Chapter 13

The chatter in the cafeteria was less intense on a Sunday morning, with more empty seats compared to any other day. Ayisa and Layis sat by the window, Marnas next to her not-girlfriend. Ayisa took a sniff, letting the smell of her coffee waft into her nose.

Ayisa glanced at the small bag by her side. It had everything she needed for when she went into town with Layis. Marnas would not be there when the girls headed to town. Even now, he had his eyes deep in a book, one discussing monster biology. Maybe it will appear on his next exam.

“Busy as usual?” Layis said, glancing at the chicken soup that was no longer warm. “If you’re not going to eat that, I’ll take it.”

“Leave it alon… yawn… I hate waking up early.”

“You’re the last person who should be saying that. It’s irresponsible."

“Who cares.” Marnas set aside the paper and drank the rest of the soup like drinking water. “I’ll be going.”

“Don’t fall asleep on your way there.”

With a slight wave, he left the cafeteria. Both Ayisa and Layis had finished their meals. Layis’ eyes narrowed on the warm drink in her hand.

“How the hell do you drink that?”

“... Coffee?”

“It’s bitter, isn’t it?”

Ayisa got hooked in her first week. It was the perfect drink to chase away the sleepiness. She didn’t exactly need it on a Sunday morning. The concentration helped her poor ability to follow class, but there was no class on Sundays. She didn’t need extra concentration. Still, it was delicious, and she kept coming back for more.

“By the way… where are we heading today?”

Ayisa hadn’t asked when Layis invited her out yesterday. She figured they wouldn’t do anything too crazy. They still needed to be back before curfew, and after a week of teaching Ayisa, Layis must want to do something leisurely.

Layis shrugged. Had she not decided on anything?

Should I really be heading out?

If Ayisa didn’t go, she could continue studying. Her head would hurt by the end of the day, but at least she would be closer to catching up.

“Do you have something to say?” Layis asked. “If yes, just say it. Don’t give me that look.”

Ayisa quickly averted her gaze, her eyes on her surroundings. Not many students sat in the cafeteria, with most of them busy discussing their plans. When she sat here, she felt like a regular student. Nobody interesting, nobody worth mentioning. Many had heard about her, but they didn’t care. Some of the commoners from the other classes still treated her with respect, though, despite her not being worthy of them.

Most of the students spoke in shallow voices, but occasionally a group would pass, declaring their plans for all to hear. Some people scorn them, but others pretend they didn’t exist. None of them had interesting plans, however. Just head out and have some fun being the common idea.

Layis’s sigh brought Ayisa’s attention back to her. “Honestly, our school is way too strict. I shouldn’t need to plan my day out so meticulously because I can only do it once a week.”

“But… studying?”

Layis glared at her. “Maybe try not looking like you’re going to die every time we finish a study session, then I’ll consider your words.”

•••

While Layis considered getting food in town, Ayisa managed to convince her not to do that. Her friend had offered her a treat, and that was precisely why she didn’t want to have breakfast outside.

Layis would be paying for lunch, and things in town could get very expensive. At least the cafeteria offered free food. Besides, some shops didn’t open until a bit later.

“... I wonder what this town looked like on other days,” Ayisa murmured.

Being a Sunday, uniform-wearing students filled the streets. The school required them to wear it. A reminder that, even outside school, students embodied its teachings.

Ayisa didn’t mind. Iris had given her two sets of casual clothes, and she figured those should be kept for important occurrences. Besides, the school uniform was comfortable enough to move in.

“It’s still crowded, just without uniforms. Grenary is in a strategic location, remember? Many people passed here, including ones who had nothing to do with the school.”

If her memories served her right, Grenary was near the center of the east-west highway connecting the nation’s two borders. A few days by carriage to the west was the capital. This meant people from the eastern regions passed through here.

“Since students visited the town on Sunday, many people decided against traveling here to avoid the crowd. Some came specifically to offer their wares to students.” Layis glanced at a spot between two buildings.

A merchant offered some purple bottles to a pair of students. He didn’t have a proper shop, just a carriage with stuff in it.

“Have you ever been here on other days?”

“A long while back. Official business. We’re here.”

Ayisa looked up at the sign. She remembered this weapon shop.

“Interested in swords, young ladies?” The muscular man appeared behind the counter, sporting the same grin as when she first saw him.

“Best in town, not counting the other districts,” Layis said. She must have been here often.

“You got that correct. Now, what can I do for you?”

“Is my order finished?”

“And here I thought you came for another order.” The man flashed them a grin before returning to the shop.

“You… bought something?” Ayisa asked. She never saw Layis heading into the shop. Maybe she did so in one of her other businesses? Maybe the one she mentioned earlier?

“Here you go!” He set down a small case in front of Layis.

Layis pushed a button. It clicked as its lid swung open, revealing its content. A single fountain pen, wrapped in a piece of black cloth. It had a black body with a golden line circling the center.

She took the pen and examined it. “Good job. I really like the feel.”

“Glad to hear it. I poured everything into it.”

“Just like your other things, then?”

The man gave her a confident nod. If only she could be that confident.

Layis turned to her. “The outer casing is pure metal, with that gold being pure gold.”

Ayisa gasped. “It must be really expensive, then.”

“Not really.” She glanced at the man, who gave them a thumbs-up.

“I got quite a lot of things I want, so don’t worry about it.”

“A fair price for a fair item.”

“You understand me well, Lady Dammar.”

“This is for you.”

Ayisa pointed at herself, thinking she had misheard it.

“Who else?” Layis grabbed her hand and forced her palm open, then dropped the pen into Ayisa’s outstretched hand.

It carried decent weight despite its tiny size. Not heavy enough to hurt, but not so light that it feels cheap.

“I- I can’t! There- There’s no way I can accept this! Besides, I already have a pen!”

Ayisa tried to return it, but Layis pushed her hand away.

“It’s not for writing, stupid.” Layis sighed. “That’s a magic amplification device, which just so happens can be used for writing, but writing isn’t its main goal.”

“But-”

“Just accept it. It’s easier to carry around compared to a sword, also smaller and less obvious. You can use it as a regular pen, though.”

“You got a good friend, Miss.” The man grinned, then turned around, disappearing into the shop.

Ayisa took a deep breath. “Thank you.”

She put the pen into her bag, one of Iris’ gifts. Inside were other things Iris had given her. A water bottle, a wallet, and some small touch-up kits that she had zero idea how to use. She has received a lot of gifts these past few days.

I must repay them someday.

“Come on, let’s go. We’re not done for today.” Layis took her arm and pulled her away.