Back to "normal"

"According to the reports, the seal of the Deep-Dusk Glacier Head in the South-Eastern ruins of the Drakonid temple looks intact, but the Deep-Dusk Silva Head appears to be set free."

"Nnn…"

It was the morning of the first day of the new semester for the students of the Jade Academy, and the brown-haired maid, keeping her distance, was talking to the extremely sleepy Melinda soaking in the bathtub.

"I got someone keeping watch on the intact seal and two others to observe the movement of the Deep-Dusk Dullahan, although the guild has adventurers on official sentinel duty doing the same thing already."

"Nn-hnn…"

The maid continued while the gold-haired girl's head swayed back and forth more and more as her consciousness slipped back into slumber.

"Since the Silva Head's whereabouts are unknown, I have hired an adventurer with tracking ability to find it. From the last report I received from him, it seems that he is on its trail, and it seems to be going North-West. That's about it."

The brown-haired maid finished her report with a solemn nod and looked at the gold-haired girl…

"...nn-blbl-FNGFGH?! BEUGH! GHE! GHE!"

Just in time to witness her head swaying so low that her face went underwater, and the girl accidentally sucked in and choked on it before splashing around violently while trying to catch a breath.

...still showing quite a lot of control over her strength as nothing ended up destroyed...

"Should I repeat the summary?"

The maid asked casually from the splash-free distance.

"GHEGH! Gheee… hmm? N-no. It's okay… I think I got it. One head free, one sealed, the free one is seemingly going away from the main body."

Melinda coughed out the rest of the bathwater and shook her head while looking at the brown-haired maid with her teary golden eyes.

"Both the body and the head seem to stay North, but indeed, the Dullahan itself keeps to the Eastern side of the Empire while the SIlva Head moves West. I'm quite surprised, my lady. I was certain that you were out of it as always."

The maid confirmed with a rather cheeky smile, but then she walked up to the bathtub, properly helped her lady bathe and then prepare for the day.

The headmaster gave a speech at the end of the first semester, but the start of the second one was just an ordinary school day, with the class schedule posted on the notice board in the Academy's main building two days prior.

…or that's how it was supposed to be, but this time, for some reason, an additional note summoning all of the students to the back of the Academy for a special announcement before the first lecture has been put out right under the posted schedule.

Presence compulsory.

"M-Melinda…!"

"Hmm?"

Therefore, as the maid left, the gold-haired girl was greeted by her timid black-haired friend.

The two of them didn't run into each other after the Boarkin incident, so neither girl seemed to quite figure out how to act.

"Hey, Cath. Just so you know, I don't want to talk about the whole thing. We all keep our secrets. Let's keep it as one, too, for the time being, okay?"

"E-eh…?!"

The gold-haired spoke up with a serious expression, straightening her back and staring her surprised, timid friend in the eyes, making her flinch and cower defensively.

"O-okay…"

"Good. Let's go then~! I hope that whatever the announcement is, it won't take too long. Today, we start with the healing magic practice, and I dare say I'm quite good at it already, so I intend to show off a bit~"

When troubled Catherine nodded in agreement, Melinda cheered out and declared as carefree as if nothing had happened. She then started walking down the hallway after double-checking whether she had locked her room.

"..."

"..."

But as the girls walked, it was becoming more and more apparent how much upset Catherine was.

"M-Melinda… I-in the end I… I can't j-just leave it like that…!"

"..."

And so, after barely making it halfway around the building on their way to the training area, Catherine stopped and spoke up with her head hanging down as if in her attempt to not get intimidated by Melinda's usual sharp gaze.

"...haaa… You can ask, but don't expect an answer."

After a few seconds of awkward silence, Melinda gave in and groaned, rolling her eyes and slicking back her golden hair.

"I… I can't leave it like th-that…"

"I understand. I will answer as long as I deem it not problematic for myself."

The black-haired girl repeated herself, and the gold-haired one breathed out and promised.

"I… I really w-want to show m-my gratitude to R-Ross…! I th-thanked him, b-but he s-saved my life! J-just words a-aren't enough and… and I w-want to give h-him s-something that he will l-like…!"

"...eh…?"

Catherine gathered all of her courage and spoke up, bending her back in a deep bow towards the completely flabbergasted Melinda.

"That's what you wanted to ask me about?!"

Melinda shook her head and looked to the sides in disorientation before asking to clarify the situation.

"Y-yes… I'm sorry! I-if you don't want to talk about R-Ross, then…!"

"No, no, no. I just thought…You know what? Let's not mind whatever I thought. You want to get something for Ross, you say? That's so sweet of you!"

Catherine spoke up, sounding as if she was on the verge of tears, and indeed, when she raised her head, she was tearing up. She also tried to bow again immediately after, but Melinda acted first, grabbing her shoulders and declaring, shaking her head from left to right with an apologetic expression before giving her friend an encouraging smile.

"I-it's okay for me to… to ask a-about Ross…?"

The black-haired girl sniffled before making sure in a worried voice while glancing to the sides with an anxious expression.

"Yes! Of course! As long as you refer to him by name and not mention… you know…"

Melinda scoffed and assured her while lowering her voice to a whisper, mindful of the other students passing them.

"I-I understand!"

Catherine gasped with a bashful but relieved smile.