Old friend Hurin stares at me and solidifies.

Me staring at my old friend Hurin and solidifying.

For the first time in a decade, a sudden reunion took away time from us.

"... Um, do you two know each other?

Laura, who was outside the mosquito nets, asks for a favor.

"Oh, yeah"

It was Hurin who answered.

"Alberto and I were students..."

"Wait a minute, please"

I blocked Hurin's story.

"I'm sorry, Laura. Will you take your seat off? 'Cause I'll talk to you someday."

"Yes! I'm fine! Then I'll go!

With that said, Laura left the dining room.

I did something bad to Laura......

But I still couldn't make up my mind.

Talking to Hurin means telling him that I was a student at the academy.

When I was in college for the first time,

That was in me and I hadn't broken it yet.

Someday we should talk.

Because Laura told me where she came from.

I'm responsible for that.

But I didn't want to do that today. It's not a story that I want to flutter when I suddenly show up.

Hurin sits in the seat where Laura was.

"Long time no see, Alberto."

"Right... I didn't expect to see you here..."

"You're not, are you? It's an unexpected case for a graduate to work for."

So silence.

Hurin changed the subject.

"You're back, to college"

"... oh. I've got a lot of connections..."

"You didn't tell Mr. Laura? You mean back?

"I'm not talking.... because it's not a past where you can talk with your chest up."

"... well"

Yeah, yeah. Hurin nods.

"Okay. Then I won't tell you. Even at school. Some teachers have been around for ten years, but I don't think anyone's noticed yet."

"Thanks"

"But I know Alberto's hard working past. I don't think that's embarrassing."

"... it is true that he escaped"

I shook my head.

"I'm sorry about that. Ten years ago, I couldn't meet your expectations."

"Fine... I'm glad Alberto didn't abandon his magic to see you again"

The chuckle and Hurin cheered at me.

And give me the envelope you left on the table.

"That's right. I forgot, this. Alberto, accompany me to the water quality survey."

"... you don't ask me if my plans are okay, do you?

"Yeah, 'cause it's compulsory"

After I said it with a smile, Hurin squeezed his face tight and whispered.

"I'm not kidding, this"

"... what do you mean?

"Alberto, I'm telling you, don't tell me this, okay?

Hurin's fingers turned up.

"Laura just missed the list, but Alberto suddenly decided. with instructions from above. He said he'd definitely let you in."

"Up?"

"This is the Royal Academy of Magic - that is, an order from the state."

Hurin shakes his head.

"I don't know any more than that. Alberto?

"I don't know... I'm going to live clean and right"

Strange story.

Add as many mediocre students as I can to an elite fact-finding team. It is also by state order.

... I'm really not sure. I don't have a verse in mind.

"Uh, no."

Hurin laughs when he dulls.

"I don't mind! Opportunities are opportunities, take advantage of them, big feathers!

I'll try my best.

I put the papers aside.

"By the way, how's Lugard?

I said the name of my other friend.

Me and Lugard were cut off, but I was hoping that Hurin and I were still connected.

Hurin shook his head with a sad look on his face.

"He's gone."

"No more?

"Lugard died five years ago."

"... Huh?

Lugard's dead?

"Why?"

"He became a magic knight, as he hoped. He had talent and merit. He was proud of his contemporaries. But I was on a mission, and I never came back."

I had no idea. Lugard with a big, tough body. In me, Lugard was in opposite positions to death.

The Lugard.

Make it only 21 years old.

"Really..."

"Yeah. I don't know what life is. I can't believe this misfortune happened to Lugard..."

Oh, and Hurin sighed.

"Alberto be careful, too. 'Cause I'm a little concerned about this story."

"Right. Let's just say we're careful."

◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇

It was a dim temple there.

A big - pitch-black flame is burning up on that altar.

One man stood before the flames.

The man stands in front of the flames and casts a spell indifferently. Every word spills, the pitch-black flame adds strength.

It's like the flames are eating spells.

"... Phew"

Finish the spell and a man takes a step back.

The man was dressed in a black robe with a design embellished with gold and silver thread. The face - I don't know.

Because the mask covered the top half of his face.

And the footsteps sounded, and signs appeared behind him.

"The day after day, the sperm comes out."

He was a small old man. He wears a hood softly as if to cover his head itself.

"The time will soon be full - when our 'dark' estrangement ends. I don't have time to relax."

"Thank you."

The old man bowed his head.

"Master Lugard - are you ready to repaint the kingdom you grew up in?

"Don't call me by that name. It's a name I threw away - I've been ready for it for five years."

"It is. I've done rude things like trying your strong heart. Forgive me, my darkness."

And this is what the old man continued to do.

"The Dark Ages Again"

"The Dark Ages Again"

When Lugard responds, he returns and walks to the back of the building.

For some reason, the figure of two friends as students floated behind Lugard's brain, swallowed by the flames of burning darkness.

It was a sad sight.

Lugard felt nothing.