"Dear Yologue, one day you came by suddenly."
Ward keeps talking pale.
"When that majestic old man was in the mansion without a single companion, it made a scene with something. As soon as Yolog was named, he told me that he wanted to see the lady and that he would go into the lady's room alone. Elmond was also very worried about what the hell the Dean of the School of Magic was doing, peeking and listening from the outside, but it seemed that Yologue and the lady were sitting across the street and talking about something all the time, that's all they could figure out"
Almark also met Yologue when he was five years old.
My memory is already fading, but I remember the old man talking to my father for a long time.
Now I think that day, Almark's way of life was set.
And I didn't know the Dean was coming to Wendy's, too.
"You two have been talking for a long time, that's been a long time. Occasionally, I also heard the lady sobbing, and Lady Elmond was rubbing her mind. When you two finally came out, the lady had a refreshing face as if her possessions had fallen. And Yolog said to Elmond,"
Ward said, cough one up.
"When I turn nine, I go to Norc Magic College. They have great qualities."
"Wow."
Morgen speaks up.
"It's a direct recommendation from the College Director. I just happened to take a selection exam."
"Lord Morgen, I happen to be in that college, etc., so no one can get in there."
Ward treats Morgen like that, and then he keeps talking.
"Since that day, the lady has become very bright… as before. Doesn't mean you forgot about Tilia...... it looked like something blew up. Lady Elmond initially showed difficulty putting a lady in the School of Magic, but it was more like a conclusion than what you were seeing when you were blocking it. And at the age of nine, in the spring, the young lady was admitted to the Norc School of Magic. I'm sure you all know what happened to the lady after that."
That's the whole story, Ward said.
To the two of you who don't know what to say, Ward turns straight back and stretches his spine.
"This is the first time you two have spoken to the outside world about this. I don't know why I told you this story… please take my feelings"
That said Ward bowed his head deeply.
"I can no longer help the lady. Please, thank you for your kindness about the lady. Protect your daughter."
"Mr. Ward, please raise your head"
The two say in a hurry, but Ward didn't try to lift his head, no matter what they told him.
"... thank you for talking"
Almark said that to Ward, who had finally raised his head.
"I got it. I heard about Mr. Ward that night, and I wondered why I had tears."
Ward sees Almark.
You remind me of that night's exchange and Almark's tears, a little look on my face.
"It was my first time. Since I came here, the adults who knew I was the son of a mercenary, and on top of that, they've told me they believe me."
Almark lay down his eyes in embarrassment.
"Mr. Ward."
I was so happy, Almark said.
"I want to live up to Mr. Ward's trust, too. Mr. Ward entrusted us with his most important. [M] To us children like this."
Almark looked Ward straight in the eye and said,
"We'll protect Wendy."
Next to Almark, Morgen nods forcefully, too.
Almark repeated.
"We must."
The main door in the front of the winter mansion...... still rattling on first aid...... Wendy was waiting for me when I left.
Today, the sleeve is a little longer than usual.
Wendy's right, summer's almost over.
Almark thought.
Wendy smiles at both of them, but she's still not feeling well somewhere.
I'll drop you off at the gate.
"Yeah."
I didn't play the story, like I did at the picnic.
The three walked in the courtyard somewhat in silence.
When I was close to the gate, Wendy opened her mouth.
"Thank you so much for coming"
Then, make me smile.
"Wait at school first. I'll be back when the holidays are over, too."
"Yeah."
Morgen nods.
"I'll wait for you."
That's what Almark said.
"If I drop you off outside the gate, it makes me want to leave. Here......"
That's what Wendy says, stops.
"Yeah. Thanks for everything, Wendy"
To Morgen's words, Wendy replies with a smile, "What are you talking about? This is our dialogue."
Almark also tried to say something.
Wendy, too, awaits Almark's word.
Unexpectedly, my chest was clogged.
Can we just keep breaking up briefly?
Almark thought.
I wanted to tell Wendy something.
The truth is, I wanted to put words on my little back kneeling in front of a lot of bodies that night of the raid.
I wanted to help you.
Almark wasn't even sure if that was for Wendy or just for self-satisfaction.
I just said something, maybe I won't make it anymore.
But if I leave this mansion, I'm really never gonna make it.
I no longer get how Almark feels about Wendy, who met again after her vacation.
What if it could still reach Wendy's heart?
Even clichés.
I wanted to say something to you.
"You know..."
That said, Almark was stuck in words again.
Wendy looks at him strangely.
Almark is in a hurry without a pattern, distracting himself from Wendy and glancing at the garden.
Just that place in the corner of the garden catches my eye.
That's where the bodies of the mercenaries that Almark slashed were laid to sleep that day.
Where Wendy looked down at the mercenary's body and said she wouldn't allow it.
On that little back, with all the responsibility of the Bar Herb family, where he stood.
You don't have to carry that on your own.
We're here.
When clichés come to mind, they disappear.
That's not what I want to tell you.
I'm sure it won't reach Wendy's heart in such unpretentious terms.
I said something that I, the son of a mercenary, don't even understand, and I don't actually pass it on to Wendy, the aristocratic harbinger who bears the blame.
Son of a mercenary.
At that time, behind Almark's brain, his interaction with his former father came back to life.
"Almark, you..."
Words I couldn't remember that night.
When I remembered that, I found only one word to speak to Almark as well.
"Wendy."
Wendy sees Almark finally opening his mouth.
"Yeah."
"If you break up with us today, there's something you need to remember."
Wendy blinks. Beautiful eyelashes shake.
"Remember."
said Almark.
"We're magicians."
Wendy makes it right.
"I can't use a single piece of magic, maybe it's not what I say"
Almark was desperate to connect words.
He stared painfully at Wendy.
Delivery.
"Wendy, we're magicians."
Almark said it again.
Not nobles, not civilians, not mercenaries.
"It doesn't matter who we are. We're magicians."
Delivery.
Deliver it.
"So I want you to come home with the Wendy as it is"
Wendy's eyes shake.
"Because I'm waiting. On the island of Norc. At the Norc School of Magic."
Wendy nodded.
I didn't say anything, I just nodded over and over again.
Almark remembered one day interacting with his father as he headed alongside Morgen to the waiting area for the white horse car.
Father illuminated by the flames of burning fire.
No one will pick up the body of the mercenary.
That's what Almark asked his father.
"So if I die, Dad won't pick up my body?
My father took his eyes off the flames and looked at Almark's face.
A very different, gentle look to show on the battlefield.
My father reached out big and brutally stroked Almark's head.
"Almark, you will not die on the battlefield"
My father said that slowly.
"You're gonna be a magician."
How could I have forgotten?
I must have sealed it at the bottom of my memory because I didn't want to be a magician back then.
The voice of my father in memory was echoed many times in Almark's head, like a signpost illuminating the path in front of him.
"You're gonna be a magician."
How many thoughts did my father put into that word?
I wish I had at least half of what I said to Wendy. [M]
We're magicians.
Almark muttered once more to make sure.
"Right. Me, you, Wendy."
Morgen nodded at me next door.
"Almark, it's been a pleasure traveling with you."
"... it's me. Thank you, Morgen. It's good to have you."
The two smiled and shouldered, walking down the road.
The ending summer sun was illuminating the two of us.