CICN 69

Chapter 69

When class ended, the students bustled out of the room.

From her seat in the corner, Evie slowly packed her bag.

If anyone had been watching closely, they would have noticed she was deliberately moving sluggishly.

But the moment the last student left, her pace changed.

She quickly shoved the books inside, then bent low to scan the floor.

From the teacher’s desk to the back of the classroom, she searched carefully until she finally found what she wanted.

Slipping it into her bag, she stepped out into the hall—and went straight to the next classroom to repeat the exact same routine.

After sweeping through several rooms, only then did Evie look satisfied.

Her bag was bulkier than during lessons, and she slung it over her shoulder as she headed for the cafeteria.

Everyone said they’d be busy today.

With exams approaching, the four of them had their hands full.

Irene had gone to take supplementary classes in subjects she wasn’t confident in.

Ruska and Arcel weren’t much different.

“We’re older than you, Evie, so of course we have more classes to take.”

Ruska said it in a smug, show-off tone.

“That’s nice…”

Evie answered with a pout, which made Ruska shake his head and remark that this wasn’t something to envy—it was the sort of thing one should laugh at.

“Only Evie would fail to see why this is laughable… And you two, Arcel and Irene—can you stop looking at me like I’m the laziest, dumbest student alive?”

He shielded his face from their stares with his hand, then declared that he was even canceling his evening sports to go study tonight. That was how serious he was, apparently.

Normally, Ruska and Arcel were always together, but after dinner, Ruska would go off on his own to kick a ball around with other friends. For him to give that up for studying said a lot.

And even Arcel was carrying more books than usual.

This midterm exam at the Academy must really be important.

It wasn’t as if the place was like Elam’s advanced schools, threatening to expel students if their grades dropped even a little—so why was everyone trying this hard?

Of course, Evie didn’t know that Elam’s rules were the absurd ones.

Evie walked alone to the cafeteria.

Perhaps because everyone was busy with exam prep, it was quieter than usual.

Students who came in grabbed only sandwiches—things they normally wouldn’t bother with—and hurried out again.

Evie found a seat, then went to get her food.

“Oh?”

She noticed something different.

When she had first arrived at the Academy, she had to stand on tiptoe and stretch desperately just to reach the forks and knives.

Now she still had to stand on tiptoe, but she didn’t have to strain her arm as much.

The counter height hadn’t changed. Which meant…

“I think I grew taller.”

Come to think of it, she had been eating very well here.

There were always plenty of potatoes and bread.

Soups came in several varieties to choose from, and she could have snacks or tea whenever she wanted.

And it wasn’t just the food.

Except during class, she was free to rest as much as she liked.

So, with the weather growing warmer, she often returned to her room after lessons and napped in her bed.

Balancing her tray of food, Evie thought that once she got back to her room, she’d ask Irene to measure her height.

Irene always told her she needed to gain weight and grow taller—so she should eat a lot, and then even more.

I can’t wait to tell Irene!

Maybe it was the joy of realizing she had grown.

When she sat down, she noticed something else.

My sleeves are shorter.

They used to cover her hands completely, but now they fit just right.

My arms must have grown longer too.

And come to think of it, her shoes, which had fit fine before, now felt a bit tight.

Delighted, Evie sat on her chair, clenching her fists and swinging her legs with excitement.

She was still the smallest child at the Academy.

She was so small, in fact, that people could recognize her without even seeing her face—just by her tiny frame passing by.

Evie imagined a bigger version of herself.

She wanted to grow taller, taller still—tall enough to beat Ruska, who always bragged about being the tallest of the four.

He’s always resting his chin on my head and calling me Peanut! When I’m taller, I’ll pay him back for every time!

And then she wouldn’t need to hold Irene’s hand anymore.

She liked holding hands, but here at the Academy, she was the only one who did that, so sometimes it embarrassed her.

On rainy days, I’ll be the one holding the umbrella for her.

Just thinking about it made her happy. If she grew bigger and stronger, she wouldn’t just receive help—she could start helping others.

As she lifted her spoon, a thought of other people filled her mind.

The Director.

Not only him—the teachers at the orphanage, her friends, the little ones, the older brothers and sisters.

I wonder if they’re all doing well?

The Director sent her letters once every two weeks without fail.

Compared to the other children here who got letters almost every day, it wasn’t much.

But she knew he was doing his best.

It costs money to send letters all the way here, after all.

That was why his letters often came in bundles, as though he wrote several and sent them all together.

Evie’s legs, swinging happily a moment ago, stilled.

I’m the only one living so well.

Back at the orphanage, her friends weren’t any bigger than she was.

If only they could eat their fill like she could now.

Her hand slowed on her meal, guilt weighing it down.

Suddenly, eating well and living well by herself felt almost like a crime.

Meanwhile, more students left, and the cafeteria grew quieter still.

Deciding no one else would be coming, the staff began cleaning up earlier than usual.

When Evie returned her tray, she asked one of them:

“Do you throw all of this away?”

“Yes. They’re baked goods, so they’d keep a while, but it’s our rule to throw out whatever’s left.”

The worker answered casually and went back into the kitchen.

Evie couldn’t tear her eyes away from the pile of cookies destined for the trash.

Clois was walking toward the Academy under the darkening sky.

Even as he hurried to his office, he couldn’t take his eyes off the book in his hands.

On the cover was written: Reshid Verb Conjugation Rules.

He understood now why, when he’d said he’d teach Evie a foreign language, Seraphina had scoffed as if it were impossible.

At first, he thought she meant he had studied too long ago to remember anything.

But now he realized—

Learning for yourself and teaching others are two very different things.

He had no trouble understanding, but explaining it was daunting.

So, after finishing his paperwork in a rush, he spent his spare time cramming from the Reshid and Arcis language textbooks.

As he walked the path to the Academy, he looked up without thinking.

Beside the road was a forest path where no one was allowed to enter.

And the moment he realized what lay beyond it, he froze.

My God.

It was unthinkable.

He had completely erased from his mind the fact that he was supposed to visit his wife and daughter.

Unless he was away from the capital, he had always gone to their graves at least once every three days, no matter how busy he was.

But now…

How long has it been since I last visited?

As he counted the days, his chest went hollow.

Two weeks.

Since the festival, he hadn’t been to their graves.

He wavered.

Should he turn back right now and go see them?

Or should he keep walking, to meet the child who was waiting for him?

The answer should have been obvious: he ought to go to the ones he loved, who could never leave that place, whom he had already neglected for two weeks.

That was the right thing to do.

And yet…

Unable to decide, he closed his eyes for a moment.

Then whispered softly:

“I’m sorry. I’ll come right after this is over…”

After murmuring apologies toward the forest for a long time, he turned again toward the Academy.

He didn’t want to disappoint the child who was waiting for him now.