Reading Aloud

Then, Hesta began to read softly.

"Last summer, I was on a hike through one or two counties along the river. As dusk approached, I found myself feeling somewhat uneasy about the road I was on.

"That evening, I met Mr. Lando. He was gentle and sincere, and very enthusiastic. But at the time, I was more interested in the house that so captivated me than in the owner's demeanor.

"The floor was covered with a double-sided jacquard carpet, white with small green circular patterns. The curtains were made of snow-white fine cotton, quite wide, with sharp, neat folds, all hanging straight and formally to the floor.

"The room was filled with many leather-bound books, ornate wallpaper, carpets, marble-topped tables, and the windows here were tall and narrow. Beside them, on a side table, sat a glass bell jar, beneath which stood a paper rose..." (1)

Liz gazed at Hesta, who was reading. Although Hesta's voice was slow and low, Liz inexplicably felt a hint of deep affection in it as she listened.

This emotion was restrained and controlled, like an oil painting, sealed and covered in dust. It was as if something had accidentally lifted a corner of the veil, allowing an outsider a glimpse of the brilliant, surging colors beneath.

Liz also understood almost immediately that whoever had read this collection of stories to her must have had a profound impact on Hesta.

By the time Hesta finished the short story, Tulan, nestled in Liz's arms, had fallen fast asleep.

In the soft light, Liz cradled Tulan's head and carefully moved her onto a pillow beside them.

"Do you want to talk more?" Liz asked Hesta in a whisper, "We can go outside."

Hesta remembered the silver-haired girl from earlier, "But what about Ligo—"

Liz gestured towards the door, "Let's go to the balcony."

Around two in the morning, in the chilly spring night of Tanyi City, Hesta, wrapped in a light blanket, stood with Liz on the protruding balcony. From here, Hesta could smell the aromas of cheese and bread wafting from the kitchen behind them, mingling with the night breeze carrying hints of the forest, creating a wonderful sensation.

Liz wore only a white camisole. She leaned against the carved iron railing, her elbows resting on it. Hesta's eyes immediately caught the smooth, muscular lines of her back and arms. Unlike the gentle, girl-next-door image she projected in the soft light, Liz now reminded Hesta of a lithe antelope in the wilderness.

"Do you have any more family in Sector Three?" Liz asked.

Hesta was silent for a moment, then shook her head.

"Me neither," Liz smiled. "Apart from Tulan, most of the cadets here are on their own."

Hesta looked at Liz, "Does she seem a little hostile towards me?"

"Well... she's a bit hostile towards all strangers," Liz explained. "She gets much better once she's familiar with someone, and Tulan hasn't been in a good state lately..."

"I heard Miss Viking mention it; her Bullet Time isn't enough to support her on the battlefield, is that right?"

"Yes," Liz nodded. "She'll be 14 next month, and she definitely won't pass the Type 14 selection."

"Type 14... what?"

"The Type 14 selection," Liz repeated. "Bullet Time for Quicksilver Needles stabilizes around the ages of 14 and 19. Did you know that? Only those who exceed 4h have a chance of being assigned to combat teams."

"Then why is Miss Tulan so upset? Doesn't she have another chance when she turns 19?"

Liz smiled and shook her head. "After the Type 14 selection, the overall potential is pretty much set. Only a few Quicksilver Needles with Bullet Time exceeding 3h30min have a chance to break through the 4h mark with further training. Her chances aren't high... How old are you this year? 11?"

"Mhm."

Liz sighed. "I was 11 when I first came here. Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, it's so fast."

Hesta: "I heard Miss Valenti say you'll be officially specializing in the second half of the year?"

"Yes," Liz nodded. "But my desire for combat isn't as strong as Tulan's."

"Why does she want to fight Chelated Beings head-on so badly?"

"It probably has to do with her experiences," Liz gave a concise answer. Then she stretched, leaning back and exhaling deeply. She continued, "I'm different... I don't really want to go on field missions. After all, I still have many attachments to life itself... Haha."

"I can feel that," Hesta lowered her head. "You have many books."

Liz looked at Hesta for a while. "If you like books too, you can come to my room to borrow them anytime."

"Can I?"

"Of course," Liz extended her hand to Hesta. "It's nice to meet you... It's my first time meeting a newcomer who already has experience fighting Chelated Beings right after arriving at the base."

Hesta squeezed Liz's palm lightly, her expression somewhat confused. "You mean me? I don't."

Liz paused slightly. "Aren't you from Saint Anne Abbey on Severn Mountain?"

"Mhm."

"Then it must be you... The internal briefing from the base mentioned that by the time Chiba's team arrived, the Chelated Being in the abbey was already severely injured—wasn't it you who did that?"

"No," Hesta replied. "At least, I have no recollection of it at all."

Liz blinked. "...Then maybe I've made a mistake somewhere, but you were personally brought here by Chiba Masaki, weren't you?"

"Mhm."

Liz touched her chin thoughtfully. "Then you must have something extraordinary about you."

Hesta frowned slightly. "Why?"

"Because," Liz smiled, "Chiba is a very shrewd person."

Hesta tilted her head slightly.

Liz looked at Hesta. "From what I know, she never wastes time on useless things. In the past, because she felt it was a waste of energy, she never even acted as an assistant to newcomers at the training base, let alone actively becoming someone's guardian like this."

"Really," Hesta recalled Chiba driving her to the abbey earlier, which took up almost their entire day. "...I thought it was just a formality."

"Of course not," Liz chuckled. "While the 'Reserve Guardian Order' procedures are simple, their enforcement is quite strict. Even if the ward attends a boarding school, the guardian is required to spend at least 6 hours of non-sleep companionship time each month.

"During holidays, this requirement increases to over 21 hours per week, meaning at least 3 hours spent together daily. And considering that once you pass the Type 14 selection, Quicksilver Needles can officially join combat operations..."

At this point, Liz paused. "I believe Chiba Masaki wants you to join her combat team directly after the selection. Otherwise, I honestly can't figure out how a currently active Quicksilver Needle like her, who's always traveling all over the place, would manage to find so much time to spend with you."

Hesta listened quietly to Liz's analysis. The two then chatted about many things, from Edgar's literary status to simple, practical suggestions for base life. It was almost four in the morning when Liz yawned, deciding to head back to her room to sleep. Before parting, she went back to her room and brought out those two copies of 'Edgar's Dark Tales Collection.'

"Would you like these two story collections as a gift?"

Hesta looked up, a little surprised. "A gift for me?"

"Yes, for you," Liz said with a smile. "If a book is always left on the shelf, unread, it must get lonely, right? So, if you like them, I'll give them to you."

Hesta lowered her gaze slightly. She took the books and gently ran her fingers over the large, gold-embossed characters on the black lacquered cover.

"...Thank you."

(1) Quote adapted from Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Room of Lando' from 'Tales of the Grotesque and Arabesque'

Thanks for the tip, Heyao! :)