With All My Strength
The pants were somehow fixed with suspenders.
It might have been easier to wear a skirt, but since I can move my legs without worrying about showing my panties, I’ll overlook it.
No one in Stille told them what clothes to wear. They only had one slogan: ‘Behave like a learner’—be neat.
Well, this is neat enough. No exposure, at least?
After coming out of the clothing store, the two people walked around the market to buy necessities that would be useful in Stille.
No need to worry about money. The protection fees collected by the Holy Knights. Treatment fees from the infirmary. All sorts of donations and contributions. Seongdo was rich because it was loved by the continent’s people. The wallet of the younger sister of the head wasn’t even worth mentioning.
After finishing their business, on the way back to the cathedral.
Sugar fixed the hairband that got messed up while changing clothes. The pink hairband given by her childhood friend when she was little. It was a magic tool, so it automatically adjusted its size as her hair grew, and she still used it every day.
Seeing it, Ian opened her mouth softly.
“Are you still not in contact?”
“Yes. None.”
“This…”
She heard through Cedric that she passed the practical exam, but no contact from him. How many months has this been now?
Ryly, you bastard.
She met Cedric once a year when he returned to Seongdo for the Ascension. She only met him until she was 14, so the last time she saw his face was years ago.
Letters stopped somewhere, and this year, no replies at all.
There must be a reason. He’s busy. Thinking about it makes it sting, so her expression turned sullen.
Bad guy.
The outside air was so sweet?
Ian patted Sugar’s back.
“You’ll meet soon. After all, if you’re going to take the practical, you’ll have to go to Stille, right? You’ll meet there.”
“Yes…”
Even though her head knows, her heart doesn’t accept it.
No face, no contact, constantly bad thoughts come to mind.
‘I’m tired now. Goodbye.’
Or
‘I got a girlfriend outside. That’s why contact was sparse. Here, let me introduce you.’
Or
Kyaaak!
Just imagining makes her stomach turn.
The first one: No way. Trust Ryly who said let’s go to Stille together. She scolds herself that such thoughts betray his heart.
But the second one…
‘What can I do?’
Even if Ryly has a girlfriend outside, what can she do? It’s his heart.
Birds grow up and leave the nest. And how to make a new nest to find their mate.
She’ll feel sorry for her brother… he’s grown up… become an adult… but still, she has to bless it.
Of course, only if it’s a girl she likes!
She’ll bless it!
She’ll bless it!
… Will I bless it?
“ … ”
Stop. Stop it.
Worrying about something that hasn’t happened yet is the most foolish thing.
Shaking her head like that, Ian pulled Sugar to the cafe inside the cathedral.
“Don’t think weird thoughts. Drink a drink and relax your mood.”
“This one I’ll pay for.”
Since she’s part of the Holy City, she could get half price.
She was in the choir, trained under the Guardian, always accompanying Tianzi. She couldn’t not be part of it.
“Thanks. Ah, wait. Someone to greet. I’ll have coffee.”
After Ian finished speaking, she hurried somewhere. To some impressive-looking priest? Holy knight? That girl.
Seeing it, Sugar gave her order to the clerk and headed to the table.
“Hoo… Eh!”
Sitting on the chair with a sigh, unexpected sensation, she jumped.
The pants didn’t cover her thighs even halfway. The thighs wrapped only in stockings touched the chair with a slap, extremely foreign feeling. The cold of the wooden chair immediately transmitted, which was unpleasant.
‘…If I adapt, it’ll be fine.’
It’s the clothes her friend picked for her.
Waiting, the drink came, she went to get it. This time, she didn’t sit straight, sat gently. The chair was already warmed by Sugar’s body heat, so the foreign feeling wasn’t bad.
Sitting there, Sugar sipped her strawberry latte as usual and stretched.
‘I’m already this age.’
Thinking of old times. So many things happened in this land.
She practiced magic to go to Stille, studied. Still training under the impressive Nova.
Running away from children during interrogation, hissing.
Joined the choir, matched with others.
Every day with Ian, getting close.
Hugging Ryly who returned for Ascension.
“ … ”
Why is there no contact?
Where is he doing?
Even asking Cedric who comes every year, ‘he’s doing well’ and gloss over.
Hoo. Sugar sighed sadly, fiddling with her thighs.
Hmm. This seems like it will become a habit.
“Sugar!”
Jumps.
Looking back, a familiar woman standing. Now, black clothes more familiar than white.
“Peco…ssi.”
“Call me unnie.”
Age difference like aunt, but forces to call unnie. That age is…!
Secret.
Of course, no men until now is not a secret.
“Peco unnie.”
Calling Peco in black clothes of interrogation officials in a dazed way, Peco nods.
“Sugar. I heard you’re going to take the practical exam. Congratulations. I didn’t have time to talk because busy.”
“No. That… is it okay?”
“… There’s no guarantee that the job God gave and what I want to do are the same. Just. Living gratefully.”
Cedric recommended her to a place that was good for promotion back then. It was the headquarters of the Interrogation Office in Seongdo.
If it’s heresy, she’s the one who drops the school, but with good results. Heard she rose to quite a high position.
“Hahaha…”
Her helpless laugh is pitiful.
A female interrogation official. Meeting men is even more hopeless.
“I’ll bless your future.”
“Thanks. You too… pass the exam. I hope you live well there.”
Light conversation, then parted.
At that moment, Ian approached Sugar dragging her feet. Face looks like she’s been through a lot.
“No, you were fine until just now, what happened?”
“Even among Guardians, the oldest… greeted… got a lot of scolding…”
The oldest among Guardians. Someone Sugar never met while in Seongdo. Always out like Cedric, or strange Nova, heard she handles almost all paperwork.
And. The one who was the only one to oppose Ian going to Stille.
Sugar frowned slightly, Ian waved hand.
“It’s fine. Just be careful with your behavior. You are bound to Seongdo. Don’t forget your bloodline. Etc. That’s it.”
Says as if not serious.
“Just say ‘come back well’. Why add extra?”
“It’s really fine. Everyone worries and cares in their own way.”
“If Ian-ssi says so…”
This person has really matured. Sugar is moved. That young age. The childish self who threw tantrums for freedom. Now, a grown-up girl like this.
Then another sigh.
Really. Where on earth are you doing now that you’ve matured.
***
The departure day arrived.
For safety, they decided to use teleport magic to move at once. Long-distance teleport from Seongdo to Stille.
Magic is handled by the Ella choir she was part of. When the magic circle is made from Stille side to guide coordinates, teleport happens immediately.
Once arrive at Stille, can receive protection there. Especially for Ian, protection from Seongdo side will go with her, so safe. For Sugar, people she’s never seen before, but anyway. They’re there now.
Sugar stares blankly at the preparation in a corner. Because of Ryly who hasn’t shown his face even a bit until departure day, her lips pout like a duck’s beak.
Then Ian sighs tiredly.
“Sugar. Time to prepare…”
“I packed all the luggage.”
“No. Come here.”
Then pulls Sugar towards the people gathered to see off.
Everyone smiling, some crying tears at Tianzi’s departure, waving hands, bowing heads.
Yeah, I should smile too.
Sugar slightly lifts the corner of her mouth. Good day. Day leaving Seongdo heading to Stille. New place, new experiences with friends. How long she’s waited for this day.
Smiling, moves her feet.
But suddenly, a flash of lightning in that place.
Closing eyes to strong light, Ione naturally stands in the crowd.
People trying to kneel in panic. The Saintess just gestures from top to bottom, forcing them to stand up.
Ian runs to Ione.
“Nuna!”
Ione silently strokes Ian’s head and hands a small box. Ian hugs Ione, the two sisters farewell amicably.
Sugar looks at the scene with pride and a bit of envy.
Soon the choir will start. The farewell is almost over. They sing lyrics like a spell according to the choir leader’s direction.
Listening to the melody, Sugar glances sideways. Ian’s unique purple eyes sparkle more than usual. Right. She must have waited for this day as much as anyone.
Really. Happy… happy day.
Not sad.
In a vague mood, waiting for teleport magic.
“… Hmm?”
Sugar tilts head.
Others who handle magic, all look around, checking signals. The choir doesn’t show because concentrating on casting, but they feel it.
What?
Who is releasing magic like this?
Tianzi is leaving, but mysteriously…
The feeling of a huge magic power different from the choir flying towards here at fierce speed, everyone frowns. They don’t hide the aura at all.
‘This flow…’
But Sugar is so familiar with it.
Rather, it feels like telling herself ‘it’s me.’
“ … ”
Intuiting something, Sugar focuses on that direction.
This, no matter how you think…
Staring blankly to the side, Sugar soon stomps the ground.
“Sugar?”
Ian, startled, tries to grab but Sugar is too fast.
“Stop! Stop casting! Wait!”
Ignoring the urgent stop command, Sugar swiftly throws her body and leaps. Passes the courtyard, passes the great cathedral. Without stepping on the ground even a few steps, it passes quickly.
Then, the figure of the opponent appears. Sugar stops, catches breath. The other side sees it too, stops running and hides the aura of magic.
“Haa… haa…”
Slowly, slowly. Approaching each other.
Then quick steps.
Then running again.
Then Sugar throws her body with all her strength.
Then, Ryly catches her body with all his strength.