friend chapter 18

“Well, well, Miss Lumina. It seems we’ll be traveling together.” 

“I’m afraid you’ll have to sit alone, Ias. Lumina will be sitting next to me.”

 …Professor Ias and Edward. I had to fight back tears as I climbed into the carriage. The only consolation was that the journey wouldn’t be too long. Cambert, our destination, was on the eastern outskirts, but the magic carriage would get us there in under an hour. Just one hour. I can pretend I’m dead for an hour. I leaned back against the plush seat and closed my eyes, a clear signal that I wanted to be left alone. 

“You seem tired.” 

“Could you please not talk to me? I’m trying to sleep.” 

Edward, of course, sat right next to me. Although my eyes were closed, I could practically feel his gaze on me. I wonder how he’s planning to tease me this time. It was predictable. Ignoring him, I rested my head against the window, trying to sleep. The morning sun was bright, making my eyelids glow. 

Every time the carriage jolted, my head bumped against the window, jarring me awake. I had no choice but to sit upright against the seat. I thought the stiff posture would keep me awake, but I gradually started to feel drowsy. The rhythmic sound of the wheels against the road was soothing. 

Edward left me alone. True to his word, he didn’t bother me once I said I wanted to sleep. I was a little surprised by his obedience. Before I knew it, I drifted off to sleep, breathing evenly. At some point, my neck must have relaxed, because my head began to loll to the side. The slight discomfort threatened to wake me. But then, I felt a hand gently cradle my head. I wanted to surrender to the touch, to let it lull me back to sleep. Then, something firm and pillow-like supported my head, like a smooth, hard pillow. Bathed in the warm sunlight, I fell into a deep sleep.

***

Stepping out of the carriage, the crisp, clean air filled my lungs. Cambert was as quiet and rural as I’d heard. The faint scent of grass hung in the air, likely due to the surrounding mountains. I felt surprisingly refreshed. I’d expected to feel stiff from sleeping awkwardly, but I’d slept better than I thought. 

Stretching, I headed towards the mountain entrance. 

“Is this your first time at Cambert Mountain?” 

Professor Ias asked as we entered the foothills. I mumbled a response, distracted. I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and all I could think about was getting to our lodgings, unpacking, and having lunch. With each step, the fallen leaves crunched beneath my feet. I wanted to walk in quiet contemplation, but Professor Ias stuck to my side, chattering incessantly. 

He went on and on about how morning hikes were the best, how it would have been nice to fish in the valley, and other personal musings. I suddenly became curious about his age. He looked somewhere between a young man and middle-aged, but he could be older. His tastes were definitely those of an older man. 

“You’re quite skilled at summoning magic, Miss Lumina.” 

“Thank you.” 

“Actually, I’ve had my eye on you since the entrance exams.” 

That was unexpected. I tried to recall what I had done during the entrance exams. Summoning magic was one of the practical subjects. It was a type of spatiotemporal magic, and therefore, quite tricky to handle. Most prospective students could only manage to summon simple objects. 

But our academy wasn’t just any academy. Obenston Academy’s entrance exam was notoriously difficult, and summoning magic was the reason. There was a question about summoning living creatures. 

Summoning moving creatures to a specific location was no easy feat. It wasn’t a question they expected anyone to answer perfectly. Failure meant no penalty, but success earned extra points. How many did I summon back then? Around ten, I think. In any case, summoning magic was my forte. It played a significant role in me securing second place in the entrance exams. 

“You mentioned wanting to join the Magic Tower after graduation, correct?” I confirmed, and the professor’s expression shifted, sending a chill down my spine.