The Passage of Time (2)
The next day. The northern annex of the Academy.
It was the wing that housed the main buildings of the Magic Department and the Alchemy Department—and, thanks to the researchers who filled every hour with one experiment after another, a place that never knew a quiet day.
And…
"Ugh…"
With a short groan, Schwarz made his way toward the northern annex, a distinctly sour look on his face.
"Pfft…"
Milia watched that expression and let out a low laugh.
"My Lady…"
"Sorry, sorry~ No matter how many times I see it, I just can't get used to that face of yours."
When Schwarz let out a brief sigh in her direction, Milia waved a hand and smiled mischievously.
It was an expression she only got to see once a month, and she wanted to burn every last bit of it into her memory.
After walking for some time, they passed down a long corridor and arrived before a certain door.
A rough, simple door of wood painted white.
Schwarz drew a short breath to steady himself, then carefully knocked. No answer came from within.
But he had already expected as much.
He glanced back at Milia; she nodded her permission.
At once Schwarz took hold of the handle with care.
Slowly… very slowly the handle began to turn…
And the moment the door creaked open—
[BOOM—!!]
A thunderous roar swallowed the laboratory. Thick smoke billowed out over them, and Schwarz immediately pulled Milia behind him, shielding her with his body.
[Cough! Cough!!]
From within the dense haze, coughing began to sound.
A moment later came a soft click, and the smoke that had filled the room started to drain outside.
How long they waited, they could not say. When the haze had nearly cleared, two figures became visible beyond the doorway.
"As lively as ever, Count…"
"Hm? Ohhh! Young Schwarz!"
At Schwarz's weary remark, Heinz made a questioning sound—then spotted him and hurried over with a warm, familiar voice.
"Miss Milia as well. It's been some time."
"It has, Count Edward."
"What? You two are here?"
While Milia and Heinz exchanged simple greetings, another figure emerged from the remaining smoke.
A boy of roughly Schwarz's height, with teal eyes behind glasses and chestnut-brown hair…
Standing before them now was Heinz's son—Philip Edward, the same boy who had faced Schwarz in the martial tournament with his custom iron golem.
"It's been a while, Lord Philip."
"Time sure flies. Already a whole month… So? Blood draw again today?"
"Yes…"
Schwarz nodded, still wearing that reluctant expression.
Three years earlier, an incident in the Valentine Countship had forced Schwarz to reveal his true nature to Heinz and Amelia.
Amelia had asked for nothing in return and simply agreed to keep the secret that he was a dragon. Heinz, however, had not been so generous.
In exchange for silence, he had demanded Schwarz's blood.
Once a month. Exactly one syringe's worth.
For Schwarz it was pure misery, yet he had been given no choice.
From Bernus's perspective, a little of Schwarz's blood was a small price to keep the secret safe; from Heinz's, it meant exclusive access to fascinating research material. A mutually profitable arrangement—except for the one actually being drained.
"Philip. I'll leave the cleanup to you."
"Yeah, yeah~"
Philip answered half-heartedly, set the stack of papers he was holding onto a desk, and began tidying the area.
Leaving his son behind, Heinz beckoned the still-standing Milia and Schwarz toward a small door at the back of the laboratory and stepped inside.
They followed. What met their eyes was a scene that could only be described as utter chaos.
Apparently Heinz's private research room, it was packed with notes, books, and every kind of experimental apparatus—so disordered that the mess outside looked tidy by comparison.
"Sit here. Mind you don't trip."
Heinz swept a cluttered desk roughly clear as he spoke. Schwarz watched his footing carefully and sat.
From somewhere Heinz produced a syringe and approached at an unhurried pace.
"All right. Sleeve up."
"Ugh…"
With a low groan Schwarz rolled up his sleeve.
Heinz dabbed alcohol-soaked cotton against the arm, found a vein, and carefully brought the needle close.
"Uuuugh…"
A sharp sting, and Schwarz let out another soft moan.
"All that fuss over one little needle."
"I can't help hating it…"
He turned a piteous look on Milia, who was giggling beside him.
By pure strength he ranked among the top ten in the kingdom—yet here he was, looking ready to cry over a single needle. The sight only made Milia laugh harder.
"Easy now… Relax. If you tense up it'll get stuck like last time."
Speaking as though soothing a child, Heinz carefully withdrew the needle.
A soft spurt followed; a bead of blood welled from the puncture.
Schwarz made a small sound of distress and turned his head away while Heinz wiped the blood with more alcohol-soaked cotton.
Then Milia, who had been watching, pressed a bandage over the spot.
"Thank you, My Lady."
"It's nothing."
"That should do for this month. As always, my thanks, young Schwarz."
"If you're truly grateful, how about stopping the blood draws altogether?"
Schwarz narrowed his eyes at Heinz, who was transferring the blood from the syringe into a small vial.
Three years of monthly donations, and he still could not get used to the needle.
"Ha. Ha. Ha. What a cold thing to say. Your blood is such fascinating research material."
"Haa…"
Heinz laughed as though the suggestion were a joke. Schwarz could only sigh.
It seemed the monthly ordeal would continue until one of them was dead.
"We'll be heading back now."
"Hm? Leaving already? It's been so long—at least stay for a cup of tea…"
As Milia rose, Heinz smacked his lips in disappointment.
But both she and Schwarz had once endured nearly five hours of his monologues after accepting such an invitation. Right now their only desire was to escape as quickly as possible.
"We're busy with the Grand Festival preparations."
"Ah. Come to think of it, the festival season is almost upon us."
Heinz's eyes went round as though the news were a complete surprise; only after checking a calendar did he nod.
"You'll be quite busy, then. I can't keep busy people here. Take care on your way, Miss Milia, young Schwarz."
"Yes. We'll be going."
"Excuse us."
Heinz gave a light wave. Milia bowed her head politely, and together with Schwarz she stepped back into the corridor.
"You're really something, you know. Built like a mountain and still terrified of one little needle…"
"M-My Lady, even you must be afraid of something!!"
Schwarz answered in a flustered shout as Milia kept giggling.
No matter how perfect a person seemed, everyone had a weakness.
"Hmph. I don't have anything I'm afraid of."
Milia thrust out her chest with complete confidence.
"Ugh…"
Schwarz could only groan.
It was true—she was the fearless sort. A girl who enjoyed freefalling hundreds of meters from the sky was not going to be frightened by ordinary things.
Bugs. Reptiles. Ghosts. Thunder…
Any normal girl would fear at least one of them, yet in all the time he had known her, Milia had never shown fear of any.
"Heh. Well? Nothing to say?"
"Haa…"
She narrowed her eyes at him while he searched helplessly for a retort. Schwarz answered only with another short sigh.
Someday I'll find something she's afraid of and tease her for all I'm worth…
He renewed the vow deep in his chest and gave a small nod.
They walked on for a while longer…
When they returned to the student council president's office, a boy was pacing restlessly in front of the door.
Ash-gray hair, vivid green eyes, and deep dark circles beneath them.
Former general-affairs member, now chief of the General Affairs Department—Dane.
"Ah. President. You're back."
"What's going on?"
Dane approached as soon as he spotted them. Milia tilted her head.
For someone who almost never left his mountain of paperwork to come all the way here meant something had happened.
"W-Well… there's a visitor."
He avoided her gaze, voice awkward.
"A visitor? Did we have anyone scheduled today?"
"No. Nothing like that…"
Milia turned a puzzled look on Schwarz, who shook his head. As far as he remembered, today's schedule contained no appointments for guests.
"Who on earth shows up without an appointment?"
"You'll… know when you see for yourself."
Dane trailed off. Milia sighed, stepped up to the firmly closed door of the student council office, and opened it.
And in the next moment—
"Welcome back. Milia, Schwarz."
"Ugh…"
Seated on the guest sofa, a girl with vivid crimson hair was sipping from a steaming teacup. She greeted them with easy familiarity.