Judging by how naturally Herion was already putting this guy to work, it seemed she was more capable than Ceres had first thought.
“Hmm...”
Ceres’s brow twitched as she unfolded the letter and began reading. It went on for several pages, but the entire thing could be summarized in a single sentence.
Please help me!
There was no shortage of troublesome people, and the knights seemed to be the worst of them. Apparently, they refused to listen to a single word from the family’s new head.
“But why is she asking me for help?”
It was true that Ceres felt a small sense of responsibility, but actually receiving a letter like this was absurd.
We’ve been seeing each other pretty often lately.
Between all the tests and repeated meetings, they had formed the barest level of familiarity.
The problem was that Herion wasn’t asking for help with healing arts or anything related to that.
Isn’t it strange to ask an outsider like me to help settle matters within House Ellesia? Why does she trust me so much? Does she even know who I am?
[Because I told her to.]
“What?”
[If anything difficult comes up, I told her to leave it all to you. I personally vouched for you.]
“......”
Ceres stared silently at Jubelios, who looked immensely pleased with himself.
Though this feathered punk had stayed by her side for so many years, he still didn’t understand what kind of person she was.
Even when she had every intention of doing something herself, the moment someone else ordered her to do it, her mood instantly soured.
“Cheion.”
“Hm?”
“Let’s roast this bird whole.”
[I-I just remembered I’m busy!]
Jubelios vanished in a hurry as though fleeing for his life.
Ceres clicked her tongue quietly as she watched him go. At least he knew better than to think she made empty threats.
***
It was late into the night, when most people had already fallen asleep.
Even so, the Magic Tower still remained lit. Many rooms had their lights on as mages buried themselves in research through the night.
“It’s quiet.”
Ceres was no different, unable to fall asleep herself. Tomorrow, her temporary work as a secretary would end, and she would finally return home.
However, there was one place her gaze kept drifting toward:
A small white building. A magical space left behind by Artia, the former Tower Master.
The place was usually crowded with people, but tonight, it felt unusually deserted. It was probably because of the advancement exam that would be held in a few days.
Once every year, the Magic Tower conducted an advancement exam to determine who would earn the right to a personal research lab. Those who failed to achieve satisfactory results could even lose the private lab they already possessed.
Because of that, everyone in the Tower was busy practicing and studying on their own. Simply put, no one had the spare attention to care about the building Artia had left behind.
After giving the surroundings one last glance, Ceres headed toward it.
Before leaving the Magic Tower, she felt she should visit this place at least once. Even the smallest trace would be enough.
I just want to see him again.
Srrk.
As Ceres approached, the tightly shut door opened on its own, befitting a space created through magic.
The moment she stepped into the brightly lit room, the door closed behind her once more, sealing the space into perfect solitude.
If she remembered correctly, once someone entered the building, no one else could come inside until that person gave up the challenge.
Woooong—
A faint vibration rippled through the air, and a blurry figure appeared before Ceres. It was a young boy who looked about six years old.
[Welcome to the first room.]
“...Arti.”
It was Artia as a child. He looked exactly the same as when she had first met him, his face full of mischief.
When she saw her young friend again, a smile naturally rose to Ceres’s lips.
[First question. You should at least know this much before coming here, right? What’s my full name and birthday?]
“...Artia Lucalos. June 14th, 1185.”
[Correct.]
Just as he had said, the first question was easy.
Fwaaash!
A light burst through the empty space, and a door appeared out of nowhere. When Ceres stepped through it, another similar room unfolded before her, along with another figure.
This time, Artia was slightly older.
[Second question.]
After that, she continued solving questions to move from one room to the next.
Just as Cheion had said, there wasn’t a single question related to magic. Every question was solely about Artia himself, allowing Ceres to move forward without difficulty.
His favorite flower, favorite color, favorite food...
Watching Artia ask such trivial questions, Ceres found herself enjoying the process far more than she had expected.
Above all, she loved seeing Artia gradually grow older with each room she passed through.
From the young boy she remembered so dearly, to the youthful version she had last seen, and even the older Artia who had continued aging after she was gone.
Being able to witness every stage of his life filled Ceres with a wistful feeling.
She opened the next door and waited for him to appear again.
[Already the twenty-fifth room. Congratulations on making it this far.]
At some point, she had already passed the room Cheion himself had reached.
As Ceres stepped into the twenty-fifth room, she quietly gazed at Artia, who now looked well beyond middle age.
She didn’t touch any magical formula or artifact hidden throughout the rooms. After all, she didn’t enter this place to obtain those in the first place.
[Welcome.]
Before she knew it, an elderly Artia stood before her. His eyes still carried that same playful glint.
For some reason, the sight made her chest ache.
Arti... you really did grow old.
[This is the final question.]
So she finally reached the end.
A slight regret washed over Ceres. She wanted to see Artia a little longer.
As though Artia understood her feelings, he smiled softly and held her gaze.
She knew this was only a magical illusion, yet it felt so real that she could almost believe he was truly looking at her.
[April 3rd, 1213.]
April 3rd?
[What was the last thing I said to Grace that day?]
“......”
For a long moment, Ceres couldn’t answer. She just stood there in silence, staring at Artia.
April 3rd, 1213.
Even now, she remembered that day clearly.
Arti...
Because that was the day he first learned about her illness.
The illness she had hidden from everyone for so long was finally discovered by Artia when he came to see her that day. Of all things, he had witnessed her coughing up blood before collapsing.
At first, Artia only stared at her with wide eyes, as if he couldn’t believe what he had seen. Then, little by little, silent tears began to fall from his eyes.
After crying like that for a while, the last thing he said before leaving was:
“Wait for me.”
“...I’ll save you.”
The quiet words slipped from Ceres’s lips unconsciously.
At that, Artia’s smile deepened. Even the gaze resting on her seemed softer somehow.
Was it only her imagination?
[Grace.]
“—!”
[I kept my promise.]
“...What?”
Fwaaaash!
Before she could process his words, a brilliant light poured down around her. It was completely different from the lights earlier.
“...Another door?”
Wasn’t it over already?
Ceres walked toward the newly appeared door.
Before stepping through, she took one final look at Artia, who was still watching her with that familiar smile.
But his figure soon began to fade away. Ceres eventually turned around with lingering regret.
Creak!
“......”
The moment she opened the door and stepped inside, Ceres froze in place.
A garden overflowing with flowers spread out before her eyes. Countless blossoms bloomed endlessly across the vast field, so many that she couldn’t see where they ended.
Flowers as white as snow.
“Lunaria...”
“What do you think of this flower, Grace?”
“It’s pretty. What flower is it?”
“It’s called Lunaria. It only grows in the western region. It can’t be used as a medicinal herb, though.”
“I figured. If I don’t know about it, it probably has no medicinal use.”
“Do you know the meaning behind Lunaria?”
“Do I need to know things like that too?”
“The meaning of Lunaria is...”
“...I’ll wait for you.”
At that moment, a gentle breeze swept through the garden, scattering white petals into the air. They softly swirled around Ceres.
I waited for you.
I’ve been waiting for you for a very long time.
I missed you so much.
It felt like the entire space was whispering those words to her.
Ceres stood there silently for a while before slowly taking another step forward.
Because in the middle of the flower field, she had spotted something floating in the air, glowing with a faint light.
“...A letter?”
What floated before her was, indeed, a letter.
As Ceres drew closer, the glow surrounding it gradually disappeared. The letter fluttered down into her hands.
[To Grace.]
There was no way she could fail to recognize that handwriting.
Though Artia was called a genius blessed by mana, there was one thing he had always been hopeless at.
His handwriting.
It was crooked and uneven. No matter how much he practiced, it never improved.
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