Girl and Ethics Teacher

Elestria approached Lusi after the boutique opened. Her mind was in chaos as she had to explain without bringing up the herb hunt. Elestria let out a big sigh.

"Why, Els? Did you experience something interesting while I was sick yesterday?"

Lusi glanced at her with a smile. Her hands were ashen as she opened the report book. She still had a bit of a flu.

"I met Keir yesterday," she said carefully, "he offered me a job as a soldier."

Lusi's face turned to her again. Her eyes were lazy. She smiled faintly. "That suits your purpose, doesn't it? Why do you seem hesitant?"

"He said... I wouldn't see you again after work." 

Elestria's shoes tapped on the wooden floor in silence. She was afraid that Lusi would smell her lie. She had been forbidden to go on the hunt but hadn't listened. Although in reality, Elestria didn't go looking for herbs.

"Being a soldier is a busy job. It's natural for him to say that. When did you start working?"

"Don't know yet. He invited me to the soldier camp on Sunday."

Lusi nodded.

***

Keir ended his routine with a punch on the wooden dummy. Sweat poured down his bare back. He fetched some water and doused his head.

His face looked up to where Luna lived. It was a seven-story tower-like building. Grey clouds seemed to wrap around the roof.

Keir picked up a towel. He wiped it roughly on his face. His head hurt because he was about to leave for the Seraphim Kingdom's territory. He was going to spy on a territory on Alpha's orders.

Seraphim and Emberfall were both wolf kingdoms. Emberfall's people were brown wolves while Seraphim's were black wolves. For a decade, they were engaged in a cold war.

No one knows why and how this war came about. Keir still speculates on the rumors that misled the two kingdoms. There could be internal elements and there could be outsiders involved.

Keir put on his uniform, then went to the back of the palace soldiers' camp. The wooden boxes piled up beside the wall were his supplies for spying on Seraphim. Alpha was willing to spend much money to get information about Seraphim.

Keir observed the wooden carts that had been here since the beginning of the month. He walked through them all. The end was the palace garden that was drying out.

The lake in the center of the meadow-sized garden was dark blue. The willows that lived on its banks were sleeping. Dry leaves flew round and round and fell onto the lake's surface.

"Sir?"

Keir turned round.

He was one of the soldiers supervising the preparation of supplies. "The preparation of our supplies is almost complete. Would you like to add?"

Keir looked back at the lake. For a while, he was silent while watching the sky. He replied, "The journey to Seraphim will take fourteen days. The difference in weather may be an obstacle. Prepare plenty of medicine."

"Yes, Sir!"

"Why do you think," Keir asked, "there is news that the Seraphim will attack Emberfall?"

The soldier frowned deeply. The question puzzled him. He only knew to be prepared if war suddenly erupted. 

Keir waited.

Forced, he answered as he was, "Because of the difference in economic growth."

Keir stared at him for a moment. "So it is."

***

Luna walked into the main garden of the palace with her servants. She was wearing a white fleece robe. Her steps were slow because she wanted to see the clouds move.

Her pupils dilated when she saw a bat swiftly passing over the palace sky. It flew to the southeast. The sun wasn't coming up. Then, a bat that was often thought to be the embodiment of a vampire could appear.

Luna went to the corridor. She stopped for a moment in front of the throne room hall. It had been one year since she had moved to this world. Still, she felt something was missing.

"Erna, I want more dried flowers in my room," she asked.

"I will bring more, Your Majesty."

Luna sighed, then resumed walking. It was always like this. She could tell Erna would bring more dried flowers from the garden, but she didn't know if she could sleep tonight.

She went to the path that led to the fountain.

Luna was human. She used to live as a city girl working as a writer. When a sharp-eyed man approached her and told her they were a couple, she couldn't react much. This world has made her complacent. 

"Why is there always something missing?" she whispered weakly.

Keir was walking on the path Luna had taken earlier. He didn't know Luna had just passed by. His mind was filled with the preparations that were almost complete. Perhaps in a week or two, he would be leaving.

Keir walked out of the palace and was at the market. His shoulders sagged. He was tired of the increased work.

At one of the spice stalls, someone stood silently watching Keir. He guessed silently that the soldier went out after checking the preparations for departure. The man turned back inside the stall.

***

Elestria yawned, then covered her mouth with her hand. She couldn't count how many times she did that. She stood next to the mannequin. She should have moved it.

Her body was weak during the period, which was normal. However, she couldn't take a nap. Lusi's business never slept despite the storm.

Outside, Madam Rachell's carriage stopped. She got off the carriage by stepping onto the red cushion prepared by her maid. She immediately recognized Elestria from behind the glass wall.

"How unethical to yawn the width of a chasm," she grumbled while entering the boutique.

Lusi sat on the second floor. She immediately knew Madam Rachell was coming. Before she could approach Elestria, she went to her. But, she was too late.

Elestria was at the front. The time it took Madam Rachell to get there was shorter than the time it took Lusi to get to Madam Rachell.

Elestria was still standing unsteadily on her feet. Her facial muscles felt stiff from yawning so much. Not to mention, the annoying stomach cramps.

Madam Rachell stood before her. Seeing her who wasn't like the townspeople made her furious. She hated anything different from the rules.

"How can you still not be ashamed of working lazily?"

The entire staff turned to them. 

Elestria opened her eyes. Her gaze was sluggish. She frowned.

"You, unethical slum girl, this place is not worthy of you." Madam Rachell hit her right shoulder with a fan.