The Herbalism Lesson
"Bayul! Where did you run off to without even eating lunch? Do you have any idea how long we looked for you?"
"Eli, what's going on?"
Bayul was puzzled as he stepped into the lecture hall. The fourth-period herbalism class was due to begin any minute, yet the students were all streaming out the door. Had the class been relocated again?
"The class location changed. Apparently the Amal bloomed last night."
"Amal? You mean...?"
"Yeah, the one they say is absolutely essential for making Amalun. I guess we're lucky—we get to see the Amal for ourselves."
"I heard Amal only grows under very specific conditions. It was here of all places?"
"I've only ever heard about it—this is my first time seeing one. Come on, we'll be late."
The lecture hall had emptied in no time. At Eli's urging, Bayul scooped his books back into his arms and hurried out after everyone else.
"So where exactly are we going?"
"The place I mentioned before."
"...The place you mentioned before?"
"Yep. Try to remember."
Eli glanced back and flashed a grin. For some reason, it looked ominous.
And sure enough, when Bayul reached their destination, he sucked in a sharp breath.
"This is...!"
It was a forest. The very place Eli had once described as pitch-dark even at midday and crawling with dangers—the Forest of Corruption.
"Eli, Bayul!"
Aidan hopped and waved from among the crowd of students. Quinn stood beside him, his expression dark, as if something had put him in a foul mood—though at Quinn's towering height, his face was very easy to see.
"Aidan, what brings you here? Isn't this period weapons training? And I thought Quinn had Imperial language class?"
"The Amal bloomed. When that happens, it's always a joint class. It's not something you get to see every day."
"A joint class?"
"It happens sometimes."
Now that he looked, quite a crowd had gathered. Usually only ten to twenty students attended a class together, but today there seemed to be well over fifty. Quite a few unfamiliar faces, too.
So he's not here after all.
Bayul rose on his toes and scanned the area on the off chance, but there was no sign of Logan anywhere.
"Where were you at lunch?"
Bayul was still looking around when Quinn, who had been standing there silently, suddenly asked.
"Yeah, Bayul. Where'd you go? Me and Eli looked everywhere for you."
"Did you even eat? Obviously you didn't."
"...Did I not say I was leaving?"
All three of them pounced on him at once, and Bayul momentarily froze.
"If you'd said something, I would've come with you. You vanished the second third period ended, like clockwork."
"D-did I?"
Truthfully, Bayul couldn't quite remember. Throughout the entire class, his mind had been fixed on one thing only—getting to the library as soon as possible.
"Come on, out with it. Where'd you go?"
"I went to the library."
"The library?"
"What brought on the library, all of a sudden?"
Worried someone might overhear, Bayul lowered his voice.
"Professor Rothius told me about it. He said to check out the Sterbenrauch Library. You all know that place, right?"
"You mean the one at the far end of the Water Garden?"
Eli and Quinn both wrinkled their noses, while Aidan's face lit up.
"I've obviously been there—I deliver books for a living. There's all kinds of fascinating stuff in there."
"It's a library, and it has fascinating things?"
"That place isn't just books. There's artwork, taxidermy animals, weapons, jewelry—the whole assortment of oddities."
"Really? Sounds like a fun place. How come I never knew about it?"
"I only found out because of the book deliveries. It's tucked away in a corner, so barely anyone visits. It's nice and quiet. A little grimy, though."
"Yeah, and it smells."
When Bayul chimed in, Aidan laughed and nodded along.
"Did you go alone? Or... was Innocent with you?"
Quinn glanced around the empty air near Bayul, apparently searching for Innocent.
"She's not here, Quinn. I think she fell asleep playing in the Water Garden."
"So did you find out anything at the library?"
"It was my first time, so I just looked around. I don't know yet. I'm going back soon."
"Do you really think a place like that would have anything about spirits?"
"The professor said it's the oldest part of the whole Academy. So there might be things there that can't be found anywhere else."
"You asked the professor about spirits directly?"
"Yeah, I thought he might know, but he didn't. For Professor Rothius not to know while you two do—it amazes me every time I think about it."
"My point exactly. Aren't these two a little suspicious?"
Aidan pressed himself against Bayul's side and shot narrowed glances at Quinn and Eli.
"Still, I'm grateful. Now I know I wasn't sick after all, thanks to you. I'm late saying this, aren't I? Quinn, Eli, Aidan—thank you all, truly. You're the reason I'm alive today."
It was something he'd meant to say long ago. Just as Bayul smiled at his friends with all his heart, an unwelcome voice cut in.
"Oho, and whatever could you be so thankful for?"
The voice belonged to Jared, who had appeared with his pack of lackeys in tow, as always.
"You came too?"
"I was going to skip the whole Amal thing—what a bother—but I got a little worried all of a sudden, you see."
"What nonsense are you planning to spout this time? Do you even know what 'worried' means?"
"I know more about it than you do, shorty, that's for sure."
When Jared smirked, his cronies snickered along with him.
"But you all should think about it. What if Bayul collapses again like last time, all alone out here? Bump his head on a rock, and he could die. The Forest of Corruption is a bit dangerous, isn't it? Oh dear, I was so worried I couldn't sleep."
The way he trembled all the way to his shoulders was comical at best. As always, Bayul didn't consider him worth the trouble.
"I can't watch, it's too cringeworthy. Why don't you do everyone a favor and go practice a little more? Who's going to buy that act the way it is?"
"What did you say?"
"You've got zero improvement, you know that? At this point it should almost feel real, and instead I'm getting goosebumps from head to toe. Is embarrassment our job now? Try putting some soul into it. Soul, you know? Oh—wait, is it too hard for your little brain?"
"Pfft!"
Truly, Aidan was Jared's natural enemy. At his sneering, a strangled sound of suppressed laughter rippled through the crowd. There was something irresistibly satisfying about watching a boy stand tall and talk back, clear and composed, to someone a whole head taller than himself.
Where else could you see a sight like that, even for money? The son of a powerful duke being dressed down by a poor scholarship student.
Jared was always the one to pick the fight first and end up red-faced, and it probably came down to Aidan's status. To be sneered at by someone you deemed beneath you—no doubt that stung his pride terribly. And all of it was only possible because Carrington treated every student as an equal, noble or not.
"Ugh, you penniless little—"
"Is that all you've got? Wow, you really must be stupid. How many times have I told you? I earn plenty—more than enough for me. So would you mind butting out?"
"You, with money to spare? Ha! Where'd you steal it from, I wonder?"
"Watch your mouth. That's my money, earned honestly with my own two hands."
"Why so serious all of a sudden? That just makes it more suspicious."
Jared's eyes gleamed with sudden malice, as if he'd snagged a fish on a hook.
"Hey, guys—didn't someone say there's a light-fingered rat running around the Academy these days?"
"A rat?"
"Yeah, apparently things keep going missing. Didn't your allowance get wiped out this month too?"
"Oh, that? Yes it did! Whoever that thief is, if I catch them, I'll pound them into paste!"
"I think we've caught them."
Jared pursed his lips and glared at Aidan.
"Everyone knows you're broke. It's you, isn't it? You're the one who stole it."
Steering clear of Jared's crowd whenever possible was one of Eli's personal creeds. Not out of fear, but because it was a hassle—there was nothing to gain from tangling with them. But watching a friend be insulted was another matter entirely.
"Do you have any proof Aidan stole anything? If so, bring it. We've got nothing to hide!"
"Oh, my mistake—I forgot about you. You're another prime suspect. Almost slipped my mind."
"Why, because I'm a Gypsy who doesn't even know my own roots?"
"Wow, you do know your place after all. I like that about you."
"Jared, that's enough!"
"Well, well, Bayul. Was that shouting directed at me?"
Bayul, unable to bear it any longer, had barked the words out—and Jared's eyes went wide.
"I was just embarrassed. On your behalf."
"...Embarrassed?"
"If I feel this way, and I'm not even related to you, imagine how mortified Duke Hector would be if he saw you. Have you ever once thought about your father?"
Jared's habit of despising and belittling anyone simply for being of lower birth had long since worn out every last nerve. Bayul was in no position to lecture anyone, but he could no longer stand by and watch.
"Let me give you one piece of advice, before you get any worse. If you love being a noble so much, try acting like one. Even beasts wouldn't stoop to the things you do."
"Wh-what did you say? A beast? You... you're comparing me to a beast?"
"Yeah, and that's an insult to the beasts. Sorry about that."
"Why, you little—!"
Jared was on the verge of losing his mind entirely. Just in time, a whistle sounded and the professor appeared—otherwise, a fistfight would surely have broken out.
"I'll deal with you later."
Jared stalked off, grinding his teeth. His eyes blazed as if he might lunge at any moment, but Bayul wasn't the least bit afraid.
"Hello, everyone! Did you all enjoy your weekend?"
The cheerful voice belonged to Professor White Church, the herbalism instructor who also oversaw Turtle King. The only twenty-something professor at Carrington, he was wildly popular among the female students thanks to his exceptional sense of humor and handsome looks.
"Meeting you outdoors somehow makes it even nicer to see you!"
"We feel the same!"
"You look even more handsome out here!"
When one student shouted this, the girls squealed in unison—and Professor White clutched his forehead, suddenly wearing an expression of deep anguish.
"Oh, this is a disaster. If I get any more handsome than this, we have a real problem."
"Ahh! What do we do?! You're too cool!"
"Ugh, he's adorable!"
While most of the girls reacted this way—
"Blegh, I'm gonna throw up."
"Do we seriously have to attend this class?"
"I want to go home..."
most of the boys wore faces of open irritation. Paying them no mind, Professor White flashed a dazzling smile and spoke.
"Right, we'll circle back to my gorgeous face another time. Now listen up, everyone. This is the Forest of Corruption—an extremely perilous place where not a single ray of light penetrates, even at midday. So why are we here? As you all know, it's because the Amal lies within."
He pointed to the whistle hanging around his neck.
"There's exactly one rule: when you hear this whistle, follow the sound. Without fail!"
The laughter vanished. The professor's tone was graver and more severe than they'd ever heard it.
"Even with torches lit, the moment you set foot in the forest your visibility drops. If you lose sight of the person ahead of you or stray from the path, don't panic—listen. If you can hear the whistle, that's exactly where I am. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Remember it. This whistle may be your lifeline. Get left behind like a fool and—well, you know what happens. Ten points deducted!"
"Professor, no! Ten points is way too harsh!"
"He's right! It's not like anyone would want to fall behind—that's cruel!"
"Then keep your heads on straight! I'll say it again—watch the person in front of you, and don't fall behind!"
At Professor White's signal, the uniformed men who had accompanied him lined up at the forest's edge, each holding a torch.
"Eli, who are they?"
"The Academy guard. The ones who protect us, rock-solid, day and night—more than we deserve, honestly."
There was something odd in the way Eli said it—brimming with resentment. Bayul was about to ask why when Professor White gave the order to move out.
"Right then, let's head in and take a look before the Divinity students gobble it all up. Pair off in twos and follow me!"
With practiced steps, Professor White was the first to enter the forest. The torch-bearing guards followed, and the students filed in one by one behind them.
"Let's go."
Eli took Bayul's hand.
"This way we don't have to worry about getting separated, right?"
"Ooh, good thinking!"
Aidan brightened and looked up at Quinn.
"How about us two...?"
He'd hoped, and of course it was hopeless. Without a moment's hesitation, Quinn struck out toward the forest alone.
"Hey, Quinn!"
Aidan trotted after him, but keeping up with Quinn's long strides was no easy feat.