I 7

Well, despite Regina’s claim that I still need several days before I can go to school (she seems to know about my body more than I do myself), I don’t believe that, given the wounds on my body have gone without a trace. My parents, even though I didn’t ask directly, suggested as much that it was mostly thanks to Regina’s healing magic. Maybe the wounds went away even before I woke up. I don’t mind staying home, but Regina was adamant that she stays with me too, asking her “What about your studies?” would just lead to my lips getting pinched to keep it shut. Not just that, is it even necessary to hold my body this tight on bed? “It is. I heard that people recover better with the company of a magician girl.” That’s not even wrong, but doesn’t work literally like that which just sounds bogus. Besides, isn’t saying ‘I heard’ suggests she doesn’t even know that well, yet here she is, pinning down my body parts with her arms and legs. “Isn’t that nice? Having such a nice sister cuddling, warm and snug,” my mom just chuckles at it as if it’s not even an issue. “Back in my days we didn’t even get to cuddle with each other as much, maybe have some appreciation, no?” My dad returns his gaze to the book he’s reading. Regina gives me a triumphant look. Well, at least the dinner tastes good.

“Why didn’t you just cast a shield?” Is this guy for real? …actually the Basic school didn’t really teach much so maybe he’s truly clueless. “No, Ackie, people are classified into Magicians and Swordsmen simply because nobody can handle both weapons and magic simultaneously.” Well, not all magic, like what people simply call Defender and Enhancer magic, but you catch my drift. “It’s not impossible right?” “Yeah, maybe there are some people like that…” But why would people even pursue both or all paths at once anyway? Having a deep grasp of a discipline is always much better than having only some grasp of each. Though, maybe I should really ask Regina, she seems to be more informed about the historical tidbits about this sort of stuff than I am.

Noises of clashing wooden swords reverberate the sword training room. One. Two-, Ackie landed his blow right before I could react in time, although I still managed to deflect it. “Oh sorry, sorry, I moved sooner than supposed. Let’s do it again.” Sometimes he moves sooner than he’s supposed to, sometimes later. But I do notice how swift his speed itself is, and how he knows how to land the most optimal attack, which is to say he never makes a redundant attack at all, unlike the average fighter.

…although whether his attacks are critical or meaningful or not is another matter.

“Alright, I have to see Regina now.”

“Wow, so impatient for your childhood friend huh?”

I internally commend him for his improved memory, “I just want to go there before she comes here.” Knowing her recently, she would definitely stand in front of the door to this training room to wait for me, no matter the ruckus people would make if they knew she’s with me. Period ends right when I run toward the door, but then I accidentally bumped into a female student. “Oh, sorry. Let me help you,” I raise my hand toward that girl. “Thank you,” she grabs my hand as I pull her stand up. I resume my hasty run toward the cafeteria, from afar Regina does seem to notice me, and seems to be on her way to find me too.

“Nope, you are not going anywhere today,” Regina responds while munching the bread.

“But why?”

“Because I say so.”

I was thinking about exploring the capital again. No matter how many times I have come here when I was young, I will never stop being a newcomer to this giant city. The very suggestion raised a negative question mark as Regina heard it. “I don’t think I need to remind you of what happened several days ago. You know that better than I do.” Her eyes are closed as she sips her cup of tea. “It’s not exactly that the city has gotten more unsafe, no?” “It wasn’t, before the day the incident with you happened. Have you been hearing what people talk about Claude recently?” Yeah, I saw a wanted poster on some wall. “Still… I don’t think he’s gonna cause any trouble from now on.”

Regina takes another sip of tea.

“Actually, Claude isn’t the only issue at hand. There have been other incidents too.”

What she said surprised me. I may have missed that during my days in a coma.

The most recent one, according to Regina, is that three Basic school kids have been kidnapped for ransom. The demand left behind on a note is for the family of one of the kids to give the kidnapper the Artifact the family is possessing.

“The curfew has been implemented for that very reason. After 7PM you are not allowed to leave or enter the capital. …although, that seems to give excuses to some students to… stay overnight at the inn.”

Her cheeks seem to have some faint blush as her eyes look down. Well, that’s the same in the past world anyway. Although more because their families weren’t strict enough, or they studied far away from family. Speaking of which, by the time I got to university, I stopped noticing that sort of sight altogether, perhaps people (at least around my dorm) were just way too busy, and when people weren’t busy they just proceeded with their old hobbies. “Soccer?” “I just finished my test exam yesterday,” my dormmate nodded.

“What are you going to do this evening?” I ask Regina.

“Make sure you are going nowhere, of course.”

Does she mean to say ‘nothing’?

“Although I still need to return the books I haven’t had a chance to return to the library, thanks to a certain somebody.”

Well, I didn’t tell you to stay home and take care of me, did I?

“Can I tag along?

“You have to come with me. It’s not a matter of whether you can, or cannot.”

I don’t mind having to go with her right now. Even though she doesn’t really need to hold my arm so tight. “Your stack of books could fall out.” I look at the only arm she’s holding the books. “Uh huh.” She responds.

“It’s Regina, and Ryle. Maybe Ryle and Regina would rhythm better?” Alina sticks out her tongue and blushes a bit, as if she just said something silly. “Here are the books I borrowed.” Regina places the stack on the reception table. “I’m going to look for other books, can you watch over my friend here?” “Well, sure.” Alina nods, then turns to me. “I take it that she wants me to entertain you, what a kind friend isn’t she?” Alina smiles innocently. “…I don’t think that’s what she wanted to ask you, but let’s have some chat. How have your classes been, Alina?” “That’s very considerate coming from somebody in the lower grade.” Aline grins and giggles. “It’s fine, although it’s hard to balance between Magic studies and practice and Academic subjects.” Her eyes narrow as she groans, “My sword wielding capabilities would definitely fail me those exams soon. In the first place, why do we have to use swords and only swords anyway.”

“I don’t know that myself.”

It’s not mandatory to balance every single discipline, but passing their exams tend to make life easier, since even if you failed the year’s end examination of one of them, you have to retake the class and do its test exam in the next year. I’m not sure about all this stuff myself, but it is recommended that you shouldn’t skip all the classes that don’t belong to the discipline you want to specialize in. Few people really probed it since it kind of makes sense, if not out of ego reasons. I’m sure the students in the past world would be more than happy to have a lot of subjects they have to study no longer be mandatory, but they would still find it amiss to go on with their life without having taken a single class of the supposedly useless subjects, like literature or history.

“Do you intend to become an Academic? That seems to suit you.”

“Maybe, ahaha.” She lets out a meek chuckle. “But I actually aim to be a Magician.”

“Ah.”

“I just happen to find Academic subjects to be way too fascinating. I would love it if I could find some work in the future that would allow me to do Magician jobs while sitting in an office all day. Sounds romantic doesn’t it?” She sounds embarrassed as if not even sure if she should have said that.

“I can imagine that. Academic jobs and Magicians jobs do have a lot of overlap, as far as I know. Being a Swordsman seems to be at a disadvantage.”

“Not really, a Swordsman is better suited to go on a solo or team adventure. As far as I have read, most of the adventurers who went on a journey to search for the Artifacts are mostly Swordsmen.”

“…say… Alina, why do people seem to be so hung up with the Artifacts? If you happen to know…”

“Some do get obsessed with the Artifacts, I think because they give them an excuse to go on an adventure in the first place!” She places index finger on lips, pondering, “The Artifacts isn’t really a mainstream topic for Academicians, but based on the documents and books I have read, when they are not talking about them in neutral terms, then they tend to think of the Artifacts as anomalies, which suggests people might be better off staying away from them.”

“You would have expected them to be more interested in mysterious objects whose effects are always unclear.”

“Yeah. That’s perplexing to me too. But that’s the charm, for the adventurers. Although you are not allowed to ask Magicians or Academicians to decipher the effects of them, the kingdom’s laws have a ban on it.”

“Hah? You mean the Magicians or Academicians aren’t even allowed to decipher them?”

“Not just that, if the Security Ministry finds you going around with an Artifact on you, they are gonna confiscate it. So you aren’t allowed to possess it in the first place. …although, laws are one thing, and enforcement is another. Some people don’t even hide the Artifacts they have when they are out on the street or seeing their friends or attending some public events. And when nobody sees you do it, nobody can call it illegal. There’s a reason why Magic bookstores may not just sell books, assuming they are knowledgeable enough.”

Nobody would bother to enforce the laws if people aren’t being loud about it huh?

Although this seems to imply a certain family whose child was kidnapped, as far as I have heard from hearsay, would have their Artifacts confiscated if they truly possessed it. Seems like a double dilemma for them unless the authority allows them to trade the Artifacts for the child first.

“But the most obvious and superficial should be mentioned as well, Artifacts are sought after all because they possess some special powers. Some are very incredible. Although if they were truly that great, rulers of all realms and kingdoms would have dispatched people to look for them in the first place. Or…” Alina yawns. “Maybe they did, just that they don’t announce it publicly.”

True. Wars still happen on a frequent basis at least by the border of this very kingdom. Nobody would really want to relent for a chance for some of those secret weapons.

I can imagine adventurers, with certain wishes and desires, would love to go on a search for the Artifacts.

“You have no interest in searching for it?”

“No, I’m very lazy, I prefer to stay home and sleep, or jobs that allow me to sleep a lot.” Alina narrows her eyes. Now I see another reason for her conflicting wants between being an Academician and a Magician. Magicians don’t tend to stay in one place a lot.

“Here. I want to borrow these books,” Regina lands a stack of books on the table. Even taller than the other day.

“Alright. Please fill in this form. …thank you! Have a nice day you two!” Alina bows.

“See you some other time.” “Goodbye.”

We leave the library. I look at the stack of books Regina is holding (either the weight of it forces her to stop holding my arm or she just drops that intention or forgot it). “You do read a lot.” “Some of these are books I have read myself, a long while ago.” Some of them seem newly published, I guess she’s talking about the other stacks she has borrowed, or these are reissued. “…in some ways, it feels like you are reading a new book altogether, once you have gained further perspectives.”

“Maybe I should borrow some books some time too, it’s been a while since I last read anything.” Sword training and magic practicing just never end. That doesn’t even mention how the academic curriculum has gotten much more abstract to study now, I hope I shall get used to it soon enough.

“You could if you spend more time at home.” Her mouth corners have a shape of cheekiness.

“It’s not like you are not as busy as I am.” I don’t know if other schools are different, but the Advanced school we are attending has an all-day schedule from Monday to Friday (or this world’s equivalent of it).

Speaking of books, it feels like I just forgot something.

And then it came to my mind.

“…I forgot to buy textbooks for the Eastern language class.”

“You study that class?” Regina raises her eyebrows.

“Yep. You don’t?”

“Well… I intend to study it later.”

“You can have my textbook once I’m done with that class.”

“Erm… As far as I know, the textbook used for the subject is meant to span for all the courses of that language in Advanced school. By the time you are done with it I think I’m better buying a textbook myself.”

“Is that so?”

“And speaking of which. Why are you learning it?”

“Well I think it might come in handy some day.”

“Like selling the kingdom to the enemy huh?”

“…nice joke. Although speaking of which, I wonder if they do study our language as well.”

As we got to the street, I looked for some bookstores and noticed one. Regina sighs, “Alright, you can do whatever you want now. It’s just silly for me to keep doing this like it means anything at all. Besides… no, never mind.” I can’t guess what she’s trying to say right now, but I respond, “I will go home after buying the textbook, I promise.” “…pinky swear.” I stick out my pinky finger, and tangle it with hers.” The sunset’s light makes her smiling lips look glossy. “See you at home.” I nod, then enter the bookstore as she turns her back as well.

The sky turns darker. I try to look around for a clock to see the hour. It’s almost 6PM. I still remember what Regina told me about the curfew. …if she’s not messing with me. But this time I do believe her, I hold the textbook tight in my arms, feet hastily run toward the southern gate. Then I hit somebody.

“Are you blind?! Which imbecile is it?!”

“Oh, sorry for that.”

“You think saying sorry is enough to cut it? …oh, I know you… you are in the same class, the effeminate looking guy who always talks to another effeminate guy behind you too.” He makes a snide smile.

I know who this guy is too. His name is Paul.

“What can I do for you?”

“How about you kneel down and lick my shoe?”

“I don’t think I can do that.”

“You don’t, but I can make you do!” He swings something toward me.

“Argh!”

I fell down to the ground. The blow on my head makes it ache painfully. The textbook falls down somewhere too.

He swings another two hits on me. They feel less damaging, but still cause some aches. Once he stopped, I felt something touching my mouth. “Lick it.”

“The hell are you doing here?” Here comes an unfamiliar male voice, of the same age as me and Paul.

“I’m just teaching somebody a lesson here, none of your business, scram!”

“…I don’t think you should use that tone against me.”

“What? Repeat that again.”

“I asked: what the hell are you doing here?” his tone gets more hostile.

“Aaah… you have some gall. Usually I’m not the type who would love to bring double trouble onto myself.” Paul makes a stance, both hands hold his sword with the blade leaning down behind.

“Sword huh? I also have one myself. Except that it’s a real one.” That guy holds up a sword by the scabbard, then rolls it to the other hand and holds the handle.

There’s a law against unauthorized sword wielding isn’t there? What he is holding can be constituted as an actual weapon.

“But rest assured, I’m not even taking this sword off this scabbard myself.”

“That’s a lot of talk, you could have prepared to fight if you were that good! Don’t test my tolerance!” Paul charges forward, raises his sword up and aims upon the opponent’s head, in an angle that would surely deal much more critical damage than he dealt mindlessly to me previously. The other guy nonchalantly fends it by slicing upward. Yet, it didn’t hit Paul’s wooden sword, who proceeded to pierce his supposed blade toward the opponent’s stomach.

If only it was that easy.

“One.” The other guy takes one foot backward, and strikes Paul’s shoulder. I can see Paul’s blade almost hit the opponent, almost there, just another millimeter.

That was before the opponent striked him, and the damage made him fall on the ground upside down.

“Who…” Paul grits his teeth. “…are you?”

“Rick.” The guy doesn’t even bother to talk further to Paul, his face doesn’t change any emotion even after the battle, then he turns to me.

So… this guy is Rick.

“Thank you…” I meekly tell him, and try to muster the will to stand up.

But then his face seems to get more negative, to the point of seeming angry.

“You there. Why didn’t you fight back against this guy?” His eyeball casts a quick direction to Paul.

“Hah?”

“I said why didn’t you fight back against this guy?” He proceeds to stomp upon my stomach.

“Argh!”

It feels really painful.

“Are you just lying like that? Stand up and fight!”

This time he stomps onto my head.

“!!!”

It feels absolutely painful. The entire world looks dizzying for several seconds. Everything sounds noisier.

“Stand up!”

Yet another stomp. Right on my face.

“Oh right. If you just keep lying like that, I think I might well just get rid of you. A weakling like you…” He pulls out his sword from the scabbard. “…isn’t gonna protect anybody, after all.”

Then came some high-speed fluid-like noises. Before I can realize, several pieces of ice already form on the left parts like his shoulder and his face. There seems to be dripping blood from his shoulder too, like an ice has pierced deep enough. Not enough if he’s still unfazed and manages to stand still. You would love to wonder if the attacker didn’t hold back, how many chunks of meat would have splurted out from the upper left side of his body.

“You know what this means. Stay away from him, or I will not relent. I don’t take words as an answer. I could interpret them as a threat immediately.”

He drops his sword deliberately, steps a few steps back. Regina moves toward me and holds me up.

Then Rick begins to chuckle, and laugh.

“So… this is what it is this time huh?” He sighs. “…this is what all my work tantamount to… but well, none of my business anyway.” He turns his back and is ready to go, but stops short, and looks at us.

“…don’t think I would just treat this as if nothing has happened.”

“That’s an ironic statement,” he chuckles, “actually I think… how should I say it? Let me just say,” he looks at Regina, ”I’m far from the one who put him through hell.”

His figure gradually fades out of my sight.

Regina gently carries me onto her back.

“We are going home now,” a stark contrast to her previous tone just now, her tone is just way too gentle.

On the way home, I ask, “You know that guy, Regina?”

“He’s in the same class as mine. I’m gonna try to report him to the school tomorrow. Hopefully they will expel him.”