21
Chapter 21
Once Enoch's party had been introduced to Vivianne, everyone took their seats.
The dishes began to arrive on the table one by one.
Nadia leaned forward and spoke.
"This is Sharan cuisine! Its hallmark is the use of a variety of spices. It's what our Republic is most proud of. The aroma can be strong, but once you get used to it, nothing else will satisfy you!"
Nadia pointed to the plates with a proud expression, her voice full of enthusiasm.
Lionel caught the scent and remarked,
"This is quite intense."
"Right? That's the charm of it."
"The charm is rather aggressive."
"That's exactly what makes it Sharan."
Nadia retorted with a laugh. Lionel gave a small smirk and picked up his chopsticks.
He took a bite.
His expression remained neutral for a moment before he took another piece.
He had eaten twice.
With a look that suggested he was reluctant to admit it, Lionel reached for a third bite.
Benny's eyes widened as he exclaimed,
"What is this? I've never tasted anything like this before!"
"It's a blend of spices. More than ten different kinds go into it."
"Ten kinds?!"
Benny looked down at his plate. It was hard to believe that over ten spices were mixed in.
It looked like simple meat. He took another bite.
He could feel layers of shifting flavors dancing on his tongue.
"This is incredibly delicious!!!"
"I told you, right?!"
Nadia clapped her hands; this was precisely the reaction she had been hoping for.
Garrett took a quiet bite and murmured,
"It's good."
Nadia turned to Garrett.
"Right? Isn't it?"
Garrett gave a short nod and looked back at his plate. He didn't say anything else, but his plate was steadily emptying.
Seeing this, Nadia picked up her own plate with a satisfied smile.
As the meal progressed, the atmosphere became lively.
Benny asked Morse what these spices were.
Morse replied that she didn't know.
He then asked Nadia, who excitedly began to launch into a detailed explanation.
Edelyn listened quietly to the lecture.
Morse spoke softly to Sancta.
"Does it suit your taste?"
Instead of answering, Sancta filled her plate once more. Morse smiled quietly at the sight.
Edouard asked Lionel something in a low voice, and Lionel gave a brief answer.
Esme and Isael continued to eat in silence.
Amidst the chatter, Vivianne was watching Enoch.
Enoch ate his meal without a word, staring into the void as if lost in thought.
Despite the presence of six VIPs, Enoch paid no mind to such things.
Vivianne couldn't pull her gaze away from his profile.
He had intrigued her from the moment they first met.
It had been the same when they collided in the hallway.
No matter who looked at him, those eyes remained unchanged.
'How can he remain so consistently serene?'
He was on her mind.
Vivianne had already been receiving countless gazes, from the moment she entered.
The VIPs' eyes lingered on her, and students she'd never seen before stared. A boy named Benny had even shouted loudly that she was beautiful.
She felt every single one of those looks.
But Enoch didn't look at her.
That was all. Yet, that fact kept tugging at her heart.
Perhaps sensing her gaze, Enoch slowly turned his head and met Vivianne's eyes.
'Why is she staring at me? Did I do something wrong?'
It was a face he didn't recognize. No, wait, he felt he might have seen it somewhere.
After a brief moment of thought, Enoch seemed to lose interest and returned his focus to his meal.
Vivianne spoke.
"Um... do you remember me?"
She asked in a whisper.
Enoch studied her.
Platinum blonde hair. Purple eyes. Pale skin.
He searched his memory.
'...Where have I seen her?'
He did his best to recall, but it simply wouldn't come to him.
"I don't think so."
It was short and concise. His face transparently reflected the fact that he didn't know.
Lionel had been listening to the exchange. The moment Enoch answered, he stole a glance at Vivianne.
'Our treasure seemed to be expecting something. She'll be disappointed by a reaction like that.'
Contrary to his expectations, Vivianne's face was bright red.
Seeing this, Lionel froze for a moment.
Vivianne stared at her plate, unable to say a word, her ears flushing red.
Lionel shifted his gaze back to the front. He couldn't hide the smile threatening to break out.
'Wow...'
It wasn't disappointment. Quite the opposite. The fact that he didn't even remember her had only made her more fluttery.
Lionel knew that feeling all too well.
Even before coming to the Academy, Lionel had noticed Vivianne was looking for someone.
'So it was that teacher.'
Lionel watched Enoch as if observing a specimen. Enoch was blankly eating his food, lost in thought.
'He really is an interesting man, Teacher Enoch.'
#
The food was cleared and the table was tidied.
People began to stand up from their seats.
Short conversations were exchanged here and there.
Edouard walked toward Enoch.
"Teacher Enoch."
Enoch and Edouard faced each other.
"There is something I failed to mention before the meal."
"What is it?"
Edouard took something out of his inner pocket.
It was a small token engraved with the crest of the Valois Duchy.
Edouard handed it to Enoch.
Enoch took the token and checked the crest in his palm.
The Valois Family. One of the Four Great Ducal Houses reigning over the Elysia Empire.
"I would like to invite you to visit our duchy."
"And the reason?"
"It is difficult to explain here."
Enoch looked at Edouard for a moment, weighing whether it was worth listening to.
Edouard remained composed under the gaze.
Enoch tucked the token into his pocket.
"I'll stop by when I have time."
That was enough. Edouard gave a short nod.
Just as he was about to turn away, Enoch spoke.
"It might take a while."
Edouard stared at Enoch, his expression calm.
"I will wait."
A noble had invited a commoner.
Despite Enoch's brevity, Edouard said nothing, a sign of his respect for him.
Enoch nodded in response.
From the side, Esme approached Edelyn.
Edelyn noticed her presence and turned, freezing in place.
Esme leaned on her staff and spoke to Edelyn.
"Come to the Magic Tower sometime, child."
Edelyn blinked.
"...Are you talking to me?"
"You're the only one in front of me right now."
Edelyn looked at Esme and then looked down, her cheeks flushing slightly.
The Magic Tower.
The plaza of wizards who pursued truth and knowledge. She had been told to come there.
"...Yes."
Edelyn answered in a tiny, tentative voice.
Looking at the shy Edelyn, Esme thought to herself,
'The child who caught me off guard during sparring is like this now.'
She actually liked the contrast. It was proof that the girl was bold yet remained humble.
Esme gave a small smirk.
"You may bring your teacher or come alone."
Edelyn met her eyes for a second before looking down again.
"...I understand."
As Esme turned to leave, she added one more thing.
"I look forward to it."
An Archmage had invited a talented wizard.
Enoch walked over to Garrett.
Garrett was watching Enoch as he approached.
"I have a favor to ask."
"Speak."
Enoch glanced at Benny before turning his gaze back to Garrett.
'The B Class students were too weak. Benny won't find his limit through that sparring.'
"Could you lead a sparring session with Benny?"
Garrett looked past Enoch to stare at Benny.
Noticing the gaze, Benny looked back and forth between the two of them.
"Me?!"
"Spar with Sir Garrett. It will be an irreplaceable experience."
Benny stared at his teacher with wide eyes. Enoch looked as if it were no big deal.
'An irreplaceable experience.'
His teacher had said something similar before.
To Edelyn, before she sparred with the Archmage.
Benny felt that it was finally his turn.
"Really?!"
"Really."
Benny jumped up and down on the spot.
"Yes! I love it!!!"
Nadia laughed at the sight, while Lionel crossed his arms with interest.
Vivianne noticed a change in Enoch. Unlike his usual self, he was looking entirely at his student.
It was the first time Vivianne had seen Enoch's sincerity.
'So he can make faces like that too...'
Garrett gave his consent after seeing Benny's reaction.
"Fine."
#
The group stepped outside the annex.
The night air was cool. Grass spread across the area reached by the lights, and stars adorned the night sky.
Benny stood on one side of the empty lot.
Garrett took his position on the opposite side.
There was a considerable distance between the two.
Benny measured the gap in his mind. It was farther than he thought, but considering Garrett's stride, the distance would vanish in the blink of an eye.
'But I can dodge it.'
Through sparring with Edelyn and the other B Class students, Benny had roughly figured out how he should fight.
Although Garrett was different in both size and speed, Benny believed his movements wouldn't be fundamentally different.
He planned to react and move according to his opponent's first strike.
Garrett was observing his opponent.
He seemed to be reading just how far Benny's capabilities reached.
It was the gaze of someone gauging their opponent before a match begins.
Benny noticed that look.
'This guy must be seriously strong.'
The thought began to excite him. Normally, one should feel fear when facing someone so powerful, but Benny found himself smiling instead.
The VIPs stood around the perimeter.
Morse asked Sancta,
"Do you think Benny will do well?"
Sancta didn't answer. She was watching the empty lot, her gaze fixed on Benny.
Morse followed her line of sight.
Benny was smiling.
He was smiling even as he faced a massive wall like Garrett Ironshield.
Morse gave a quiet nod.
'I think he will.'
Edelyn stood beside Enoch.
"Teacher."
"Yes?"
"Benny will be okay, right?"
Enoch looked at Edelyn before turning back toward the empty lot.
"I suppose."
"I suppose?"
"He'll be fine. As long as he doesn't forget to use his Engine..."
Edelyn looked at Enoch. His face was devoid of worry, just as it had been during the first lesson.
'Right. He'll be fine. There's no way a kid smiling like that wouldn't be...'
Benny began to prepare himself.
A haze shimmered beneath his feet.
His Engine was powering up.