What Are Your Plans for the Future?
Aria's voice came through the crystal orb, calm and clear.
"Yeah, I'll let you know the moment I find anything else. Rest well. I'm signing off."
Yohan gave a small nod. Once she confirmed his response, Aria swept her staff through the air and dispelled the spell.
I've confirmed everything I needed to for now.
Of course the full details would have to wait until later, but this much was already enough. If no further clues turned up here, she could simply take the book with her and continue the investigation elsewhere.
Having reached that conclusion, Aria turned to Kassian.
"He says it's correct, for the most part."
"I see. Useful clues, then."
Kassian smiled, clearly satisfied, and nodded. They had obtained valuable information. Should Yohan's condition improve, they would be able to gather far more.
From just beside the two of them, another voice joined the conversation.
"So this is the disciple he met face to face."
"That's right, Rania. And the one who killed it."
The speaker was Rania Delmar. At Aria's words, Rania's expression shifted into open surprise. She seemed genuinely astonished that a human had slain an unknown being whose very race remained unidentified.
Aria recognized the reason for her shock and offered a gentle smile.
"Now that I think about it, you've never actually met a human before, have you, Rania?"
"No, I have not."
Rania nodded to confirm. She had never once left the Nest. This visit might well be her first and last chance.
"Well, I'll introduce you properly later. Right now, treatment comes first."
Aria handed the book to Kassian and moved deeper into the archive. There were still towering stacks of volumes left to examine.
"I'll start from this side, so the two of you take the other sections."
"As you wish."
"Yes, Lady Aria."
Once more the books inside the archive rose gently into the air, floating at eye level.
The instant the light inside the crystal orb winked out, Yohan rose from his seat, intending to leave the bedroom.
Yes, this is already enough, but more would be welcome.
Yohan nodded. Simply discovering that the connection existed was itself new information. It was a shame they could only bring back a single book, but if necessary he could always visit their territory himself next time.
Yes. The information Professor Aria and the Chancellor retrieve will only concern that corpse.
They had only seen the body of a small giant. They would have no knowledge of the other giants or the passage itself, so it would be far more useful for him to witness those things personally.
And to do that, I need to fully draw both the professor and the chancellor into this.
He had no idea how to reach their territory. It was surely hidden somewhere. Therefore, to locate it, he would need to recruit these two.
No. These two beings were absolutely essential.
Well, I'll simply keep trying until it works.
He would need a method, but that was something repeated attempts could reveal. He had plenty of time.
Yohan stopped at Zeno's warning. He extended his fingers, sensed the bedroom door, and closed his hand around the knob. The moment he opened it with a soft click, the sound of Claire and Serafina talking cut off abruptly.
"Ah, you've come out. Did the Tower Master dispel the magic right away?"
Yohan nodded in confirmation.
And then...
I still have something to tell them.
...That there might be additional contact from Professor Aria, and that he had a question for Claire.
When Yohan frowned slightly, visibly frustrated at his own muteness, Claire tilted her head for a moment before her eyes brightened with understanding. She clapped her hands together.
"It happens that the repair on the magic tool I showed you earlier is now complete. It does come with certain limitations on use, but given Student Yohan's current situation, I'll bring it at once."
Yohan let out a breath of relief.
Yes, it really is.
It was indeed a relief.
Yohan accepted the magic tool from Claire. After the conversation with the adjutant, it now carried a limit of ten uses, unlike before. Still, even that was better than nothing. That was what Yohan told himself.
- Assistant, how are things at the academy these days?
Having received the tool, Yohan asked Serafina the question both to test the device's performance again and to ease the slightly awkward atmosphere.
"The schedule hasn't changed much."
Serafina answered with a bright expression. ...At last Yohan had asked about the academy. The thought that he might still care about it lifted her spirits, and she continued slowly.
"The research projects that were underway are progressing steadily. There haven't been any major changes yet."
...Yohan's disappearance had caused some disruption to the research, but the Chancellor's support was gradually filling those gaps.
Of course, if Student Yohan had been there, the pace would have been much faster.
She had no desire to burden him, however, so Serafina kept that part to herself.
- I see. Is everyone doing well?
Serafina nodded.
"There are students who miss you from time to time."
Especially the commoner students. Yohan had not singled out anyone for especially close friendship, but his personality had led him to exchange simple conversations with them. As rumors of the incident spread among the nobles and Yohan vanished, the number of students expressing regret had only grown.
From Serafina's words, Yohan could easily picture the atmosphere.
It wasn't quite like that, but I did try to get along with as many people as possible.
...No relationships had ever deepened because of the rumors, but he had made a genuine effort to be friendly. It was probably those students she meant.
Yohan smiled bitterly.
I'm not sure.
He truly didn't know.
"By the way, Student Yohan. What do you plan to do in the future?"
Serafina asked. Since he was receiving treatment personally directed by the Tower Master, he would surely return to normal soon. Moreover, though Yohan himself did not know it, he could return to the academy if he wished. That was why she had asked what he wanted for his future, yet Yohan could not answer easily.
...As long as I'm trapped inside the cycle, such hypotheticals are meaningless.
There was nothing he could do about it.
- Hmm, I don't know yet. I'll think about it once more time has passed.
At his reply, comforting words did not come easily to Serafina. She opened her mouth to say something more, then closed it again. She wondered whether he was viewing the chances of recovery pessimistically.
The silence stretched for a long time. It was Yohan who broke it.
- By the way, how much longer will you remain at the academy, Assistant?
"I have a little less than three years left."
If Yohan had continued attending the academy normally, the two of them would have left at nearly the same time. Yohan nodded in understanding.
- Then what do you plan to do afterward, Assistant?
The question had come to him suddenly after hearing Serafina's own. It was one he had asked once, a very long time ago.
"I want to return to my hometown and open a small shop with my family."
Yohan tilted his head. The answer was different from before. He shifted his gaze toward Serafina. He needed to conserve the remaining uses of the magic tool for the upcoming conversation with Aria, so his hand naturally reached for her.
"Ah, I should save it now."
Serafina understood the situation and took his hand. The two of them returned to their original way of speaking, with Yohan writing letters on the back of her hand.
- What kind of shop?
"Probably a bakery. I have so many good memories involving bread."
Serafina smiled as she spoke. Yohan simply held her hand in silence for a long while.
...Long enough that Serafina began to look flustered.
Sssss... sssss...
Deep in the night, long after the sun had set. Yohan opened his eyes at the faint sound reaching his ears and Zeno's voice echoing inside his mind.
What is it, Sir Zeno?
Aha. Yohan sat up quickly.
"You're awake, I see."
Light spilled from the crystal orb, carrying Aria's voice. As Yohan tried to rise from the bed, Aria gently stopped him.
"Just stay seated. I can see you well enough from here."
Yohan nodded.
"I found two more books that seem connected. Surprised?"
The news was startling from Yohan's perspective.
More than I expected.
It's almost bewildering.
...It really was. That would make three related books in total, yet only one could be taken.
- What books are they?
Yohan asked calmly through the magic tool. Aria's eyes widened for a moment, but when she noticed the device in his hand she nodded in understanding.
"One is about the stigma I mentioned before."
That fell within information he already possessed.
"Another concerns a race with pure white bodies."
This one would require hearing the contents in detail; he could not judge from the title alone.
"And the last is a book about the ancient evil god."
...Hm?
Why that one...? Yohan tilted his head, wondering what connection it could possibly have. Just as Aria was about to continue, Serafina's voice came from behind him.
"Student Yohan, is something the matter?"
Serafina, still rubbing sleep from her eyes, reached out toward Yohan's shoulder as he sat with his back to her. She wanted to talk.
- Ah, the professor called for me.
Yohan turned, took her hand, and explained the situation. He was about to continue when Aria's voice cut in again.
"Were you two sleeping together?"
Her tone carried clear displeasure.