A small girl with black-purplish hair flowing down to her shoulders. A slightly loosened white ribbon was pinned atop her head.
She walked alone, tracing the garden paths until she reached a corner. Quiet. She knew that well. Compared to chatting and mingling with crowds of students at the field or the cafeteria, she chose to relax in solitude.
Her steps led her to a wooden bench encircling a tree at its center. She lifted her face; deep dark-blue obsidian eyes reflected branches and leaves that blocked the sunlight. Around the tree were green shrubs and red roses. A large wall stood to the left. She was truly at the edge now.
At last, she chose to sit there, leaning against the sturdy trunk. She hummed softly, gently swinging both legs, trying to enjoy the hot day beneath the tree's shade.
"Hello …"
The little girl slowly opened her eyelids. Her humming stopped. Her gaze swept across every corner of the garden. There was no one around. But—
"Hello …"
The voice was clear. There was no way she hadn't heard it. She tilted her head toward the upper left corner. And—
"Hi … what's your name?"
A girl with snow-white, shoulder-length hair sat atop the wall, swinging her legs.
A beautiful smile curved her lips. Her dark blue eyes were struck by the glaring sunlight. The clothes she wore were loose, all white, without corsets or decorations. Completely different from the attire of the people of Nesterra. Perhaps that was what the girl was thinking.
Swing …
The beautiful girl jumped down, entering the academy grounds proper. She wore no long socks like the other girls. Her pale, smooth legs were clearly exposed. Simple wooden sandals rested on her feet. Her exceedingly simple outfit was only slightly longer than her knees—like plain white cloth, neatly cut and tailored, making it look elegant and graceful when worn. A very long white fabric wrapped around her waist up to her stomach. So long that it nearly touched the ground when she stood.
The snow-haired girl smiled faintly and extended her right hand toward the owner of those deep blue eyes before her.
"I'm Yuna," she said.
For a moment, she seemed to swallow nervously. "Shera …"
Her large eyes jolted. What was wrong with her? Shera even returned the handshake.
Yuna laughed. "Alright, Shera. What are you doing here? Alone?" Yuna stepped closer to Shera, who was seated on the wooden bench. Shera looked up.
"Ah, no, I'm here. Which means you're not alone. Ah, let's change the sentence. Why were you alone earlier?" Yuna smiled.
"I… don't really like crowds …" Shera said softly, lowering her head.
"What?" Yuna tilted her head.
"I don't really like crowds …" Shera repeated softly.
"Huh? What?"
Shera's brows knit slightly. Oh no!
"I don't really like crowds!" Shera said a little louder than usual. Her hands clenched, bright blue flaring in her eyes as she looked up.
A small smile formed on Yuna's face. "There, that's more spirited. Come on, I was just teasing."
Shera wore a resigned smile. Was I just being played with?
"May I sit?" Yuna asked.
"P-please do," Shera replied nervously.
"Ahh, goodness, it's surprisingly tiring …" Yuna stretched her body left and right, holding her waist.
"Sorry about earlier," Yuna showed her neat row of teeth.
Shera turned to her. But unconsciously, her obsidian eyes lingered on Yuna once again. Without intending to. Yuna tilted her head. "Shera~" Her face leaned closer.
BAM!
A warm flush surged into Shera's ears. Oh no—she had unknowingly been staring too deeply at someone again.
"I'm sorry … you just look like a fairy, Sis …" Shera bowed her head as deeply as she could.
"Oooh," Yuna nodded in understanding.
"Eh, wait—you called me what?" Yuna turned back to Shera.
"Umm … Fairy?" Shera recalled.
"No, no—the one after that." Yuna reflexively held Shera's shoulders.
"Sis?" Shera repeated hesitantly.
Yuna stared at Shera with sparkling eyes. "Woah, so this is how it feels to be called Sis by a little girl. Ah—why did you suddenly call me that?" Yuna looked deeply into Shera's dark blue eyes, clearly delighted.
"B-because—"
"Just call me Sis," Yuna cut in.
"Alright—Sis Yuna looks more mature than me. Maybe three years older."
A sweet smile slowly bloomed on Yuna's lips. "You're right. I'll be sixteen in two months."
Shera's eyes widened instantly. "How do you know my age?"
"Well, wouldn't anyone know you're thirteen?" Yuna tilted her head again.
"R-really?" Shera asked, and Yuna nodded.
"Though with a height that barely reaches my nose, some people might think you're three years younger, hahaha." Yuna swayed her body side to side.
So blunt!
Shera felt as though the person beside her was repeatedly shooting arrows into her body.
"With a face like that, I'm sure many people think you're still in Elementary School."
Shera forced a smile.
"Want me to tell you how to grow normally? I mean—taller—uh—" Yuna turned to Shera, then examined the small girl beside her intensely.
"Eh? What is it, Sis?" Shera asked nervously. Panicking. What now?
"The ribbon. It's messy."
Shera felt stabbed for the umpteenth time. But honestly, she was surprised—Yuna paid attention to such small details. Just like her.
"Didn't you notice? Ah you can't fix it? You don't exactly look like someone who could pull that off. "
And really—Sis's words were sharp… Yes, Shera knew. She just didn't know how to fix it.
"Ah, forget it. I'll do it." Yuna swiftly turned Shera around, removed the white ribbon, and let her slightly messy hair fall loose.
She's careful, Shera thought.
Yuna smoothed Shera's black-purplish hair with her hands.
"We just met… you really don't have to fix my hair," Shera murmured.
"Be quiet."
Seriously…
"You entertained me when I arrived here. At least let this be my thanks." Yuna said softly. "Oh, and don't use that noble way of speaking. It makes me sound rude," she added.
"O-okay …" Shera played with a few strands of her wavy hair.
"No matter how smart or independent you are, you shouldn't keep rejecting kindness. That's because the greatest power in this world isn't ether, but relationships. How can you build relationships if you constantly refuse people's kindness? Small things like this are small ways of survival, Shera. Remember that."
Yuna spoke simply, yet her tone sounded serious to Shera. Anyone who heard her would surely say she was wise.
"Survival, huh? Your words remind me of the tale of the Goddess of Radiant Wings," Shera said softly, smiling faintly.
"In the bedtime tale, the Goddess, with her wings filled with light, destroys the darkness with eternal pure light, freeing innocent souls trapped behind the bars of darkness…
"The tale is told very simply. It places the Goddess of Radiant Wings as the main character and center of the story. It doesn't tell how the trapped souls lived within those bars. It only focuses on light and darkness that never truly liberate souls.
"But if you think about it, the darkness comes from the souls themselves. There was a time when the phrase if you wish to survive, never release the chain from your neck was common. That chain has two meanings: noble authority, and relationships," Shera explained.
"Ah—sorry. I got carried away …" Shera froze. Why am I speaking so freely to her?!
Yuna had finished fixing Shera's hair long ago. She listened with a gentle curve to her lips.
Yuna smiled broadly. "It's fine. That sentence was never written in any history book here. How do you know the chain means noble authority and relationships?"
Shera gasped. "Just a conclusion," she replied quickly.
"Ah, I see …" Yuna nodded. The usually cheerful girl gazed calmly at the green grass. "By the way, did the inauguration go smoothly?"
"It did," Shera answered.
"Oh, thank goodness."
"Though there was a bit of commotion at the end. Still, it can be said the inauguration went smoothly, at least until closing."
Yuna turned to Shera. "Commotion?"
Shera held her arm. "Not exactly… Some new students were late, but NEA Security thought they were intruders."
Yuna nodded. "Figures."
"By the way, thank you for fixing my appearance, Sis," Shera smiled sweetly.
"Oh my, can I pinch you?" Yuna's face flushed in frustration.
"Huh? Pinch?" Shera blinked.
"You're way too adorable …" Yuna patted Shera's head.
Shera faintly realized a blush had crept onto her cheeks.
"Those cheeks are red—just like a five-year-old baby."
"I'm not a five-year-old baby, Sis!" Shera protested firmly, clenching her fists.
"Alright, alright." Yuna stood up from the bench, glancing at Shera with a gentle smile.
"About that story earlier—if that truly is your conclusion, then it's an extraordinary one. It's correct. Unfortunately, it's far from complete." Yuna spoke casually as she walked toward the wall.
For the umpteenth time, Shera listened with wide, astonished eyes. That mysterious expression—as if she knew everything. Again—how could this person enter so easily, passing through the aspada?
Actually…
"But I can bring it closer to being complete." Yuna turned around, looking at Shera, who had stood up as well.
…who is this girl?
"Unfortunately, I can't tell you everything right now. So—would you meet me here every break and listen to my stories, Shera?" Yuna smiled gently, clasping her hands behind her back.
Sis… who are you?
Shera didn't voice it, but the question filled her mind.
Yuna kept her relaxed face and signature gentle smile. She leapt onto the wall—five times her height—standing there as her crystal-like hair caught the light.
"Relax. I'm not someone you need to be suspicious of. I'm an NEA student, just like you. Well—our places of study are very, very far apart."
She waved, then jumped down beyond the wall.
"See you!" her voice echoed faintly.
Shera didn't respond. She was too busy holding back her shock.
"How could that be … You're from Savanna?!" Shera bowed her head, covering her slightly agape mouth with both hands.