Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

The night forest still looked completely different from the day.

The moonlight that lit up the night path to the forest entrance was blocked by tree branches and leaves as soon as it entered the forest.

Darkness envelops the surroundings.

The lamp's lights are sucked into the darkness without any reliance.

Every leaf groans, every bug rings.

Those sounds, which feel nothing during the day, can be heard at night with completely different emotions.

Horror.

Darkness carries with it man's original emotions.

Just being blinded makes people work countless imaginations beyond that.

I wonder if I've walked a long way into the woods.

The first destination, Mogatsukibana, was just a little closer to the sampling site, and Fita murmured.

"... I'm scared"

Morgan, who was leading the way, looks back.

"You're scared. I was scared last year."

That's what I said, give me your hand.

"Last year's third graders held hands. After that, I became a little less scared."

"Yeah."

Fita grabbed the hand honestly.

"Well, sometimes I can't tell you how fast he walks and how scared he is."

Almark laughs at Morgan's words.

"Is Zap okay?

Asked by Wendy, Zap nods silently.

Zap is a boy, so even if Wendy asks, it's hard to say he's scared.

Almark looked at Zap's expression, but he seems to be fine for now.

Rest assured, look back at Radmar, who will follow you a little later.

"Radmar, are you okay?"

Silently, the lamp shakes.

The lack of an answer would be a good sign.

"If you're tired, don't hesitate to tell me."

Speak up and turn around.

"... that's why Radmar always does that."

After walking for a while, Zap told me not to hear him in the back.

"Everyone hates teaming me up. After all, we pushed him."

"Yes."

Wendy nods.

"In the classroom, huh?

"Yeah."

Zap nods.

"We didn't like it either. I couldn't tell you to go anywhere else."

It would mean that the two adults pushed the troublemaker.

Almark thought.

In this academy, which is treated like a royal or a civilian, the way Radmar does it, people won't get around very much.

No matter what happens if they hate me, they won't do anything at the Academy.

Royalty, nobility, civilians.

Beyond that, you are a human being.

We must do something about it.

I'm sure that's what makes him a magician.

"You didn't hate being with Radmar."

Wendy said that and smiled at Zap.

"You two are so kind."

"No, it's not like that."

That's how Zap looks down like illuminated.

It's not just the lamp that makes your face look red.

Almark turned around.

The lamp is shaking.

I feel a little distant from Radmar.

"Morgen"

Almark speaks to Morgan, who speaks to Fita about the charm of a fish kiosk with pleasure at the beginning.

"Let's slow down a little."

Yeah, I hope so.

Morgan nods strangely.

"Sorry, did you have a fast pace?"

When Morgan asks sideways, Fita shakes her head.

"Yeah, not at all."

Almark waits for Radmar to approach and starts walking to encourage Morgan.

"Radmar."

Zap said in a small voice.

"No magic, no study, no exercise. But I'm always bragging just because I'm royalty. Everyone knows Radmar is royal, so I won't say anything."

That's right.

Wendy nods gently.

"Everyone's in trouble, too. And Radmar is in trouble."

"And Radmar?

Zap looks up at Wendy.

"Yeah, Radmar's in trouble, too. We all have our own problems."

I don't know.

Zap's face didn't let go.

While listening to Wendy's conversation with Zap, Almark felt caught in his heart.

No exercise?

No exercise, huh?

"Zap, I'm sorry. I wonder if Radmar can't exercise."

"Yeah, I can't. I have no health at all. I guess I've hardly been to the woods either."

Almark looks back at Zap's words.

The distance from Radmar, who was supposed to have followed him, was again far away.

This could be harder than I thought.

Almark went back the way he came and approached Radmar.

Radmar was breathing on his shoulders.

Were the lamps shaking just now due to fatigue?

"Radmar, are you tired?"

Radmar shakes his shoulders and does not reply.

"We haven't even arrived at the first sampling site yet. I can't make it at this pace."

Almark says.

"How many times have I been in the woods?"

Radmar does not reply.

"If you don't want to answer, you don't have to answer with your mouth. Tell me with your fingers."

Radmar slowly raised three fingers.

After completing more than half of his second year, he came to the forest only for the third time today. What kind of college life have you been living?

Almark waited and sighed.

I'll hold the lamp.

Almark grabbed Radmar's lamp by force.

When Radmar tried to say something back with a steep face, a big moth was drawn to the lamp lights.

"Wow. A poisonous moth."

Radmar waved in surprise.

Stop, don't come.

"It's okay. This moth is not poisonous."

Almark stretches out his left hand and grips the moth.

"Moths don't do anything. But if it stops, I'll stop by as much as I want."

That being said, when I slap my hand and remove the carcass, I also grab the luggage that Radmar is carrying.

"I'll take this, too. Morgan!"

"Yeah."

Morgan and the others stopped a little further and watched.

Morgan shakes the lamp on his right hand.

"I'll slow you down."

"That's right. We're a team of six. Walk at Radomar's pace."

In Almark's words, Radmar grumbled at Pride's injured face.