Chapter 88 : Omen (6)

Chapter 88: Omen (6)

Cecilia Everglenn.

Lately, she had begun to find joy in her life at the Academy.

The lightness in her steps on the way back was one of the clearest signs of that.

‘Today wasn’t bad either.’

A meeting to prepare for the supplementary class scheduled for next week.

Was it because the time she spent with her teammates had unexpectedly been pleasant? A small smile floated on Cecilia’s lips.

‘It’s all thanks to Lian.’

He had advised her to start with small talk—things like birthdays or the weather.

Since they had already shared basic introductions in the dungeon and exchanged a few words at the previous meeting, she clearly remembered things like their names, dorms, and birthdays.

‘Gideon Goldarc. Wands dormitory. The one who used a peculiar staff. Birthday: July 12.’

‘Lynor Karhazard. Crooks dormitory. The aspiring Holy Knight who wielded a double-headed axe. Birthday: March 25.’

‘Yuika Somarion. Dots dormitory. The girl who used a bow and dagger. Birthday: June 18.’

To avoid any possible mistake, Cecilia had repeated their names and birthdays to herself over and over.

Gideon Goldarc, July 12; Lynor Karhazard, March 25; Yuika Somarion, June 18.

Gideon Goldarc, July 12; Lynor Karhazard, March 25; Yuika Somarion, June 18……

When she finally arrived at the meeting place, she saw the three teammates and was able to greet them with the lines she had practiced countless times, without a hint of nervousness.

‘Hello, July 12-born, March 25-born, and June 18-born ones.’

……The next thing she saw was the unmistakably awkward expressions on all three of their faces.

Cecilia realized, a beat too late, what she had just said and hurried to explain.

‘J-just kidding! I was joking…….’

“Hello. Mr. Gideon Goldarc, Mr. Lynor Karhazard, and Ms. Yuika Somarion.”

Fortunately, they seemed to genuinely accept it as a joke.

Thanks to that—or perhaps because of it—the atmosphere grew much more relaxed than before, and they were able to talk about the class with ease.

Not only that, but they also spent the remaining time chatting casually and growing closer.

‘Though that guy didn’t show up this time either……’

The male student from the Crowns dormitory who had abandoned his teammates, including herself, and run away.

Just like last time, he didn’t show his face again.

Gideon and Lynor had said they had informed him, but that he hadn’t given any response.

In effect, silence was his reply.

When the topic came up, the others couldn’t hide their anger and contempt.

Rather, they looked relieved that he hadn’t shown up.

Cecilia felt the same.

She was simply awkward with people, not foolish.

She wasn’t nearly saintly enough to worry about someone who had openly mocked her and tried to make her the scapegoat.

Maybe if it had been Lian—that might have been different.

‘Well.’

To be honest, Cecilia couldn’t have cared less what happened to someone like that.

After this class ended, she would likely never cross paths with him again. Just one of those fleeting encounters, as always.

‘……No, maybe not.’

Whatever the case, because of him, she’d been able to meet new people.

Just as she was thinking it didn’t really matter, she slowly started walking.

“Hmm?”

As she walked, Cecilia suddenly looked up, sensing something lingering around her.

At some point, spirits had gathered around her, completely encircling her.

It was such a surreal sight, as if she were dreaming.

Yet, even while standing in the center of it, Cecilia didn’t show a trace of surprise.

She simply thought that it must be time again.

― Pardon me, my lady.

A blue stag bowed its head first.

Like a knight respectfully greeting their lord.

Cecilia responded with a slight nod.

― I’m most pleased to see you looking well today. What I wish to share today is…

Soon, the blue stag began listing off mundane things: how the public safety around the Academy streets had worsened recently so she should be careful when going out; that there had been an accident on the monorail causing inconvenience to people, and so on.

Cecilia merely nodded or gave short replies.

― That is all.

― Then it is my turn. First, today’s recommended menu at the Academy dining hall is……

Next came a golden owl, its form shimmering like a mirage.

The owl recommended ordering dishes made with duck, as some particularly high-quality duck had arrived among the ingredients at the Academy that day. It then went on to say the new dessert at the café had been receiving poor reviews.

― ……Therefore, I believe it may be best to wait and observe the situation a bit longer.

Cecilia nodded once again.

“Alright, I’ll do that.”

― ……!!! I’m honored!

The owl shouted with military-like discipline and promptly returned to its place.

Then, as if they had been waiting, the other spirits began speaking one after another.

Each time, Cecilia nodded and replied appropriately.

And then, it suddenly occurred to her—it had already been nearly two weeks since she started talking with the spirits like this.

‘Lian did say something like that.’

That Spirit Sorcerers could increase their power and abilities just by regularly communicating with and strengthening their relationships with spirits.

He had also advised her that it might be good for her to grow stronger by building such bonds with spirits.

Taking his words to heart, Cecilia had immediately tried conversing with the spirits who always gathered around her.

The problem was that her power was far too overwhelming.

By the time she noticed, an immeasurable number of spirits had already filled the space around her.

Each of them had something to say, and the scattered voices coming from all directions had made it impossible to concentrate.

‘That really surprised me back then.’

Realistically, it was impossible to interact with them all.

And perhaps sensing her difficulty…

The spirits had huddled together and seemed to discuss something, and before she knew it, they had organized themselves into their current formation.

Lesser spirits would gather information from here and there, then relay it to higher-ranking spirits.

Those spirits would organize the reports and relay them to even higher-ranking spirits, who would then summarize it all and present it to Cecilia……

It resembled a strict military or bureaucratic structure.

She wasn’t sure if this kind of arrangement was really okay, but the spirits themselves seemed quite satisfied with it.

― Next is information regarding the man from the Gongos family… Would you like to hear it?

“Gongos?”

Cecilia tilted her head, and a red raccoon with fur that shimmered like flames cautiously whispered.

― It’s the name of the family that student from the Crowns, who abandoned you and your teammates, belongs to. After running around a bit, our scouts gathered not only public opinions but also several stories that could be used as weaknesses……

“It’s fine.”

Cecilia shook her head lightly.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

― Then I’ll take care of all information related to him. I’ll also tell them to stop the investigation, so please leave it to me.

This was the problem, wasn’t it.

That’s what Cecilia thought as she nodded.

At first, the stories they brought were truly about everything and anything.

Just like earlier, there were trivial updates like the condition of the Academy’s surroundings or the day’s menu at the cafeteria—but there were others, too.

For example, things like someone scheming against another student in their dormitory.

Or someone secretly meeting a lover behind their fiancée’s back.

Or some noble family engaging in embezzlement……

None of it was anything Cecilia was remotely curious about.

No, rather, it would be more accurate to say she didn’t want to know.

The spirits, having noticed her discomfort, gradually reduced how much they reported on those matters—and eventually, it led to the current arrangement.

― ……Why bring up such things and upset the lady’s mood?

― Hmph, even if the words are unpleasant to hear, delivering them truthfully is the duty of a loyal subject. Don’t you know that?

As the raccoon withdrew, bickering with another spirit, a Mist Bird—granted permission to perch on her shoulder—opened its beak.

― Pardon me for interrupting, but not far from where you’re walking… Sir Lian is currently present.

“Really?”

Cecilia asked again in surprise, and the Mist Bird, barely stifling its laughter, replied in a solemn tone.

― Yes. He’s currently taking a walk and having a conversation with someone.

The Mist Bird quickly added more.

Its tone was as if to reassure her not to worry.

― It’s Professor Yul Runberg.

“I see……”

Cecilia nodded, her voice tinged with a faint sense of lingering emotion.

The Mist Bird, as if it understood, flapped its wings and took off.

― I shall guide you, my lady.

With those words, it flew off before even waiting for a reply.

Just a little.

Hesitating only for a moment, Cecilia quickly followed the Mist Bird with hurried steps.

“……This should be far enough, right?”

Cecilia muttered unconsciously as she stopped at a reasonable distance.

Lian and Professor Yul Runberg.

She could make out the outlines of the two, but she was definitely too far to hear what they were saying.

If they were discussing something important and stopped because of her, it would be a bother both to Lian and to Professor Runberg.

― This should be sufficient distance, my lady.

― Even someone with highly sensitive senses wouldn’t notice you from here.

― And even if you are spotted, they’ll likely think it was a coincidence, not that you were waiting here with some intent.

The spirits who had arrived shortly after her hid themselves and each made a remark.

Cecilia had initially thought nothing of it, but then she suddenly remembered—Lian could also see spirits—and flinched.

“Everyone, go back.”

― Huh?

― My lady?

“Professor Runberg might not see you, but Lian can. If that’s the case, he might notice. Hurry, go.”

― B-but…

― If we just crouch like this, like this, we might be able to…

“I said go…! Just go already.”

In the end, the spirits dispersed into the air like smoke, helplessly, under her pressure.

Though it was meaningless, Cecilia waved her hand in the air and let out a small sigh of relief.

Maybe it was the sudden silence.

But at that moment, she finally heard the faint voice that had been buried under all the noise.

It wasn’t a voice from outside.

It was one that came from within her own mind.

Do you really need to go this far just to see Lian?

The voice asked, as if it didn’t understand.

“That’s…”

Cecilia found herself fumbling over her words.

Now that she thought about it, it was true.

She knew Lian was in a complicated situation right now because of Allen Amiel.

And perhaps because of their similar family issues, she had started to feel a quiet sympathy and sense of kinship with Allen.

Hadn’t she even told Lian not to worry because she understood everything, trying to sound cool?

If she really wanted to see Lian, there was no need to sneak around or spy on him like this. She could’ve just made a proper appointment.

So why was she going to such lengths to make it look like a coincidence?

“That’s…”

Cecilia didn’t know.

And the voice didn’t speak again.

Was this simply the feeling of having missed spending time with a close friend?

Or was it something else…

‘If that’s the case…’

Just as Cecilia sank quietly into thought—

“…Cecilia?”

She suddenly heard someone calling her name.

It was Lian Gwendil’s voice.

“Eek…!?”

Cecilia let out a sharp, startled gasp before she could stop herself.