Drowsy Solstice

Korou tread softly as he held a slumbering Ibo on his back. Atla was sulking over the poor result on the modal test; meanwhile, Iromi flaunted her scroll over his face.

"With this, even the most prestigious of colleges is not a far-fetched dream," Iromi skipped a few steps gleefully.

"You will be fine," Korou muttered under his breath and glanced at the white-haired girl, who was tugging at his sleeves.

"Dork warrior, you still have four years before your first try," said Korou.

"But, if I can't perform now," She clutched onto her scroll. "Then erudite Zaüber will slip away. What would I do then, dumb brat!"

"You are aiming for Zaüber Cheche!" Iromi blurted in astonishment.

Atla nodded dejectedly. In the eight years of knowing the girl, this was the first time Korou had seen her overtaken with misery.

"That's..." Iromi stammered. "That's amazing!"

"Huh?"

"It's the Zaüber Korou!" Iromi gave him a frantic gaze. "No one but the head priestess has been there. It only makes sense that the great-granddaughter wants to follow her footsteps."

"Is that why?" Korou gave Atla a glance. She had buried her face on his shoulder.

"No..." She mumbled faintly. Atla no longer wanted to continue the topic, and Korou gave her a rueful smile. Burden, let it be posed by yourself or others, always had a way of pulling you down. He could understand what she was feeling as someone who failed thrice to get his scholarship in the previous world.

"Alright, no more talk about studies," He announced, shooting Atla a wink. "We will now enjoy the day by lazing at our homes!"

"At least choose the Carnival, you lazy, dumb, idiot brat!"

"Did you read the Ballad?" Iromi asked in front of her home's entrance. It was enclosed within a lattice of bamboo stalks.

Korou shook Ibo awake, who yawned and groggily walked into the enclosure. "No, not yet," The handwritten folder rested in his satchel. Korou had meant to read it, but his master's never-ending reading list filled most of his day. "But maybe this week? I am almost done with Principa; I need to work on its applications."

"Why not take a break?" Iromo gave him a quiet smile. "It might sound ironic coming from me," She pointed at the faint music creeping from the valley. "But the Lamphi carnival is a sight to behold"

"What does that have to do with the Ballad?"

"Everything," She tiptoed over his side and called for Cyan trails. "Once you read it, you will know."

Korou gave her a nod. Atla was already by his home and still not speaking to him. Thus, taking out time to read would be easier. Iromi pulled the entrance to her home shut and walked over the edge towards the back side. Behind her, a school of Cyan trails porpoised.

Korou's lips parted, but he held back. The question is, why are you not entering from the front? It would be insensitive of him. He already knew why. That is why he offered.

"Iromi, why not join my family for the carnival and the new year? You can even get Ibo while you are at it."

"Huh?" Iromi swivelled in haste, tripping over herself. She landed with a thump, her face buried in the snow.

"Come on, you don't have to act that surprised." Korou knelt and teased the girl.

"Can I really?" Iromi mumbled. Her cheeks were burning as she peeked from below. Korou, amused, flaunted a sly grin.

"I don't know, you tell me?"

"Korou!" She released light punches over him, dragging him down with her.

"Hey, unfair!" Korou shrieked, pushing her grip away, only for it to tighten.

"No, you are unfair, you big meanie."

"Wow, what a profound set of vocabulary"

"Shut up..." Iromi stammered and scooped a ball of snow and took a shot at him.

Korou dodged it and grinned. The two continued for a while before both fell exhausted. With his gaze plastered over the hanging dark grey clouds, Korou glanced at an exhausted Iromi. The oil lamps around them hissed into life as the reverberation from the valley increased in intensity.

"You should join us," said Korou earnestly. "Ma has been complaining that I don't bring my friends home, so this would be a good opportunity."

"Aunt Anemone knows about me?"

"Yeah...?" He replied with a tilted gaze. "You know about Ma?"

"I think every woman in the village does."

"Ma is famous?"

A stifled chuckle escaped Iromi. "You are hilarious, Korou."

"No, no, I am being serious!"

"Anemone is a role model," Iromi confided after a brief pause. "Although her story is not one for me to tell, she will one day confide to you...Or you will figure it out, you are smart enough to do that."

Korou didn't pursue the topic further. They later parted ways, and Iromi promised she would join his family last week. Until then, she had to do housework; if she skipped it, she wouldn't be provided with the basic amenities necessary for living. Korou had given her a sympathetic nod, but she shrugged it off.

"This is nothing, when I get into that military institute in Imperial Province, they will be crawling back to me." Iromi shot him a triumphant grin. "Until then, this girl can manage and has some amazing friends." Iromi gave him a fist bump. "Also look after Atla Cheche."

"I will," He waved her farewell and whispered into the night. "Though I am sure that dork warrior has already recovered."