CH 28

“Azar, open the window.”

“Huh? Yeah!”

Hazard, standing blankly at Nathan’s voice, flustered and opened the tightly locked window. Then the wind came gently from outside the window and into the library. When Nathan finished the end of the magic circle, the magic circle sparkled purple.

“[Wind, lead these things to where they belong.]”

The wind began to blow a little stronger in the library as he whispered a spell. Nathan’s hair flutters in the wind. Books that were within the scope of the magic circle rose into the air, and books were inserted into an empty bookcase following his gesture. The long-term work was done in no time.

“I didn’t know you’d use this method.”

Hazard whistled unconsciously at the amazing sight. Nathan roughly swept his slightly tangled hair, casting a small [light] magic spell on each box that needed to be moved to the warehouse to remove the weight.

“I don’t usually use it, but it’s just for today. Don’t tell anyone. If I get caught, I’ll be in trouble.”

Then, after grinding his wand again, Nathan took a small bottle out of his arms with his trembling hand. The bottle was filled with things that looked like candy, and he took one of them out, put it in my mouth, and chewed it. A crunch like chewing candy resonates in a quiet library. Hazard wrinkled his brows when he saw it.

“What did you eat?”

“Medicine.”

Nathan said casually, piled up the boxes, and lifted them up. It was as light as a feather when the weight disappeared. Nathan piled up the boxes with the intention of moving them quickly before the magic disappeared.

“Let’s go, we have to walk a little bit to the warehouse, so hurry up before the magic unravels.”

Hazard followed Nathan, who had gone first, with a full box. The full boxes looked precarious, but the two escaped the library without difficulty. The sun was setting in the quiet hallway. Hazard said, walking behind Nathan.

“Why do you take medicine? Do you have any other chronic diseases besides sleepwalking?”

“It’s nothing. Mana aftereffects? It’s similar.”

Nathan stopped talking and dragged Hazard behind the pillar at the sound of steps in front of him. It was Bill at a glance. Hazard saw Nathan and held his breath together. It was only after Bill disappeared into the library that Nathan sighed and walked again.

They were walking with five or six large boxes stacked up, which was unusual. Since then, the two have not said a word to be caught, but have moved cautiously, but quickly and arrived at the warehouse to avoid people’s eyes. It was only after entering the warehouse that I could barely open my mouth.

“Oh, I thought I was caught.”

Hazard burst out laughing briefly as he looked at Nathan leaning on the box as if he were tired. It was hard to know what this was, and how nervous and thrilling it was. I burst into laughter because I was dumbfounded.

“That’s the end of the job, right?”

“Right, that’s it. Thanks to you, it took fewer days than usual .”

The two took a break and then left the warehouse. The sunset was almost over, so the night was falling. Hazard said while stretching out.

“Then I’m done with my work, so let’s each pack up and meet at the front door. If you hurry, you’ll catch the last train. Okay?”

“Yes.”

The two briefly parted ways to pack at the entrance to the dormitory. When Nathan returned to the room, he took out his empty bag and thought about what to pack in his head, and realized that he had little to pack. ‘The only thing I bought here was small items to live in the academy.’ As a result, his only thing was the luggage that Nathan first brought.

I had nothing to pack, so it was quick to pack. Nathan left the room with a moderately heavy bag. Nathan headed for the second magic room before heading to the main gate. Even in the late evening, the light was leaking from the room. Nathan knocked on the door and went inside when he was given permission.

“Did you say you were going on a trip?”

Nathan told Professor Micheal that he would travel to the beach for a while. Michael, who was looking through the documents, finally raised his head toward Nathan.

“Yes, I don’t think it’ll take a few days. I’ll be back before the vacation ends.”

“But I’m sure there’s still work to be done. According to Bill, it takes quite a while.”

“I’m just coming back from that. Oh, I didn’t overdo it! I was able to finish it quickly thanks to my friend’s help.”

Michael squinted and dropped Nathan once.

“You used magic.”

Nathan kept his mouth shut and looked around. I thought I’d get caught, but I can’t believe I’m being seen right through right now. Professor Michael sighed and put down the documents he was holding and got up from his seat. He passed Nathan and headed for the cabinet. He seemed to be looking for something when he saw the drawer being opened.

“What about your medicine?”

“I took it.”

“Okay, let’s move on. The person who was stuck inside the academy said he would voluntarily go out. That’s praiseworthy.”

Professor Michael came up to Nathan and held out what he had in his hand.

“Take this.”

“What’s this?”

“Make sure you use it only when you need it. Of course, it would be better if you didn’t use it…”

Nathan received a navy blue pocket engraved with the Academy’s Insignia.

“Did you pack your medicine?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, have a safe trip and I’ll see you later.”

Professor Michael patted Nathan on the head a couple of times and then went back to his place and lifted the papers. Nathan carefully closed the door, saying, “I’ll be on my way.” He put his pocket inside his coat and Nathan headed for the front door. His steps were light. Nathan is clearly in a good mood now. He even seemed to be excited.

When I came out of the building, the night fell deeply, and the streetlights turned on one by one. There were stars and crescent moons in the sky. Nathan walked quickly, wondering if he was late. Hazard was standing in front of the main gate. He was carrying a bag that was cruder than Nathan on one side, and his empty hand was placed on the sword stand. The picturesque appearance caught the eye, but Nathan was more concerned about something else. Hazard’s face was rarely expressionless. Nathan was used to seeing that smile on the prince’s face.

“Azar.”

However, when Nathan called Hazard, he returned with a familiar look as if he had never made that face. It was the same face that looked slightly naughty like children of his age. The change made Nathan feel strange. My tumultuous chest gradually calms down.

“You came earlier than I thought. Get in. The carriage will be faster than walking.”

Then he opened the carriage door. Hazard bowed down playfully, telling him to get on first. Nathan smirked at the action.

“This is it. I never thought I’d get an escort from the prince.”

“It’s an honor.”

The two giggled on top of the carriage. When Hazard closed the door and knocked on the wall with the horse-carved seat, the carriage started.

. . . 

Behind the dazzlingly colorful royal palace were several abandoned star palaces that were out of human reach. And among them, there was one of the oldest and least visited of the star palaces.

The once splendid Star Palace had long lost its shape. The old palace was overgrown with ivy. Since there was no one to manage it, the annex quickly became a nest of plants. The stone road on the floor was full of cracks here and there, and the grasses grew out of the gold-bloomed unnamed flowers. A hole in the ceiling leaks light, and the glass on the window frame has long been broken.

And there was a child crossing it quickly.

I wonder if I’m five or six years old. The clothes that did not fit the body, the golden hair that grew a lot, and the wet cheeks, under the eyes and the nose were red as if they had cried on the way. The little child was running hard on his short legs in the annex, hugging the bundle in his arms as if it were a treasure.

The child went deep into the star palace and crossed the open garden. The weeds in the garden disturbed the child’s steps, but the child didn’t care. Randomly branched trees harm the landscape, creating a gloomy atmosphere at first glance. The place where the child’s feet stopped after walking for a long time was in front of the old fountain.

“Noona!”

The child called the girl sitting on the old fountain in a bright voice. The girl’s indifferent blue eyes slowly turned to her little brother who was running towards the fountain. The face that looked exactly like the child was expressionless but very lovely. The long girl’s hair flutters in the breeze.

“Azar, I told you not to run because you might fall.’

Unlike her indifferent face, the girl’s voice was sweet.

“Sister, look at this!”

The child, called Hazard, breathed heavily and sat down on the spot to untie the bundle in his arms. Inside the bundle were some crushed muffins and snacks.

“You went out of the star palace again. Are you hurt?”

“Yes! It’s okay!”

He spoke bravely, but looking at his crying face, Elphines, the girl, covered the book she was carrying and jumped down the fountain. A small body came running toward Hazard. A ferny hand rubbed carefully against the sunken eyes.