“…!”
The raging wind roared in my ears.
Then came the icy touch of water—
A heavy splash—
And everything went silent.
“Rize, did you hear that?”
I heard hurried footsteps along with an excited voice.
‘That voice is…’
Ah, it’s Senior Yanis. Why is she here all of a sudden?
“This isn’t the time to be sleeping, Rize!”
“What is it…?”
I had been dozing off at my desk. I slowly opened my eyes.
Yanis was looking at me with a very excited expression.
But why was she in training clothes?
‘Ah… this is Veldezium.’
I was still attending the academy. What was I even thinking?
Still not realizing this was a dream, I listened as Yanis continued.
“You know the daughter of Count Marju’s family, right?”
“Marju? I think I’ve heard of her.”
“Try to pay more attention to high society, Rize. She’s the one who was chosen to accompany the Empress at the last party. She’s really pretty and cute.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of her. But why?”
“Do you know who she’s dating right now?”
“Who?”
The moment I asked, I remembered the answer Yanis had given before.
“Cassium. Cassium Valteir.”
Ah… right. That’s how it was.
This wasn’t just imagination—it really happened.
It was a memory from my academy days.
“She and Cassium are seeing each other.”
For a moment, I imagined Cassium and that noble lady standing side by side.
“……”
Then I erased that image immediately and stood up, grabbing my training jacket.
“Rize, where are you going? Aren’t you curious?”
“Not at all. Anything else would be more interesting than that.”
“Seriously? Rize! Hey, Rize!”
Yanis shouted behind me, but I ignored her and ran to the training grounds.
It didn’t matter who Cassium was dating.
Instead of listening to his love life, it was better to train—for my past, present, and future.
I slashed through bundle after bundle of straw.
The swordsmanship tournament was coming soon, and my speed still wasn’t good enough.
‘I might have a chance if he’s distracted by romance.’
I struck the straw harder.
“Just focus on your dating!”
Slash!
“Focus on dating properly!”
I breathed heavily.
Before I realized it, I had already completed my target training amount.
I rolled my neck and shoulders to loosen my muscles.
‘The sun is already setting.’
At this time, Bryce would definitely be waiting for me.
He would come running with his small feet and say, “Noona, I missed you.”
‘Yeah… that’s how it was…’
Wait for me a bit, Bryce…
I quickly returned to the training building and changed clothes.
In the dimly lit mirror, I saw myself in casual clothes, hair tied up.
My cheeks were slightly red from training.
—
“Cassium. He’s dating the Marju lady!”
“……?!”
Why did that suddenly come to mind?
I slapped my cheeks lightly with both hands. They turned even redder.
“Let’s just go home.”
I ran down the stairs and exited the lobby.
To get to the count’s estate, I had to go toward the south gate.
I stepped into the garden leading there.
‘Careful… don’t trip while running downhill.’
As I moved quickly—
I saw a familiar face under the shadow of a tree.
Cassium stepped forward when he saw me.
With the fading sunset behind him, he spoke the moment our eyes met.
“Going home?”
“You too.”
His house was near the north gate.
Why was he here?
“Rize.”
He stopped me as I tried to pass.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Yes.”
He stepped closer and looked down at me.
Then, in a low voice—
“I’m not seeing her. That person.”
I swallowed without realizing.
I didn’t even know why.
Maybe his calm gaze made me uncomfortable.
“Why are you telling me that?”
“That’s…”
His eyes moved to my cheek. His hand brushed the spot where the skin had reddened.
I quickly turned away.
“It’s from training too hard.”
“Did someone hit you?”
“I said it’s from training.”
I ended up explaining without being asked.
I swallowed again and brushed my messy hair behind my ear.
“Anyway, I’m busy. I’m leaving. You should just focus on dating.”
“What did you even hear, Rize?”
He turned me back again.
“I said I’m not seeing her.”
“I don’t care. Then why not?”
I didn’t know why I asked that.
But I really did ask it—both in the dream and in reality.
“It was a false rumor. It’ll be corrected soon.”
“I thought you were too busy dating to focus.”
I replied casually.
Cassium looked at me, then sighed deeply, as if frustrated.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Now that you know, that’s enough.”
He turned to leave.
But this time, I grabbed him.
“Then why did you come all the way here to tell me?”
“I just stopped by on my way.”
“You don’t come this way.”
“You remembered that.”
I frowned.
He chuckled, then thought for a moment before answering.
“I don’t have time to be distracted. I wanted to tell you that.”
“……”
“I’m going.”
He waved once and started walking downhill.
I stood there, watching his back.
He walked confidently, taking big steps without hesitation.
Then suddenly—
He stopped.
“What now?”
As if he heard me, he turned and ran back toward me.
Breathing slightly heavier, he said,
“There’s something else I need to say.”
“What?”
My tone was blunt, but he didn’t mind.
“I thought about it a lot. I feel like I have to tell you this now.”
“…What is it?”
“I’ve never said this to anyone before. You’re the first.”
Why was he being so serious?
“Rize Artiela. I realized something.”
There was even a hint of tension in his voice.
It was clearly something important.
Then why tell me first?
“…What did you realize?”
His expression was extremely serious.
Even I felt a little tense.
He stretched out his hand.
My eyes followed it—
And in his hand was—
“I figured out how to use aura. I’m an aura user now, Rize.”
“……”
A sword.
Silence filled the space.
The wind blew between us.
Then I smiled slightly and muttered,
“Wow… congratulations.”
It was truly impressive.
But somehow… it felt disappointing.
He came all the way just to say that?
Was he trying to provoke me?
Cassium nodded and lowered his sword.
I waved once and hurried home.
That night, after putting Bryce to sleep,
I trained again.
—
“I don’t have time to be distracted.”
—
He had waited on my path just to say that.
Thinking about it made it impossible not to train.
That’s right—he didn’t have time for romance either.
Even if rumors said otherwise, he was serious about swordsmanship.
‘And he mastered aura?’
Training with him, I already knew it wouldn’t take long.
He was that talented.
Even in the original story, he was already an aura user.
Still… it was frustrating that he achieved it so early.
My wooden sword cut through the air.
Sweat dropped into the night.
As I kept moving, I replayed everything he said today.
‘Still…’
At the end—
I looked at the tip of my sword and thought:
‘At least… he’s not dating that Marju lady, right?’
