The Empty Seat
That day, the weather felt oppressively gloomy from the start.
A bitter taste lingered in my mouth from the inexplicable emptiness gnawing at me.
"Do-jun, is something wrong? Did something bad happen?"
"Huh? No."
It must have shown even to the quick-witted Ji-ah.
She'd said that right away when we met at our usual fork in the path.
Even Kim Ye-eun, who normally clung to me excessively, just watched my mood and didn't say a word.
I couldn't explain it to anyone else because I didn't understand my own state of mind either.
As we walked to the classroom, I could feel Ji-ah glancing at me sidelong every few steps.
The Basic Magic Theory lecture had long since slipped from my control.
If it weren't for the odd detail that there were no exams despite it being a theory class, I would've bailed ages ago.
The passing condition was just detecting mana, but the content was way too intensive.
The more the lecture dragged on, the more the differences from what Latynia had taught me stood out.
Latynia…
Unlike me, Ji-ah seemed to be following along just fine.
She was diligently taking notes, fully focused on the lecture.
I considered teasing her like usual, but for some reason, I just couldn't muster the energy.
I zoned out, killing time until the pointless lecture finally ended.
After that meaningless stretch, we headed to the cadet cafeteria as always.
We sat at our usual table for three, ate our usual meal, and…
"Latynia is late today, huh."
"Yeah."
The seat where Latynia always sat was empty.
I stared at the vacant spot, my appetite gone, when I felt Ji-ah's gaze on me.
"Do-jun, did something happen with Latynia?"
"…No."
"Something must have. Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up…"
"It was nothing. It's all sorted out."
I shoved some food in my mouth after saying that.
It felt like chewing sand.
The sunken mood didn't lift easily.
It only deepened when the Understanding Other Races lecture began.
The seat next to me was empty.
I stared glumly at the empty spot when Instructor Olivia entered the classroom right on time, for once.
She came in empty-handed and stood at the podium.
"Today, I'll announce the report you'll submit in place of the exam for this course."
No exam for this class either, apparently.
Makes sense—there's hardly anything to test on.
"The seating assignments were deliberate because they relate to your reports.
The person next to each cadet differs from them, whether in hometown or race.
Investigate the cadet beside you—from small details to major ones like race—and summarize your findings in a report.
Due by the end of this course."
A few cadets raised their hands, not grasping it.
I half-got it, but my head was too cluttered with other thoughts to dwell on it.
"No questions. Class dismissed."
With that, Instructor Olivia left the classroom.
It filled with cadets' confusion.
What was this, elementary school? Homework about getting to know your desk mate?
How did this tie into understanding other races?
And…
My seat next to me was empty.
And I had a bad feeling she wouldn't be coming back.
I stared blankly at the empty seat beside me when someone's feet stopped in front of me.
I looked up to see Ruphus standing there.
"Shin Do-jun."
"What?"
"Come with me. Latynia calls for you."
He brushed past without waiting for my reply.
At least she's still summoning me.
Time to wrap things up.
I followed Ruphus out of the classroom.
"How's Latynia?"
"…"
Ruphus didn't answer.
Did it not go well? A flicker of anxiety hit me.
Was I wrong about this?
"You'd better watch your words. And Latynia's condition… it's hard for me to judge."
"I see. So it's not completely bad."
"How do you figure?"
"If I need to watch my words, at least communication is possible. Means it's not all bad."
"Not all bad… If that's how you see it."
With that cryptic remark, Ruphus clammed up.
Why so uneasy?
I understood when I saw Latynia.
Ruphus had brought me to the top floor of Prism's main building.
I'd been to the dean's office across the hall a few times, but not for something like this.
He opened the door opposite, revealing Latynia seated in the center of a spacious office.
"You've come. I've been waiting."
She sat primly, speaking clearly.
Her once-dazed eyes now sparkled with sharpness.
Her words were precise, her gaze steady.
So this is the real Latynia.
"I heard you lifted the curse on me. I called you to express my gratitude."
"No need. Between us, it's nothing…"
"What are we to each other?"
"Huh?"
"I called you for thanks, not strange talk."
Her reaction threw me off.
Had her memory completely vanished?
If so…
"Don't you remember? We sat next to each other in Understanding Other Races."
"Ah… Yes, I suppose we did. Apologies—my memories are a bit unstable."
"No, it's fine."
So not entirely gone.
Maybe I could hold onto a sliver of hope?
Sure, there were status differences, positions… but still…
My faint hope shattered with her next words.
"Then you may go."
"Uh…"
"Anything else? Your reward for lifting the curse will be conveyed through Ruphus."
"…"
I had no choice but to leave under her dismissal.
Right. This was what I expected, wasn't it?
Memory gaps were unsettling, but this seemed like a clean resolution.
Now I could finally relax.
I sighed in relief as I turned to go, but Ruphus called out.
"You okay?"
"What? Seems like it went as planned, so yeah."
"Not that—you…"
Ruphus trailed off awkwardly.
Not like him.
He hesitated in an uncharacteristic way, then brushed it off and shoved me along.
Feeling lighter, I left Prism's main building.
The gloomy morning sky had started sprinkling rain.
I don't mind getting wet.
Especially when there's nothing weighing on me.
The pouring rain washes away all worries, anxieties, pains.
I headed to the dorm, face tilted up to the falling drops.
The rain grew heavier.
Cascading sheets blurred my vision.
The roar drowned out the world.
It felt like I was alone in it all.
By the time I reached the dorm, I was soaked head to toe.
My clothes clung uncomfortably, body chilled and damp.
This was the downside of rain.
Feels great in the moment, annoying after.
Vivian, who turned at the door's creak, flinched.
"Do-jun…"
"Yeah. Lectures ended early today, so I came back sooner."
"Were you crying?"
"…"
Who cries? Men only cry three times in their lives—the words rose in my throat but wouldn't come out.
My mouth wouldn't cooperate.
Whatever she made of my silence, Vivian approached.
"I'll shower first. Stay back—you'll get wet too."
I pushed away the approaching Vivian and headed to the bathroom.
I felt her gaze on my back.
The hot water helped a bit.
No.
My mood hadn't been bad to begin with.
I'd solved Latynia's problem.
Confirmed she was back to normal.
Confirmed she'd return to her kingdom.
Everything resolved perfectly.
Yeah, no issues.
We weren't even friends to begin with.
A rootless guy like me, dropped into this world, and an otherworldly princess? No chance.
Everything as I thought,
as I predicted…
My head spun suddenly.
Vision swirled, mind fogging.
I blacked out right there.
Faintly, I thought I heard Vivian calling me.
When I opened my eyes, a strange weight pressed on me.
Lifting the blanket, I saw Vivian curled against my body.
She'd even dressed me in my usual sleep clothes.
Suddenly exposed to the air, she squirmed as if cold.
"Vivian. Wake up."
"Nngh… Do-jun…"
Vivian rubbed her eyes and sat up.
Now get off—too heavy.
But she stayed draped over me.
"What happened?"
"Heard a thud, went to check—you were collapsed."
"You carried me to bed?"
"Yeah."
"Must've been heavy. Thanks."
I stroked her head gently.
Come to think of it, it had been a while.
Vivian leaned into my hand, shaking her head happily like a cat.
Her fine silver hair tickled my skin.
Oh, right…
"You dressed me too?"
"Yeah."
I felt a twinge of embarrassment, but hey—I'd seen her naked plenty, groped her all over.
Fine.
Just a little embarrassing, but fine.
"Uh… yeah. Thanks."
The mood turned awkward.
As I mindlessly petted her, Vivian spoke up.
"Do-jun was weird since morning."
"What?"
"Looked anxious from breakfast. I was worried. And when you came back…"
"I hate rain."
"Liar."
I flinched at her words.
Vivian stared straight at me.
Her gaze felt like a scolding.
Unable to withstand it, I spilled my jumbled, unorganized inner thoughts to her—things even I didn't fully grasp.