Compared to Frey, Abyss was far more accepting of Belial's ability to consume meat.
After all, he still vividly remembered the dragon scales adorning her spine.
After breakfast, Abyss noticed that Belial seemed somewhat unsettled as she left the hall. He was concerned but had no choice but to relinquish control of their shared body at Balders urging, allowing Balder to use the teleportation array in the library to return to his church lessons.
Balder received one-on-one education at the church, always studying in the same solitary classroom furnished with a single desk and chair. His instructors were none other than the most revered figures of the Church of Lightpeople so powerful that a mere sneeze from them could send tremors through all of Asgard. Yet, in front of Balder, they remained unfailingly respectful, addressing him with a unified reverence: Your Highness.
As noon approached, Balder rushed back to school, where a swordsmanship lesson awaited him.
Their instructor for the class was a knight of great renown, a figure celebrated in countless ballads as courageous and gallant, a man who had embarked on many an extraordinary adventure. However, if you asked Balder, hed say that rather than brave and passionate, the man was more accurately described as recklessly impulsive and utterly lacking in foresight.
Take today, for instanceBalder had hurried to the combat room only to discover that class had been relocated outdoors at the last minute. The reason? Their ever-enthusiastic knightly instructor had simply decided that such fine weather was wasted indoors.
Apologies for being late, Balder said sincerely to his teacher and classmates, which immediately earned him their understandingand their collective outrage toward the instructor.
This isnt your fault! If the teacher hadnt suddenly changed the location, you wouldnt have been late at all.
Exactly! Next time, could you at least tell us beforehand, sir? I nearly went to the wrong place myself.
Its too hot out here! Id rather be in the classroom.
Owing to their teachers capricious nature, their swordsmanship lessons always carried a lighthearted atmosphere. With the students unanimously siding with Balder, the instructor had no choice but to let the tardiness slide.
Class commenced with the knight regaling them with tales of his escapades in the subterranean lava city, describing in vivid detail how he had vanquished the automaton soldiers forged by the dwarves. Using this as a lesson, he demonstrated a few sword techniques before pairing the students up for practice.
Balder was assigned to train with his classmate, Illyri. As they took turns attacking and defending, he soon noticed that her mind was elsewhere. He paused their sparring and asked, Something wrong?
Im sorry, I just Illyri hesitated, her gaze unconsciously drifting toward the bridge that connected the castle to the library.
Following her line of sight, Balder spotted Belial standing by the railing, shielding her eyes from the sun as she peered downas if searching for someone.
Shes in a bad mood. Dont bother her, Abyss muttered to Balder.
Balder, however, couldnt care less about Belial mood. Instead, he turned to Illyri and said, Ive heard a little about what happened with Frey. Need my help?
What? Illyri was momentarily stunned before shaking her head. No need. I think Belial is just heading to the library. Ill find her after class.
But if she enters the restricted section, you wont be able to, Balder pointed out.
Illyri hesitated. How do you know shell go there?
Balder lied without a second thought. Ive seen her in the library before. She never lingers in the public reading areashe always heads straight for the restricted section.
Illyri wavered. Then what do you plan to do?
Just get me a chance to talk to her, she said. Ill figure out a way to ask her to meet with Frey.
Balder accepted the request and strode toward their ever-impulsive swordsmanship instructor.
Meanwhile, nearby, Adalaa mermaid studentwas resting in the shade. Given how intolerant her kind was to the sun, she and her partner had been granted the privilege of practicing beneath a parasol. Watching Illyri, she commented in her usual monotone, Didnt you and Frey have an argument?
Thats a separate issue, Illyri responded. Just because we fought doesnt mean I dont care about him.
Adala blinked. Love is peculiar.
High above on the bridge, Belial stood under the blazing sun, scanning the grounds below through the tinted lenses of her glasses.
She had always been a little rebellious at heart. Before arriving at the school, she had firmly decided not to seek out Lilith, her adoptive mother, who was still a student here. She couldnt be sure whether she would react appropriately upon seeing a younger Lilithwhat if she frightened her?
It was partly why she had avoided the dining hall at first.
Yet, after finally going to breakfast that morning and failing to catch even a glimpse of Lilith, that very same rebellious streak flared to life.
The more fate seemed to keep them apart, the more she wanted to see her.
They had already been separated for two years. What was so wrong about a daughter wanting to see her mother?
But could she really control herself? What if she scared Lilith? What if she made her afraid and changed the futurepreventing her from ever adopting her?
These conflicting emotions wrestled inside her, leaving her with a pounding headache. Unable to focus on modifying her spell formations, she had given herself an excuse to wander the library in search of books. That was when she spotted Illyri.
Of course, Illyri wasnt the real focuswhat mattered was that Belial remembered Illyri Embla was Liliths classmate.
For the first time in her life, Belial found Illyri incredibly pleasant to look at.
She came to a halt on the bridge, scanning the crowd below for any sign of Lilith. But no matter where she looked, Lilith was nowhere to be found.
Where was she?
Her already foul mood worsened.
Just then, the swordsmanship instructor called up to her, waving enthusiastically and gesturing for her to come down.
Belial noticed Balder standing beside him but paid him no mind. She merely placed a hand on the bridges railingand jumped.
Gasps of horror erupted among the students.
Like a bird with broken wings, she plummeted toward the ground, only for an updraft to catch her at the last second. The swirling air softened her descent, sending a ripple through the grass and gently setting her down.
Well, thats certainly faster than taking the stairs, the knightly instructor musedcompletely unfazed.
While his swordsmanship was unparalleled, he lacked magical talent, forever barred from descending so effortlessly.
Balder, meanwhile, was struggling to keep Abyss in check, internally cursing how the other half of himself completely lost his wits around Belial. Outwardly, however, he merely sighed, feigning exasperation. Sir, at least pretend to set a good example.
Only then did the instructor clear his throat. Ahem. What I meant wasstudents, dont try that! Youll break your necks.
The students, still recovering from shock, muttered, As if wed dare.
One even called him out: Thats not what you meant at all.
Ignoring their commotion, Belial walked up to the instructor. What do you want?
Well, were practicing in pairs, but we have an odd number of students. Could you help balance things out?
Belial gaze swept across the training ground. Every student was paired off. Whos missing?
The instructor shrugged. No one. The class just has an odd number of students, so theres always one left out.
Belial gaze halted on a solitary figure beneath a large, leafy tree.
A girl with long, golden-brown hair braided into twin plaits. Unlike the others, she held no sword, only watching curiously from afar.
Belial fingers curled slightly, her irritation vanishing into something elsesatisfaction, longing and a restrained fury.
So if she hadnt come, this girl would have always been alone?
The instructor remained oblivious. Yep. Thats just how it is.
Belial exhaled slowly.
She would stay.