16 Just realized

"That girl, Isn't she Frey? the one who aced both tests?" Ishkaria recognized the girl besides Balthazar.

"Ishkaria, the seniors called her a villain a while ago, but she seems like a good girl. Do you know why?"

Ishkaria looked at her in disbelief. 'huhh?, this Isabelle who is master at gossiping don't know about the latest gossips?'

Indeed. Isabelle, back in their hometown was known as the Queen of gossips. There is no news that She did not know, so it's only natural for Ishkaria to be shocked.

"You seriously don't know?"

"What?! I was stressed out yesterday"

"well, from what I heard, Frey's parents were loyal to Eisu faction in the Brethlian civil war. They massacred half of the citizens in the city of Aisu"

"Then why is she here?"

"That, I don't know yet"

The two returned to observe Balthazar and Frey more. They slowly crawled closer to hear more of their conversation.

Balthazar was sitting besides Frey. His hands was still holding on the muffin.

Feeling slightly awkward, Frey initiated a conversation. "What brings you in here sir?" She asked.

"As you can see. I was gathering herbs for my potions" Balthazar pointed the metal box he was carrying before.

"You tend this garden right?, Thank you" Balthazar slightly bowed his head towards Frey.

"No sir please don't bow your head. I am not worthy of your praise" Frey was shocked by Balthazar's actions. For her, she was not worthy of any praise. After all, she was a daughter of a villain who murdered their own countrymen. And she only tend the garden because it was the only thing she could do to express herself, and to express that she is not like her parents.

"Any good deed is deserved to be praised lass, specially a noble one"

"But I don't think that what I did was anything near noble sir, I just tend this garden"

"Even the simplest thing can be the greatest cause. Thanks to you I was able to gather this many herbs"

Frey's lips formed into a lovely smile. Ishkaria and Isabelle saw Frey's enchanting smile and Ishkaria's nose started to bleed.

"Thank you sir, I'll continue on tending this garden as long as there is a single person who likes to see it's flowers bloom"

Balthazar chuckled "You sound pretty confident" he said.

"Of course sir, There's always that one person who likes this garden that I tended"

"Oh? who is it" Balthazar asked.

"Myself, therefor I wont stop"

After hearing those words Isabelle, retreated slowly from her position. For Isabelle, those words have a different meaning. 'As long as there is one person who believes in you huh, I failed to even believe in myself'

Ishkaria quickly went after Isabelle who were a few distance away.

"Isabelle what's wrong?, somehow you feel down. Are you jealous of that girl with YOUR professor?" Ishkaria teased her best friend.

"Huh?! me jealous? with who?" Ishkaria's words triggered Isabelle.

"ehhm, sorry"

Isabelle sighed "Anyways it's not like that. I just realized something"

"Really? what is it?" Ishkaria quickly went in front of Isabelle then gaze at her.

"Not telling you" Isabelle looked away.

"Ehhh not fair!, Isabelle's keeping secrets from me! what is happening in the world?!"

The two of them continued to wander around Althrea for quite some time.

"Why did you left so early Isabelle, we are getting into the interesting part back then"

"What Interesting part?" Isabelle asked.

"You know, professor Balthazar was gonna eat that muffin. I was curious on what he looked like"

Isabelle froze. Her mouth was wide open so as her eyes.

"Don't tell me you only realized it now"

'DUMB GIRL!!! YOU LET YOUR EMOTIONS GET THE BETTER OF YOU! THIS KIND OF OCCASIONS IS RARE!, HECK WE MIGHT NOT EVEN HAVE A SECOND CHANCE!

Isabelle quickly sprinted back towards the garden in full throttle. Ishkaria followed behind her. But when they arrived, the two was no longer in the garden.

Ishkaria and Isabelle were still panting after sprinting back to the garden.

"heh, sucks to be you Isabelle. You really want to see the face behind those mask huh?"

"You also want to see it too!"

"Well you're right. Say, what do you think he looks like?"

"A wrinkly old man!"