After finishing the exercise and ensuring that every student was there, we camped at the border of the forest for a night before going back the next day, at the break of dawn.
When we arrived at the academy, it was already around eight p.m.
The sun was already high in the sky, and the birds had already stopped chirping, announcing the arrival of a new day.
Mitia, as clingy as ever, hugged me one last time while crying, acting like we would never meet again and weren't from the same academy and dormitory.
"Wuwuwu. Don't go~~~"
"…"
Kiki approached her and pulled her back by the collar, his expression severe and pissed off. "Let go, Mitia."
"No! Let me stay with my goddess!"
"Goddess" was her new nickname for me, having found new inspiration to torment my mind.
"Don't worry, we will meet plenty often."
Still smiling, I controlled myself to not lift her up or hug her little head. She was darn cute.
I was really too weak against cute things, always bending my morals.
........
"Bye bye; see you soon!"
Then, after she let go of me, I waved at my friends one last time before going.
After taking my leave, I checked my points count: I had accumulated since the beginning of the semester a total of five hundred points, doing little missions from there and there.
Now I had only a total of one hundred to get to be able to achieve a passable score. Those were the scores one was supposed to get, naturally and quite easily, throughout the four years of junior level.
I walked to my dormitory while yawing.
I didn't sleep quite well the previous day, overthinking the entire night. I was reminiscing about the past and reflecting on the future.
First, I had to go drop my belongings in my bedroom, immediately write a letter to my brother, and then send it urgently.
Before I had even arrived at my door, I was already confronted with an "unexpected" surprise.
'Heaven, look who is there. Again.'
Internally sighing for the thousand time, I was hesitating between turning back around and coming back later or just meeting him.
After careful consideration, the first option seemed better, so...
"Where are you going, Georgia? Didn't you miss me, dear?"
"Missing" is a big word. I preferred to say I was relieved I didn't get the grand "chance" to meet you.
"What do you mean, Mainu? I was going to my room."
Smiling, trying to look less awkward, I walked over him. My dress seemed suddenly too long for my feet, almost tripping me over two to three times.
"So you did miss me?"
'What's the problem with all those sassy nobles? Didn't they know the word "embarrassment".
"Hahaha, stop joking, Mainu. What did you come for? My humble self didn't prepare for the presence of a duke."
"I am your mentor, Georgia. For you, I am just that."
"...Okay. So what did my mentor come for then?"
I looked at time dead in the eyes, not avoiding his gaze as I politely smiled.
Normally, I should have done a little reverence, but since we were in the academy, I didn't need to encumber myself with all those manners. After all, we were supposed to be in favor of equity. Status didn't exist here.
Or at least, that's what they pretended it to be.
I approached my chamber, bypassing him, and opened the door with the system's recognition.
"Please, enter. How were you since two days ago, Mainu?"
"Horribly sad. I didn't get to see my favorite referee mentee."
« Because you have other mentees ? »
I chuckled, finding it quite funny.
The man, as usual, walked to the center of the little salon attributed to the visitors—never sitting—and gazed behind the windows, where the garden stood.
'I will begin to think that he came here just to sight-see...'
The man, who looked more like a boy for me—even more than Sylvester or Daniel, who looked already quite mature for their age—had the exact same melancholic look, profoundly hidden in his eyes, which no one ever set foot in.
I wondered what kind of atrocities a child must have endured to look like such an old soul.
Well, no, I didn't have to wonder.
The miserable life of Georgia was already a perfect example of what could change a human being, let alone a child.
And now, I was the one who had to live this life.
But it seemed to me that Mainu was in no way like me, having been pampered since childhood.
Maybe his parents weren't entirely present or barely even there, but so was the case for the majority of nobles' children. Ultimately, he was acclaimed by everyone and had nothing to crave for.
He wasn't someone I could pity, not in my position. And I couldn't understand him either. Not even try.
We were from different worlds, and I would stand by my decision to not become closer to him. To not change anything but my destiny. To survive a world he had the entire control of, which was unknown to me.
Remember, Georgia, stay focused; he is the danger. And the fate of will is something you know is practically invincible.
You have already tested it too many times.
He turned around before replying, as we went on a small silent battle—eye in the eye, « No, only you, Georgia. »
'….´
I was the first to let go as I slightly bend down, looking at the table.
"Would you like a tea, Mainu?"
I took a cup of porcelain, put it on the low, rounded white table next to a bouquet of pink roses, and poured down the tea from a boiler I had made appear. The liquid, slightly yellow and translucent, went directly into the recipient as it let off a trail of white smoke and the scent of lemon.
The man, now in front of me, took a seat facing me, observing me during the whole process.
Then I pushed a plate full of sweets toward him, smiling. I was feeling like I would get a muscle cramp at this rate.
"Here. Take a bite, I confectioned them myself a week ago."
"So you still bake...I see." He smiled gently, his eyes looking a little lost, before reaching for a cookie and eating it. "It's delicious, thank you."
'I still bake? What does he mean?"