A Certain Proposal
When a startled Blow opened his eyes, Marta was standing a few paces off, a look of quiet contentment on her face.
"Until next time, Saintess."
"I'll see you in Caipol. I'll be sure to visit."
"Yes. I was just about to pay my respects to the abbot. Would you come with me?"
"Yes. You'd best go now."
Just then Aubio, standing behind the Saintess, tilted his head and gazed off at the distant sky.
"Hm?"
"Aubio, what's the matter?"
"It's nothing. Something's flying this way out of the sky..."
At his words Blow and Jane looked up. Against a sky of unbroken blue, two specks were marked, and for some reason they were drawing steadily nearer.
"Uh...?"
The moment Jane recognized them, her brow drew tight. A heartbeat later Blow's own eyes caught purple hair and red hair streaming on the wind, and the magic circles floating above them.
"Herbena? Skadi...?"
"Found you!! Blow Deblique!!!"
Thud.
Smoke rose from the ground where they landed. Jane and Blow, well aware that it was nothing more than a visual flourish, watched the pair through narrowed eyes.
"Behold — I have arrived!"
"......"
Skadi stood with her arms folded and her chin lifted, posing as if to look down on them, while Herbena pressed close at her side in a slight half-turn of her own.
...What are those two doing?
The children's faces lit all at once. Cheering, they ran toward the pair.
"Whoa!"
"They flew down from the sky!!"
Too embarrassed to act familiar, Blow quietly put a little distance between himself and them. Marta, who had just been given an account of the situation, covered her mouth and laughed.
"Haha. You do keep the most entertaining company, Young Master Blow."
"It just ended up that way."
"If Lady Skadi has come, I ought to greet her as well."
Once the greetings were finished, Skadi came up to him with a radiant face.
"Well? Wasn't that amazing?"
"At least you remembered you have joints."
"Obviously! Whatever else, safety comes first!"
"Young Master."
"Herbena? What about your studies?"
"I quit."
"Hm...? Why?"
Herbena, who had been gazing at him for no clear reason, smiled faintly and shrugged.
"Just because."
"Did something happen?"
"No..."
"Yeah, right."
Seeing the subtle stiffness in her expression, Blow stepped closer. The strength went out of her shoulders, and she bit her lower lip. Skadi caught it and cut in, urgent.
"Let's talk over there! Come on!"
"Yeah. That's better."
"I'll greet the Saintess and the abbot and come back. You go on ahead to the carriage."
"Yeah!"
"Jane, show the kids around."
"Yes, Young Master."
Blow went into the building where the abbot waited, Marta following demurely behind him. Watching her cover her mouth and laugh at nearly everything he said, Skadi tilted her head.
"What's with that? Why do Blow and the Saintess look so close?"
Jane hesitated over where to even begin, then gave up.
"It would take too long. Ask the Young Master yourself tonight."
"He's got something going with the Saintess too? That guy is honestly unbelievable."
"I only found out this time myself."
The smile on Jane's face put Skadi in a sulk.
"That look says something happened, all right. This is why I keep saying we have to stick together! Something blows up every single day, and I can't keep up!"
"It was fun, though."
"Don't be like that. Just tell me."
Jane turned yesterday over once in her mind, then offered a meaningful smile.
"Then shall I start with the story of the Young Master's spar?"
"What?"
The instant the words spar and Blow landed together, Herbena's face twisted. The crease between her brows only smoothed once Jane added that his opponent had been some little kid, and that he had merely been giving a teaching match.
Yulia had finished preparing to depart and was deep in a serious talk with Marchen, her confidant, in front of the carriage, when she caught sight of Herbena and Skadi approaching from far off and promptly lost the thread of whatever she had been saying.
"Skadi? Herbena? How did you get all the way here...?"
"We flew. Flight magic."
"You what? Truly?"
"Yep!"
"Don't tell me — all the way from Caipol?"
"Yep!"
At that buoyant answer Yulia crossed her arms, looking thoroughly fed up.
"...I hardly know whether to call it reckless, or to praise your courage."
"It's the middle of exams, Lady!"
"I find myself thinking Lady Skadi is rather different from the person I imagined..."
"That's how it is! Get close to someone, and you always see another side!"
Only then did Yulia seem convinced, and she nodded.
"I... see. Have you been well, Herbena? Skadi?"
"Mm. Not exactly, Senior Yulia."
Taking in Herbena's quiet and the subtle stiffness on Skadi's face, Yulia gave them a nod so slight it was nearly invisible. Skadi and Herbena met each other's eyes once. It seemed to mean that she, too, had heard about Blow from Mnevoir before coming here.
The mood is a little...
Jane read the sunken atmosphere and glanced at Herbena, wondering what was wrong, but the two of them were quick to turn the talk toward the second exam.
Before long Blow emerged, his greetings to the abbot finished, and called to them in a bright voice.
"Let's get moving! We'll have lunch when we get there!"
"I'll treat you today, Young Master Blow."
"Truly?"
"Of course. Roten has been famous since old times for its beef stew and steamed mussels. And do let Melo rest a little this time."
"Beef stew!! Steamed mussels!! Th-thank you, Lady!!!"
Yulia watched Melo bow in a hurry, as if the girl were simply adorable.
While they were speaking, Herbena stole a glance into Blow's carriage and spoke up.
"I don't think all of us will fit."
"You're right. You two ride with Senior Yulia."
Herbena pouted and shot him a glare, and Skadi raised her voice in open sulk.
"That's too much!"
"Then what do you want me to do? Nobody can ride standing up."
"You sit on the floor! We flew all the way here from Caipol!"
"Don't want to."
Yulia, who had been laughing at their back-and-forth, slipped in with a bright smile.
"Then why don't we all take my carriage? My attendants can ride in yours, Young Master Blow."
"Ah — would that really be all right?"
"Of course. It's a journey. It ought to have the pleasure of being a little crowded."
"That would be better. Thank you for the consideration, Senior."
Skadi and Herbena boarded first. In the meantime Hans came up to Blow and indicated his carriage.
"Young Master, I'll ride in ours! I thought it best if one of us stayed with it."
"Yeah, that's better. Thanks."
"Yes, sir."
When Blow climbed into Yulia's carriage, he found Herbena and Skadi already nodding off, heads bobbing. He laughed before he could help it and turned to Yulia.
"Shall we depart, Lady?"
The carriage wheels began to turn.
Just then a few of the children who had been working outside came pattering after them, and behind the children the abbot and Marta waved.
"Young Master, thank you for the delicious food!!"
"Come again!! To Paulos!!"
Watching the children run alongside, smiling up at him, Blow thought of the opening of that film about setting off to find a ring, and he called to the driver.
"Could you ease off the pace, just a little?"
He made his way to the very back of the carriage and set off a scatter of small flames toward them. A smile touched Yulia's lips, and she sent butterflies of every color, woven from mana, fluttering after the children in turn.
Where the bursting sparks met the butterflies and brought their colors out, every child's face held a smile both innocent and brilliant.
"See you next time, Young Master Blow!! Lady Yulia!!"
An hour later they reached the hotel and decided to settle lunch first at the restaurant inside.
Blow and Yulia took one table. At the next sat Skadi and Herbena, and across from them Melo and Jane. Hans, who seemed to have grown friendly with Yulia's attendants on the way, had settled at their table and was talking with them without the least reserve.
The food came out after that. The steamed mussels Yulia had boasted of were good enough to satisfy everyone, and Melo in particular went on emptying her plate with sparkling eyes, even borrowing paper from Blow to write down her impressions as she ate.
Blow waited until Yulia had finished and was dabbing her lips with a napkin, then spoke.
"The restaurant is remarkably well appointed."
"I'm grateful you see it that way, Young Master Blow."
"The garden and the building's exterior are truly splendid as well."
Hotel Edfolk Rothen, a refined structure of tawny stone, boasted the finest facilities in all of Roten. It rose seven stories, with a garden laid out in front, while the hot springs they were so proud of stood apart in another building. From a distance the glass dome made the place look almost like a botanical garden.
"Not one of the decorations or paintings in the restaurant feels excessive, and the staff are genuinely kind. There's a great deal to learn from it, Senior."
"I hardly know where to put myself, with praise like that. I do try to pay attention, so I'm glad it shows."
"Oh, truly? You handle your magic and the student council as well, don't you? Even ten of you wouldn't be enough."
"That's why Marchen sees to most of the hotel affairs. Still, I try to give them as much attention as I can."
Beside her, Marchen stood perfectly straight — hair neatly swept back, her impression crisp and clean — and bent at the waist to Blow once more.
"Balancing all of that with school life can't be easy..."
"Well, you'll be attending school next year yourself, Young Master Blow."
Blow only blinked, offering no answer at all, and Yulia's brow drew tight.
"Surely you don't mean you have no intention of attending? Young Master Blow?"
"I have no such plans, for the moment..."
"What!? Even so, you've already been there several years. Wouldn't it be better to graduate?"
"I mean to attend once I have the leisure."
A brief silence fell between them, Yulia wearing a look of incomplete understanding. From the next table, Skadi cut into the conversation.
"Hey! Come back to school! Next year!!"
"Why?"
"I'm bored."
"We're not even the same year anymore."
Displeased with that, Skadi pouted.
"Some of the classes overlap. The magic workshop, for one."
"I don't know. Shouldn't I be sitting in with Linne, rather than you two?"
"True. Those two will already be third-years next year."
"Oh, right. What did you do about Linne and Rowbedi, coming just the two of you?"
"Them? They'll take my carriage from my estate. They ought to be here before dinner."
"A Skadi carriage with no Skadi in it..."
"My attendants are kind, so it'll be fine. They'll see them through properly."
While Blow tilted his head, wondering if that was really all right, Yulia saw that every plate had been cleared and spoke so that all of them could hear.
"Shall we all have a cup of coffee?"
"Sounds good! Melo, you're having tea."
"But I want coffee too..."
"Once you get to the academy, you'll drink all you want."
Herbena murmured it while looking at Melo. The dark circles under her eyes lent the words still more weight.
A member of the staff came to take their orders, and Yulia Edfolk called to Blow in a quiet, meaningful voice.
"Young Master."
"Yes, Senior."
"Shall the two of us have a cup apart from the others?"
"Pardon?"
"There's something I need to discuss with you."
Yulia was watching him with a faint smile. At last Blow decided that what he had been expecting had arrived. He swallowed dryly and asked.
"Might I ask what sort of matter it is, Senior?"
"Mm. A matter of business, Young Master Blow. I thought it better to speak before you start drinking."
"Then, might Jane hear it with us?"
Jane startled and looked at him. Yulia nodded readily.
"Yes, of course. Marchen will be beside me as well."
"Thank you, Senior."
He was bringing Jane because, when he went over the conversation later, he would need someone to talk it through with. She had also handled Yulia the day before with neither excess nor awkwardness. Of course, the greatest reason of all was that facing Yulia alone still weighed on him.
They were just about to rise when a voice so small it almost failed to reach him came to Blow's ear.
"Y-Young Master. Me too."
He turned. Herbena was on her feet, looking at him.
"Hm? Herbena?"
"I'm your confidant too, so..."
Caught off guard, Blow looked at her for a brief moment, but before he could answer she went on, almost muttering.
"If you say no, I'll just stay here."
Then, embarrassed, she looked away. Blow considered for a moment and turned to Yulia, who had stopped beside him.
"If it's all right with you, Herbena had better come as well."
"Has Herbena truly become your confidant, Young Master Blow? The matter is a little sensitive on my end."
"Yes. She has, without question."
"Then it's fine. Come with me to my room for a moment."
When Blow beckoned, Herbena broke into a shy smile and slipped quietly after him. As she passed, Skadi gave her a light smack on the backside and hooked up one corner of her mouth.
"Nice work."
"....Be quiet."
With that, they headed for the office the hotel kept for Yulia, and only Skadi and Melo were left at the table.
Skadi's eye fell on Melo, who was sipping her tea with a regretful look at the coffee.
"Melo."
"Y-yes?"
Skadi glanced around once, lifted a spoonful of coffee, and held it out. Melo popped it straight into her mouth.
"Ugh! It's so bitter!"
"Haha. Is it?"
"Wh-why would anyone even drink this...?"
Melo's face said she could not understand it at all. Skadi laughed for a good long while at the sight, then quickly poured her a glass of water and held it out.
Yulia's room gave the impression of being properly kept, even though she could not have come often. The reddish-brown wooden furniture breathed a fragrance all its own, and behind the chair where she sat, countless books stood in their rows. Through the large window beside them sunlight poured in sharp and clear, catching in Yulia's indigo hair until it shone.
Blow, Herbena, and Jane perched a little awkwardly across from her at the desk.
Before long a teacup had been set in front of each of them, and at last Yulia looked to Marchen, her confidant.
"Marchen."
A moment later Marchen drew a sheaf of papers from a document envelope and offered them to her. Yulia took them, turned an unhurried look on Blow, and spoke.