion are cut from the same cloth.”

“No?” Scima looks surprised.

“Huh? Lady Eva, you agree with me, don’t you?” Eva shakes her head.

“No, Sion enjoys fighting far less than you. I can hardly even imagine Sion fighting another person with all his might, much less hurting them like that for no reason.”

“No way. Hold on, I’ll go ask Sion myself.” Scima gets up quickly and excuses himself, rushing after Sion and the manor. Anima and Eva are both surprised.

“Is Scima supposed to leave you alone like this?”

“It’s entirely fine if we’re on academy grounds, but he’s been staying close to me since we left Clea. He’s only left me alone for duels, and only because it would hurt his honor and pride if he didn’t accept them. I had never expected that Scima might go off like this of his own volition. I suppose something inside of him is changing. Excuse me, Anima, I need to write a letter home.”

“Is it really that big a deal that Scima left your side?” Eva too rushes off, leaving Anima alone in the classroom. “Ah! Linea!”

Sion stands in the manor’s yard. He stands in the center with his arms crossed over his chest. Contrary to his feeling, Regn is nowhere to be found. Soon enough, Scima enters the yard. However, even now that they’re all alone, Sion does not acknowledge his existence. Scima calls out to him.

“Sion! Why have you been ignoring me? Is it really just because of that stupid thing with Uro?” Sion looks right at him, his eyes glinting gold.

“I don’t want to speak to you.”

“So blunt. But come on, there’s no way you’re this upset about it. What does it matter that I hurt him? It was a fight. If you fight, somebody gets hurt in the end.”

“You might be right, but that doesn’t make it any better. If that’s what fighting is, then it would be better for nobody to fight again.”

“I’m a knight, Sion, I have to fight.”

“But why do you need to be cruel?”

“To make them afraid. My duty is to protect Eva and Dracabana. What does anything else matter?”

“So all of that was just duty? I don’t want to see you. Leave.”

“Come on, Sion! We’re friends! Brothers in arms!” The pain in Sion’s voice is clear.

“Don’t call me your friend.”

“Fine then, have it your way!”

Scima storms off back to the academy. Sion stands there in a bad mood. When Regn arrives in the yard, all he can do is try to comfort him.

Several days pass. The relationship between Sion and Scima has clearly worsened. They still will not speak to each other, but the air between them is changed enough. Even with the concentration of strength in the class, they find it worrisome. They’re all anxious just watching. To see somebody as volatile as Scima and as amiable as Sion so clearly angered has put them all on edge.

When classes end, Sion leaves without a word. He returns to the manor. He walks inside, and much to his surprise, he finds Theyni there. She’s not wearing her maid uniform, but rather a nice dress, light in color, with her silver hair flowing behind her.

“Theyni? What are you doing here?”

“Lady Eva sent a letter to the castle, and she asked me to come for a few days. Did she not tell you?”

“No, not at all.”

“That’s strange. That’s not like her at all. But that aside, where is everyone?”

“Did she not tell you that she and Scima are in the academy dorms?”

“She didn’t. Why aren’t they staying in the manor?”

“If she didn’t tell you, then I guess she wanted to keep it a secret.”

“I can keep a secret.”

“The True Dracabanan Army attacked the school. So Eva is being protected in the academy.”

“And Scima stayed with her. Are they doing well?”

“Eva is good. But I don’t know how Scima is.”

“You don’t?”

“I haven’t been talking with him since the attack.”

“Huh? You haven’t?”

“He hurt somebody.”

“He what? Well, I suppose that’s not really surprising. But you’re still upset about it?”

“I guess so.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll give him a talking to.”

“Do you think he’ll listen?”

“I hope he would.”

The door opens, and Anima walks inside. She’s surprised to find Theyni there, and quickly looks to Sion.

“Sion, who is this?” Theyni answers her with a curtsy.

“My name is Theyni Shard. I am a maid in service to the Dracabanan royal family.”

“Ah, I’m Anima Tredan. It’s nice to meet you.” Theyni looks over at Sion.

“I just remembered that I got bored when I first arrived, so I cut some fruit for when everyone got back. Sion, can you go get it?” Sion starts turning towards the kitchen.

“Alright.” Anima starts after him.

“I’ll help, Sion.” Theyni stops her.

“I’m sure he’ll be able to take care of it himself. If it’s not too much to ask, I’d like to get to know you.” Anima goes over to join Theyni sitting around a table.

“Well, what do you want to know?”

“Are you uncomfortable being left alone with somebody you don’t know? Don’t worry, I’m just Sion’s friend.”

“Well, that much was obvious…”

“Moving on, do you have a crush on him?” Anima’s face goes red.

“Huh? Why do people keep saying that…” Theyni giggles.

“I’ll have you know that I properly figured it out. Scima just said it and happened to say something right.”

“It’s not like it’s even right. It’s just a passing fascination, because he helped me so much.” Theyni giggles again.

“Scima said the same thing.” She scans Anima’s face and can tell she doesn’t understand. “Ah, if you don’t know then pretend you didn’t hear anything.”

“Well, why do you even care so much about my supposed crushes?”

“I like hearing about my friends’ love lives. And I never would have gotten anything out of Sion himself. I don’t understand him at all, even outside of love. Good luck with that, by the way.”

“With what?”

“Making Sion fall for you.”

“I told you that it’s not like that.”

Sion walks back into the room holding a platter of cut fruit. He places it on the table then takes a seat next to Anima. Theyni smiles while watching Anima’s reaction, with her made to be more conscious of him than normal. Theyni looks at Sion.

“So, Sion, have you been doing well, outside of the Scima thing?”

“Yeah. There’s still a lot for me to learn. Regn has been well too.”

“Regn? Oh! The scalefox that my father was looking after! That’s good to hear. I’m sure my father would be pleased too.” She looks at Anima. “Has Sion done anything weird yet?”

“Weird?”

“For example, when he first came to the castle, he threw away a sword and started trying to fight the general with just his body, but he was only there so he could learn how to use a sword.” Anima stifles a laugh.

“Well, he hasn’t done anything like that. But he did score a perfect score on a test about religion while everyone else barely knew anything.” Theyni looks back at Sion.

“So you really are some kind of priest?”

“No. I just listened to the stories I was told.” Anima follows up with a question.

“Do you have a favorite story?”

“King Bana.” Theyni seems somewhat surprised.

“Honestly, I was prepared for you to give a more esoteric answer. And I didn’t expect it to be so patriotic either.”

“It doesn’t have to do with Dracabana, but they’re the stories my father tells me.” Anima seems interested.

“Is your father not from Dracabana?”

“I don’t think so. I know that he came to the village as an adult, but he never told me where he came from.”

The door opens and Eva and Scima walk into the room. The mood instantly worsens. Scima’s face seems dark until he sees Theyni.

“Theyni? What are you doing here? Got fired?”

“Of course not. Lady Eva asked me to come. Did it really just slip your mind, Lady Eva?” Eva plays coy about it.

“Oh my, how embarrassing. I suppose it did. My apologies. Well, I would assume you have quite a few things to tell Scima, so please feel free to borrow him for a while.” Theyni quickly catches on and stands up.

“Thank you, Lady Eva. Come with me, Scima.” She speaks quietly to Eva as they pass by each other. “Don’t worry, Lady Eva, I’m sure I can get through to him.”

Theyni takes Scima outside. Scima leans against the wall of the manor, covering himself in the shadow. Theyni doesn’t know where to start.

“Scima… Have you made any progress with Lady Eva?” Scima jumps up from surprise.

“Of course not… I mean, in the first place…” Scima slumps against the wall and lets himself sink into the cast shadow. “Of course I haven’t. It’s a miracle I’m even this close. I’m not the sort of man who should be by her side.”

“Scima, I…” She lets herself trail off. “I heard that you hurt somebody again.”

“Just some noble brat who got too close to Lady Eva.”

“Can you tell me about it?”

“Sure. It was a small tournament for the incoming students. I was matched with him in the first round, and he bothered Lady Eva enough in Ecg, so I beat him down so he learned his place. And, y’know, what’s wrong with a little violence. It’s better if the world fears us. You understand, right?” Theyni answers honestly.

“I do. I’m sure my grandfather would agree with that in the end. But, Scima, that isn’t really the reason at all, is it?” Scima chuckles in defeat.

“I just hated him. If I wasn’t stopped I’d have killed him. But I don’t feel bad about it, and I wouldn’t feel bad about that. I won’t apologize for something as stupid as this.”

“No point in an apology without any sincerity.”

“Exactly. At least I won’t let myself become the sort of man paying lip service to some loser just to stoke his ego. Even if it means Sion will hate me for it.”

“You want Sion to like you that badly?”

“I’m not sure. There’s just something about him.”

“I get it. Give me a second, I’ll be right back.”

Theyni rushes back inside the manor. She looks right at Sion.

“Sion, you know, my grandfather tried his best to teach Scima just with lectures, but Scima really just doesn’t want to accept something if he doesn’t get it beat into him.”

“Do you want me to fight him?”

“Can you win?”

“I’m not sure. I don’t care that much about which of us is stronger. But I don’t think he’s out of my league at least.”

“Then please… I just don’t want to see him looking like that.” Sion stands up and starts walking.

“I don’t really want to fight my friends, but if you think it will help him, and if it will help you, then I’ll do it.”

Sion walks out of the manor and finds Scima. Scima jumps up again inside the shadows when he sees him.

“Sion—!” Sion looks at him with his blue eyes glistening with gold, the sunlight falling over him.

“Scima, let’s fight, tomorrow in the afternoon. When I win I’ll make you apologize to Uro.”

Sion walks away without another word. Theyni passes by him as she makes her return. Scima meets her halfway, smiling like a child, his face bright in the sun.