The performance was still going on.
Almark was almost simultaneously held by his hand from left to right as he was bewildered by his emotions and listened to the performance unstoppable from tears.
From the left, hold on.
From the right, reluctantly.
The girl next door to Almark both cared about Almark and shook his hand and encouraged him because he couldn't speak up.
Almark opens his eyes, moves his mouth and tells both of them, I'm sorry.
Lilty, holding his right hand, gently let go of his hand after seeing Almark's face in care.
Wendy, holding his left hand, held his hand firmly again after frowning and looking worried about Almark.
I'll be by your side.
I felt Wendy say that to me.
When the performance is over and the applause of the audience begins, Almark also applauds, shyly apologizing to the two neighbors.
"Sorry. I just remembered my hometown."
"That's right."
Wendy nods.
"Almark, you haven't been home in the summer."
"And it was a beautiful song. And the tune changes along the way were amazing."
Lilty says.
"Something I was very impressed with too"
"What a song"
"I don't know either. I'll ask you later."
After Lilty said that, she added happily.
"But I can't believe you're that impressed. Glad you could make it."
The last song started playing.
It's a very famous song, and Almark also heard that melody several times during his journey.
A bright cheerful melody, the opposite of an earlier northern song.
It seemed like the best song to play at the end and send the audience out in a good mood.
"This song, what's its name"
Gently ask Wendy next door.
"Nork Island Summer,"
Wendy smiled with a grin as she whispered back.
At the end of the concert, the Almarks meet again in front of the concert hall.
"That was wonderful."
Says Wallis with a serene smile that is no different than usual.
"Guys, are you there?"
Where I say that and confirm the number of people, I'm still a class member.
"Lilty and Norish say hello to the orchestra and then go home. Nelson."
"Ooh."
Suddenly called, Nelson, who was twisted with Reido, looks up.
"You stay with them."
"Uh, why me?
"It's already this time. You can't let two girls come home on the night lane."
To Wallis' words, Nelson also said,
"Well, yeah."
and nod, holding Reido's shoulder.
"Well, Raydo, you stay too."
"Oh. Fine."
As usual, Reido takes on pleasantly.
"Thank you, Reido."
Wallis smiles at Reido too, then looks around at everyone's face.
"Then everyone else is too late, so don't stop by and go home. I still have class tomorrow, just in case you never fall asleep and are late."
Everyone responds verbally and it gives an atmosphere of dissolution.
"That was a good concert."
Ain't the one who's said that and slapped Almark on the shoulder.
"Oh. That was wonderful."
Almark nods.
"Actually, I cried."
"That northern song?"
"Yeah."
"Right."
Ain narrowed his eyes.
"You must be very sensitive."
"Nothing like that."
Almark shakes his head.
"I just remembered home and my father."
"Right."
"Hey, Ain!
The colour is waving over there.
"We're all going. You're coming home with me."
"Oh. I'm going now"
Ain answers with his hands up.
"I'm supposed to go home with the guys I was sitting with earlier. The one in color, Wallis was nice to me."
That's what Ain said, slapping Almark on the shoulder.
"Let me hear the North story again. At school, then."
"Oh. Good night."
Almark also tapped Ain's back lightly.
The student population had each begun to work in small groups, triplets, on their way home.
Nelson and Reido are starting to stand tall in front of the music to wait for Lilty and Norish.
"Nelson."
Almark spoke up.
Shall I stay, too?
"Fine."
Nelson waves.
"It's enough for both of us. Go home with Wendy and Morgen."
"Okay."
Almark answers.
"I will. See you tomorrow."
"Ooh. See you later."
"Good night, Almark"
Nelson and Reido smile and wave.
Waving back to it, Almark looked for Wendy and Morgen.
Morgen was walking ahead with buyers and pillmans with a grand yawn.
I don't see any more women, including Wendy.
You're late.
Almark walked out on his own.
I also thought about chasing the Morgens, but not a single person is bad for immersing themselves in the aftermath of the music, I reckon.
Looking up at the moon, Almark thought of his father fighting in the North.
Mercenaries are tough to run.
Even though they are named mercenaries like my father, they don't know when to lose their lives.
I want to see my father.
But the north is too far away.
Even if you spent your entire summer vacation travelling using white horse cars and carriages wherever possible, you can't even reach the Strait of Menover.
If I were to see my father the next time, when would that be?
Maybe when I become a good magician.
Almark reconsidered.
That's right.
The first step is for me to be a fine magician.
I want to see him, what a weak voice he makes after he becomes a magician who can meet his father with his chest up.
Until then, let's believe that my father will be fine.
Father, the Black Wolf Cavalry is strong.
That's why I'm fine.
That's how I tried to rebuild my feelings.
"Almark."
Unexpectedly, I heard a reluctant voice.
It was Wendy.
I stood beside the road and looked at Almark worried.
"I was walking with Serraja and Curimet."
That's what Wendy says and walks over to Almark.
"I'm worried about Almark. I was tired, and at the concert, I don't know."
"So you waited for me. Thanks."
Almark smiled.
Almark apologizes to Wendy as he walks out side by side.
"I'm sorry I showed you the embarrassment earlier. I cry unexpectedly."
"That's not true."
Wendy shakes her head.
"It's rather not great to be able to listen to music and cry"
"I guess so."
"Yeah."
Wendy nods.
"Do you miss the North?
That's what I'm saying. I'm turning a worried eye.
"Hmm."
Almark twists his neck.
"I miss you, I feel a little different. I don't know myself."
Almark remembers the song he listened to today.
My chest still hurts if I remember, but that was another slightly different feeling than being hard.
"Thanks to Wendy and everyone, life here is a lot of fun."
"Yeah."
"But I'm glad I could listen to that song today"
Almark said that from the bottom of his heart.
"Yes."
Wendy smiles as if relieved.
"If Almark wanted it, that's fine."
"Thanks"
Almark recalls that he had to tell Wendy properly about today's day.
"Wendy, I have some business for noon today."
"Yeah."
Wendy nods.
"It was about Layla."
"Leila's"
Keep an eye out for Wendy as if she were a little surprised.
"Yeah."
Almark nodded and tried to start talking, but worried about where to start.
Before we get to Leila's story, there's a lot of people involved.
At least, don't we have to talk about Coren?
"Hey, it gets longer when we talk. All right?"
"Yeah. Sure."
Wendy nods.
Let me hear it.
"Okay."
Almark started talking.
Colen's sudden visit.
The presence of a duel between Polois and Garrell.
Two names and a mouthful.
Redo.
"Oh, hey, wait a minute"
Pinch your mouth like Wendy was bewildered.
"When will Leila come out?"
"A little further, I guess."
"A little further. Okay."
Wendy nods.
"Go on."
"Yeah. Then..."
Almark spoke.
The duel of the Polois.
Continuous battle.
Dissatisfaction with the ruling.
Garrell's escape from Morphis' amnesia.
"Sorry."
I pinch my mouth like Wendy's sorry.
"Layla hasn't come out yet."
"Almost."
"A little more. Yeah, okay"
Wendy nodded.