The class is dull. The immutable law of boredom seems to apply here as well, and the lethargy that envelops me brings a heavy fatigue even though the sun has not yet set.
If the class were even slightly helpful, I might have focused on it, but for Veris, who has achieved a certain level of mastery on his own, sitting blankly in the classroom is nothing short of torture.
─ Creak.
But today, that tedious time is finally over. To be precise, it's not complete freedom since the weekend is approaching, but merely two days of free time.
"What are you doing?"
As Veris opened the dormitory door, a flurry of thoughts crossed his mind, and he soon realized an unexpected guest had come to visit.
Her sparkling blonde hair, shining as if spun from melted gold, was monopolizing the bed.
"Ahem, I finished class early and was waiting here."
The identity of the guest was none other than Arwen. Given that she was burying her face in Veris's pillow, it seemed she too had found her classes quite exhausting.
If she was tired, why not just sleep? Why was she sprawled across someone else's bed, flailing her legs? Truly a puzzling character.
"Is it because of sword training?"
"...Huh? Yes. You mentioned I should come by last time."
Arwen's ears turned bright red, as if she had been caught in a lie. However, in stark contrast, her expression remained as impassive as usual, making Veris's assessment that she was surprisingly easy to read seem quite accurate.
Yet, the strange atmosphere flowing today was certainly different from usual. Just look at Arwen, who embodies the essence of gentle strength, sitting at the corner of the bed, swinging her legs.
"Do you have something on your mind?"
"...."
It seemed he had struck a nerve, as Arwen clamped her mouth shut and avoided his gaze.
Her eyes gave off a strangely pitiful vibe, reminiscent of a small, helpless creature, and Veris had to restrain himself from reaching out to pat her head. "...There are parts I get stuck on when practicing swordsmanship."
Her face suggested she had something more to say. However, after a brief pause, what came out of Arwen's mouth was about her studies.
"Swordsmanship?"
It was odd. Veris thought of Arwen as someone who could easily break through any 'walls' like a sponge soaking up water, so to hear she was stuck was surprising.
After all, while he benefited from the stats and various passive skills of his status window, Arwen was, quite literally, a 'genius.'
"It's a bit ambiguous to say I'm stuck. I suddenly thought, compared to the Veris of the past, I might be at a very weak level now."
At Arwen's quiet confession, Veris nodded silently.
He then moved closer and sat down beside her on the bed. Arwen shivered slightly, maintaining her usual blank expression, but Veris continued speaking without paying her any mind.
"Talent is a rather unreasonable form of violence."
"...Violence, you say?"
"There's no need to feel so dejected. I just think of myself as a lucky person who stumbled upon a gold nugget named Arwen while wading through a muddy field."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Considering the skills you have now, it's understandable to have such worries. But comparing your talents and abilities to others ultimately leads to your own loss. You know, right? Your skills are by no means inferior compared to other newcomers."
Even he thought it was a rather smooth response. Veris shrugged his shoulders in satisfaction.
In fact, the very idea of Arwen having such worries could easily be seen as a deception to other students. He had heard that even the professors in charge of S-Class were astonished by Arwen's skills and talents, and students with relatively lower grades would surely not remain silent upon hearing this.
"...I have another question."
It seemed the strange tension had dissipated, and Arwen was back to her usual self. How should he put it? She felt a bit brighter and a bit more composed compared to others.
"What is it?"
"You said I was a gold nugget found in a muddy field."
"Indeed?"
"If I'm a gold nugget, then what kind of gem are you, Veris?"
"Me? I'm a diamond."
Arwen struggled to suppress her laughter at Veris's answer, which held not a hint of doubt.
While gold is a mineral often used as a standard currency, diamonds are overwhelmingly superior in value compared to gold.
This was how Arwen saw Veris. If she had a worry, he was the first person she thought of for support, and if she was internally suffering, he had a peculiar knack for alleviating it.
For some reason, she felt a sense of relief. To be honest, Arwen had come to this room not just because of the obstacles she faced on her path to mastering the sword.
'This is enough.'
Muttering to herself, Arwen soon recalled the name of a certain herb.
As an elf, a race said to be loved by nature, there was a plant that cats adored in the place where she had lived as a child. The elves called that plant 'Nyangleaf.'
The wild cats of the great forest loved that herb immensely. It was a plant that could melt away even the prickly nature of feral cats in an instant.
Thinking of that brought back a flood of childhood memories. A past that was painful yet not entirely unwelcome.
In any case, to Arwen, Veris was like that Nyangleaf. Just being by his side brought joy and filled a deep-seated longing within her.
However, there was a slight problem: it felt as if more and more people were trying to take her Nyangleaf away.
"Have you resolved your worries now? Ugh, I'm tired."
─ Thud.
As Veris tossed off his shoes and began to roll around on the bed, Arwen couldn't help but smile warmly.
Just talking quietly together made her heart feel warm. This place was where she truly belonged.
* * *
I had a dream.
The dream I had been having since my time working as a servant in the Vitelbach household had recently returned unexpectedly.
It seemed like a sweet dream, but I knew all too well that behind it lay a harsh reality that could shatter my heart, yet I couldn't refuse such a dream.
"Father, my sister has brought home another cat!"
"Haha, Lancelot. How could you not understand Arwen's kind heart?"
"W-well, that's true, but…"
"Arwen. While your compassion for weak animals is admirable, the people in the palace are already sighing with concern."
"I'm sorry… I just felt so sorry for it."
"But caring for the animals of the forest is also our duty. Your actions are commendable, but those creatures might have a place to return to."
"That's right! Sister is a kidnapper! I must tell Mother about this!"
"What? Hahaha!"
That dream brings back memories of the past, now fading into the recesses of my mind. Though it was a dream, Arwen couldn't shake off a sense of unease. Happy yet unhappy. A complex and intricate feeling that words could not express surged within her.
Now that the old memories played out like a video artifact, she could predict what would unfold before her eyes next.
A burned forest. A desolate land. People bleeding.
War had taken everything from Arwen so senselessly. She would likely have to relive the pain of losing her loved ones once more.
Knowing the ending of this dream, she couldn't shake the feeling of becoming increasingly numb to the pain. Perhaps the elves, who loved the forest and nature and considered themselves humble and less greedy than uncivilized humans, would appear and take everything away, and she would wake up from the dream.
But.
"Sister? What are you doing?"
"Huh?"
In the dream, Arwen could only express her confusion at the unfamiliar feeling.
It was a ticklish sensation that was hard to put into words. Normally, in her dreams, the scene would shift to tears by now…
"Isn't your husband waiting for you, Arwen?"
Startled by the gesture of her father, whom she would never see again, Arwen turned her body and soon saw a figure.
A person with a distinctly cold demeanor. Yet, contrary to that impression, the playful smile visible only to close friends was undoubtedly a face she recognized.
Dressed in the traditional wedding attire of the elves, he looked like a painting. Even to Arwen, an elf of a beautiful race, he had an outstanding appearance, and dressed in luxurious clothing in the palace of the green forest, it was enough to make her nod in agreement.
"You were thinking something strange again, weren't you? And pretending you weren't."
At that teasing voice, Arwen couldn't help but smile.
This is a dream. But she couldn't remember the last time she had such a happy dream.
In this dream, Arwen was a lovely bride. Yes, just a few days ago, Cecilia had mentioned that the Saintess of the order would grant her marriage.
"I too…"
Now, with nothing to her name, it wouldn't be so bad to dream of such a future.
Thus, in the barren land of the elf's heart, a sprout filled with the scent of grass began to bloom.