Chapter 25
The Flower That Bears a Sword - Chapter 25
Translation: godsn
Turning back felt burdensome. Reluctantly, she turned her head. As expected, Yurien was approaching them. His gaze passed over Echinacea and landed on Ian.
"An apology, you say? What is this about?"
"...There was a dispute among the cadets."
Ian answered with an awkward smile. Yurien's gaze lingered on Ian's face for a long moment, his expression cold and unreadable. Soon, he turned back to Eki.
"What kind of dispute, Cadet Echinacea?"
"It's a personal matter, Captain."
Eki cut him off sharply. She had no intention of telling him. Nor did she have any desire to seek his help. They weren't close enough for that, and she didn't need assistance anyway. Whether Ian Pelletro had tampered with the tournament bracket or Bread was pulling some strange stunt under the guise of apologizing—it didn't matter.
Yurien looked down at Eki's resolute expression. He tilted his head slightly, giving the faint impression of curiosity. His eyes narrowed as those blue orbs meticulously scanned her face. Soon, he shifted his gaze from Eki to Ian.
"Cadet Representative. Do you have anything more to say to Cadet Echinacea?"
"Huh? Ah... well."
Ian's face twisted in discomfort. Eki spoke toward him.
"If he wants to apologize, tell him to come find me himself, Senior."
"...Got it. I'll pass that along."
Ian skillfully smoothed his contorted expression into a smile. Yurien, who had been waiting, spoke in a flat tone.
"If you're finished, you may go. I have something to discuss with Cadet Echinacea."
"Understood, Captain. Then."
He saluted Yurien and left.
Eki kept her eyes lowered. What else could he possibly want to say? Once Ian was completely out of sight, Yurien's gaze fixed on her. Her already dizzy head felt like it was spinning. She didn't raise her head.
"Something..."
Yurien began speaking but then hesitated for a long moment. She could feel him exhale a shallow sigh. Eventually, Eki lifted her head. His blue eyes held an ambiguous light as they regarded her.
"...If there is anything... I could help you with..."
His words trailed off, spoken with extreme caution. Because of that, Eki couldn't quite make out what he was saying. Hesitating, she finally opened her mouth.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't quite catch that, Captain."
"...No. Never mind."
Yurien gave a bitter smile and covered his mouth with one hand. He scrutinized every corner of her face once more before turning away.
"Follow me, Cadet Echinacea."
"Yes."
What she really wanted was to return to her dorm, bury herself in bed, and sleep. But that wasn't an option. Eki obediently followed him. Yurien passed the stables and stopped in front of the Azure Sky Knights' headquarters building, telling her to wait briefly before going inside. A short while later, he emerged carrying something and began walking again.
Eki followed behind him without a single thought in her head. Yurien walked with his back perfectly straight, each step measured and precise. His footsteps made almost no sound. Years of training and innate elegance were evident even in his gait. His loosely tied silver hair swayed with a steady rhythm. The shaded strands appeared grayish-white, while those catching the sunlight gleamed brilliantly, like strands of finely spun silver.
Her dazed mind could focus only on these details. So absorbed was she that Eki belatedly realized they had arrived in front of the female dormitory. With the Freshman Ranking Tournament scheduled for the next day, the area was quiet, as most cadets were likely training.
At the dormitory entrance, Yurien approached her. He held out a small paper bag. When Eki took it in bewildered hands, he smiled faintly.
"Don't overexert yourself."
His low voice, the hand that lightly rested on her shoulder before withdrawing—the touch was as fleeting as a feather's brush. He left without waiting for a reply.
Only after he had disappeared did Eki look down at the paper bag in her hand. Opening it, she found two small glass bottles and two flat metal containers inside. Returning to her room, she sat at her desk and carefully took them out one by one.
A blue metal tin and a red metal tin, both emblazoned with the emblem of the Blue Sky Hawk. She recognized them immediately—they were quite famous. Special ointments crafted exclusively for the Azure Sky Knights.
She had heard about them: the red tin, infused with blessings from the priests of the Great Temple of Agenka, was effective for external wounds, while the blue one worked wonders on strained ligaments and muscle pain. Renowned for their exceptional efficacy, they were notoriously difficult to obtain even with money. Since the priests handcrafted them in limited quantities, only the Azure Sky Knights could use them.
And yet, here they were—both varieties of that precious ointment. Next, she examined the glass bottles.
One of the two bottles, made of brown glass, had a label: Antibiotic Syrup. The other, a transparent bottle, contained yellowish chunks steeped in honey. When she opened the lid, the sharp scent of ginger cut through the sweet honey aroma—ginger tea.
Eki lined them up on her desk and stared blankly. No matter how long she looked, the contents remained unchanged. These were things you'd give to a patient suffering from illness.
"...How did he know?"
[What? What's this? Poison?]
The Magic Sword asked cheerfully. Eki didn't answer. Instead, she abruptly stood and examined herself in the mirror. Her face, even with makeup, showed no sign of sickness. Baraha, who had been by her side all morning teaching her, hadn't noticed anything either.
She returned to her desk, fiddling with the ginger tea bottle. Her fingers traced the smooth glass surface before she slumped forward, burying her face in her arms.
[Huh? What's wrong? Your face is red. Running a fever?]
"I don't know. Shut up."
Her emotions were a tangled mess—sharp and sweet, like the mingled scents of ginger and honey.
She wished—wished—he wouldn't remember. That their first meeting had been at last year's birthday banquet, that they had recognized each other there, that their reunion in Agenka had been their true beginning. The thought clung to her.
April 26th, the day of the Freshman Ranking Tournament, dawned with a drizzling spring rain.
The tournament was held in the annex beside the main building. Had it not rained, it would have taken place in the grand outdoor training grounds, but the weather forced it indoors.
A bracket was posted at the training ground's entrance. A curly-haired blond boy stood before it, staring intently. His hair gleamed like spilled gold, his eyes a green so light it was almost lime, his skin porcelain-white, his nose straight, his lips rosy—he looked like an angel stepped out of a masterpiece.
"Mihail, what are you doing?"
A brown-haired cadet sauntered over and slung an arm over his shoulder. Mihail frowned, glancing at his roommate and fellow first-year.
"Theo. My first-round opponent."
"What? Who is it?"
"That girl, right?"
Mihail pointed at the bracket. Theo read the name written where he indicated: Echinacea Roaz. He couldn't help but snort.
"Hey, hey, I'm really looking forward to your first match."
"Why?"
"Come on—a duel between a lady and an angel? That's a painting waiting to happen. Don't you think? A real feast for the eyes."
Theo snickered, thumping Mihail's shoulder. Mihail scowled and glared at him.
"I told you not to call me an angel."
"Anyone who sees your face would agree with that nickname."
"Bullshit."
Mihail spat out the curse and kicked Theo in the rear. Theo kept laughing even as he took the hit. Mihail irritably swept back his hair that had fallen over his face.
He was one of only three Giosa Owners in the Azure Sky Knights, and the younger brother of Teresa von Franc Almari—the sole female Giosa Owner.
His sister, eleven years his senior, had not welcomed Mihail's entry into the knight order. To anyone's eyes, the delicate, pretty boy was as fragile as he looked, having been sickly since childhood. It remained that way until Teresa left for Agenka. Though he grew healthier after puberty and discovered his talent for swordsmanship, to Teresa, Mihail would always be her frail baby brother.
"Who cares who my opponent is? I'll win. I'll take first place. If I participate in the monster subjugation and distinguish myself, maybe my sister will finally see me differently. I'm not some kid she needs to worry over anymore."
Mihail muttered this like a vow. Theo, overhearing him, chuckled and quipped:
"Such a sister-obsessed brat."
"If you don't shut up, I'll make sure that mouth of yours never flaps again."
"And what if you lose to the 'Lady'?"
"Lose? Me?"
Mihail curled his red lips into a smirk.
"You think I'd lose to some girl like that?"
"Look who's talking—Mr. Most-Girly-Face. Hey, but Echinacea Roaz was the top student at entrance exams. You were third."
"Haven't you heard the rumors?"
"What rumors? Oh, that the Lady got in unfairly?"
The whispers surrounding Echinacea Roaz's entrance exam results and her squire nomination had ballooned unchecked. Her nomination as a squire—something no one could comprehend—and her unremarkable performance during the duel on the first day had only fueled the gossip.
Though the rumors had started with Bread and a few other troublemakers, by now most cadets were aware of them. And when a rumor becomes common knowledge, it often gains the weight of truth simply because everyone "knows" it. After all, people reasoned, why else would such rumors spread if there wasn't some truth to them?
"It is suspicious. No matter how you look at it, getting nominated as a squire on the first day is extreme. It's not like she's some once-in-a-century genius."
"Today, we'll see her true skills laid bare."
"Damn, you're vicious for someone with such a pretty face. Does your sister know you talk like this?"
"If my sister ever finds out, I'll gut you first."
Mihail's green eyes flashed dangerously, and Theo clicked his tongue.
"I'm still your senior by a year, you little shit."
"Like hell you are. A one-year difference doesn't make you my senior."
Mihail scoffed as he picked up his sword. It was almost time for the freshman ranking tournament to begin.
The spectator seats in the indoor training ground were already packed. Most cadets had no choice but to attend—knowing the freshmen's abilities would make it easier to prepare for the upcoming overall ranking tournament. The cadet representative overseeing the event stood at the center, assisted by a few third-years.
Mihail headed toward the waiting area below the stands. The open-fronted room provided a clear view of the central arena, where most of the freshmen had already gathered.
"Hey, there she is."
Theo jabbed Mihail's side and whispered.
Echinacea Roaz stood out even among the gathered cadets. Her long pink hair cascaded down, paired with a white dress. A golden ribbon, adorned with a short decorative veil, held half of her hair up. White gloves, white stockings, even white ribbon shoes—everything about her was pristine, save for the gold trimmings along her dress and the pearl earrings dangling from her ears.