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Chapter 88
“No. It’s something you can give me.”
“W-what is it? If it’s something I can give, I’ll give it to you.”
“The words ‘thank you for being here.’ I need to hear that.”
Lionel glanced at his wristwatch and spoke again, his tone slightly impatient.
“Hurry. My birthday will be over soon.”
Fortunately, what Lionel asked Jaylin for was something she could easily do.
“T-thank you… and happy birthday.”
“Say my name too.”
Lionel grabbed the end of Jaylin’s sleeve and said, almost pleadingly.
“W-what? H-how am I supposed to say your name…”
“Quickly. Huh?”
Jaylin hesitated, but Lionel showed no sign of giving up. Finally, a fragile, soft voice escaped her lips like a quiet sigh.
“H-happy birthday… L-Lionel, senior.”
Come to think of it, this was the first time. Jaylin had never called Lionel by his name before. The moment she said his name, shivers ran through his entire body.
Only then did Lionel realize that he had been waiting for this moment all day.
The tense, prickly feeling he’d had melted away instantly. The headache that had tormented him all day vanished at once.
He had already heard the phrase “happy birthday” countless times from others. But only when Jaylin said it did he feel like the day had finally come to an end.
Without even understanding why her words carried a different meaning, Lionel greedily swallowed the sweetness she offered.
“Thank you.”
A bright smile spread across Lionel’s face. The pure, uncalculated smile made Jaylin’s heart skip a beat.
Lionel laughing with eyes wide and sparkling was so beautiful it almost took her breath away.
Even though she had longed to see this smile, it was painful now. Her heart ached as if pierced.
Could I… really not love him? Jaylin had no confidence. She pressed her trembling hands together tightly.
“I have something for you too.”
“Y-yes? For me?”
Lionel had no reason to give her anything. It wasn’t even her birthday. Yet he took a long object wrapped in cloth from his bag and handed it to her.
Reflexively, Jaylin took the item and glanced at him.
“Th-thank you… but why are you giving this to me?”
“Just because I want to.”
“C-can I unwrap it?”
“Yeah. Go ahead.”
Lionel answered, eyes sparkling. Since receiving her gift, he seemed to be in very high spirits.
Jaylin unwrapped the cloth. Inside was a sword, longer than a dagger but shorter than a longsword.
“Hold it.”
Jaylin took the hilt of the sword.
“How is it?”
“Uh… it’s really light.”
“Right? I had it made just for you. It’s light enough for you to handle, and the length matches your arm. Too long would be hard to wield, too short would make it hard to stab monsters. Use it for the upcoming exam.”
As she examined the sword, Jaylin’s face suddenly fell.
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“N-no… it’s just… isn’t this expensive?”
Since it was custom-made, it probably was. The hilt and scabbard had delicate vine engravings, showing how much effort had gone into making it. Jaylin felt hesitant to accept it.
What she didn’t know was that the sword’s design resembled the fountain pen Lionel had given her long ago.
Lionel smiled without denying her observation.
“Yes. It’s very expensive. So don’t ever lose it. Keep it safe.”
“Th-then I can’t accept it.”
Jaylin extended the sword back toward Lionel.
“Then I can’t accept your gift either.”
Jaylin, surprised that he would refuse her gift, froze.
“W-why?”
“Because the magical tool you gave me is more valuable than this sword.”
“B-but I didn’t spend any of my money. The magic stone was given by you and other friends, and Stephan helped me craft the tool…”
“Then it’s even more amazing. Buying is the easiest; making it is harder.”
“…”
Lionel didn’t want to argue further. He wanted to see her use the gift he gave her. So he placed the sword back in her hands and shifted the conversation.
“Time’s already gone by. Let’s go—I’ll take you back.”
“I-I’m fine. I can go alone.”
“No. It’s too late.”
Reluctantly, Lionel escorted Jaylin back to her boarding house. She was embarrassed, but he didn’t mind.
“Go inside.”
“N-no. I’ll go in after seeing you leave.”
“No. I’ll leave after seeing you go in.”
They lingered at the door, exchanging stubborn words.
Eventually, Lionel won. Jaylin, unable to bend his will, went inside first.
“I-I’ll go in first, then.”
Once inside, she held her breath. Lionel’s footsteps grew fainter, and Jaylin, drained of energy, slid down against the door.
Squatting, she put down the sword he had given her and hugged herself tightly.
But no matter how tightly she hugged, her body felt cold.
It seemed impossible, but today Lionel had been so tender it was as if he intended to melt her heart.
Why is he being so kind to me? If he were cold, or indifferent, it would be easier to suppress my feelings.
A faint sob escaped her lips. She thought she had cried every drop from her body, but apparently, there were still tears left.
Even standing in front of him made her heart race and fingers tremble. Yet she knew she had to let go. Otherwise, it would be unbearable.
Tears blurred her vision. She had loved and longed for him for so long.
Her feelings for him had grown too strong to simply set aside.
So just a little longer—just until this summer ends.
Until then, let me love you.
So that I can prepare for our parting.
It won’t take long. Not much time left. Just until then.
Then, truly, goodbye.
My gentle childhood first love.
The final exams began. The excitement from the festival had vanished, replaced by the tense, subdued air of the academy.
The library was nearly full, and the training grounds were packed with sweating students.
The first exam was the anti-monster test. The waiting room was crowded with students preparing for it.
Jaylin was calmer than during her first test. The magical tools she had sent for repair were safely returned, and the sword Lionel had given her was secured at her side.
Lionel returned from the control room, where the exam order had been drawn, back to the waiting room.
Seeing him again made her heart tremble uncontrollably.
She tried not to look at him, biting her lip to maintain composure.
Soon, this exam would be over. After it, there would be a break. Then she wouldn’t have to see him.
“Ready?”
“Yes. What’s the order?”
Nathan answered Adrian’s question.
“First.”
“First, huh? That’s nerve-wracking.”
Nathan stretched lightly, smiling playfully—his calm demeanor betrayed no tension.
Jaylin, watching Lionel’s conversation from a corner, checked her belongings once more.
“You okay?”
Adrian lightly tapped her shoulder as he leaned against the wall.
Since that day, Adrian often asked about her condition like this.
“Y-yes.”
“If something’s hard, speak up. Don’t suffer in silence.”
“Ah, okay. Don’t worry.”
“I’m not worried.”
Adrian snorted, a cold edge to his voice. If this isn’t worry, then what is it?
Jaylin looked at him intently. Raising one eyebrow, he emphasized again:
“No, really.”
It seemed acknowledging it would break his composure.
“Wait, let me see you for a moment.”
At that moment, Lionel approached, brushing past her and whispering just for her ears.
‘What’s this about?’
Would Lionel want to see her just before the exam?
Jaylin wanted to avoid being alone with him, but she couldn’t flee without a reason.
If it was exam-related instructions, all the more reason to listen. After all, this was the academy, and Lionel was her team leader.
They stopped in a secluded spot where no one else was around.
“You okay? Not nervous like last time?”
Jaylin tensed slightly and nodded.
“Good. You practiced well, so it’ll be fine. Just follow the training.”
“Yes.”
Then Lionel slowly knelt on one knee in front of her. Startled, Jaylin tried to lift him, but he remained steadfast.
