Avrill

Leone walked down the sidewalk that is becoming busier as the sun slowly rise. She abruptly stopped and turned around.

"Excuse me. Are you certain there's nothing you need help with?"

Gael, who was behind her, also stopped and smiled.

"My apologies. It's really not my intention to follow you but I am also going this way."

"Are you?"

"Yes. I'm going to the hospital." Gael raised the bouquet of flowers. "How about you?"

Leone felt conflicted about whether to answer Gael or not. But she is somehow forced to as the latter honestly answered her as well.

"The market."

"I see. It's not far. If you don't mind I can go with you after I drop these flowers."

"No, there's no need to. Thanks for the offer though."

Leone declined strongly. She had never met someone as insistent as this young man.

"I insist especially that there are serial killings happening around the capital right now, and the suspect is still at large."

"... There could possibly be nothing to happen in broad daylight."

Leone looked at Gael with disbelieving eyes and continued walking, ignoring the boy who followed and walked beside her.

"You won't know when an accident is about to occur, would you?"

"That's true, but that serial killer must be out of their mind to attack during this time."

"You are correct, they are out of their mind. Have you heard of Cor Leonis?"

"It's my first time hearing it. What's that?"

"It means 'Lion's Heart'."

"Is it related to the serial killings?"

"Yes. The weapon used is called Cor Leonis. A sword said to be a possession of a dead princess, her wrath cursing it, turning it bloodthirsty. It is believed that the wielder of this sword is possessed by the vengeful ghost of the late princess."

"And you believe that?"

"You sound as if you don't believe it, do you?"

"I don't. Just like how you use the words 'said to be' or 'is believed that' means that these are unfounded ideas. Why was the crime termed as serial in the first place? It was committed many times in the same way which means it is carefully planned and thought of compared to what a possessed individual is capable of. But I would believe that the killer is using a sword as a weapon if the findings speak so. It must also be questioned how the weapon came to be called such."

"You're smart for someone who's not affiliated with an institution."

"... I hope you are not one among the believers who think that intellect must only be possessed by people in higher classes."

"I am not. Free education for the common class had just been implemented three years ago. Being able to read and write within three years is within their ability to achieve, but for you to easily understand and form your own judgment means you're well taught for more than those years, right?"

"... You're right. I learned from the influence of a scholar. However, they are far from a swordsman if you're expecting he is one."

"No. The more I talk to you the clearer it becomes that your influence is an intellectual and not a barbarian."

Leone lost count of how many times she had to lie this day. It is the truth though that she doesn't have a swordmaster to teach her, she has intellectual tutors that taught her after her recovery from the accident.

She followed after Gael as they entered the hospital. She did not dare enter the room anymore but she got a glimpse of the girl lying in the hospital bed.

She walked into the open terrace and placed her hands at the cold railings, watching the desolate park beside the hospital.

The trees have lost their leaves due to the frequent storms and look more like twigs pierced to the ground. The man-made pond is filled with filthy water, with moss around the stones surrounding it. The lawn was littered with fallen leaves, decaying under the onslaught of the terrible night rains.

She closed her eyes. The smell of medicine was sickening and it brings painful memory. She swore she would not step into this building ever again since the days when she lost her mother. Just like she thought, she hated rainy days and everything about it.

Gael closed the door behind him and sighed when he could not see Leone outside the room.

It might be preposterous for him to suddenly ask for someone's mentor but he was sincere when he wanted to accompany the girl to the market.

He must have been pushing his luck but he wanted to get to know the girl better. He had not met someone who could be interesting and curious like she is, not after meeting Avrill. That's right, Leone just reminds him of his sister.

He came across the open terrace and was about to pass by when he abruptly turned around.

Leone was standing before the railings. Her short brown hair sways as the wind lightly blows. He first saw her fighting strongly but she looks so delicate and weak under the sky that threatens to cry. Perhaps he had been used to seeing Avrill whom he only noticed now that Leone is just as beautiful.

"Hey. I thought you left me behind."

The girl opened her eyes. His reflection was clear in her gray eyes. He wanted to reach out and cover her eyes to prevent the budding tears from falling.

Leone turned her head away and tightly closed her eyes before opening them again, blinking to remove the tears.

"I suppose I'd leave you behind had you been any later."

"Then I shall be grateful I was not."

"Are you done?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go before it rains."