Yulan Calendar 9997, November.
The Ernst Institute entered its busiest season of the year. Tests for every grade began one after another, the library was packed every day, and even more students than usual were training on the back hill.
Akes and Linley were already sixth-year students. Yale and George had moved up to the fifth year, while Reynolds was still stuck in the fourth. This arrangement had held for nearly a year, and none of them had managed to advance any further.
The gap between the sixth and seventh ranks really wasn't easy to cross.
That afternoon, the five of them were training on the back hill as usual. After an hour, Reynolds was just about to get up and stretch when he spotted someone approaching from a distance.
"Someone's coming," he said.
They all followed his gaze. A blonde girl was walking toward them. She looked about fifteen or sixteen and wore a dress of the sort commonly seen in Fenlai City. She wasn't a student at the institute.
Akes's heart stirred.
At this time, in this place, coming to see Linley?
Alice. Linley's first love in the original story. The girl who made his heart flutter, inspired him to give everything, and eventually broke his heart.
The timeline was right. It was happening now.
"How did you find me here?" Linley asked.
"I asked the gatekeepers," Alice said. "They told me you might be on the back hill, so I came to look for you."
Linley was silent for a moment, then turned to Akes and the others. "I'll head out first."
"Go on, go on." Yale waved him away with a knowing grin.
Linley and Alice left side by side.
Once they were out of sight, Reynolds was the first to leap up. "Fourth brother's in love!"
"How do you know he's in love?" George asked.
"Do you even have to ask? A girl came all this way just to see him. What else could it be?"
Yale stroked his chin. "I think so too. Fourth brother's not the type to put off training for just anyone. She must be special."
Akes leaned against a rock without saying anything.
He knew how this relationship would end. But he also knew it was something Linley had to go through. As his brother, all he could do was stay by his side and be there when Linley needed him.
"Third brother, why aren't you saying anything?" Reynolds came over.
"It's nothing." Akes stood up. "Come on, let's go back for dinner."
Linley returned late that evening.
When he opened the dormitory door, Akes was leaning against his bed, reading. Yale and George were playing chess next door, and Reynolds was already asleep.
"You're back?" Akes looked up.
"Mm." Linley sat down beside his bed.
The two of them were silent for a while.
"That girl..." Akes began.
"Alice," Linley said. "I saved her the last time I went into the Magical Beast Mountain Range. We've been together since."
Akes nodded. "What's she like?"
Linley thought for a moment. "She's pretty good."
Those were just two words, but Akes heard the meaning behind them. Linley wasn't much of a talker. Calling someone "pretty good" was already high praise from him.
"Then treat her well," Akes said.
Linley glanced at him. "You don't seem surprised."
"Surprised about what?"
"That someone came to see me."
Akes smiled. "You're not bad-looking, and you're strong. Isn't it normal for someone to like you?"
Linley's lips twitched, but he said nothing.
Akes closed his book and lay down. "Get some sleep."
"Mm."
As the days went by, Linley went to see Alice more and more often.
Sometimes it was on the weekends, other times after training in the evening. Akes and the others occasionally caught sight of him hurrying off, but none of them asked about it.
One weekend in early December, Linley showed up at the dormitory with Alice.
"This is Alice," he introduced her.
"And this is Yale, George, Reynolds, and Akes."
Alice nodded to them with a lovely smile. She wore a pale blue dress, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders, and her eyes were bright and clear.
"Hello," Akes greeted her first.
"Hello." Alice looked at him. "You must be Akes. Linley talks about you a lot."
"What does he say about me?"
"He says you're great at training and someone he can count on."
Akes smiled. "It's rare for him to compliment anyone."
Yale leaned in. "What about me? Has he ever mentioned me?"
Alice thought for a moment. "He has. He said you all get along really well in the dormitory."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Reynolds laughed so hard he slapped his thigh.
George chimed in to smooth things over. "Linley doesn't say much. That's already quite a lot for him."
They chatted and laughed together, and the atmosphere was warm and easy.
That evening, all five of them went to Wald for dinner with Alice.
Linley ignored him.
During the meal, Alice chatted happily with everyone. She was outgoing and funny, and she quickly hit it off with Yale and the others. Akes didn't say much, but he chimed in now and then, and the good mood never faltered.
Halfway through the meal, Alice went to the restroom. Reynolds leaned toward Linley. "Fourth brother, she's a great girl. Don't let this one get away."
Linley glanced at him but said nothing.
"Reynolds is right," George said with a nod. "She's got a great personality and she's pretty, too. You're a good match."
Yale patted Linley on the shoulder. "We're rooting for you, brother."
Akes said nothing. He simply raised his glass to Linley.
Linley raised his own glass of water, and the two of them clinked glasses.
When Alice returned, they continued eating.
When they talked about the future, Alice said she also attended the magic academy in Fenlai City. Her talent was average, though, and she was only a third-rank mage.
"Third rank is pretty good," Reynolds said. "I'm fourth rank, and I'm not much better than you."
"You're fourth rank?" Alice asked in surprise. "How old are you?"
"Seventeen."
"That's still really impressive."
Reynolds shot Yale a smug look.
Yale rolled his eyes and ignored him.
After dinner, Linley walked Alice home. Akes and the others paid the bill and left, heading back to the institute.
"She's a nice girl," George said.
"Mm," Akes replied.
"Fourth brother's serious about her this time."
Akes nodded. He knew Linley was serious. In the original story, Linley gave Alice all his heart. In the end, all he got in return was heartbreak and growth.
When Akes returned to the dormitory that night, Linley still wasn't back.
Akes lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. Yale and George's voices drifted over from next door. Reynolds was already asleep, snoring softly.
He suddenly thought of the year he'd crossed into this world.
He'd been nine years old then, newly arrived at the Ernst Institute, unfamiliar with everything and curious about it all. Seven years, more than two thousand days and nights, had passed just like that.
Now Linley was in love, Yale and the others had their own plans, and graduation was drawing closer.
The road ahead was still long, but in the end, some people were bound to part ways.
[Ding—the monthly sign-in opportunity has refreshed.] [Sign in?]
Akes silently thought to himself, Sign in.
[Sign-in successful.] [Reward obtained: Gate of Eternal Life · Rejuvenation Pill ×3—Rapidly restores injuries, both internal and external.]
Three pale green pills appeared out of thin air. Akes glanced at them and tucked them away.
"Better safe than sorry."
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