One afternoon, Miss Seraphina asked me to follow her to the training grounds.
"Don't tell me you want me to train now," I asked, half-joking as I followed behind.
She turned with a smirk. "Why not? I'm sure of it now—you're not just some ordinary kid. You know how to defend yourself… and how to throw a punch when it counts."
I stayed silent, meeting her gaze. She wasn't entirely wrong.
Then she asked again, more seriously this time, "Tell me—who are you, really? And what happened to you that made you this way? A kid who's too smart and mature for his age..."
The questions kept piling up, but I cut them off coldly, "Let's not talk about my past. I'm not in the mood for it today."
We held each other's gaze for a moment. Her eyes softened, and she sighed. "Very well. You don't have to say anything. Just… tell me when—or if—you feel like it."
With that, she stepped forward and handed me a training sword. "For now, let's start with something simple. Instead of swinging it around like a stick, I want to at least teach you the basics of proper sword technique."
I looked down at the sword, a bit hesitant. She caught my expression and chuckled.
"What's with the long face? While you were unconscious, I was there during your check-up with the healers. Your body's in better shape than most boys your age."
I narrowed my eyes. "Pervert."
"H-Hey! It's not like that!" she stammered, flustered. "I was just there while the healers were examining you. I only happened to see—"
"Yup... definitely a pervert," I said, picking up the training sword.
"Hey, I said—!"
Cutting her off again, I added, "No need to explain. You're into younger boys, I get it."
Her face flushed red. "_Hey!_ Enough with that joke already!"
I grinned. It felt oddly comforting to tease her like that.
We continued practicing until the sun began to set. She corrected my grip, my stance, the way I moved. Despite the jokes, she was a skilled and patient teacher, guiding me through the foundations of the sword style she used.
When evening came, I decided to head back to the mansion. Strangely, I hadn't eaten all day. Maybe I didn't forget… maybe I just wasn't feeling it.
Some days, the memories hit harder than others.
The past, the friends I left behind—today was one of those days.