Chapter 19 Academy recommendation

The gardens of the Kyros Estate were peaceful.

He sat beneath a tree, staring at the sky.

Across from him sat Elena.

At fourteen years old, she had changed considerably.

Her black hair reached past her shoulders now.

Her features had matured quite a bit; in fact, she is actually getting really similar with her Selena persona.

Her posture stayed perfect, as it always did. Some things just never changed. The recommendation letter resting on the table between them was proof enough.

"Traitor."

"..."

"..."

"You're leaving me."

Elena sipped her tea.

"Yes."

"Hesitate a bit please. You are hurting my fragile ego."

"I accepted the academy recommendation."

"Why."

"The academy is one of the best institutions in the continient."

"That sounds exactly like something a traitor would say."

Elena sighed.

"You knew this was coming."

"It was a problem for future me and now that me."

"That explains many things."

Amos ignored that. The Arianne Academy—one of the empire’s most prestigious institutions. It’s a place for the truly talented and dedicated… or for those wealthy enough to secure their spot. Normally, entry demands rigorous exams, influential connections, or both. Elena, however, had been granted a direct recommendation from Lord Aros himself.

Amos was twelve and the academy only start accepted students beginning at the age of fourteen.

Two years- two whole years, without his personal maid. A cruel twist of fate.

Elena stared at him.

"You are being dramatic."

"I am sad at this world decision."

"You reached B-rank at twelve."

"I am sad at this unjust world."

"We earned enough money to buy a small estate from adventuring."

"I am sad you only think about yourself."

"That's you."

"I am sad you still denying it."

Amos folded his arms.

His partner was leaving him for two years.  The person who had spent the last three years accompanying him train to be the absolute fighting machine he is now.

The garden fell quiet.

Eventually Elena looked toward him.

"You'll be fine."

"No."

"You will."

"How would you know? Who’s going to make a coffee perfectly suited to my taste? Who’s going to wake me up early in the morning so I can ask for another five minutes, only to be cruelly woken up? Who’s going to choose a slightly safer quest for me, only to not even be considered?"

"Amos."

He looked away.

"You've been adventuring alone before."

"Not for two years."

"You still managed."

"I nearly died."

"You are still here."

"..."

"You picked the most troublesome quest all the time, yet somehow you survived all the fights. That is your specialty."

Amos let out a sigh. For a while, neither of them said a word. Birds chirped above, and the estate stayed calm and quiet.

Then Elena broke the silence.

"Ambrosia cried."

Amos froze.

"She did?"

"..."

"How much?"

"A lot."

"Damn."

"Lisa cried too."

Amos looked horrified.

"Lisa cried?"

"Only after Ambrosia started."

"Double damn."

The situation was rapidly worsening.

For the past three years, Ambrosia and Lisa had been almost inseparable readers, friend and sisters in everything but blood. Lisa’s memories still hadn’t fully come back, though occasional fragments surfaced. They were enough to show she had once lived a very different life, but never enough to explain it all.

Amos still kept an eye on her diary.

Definitely not secretly reading it, still waiting for some clue to reveal itself.

Elena stood. The conversation was nearing its end.

The academy entrance ceremony was only weeks away.

"Amos."

"Hm?"

"When I leave. You are not allowed to put yourself in danger."

"Define danger for me. Could you use it in a sentence."

Elena closed her eyes.

"That response concerns me."

"I require word origins."

"You know exactly what I mean."

"I genuinely don't."

"You absolutely do."

Amos thought about arguing but decided against it, mostly because she was right. The black-haired girl smiled—or at least it seemed that way—a faint lift at the corner of her lips.

"You'll be alright."

She knew him better than just about anyone. Amos glanced at the recommendation letter once more, then let his gaze drift toward the distant manor—toward Ambrosia, and toward Lisa.

Two years.  It seemed like a long time, but three years did just fly by, maybe two years would slip away just as fast.  

He let out a quiet sigh.  

"Fine."

"Good."

Then Amos pointed at her.

"If the academy is bullying you, I will burn it down."

"..."

"That is not how you should react."

"It will be."

"It cannot."

"It can."

"It absolutely cannot."

Amos grinned.

Elena sighed and resumed drinking her tea.

Amos continued staring at the sky like one of those times in anime that when they are about to be separated from their childhood friend.

“Elena.”

“Yes.”

“How strong are you currently?”

The black-haired girl glanced toward him calmly.

“That is vague.”

“Your magic.”

“Still very much vague.”

Amos clicked his tongue.

“You know exactly what I mean.”

“Yes.”

“Cheeky maid.”

“Correct.”

Amos leaned slightly forward.

“You have been hiding your capabilities from me again.”

“No.”

“That answer alone confirms it.”

Elena sighed softly.

“I simply did not see reason to mention it.”

Amos narrowed his eyes.

“Elena.”

“Yes.”

“How many simultaneous spell structures can you maintain now?”

“…"

“Elena.”

“Six perhaps.”

“Perhaps?”

“Yes.”

“OH, COME ON!”

“Yes.”

“I guess the very cool and beautiful Selena can only do seven consistently.”

“She is you. Wait were you just glazing yourself??”

Elena took another sip of tea.

“Eight is probably possible.”

Amos stared at her.

“Excuse me?”

“It requires very high concentration.”

“…Ah.”

“You seem calm.”

“I am processing future problems.”

Elena ignored him completely.

Amos crossed his arms.

“What about your magic reinforcement?”

“Improved.”

“How improved?”

“Elena.”

“Yes.”

“You are making me nervous.”

“I can maintain reinforcement continuously now.”

“Continuously?”

“Yes.”

“You are good, really good.”

“Thank you.”

Elena tilted her head slightly.

“You taught me.”

Amos immediately looked offended.

“Do not place responsibility on me for your growth.”

“You are literally worse.”

“That is different.”

“How?”

“I am me.”

“That explains nothing.”

“It explains everything.”

The wind rustled softly through the trees again. Amos stared toward the sky thoughtfully.

“What is your strongest spell currently?”

Elena paused this time.

Which immediately worried him.

“Elenaaaaaa.”

“Yes.”

“You paused too long.”

“I was deciding whether telling you is a good idea.”

“That sentence has never led to anything positive.”

“It is a spatial compression variant.”

Amos blinked once.

“Isn't that one of mine.”

“I altered the structure after studying your mana control method.”

“Why would you do that. That is my magic.”

“Yes.”

“You should at least tell me you pirated my magic secretly.”

“No.”

“I am going to sue you for that you know.”

Amos buried his face into his hands.

Eventually Amos lowered his hands again.

“How strong are you actually?”

Elena looked at him quietly for a moment.

Then answered honestly.

“If I reveal everything openly?”

“Yes.”

“Probably A-rank level.”

Amos stared. Then slowly nodded.

“Same. I reached A-rank too.”

Everything felt exactly the same as it had three years ago even if the world around them had changed completely. Soon, Elena would enter the academy and their paths would separate.