Chapter. 9 - Decided

The night is still bright as Miyata and Jerard made their way back to their barracks.

[Hmm, it's probably about 8PM right now since the third bell rang about a few hours ago.]

[This... They're probably waiting in the barracks... A lot of things did happen, I just hope they wouldn't take it like such a big deal.]

Miyata aimlessly walked towards the barracks and there was Jerard who looked at her as if she was about to hit something unknowingly.

And in a minute they entered the barracks.

And...

Multiple men were standing looking menacingly as if they were preparing to fight a dragon.

"Err, guys?"

A man with a bulky body went forward slowly to Miyata.

As he was getting close, about half a meter away from Miyata, he stopped.

His face showed resolved and he clenched his fists. Until 5 seconds had passed.

Finally, he began to move.

And he bowed!

"For saving our honor, we give thanks to you!"

As he said this, everyone else also bowed.

Even Jerard was left dumbfounded with what's happening.

"Eh! But why?"

"Those mages were showing their superiority to us and some even scoffed at us, yet you showed them what a true warrior can do, because of this we did not lose face and instead, they did! None of us would have been able to do what you did, and so we had gathered here to thank you for what you've done!"

""Osu!""

All the men shouted and bowed once more, even lower.

Miyata, left speechless was deeply dumbfounded and no words would go into her head as this spectacle was too awkward!

Until.

The door opened and Ceciliana excused herself and grabbed Miyata. Leaving Jerard into the testosterone filled room with a broken smile on his face.

♦

"C-Ceciliana!"

"Haa! Good thing you're okay! I saw you enter the barracks and loud noises came out so I thought something bad happened!"

Ceciliana's face was pale and she was sweating from her forehead.

When Miyata saw this, she couldn't help but fix Ceciliana's hair and asked.

"Ceciliana... That time, you helped me didn't you?"

"Ahh... So Friedrich told you. I thought I told my silly brother not to spill it, yet he did... Well, indeed I had given you some help that time, though, tis not worth any of your time so please leave at as just me simply aiding you."

"..."

Not being able to do anything to her benefactor, Miyata made a perplexed face and began looking down.

"Fufu, well then, if you really desire to repay me, then accompany me to a walk this lovely evening."

Ceciliana smiled and gave Miyata a pat on the head.

"Sure!"

"Well! As you've been here longer than I had, is there anywhere with a good view here?"

"Yeah! Leave it to me, I know just the place!"

"Fufufu, I'm looking forward to it."

With the mood returning brightly, the two set out from the fort.

♦

A few minutes after Ceciliana's request the two had reached their destination.

The hill with a fair distance to the fort with a lone tree on top.

"Ah, what a wonderful place..."

Ceciliana gave a dignified smile as she looked at the tree.

With the faint light of the moon illuminating her beautiful face, Miyata couldn't help but start to blush as she stared at her.

"Y-yeah, I've always stayed here before because barely anyone goes here and the view is really nice and uhh..."

Miyata started to flush red as she tried finding words to say, yet she couldn't string anything up anymore.

"Fufufufu, Come here Miyata."

Ceciliana sat down and signaled Miyata to come closer.

As Miyata sat, Ceciliana pulled her head unto her thighs. She gave another dignified smile, looked at Miyata and said.

"Are you truly alright?"

"E-eh?"

"What you've just gone through today, thousands of people have died to that very event. Searing pain and anxiety rushing into you, all of this caused by our magic... Are you truly alright?"

Ceciliana asked, but this time, her smile had faded and a face full of sadness came instead.

As she saw her face full of sadness, Miyata was left speechless, even as she tried to rack her brain all that she was able to say was.

"Mm! I'm alright now because you were there. Thank you."

{Hehe... Thank you Miyata. We've just met but it feels like I've known you, why is that?}

♦

As the next day came, a mage representative came to the chosen soldiers and read a letter from a silver container.

"Chosen soldiers of Fort Dunning, with your magical potential, the king commands for you all to attend the magical academy in Folren, to become educated in magical arts and combat for the future of our country, with this, you shall receive a monthly salary of 10 silvers."

As the announcement was done, Iron Man nodded and announced.

"You five are now dismissed!"

""Yes sir!""

-Extra-

[Lately, my heart's been beating weirdly.]

Miyata laid on her bed with her hand on her heart.

Dub dub-dub-dub ---dub

[It feels so unnatural... Usually this would frighten me, yet this feels... Comforting.]

♦

Sitting on a bench is a beautiful lady in white, holding her heart while humming.

And as she hummed, a man in armor sat with her.

His calm beautiful face was shining in the moonlight but as he looked at her, his face had shown loneliness.

"Sister... Are you sure about what you're doing?"

"And what is it that I'm doing?"

"You know what I mean, please be careful and think about this even more."

"Fufufu, really, I can't keep anything from you can't I? Don't worry, this may as well be my destiny, I'm just fulfilling it earlier than expected."

"I... Understood."

The two sat under the moonlight without any conversation, without looking at each other.

-End-