Chapter 56: Night Before The Storm (2)

“Did I, really sleep that deeply?”

“Yes. You were sleeping without realizing the time was passing. You were sleeping so comfortably that I felt sorry to wake you up.”

At Sian’s answer, Elissa couldn’t help but be surprised.

Because until now, Elissa had never slept comfortably.

However, the clock and the sunset light do not lie. The appearance of the library, dyed with the pouring golden sunset light at exactly 6 o’clock, was proof that she had lost consciousness for a while.

So Elissa was genuinely surprised.

“…Really, it seems so.”

The intense memories of childhood remain for a lifetime.

The memory of losing all her loved ones to the Dark Cult, losing everything she had, and undergoing terrible experiments remained as an indelible scar in Elissa’s heart.

Because of that, Elissa hated falling asleep. When she closes her eyes, she hears the terrible screams of her parents, siblings, friends, and people who cherished and loved her.

The memories of the past that try to bind her whenever there is a gap were waiting for the moment when she would weaken every moment.

To stab the most vulnerable place of her emotions, to make the things engraved like a brand on Elissa’s shoulder go berserk.

When she’s awake, she can suppress her emotions beyond her neat smile and restrained gestures, but she can’t do that when she’s sleeping. So Elissa always had to cast dozens of spells on herself before going to sleep.

“It’s strange.”

So, Elissa muttered unconsciously. How long has it been since I fell asleep like this? It was really the first time I woke up with a clear mind, without being plagued by nightmares.

As Elissa savored the aftertaste of a comfortable sleep, she turned her gaze to the left. A girl who was leaning against her and looking at the sunset came into her sight.

The girl she longed for, and the first friend she made when she came to the academy. Strangely, when she’s with Sian, the anxiety that fills her heart disappears.

So, the thought that I want to be together a little more suddenly came up.

She’s already one of Sian’s few friends. Still, I want a closer relationship. I don’t know exactly what a closer relationship than a friend is.

“…”

However, Elissa couldn’t carelessly approach Sian. Because she was not an upright girl. Like that guy Marcus, she was a time bomb that could explode at any time.

So Elissa decided to hide this feeling. Sian was such a kind girl that she seemed to be able to embrace even herself.

So Elissa couldn’t carelessly approach Sian any further. Because she was afraid that she would hurt Sian.

Her heart wanted Sian to embrace her, but Elissa’s cool reason knew how vain that dream was.

“Thank you, Sian.”

“Hmm?”

A faint question appeared in Sian’s eyes. Sian, who didn’t understand what she was thankful for, blinked her grape-colored eyes and looked at Elissa.

Thinking that such a reaction was also cute, Elissa blurred her words.

“Just. Thank you for approaching me.”

“Hey, what are you thankful for?”

Sian grabbed Elissa’s hand. It was time to leave the library, so Elissa and Sian stood up from the seats they were sitting on.

Seeing Sian organizing the books, Elissa suddenly thought of this.

If it’s a kind child like Sian. Even if she heard the story about the fake Stigmata that she was going to go to Elin-sensei today to tell, wouldn’t she be able to accept her?

Elissa is a little strange.

Even though I’m a bit slow on the uptake, I could tell that much.

She seemed to be particularly tired today. And even while talking, there was darkness on her neat face.

Elissa was making a similar expression to me, who had become worried in many ways these days. I could be sure of that because I had experienced it myself.

Is there any worry?

“We couldn’t read the book in the end.”

“But you slept well for once. Isn’t that enough?”

“Mmm, that’s right. Haaam…”

Elissa, covering her mouth with her palm and yawning small. Looking at her, I could be sure of one thing.

Elissa, after the Stigmata runaway incident, hasn’t been able to sleep properly these days. Perhaps it’s because she knows something about the fake Stigmata.

This is just circumstantial evidence. Mana excess is a symptom that appears in the experimental subjects of the cult. And Elissa, who somehow seemed to recognize the fake Stigmata. Anxious behavior.

“…”

However, it was still too early to approach Elissa. In order to bring out the story deep in her heart, it was necessary to make her relax a little more.

Since I’ve already built up some intimacy by spending time with Elissa, I have to confide in her first in a quiet place.

I, holding Elissa’s hand in an interlocking grip, asked.

“Do you have any plans today?”

“Hmm… no. Because Sunday is a day without lectures. I’m not the type to worry too much about midterm grades.”

“Then, let’s go somewhere together.”

And I knew a place that was really good for talking alone. A place I used to go to during in-game dating events to raise the affection of heroines.

According to the in-game setting, it’s a place where no one passes by. Of course, the game and reality are a little different, but it’s still a secluded place, so no one will appear.

Recalling the place I had been to countless times with the heroines, I led Elissa. When I entered the path of the back mountain, Elissa asked me in a cautious voice.

“Where are we going…?”

“My secret place in the back mountain. It’s sunset, so the atmosphere will be amazing.”

“Secret place?”

“Hehe.”

Elissa’s expression became more suspicious, but I smiled faintly and glossed over Elissa’s question. This kind of thing is a good place because you don’t tell it until the end.

There is no need to worry about danger. Because the back mountain of the academy is within the great barrier to protect the academy.

Anyway, the Dark Cult guys are attacking the academy during the midterm exam. There will be nothing until then.

I thought so and went up the path of the back mountain. The place I liked the most in the game appeared three minutes later.

“This is…”

“How is it, my secret hideout.”

I smiled and spread my arms wide in front of Elissa. Elissa looked at me, then looked around the inside of the hideout.

The hideout was a quiet space surrounded by bushes on all sides. Yet it was not too lonely or quiet.

The chirping of birds, the sound of insects crying, and the cool sound of water create a pleasant harmony, a quiet but lively space.

The sun, perched beyond that mountain, was burning the sky with its last strength before setting. Elissa’s sapphire eyes turn to the view of the academy spread out under the shimmering red sunset.

The academy seen from a high place was lively.

Female students gathering in groups of three or five and chatting, and male students gathering in the playground and having fun. The pure laughter of the students can sometimes be heard up to here.

“Sit here.”

I sat down on a tree stump that grew like a bench and called Elissa. The girl, who was blankly looking down, finally came to her senses.

Elissa, who sat down gently next to me, asked, blankly looking down at the academy.

“It’s really… beautiful.”

“Right?”

“Yes. How did you find a place like this?”

“While wandering around the school at the beginning of the semester. Because I’m an adventurer by nature, it’s become a habit to wander around when I come to a new place.”

“Hehe, that’s so like you, Sian.”

Elissa’s expression, who had only been smiling faintly all day, finally had a real smile. The expression of a girl laughing with a precocious gesture was full of joy.

I continued the casual conversation for a while after that.

Conversations shared alone in a quiet place have the power to draw each other to each other. I felt like even the last barrier that remained between Elissa and me was broken.

“Sian.”

“Yes?”

“Why did Sian come to the academy? A person like Sian would be welcomed with open arms by the Imperial Knights.”

“Um… I wanted to make friends. Living alone without knowing anyone was too lonely.”

This is sincere.

Even though the status window said something that was half a threat and put me in the academy, I would have seriously thought about entering the academy even if it wasn’t for the status window.

Because I had no family, friends, or acquaintances in this world. My parents died when I was young because of the Dark Cult, and there were no adventurers my age even after joining the adventurer’s guild.

A young girl traveling alone in the Middle Ages is very good prey. After being backstabbed several times, it became difficult to trust people.

“So Elissa seems more precious to me. I, I didn’t have many people I could trust.”

“Ugh…”

A ripple spread in Elissa’s blue eyes. Evidence that Elissa’s heart is shaking. I had no intention of missing this opportunity.

“So, do you know what a fake Stigmata is?”