That night, after finishing dinner and washing the dishes, everyone remained in the kitchen, quietly sharing tea together.
"I've kind of gotten used to drinking tea without sugar." Alaric smiled down at his cup before glancing at Lalanat. "Thanks to Lala, I feel much more mature drinking it."
Lalanat smiled faintly, though she didn't seem entirely convinced.
"I'm not sure drinking unsweetened tea makes people mature," she replied. "But if that's what you think, then I'm glad it gives you that feeling."
Alaric set his cup on the table.
"Hmm... See? Even you sound like some wise old person giving life advice."
Lalanat let out a small laugh.
"Do I?"
He nodded, and the two exchanged quiet smiles.
A moment later, Alaric's gaze drifted toward Elara, who sat beside Lalanat.
She had been unusually quiet ever since dinner.
She continued sipping her tea every so often, her eyes absentmindedly fixed on a random corner of the room.
"You're bothered by what happened with that girl, aren't you?"
Alaric rested his chin on one hand while holding his cup close to his face, wearing an oddly confident expression.
Elara blinked and looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
She slowly lowered her teacup onto the table.
Alaric took a deep breath before placing his own cup down.
"Well... you're usually playful. Even when you're serious, you're still joking half the time. But the way you spoke to that girl..." He scratched his cheek. "It felt like you two had been fighting a war for years. I don't really know how to explain it."
Silence settled over the kitchen.
Only the soft crackling of the candle could be heard.
After a long pause, Elara let out a quiet sigh.
"Back then, our families spent several weeks together in Bane because of family matters. Silvia, Caelin, and I were all the same age."
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"Caelin and I already knew each other before Silvia came. He used to follow me everywhere. Even though we were the same age, he was practically like a little brother."
She looked down at the tea in her cup.
"He'd even say things like, 'I'm going to marry you when we grow up.' I'd tell him I already had someone I wanted to marry instead."
She chuckled softly.
"And then he'd start crying."
She shook her head.
"Whenever that happened... I'd just leave him there."
"Hmm... Caelin used to cry as a kid?" Alaric laughed. "Didn't expect that."
Lalanat forced a small laugh as their eyes briefly met.
"Then Silvia came into the picture."
Elara continued.
"Whenever Caelin cried, she'd stay beside him, comforting him. She'd tell him things like, 'If you want a wife, I'll marry you.'"
She smiled helplessly.
"I was just a child too, so I let my emotions get the better of me."
"When Silvia and I were alone, I told her to stop saying things like that. If Caelin took those words seriously, it'd only become a problem later."
She paused before continuing.
"There was one time Caelin fell over and started crying. Silvia was comforting him, telling him it was okay to cry if it hurt."
Elara leaned back slightly.
"So I walked over and told him to stop crying like a baby or he'd never grow into a man worthy of having a wife."
Alaric couldn't help smiling.
"And?"
"He immediately tried to hold his tears back."
She sighed.
"When Silvia saw that he listened to me more than her, she got angry. She told me to stop controlling Caelin."
"I said I wasn't controlling him."
"We argued."
She laughed quietly at the memory.
"And somehow... we ended up making a deal."
"If she agreed to become my pet, I'd stop bullying Caelin."
"She actually agreed."
Elara shrugged.
"So... that's why we argued a little earlier today."
She finished the last sip of her tea.
Silence returned for a moment.
Then Alaric spoke.
"Hmm..."
He looked at her with complete seriousness.
"You're kind of the villain in that story."
Elara almost spat out the tea she had just swallowed.
"Haa?"
"I mean..." Alaric raised an eyebrow.
"Why a pet?"
"Well..." Elara rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"We were children. 'Pet' was the only word I knew for someone who followed another person around."
"I think Silvia must've really liked Caelin if she was willing to agree to something like that."
Alaric leaned forward.
"So... what did you actually make her do?"
Elara hesitated.
"Ah..."
She looked away.
"Play with me."
Her voice became barely audible.
"...I didn't really have any friends."
Alaric stared at her for a second.
Then he burst into laughter.
"That's so lame."
"Oi!"
Elara immediately protested.
"Don't say it like that!"
She folded her arms.
"It was a win-win situation for me back then."
She puffed her cheeks.
"And besides, we were children. Kids are driven by emotions, you know."
Alaric only laughed harder.
While the two continued bickering, Lalanat quietly lowered her gaze.
Her fingers gently wrapped around her cup.
One sentence continued echoing in her mind.
"I already had someone I wanted to marry."
The cheerful conversation around her gradually faded into the background.
Eventually, the arguing came to an end.
The kitchen grew quiet once more.
Then Alaric suddenly spoke.
"By the way..."
He looked at Elara curiously.
"You said you already had someone you wanted to marry back then."
"So... who was it?"
Elara immediately stiffened.
Her posture straightened, and warmth crept into her ears.
She avoided looking at either of them.
"Ah... that was just something I said as a child."
She hurriedly waved a hand.
"You can figure it out yourselves."
"Huh?"
Alaric blinked.
"Figure it out?"
"Ah... it's nothing."
Elara stood up so suddenly that her chair scraped lightly against the floor.
"I'm going to sleep."
Without another word, she walked toward her room.
She never looked back.
Alaric turned toward Lalanat.
Lalanat simply offered him a small smile and a slight shrug.
"Hmm..."
Alaric stretched his arms.
"Time for practice."
He left the kitchen.
Soon, Lalanat found herself alone.
She remained seated for a long while, staring quietly at the empty cups.
"Could it be... Alaric?"
The thought slipped into her mind before she slowly stood.
One by one, she gathered the cups and carried them to the sink.
The sound of running water quietly filled the kitchen.
Before long, everyone had returned to their own routines.
The next morning, Caelin and Arasa were already in the training grounds, their wooden swords clashing beneath the morning sun.
Swing after swing, the sound of wood striking wood echoed across the field.
They separated, only to rush at each other again.
Another exchange.
Another retreat.
Sweat dripped from their brows as each strike grew heavier than the last.
After several rounds, both finally lowered their swords.
"...Woah."
Caelin bent forward slightly, catching his breath.
"It's already hot."
Arasa let out a quiet laugh as he dropped onto the grass beside him.
"Well, it's a good warm-up before the match."
Caelin followed, sitting beside him.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
A cool breeze brushed against their sweat-soaked clothes, carrying away the heat left by their training.
The chirping of birds filled the silence.
After a moment, Caelin glanced sideways.
"By the way... doesn't your hair get in the way when you fight?"
Arasa instinctively touched the ends of his hair before answering.
"Not really."
He looked ahead, his expression calm.
"Back during the war, I used to tie it. But... after we lost, they cut most of it before taking us as slaves."
He smiled faintly.
"So compared to before, it's short enough that it doesn't bother me anymore."
"Hmm..."
Silence settled between them once again.
Caelin leaned back, looking up at the endless blue sky.
"...War."
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"It's kind of pointless, isn't it?"
He paused.
"Even if you win... all you leave behind is another reason for someone else to seek revenge."
Beside him, Arasa slowly lay back on the grass, his eyes following the clouds.
"That's why you have to kill the root as well."
Caelin turned to look at him.
Arasa didn't elaborate.
The silence lingered.
"...Someday," Caelin said quietly, "I'll step onto a battlefield too."
His voice grew softer.
"I might even kill innocent people... people who were only following orders."
His fingers tightened around the wooden sword resting beside him.
"And yet..."
"We always tell ourselves we're doing it for the people we love."
He stared into the sky.
"I wonder..."
"Is that really the best answer we can give to the people who love us... when they never asked us to kill for them?"
"...Maybe the fear of losing us is greater than any victory we could bring back."
The wind answered before Arasa did.
After a long pause, Arasa finally spoke.
"If you've never lost someone to war..."
"...or taken someone else's loved one with your own hands..."
"...it's easy to see war from above."
He sat up slowly.
"You see the bigger picture."
"But people rarely live in the bigger picture."
"They live inside their own."
He rested his arms on his knees.
"Is it better to kill... or be killed?"
He shook his head.
"No one truly wants either."
"Everyone wants peace."
"Most people simply want to grow old."
His eyes drifted toward the distant horizon.
"But we live inside a system built by people."
"People create laws."
"They build nations."
"And people have desires."
"Sometimes it's revenge."
"Sometimes it's greed."
"And that's where the cycle begins."
He smiled bitterly.
"...Or maybe it began long before either of us was born."
"I don't think we'll ever escape it."
Silence returned.
Birds continued singing overhead.
The breeze gently passed between them as though the world itself had no interest in their answer.
Caelin lowered his eyes.
"...I really don't have time to hesitate."
Almost a whisper.
Arasa released a slow breath before standing.
"Maybe this isn't the path you truly want."
He offered Caelin a hand.
"But the world doesn't stop moving just because we hesitate."
"You never know when the next strike is coming."
Caelin accepted the hand and stood.
Arasa picked up his wooden sword.
"We're victims of a past that promised a better future."
He looked at the worn practice blade in his hand.
"...Maybe that future was buried the moment the first sword was drawn."
"And ever since then..."
"We've just kept walking in circles."
Caelin quietly picked up his own sword.
The two faced one another once more.
After a moment, Caelin smiled faintly.
"If we don't know where the circle ends..."
"...then I suppose all we can do is become strong enough to keep walking."
Arasa nodded.
Without another word, their wooden swords met once again.
The sound echoed across the quiet morning.
Before the second day began, every first-year student was still filled with excitement, nervousness, and, more importantly, the hope of becoming the Chosen Class. It was the greatest achievement that the children of nobles and influential families could achieve during their years at the academy.
Heidi and Tina were having breakfast before making their way to the academy, discussing yesterday's events and their plans for today.
"By the way, where are Benjamin and Kai?" Heidi asked.
"Kai left early. He said he wanted to study in the library," Tina replied, continuing to eat her breakfast. "As for Benjamin... I don't know. Maybe he's still upset."
"Upset?" Heidi asked.
"Well, he's a boy, and you're a girl. He was confident in his skills, but after losing to you in the spar for the tournament spot, I think it still hurts. Maybe it wounded his pride a little too." Tina smiled faintly.
"I really hate guys who look down on girls," Heidi said as she finished her breakfast, lightly slamming her hand on the table. "That's why they get hurt so much when they lose. It's not just their skills that get crushed, but their pride too."
She suddenly stood up, startling Tina.
"Oi, what's with that pose?" Tina asked.
"I have to meet Alaric before today's match." Heidi clenched her fist. "I need to ask him how I can make my endurance last longer. I have two matches in one day."
Without waiting for a response, she hurried upstairs to grab her belongings.
Ehh...? Aren't you supposed to ask something like that before the tournament even began? Tina thought to herself. I'm not even sure even someone from the Thandor family can help you with something so sudden.
A moment later, Heidi rushed back downstairs and adjusted her boots near the front door.
"Tina, come cheer for me, okay?" Heidi said as she opened the door.
"Yes, yes. Just be careful out there," Tina replied.
"Got it! Well then, I'm off. See you!"
Heidi dashed out of the house.
"Tsk..." Tina muttered as she began clearing the table. "Sometimes I feel like they made a mistake letting you be born a girl."
Shaking her head, she quietly continued cleaning the table.
Not far from the academy, beneath the shade of a large tree, Benjamin lay on the grass with one arm covering his face from the morning sun.
A sudden tickling sensation brushed against his hand.
"Hm?"
He lowered his arm and found an orange cat with clean, well-groomed fur curiously sniffing his fingers.
"Hmm... just a stray cat?" Benjamin murmured with a smile. "Come here."
The cat cautiously sniffed his hand once more before Benjamin gently scooped it into his arms.
"Woah... you're awfully clean for a stray." He chuckled softly. "Not bad."
The cat let out a small meow.
As Benjamin lifted it closer to his face, it suddenly licked the tip of his nose.
Benjamin couldn't help but smile.
The two quietly enjoyed the peaceful morning beneath the tree until a voice interrupted them.
"I guess she likes you."
Benjamin looked up to see Graneth approaching.
The moment the cat heard his voice, it leaped from Benjamin's arms and casually walked over to him.
Graneth placed a small plate of milk on the ground. The cat immediately began drinking while Graneth crouched beside her, gently stroking her back.
"Ah... excuse me," Benjamin said. "Is she your cat?"
Graneth glanced at him before looking back at the cat with a faint smile.
"You could say that," he replied. "She isn't really mine. I just feed her from time to time."
"By the way..." Graneth turned toward Benjamin. "Who are you?"
Benjamin immediately straightened his posture and gave a respectful bow.
"My name is Benjamin. I'm from First Year, Class Two."
"Hmm... First Year, Class Two..." Graneth murmured. "So you're the class we're supposed to help."
Benjamin blinked.
"Your class is supposed to help us?"
"Ah, right." Graneth nodded. "Since this year's final includes second-year students in the sword duel, if your class reaches the final, it's our responsibility to send one representative from our class as well. We're both Class Two, after all."
"Oh!" Benjamin's eyes widened in realization. "So you're from Second Year, Class Two?"
"That's right." Graneth gave a slight bow. "I'm Graneth. Nice to meet you."
"N-Nice to meet you too."
Benjamin instinctively straightened himself even more.
Graneth laughed.
"Haha... you don't have to be so stiff. Just relax and be yourself."
"B-But... you're my senior..." Benjamin said, pointing at the golden badge on Graneth's chest.
Graneth glanced down at it.
"Ah, this?" He smiled. "Don't worry. You haven't done anything wrong."
Benjamin stared at the badge with sparkling eyes.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"Is it heavy? And... is it really made of gold?"
Graneth chuckled.
"Hmm... not heavy enough to be troublesome, but for a badge, yes. Since it's made of real gold, you can definitely feel its weight."
"Waa... that's so cool."
Benjamin couldn't hide his admiration as he continued staring at the badge.
Graneth smiled before asking,
"So... what are you doing here? It's around breakfast time, you know."
He paused for a moment.
"If you skip breakfast, the dining hall won't be open during the Chosen Class tournament."
Benjamin's smile faded.
He slowly looked away.
"I... kind of ignored someone," he muttered quietly.
Graneth noticed the change in his expression.
"Hmm... now you've got me curious." He smiled gently. "Want to tell me about it? Though it's fine if you'd rather keep it to yourself."
Benjamin glanced at Graneth for a moment. After hesitating for a while, he slowly opened his mouth.
"Don't laugh at me, okay?" he asked.
Graneth smiled.
"I'll try."
After a brief silence, Benjamin finally spoke.
"Our class had to decide who would represent us in the sword duel tournament. Heidi and I fought for the spot after school..."
He lowered his head.
"...and I lost."
Hearing those words, Graneth was reminded of his own first year, when he had lost the very same spot to Alaric.
"Hmm..." Graneth smiled faintly. "Losing hurts, doesn't it?"
Benjamin nodded.
"But why did you tell me not to laugh?" Graneth asked. "You fought fair and square. There's nothing shameful about losing."
Benjamin hesitated before muttering,
"I... lost to a girl."
Graneth couldn't help but chuckle.
"Oi! You said you wouldn't laugh!" Benjamin complained.
"Sorry, sorry." Graneth waved his hand with a smile. "I thought you were embarrassed because you lost. I didn't expect it to be because you lost to a girl."
Benjamin let out a helpless sigh.
"I mean... it's kind of lame losing to a woman."
Graneth's smile slowly faded.
"So... you're saying it's fine to lose to a man?"
Benjamin froze.
"I think you're focusing on the wrong thing," Graneth continued calmly. "The problem isn't whether the person holding the sword is a man or a woman."
He looked directly into Benjamin's eyes.
"If you hate losing, then hate losing itself, not the person you lost to. Whoever stands before you should simply be your opponent. That's a far better mindset to have."
Benjamin lowered his gaze.
"But... if I can't even defeat a woman... how am I supposed to defeat a man?"
Graneth let out a quiet sigh.
"Listen."
"It's true that, on average, men may have greater physical strength. But a fight isn't decided by strength alone."
He pointed toward Benjamin's chest.
"Skill. Strategy. Tactics. Experience. Determination."
"There are too many things that decide a battle for anyone to say with certainty who'll win before the swords are even drawn."
He smiled.
"So instead of worrying about whether your opponent is a man or a woman..."
"...find your own strength."
"And keep walking that path at your own pace."
Benjamin quietly listened without saying a word.
"Stop worrying about what's already happened," Graneth continued. "The embarrassment, the pain, the defeat... you're trying to run from something that's already over."
He folded his arms.
"But tell me this."
"Did it kill you?"
Benjamin slowly shook his head.
Graneth smiled.
"Then stand up."
"Will you try again..."
"...or will you become someone you aren't even proud of?"
"Will you spend the rest of your life regretting that you let a single defeat decide who you are?"
He paused before speaking one last time.
"The choice is yours."
"A choice backed by unwavering will cannot be shaken by a mere wind."
Benjamin sat there in silence, unable to find the words to respond.
Graneth scratched the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"Ah... I got a little carried away."
He picked up the empty plate after the cat had finished drinking the milk.
"I'll get going now."
"Think about what I said."
With that, Graneth slowly walked away.
Benjamin remained where he was, silently processing Graneth's words.
His gaze slowly shifted toward the cat, now a short distance away.
The orange cat crouched low to the ground, its eyes locked onto a mouse nibbling near a small hole.
Carefully...
Quietly...
It crept closer.
Then, in a sudden burst of speed, the cat leaped.
It missed.
The mouse immediately dashed toward its hole.
Just as it was about to disappear, the cat sprang forward once more, reaching the entrance first. Before the mouse could slip inside, the cat struck it with a quick swipe of its paw. The stunned mouse barely had time to recover before the cat bit down and lifted it gently in its mouth.
With its prize secured, the cat calmly walked away.
Benjamin watched the entire scene in silence.
A smile slowly spread across his face as he covered it with one hand.
"'A choice backed by unwavering will cannot be shaken by a mere wind,' huh..."
"That's a good one."
He slowly got to his feet.
The cat turned and looked back at him, the mouse still dangling from its mouth.
Benjamin smiled faintly.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked in the opposite direction.
"I'm pathetic..."
He clenched his teeth.
"Giving up on myself over something like that."
With renewed determination, Benjamin made his way back toward the residence.
---
Meanwhile, Heidi arrived at the Thandor residence and knocked on the door the moment she reached it.
The door swung open, revealing Lalanat.
"Ah, Heidi. Come on in," she said with a gentle smile.
Inside, Alaric was sitting at the dining table, still eating breakfast.
With his mouth full of food, he looked toward the entrance.
"Mmh... what are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be at the academy?" he mumbled.
Heidi blinked.
"...I have no idea what he just said."
She looked at Lalanat for help.
Lalanat simply smiled, offering no translation.
Heidi walked over and sat beside Alaric.
"Tell me, Alaric," she said loudly. "How can I make my stamina last longer?"
Alaric slowly stopped chewing.
He stared at her.
"Oi..." he finally swallowed. "You're asking me that now? On the second day of the tournament?"
"What do you mean 'now'? Just tell me!" Heidi leaned closer. "Come on, Alaric! I have two matches today. If I get exhausted during the first one, I won't have enough strength for the second!"
She grabbed his shoulders and started shaking him.
"Oh my God..."
"We're finished."
Alaric thought as his body rocked back and forth.
Suddenly, Alaric slammed both hands onto the table before stepping onto his chair, pointing a finger straight at Heidi.
"Why are you so stupid?!" he shouted. "Why are you asking me this on the second day of the tournament? And what happened to all that confidence you had before the first match? You barely survived yesterday!"
"Oi! I didn't know we'd have two matches in one day!" Heidi shot back, standing on her chair as well. "Don't blame everything on me! Besides, if you want to fight Caelin, you have to help me reach the final!"
"You should've thought about that before the tournament started!"
"Then you should've helped me earlier!"
The two continued shouting over one another, pointing fingers and poking each other's foreheads without backing down.
Just then, Elara stormed out of the kitchen, gripping a large wooden spoon.
"OI! BOTH OF YOU, SHUT UPPP!!"
Silence.
In an instant, both Heidi and Alaric sat down as straight as arrows.
Elara stood before them with an expression that left no room for argument.
"Why can't you two have one normal conversation?" she said, glaring at them. "Do you always have to shout with your full lungs? There are other people living in this house too!"
Alaric immediately pointed at Heidi.
"It's her fault."
Heidi pointed back.
"No, it's his!"
Thwack!
The wooden spoon landed on both of their heads.
"Oww..."
They rubbed their heads at the same time.
"Heidi," Elara said firmly, "that's a question you should've asked before the tournament even began."
She then turned to Alaric.
"And you. I kept telling you to help her prepare. Now look where we are."
Heidi smirked.
"See? You should've helped me earlier."
"Quiet."
One word from Elara was enough to wipe the smile off Heidi's face.
Elara folded her arms.
"But this isn't entirely Alaric's fault either."
She looked directly at Heidi.
"He already won the Chosen Class title last year, and this year's tournament isn't even the main event for the second years."
Her expression grew even more serious.
"If you truly cared about winning, you should've asked questions like this before the tournament started instead of waiting until the second day."
"..."
Both Heidi and Alaric lowered their heads.
"Scary..." they muttered together.
"Hm?" Elara narrowed her eyes.
"You two say something?"
"N-Nothing!"
"We're leaving!"
Heidi immediately jumped to her feet and hurried toward the door.
"Ah... I should go study too," Alaric said before quickly following after her.
Elara let out a long sigh the moment she heard him mention studying.
Lalanat smiled as she quietly gathered the empty plates.
"They're so alike," she said with a soft laugh. "It's almost as if we have two Alarics, one boy and one girl."
"Seriously..." Elara sighed again. "Where do they even get that much energy this early in the morning?"
The two women exchanged amused smiles before carrying the dishes into the kitchen.
---
As Heidi made her way toward the academy, she quietly reflected on Elara's words.
They're right.
I can't keep relying on Alaric until I reach the final.
This is my own fault for not preparing properly.
I'll deal with it myself.
With her resolve renewed, Heidi continued walking toward the Elysium Arena.