In the academy's central courtyard, with its shallow-rooted trees and elegant benches, a group of four schoolgirls huddled behind a column, whispering and secretly watching a boy in the distance. Their voices blended into an admiring murmur: "Who wouldn't like Riusen," "He's so handsome...", "What a bearing", "They say he's unbeatable with a sword", "They say he's a bastard."
A shorter boy passed by them unnoticed, until they saw him approaching the very subject of their fascination directly.
Riusen was undeniably attractive: neat golden hair, blue-green eyes, a defined jaw, and a muscular yet agile build. Though he was sitting on a bench in the shade of a tree, eating a meat pie, his height was evident. A well-made longsword rested beside him. He wore the white uniform of the gladiators' club, adorned with gold braiding and a red sash at his waist where the scabbard hung.
"Hey, Riushi," Evan greeted, raising a hand with a smile.
The girls froze, as if watching a mouse greet a lion as an equal.
"Hello, Evan. How was your day?" asked Riushi in his sweet yet masculine voice, which made the group of onlookers swallow hard.
"Today was quite a day..." said Evan, closing his eyes ruefully.
Evan sat beside him. Riushi was almost two heads taller. To get more comfortable, Evan removed his short rapier, which looked like a toy next to his friend's longsword. Evan looked him up and down, as if detecting an imperceptible change in his childhood friend, but unable to define it, he didn't ask.
Riushi looked at Evan expectantly for more details.
"Today, on my way to the academy, I got mugged," Evan mentioned, shrugging.
Riushi stopped chewing for a second and looked at him with concern, but relaxed upon seeing Evan was unharmed.
"Don't worry, it was nothing. As incredible as it sounds, a woman on the rooftops saved me with a crossbow and then just left. Killed them like it was nothing," Evan recounted with enthusiasm.
"They didn't hurt you?" Riushi asked, worried.
"Not a scratch. I got lucky. But they scared me; even now this day feels like a dream."
"But seriously, it's good she killed them. Others would have just wounded them to avoid trouble with the Law of the Anvil," Evan said with darkness in his gaze.
"Mmm... They have it hard too," murmured Riushi, pensively.
Evan simply looked at him with disappointment.
"Ahem, my uncle was talking about that this morning. Seems the Governor of the North came to Altus Forge to pressure the Queen to change things. He said he might support him, along with some dragon-riders dissatisfied with her administration."
"I hope he manages to change something," said Evan with resignation in his voice.
Both fell into a comfortable silence for a moment. Riushi took another bite of his food.
"How much did that pie cost you?" Evan asked with a discreetly hungry look.
"This? Two clavos," Riushi replied naturally.
"Two clavos!" Evan was shocked. "I got a ride all the way here for only three sales!"
"Full stomach, happy heart," Riushi noted, giving his stomach a gentle pat.
Evan looked at him through narrowed eyes.
Then, Evan's stomach growled.
Riushi stifled a laugh with his fist over his mouth. Evan shot him a glare.
"It's a stomach problem, it's not that I'm hungry," Evan justified himself, with a sour tone.
"Besides, I have money to buy a sandwich, it's just that the kitchen's already closed," Evan added, defensive.
Riushi split his pie in two and offered half with a gesture.
"No, no, it's fine," Evan protested, but Riushi moved the piece closer until Evan's hand reflexively took it.
"Tha... thanks," said Evan, resigned, and began to eat with small bites.
Both looked at the sky framed by the quadrangle of the academy courtyard. There, motionless, hung the broken moon, an unsettling image like the dried-up corpse of a god.
"Maybe this comes out of nowhere, but... how can one be happy when your happiness depends on someone else?" Riushi asked suddenly.
Evan looked at him, curious.
"Hmm... I think your happiness should only depend on yourself. You should be more selfish and look out for yourself. Are you asking because of a lady?"
"Yes, something like that," Riushi admitted with a discreet sigh. "But I don't think I can be happy. The path I chose will only lead me to sacrifice myself for others."
Riushi lowered his gaze to his own hands, as if searching for an answer there.
"But I also don't think I'd do well with any girl."
"Ah, about that! I almost forgot," Evan smiled to hide his embarrassment. "I just came from the library, where a red-haired girl named Diane asked about you. Seems she likes you, Riushi! I was thinking of helping you meet her."
The name 'Diane' resonated in Riushi's head, making him narrow his eyes for an instant, but after losing the thread of his thought, he just ignored it...
"Hmm, I don't know..."
"Look, Riushi, if it works out, it would be good for you. Even though you're a bastard, with your sword skills and your loyalty to the church, you have a chance. Plus, this girl isn't just any noble; her perfume smelled super expensive. And what might give you a shot is that she's mute; that makes her more... approachable, if you know what I mean, right? And maybe her father would agree to match her with you."
Riushi's expression changed upon hearing she was mute, visibly affected.
"It's not that you couldn't get a fiancée who isn't mute, but you understand where I'm going. The disgraced like us have to choose our battles well," Evan said glibly.
Riushi closed his eyes for a second, with a calm resignation.
"I'll think about it," he said finally.
Evan looked at him, not understanding the lack of enthusiasm. If it were Fausto or Santi, they'd already be asking about the color of her underwear. Finally, he sighed.
The two friends remained in a comfortable silence, looking at the broken moon. Then, a group of boys in white uniforms like Riushi's approached.
"We were looking for you, Riusen!" said one with brown hair. "We're having one last duel among everyone, then heading home."
The newcomers surrounded the bench, laughing and making jokes exclusive to clubmates. They completely ignored Evan.
Evan knew it was better to avoid these noble boys. He felt himself slowly suffocating, uncomfortable, like a lamb in a royal hall.
Slowly, he began to move away, rising carefully without making a sound while Riushi laughed at a joke from his companions. As Evan discreetly departed, Riushi turned his head to look at him, a shadow of sadness in his eyes.