< 145. Reverberations of Winter >
#145
It was early in the morning when Eveline Droza opened her eyes. The ceiling I looked up at was unfamiliar. She seemed to have slept for a very long time.
“Where is…?”
She slowly lifted her upper body. The blanket covering her body had a cozy smell. The sunlight seeping through the curtains was crossing the room.
The interior was clean. There were rows of thick beds. It was a scene I vaguely remembered. It was clearly the health room at Phileon Academy.
‘Why…am I here? I definitely…’
This Belin frowned at her. Her memories were sparse and disjointed. She remembered running into a completely white woman in a snowstorm and hugging her but she couldn’t remember what happened after that. At that time I heard a familiar voice right next to me.
“Are you coming to your senses?”
“…Senior Erzsebet?”
Belin turned her head and her eyes widened. Her sword The girl with purple hair was looking down at her with her arms crossed.
The frostbitten marks she had made were clearly engraved in the center of her pure white neck. Erzsebet said.
“Hmph they call me senior. “She doesn’t even know what she did right?”
“I…I’m sorry. “I don’t know what happened… did I make a mistake?”
“I did. That was a huge mistake too. First of all please say thank you to this person. “Because he is your benefactor.”
Erzsebet winked. Behind her a young man she had never seen before stood with his hands in her pockets. Her tall height jet-black hair and eyes as red as the sunset were impressive. Although she was fierce she was a very good-looking person. He said as if he was throwing it away.
“Hey is there any pain?”
“yes? Ah yes.”
Ibelin quickly nodded her head. Thank goodness. She then turned her back muttering. Ibelin who belatedly remembered Erzhebet’s words opened her mouth.
“Thank you…!”
But the young man had already left the room. I couldn’t figure out what the hell was going on. However it seemed clear that something major had been done. Erzsebet sighed softly.
“Never mind. “Because that’s the kind of person he is.”
“What on earth happened…?”
“I came here to explain that. Now take it.”
Suddenly she noticed that there was warmth in her hands and feet which had always been cold. A prayer that was nestled in the center of her heart. Her liver sat down in her chair and held out her mug.
“Are you going to tell me directly? No there’s no need for that…”
“It’s noisy. She said she still needs to rest so just listen quietly. “Are you not going to take it?”
“Ah I’ll get a bar. sorry…!”
Ibelin took her cup. Hot lemon tea was steaming from inside her mug.
“So you are the Witch of Winter…”
Erzébet cleared her throat and began to tell her story over the past year. Ronan who had been watching from her doorway opened her mouth.
“I guess we won’t need it right? “I don’t think I’ll be able to concentrate if a senior comes in.”
“huh. “Eri is so kind.”
Adeshan nodded in agreement. Instead of a long thick leather coat she was wearing the martial arts school uniform worn in spring and fall.
As soon as she heard that Ibelin had woken up she rushed to her without even combing her hair but her Erzebet came first and was nursing her. Ronan bowed his head to her.
“What’s funny is that she wants to deny it. “I just need to live honestly.”
She was just a good-natured person not to mention the fact that she had previously helped Schlieffen’s sister. Why are you embarrassed about that? She glanced back at Ronan and Ade Shan smiled at her.
“Hehe that’s similar to someone I know.”
“Who?”
“There is such a person.”
Ronan asked again but she never told him. Anyway it was fortunate that Ibelin came to her senses. The two people with their minds at ease took a step forward. She asked Ade Shan.
“So it’s still morning what are you going to do today?”
“First of all… I want to rest a little more. “I’ve been tormented day and night for several days and I’m really tired.”
Ronan stuck his tongue out at her as if he was tired of it. During the few days he returned from Rodolan he traveled to various places and received praise for his achievements. Through the detailed testimony of interrogator Karaka every single one of his achievements was recognized but it actually made the job more troublesome.
Even after completing the pilgrimage and returning to Phileon it was not over. People from all walks of life came to him to express their gratitude and received an incredible amount of gifts. I could still see the faces of the merchants who were excited to erect a statue of the hero who ended the winter. Ronan said.
“But I’m glad it worked out well.”
“huh. really.”
Evelyn and Asher were found not guilty. It was thanks to Archmage Lorhorn and no one else defending him.
Well not only does he have a lot of responsibility but it would be difficult if the person he wanted to recruit as a disciple turns out to be a criminal. I thought it would take a lot longer to explain because there were so many things committed but it was fortunate.
“that’s right. I heard you also received an invitation to the imperial palace. “When are you going?”
“Ah they say it’s okay as long as you contact me three days in advance.”
“I see. Just tell me roughly when you will be there. “I will try to adjust the time as best as I can.”
“Right on time?”
“huh. “I can’t wear my usual clothes to see His Majesty the Emperor.”
Adeshan said that he would make the clothes for the emperor’s audience. Even though Ronan said there was no need for her her attitude was firm.
As I left the Gallerion pavilion the campus that had belatedly welcomed spring came into view. There was still a slightly cool air around. The chirping of birds could be heard in the hazy daylight.
Fresh wild grass leaves and spring flowers that had bloomed for a few days were giving off a fresh scent everywhere. She was about to return to her dormitory when Ronan yawned profusely. She said Ade Shan as she grabbed his sleeve.
“Ronan. “Could you please give me a little bit of time?”
“Huh…huh? “What’s going on?”
“I can’t explain the details… I’ll go and tell you. “It snowed yesterday.”
“eye? Hasn’t it completely become spring now?
“I thought it was like that too but it rained briefly early yesterday morning. “We have to go before the sun rises.”
Ronan followed her looking tired. It seemed like it was a very important matter as he was holding onto her sleeve tightly and not letting go. What happens again this time?
Ronan walked to the west side of her compound led by Ade Shan. Because it was still early in the morning there were hardly any students walking around the campus.
Well it’s times like this that the student council president can hang out with a guy like me. As she walked thinking about this and that she reached her destination before she knew it. Ronan shrugged his eyebrows as she looked up at the familiar hill.
“Hill of the Four Seasons?”
It was the hill I climbed with Adeshan before Haeju. I remember leaning on each other’s shoulders and looking at the sunset for a long time. Four trees were growing together in one place.
“It looks like it’s really snowing. “It’s nothing special.”
“huh. “Let’s go up.”
What Adeshan said was true. Perhaps because it is a place with relatively little maintenance the hill and its surroundings were covered in really white snow.
Adeshan grabbed Ronan’s hand and pulled him. As I got closer to the top cherry trees in full bloom caught my eye. Come to think of it I heard that at least one flower blooms every season.
They soon reached the top. Ronan turned his head to follow Ade Shan’s finger and froze in place.
In an instant all the random thoughts floating around in my head flew away. Adeshan smiled as if asking how he felt and spoke confidently.
“Remember what I said? “It’s pretty in winter.”
“…If you think about it it is spring.”
“It snowed. “Today is winter.”
Ronan nodded his head slowly. Now that I think about it I remembered that we had promised to come up together again when winter came.
This couldn’t be denied. It was a beautiful scenery.
Cherry trees that had bloomed late formed a colony on the east side of the campus. Pure white snowflakes were piled up on top of the beautifully blooming light pink petals. The pale blue sun was slowly rising in the distance.
Whiiiiing…! A spring breeze suddenly blew through the trees. Countless flower petals floated in the wind and fluttered with the snow. The two people’s eyes widened.
“Wow…!”
It seemed like a million butterflies were flying at the same time. When the wind changed direction towards the hill the flower petals flew towards the two people.
Ronan was absentmindedly admiring the spectacle. Adeshan’s laughter was heard right next to him.
“Ahaha Ronan look at this.”
Ronan turned his head. She was balancing herself with her chin lifted so as not to drop the cherry blossom that had landed on the bridge of her nose.
A few snow-covered flower petals were already stuck to her hair which was as black as the night sky. Ronan who was still looking at Adeshan opened her mouth.
“It does look pretty.”
“Hehe right?”
She probably thought she would never forget this day. The two came down from the hill only after the sun had fully risen. Ronan who was going down the hill opened her mouth.
“Thank you for the everlasting pearl. Thanks to you I survived. “You are a hero who saved the world.”
“Huh…? hero?”
“yes. “If it weren’t for that there might have been a war with the dragons.”
“I’m not sure what that means but… I’m glad it helped.”
Adeshan smiled. Until then her hands were still clasped. There was no particular reason other than that she wanted to do it.
****
“Hyaaaaa!!”
The incident occurred the next afternoon. A shrill scream echoed through the hallways of the Navardose Pavilion. Ronan who realized that it was Asher’s voice immediately burst into his door.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Ro Ronan…! What should I do? “Am I going to become a monster now?”
Asher dressed in pajamas was standing in front of a full-length mirror panting. He was covering his bangs with both hands as if he had hit his forehead somewhere. Ronan frowned at her.
“What are you talking nonsense all of a sudden?”
“Look at this…!”
Asher slowly removed her hand. Part of her bangs had turned white and formed a bridge. To her dismay it was pure white the exact same color as her witch’s hair. Ronan’s brow furrowed.
“What is this? “You must be in a bad mood.”
“I don’t know. “When I woke up I was there.”
Asher said crying. He said he woke up like usual looked in the mirror and saw something like this growing on his head. Ronan began examining his head.
“Is this a side effect of being possessed by a witch? Let’s see…”
“Ugh!”
Ronan pulled the hair he had been fiddling with. Boop! With a cheerful sound pure white hair was pulled out in clumps. Asher curled up clutching his chosen spot.
“Oh it hurts…!”
“What the hell look at this.”
Pure white hair grew quickly and filled the empty space. Boop! Boop! No matter how many times I pulled it again it was the same. Ronan laughed.
“This is ridiculous. “It looks like it will sell for a lot of money. Should I just pull enough to fill one sack?”
“Hey…! Ha don’t do it!”
Asher waved her hand as if to shake her off. At the same time something cold and sharp passed Ronan’s cheek. Sigh! A sound resounded as if her sword was stabbing wood. Ronan slowly turned his head.
“This is…”
His eyes widened. Ice as sharp as a dagger was embedded deep into the tree. Asher took a deep breath and hurriedly ran over.
“Hey…! Ron Ronan. are you okay?!”
“You bastard…!”
A drop of blood flowed from where she had been grazed but now was not the time to worry about such things. White cold air was seeping out of the ice.
The wall made of stone was slowly turning into ice. It was very similar to the ice that the Winter Witch used to handle. Ronan asked.
“Can you use ice now?”
“That…”
“men and horses. Tell me straight. This is outright attempted murder. “You don’t want to be ‘taken off and kicked out into the hallway’ right?”
“Hi! Oh no! In fact shortly after I returned….”
Asher hesitated and continued his explanation. It was the morning after his return from Lodolan that he realized his new power. He tried to see if he had any strength left but ice actually appeared.
“Then did you do it to make it snow yesterday?”
“Uh yes… That’s right. “I was so scared…I couldn’t tell anyone.”
Asher hesitated and answered. He had occasionally heard that there were magicians who acquired new attributes but this felt a little different. Rather it was similar to himself who accidentally created the core by absorbing Vajra’s power.
By the way the minister showed up yesterday thanks to this guy. Ronan laughed and lightly flicked Asher’s nose with his finger.
“Ugh!”
“good. “Then I will forgive you.”
“Uuuh…thank you…but why all of a sudden…?”
“Thanks to you something fun happened.”
Ronan laughed. Actually the attempted murder was just a joke and didn’t feel bad at all.
I was so happy that I wanted to have a banquet with expensive alcohol. He was already a man with fraudulent telekinetic powers but if he could utilize the Winter Witch’s abilities together he would become an incredibly powerful force.
-dripping.
At that time a knock on the door was heard from behind. Ronan turned her head. I thought some idiot was knocking on the open door but a familiar face was standing there. Schlieffen whose eyes met Ronan’s opened her mouth.
“It was quite noisy. “What’s going on?”
Judging by the serious expression on his face he must have been quite upset because he suddenly heard a scream. Ronan motioned for us to go.
“Ah you don’t have to worry. It’s a good thing. “Go and finish your business.”
It would not be too late to gather everyone in the club and inform them about Sergeant Lee. Schlieffen slowly shook her head.
“I didn’t come specifically for the sound Ronan. “I happened to stop by while I was looking for you.”
“ok?”
“I need you to come with me right now.”
The voice was serious. He was always like that but today was somehow different. Should I say that I look a little nervous? Ronan tilted her head.
“What’s going on?”
“This is a call from Instructor Nabi Rose. “I see you have something to say about the Festival of Swords.”
