Years flew by, with dozens of full moons cycling over and over. All the orphanage kids saved from the disaster that happened all that time ago were either adopted or got jobs as apprentices and lives in their workshop.
As for Vivillian and Elva, they attended their provided lessons each day, as they grew into their fine teens.
"Finally decided to come?" Viv raised an eyebrow, looking at the panting teenage boy that had just arrived to the scene.
Over the years, Elva grew quite tall, with him starting to workout his physical strength just a few years prior. Even though he was only 13, you could tell he was going to become a fine young man in the coming years.
Elva panted as he rested his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. It felt like only yesterday when the two of them would go side by side to Teacher's place, so how come it was Viv who would arrive early each day and him almost late?!
Looking up, he eyed the deceiving monster in front of him.
Dressed in simple but dignified black clothes, Vivillian looked like a true gentleman's son, as his black coattails swayed behind him as he stood. He wore formal attire almost everyday, with a black beret to cover his ears, and he would stuff his tail into his pants to hide it.
It was probably because of their teacher's influence that Viv began to look like this...
If there was one thing Elva could be proud of though, it was his height. Even though they were around the same age, with Vivillian being a few months younger, Elva was almost a head and a quarter taller.
"Since you're silent and looking at me like that, I'll take it as a yes." Vivillian hummed and raised his hand, knocking on the wooden door.
Soon, the sound of a match being unlocked was heard as the old servant, Gregory opened the door as always just like any other day.
"Hello Young Masters, Mr. Fennel will be in his study today." The old servant bowed, taking both Viv's and Elva's coats.
Despite coming here for years, Elva always felt weirded out how he treated just as well as Viv.
Viv on the other hand paid no mind to it, giving his coat away and making his way through the elegant wooden mansion.
They went upstairs, and Viv knocked on the study's door.
"We're coming in, Teacher."
He said shortly, before pushing open the door.
Inside the study, were rows and rows of grand bookshelves, filled with old texts, new texts, and even some drawings.
However, right in the center of the messy study were two desks, along with a couch facing it. And on the coach, a middle aged man smoked care freely while reading a book.
Alex Fennel, a previous top graduate of Einsvul Academy, after graduation, he became a carefree researcher and scholar, living on his family's funds as opposed to making his own.
Despite how lazy he's gotten over the years though, he's always seen wearing a suit, and puts up fake pretenses whenever he has a visitor. Most of the time however, his lazy appearance is most often revealed to his two unexpected students that were forced upon him by the court.
"Hello, Mr. Fennel." Viv and Elva greeted him.
"Ah, it's you kids. That time already huh..." Fennel smoked quietly, glancing at the kids before looking back at his book. Despite his unshaven stubbles and messy, long, brown hair that was gathered in a ponytail, he still was relatively good looking.
Viv quietly glanced at him, and then took his seat at a desk.
Elva did the same, and they sat there in silence for a while before Fennel finally sighed and put down his book.
"As you know, Vivillian's 13th birthday is coming soon, and once he turns 13, he will be officially admitted to Einsvul." Fennel glanced at the two. "I'm pretty sure Elva can follow along too, they allow one servant to accompany noble children."
"..." Viv tilted his head. "You're withholding something."
"Sly kid, my expression isn't even different than normal..." Fennel let out a self deprecating laugh, before his smoker lungs couldn't handle it and he began to cough.
"Kurgh..anyways, despite the grandiose title, I'm sure you kids know how savage that place truly is." Clearing his throat, Fennel took another drag of his cigar.
"Coverups of deaths, discreet abuse of power, wrongful expulsion, you guys should get the gist." He prattled lazily. "Since magic was not really my forte per se, I couldn't teach you guys any spells to protect yourselves. I only taught you the bare minimum to pass into Einsvul..."
"So what are you getting on about?" Viv's eyes narrowed.
"As one of our last lessons, this as a parting gift from your teacher." Fennel grinned, as he handed two pocket watches to both Elva and Viv. Vivillian's was gold, while Elva's was silver, but they both shined brilliantly for a mere watch.
"Teacher, this is..." Elva sensed it first, as he looked at the intricate clock's details.
"This is a discreet magical item that allows you to contact each other within a certain distance. It also has a safety charm imbued into it, so when once it's protected you guys once, it will break." Fennel waved his hand. "Ah, but it's basically a just a fancy pocket watch. The higher nobles and royalty have better magical items at their disposal."
"Thank you, we will most definitely cherish this!" Elva bowed deeply, clutching his pocket watch dear to his heart.
Meanwhile, Viv just stared at the watch with some scrutiny, and then tucked it under his jacket.
To be honest, Viv had only did a play through of LaD a few times out of boredom, and somewhere in there a pocket watch with the exact same capabilities came into the female lead's hands.
It was a special one time use item that allowed the female lead to talk to her favorite character if choosing, and it could save you from a bad ending if you made a wrong choice.
Although the maker was unknown, a magical and functioning pocket watch probably costed a hefty amount, even for a noble researcher.
"Thanks." Viv said shortly, after he came to from his thoughts.
Fennel let out a sly smile as he saw Viv politely bow in gratitude, and snatched the beret from his head.
"!" His eyes widened, as a pair of brown feline ears perked up from his hair. "What are you-?"
"If you're truly thankful, give me your beret." Fennel grinned, waving the hat around on his finger.
Viv frowned, his patience beginning to run out as he realized his teacher was trying to test his patience. Quickly realizing this, Elva tried to ease the situation over nervously.
"Erm, Teacher...that hat is uh...kinda important to Vivillian..." Elva explained slowly, eyeing the souring face of the short boy. If his temper was bad, then Elva would have a rough time sleeping tonight...
"Hm? But those pocket watches are important to me, equivalent exchange, am I right?" Alex Fennel tilted his head, as he looked straight at Viv. "Don't you think I'd look good in it?"
"...Whatever you want." Viv scowled, as he turned and walked out of the study. It was a good high quality hat too, a shame that quack took it.
Elva hesitated whether or not to follow Viv, their lessons hadn't even started for the day and he was gone...
"It's fine Elva." Fennel laughed, taking a seat on the couch and puffed his cigar again. "Just stay here for another lesson, that stubborn kid is smart for his age, so he can afford to skip a lesson or two."
"...I see." Elva took a seat in his desk, feeling a bit uncomfortable at the sudden absence.
As Fennel went to teach a lesson and review of all the subjects on the Einsvul Academy entrance exam, his thoughts slowly strayed as he looked at the lone beret on the desk.
It seems that monster has some patience for now.
Fennel's eyes were somber.