The Flow of Time
One bright afternoon, far from Barenberg, over a nameless stretch of plain.
A formation of dragons cut through the sky, ten in all, each carrying an armed boy or girl upon its back.
It was a magnificent sight—yet a strange tension hung among them. They scanned the horizon with uneasy faces, as though something were hunting them.
Then a black shadow swept overhead.
Several riders flinched and looked up, but all they saw were slow-drifting clouds and the dazzling sun.
…Perhaps it had only been a cloud’s shadow.
They let out a collective breath of relief.
And in the next instant—
[KYAAAAAAU—!!]
A thunderous dragon’s roar slammed into their ears.
Heads snapped upward. Silhouetted against the sun, a black shape was diving straight toward them.
"E-Enemy attack!! It's an enemy attack!!"
One boy’s frantic shout sent the formation into a panicked flurry of wingbeats. But the black shape was far faster.
[GRUUUOOONG—!!]
[KIIIII—!!]
In a blur it streaked through their ranks. Two dragons in its path screamed and plummeted.
"Uwaaaagh!?"
"Kyaaaaa!!"
Boy and girl tumbled with their mounts, vanishing from sight toward the ground.
"Lenny and Fedin are down!!"
"Scatter! Stay clustered and we’re finished!!"
The black shape was already gone from view. At the center of the formation, a boy in large spectacles barked urgent orders. Dragons peeled away in every direction—
"Uwaaagh!?"
[GYAAAAAA—!!]
—and another dragon was sent crashing earthward by the same black blur.
"Th-This is insane! I’m getting out of here!"
"Idiot! Hold your position!!"
One terrified boy broke formation and fled the way they had come. The spectacled boy shouted after him—only for that boy, too, to vanish in a short scream as the black shape flashed past.
"C-Captain! What do we do now!?"
Four down in moments. Six remained, faces pale, eyes darting wildly.
"Damn it…!!"
Cold sweat slid down the boy’s neck as he spat the curse under his breath. What plan could he possibly have? This was aerial combat that tore every textbook tactic to shreds. All he could do was pray he would not be next.
And then—
[KYAAAAAAU—!!]
The roar split the air once more. A black shadow plunged from directly above.
They looked up and saw it: a black-scaled dragon diving at terrifying speed, and upon its back a girl with glittering silver hair and golden eyes.
"Oh, sh—"
The boy’s mutter was swallowed by a thunderclap of exploding air. A crushing shockwave slammed into them all.
How much time had passed since then?
The boys and girls were gathered in a loose cluster on the plain. Nearby, the dragons that had fallen screaming only moments earlier now rested without a single scratch, each settled comfortably in its place.
A black shadow fell across them once more. A gust of wind whipped grass into the air as a dragon descended.
It was half again as large as the others. Blue-tinged black scales covered its body; deep amber eyes regarded the world with quiet intensity. And upon its back rode a girl.
Skin pale as snow, silver hair, eyes that shone like gold. On the shoulder of her pure-white uniform gleamed the red insignia of a fifth-year student.
"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Milia."
The boy with the large spectacles hurried forward and bowed as Milia leapt lightly down from Schwarz’s back.
"Mm. You all did well too."
She nodded to him, then asked with a faint smile, "So? How was it, going one-on-one with me?"
"Please don’t even joke about that. I never want to face you again."
He shook his head with a short sigh. The tension of the drill still clung to him; the back of his neck was soaked with cold sweat.
"That’s what happens when you rely only on magic and breath. Magic and breath matter, but so does physical ability."
"I think that went a little beyond the realm of ‘physical ability’…"
He answered with a look of pure disbelief. A high-altitude vertical dive assault—possible only because the two of them had trained together since childhood. Their private combat art.
"Want to try it yourselves? It’s more fun than you’d think."
"No thank you. We’re not nearly as bold as you, Senior…"
He waved both hands in frantic refusal. Milia grinned, then raised her voice to the resting students.
"All right, everyone! Attention!"
They scrambled to their feet and formed ranks before her.
"That’s the end of today’s mock battle. Focusing on magic and breath is fine, but you should also think about how to handle an enemy like this. Understood?"
"Yes, Senior!!"
Their answer rang out clear and strong. Milia surveyed them once and nodded, satisfied.
"Good! Then you’re all dismissed—well done!"
"Thank you, Milia. I know how busy you are, yet you still made time for us."
A man approached as she turned to leave—Lloyd Revan, the third-years’ supervising instructor.
"It wasn’t a difficult request. And I enjoyed myself a little, so there’s no harm done."
"I’m glad to hear it."
"Then I’ll be taking my leave."
"Of course. Travel safely."
Lloyd gave a light wave as she bowed. Milia turned and walked back to Schwarz. With an easy motion she climbed onto his back. Schwarz rumbled low and rose; she stroked the nape of his neck.
"All right. Let’s head back. To the Academy."
"Krrrng."
Schwarz nodded, spread his vast wings, and launched into the sky.
A short while later they reached the Academy’s landing field.
A black shadow fell across the platform; wind howled as Schwarz touched down. Milia rose from his back and sprang lightly to the ground. In the same moment Schwarz shifted into human form.
There was no need to worry about being seen. This was their private landing field, reserved for them alone.
"Nnngh…!! It’s been so long since I moved like that. My whole body’s stiff."
"You’ve been rather busy lately, My Lady."
Schwarz answered in his usual calm tone as she stretched. Preparations for the coming Grand Festival had piled her duties higher by the day. Without his help she would already have collapsed from overwork.
"Still, I’m glad you’re here. Without you I really would have been carried off ages ago."
"If you understand that, perhaps you might rest a little?"
He let out a short sigh at her faint smile. Responsibility was admirable, but watching her grow more haggard by the hour was hard to bear.
"This is the last of it, though… Once this is finished properly, I won’t be chained to work anymore."
"I suspect My Lady will collapse from overwork before then…"
"Yeah… honestly, it feels that way."
Milia gave him a weary smile. Once the Grand Festival ended she would be facing graduation; no one would fault her for easing up. Yet she still poured everything into the duties she had accepted. That sense of responsibility was a strength—but for Schwarz it was only a source of worry.
I wish she’d rest once in a while…
He watched her as the thought settled. Work was fine, but health was something to guard from a young age. He would have to carve out some time for her to rest, and soon. With that resolve he followed her down the corridor.
Before long they stood before a great door carved with elegant old ornamentation. Inside waited a familiar sight—the office Arge had once used, the same room they had visited on their first day to collect documents.
"Haa…"
Milia drew a short breath, composed her expression, and walked to the desk by the window. For a moment she gazed out at the vista of Barenberg, then turned and leaned against the desk.
A knock sounded at the door.
She steadied herself, golden eyes brightening.
"Come in."
And so Milia Valentine, Student Council President of Central Academy, began her work.