**Point out errors if you spot any**
On the top of the calendar read the following—
-Arthurian Calendar, Holy Year XXX
Months have been renamed to: Dawntide, Blossomreach, Greentide, Highsun, Goldharvest, Duskwane, Frostmere, Deepwane, Snowveil, Starfall.
Days have been renamed to: Sundral, Luneth, Terrin, Fyrden, Auralis, Mareon, Veyra
The Arthurian Calendar is meant to represent a new age, as a new Hero has donned the mantle to lead humanity to peace and prosperity. It begins with the dawn of the Hero's rise, casting aside the fractured and chaotic reckoning of old kingdoms. With each turn of Dawntide to Starfall, the Empire and its United Nations affirm our path toward unity, peace, and everlasting prosperity under the Hero's light.
In honor of Arthur Tivurgian, our Hero
--
Arnold stood there silently, staring at the calendar with his glowing red eyes. There was a cold dread surrounding him though it wasn't visible.
It's not that the fact that they're changing the calendar to something new that's surprising. It's a tradition they established when Promethius was the Hero.
They did the same for Luke. In his case, the calendar name was changed to Luceterion while the months and days were the same as the Arthurian Calender. It's not that the empire will need the world's approval of this, everyone else agrees that when a new hero rises, so does a new era.
The world won't change according to the new age so all that needs to be done is getting the information out there as quickly as possible. Even if word of a new hero doesn't reach the most backwater village, the mention of a new calendar and era will hint at that.
To others, the arrival of a new champion brings hope, just like the moonlight when darkness threatens to consume everything.
But to Arnold, this revelation was something else—something unpleasant.
Like a mass of impurities, stinking of hatred and scorn, is being peeled from his body. His face distorts from the stench just as the pits of his stomach turns from the sight of the new calendar.
Fingers gripping the calendar tightly, he thought to himself:
'Is this… provocation?'
No, he might be overthinking this. There's no way they could organize this in a day. Arthur was revealed to be the hero long before he issued his threat. Even long before he left the dungeon—and after… he was revived.
But why still release it?
Shouldn't Jurnick know that Arthur won't survive the battle to come?
"My King? Is something wrong?" Myrena turned back noticing that he had stopped.
"Nothing to worry about." He said that after handing the scroll back but the rage was slowly rising from his soul.
Is it wrong and stupid of him to get upset at such a small thing? But how could he not see this as anything other than provocation?
He looked out the window, right at the palace that was conveniently in his view.
If his teleportation ring wasn't still busted from that fight with the Great Nobles, he would've left any reason at the door and teleported right into the palace to confront Jurnick. He needs to know what kind of attitude the emperor will have towards him despite what happened.
"Uhm, I need to get going. I apologize for not being able to attend to you for lunch break, My King."
"…You're not my maid so don't worry about that. We can talk again when you have time."
"Yes, My King. Please excuse me." Myrena bowed her head then continued walking. But before turning down a hall, she stared back a few times, worry all over her face.
"…I know something is wrong." Rina grabbed his sleeve and said worriedly, "The spirits around you are scattering and disturbed."
"You can see spirits?"
"Well, only the astral ones and not the sort that elementalists can command. They've been gathering around the ring on your finger up until now, curious why there are elementals stuck in that artifact on your finger."
"Is that so…" Arnold continued walking. No matter how many times he told himself he's petty for getting angry over something so small, he just couldn't let it go. He'll probably think about it all day. Rina quickly followed.
"You're right. Something is bothering me a bit." He said without looking back and then asked, "Do you think getting angry over the smallest thing is petty?"
He slowly came to a stop.
"…Were you always angry about it or did it just trigger you and recall something that happened in the past?"
"I try not to think about it and even I can have moments of peace where I don't feel anger. But if it's shoved in my face, I just can't ignore it and want to crush it."
Rina looked a little uncomfortable as if she didn't know how to answer.
"You need to stop being timid around me. People will realize our relationship is all an act and you'll become an easy target again."
"…Okay. My father is like you—calm and composed in public. He bottles everything until the bottle breaks. I learned from him that when a generally composed person loses their temper, it means something important has been touched. As such, I believe you have the right to be angry."
"The answer is that simple, huh?"
She gently grasped his hand and repeated her earlier question, "…Were you always angry about it, or did the calendar just trigger something from the past?"
She probably doesn't know the full picture since she only came here recently. But she was able to give him a straight answer since he is apparently so much like her father.
"You weren't in the hall yesterday but you heard what happened, right?"
"…" She nodded, "You threatened to… kill the Hero."
"That calendar is like spitting in my face—a way to provoke me into doing something. At least that's what I think it is. I just don't know for sure…"
"Would it have made you happier not knowing they exist?"
"I was expecting them to be released… Everyone naturally did."
"So, you wanted them to not include his name even when it's in his honor? Would you have felt happier?"
"…Yeah… That's what makes me question if I'm just being petty."
Rina suddenly giggled. Is this the first time he's seen her smile or even laugh?
"That makes you human." She tilted her head, her smile softening. "Everyone thinks they're being petty when something bothers them deeply. But sometimes… it just means you care more than you want to admit. You fear what others will say about you, even if you want to believe you don't care as much."
"…I don't care what others think of me…"
"Hmm, if you say so~"
Arnold's jaw loosened almost imperceptibly seeing her cute smile.
"Has your father ever asked you the same thing?"
"Yup, that's why I know what answer to give you. After he hears what I say, his grumpy attitude changes and he can smile sincerely again." Her smile slowly disappeared, "I wish I listened to his troubles one last time before… those people invaded our nation."
She clenched her fist.
He didn't have empty reassurances to give her so he chose to be silent. It's probably eating away at her how she's staying behind the safety of these academy walls and barriers while her father might be bleeding out in some basement while monsters march the streets.
But since Wistorina isn't in the kingdom anymore, they have no reason to cause any further destruction so that's a little peace of mind at least.
Wistorina will have some answers at the end of the week once they interrogate Hessinia. Maybe she knows where her father is.
"…Lunchbreak will end soon so we should go look for a spot to eat. Right?"
"Yeah."
What's the point of walking around together if they don't dine together as well?
She giggled for some reason.
"What?"
"It's just…" she giggled again, "This reminds me of a book I read where a knight always came to his mistress for advice about life and relationships. He's such a big strong man who swore to protect his mistress and her family but even he is vulnerable sometimes—it makes you aware that he is also human. He was so cute. It's like I'm experiencing a scene from that book."
"…I see."
"W-What's with the stoic face all of a sudden? Did I say something wrong…?"
Arnold glanced at her, then gave the faintest shake of his head. "…No. Just wondering how you can compare me to some lovestruck knight."
Her cheeks flushed, and she pouted. "It's not that! I just meant—I feel like you let me see a side of you others don't. T-That's all."
He scoffed softly.
"Yeah, thanks. After our little talk, I don't feel like letting go of that anger."
"…T-That's good…" she said with a smile.