Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance

They stayed at The Ronsen for five days.

 

With frozen lakes and mountain views by day and hot springs by night, time flew.

 “You have everything packed, right?” “Yeah, perfect.” 

Eileen and Cordelia’s skin had a healthy glow after a few days of soaking in the pristine waters. New Year’s was just around the corner. They would finish their short trip to spend the holidays with the duke.

 “When we get back, it’ll be our first coming-of-age ceremony.” 

Eileen said, turning to look at the clear sky where the snow had stopped falling, an

d Lucian and Felix nodded.

 “Yes, I’ll probably have my Winter Coming of Age and go to the Academy as soon as the sun turns.” 

The Imperial Coming of Age ceremony was unusually bifurcated. One in winter at age 16. One in the spring at age 19.

 

The first, in the winter of 16, was an institutionalized ceremony to secure the rights of adulthood for those who entered the workforce without going to the Academy, or who were forced to assume the role of head of household at a young age.

 

While it was a more fleeting event than the Spring Coming of Age at 19, it was still considered the only real coming of age for commoners who had fewer opportunities or luxuries to learn, as it was blessed by the Temple.

 “What are we going to do about school uniforms?” “I’ve talked to Oslo, and maybe when I get back I’ll have my robes made right away.” “The gate is ready.” “Ugh.” 

The wizard broke off the conversation and prepared for warp drive. Cordelia and Lucian’s faces quickly cooled as they recalled the horrible memories. Eileen, watching them wistfully, turned to Felix and asked.

 “Shouldn’t we take motion sickness pills first?” “Portal sickness is a fluctuation of magic, so it can’t be prevented.” 

As they finished greeting the villa’s occupants, the gate flashed open.

  

***

  “Preparations for the Winter Coming of Age Ceremony are nearing completion.” 

The elderly high priestess spoke, her mouth watering from the bland tea.

 “Are you not disappointed that you will not be able to perform your coming of age ceremony?” 

Outside the window, the bell tower chimed. As he watched a bird pluck a feather from the end of a branch, Aire replied,

 “What are you talking about, a servant of the gods has no need for such pretense.” 

The High Priest, Carlo, could only laugh bitterly, his expression more that of a weathered old man than a seventeen year old boy. He had been born into a clan of heroes and forced to fight demons from the age of ten.

 “I heard that you gave the sword of Lorea to Gaudium. You have a lady in mind, don’t you?” 

At these words, Aire’s head turned wordlessly toward him. Her neatly cropped silver hair glistened coolly in the sun. The shadowed golden eyes beneath were so unexpectedly fierce that Carlo was momentarily speechless.

 “What of it?” “I didn’t mean to… offend you, I just thought you might need a companion after a few years.” “Enough.” *Shatter* 

The table shattered under Aire’s bloodied hand. Teacups clattered to the floor as the table lost its center of gravity.

 “It’s still early.” “…It is.” “I’d like to take a break.” 

It was an obvious toast. Carlo heard the commotion and left the room, blocking the incoming priest. Left alone, Aire looked down at a pair of goblets on the floor.

 

One was cracked in several places, the other was undamaged, having fallen on the carpet.

 “Who will I attract?” 

He muttered under his breath, and his eyes lit up with a golden glow. It flickered like light reflecting off glass, and when it touched the cracked glass, it immediately began to repair itself.

 

As he stared at the repaired glass, the light faded from his eyes

. He pulled an eye patch from his bag and covered his eyes.

 

He stomped on the restored glass again, shattering it, and left the room. It was time to fulfill his duties as a

“hero”

.

 

As he walked down the hall, the stained glass window of the goddess Fyara shone beautifully above his head. Aire sighed deeply.

 

The light that should have felt holy was heavy like an irresistible water pressure.

  

***

  “Beautiful.” 

Cordelia’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the stained glass of the temple. Eileen nodded beside her.

 “It is.” 

They had followed Lucian and Felix to the temple for their coming of age ceremony. The

re were others coming of age as well, so everyone who wasn’t part of the party had to wait outside the temple.

 

With its sacred white exterior and tall spires, the temple was decorated with stained glass and various mythological sculptures, making it look both colorful and sacred.

 “The bell just rang three times, so I guess that means the rite of passage is over?” “Yes, I suppose so. Here they come!” 

The doors to the main building opened and a group of boys dressed in white poured out. These were the boys who had just turned sixteen in the neighborhood. 

 

Eileen lifted her magpie to find Lucian and Felix. They weren’t too hard to find, being both exceptionally tall and white.

 “Over here!” 

Spotting a familiar pink head, she waved happily and the two pushed through the crowd.

 “You’re all grown up now.” 

Eileen grinned mischievously as she said it, and they shrugged and grinned back,

 “The Academy doesn’t leave until next week.” “You said it would take two weeks by carriage to get to the warp gate near the Academy? That’s a long way.” “To the warp gate…” 

Lucian shuddered as he remembered the terrible motion sickness. Soon they were in the carriage for the ride back to the mansion. Eileen looked at them curiously in their pure white robes.

 

The robes, which looked like a white suit and a waist-length white robe buttoned to the collar, were modest yet somehow ascetic.

 

Lucian wore his hair parted, looking clean and cool, while Felix wore his long pink locks in a half-bun, looking quite dignified. Eileen, enjoying the different moods of the handsome men, gave them both an inward thumbs up.

 

‘Handsome.’

 

Unlike Eileen, Cordelia snorted at the well-dressed men.

 “What’s that laugh?” 

Lucian narrowed his eyes at her, and a languid Cordelia said contentedly.

 “Well, I guess this is goodbye for now. Don’t worry, I’ll be with Eileen all day, three hundred and sixty-five days.” “Too bad? Why don’t you lie there with spit in your mouth?” 

Watching them bicker as usual, Eileen realized that even that was something she would miss for a while.

 

The carriage stopped a moment later and Cordelia, cool and refreshed from her fight with Lucian, got out first. Eileen started to follow her out, but Lucian opened his mouth.

 “Eileen, wait.” “What?” “Just a second.” 

He looked so serious that Eileen motioned for the reluctant Felix to get out first. She stood awkwardly, then sat back down and asked.

 “Is something wrong?” “Don’t worry. Nothing bad.” 

He smiled wryly as he said it. It was the kind of harmless smile Eileen liked, the kind that resembled a big dog.

 “Mind if I borrow your hand for a minute?” “Hand? Sure.” 

She held out her left hand without a second thought, and he took it cautiously. Then he smiled again, his eyes twinkling, and kissed the back of her hand.

 “Hmm?” 

Eileen’s face froze for a moment at the soft, moist touch, then quickly turned bright red.

 “You!” “An adult greeting.” 

Grinning mischievously, he stepped out of the carriage first and held out his hand to her.

 “I’ll be waiting for you at the Academy.” 

His expression was so bold that Eileen had no choice but to step out of the carriage, trying to ignore the pounding in her heart. It was strangely hard to look him in the face after seeing him every day.

 “I’ll go first!” 

Leaving Lucian behind, Eileen headed for the greenhouse, her face burning, unable to enter the mansion as it was.

 “Oh, it’s just a prank of a family! That’s what family is, right? 

Fanning her face, Eileen turned to enter the greenhouse, but this time Felix caught her.

 “Eileen.” “Huh?” “Which hand?” 

Felix’s face looked so somber when he asked that question that Eileen held up her left hand without realizing it. Felix reached over and took her right hand like a fool, and then stared at her, wordlessly, with a look of superiority in his eyes.

 “What, what, you. Why!” “Can I say hello like an adult?” 

His look was too eager to say no. Eileen closed her eyes tightly and nodded, her moist lips brushing briefly over her burned hand before pulling away.

 “You! Where did you learn to do that?” “Thank you. For finding me.”

Felix said, ignoring Eileen’s unnecessary outburst of embarrassment.

 

Eileen froze. The child from earlier in the day overlapped with the boy in front of her,

 “Thank you for being here.” 

The boy’s image blurred and Felix’s face became clearer.

 “I’ll keep you in my thoughts until we meet again.” 

The boy’s ears were so bright red as he spoke that Eileen couldn’t help but smile. It was a memory of a winter day that was unusually hot.

  

***

  “Crazy.” 

Cordelia’s face fell as she watched the two men’s antics in real time from a distance. It was a secret known only to Oslo that she later washed both of Eileen’s hands through Lynn.

 

One week later. Lucian and Felix left for the academy.

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