Chapter 27
“I told you, I’m not interested in the Empire’s affairs anymore,” Shirayuki said, setting the cup down with a dull thud. “Let alone teaching a bunch of brats how to swing a sword.”
“I knew you’re going to say that.” Thalor remarked, reaching for the bottle and pouring himself a drink. Shirayuki clicked her tongue at the sight but didn’t say anything.
“If that’s all you came here for, then my answer’s the same—I’m not working at the Academy. You can leave now.”
Thalor looked around the room one last time. “So you’re just going to keep living like this for the rest of your days?” he asked, disappointment in his voice.
Shirayuki took another sip from her cup, avoiding his gaze. “What’s it to you?” she muttered. “I’m fine with how things are. Here, I don’t have to constantly deal with the scrutinizing eyes of those annoying nobles.”
Thalor let out a sigh before tossing a recording stone toward her. “At least watch what’s inside that, then you could make your final judgment.”
She caught the stone, raising an eyebrow skeptically. “Your days as Headmaster have really changed you, you know that? Do you really think whatever’s on this stone is going to change anything?”
Thalor didn’t say anything. In the end, she crushed the recording stone, and a projection suddenly sprang to life before her eyes. Nothing particularly caught her attention at first—just a boy standing, facing off against a young woman with azure hair.
She absentmindedly fiddled with her cup. “Seriously? That’s what you want to show me? Just some fight between two kids?”
“Just watch the whole thing, you damn alcoholic,” Thalor said, leaning back slightly with a glare.
Shirayuki decided to just let his words slide, quietly watching the events unfold before her eyes. The fight began, both of them clashing, their weapons sparking as they collided. At first, nothing seemed remarkable—the boy was constantly on the defensive, pushed back by his opponent with every strike.
And just as she had predicted, it wasn’t long before he was eventually knocked down. She let out an annoyed sigh, thinking that Thalor had been wasting her time this entire while. But as she was about to look away, something caught her eye—the boy who had just fallen was now rising again.
‘This boy…?!’
This time, however, she could sense a change in his demeanor. His eyes were now entirely cold and hollow, like someone who had nothing left to lose and had completely given up on life. It wasn’t long before the two of them clashed again.
Shirayuki’s eyes began to tremble slightly as she watched the scene play out. Unlike before, the tide had now officially turned in the boy’s favor, his opponent unable to land a single hit as he effortlessly evaded every strike.
But her attention wasn’t on that—rather, it was on the boy’s sword strikes and the way he moved across the arena. The more she watched each strike and movement, the more dumbfounded she became.
‘H-how…? It should be impossible for him to know these sword forms, let alone perform them to such a level at his age.’
“Not what you were expecting, right?” Thalor asked with a chuckle. “Don’t think I’ve ever seen you make a face like that before.”
“Who is that boy, and how in the world does he know… those sword techniques?” Shirayuki muttered, still unable to take her eyes off the projection.
“His name is Caelith,” Thalor replied. “And that’s exactly one of the reasons I came looking for you—you are the only one alive I know who's used these techniques.”
“Caelith…” she whispered to herself, the name striking a faint chord in her memory. She had heard it somewhere before, though she couldn’t quite place where.
She looked at the projection again, studying the boy’s face intently. Then it clicked—she remembered an old friend, someone from long ago. The last time they had met was nearly two decades ago, and the last time they had ever spoken.
It was the day Shirayuki had decided to leave the Empire for a while, wandering out into the world beyond its borders. Her friend had been there to see her off, holding the baby carefully in her arms, while a young girl clung to her side.
“So you’re really going, huh?” her friend asked, concern lacing her voice.
“Yes, I’ve already decided,” Shirayuki replied softly. “I don’t think I can last much longer staying here in the Empire. Everything here feels suffocating. Thank you… for always being my friend.”
“You talk as if this were the last time we’d ever see each other,” her friend said, a hint of sadness in her tone.
A cool autumn breeze stirred around them, carrying the crisp scent of falling leaves. Shirayuki reached out and caught one, letting it rest gently in her hand. “Maybe… I don’t know when I’ll be returning,” she murmured.
“Well, that doesn’t matter,” her friend said softly, a reassuring smile touching her lips. “Just so you know, whenever you do come back, you will always be welcome.”
Before Shirayuki could reply, the sound of a baby crying interrupted them. Her friend quickly shifted the baby in her arms, rocking it gently to soothe the wails.
“So, have you decided on a name?” Shirayuki asked, pointing toward the little one.
Her friend looked up, a fond smile on her face. “Him? I named him Caelith. Isn’t he just adorable?”
“Hey… want to try holding him?” her friend asked, extending the baby toward Shirayuki.
Shirayuki jumped slightly, startled. “E-eh? M-me?”
She gently held the baby in her arms, feeling his tiny fingers curl around hers. A soft warmth spread through her chest as Caelith gazed up into her eyes.
‘Now that I’m seeing him up close… I guess he really is as adorable as she said,’ Shirayuki thought
After a few moments, she carefully handed the baby back to her friend, who smiled tenderly and held him close again, murmuring softly to soothe him. Shirayuki’s gaze then fell on the young girl standing quietly behind her friend. The girl had been timidly hiding, but now she peeked out.
Shirayuki offered a gentle smile and a small wave, and the girl shyly waved back.
With that, she lingered for a moment, watching her friend and her kids together before finally bidding them farewell.
The memory played in her mind, She set her cup down, her fingers tracing its rim absentmindedly, and let out a slow breath.
‘Your son’s all grown up… Seraphina.’
“Is something the matter?” Thalor asked, his voice cutting through her thoughts. “You seem to be in a daze.”
“I’m fine… I just suddenly remembered something from the past.” She gulped down the contents of her cup. “As for his sword techniques, I have no idea where he could have learned them.”
“Then, how about my offer now?”
Shirayuki’s mouth twitched before she let out a defeated sigh. “Fine. I’ll accept your offer—but on the condition that you don’t make me a professor. I’m not interested in babysitting these brats.”
“The only reason I’m accepting your offer,” she added, her voice softening, “Is because of that boy.”
“Works fine with me,” Thalor said with a shrug. “I’ll just assign you the role of instructor. You’ll assist the professor from time to time, and for the rest, you can do whatever you want.”
Before leaving, Thalor went to the counter, grabbed a bottle, and made his way toward the door, giving Shirayuki a final glance over his shoulder.
“Don’t mind me if I take this,” he said with a smirk. “Consider it a sign we’ll be working together again. See you at the Academy in a week.”
Shirayuki clicked her tongue in mild annoyance, waving a hand toward the door. “Just get your ass out of here already, before I change my mind.”
The door closed with a soft click, leaving her alone in the cabin. She glanced around at the mess scattered about and lamented to herself.
‘It's been a while since I set foot in the Empire… I wonder how Seraphina has been all these years…’
The moon had risen high in the sky, casting silver light over the quiet streets. A chariot rolled up to a grand mansion, its wheels crunching softly on the gravel driveway.
“Lady Lyra, we have arrived at the estate,” a knight announced, bowing slightly as the chariot came to a halt.
Lyra stepped out, nodding at the escorting knight before dismissing him with a small wave. The night air was cool against her skin as she took in the familiar silhouette of the estate. Her personal maid, Clara, trailed behind her.
“Let’s go, my lady. The Madam is waiting for us at the gate,” Clara said softly
In the distance, Lyra could see her mother waiting at the gate. She began making her way forward, and just as she approached, her mother finally stepped forward to greet her.
“Welcome back, Lyra,” her mother said warmly, pulling her into a gentle embrace. She then looked at Clara and gave a small nod, signaling that she was free to step back.
Lyra melted into her mother’s arms, letting the warmth and comfort of the embrace wash over her.
The moon had risen high in the sky, casting silver light over the quiet streets. A chariot rolled up to a grand mansion, its wheels crunching softly on the gravel driveway.
“Lady Lyra, we have arrived at the estate,” a knight announced, bowing slightly as the chariot came to a halt.
Lyra stepped out, nodding at the escorting knight before dismissing him with a small wave. The night air was cool against her skin as she took in the familiar silhouette of the estate. Her personal maid, Clara, trailed behind her.
“Let’s go, my lady. The Madam is waiting for us at the gate,” Clara said softly
In the distance, Lyra could see her mother waiting at the gate. She began making her way forward, and just as she approached, her mother finally stepped forward to greet her.
“Welcome back, Lyra,” her mother said warmly, pulling her into a gentle embrace. She then looked at Clara and gave a small nod, signaling that she was free to step back.
Lyra melted into her mother’s arms, letting the warmth and comfort of the embrace wash over her. “I’m home…” she whispered softly.
They stayed like that for a moment longer before breaking apart, Lyra pulling back slightly.
“I heard you achieved first place on the exam,” her mother said, a proud smile lighting up her face.
“It’s nothing really, Mother,’ Lyra replied, forcing a weak smile. ‘Where is Father, by the way?”
Her mother’s expression shifted slightly, a shadow of concern flickering across her features.
“Your father is still tied up in his study. He's been swamped with meetings and paperwork all day.”
Lyra let out a dry laugh. “He’s still the same, even now.”
“Lyra… you know your father—” her mother began, trying to console her, but Lyra cut her off.
“It’s fine, Mother. I know already—he’s too busy to spare even a moment for his only daughter,” Lyra said bitterly.
She turned and began walking toward the estate, her mother watching her figure with a mixture of concern and quiet sadness.
"Lyra..."
