It’s been five days since I destroyed the curse on the city, and only a day has passed since I woke up.
Realistically, I should still be in bed. I expected I’d have trouble walking after the toll I’ve put on my body. Maybe it’s the healing magic they’ve been pumping into me the past few days, but I can, at least, walk without trouble.
If I try to run… it would definitely hurt.
The maid assigned to me begged for me to stay in bed, and I really tried to listen, but staying in bed and rolling around aimlessly just feels like a waste of time, even if it’s supposed to be good for me in the long run.
I’d rather put my time into doing something useful.
Which is why, as of last night, I’ve come to a conclusion to find a cure for him.
“I’ll be away for a while, Albo.”
Even back at the academy, there were constant mentions of Aimafina being able to perform miracles beyond human comprehension. Truthfully, I never really believed them, just chalking them up to rumors.
But at this point, I need to do everything I can.
I stare at his peaceful body at rest, watching the sun’s golden rays bleed across the wool until it feels warm to the touch. The light is so radiant, so piercingly clear, that I can see the silver dust motes dancing in slow, lazy circles through the air.
It was just raining yesterday, and now it feels like a completely different world. I could just stay here and live out the rest of my days in peace and security. It’s the most logical answer. After such an attack, the city will probably raise its defenses, and I highly doubt a curse like that would ever come back.
But if I don’t take initiative in my own life, then what’s the point of living?
“Did you know, Veronica warmed up to me?”
I let out a humorous sigh.
“I know, I never would have expected something like that from her in a million years.”
“But I think she genuinely cares for you.”
“She’s not quite my friend, and I don’t really think I’m hers either.”
“So, when you wake up, let’s get to know her more together.”
“I’m sure we can find some middle ground for the three of us to stand on.”
Man, the attitude she showed yesterday was so unlike her. But if she can change, maybe others can too.
I bend forward, reflexively trying to brush my right hand through his hair. It takes me a moment, but I correct myself, shifting my body to reach out with my left. What a pain in the ass it is to have to correct myself so much.
His body temperature is so warm I can feel it even from a distance.
What’s more, his breathing is so rhythmic and peaceful, a slow and steady rise against the mattress, that I could fall asleep just by looking at him. The sun’s rays hit his face, catching every strand of his golden hair and making it shine with a brilliant, metallic luster.
“I asked Veronica to look after you while I’m gone.”
“She seems to like you quite a bit, so I’m sure she’ll take good care of you.”
I gently caress his forehead, sending a tinge of tickle back into my own fingertips. His hair has grown so much since I last saw him, and no matter how many times I try to fix his bed hair, it keeps springing back up in the same places.
With the city trying to recover, I really doubt the maids have been giving him a proper shower these last few days.
My heart beats loudly like drums as I scan his face. He’s so cute.
I’m sorry for dragging you into all this. Maybe if I had thrown away that stupid book earlier, then you wouldn’t have been put in such peril. I hope whatever dream you’re having, that it’s a pleasant one.
I promise that by the time you wake up, I’ll be someone so different that you won’t recognize me. In a good way, of course.
And when that time comes, I want to properly thank you. I honestly don’t know how I would have gotten this far in life if it wasn’t for your help during my entire childhood. Hell, even at the academy, you’ve saved me more times than I can count.
So this time, I want to be your hero.
I don’t care about the world, or the Eighth, or whatever.
I want to be your hero.
My greed and insecurity put you in danger, so I want to give back your life by offering up mine. You can count on me, Albo. I’ll save you. I can guarantee that.
So for now, let me be greedy one last time, while I can still see you.
My face gets closer to his, the space between us thinning until I can feel the faint warmth that still clings to his skin.
As I draw near, I can feel his breath brushing against my cheeks, soft and uneven.
My lips hover just above his, so close that the slightest shift would close the distance. The anticipation makes everything around me sharper.
The faint rustle of fabric. The distant murmur of the city beyond the window. The steady beat of my heart pounding in my ears.
My fingers tighten slightly where they rest, just enough to keep my balance and steady myself.
Waiting. Wanting. Begging for them to finally make contact after all this time.
This is what I’ve wanted all my life, and now that it’s within reach, so close I can almost taste it, the world narrows to this single fragile moment suspended between us.
Someone to share a life with. Someone to share love with.
But this isn’t the way to do it.
If I’m going to receive something like this, I’d rather it be out of his own will. I won’t take away his first, and I won’t force my first onto him.
So for now, I’ll do this.
I lift my head ever so slightly, my movements slow and careful, as my lips make contact with his warm, clear forehead.
His skin is smooth beneath my lips, faintly heated from tears and breath, and I linger there for a heartbeat longer than necessary. The warmth seeps into me, grounding me in a way words never could.
I open my eyes just a fraction, glancing at the top of his head. Strands of his hair catch the muted daylight, fine and slightly disheveled from where I’ve been holding him.
Taking in the sight quietly, I absorb this passionate scene, committing the rise and fall of his breathing to memory before closing my eyes again.
Meanwhile, I keep caressing his hair as gently as possible. My fingers comb through it in slow passes, careful not to tug, tracing the natural part and smoothing it back into place.
Each stroke is deliberate and tender, so that I don’t accidentally wake him from his peaceful slumber.
I pull back, standing up with my back straightened. With a grin, I raise my hand ever so slightly, waving him goodbye.
My feet pivot, and I walk toward the locked door behind me. As I twist the knob and creak the door open, I turn back to him one last time.
“I love you. I’ll see you in a bit.”
Though, I don’t really know if it's you that I love.
Or your role.
Closing the door just as carefully as I opened it, I make my way to the throne room.
I haven’t had the chance to see much of Hana or the Queen since I woke up yesterday. They checked up on me, sure, but they were so busy dealing with the aftermath that I had to let Veronica explain what’s been going on.
Apparently, they’re holding a mass funeral for the deceased sometime this week.
Honestly, it feels like I should be there too, but I don’t know if I want to spend that much time in the castle doing nothing. As long as I’m missing an arm, I highly doubt either the Queen or Hana would let me train.
Not that I want to anyways.
I slide my hand down to my waist, clutching the spellbook attached there. It’s given me so much trouble, so it’s only fair I take it with me. Besides, as long as this book is here, then I highly doubt Albo will truly be safe.
Regardless, I need to take all the danger with me, or else nothing will matter in the end.
There’s still a lot of questions on my mind, like how it keeps moving on its own, and how it even casts spells to begin with. But I highly doubt there won’t be anything mentioned in the text itself.
If the Butterfly Mage omitted such important information, I don’t know if that’s being dumb or incompetent.
Slowly, my head turns to the yet-to-be-repaired shattered windows next to me. The garden that I was using for training is now a trash pile for all the excess rubble and debris. I can’t even blame anyone else but myself.
The barrier was mainly only meant for humans, and the slimes weren’t built to do so much architectural damage.
I’m sorry for the damages… But I did what I had to do!
By the time I’m lost in my thoughts, a maid opens the door in front of me, and I’m ushered into the throne room.
It’s barely nine in the morning, but there’s an influx of people gathered around. It’s a bit hard to hear, but the Queen is shouting commands and orders to her knights and retainers, maintaining her composure despite the long spikes of ice protruding through her skin.
Along the edges where ice and flesh meet, she’s wrapped in bandages. If I didn’t know about her strange situation, I most definitely would have assumed that she got hit with ice during the attack.
Thankfully, Veronica told me that they removed or cut most of the spikes, only keeping the ones that would be difficult to heal right away.
Hana notices me standing behind her and turns to walk toward me.
She pulls me aside to the corner of the room so as not to interrupt whatever the Queen is currently in session with.
“Why are you up? Shouldn’t you stay in bed?” she asks, her face awfully close to mine.
I let out a nervous chuckle before averting my gaze.
“Sorry, I just wanted to say a few things before I—”
I stop myself. What if they don’t let me go? I mean, it’s well within their rights to keep me here as long as they want. Even after all that, even I can’t go against true royal power.
Besides, what if I leave and they kick out Albo as a result? Wouldn’t that cause so many problems for both of us? It’s a lose-lose situation. If I tell them, then I risk being put away forcefully, but if I don’t tell them, the others might get kicked out.
My brows furrow as I get lost in my thoughts, before a hearty slap on my spine brings me back to my senses. Recoiling at the sudden impact, I let out a quiet but noticeable yelp.
The room goes quiet as the retainers turn their heads to face me.
Just as I’m about to apologize, the Queen snaps her fingers, drawing their attention back to her. I turn to look at Hana, expecting to see at least a scowl or an annoyed face, but I couldn’t be more wrong.
She’s smiling at me.
“What were you going to say?”
I pause. Time freezes around me. What do I answer? What’s the best course of action?
No, the answer is so clear. I’m just dumb. Hana would never kick someone out just because of spite or disrespect. I’ve seen her over the past few weeks. She’s been nothing but kind, honorable, and caring.
Someone like that would never allow a comatose teenager to be kicked out. Besides, even if they do get kicked out, I’m sure Veronica has a coin or two to spare, and they’ll be able to stay at a lodge or something.
But I’d still feel bad if I just left without saying anything.
“I just wanted to thank you.”
“Thank you for being so kind, and being so hospitable.”
“And thank you for saving our lives.”
With a grin on her face, she ruffles my hair before gently escorting me back to the door behind me. The maid folds forward into a bow before quietly re-opening the door. She slowly pushes my back, and I lightly tumble into the hallway I came from.
“No worries.”
“It was our pleasure.”
She closes the door herself, and I’m left with silence once more.
As realization starts to set in, I burst into a sprint, heading toward the Sword Saint’s room.
It’s true that her room is barebones compared to the others, but at least from what I could tell while recovering there, the front courtyard is just below that room.
My legs hurt. They feel like they’re about to give out at any time. The muscles feel like they’re cramping with each step I take, clearly not fully recovered from my battle.
I feel like throwing up. I shouldn’t be exerting so much physical energy. Maybe that maid had a point, maybe I should have stayed in bed.
No. I can’t. I can’t lie around doing nothing, wasting my time.
I need to get something done. I need to be useful somehow.
Hastily twisting the doorknob open, I rush toward the window. A sudden gust of cold air hits my face, and I recoil back in surprise.
The floor’s not too far below. It’s about the same height as jumping off five stacked wooden crates. By my calculations, the only way I make it down safely is by using my physical strengthening technique.
But right now, I’m worried that if I activate my magical gears, then I’ll do some irreparable damage to myself. Can I afford to be picky right now, though?
I really don’t want to do this. It feels wrong.
My legs tremble, as each shake slides my feet onto the edge further and further. My breathing sharpens as the ground below me seems to get deeper and deeper with each passing second that I look at it.
I swallow hard before inching another step closer.
I’m scared.
What if my physical strengthening isn’t enough? What if I don’t have enough magical energy to pull it off?
What if…
The sight of my arm exploding flashes in my mind like a flickering light. I see the bones splintering into small, sharp, jagged pieces. Blood spills out in a heavy, hot rush, unable to complete its intended circulation.
The copper scent of it fills my nose, despite there not being any actual blood around me, and the sudden heat of the wound turns into a searing, throbbing ache.
I’m scared. But I have to commit. If I don’t, if I don’t…
The porridge that I ate in the morning rises back up, the hot acid burning my throat on its way. If I had eaten anything else, I would have definitely thrown up right now. My stomach feels like it's been turned inside out.
My body leans forward, ready to finally take the leap. Just as my fingers start to loosen around the window frame, a sharp voice calls out from behind me.
“There’s no need to do that.”
I turn my head back, just enough to catch a glimpse of a large dress at the end of the room.
“I’ve prepared an exit for you. There’s no need to overuse your already exhausted magical energy.”
My eyes widen in surprise. “W-why?”
“Why?” she replies with a slight irritation in her voice.
“I care for that boy as well. You’re terrifyingly stubborn, so when I heard your plan, I decided to help you out.”
I step down from the window ledge, closing the frame shut. I slowly walk toward Veronica, who has her head turned to the side. With a tired grin, I reach out my left arm for a handshake. She really has changed, or at least is trying.
Or maybe this is how she always is, and I just never got to see it.
“Thank you.”
She gently slaps my hand away, turning her gaze away all the while. “Just go.”
“If you go down to the kitchen, the small window in the storage room should be open. Go through there. It’s on the first floor too, so you don’t need to jump and risk your life more than you already have.”
With an encouraging nod, I walk past her.
“Also, get a new set of clothes. You’d look ridiculous if you went out like that.”
My head naturally glances down. She’s completely right. I’m wearing the same nightgown.
That was close.
“I will, thanks.”
I wave her goodbye before walking toward my room. I slide the door open, the wood scraping lightly against the floor as I make my way straight toward my closet. The clothes that I was wearing a few nights ago when I met the First Hand are still hanging there.
They were ripped apart after I cast my magic, but it looks like someone has sewn them all back together. On the table behind me are a bunch of materials laid out, most likely from the maids who had to fix my clothes three times in a row.
Quickly, I put on the long skirt, brown leather boots, and an adventurer’s top made of white wool. The leather is stiff against my skin, and the wool feels slightly coarse and heavy.
To be honest, the actual clothes don’t matter much to me, but something else catches the corner of my eye. A dull glint of metal sits on the table, reflecting the morning light.
It’s sitting in the same spot that it used to. Albo’s short robe, cut to look like a jacket.
How could I forget? I was never truly alone in this journey, and I don’t have to be alone. As long as I wear this, it’ll be like he’s still with me every step of the way.
I grab the robe, wrapping the arm sleeves around my neck and tucking them inside the chest area to make a makeshift cape. The light fabric bunches against my collarbone, and I can feel the weight of it pulling at my shoulders.
Wearing a robe while venturing out in the wild could probably be quite annoying, but cutting off the arms also feels like a waste. So for now, I’ll push onward with my own personalized take on fashion.
I slap my cheek, snapping my focus to attention. As I leave the room, the mirror next to the closet reflects me.
This is just the start.
Just wait. I’ll save you.
With the final piece of determination shifting within me, I let myself out into an all-out sprint to the exit, before anyone else can spot, and stop me.