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Tess—whom I couldn’t think of as being anything other than a kid—had matured enough to catch me off guard.
*Happy voice* You like her.
Sylvie was going crazy on top of my head as she recognized Tess onstage. “Kyuu!” ‘Papa! That’s Mama! She’s down there! Let’s go say hi!’
After hatching, Sylvie had become pretty close to Tess, and I knew she was fond of her—but ‘Mama’?
Filing out of the auditorium, my eyes unconsciously looked for Tess, but she was nowhere in sight.
Are you really lecturing me right now?” I took another step forward and I could see Tess’s haughty expression beginning to crumble.
Lover's spat.
We were supposed to have an emotional, romantic reunion. Well, it was emotional, but in the complete opposite direction!
“It’s fine. Just leave it. Don’t go to the director, either… that’s an order.” I spoke more harshly than I usually did to get the point across. How dare he badmouth Art. Only I can badmouth him.
They remind me so much of another ship I like (Pokeshipping) :))
Stupid Arthur. Do you know how much I wanted to scream out your name and run to you when I saw you in the audience?
What had he been doing? How was his time as an adventurer? Did he get hurt anywhere? Did he miss me? Had he thought of me at all these past four years?
“I heard about your little bout with the princess earlier,” she said with a laugh, and my face turned a bit red. “I didn’t expect the ever-calm and composed Arthur Leywin to explode like that.
Only with Tess.
I guess your relationship with Princess Eralith really is a special one.”
just shook my head in defeat, my face becoming even a deeper shade of red in anticipation. “‘When is Arthur Leywin going to start attending this school?’” Director Cynthia said, pitching her voice high like a younger Tess.
“She thinks very highly of you, Arthur. I’m sure she didn’t mean to cause such a spectacle. My training regimen is not easy; the few who have tried before her have all failed. She is only able to keep up and continue to train under me because of her desire to catch up to you, Arthur. Even you must realize that you acted quite immaturely.”
“Looks, talent—even luck with the girls. Why do you have everything?” He placed both hands on my arm, an expression of deep concentration on his face. Confused by this seemingly random action, I asked, “What are you doing?” “Trying to see if I can absorb some of your Arthurness,” he mumbled, still concentrating.
“First of all, he’s a scholar mage student. Arthur is just as much a mage as any battle mage student. Second, why would I go with someone who blatantly looks down on my best friend and roommate? Third, it’s obvious you’re not here out of kindness toward me but because of hostility toward Arthur, so stop your childish show and go piss off.”
I stood in front of her, close enough to see her face, but she was looking down so I could only see the crown of her silvery gunmetal hair, which shimmered in the moonlight.
I leaned forward to see my childhood friend’s face. “Tess. Are you crying?” I teased, gently wiping her tears with the inside of my sleeve.
“Did it hurt that much?” I softened my voice as I stood back up, carefully running my fingertips over her head, checking for a bump. “Yes! It hurt a lot!” She smacked my hand away, then buried her face in my chest, wrapping her arms around my waist as she began crying in earnest.
Ugh! I love them. This is so much beter than all those romantasy books I've read.
“Even if there are times when I get mad at you, I would never hate you, Tess,” I said softly.
Even now, having barely reunited after years apart, I recognized that I treated Tess differently than everyone else. I didn’t feel a reason to get mad over most people—besides maybe my family and Elijah—but it was like my emotions ran closer to the surface when Tess was around.
“Do you want to take a little walk with me?” I gave her a smile as Sylvie jumped from the top of my head into Tess’s arms. “Kyu!” ‘Long time no see, Mama!’
‘Papa, you’re really happy. Is it because you made up with Mama?’ Sylvie teased as I walked up the stairs and back to my dorm room.
“Because she’s like the moon, Art. The moon looks like it’s so close you can grab it, but no matter how hard you try, you’ll never touch it. But you! You touched the moon. You hugged the moon!”
“Long time no see, Arthur Leywin!” A tall, blond elf who looked to be a couple of years older than me walked up, crossing his arms while he looked down at me. “I apologize… Do I know you?” I had no idea who this elf was—then Sylvie mentally transmitted the information. “Ah—Feyfey!”
I glanced at Tessia and realized she was staring at me, but as soon as our eyes met, she quickly turned her head away.
They're so cute.
With fighting, the only things you get better at are destroying and killing, but the better you get at artificing, the more things you can create.”
Negotiating with him is more nerve-racking than dealing with the royal families.
“Do not make him your enemy, Cynthia. If treated with trust and respect, he will become the greatest ally, but if betrayed, he may be the cause of this continent’s demise.”
“Pleasure,” she responded, her expression fierce. As she walked past us, she secretly snuck in a pinch to my side, and I jolted upright in surprise. “I wonder if she’s in a bad mood today,” Claire pondered. It’s because of you!
I glanced at Tess, who had a surprised look on her face. Her lips curled slightly, but when she noticed that I was looking at her she quickly glanced away, her ears turning red. I sighed, thinking, You know, it’s not weird for you to talk to me.
“I hate having to act like I don’t know you.”
made my final dash toward Curtis and Tess, and as I jumped off a crumbling vine, I wrapped my body around Tess. Using what little mana I had left, I created a barrier around us.
He was bloody all over, and there were deep gashes in his side; I could see a rib bone. His body was wrapped around the princess and, from what I could tell, he’d used most of his mana to protect her. Thanks to that, she was almost unscathed.
“You should see what the other guy looks like.” I managed a grin, making him laugh. My mother gasped—she seemed to have taken me seriously and was perhaps actually imagining what the other person must look like.
I’m glad to meet my son’s friend. I’m sure you know he’s the type to get into a lot of trouble, so it comforts me to know he has someone like you beside him. Now and in the future.”
I stopped her mid-sentence and poked her gently between the eyebrows with my finger. “Don’t furrow your brows, Tess. Your face will turn ugly.”
“Brother. Who’s prettier, me or her?” Ellie pointed at Tess and gave me a serious look. “You guys are both pretty ugly to me. Ow! That seriously hurts right now!” I yelped as they both pinched and twisted the skin on my arm.
“Sorry, I never formally introduced myself. I’m Tessia Eralith, Arthur’s closest friend.” She stuck out her hand. As Elijah accepted her handshake, he responded, “I’m Elijah, Arthur’s best friend. Nice to meet you.” Sparks flew between them as they glared at each other in competition, and my sister giggled.
I realized that Tess’s face was just inches away from mine. She gazed at me with an expression I’d never seen from her before, and a moment later, I felt her lips on mine. The soft, warm sensation of her lips caught me by surprise, but I was in too much pain to react. I was too surprised to even close my eyes, though hers were shut. I spotted a small mole in the outer corner of her left eye that I’d never noticed before.
Who was I kidding? I couldn’t imagine myself with anyone other than Arthur.
“Who cares if he doesn’t like you, Tess—it’s his loss! What don’t you have? You’re a talented mage. You’re pretty smart, and popular too, right? And not to sound conceited, but you’re not a bad-looking girl either. Arthur is the one who’s missing out if he doesn’t snatch you up.”
atta girl
Making a move on me while I was in this vulnerable state… she sure was smart, that Tess.
I stared blankly at the door she’d left through as my shaking hand finally reached my lips. I just lay there, dumbfounded, touching my mouth as my mind relived the soft, moist touch of her lips.
The reason I was feeling so guilty was because I had actually enjoyed it. It felt nice when Tess kissed me.
We were too young anyway, right? I was technically only twelve in this body—was it even capable of reproducing yet? Oh God, now you’re overthinking this, Arthur.
This made me laugh so hard. Who's overthinking now?
I was actually quite fond of her. She was still immature in some ways, but I shouldn’t let that be an excuse, right?
I glanced at Elijah, who was standing with his mouth agape. He held up two fingers and mouthed the word ‘princesses,’
Whether it was the sparkling brightness inside the room or the fact that this room looked more like a huge natural wonder than a training facility, my childhood friend looked stunning. Tess stood before me, wearing a loose white training robe and cuddling her cheek against Sylvie, who was perched on her shoulder.
I walked over to the pond and splashed my face with cold water. I needed to calm myself down. After a few moments, I felt my heartbeat slowing down, but I reacted again when I heard Tess making her way to me, Sylvie trotting behind her.
You’re not good at confronting your feelings. You always put on a mask and pretend you’re happy or unaffected when you can’t handle a certain situation.
