-Chapter 4-

“Your time to use this place has finished.”

Kaiden was hitting a punching bag in the training room as he raised his head. Lizen, dressed in her sportswear with her hair tied up high, stood in front of the door with her arms folded. The personal use of the training room was two hours, but usually, no one came late at night so Kaiden would come in the evening and work out as much as possible.

“So I’ll use it now.” Lizen said sternly.

Kaiden’s best friend was Daniel, and Lizen’s Ashé. Daniel and Ashé were close siblings. As a result, the four of them were sometimes together, but Lizen and Kaiden never became close with each other. It was entirely Kaiden’s issue as he wasn’t close with anyone besides Daniel.

Perhaps it was worth thinking that his dreams were just dreams all day, or maybe it was because he had overworked himself while exercising all day. But as the evening came to an end, Kaiden was able to treat Lizen casually.

“You can just use the room next door.”

“This is the only place with sandbags.”

Without uttering a word, Kaiden packed up his things and moved to the next room. This is because Lizen was right based on the regulations. However, all the fitness rooms were made of glass walls, so they could see each other exercising even if they weren’t conscious of it. He grabbed a sword and hit a wooden doll before glancing at Lizen, who was hitting the sandbag in the next room. It was her first time coming to the fitness centre at this time, so it was his first time seeing her train. As he watched her punches and kicks, he bit his lips as it reminded him of his dream last night where he was fighting with her.

In the meantime, Lizen wasn’t feeling comfortable either. She was very concerned that the person she usually wouldn’t care about, as if he were just like cows and chickens*, had appeared once in her dream.
*TL/N: idiom that basically means the person doesn’t care

Looking at Kaiden’s back, as he wielded a sword, she dazed at the thought of his broad shoulders causing her posture to be disturbed. She never thought that he’d be in the training room at this time. Besides, why were there only the two of them again… Thinking of Daniel, she managed to make up her mind.

They, who were conscious of each other the entire time while training, met again at the only sink in the training room. Drenched in sweat, both of them slowly drank water. Lizen had intended to pass by without saying a word, but she cleared her throat because it seemed too unnatural for some reason. She hated to show that she knew what was happening in her dreams even if she died. It’s so natural that their classmates don’t say anything because it’s funny. In addition, she had a lively personality and didn’t mind talking to others. She chose her words carefully and gently started a conversation.

“Kaiden, you still wish to be in the Bureau of Investigation, right?”

“Yeah.”

In fact, it was such a pointless question. That was because it was a fact known by all students. Lizen responded slightly awkwardly to Kaiden’s short answer.

“I see. My first choice is also the Bureau of Investigation.”

“I know, I’ve heard it from Daniel.”

Lizen took another sip of water and felt awkward for she had nothing to say. There was a reason why she couldn’t get close to Kaiden. He didn’t like to continue the conversation. He didn’t even look her in the eye. He thought it was just a strange dream and had already forgotten it. He seemed more indifferent about initiating a conversation than usual, and for that, Lizen was relieved.

“It’s nice to come to the training room late at night. It’s secluded, comfortable, and quiet. Do you come at this hour every day?

“Almost every day.”

“That’s why I don’t see you in the library. Then, when do you study?

It was a question to keep him in check, but Kaiden didn’t seem to care much about it.

“When you have time.” I remember the contents of the book after a few days, but exercise is different day by day.”

But she had no luck. Every day is different if you don’t look at the contents of the book. Lizen narrowed her eyes and drank all the water from her bottle.

“Then, work hard.”

Lizen was smiling and about to turn around when Kaiden’s low voice was heard.

“Lizen.”

“Yes?”

“If you go to the Bureau of Investigation, you’ll have to see all sorts of things, so why did you apply there when the application rate of women is so low?”

Lizen frowned at Kaiden’s words. Since Lizen’s aunt, Ruella, was a great talent in herbology, everyone recommended Lizen to the Bureau of Herbology. Lizen’s herbology grades in her first year were exceptional, and women usually applied a lot to the Bureau of Herbology and Administration. However, no one stopped her when she said she would apply for the Bureau of Investigation. This was because she has excellent physical strength, was rather good at magic, active and daring.

“Just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I can’t handle seeing all sorts of things.”

Lizen raised her eyebrows.

“Why? Do you think that if we work together, I’ll be a burden to you?”

“Not at all.”

Kaiden muttered without a change in his expression.

“There’s no way a person who works as hard as yourself will be a burden to someone.”

“You say that as if you’re not hardworking yourself.”

Lizen, who had already lost her sense of sarcasm, responded back.

“Whether it’s you or me, we both have similar grades.”

“I’m not hardworking though.”

Kaiden grinned.

“I work out because I like moving my body, and my grades still come out great even if I don’t work hard.”

“You’re so irritating.”

Lizen punched him on the shoulder. She narrowed her eyes, stood on her tiptoes, and looked up at him. Kaiden’s black eyes were filled with her appearance.

“I’ll see you at the general exam. You know that only those who applied for the Bureau of Investigation are fighting, right? I’ll do my best to survive and beat you then. Look forward to it!”

Lizen’s response was bold and lively. She rolled her eyes and headed back to the training room. Kaiden unknowingly looked at Lizen’s high ponytail and sweaty tracksuit. Usually, she was just a pretty girl with a good personality and likes Daniel, and is in a rivalry relationship with himself. Perhaps it’s because he had a strange dream, but he couldn’t help but pay extra attention to her.

“Ha! Hyaa!”

Upon arriving at the training room, Kaiden turned to look at Lizen, hitting the sandbag with much strength. How could so much energy come out of that tiny body?

“Right.”

Kaiden muttered unknowingly.

“See you at the general exam battle.”

Having not heard his murmur, Lizen exercised until she collapsed from exhaustion, then trudged back home. After Ruella’s death, she spent most of her time in the school library or training centre. As soon as she got home, she washed up and fell asleep as soon as she entered her bedroom. Without a second thought, she lay in bed and fell asleep in an instant.

Lizen stood alone in a place she had never seen before. There was a wide field, and a shining blue lake was seen in the distance. It didn’t seem to be Ameniti, the capital of the Ametan Kingdom. When she looked around, she was surrounded by mountains, and in the distance, sheep meekly gathered and grazed. She walked around aimlessly. The pavement was pretty and the air was good, so it was like a picnic. The trail that Lizen walked on led to a sunny hillside.

“I’ll be going now.”

She could see someone’s back. Lizen blinked. A strangely low voice was heard. A black-haired boy was sitting on his knees in front of two tombs. Lizen secretly sneaked up behind the boy. There was a tombstone in front of an old-fashioned tomb, although it wasn’t glamorous.

[Albert Ruth, Nation’s Prestige 2132.10.10-2170.04.05]

[Natalie Ruth, Nation’s Prestige 2135.02.24-2170.04.05]

Ruth was Kaiden’s last name. Lizen approached the dark-haired boy with a large sword behind his back, staring at the cemetery without an expression. She glanced at his face. He looked much younger than his usual self, but he was definitely Kaiden.

“Please watch over me. I will certainly get into the Bureau of Investigation.”

Lizen bit her lip. She heard that Kaiden had an older brother and that he had inherited the land. When she heard that, she naturally assumed that their parents had passed away. The cemetery must’ve belonged to Kaiden’s parents, who were the Lord and Lady of the Ruth territory.

“I’ll find out everything.”

Kaiden put a flower in front of the cemetery and carefully placed a piece of parchment. It was a graduation certificate from the Royal High School. If so, the Kaiden before her was 17 years old. Five years ago or even before that , he was already much taller than Lizen and had little to no facial expression. After staring at the tombstone for a while, he turned his head to the side and saw Lizen.

“Lizen?”

She saw the tears flowing in his eyes. Lizen unconsciously raised her hands and gently wiped away his tears.

“Are you okay?”

Lizen asked with some hesitation. Kaiden did not answer anything. Seventeen is younger than when she lost her aunt. Lizen slowly said, looking at his expressionless face, pressing down all kinds of emotions.

“I too… Lost my aunt who was like a mother to me.”

Kaiden glanced at her.

“Even if the world seems like it’s collapsing… Even if you’re really suffering from a sense of loss every day, you have to continue living.”

Lizen spoke slowly when she saw the deep sadness on Kaiden’s face. She felt so bad for him. He was only seventeen and he lost his parents, looking so sad as if he had lost the world. She hugged him, who was taller than her, and patted him on the back.

“You’ll definitely go to Ameniti and make good friends, and you’ll also enter the Bureau of Investigation.”

Kaiden closed her eyes upon receiving her hug, then slowly reached out and wrapped a hand around her back. His hand stroking her hair felt good.

“…Thank you.”