"Ysinia Montambert."
Her voice remained soft and monotone.
Ysinia? That name sounded a bit familiar... when was it mentioned again?
"Your name."
She leaned in closely with those silver eyes as if she was trying to interrogate me.
I stuttered between my words due to how close she was.
"... C-Clovis Estelion."
I responded before she could get any closer.
This situation made me reminisce about my past, back when I hadn't really interacted with people outside my comrades.
They always said I was hopeless with women—I thought they were joking. Guess not and this seemed to be the proof of that.
"Clovis... Clovis..."
Ysinia kept staring at me, her eyes oddly focused before she stopped as if she just snapped back to reality.
Then she pointed her left hand's index finger on my face.
"Friend. You're my friend now."
She declared with confidence oozing, albeit still sounding monotonic.
Seriously what's her deal?
"Well... Look—young lady—"
Oh crap, I slipped!
"Young lady?"
She tilted her head from side to side with a raised eyebrow.
"You don't look that much older than me."
Quick! Quick! Brain come up with something!
"Well... I was just being formal?... Haha? Since you know we're friends now?"
You doomed us all you bastard! I don't wanna be friends with a young girl, I'll look suspicious!
But wait—
Ysinia didn't look like she was buying it and was looking at me even more suspiciously.
"You're right."
She bought it!
She gave a small nod, then lightly smacked her fist into her open palm—as if the logic finally clicked for her.
Is this girl even real?
No, no, no—I'm getting side-tracked from my real mission, I have to head to the academy immediately.
But then again... I don't recall the right path to there.
"Wel... umm..."
With reluctance in my heart.
"..?"
"... Do you know where's the way to Academy?"
I asked her with my voice sounding a bit off and nearly cracking.
"Yeah. I'm heading there too."
Good! I can just follow her and then ditch her when she's busy then we'll all forget this even happened.
"...I'm a bit lost so can I join you?"
I immediately received a small nod from her and a thumbs up filled with sparkles, filling my chest with reassurance.
I couldn't shake the guilt of planning to disappear on her afterward.
As much as I want to repay her kindness by actually being her friend, it's better to not associate with me in the future.
"Thank you!"
"No worries. You're my friend."
Her confidence is shining once more on me.
The dawnlight was still faint when we took off while I followed her while she led the way as we turned to the left cobblestone path filled with trees, walking to the side watching multiple carriages pass by.
We turned left, allowing me a glimpse of multiple tall structures and the likes.
I could faintly remember some of these buildings were used at refuge for both civilians and magic soldiers alike.
If I could remember two powerful mages maintained the kingdom's magical defenses at the time?
I wonder who would be strong enough to do that?
Anyways, I reminiscing too much—I just have to change my choices in the near future to maintain a stable life and to avoid rotting back in that veteran shelter once more.
Then we turned right again.
"... Are we near yet?"
I inquired to Ysinia because I haven't seen any signs of the Academy buildings yet.
She gave me a confident nod as we turned left.
Unfortunately, it was in fact the opposite.
As for a while now, we stumbled upon deadends one after another—this time making me suspicious of her.
"... Could it be ... you're—?"
She glanced over me with that poker face yet oozing a menacing aura.
"We're almost there."
Ysinia stated sounding a bit frustrated this time, her monotonous voice starting to break.
She can't admit it!
No, she doesn't want to admit it!
We're lost for a long while now!
How can someone so confident in everything look this lost?
I'll be dreadfully late! I wouldn't have much time to process anything at all!
"... Uhm... Miss Ysinia?"
I tried getting her attention by stopping mid-way.
"What?"
Her shoulders drooped ever so slightly, her silver eyes looking more dull than deadpan.
She sounded more tired due to our little adventure.
"Shouldn't we just ask someone?"
I sad calmly trying not to diminish her confidence.
For a second, I saw something else in her eyes — not anger, not confusion... just fear of failure. Then it vanished.
"Alright."
She even sounded reluctant saying that! I'm sorry!
While tracing back our path, I became more curious about the identity of Ysinia, she's certainly someone I haven't met but one thing's boggling me.
While I retain some of my instincts allowing me to dodge the man from earlier for a bit—how come I've never noticed Ysinia?
Was she this stealthy?
I glanced back to check on her—only to see she was walking the wrong way.
"O-oi! come back—"
But before I could catch her, someone accidentally bumped to me causing me to fall on the ground.
THUD!
What the hell was that, I didn't notice anyone?
"Damnit! Watch where you're going peasant!"
A clear and condescending tone echoed in my ears as I could feel an intense glare towards me.
While scratching the back of my rear, I looked at my back only to see a green-haired man—around my age wearing the same uniform as Ysinia and I.
"What the hell are you looking at? Your eyes are f**king disgusting."
What's up with this kid? Wasn't he the one who isn't where he's going?
Standing up while dusting my pants, I was speechless by the sheer audacity but I wasn't getting any chances to even talk my part.
"Willis von Ravilles! Third son of the Duke Ravilles!"
He pressed a finger on my chest clearly angered by an assumed defiance to his authority.
But I haven't heard of him though? Nor this Duke Ravilles person.
I wasn't well versed with the less popular Dukes since there's like 10 of them and I don't really have the best memories with nobles.
But regardless, I'll just apologize since even if it's a Duke—they're still a part of royalty.
"Forgive me, Mr. Ravilles, I was—"
I was cut off.
"Ravioli?" Ysinia uttered cluelessly.
Dread crept up my spine as any future attempts of mending this was a failure already. From a small inconvenience to a blown up issue.
Why would you disrespect a noble!? DAMNIT!
I could almost hear the crackling flames and burning crisps that is the noble behind me.
"You f**king peasant b**tch!"
He roared pushing me aside, his anger directed at Ysinia.
Though I couldn't that these noble brats possessed such a vulgar mouth, I tried stopping him but it was too late—once you disrespected a noble, they'll never let it go.
"Don't you know I'm the third son of Duke Ravilles! I could have your parents beheaded for this blatant disrespect!"
Willis threatened towering over Ysinia's small frame while she still had that deadpan look that couldn't be bothered.
I could almost see his veins popping out just because of that expressionless face.
But what Ysinia said is something I didn't expect—
"You wanna go, Mister Ravioli?"
I could feel an intense pressure shifting as Ysinia didn't even hesitate nor sounded reluctant with that statement.
"H-hey— she doesn't mean that!"
I tried stepping in one last time and break off the tension but I failed.
Willis already looked like he was losing his nuts over this quarrell, clenching his fists in sheer anger.
He raised his hand—likely to hit Ysinia but he didn't even had a chance.
Almost instantaneously, Ysinia emitted a cold wind around her forming slight cracks beneath the ground she was standing on.
She hadn't moved a single bit, nor does needed to.
Willis abruptly stopped surprisingly and I noticed that he started breathing in a ragged manner.
Strangely enough, my fingers were trembling slightly as well albeit I didn't feel anything strange.
Ysinia tilted her head again, deadpan.
"I said, do you want to go?"
She sounded a bit off, more threatening.
What on earth is this lass?
Willis's face turned pale but without a desire to lose face, he took a step back before passing her.
The arrogance in his voice was gone—replaced with sputtering rage and confusion.
"Tch! Filthy freaks... both of you! I'll never forget your faces!"
He backed off. Not a single word of apology. Just a threat muttered under his breath as he faded into the distance.
To where? I'm not curious enough.
But I couldn't tell if it was because of the wind or the sudden change of Ysinia's tone was the cause for my fingers trembling.
Although I snapped back to reality as she tigged the hem of my sleeves.
"Let's go. We're almost late."
She said as if nothing happened at all.
But it was actually the truth.
The sun is already rising up and we practically have to run at this point.
"Y-You're right!"
I panicked as I ran off, my plans were screwed up by a lot because of how much time had been wasted.
But looking back to my side, Ysinia is running to the other opposite way.
What on earth did I just associate myself with?!