Chapter 26: The Weight of Choices
"I'll say it directly. I want you to go out in a date with me..."
These were the words of the bald man, Mundo, as he stood in the middle of the academy corridor, blocking Fayrouz and Lazaria's path. His voice, though calm, carried a weight that immediately drew the attention of nearby students. Some who overheard his bold declaration paused, curiosity piqued, and lingered to see how the situation would unfold.
Fayrouz, her black hair framing her pale face and her piercing blue eyes locked onto Mondo, stood silently, her expression unreadable. Mondo, for his part, met her gaze with equal intensity, his usual carefree demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness. The corridor, once filled with the murmurs of students and the soft shuffle of footsteps, fell into an awkward silence that stretched for a full ten seconds.
The students around them, who had initially paused in their movements, exchanged quick glances. Some stifled whispers, their eyes darting nervously between Mundo and Fayrouz.
Finally, Lazaria, the blond girl and also Fayrouz's roommate, sensing the tension, tried to slip away, her voice low as she glanced at Fayrouz. "I think I'll leave you two alone for a moment—"
Before she could finish, Fayrouz responded, her voice calm but firm, cutting through the silence like a blade. "Knights are individuals who dedicate their lives to protecting the innocent, both within and outside the kingdom. I don't have time to indulge in romantic feelings."
Her answer was sharp, delivered with a stoic expression and unwavering blue eyes. The students who had gathered around them began to whisper among themselves, their voices carrying a mix of amusement and pity.
"Ouch, man. He got rejected."
"Maybe he should've waited a bit. Tomorrow's the first day, and they'll be studying together for three years."
"Perhaps he failed the exam and wanted to confess before leaving."
"That girl's a bit harsh. She could've let him down more gently."
As the whispers grew louder, Lazaria, feeling increasingly uncomfortable, grabbed Fayrouz's hand and began to pull her away. "Maybe it's best if we leave now..."
As they walked away, Lazaria glanced back at Mundo, who called out in a voice loud enough for both of them to hear, "Lazaria, I remember now. Your features... you really do look like her. I can understand why you chose the path of the Knights."
Lazaria froze mid-step, her body stiffening for a moment. She had expected him to be depressed due to the rejection he faced, but he quickly changed the subject. She couldn't tell if he was just trying to lighten the mood since everyone was watching them, or if he truly meant what he said.
Fayrouz, noticing her hesitation, was about to ask if something was wrong, but Lazaria suddenly turned back to Mundo and replied in a quiet but steady voice, "Once again, you're jumping to the wrong conclusions. It's impossible for someone as weak as me to be related to her..."
With that, Lazaria continued walking, pulling Fayrouz with her and leaving Mondo to ponder her words as he too began to move away from the crowd. 'It's obvious you're her younger sister or something similar. Why do you refuse to let people know your family name so adamantly?'
Mundo walked slowly, his hands tucked into the pockets of his quasi-military pants. His brown eyes, clouded with sorrow and melancholy, scanned the room, lost in thought. The soft murmurs of the students echoed in the background, but he barely noticed them. As he moved, it seemed as though the weight of his own thoughts carried him. It seems that the relationship between a knight girl like her who will dedicate her life to save people, and an adventurer like me who will live freely, is just impossible after all.
---
Later that evening, in the headmaster's office, the atmosphere was markedly different. The room was dimly lit by a small lamp filled with Menma particles, their soft glow casting long shadows across the wooden desk and the stacks of papers scattered across it. The headmaster, a man with light brown hair and calm, calculating eyes, sat behind his desk, quietly reviewing a set of documents.
Standing before him were three individuals, each distinct in appearance and demeanor. The first was a man with gray hair and green eyes, dressed in a sleek gray suit that matched his hair. He was the same man who had distributed the forms to the successful candidates earlier in the day.
The second was a young woman with black hair tied into a playful ponytail, her brown eyes hidden behind elegant, stylish glasses with a soft, curved frame that perfectly matched the color of her eyes. She wore loose black clothing, her posture relaxed, but her sharp gaze carried a hint of curiosity and mischief. Her fair skin added a soft contrast to her striking features, giving her a unique charm.
The third was a man in his thirties, his blond hair disheveled and his brown eyes heavy with exhaustion. He wore a rumpled black outfit, clearly uninterested in his appearance, and yawned repeatedly, as if waiting for the meeting to end.
The headmaster looked up from his papers, his light brown eyes shifting between the three of them. "Tomorrow, the regular academic schedule will begin," he said, his voice calm but authoritative. "Since all the third-year students you were supervising have graduated successfully, you will now be responsible for the new students."
The young woman with the ponytail spoke first, her tone matter-of-fact. "That's obvious. I'll take charge of the Exploration Corps, as usual."
The headmaster nodded, adding, "I'm the new employee here, unlike you, so please forgive me as you already know your work better than I do."
The three of them looked at him calmly, realizing that his humility didn't quite match reality. Despite his young age, no one could deny that he was an extraordinary person. A man who had taken the Raghandarok Academy into a new era in the last three years, and the fruits of his changes would continue to unfold with time.
"However," He continued the conversation calmly. "There's an unusual coincidence this year: each specialization has exactly ten students. This means each of you will be responsible for teaching ten individuals."
The man in the gray suit moved his lips with a calm and serious tone. "I had to teach over forty students last year. Teaching only ten sounds like a luxury."
The blond man, who had been yawning throughout the meeting, stepped forward and picked up the file containing the names of the students who had chosen the Adventurer specialization. As he turned to leave, he muttered, "It hasn't even been a week since the third-years graduated, and now we're already tasked with teaching the new ones. A one-week break isn't enough. I wanted more time to read and study the wonders of Menma... but no matter. I'm confident I'll have talented students as usual. There's nothing better than discovering a rare ability..."
With that, he left the room, leaving the other two instructors and the headmaster behind. It was now clear who these three individuals were: the teachers who would guide the new students starting tomorrow. The lazy blond man was responsible for the Adventurers, the young woman with the ponytail oversaw the Exploration Corps, and the man in the gray suit would handle the Knights.
As the headmaster leaned back in his chair, the lamp's soft glow illuminating his thoughtful expression, he murmured to himself, "This year's batch is... interesting. Let's see how far they can go."
The stage was set, and the lives of the new students were about to change forever.
.
.