Chirping birds. The rustling of leaves.
A world that doesn’t exist anymore.
We’re sitting along a small hill, just a bit away from the city’s north gates. Students usually aren’t allowed to leave the academy, but thanks to the Queen visiting, we were free to do whatever we wanted for the entire day.
While everyone else is busy clamoring to the stands in the food district, I find it much more soothing for the soul to just sit down and read. That’s right, read until the words start to feel like they’re popping out of the page.
It’s the best time-waster. Though, I guess you can learn a few life lessons from certain stories.
That’s right. This is my time. My personal moment of peace.
“Saya! Gwynethorn to Saya!”
—That is, if I was alone.
“What?!” I shout back, snapping my head toward the voice.
Looking at me in shock is Albo Flore, my childhood friend.
His lips are pursed together, which indicates he knows what he did, while staring deeply into my soul like I should be the one apologizing for raising my voice at him. Amidst the greenery surrounding us, his emerald-like eyes still manage to stand out.
Not to mention, his golden blonde hair somehow enhances the sun’s rays twofold. I thought emitting shines and glows was something for bald people, not young teenagers with a full head of hair.
He doesn’t dye his hair or let it grow long. Somehow, he doesn’t get a tan either, despite being in the sun for long periods of time. A direct contrast to me, who has to constantly apply solutions to my skin.
His uniform is a bit different from mine. Every student in the Kala Magic Academy has to wear these long, flowy coats. Of course, the boys wear pants and the girls wear skirts, but the coat has to remain a constant.
Which is why it blows my mind that he managed to cut his robe into a short jacket without getting in trouble. It was technically still allowed in the rules, but that’s because nobody who has ever attended this academy has been as bold as this guy.
“Gold coins?” his voice snaps me back to reality.
“Er— Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said,” I reply.
He clears his throat. “I said, would you slap me for a million gold coins?”
“A million? That’s enough to fund, like, five whole generations.”
Puffing out his chest, he smiles confidently, as if I’d choose him over the million gold coins. Too bad for him.
“I’d do it for free. The gold coins are extra.” I shrug my shoulders, a twisted smirk unintentionally forming on my face.
“HUH?!?!? You’d slap me for free?”
Clasping his hands together, he shoves his face toward me.
“Pwease dwon’t do twhat—”
“Ew. What the hell is that?”
“Fine, Miss Idlansil! I’ll choose a different question. Would you rather give me a million gold coins, or blow up a city?”
“Blow up a city,” I say without hesitation.
“Do you… actually hate me?”
“Oops. I guess the secret’s out.” I sigh. “I guess we can’t hang out anymore, Albo. Oh my, how tragiccc…”
“Just so you know,” he points at me, “I would have given you the million coins.”
“Of course you would. Who wouldn’t want to spoil someone as cute as me?”
“You say that, Saya, but you’re like the most awkward girl in our class.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you talk to anyone else but me.”
“Yeah,” I curl up, “I don’t really have many other friends.”
Just then, Albo slams his hand against my head.
“Ow!”
“You have the ability to make new friends. You just don’t.”
“We’re not at the village anymore, so don’t you think it’s about time you branch out a bit?”
I let out a sigh. “Yeah. Maybe.”
“Though!” Albo jumps up, posing with both hands on his hips, “if you love me thaaaat much, I guess I don’t mind hanging out with you every single day! HA! HA! HA! We might as well just start dating at that point!”
I throw my book at him, which lands squarely in his face. “Don’t say dumb stuff like that, you idiot.”
It’s not because I don’t want to.
It’s because I do want to date you.
I’m just not ready for it yet.
Heat starts to spread across my face. Since he’s been my friend since childhood, he knows how to get me to react. He jokes around about love and all that all the time, but I wonder if he actually means what he says.
I mean, I take it seriously…
Not good. I need to change the subject before he starts teasing me for blushing.
“Uh, Albo!”
He stops his obnoxious laughter midway.
“Would you rather eat broccoli-flavored ice cream or a ketchup-flavored popsicle?”
“I’d choose ketchup-flavored popsicles. Broccoli is gross.”
“I think you’re gross regardless.”
“What the hell?! You asked!”
I giggle, “Okay, okay. How about this? I overheard some girl ask this to her friend earlier.”
“Would you still love me if I were a worm?”
He raises his head to the sky, bringing it back down after a second.
“I’d probably eat you.”
“EAT?!” I instinctively scurry away from this monster.
“Yeah, you know how when you see a cute duck, you just wanna squeeze it?”
“Or you see a shiny rock and you just wanna—CRACCKK—bite into it?”
“I’ve heard of that feeling before, but eating a worm is an entirely different thing! Hold on, didn’t you say broccoli is gross, but you’d eat a worm?”
“Yeah, because broccoli isn’t as cute as you.”
“No, but we’re talking about worms right now.”
“Worm Saya is probably still cute.”
I don’t know whether or not he was trying to be a smooth flirt, but it’s giving me the exact opposite effect. My mouth hangs open, still in disbelief at what he said. Who in their right mind would say something like that?
“Ah, but I guess if I bite you, you’d die.”
“Exactly. Please don’t bite me… freak.”
“HA! HA! HA! Watch out, one day I might be into your harsh bullying,” he says with a radiant smile. I really, really need to start treating him like a normal person, and not my best friend.
When he says random stuff like that, it really does make me wonder if he sees me as more than just a best friend.
While I’m lost in thought, I feel two hands gripping each of my shoulders. By the time I come back to my senses, I see Albo’s teary eyes right up close to my face.
“Don’t go dying on me, Saya! Even if you do happen to turn into a worm! I won’t bite you, I promise!”
I chuckle. “I won’t die anytime soon!”
“So you better not die either.”
He backs away. “Nah, I’ll live forever.”
“Okay,” I interject, “but what if someone kills you?”
“Now why would anyone want to kill this charming, handsome young man?” he says while whipping his hair majestically. Or at least, that’s probably what he thinks is happening in his mind.
“That’s working against your charm, you know,” I say with a giggle.
Puffing out my chest, I speak proudly. “If you do get killed, though, I’ll avenge you.”
“Even though you can’t cast magic?” His words sting.
Pouting, I turn my head away.
“Maybe I won’t avenge you after all.”
Chuckling nervously, he sits back down next to me.
“You probably shouldn’t. Or at least, if someone does kill me, make sure you don’t kill them back.”
“What’s that logic? If someone kills you, I’ll make it my life mission to kill them back. Wouldn’t you do the same for me?”
He stares out into the distance, no longer carrying his usual smile. When he’s silent like this, it feels like the entire world suddenly stops in its tracks. I want to tease him a bit more, but I decide not to.
“I think I’d do everything in my power to make you proud, but I wouldn’t kill them back.”
“Why not?”
“Well, for one…”
“...Killing is bad.”
Ah. Yeah.
This is the Albo I know and love. Someone who takes the world at face value, but still isn’t afraid to speak his mind. The world doesn’t work the way he wants it to, but he still tries to make it that way.
His determination, his passion for happiness, that’s the reason why I love him so much. I’m sure that if he were a bit quieter, he’d probably be much more popular with the girls.
Too bad, though. You’re stuck with me. Not that I’m complaining.
Raising my arm, I slap his back with intense ferocity.
“Ow! What was that for?!”
Standing up, I dust off the dirt on my skirt and cloak.
“Don’t go about bringing down the mood.”
I extend my hand.
He looks at my palm, then shifts his gaze to my eyes. I know he’s serious about what he said, which is why I won’t make fun of him for it. He’s always been understanding about my ideals, so it’s only fair that I do the same for him.
I don’t agree with him. Not one bit. But if that’s the life he wants to lead, then that’s on him.
His sullen face slowly transforms into a warm smile as he takes my hand.
Without another word, we start making our way back to the city. The sun is almost about to set. If we’re not back in thirty minutes or so, we’ll definitely get in trouble with Professor Hector.
Even so, I wish this walk would last forever. I wish I could be with him for the rest of my life.