"Knock, knock."
"Sir, you've received a letter from Alaric," a maid said, standing at the door of Kalvein's study.
"Oh, come in," he replied.
The maid stepped inside and handed him the letter, then quietly took her leave.
Just as he was about to open it—
Boom.
The door burst open.
Ashtrin rushed in.
"Where is my son's letter?"
Kalvein flinched slightly, startled.
"H-here."
She quickly took it, her face lighting up with excitement. As she read, her smile softened… then faded into something quieter.
Kalvein leaned over and took a look at the letter as well.
Ashtrin stood still for a moment, processing.
"It's his first letter in seven months… and he barely said anything," she murmured.
"Nothing about friends… nothing about how he's doing. Just swords, as always."
She let out a small sigh and sat down, slightly frustrated.
Kalvein chuckled.
"That sounds like me."
Ashtrin glanced at him.
He immediately straightened.
"I mean—he probably should've told us more."
He gave a small, awkward smile and placed the letter gently on the table.
On the other side…
Alaric lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
His thoughts drifted back to Lalanat… the way she looked earlier.
Something about it bothered him.
Then, another image surfaced—
Elara.
Her smile on the balcony.
It replayed in his mind.
What is this feeling…?
It's confusing… but I don't hate it.
Lalanat stood in front of her mirror, combing her hair.
She suddenly paused.
The memory came back—
crying in Caelin's arms.
She felt a wave of embarrassment.
But then another thought followed.
Caelin's words echoed in her mind:
"One day… you'll want him to choose you."
Her chest tightened.
She remembered the way Alaric and Elara looked together on the balcony.
Her breathing grew heavier.
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She froze.
"…Huh?"
This time, she didn't try to stop it.
She simply sat there, alone in her room—
with her tears
and the quiet weight of her feelings.
As winter approached, time slipped quietly by.
Lalanat slowly distanced herself from Alaric, convincing herself it was the right thing to hide her feelings.
Alaric sat in class, staring out the window, lost in his thoughts and barely paying attention.
The teacher's voice cut through the room.
"Listen. Since winter is near, the Christmas holiday is coming. But before that… you all know we have exams, right?"
The class immediately filled with noise—some excited, others nervous.
"If you fail even one subject," the teacher continued, "you won't be allowed to go home until you retake it and pass."
The noise grew louder.
Caelin tapped Alaric lightly.
"The holiday's coming," he whispered.
Alaric's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
Caelin smiled.
"But first, exams. And if you fail, you're staying here."
Alaric's smile dropped instantly.
"Eh? That's not fair at all."
Elara spoke without even looking at him.
"Then study, if you want to go home."
Alaric paused, thinking.
Then suddenly—
"I just need to pass, right? That shouldn't be too hard."
He glanced at Caelin and leaned closer.
"Can you help me study?"
Caelin gave a slightly forced smile.
"I can help with most subjects… but I'm not good at literature. You should ask Lalanat."
Alaric turned immediately and leaned toward her.
"Lala, can you help me with literature?"
Lalanat froze, surprised. She leaned back slightly.
"Eh—y-yes… sure, I can."
Her voice carried a hint of nervousness.
Elara pushed Alaric back a little.
"You're too close. You're making her uncomfortable."
Alaric blinked.
"Ah—sorry."
Suddenly, a student shouted from across the room—
"It's snowing!"
Everyone turned.
Then rushed toward the windows.
"…It really is."
Without hesitation, they all ran outside to see it.
The night before the examination.
The four of them sat in Alaric's room—mostly because he was the one who needed help the most.
Elara spoke first.
"Since it's tomorrow, let's stop learning new things. We should focus on reviewing what we already know."
Alaric nodded quickly, a quiet sense of relief settling inside him.
He had barely managed to keep up with everything they had taught him.
Caelin glanced at him and smiled.
"You're really easy to read."
He let out a soft laugh.
Lalanat almost smiled as well… but caught herself and looked away.
An hour passed.
"Finally…" Alaric sighed, stretching as if he had just survived a battle.
Elara closed her book.
"You still need to review again tomorrow morning."
Alaric stared at her in disbelief.
"This is more exhausting than swinging a sword…"
He dropped flat onto the floor.
A moment later, he suddenly sat up.
"Our first year is almost over… right?"
They nodded, their attention shifting to him.
Alaric looked up at the ceiling.
"…If we finish the second year, we'll all go our separate ways."
The room fell into silence.
Like he had said something that wasn't meant to be spoken out loud.
"I'll miss this…" he added quietly.
They looked at him.
Elara cleared her throat, breaking the stillness.
"Hey… don't get ahead of yourself. We haven't even passed the exam yet."
Alaric groaned.
"All this studying, and it's not even guaranteed…"
He let out a breath, then muttered,
"If I want to become a knight, I can already fight. Basic reading and arithmetic should be enough."
He sat there, oddly proud of his own conclusion.
Elara sighed.
Caelin laughed.
And this time—
Lalanat didn't stop herself from smiling.
Slowly, their examinations came to an end.
The final day.
Lalanat stood near the front of the school, lost in her thoughts as she waited.
Snow fell quietly around her.
"Ah, Lala—you're already done?"
She turned.
Alaric waved lightly as he walked toward her.
"Yeah… I was waiting for you guys," she replied.
Alaric adjusted his clothes, brushing off bits of snow.
"I think they'll be done soon," he said, glancing toward the building.
Lalanat nodded softly.
"Yeah…"
Alaric looked at her.
"Is something wrong? You've been… quiet since the ceremony."
He paused, trying to find the right words.
"You're usually quiet, but… not like this. I don't know how to explain it."
Lalanat's heart tightened.
For a moment, it felt like he had seen right through her.
"Ah… no, it's nothing," she said quickly, forcing a small smile.
"I just don't have much to say."
Alaric went quiet for a second.
"…Ah. Okay then."
He shifted his weight, tapping his foot lightly.
"What's taking them so long…"
"Did you two wait long?"
Caelin approached, followed by Elara.
Elara immediately wrapped her arms around Lalanat.
"Yay! The exams are over!"
She smiled brightly.
Alaric watched her—her laughter, her energy, the way she moved.
Caelin noticed.
So did Lalanat.
"So, how did it go?" Caelin asked.
Alaric snapped out of it.
"Ah—yeah, I think I did well enough."
He clenched his hands slightly.
"I hope we can go home together," Caelin said.
Alaric paused.
"Ah… yeah. I forgot we're from the same nation."
Caelin burst into laughter.
"I can understand a lot of things, but not that."
Alaric frowned.
"I just think of you as a friend… so I forget you're the prince."
Caelin smiled.
"That's fine. I don't mind."
"I wish I could go back with Lalanat too," Elara said, pouting slightly.
"…Yeah. That must be nice," Lalanat replied quietly.
They began walking away from the school.
On the way, they spotted a group of children playing in the snow.
"They look so lively," Elara said with a soft smile.
Thud.
"Eh—?"
She turned.
Alaric raised his hands quickly.
"No, no—I didn't mean to! I was aiming for Caelin!"
Elara narrowed her eyes and stepped toward him.
Alaric slowly backed away… then suddenly ran.
Elara chased after him.
Caelin followed, laughing.
Lalanat followed too.
They played in the snow—
their laughter echoing through the cold air,
their breaths heavy,
their voices alive.
For a moment… nothing else seemed to matter.
Not what was coming… not what would change.
Time passed.
Alaric managed to pass his exams—just slightly above the mark.
Still, it was enough.
He was happy.
He could finally go home… and see his parents again.
That evening, Alaric, Caelin, and Lalanat packed their belongings, preparing to leave the next day.
Elara stayed by Lalanat's side, helping her quietly.
When everything was done, the four of them sat together, sharing tea.
For a moment… no one spoke.
Alaric broke the silence.
"For some reason… this feels like when I left home," he said, taking a sip.
Caelin nodded.
"Yeah… we've spent so much time together here… it feels strange to leave."
Elara suddenly wrapped her arms around Lalanat.
"I'll miss you," she said, half-laughing, half-serious.
Lalanat returned the embrace, her voice softer, distant.
"…Yeah. I'll miss you too."
Silence filled the room again.
Caelin leaned back, staring at the ceiling.
"Next year will be our final year…"
Alaric let out a quiet breath.
"Feels like we just met yesterday."
Lalanat spoke gently,
"Time moves fast… when you enjoy it."
She exhaled, as if letting something go.
Elara forced a small laugh.
"Come on… it's not like this is the end."
But even her voice couldn't lift the weight settling quietly in the room.
No one argued.
No one agreed.
The words hung there—
light,
yet somehow not enough to ease what they all felt.
That night, none of them slept well.
Their thoughts wandered between the warmth of home waiting for them…
and the quiet they would leave behind for now.
There was excitement—
soft, familiar—
but it came with a faint ache they couldn't quite ignore.
Not loss.
Just something… slipping out of reach,
even if only for a while.
No one said it out loud…
but none of their hearts felt at ease, knowing they would leave tomorrow.
Morning came.
Before they went their separate ways, they lingered a little longer than needed.
No one said it first.
Then, somehow, it was said anyway—
That next year, they would come back…
and finish their final year together.
It wasn't a grand promise.
Just something spoken lightly,
as if nothing could possibly get in the way.
Elara was the first to leave, a carriage waiting for her.
Not long after, Lalanat's carriage arrived.
Alaric helped her with her things.
"Aight then… until we meet again. Take care."
Lalanat smiled faintly.
"You too."
Caelin watched from the doorway as she left.
Soon after, another carriage arrived.
Alaric and Caelin gathered their things and stepped inside.
Leaving behind the place that had quietly become… something more than just a school.
For now, they returned home.
As the days passed on the road…
Caelin spoke, breaking the quiet.
"Do you mind if I visit sometime between Christmas and the New Year? We could go hunting."
Alaric's eyes lit up.
"That's a great idea. Come whenever you're free."
He smiled.
"It'd be nice… having someone with me while hunting."
Caelin caught that.
"You used to hunt?"
Alaric looked out the window.
"Yeah… but mostly alone."
Caelin tilted his head slightly.
"Alone? Weren't you scared?"
Alaric let out a small laugh.
"Not really. I never went too far."
He paused.
"And… I didn't really have friends around my neighborhood."
Caelin listened quietly.
"Because of my father's position," Alaric continued,
"people treated me… differently."
He shrugged.
"So I ended up alone most of the time."
Caelin smiled faintly.
"Ah… that explains it."
Alaric glanced at him.
"Explains what?"
Caelin waved it off with a small laugh.
"Nothing."
He leaned back.
"I'll visit when I get the chance."
"Sure," Alaric replied.
After several days of travel, they finally arrived in the nation of Bane.
Caelin stepped out first, giving a few instructions to the driver.
"Take him home," he said.
They looked at each other one last time.
A simple wave.
Then the carriage moved again—
carrying Alaric the rest of the way home.
On the other side—
the carriage moved steadily along the road,
the sun sinking low, its fading red light reflecting across the ocean.
Lalanat leaned gently against the window, her gaze fixed on the distant waves.
I never meant for this to happen…
She closed her eyes for a moment.
…but a part of me still feels like I betrayed something.
A quiet breath escaped her lips.
Then—
a faint smile formed.
Soft… and a little fragile.
Elara arrived home first.
A few maids and guards were already waiting for her as the carriage came to a stop.
She stepped down.
"Where are my parents?" she asked.
One of the maids bowed slightly.
"Your mother has gone out, and His Majesty is in a meeting."
Elara frowned a little.
"They knew I was coming back today, didn't they?"
The maid hesitated.
"I believe they did, Princess… but their schedules are quite full."
Elara let out a quiet breath and turned away.
"Prepare something for me to eat. I'll come down after I clean up."
"Yes, Princess," the maid replied, bowing.
"Welcome home, my son."
Caelin's mother stood waiting in the hallway.
He dropped his bag and stepped forward, wrapping her in a warm embrace.
"Are you doing well, Mother?"
She smiled, gently holding his face.
"You've grown taller… and more handsome."
She looked at him fondly.
"I'm well. What about you? Did you have a good time?"
Caelin smiled softly.
"Yes… I even made a friend from our nation."
She raised a brow, interested.
"Oh? And who might that be?"
He took a small breath.
"Alaric Thandor. The son of our former First Squad General, Kalvein Thandor."
She looked surprised.
"Oh… I hope you two get along well."
"We do," Caelin replied.
Not long after, his father arrived.
The moment Caelin saw him, he knelt.
"I have returned, Father."
The king raised a hand.
"Rise."
"Yes, Father."
"You must be tired from your journey," the king said calmly.
"Go and rest. We'll call for you when it's time to eat."
The king turned and left.
Caelin bowed his head slightly.
"Understood."
The carriage driver glanced back.
"Sir, we're about to reach your home."
Alaric looked out the window.
The trees, the grass—
unchanged.
As if nothing had moved on without him.
"Okay," he replied softly.
His gaze lowered, a quiet thought crossing his mind.
I didn't tell them I was coming…
A small smile followed.
Outside, a maid was cleaning the front yard when she noticed the carriage approaching.
She paused, wondering who it might be.
The carriage stopped.
The door opened.
Alaric stepped out.
Her eyes widened.
"It's Alaric, sir!"
He gave a small wave, picking up his belongings as she rushed toward him.
"You could've told us you were coming home!"
She quickly took his bag.
Alaric let out a quiet laugh, his eyes drifting across the house and its surroundings.
"Ah… I wanted to surprise them."
He stepped toward the door—
but before he could open it, it swung wide.
A sudden warmth collided with him.
His mother.
She pulled him into a tight embrace.
Alaric froze for a second… then laughed softly.
His father appeared just behind her.
They stood there at the doorway—
Ashtrin already overflowing with questions.
"Are you doing well?"
"Why did you send only one letter?"
"Do you have friends?"
Alaric looked at her… and smiled.
Without a word, he pulled her into a hug.
She paused, surprised—
then melted into his arms.
A moment later, his father stepped forward.
"Welcome home, my son. You've grown."
Alaric bowed slightly before stepping into his embrace.
"How have you been, Father? I missed you both."
His father held him firmly, a quiet pride in his eyes.
"You've done well… I heard about your duels. I'm proud of you."
As they talked, a maid approached.
"Sir, your bath is ready."
Alaric nodded.
"Alright. Please take my bag to my room."
The maid bowed and left.
He turned back to his parents.
"I'll go clean up first. Let's talk more at dinner."
They watched him go—
smiling,
proud,
and quietly relieved.
At dinner, his parents listened as Alaric shared stories of the academy—
friends he had found, and the duels he had faced.
Laughter lingered between their words,
questions followed,
and answers came easily,
as if the distance between them had never been there at all.
On the other side—
Lalanat sat quietly as her mother gently combed her hair.
"Did you have fun there?" her mother asked.
Lalanat looked down, her fingers tightening around her skirt.
"…Yes, Mom."
The comb paused.
Her mother leaned closer, wrapping her arms gently around her.
"Why do I feel like that's not the whole truth?" she whispered softly.
Lalanat took a slow, unsteady breath.
"It was… at first," she murmured.
"But later… it felt like everything I used to love was hurting me instead."
Her mother held her a little tighter.
"So… you've reached that age already."
Her hand moved gently through Lalanat's hair again.
Within the quiet safety of her mother's embrace, Lalanat's voice trembled.
"I know it's selfish… to wish for a heart that will never choose me…"
She paused, her breath catching.
"But Mom… it hurts so much."
Her mother's arms tightened around her.
"There's nothing wrong with that, my dear," she said softly.
"And it's okay to cry."
Her voice wavered just slightly.
"I'm sorry you had to carry all of this alone."
She gently rubbed her back.
And Lalanat… finally let go.
Her voice broke into a quiet cry,
tears spilling freely—
everything she had been holding inside,
released at last.
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If this stayed with you… the next chapter is waiting.