“Erian, can we talk?”

It was just after their class with Lady Lyris, the rest of their classmates dispersing down the hallway. Erian turned to look, sending him a quizzical frown. “Sure,” he said.

Nox saw Reina ahead, watching them curiously. He gave a reassuring nod, which Erian mistook as a signal for them to walk. They entered an empty classroom. Erian leaned on the desk, crossing his arms. “So, what’s this about?”

Nox knew he had to choose his words carefully; he didn’t want to upset his friend. “What are your plans for the Assessment Exam?”

“Oh, that.” Erian sighed in relief. “I thought it was something important.” He waved a hand dismissively. “Same as you and the others, of course. Study and prepare.”

“It is important.” Nox shook his head. “You’re studying and preparing, but what about Reina? She’s barely with you. How are you going to pass the Assessment Exam if you don’t work together?”

“We are working together,” Erian said firmly. “I’m not neglecting her, Nox. I know my duty as her Knight.” He sent him a reassuring nod. “We’ll be fine.”

No, they won’t be. The child is much too distracted over something.

Nox couldn’t agree more. While Erian’s expression was serious, Nox could tell that he was hiding something. And yet he couldn’t just press him on without their talk turning into a heated argument.

“Is that all? I still have assignments.” Erian shouldered his bag.

A moment’s hesitation, then Nox nodded. “I’ll see you later for the council meeting.”

“Of course, President.”

Nox watched him closed the door, troubled. Erian was hiding something, he was sure of it. But what could it be?

***

He blocked the first strike, then the next, moving past the whip’s range. It was a risky move, but he had to get close to Ireela.

The girl shifted, thrusting her free hand toward him, readying her wind blast. But Nox continued, his face set in resolve.

“Burst!”

And Nox swerved, the blast shooting past him. Ireela only reacted with surprise for the briefest moment before pulling back her whip, an attempt to catch him from behind.

Nox was prepared for that. He ducked, rolling. Ireela spun the whip, exposing her torso. Nox whispered, “Burst.”

A sphere of hard ice rapidly formed in front of him. Before Ireela could react, he sent it forward, catching her in the stomach. She gasped, stunned. Nox dashed forward, sweeping Erebos’s tip at her throat.

Ireela blinked rapidly, her gaze darting from the pointed edge of Erebos to Nox’s face. Smiling, he lowered his Animarta and stepped back, dismissing it in a swirl of inky shadow.

“Good. Very good, Ireela,” he said. “The next time, however, you’ll have to be vigilant at all times.”

“Yes, Master.” She dipped her head respectfully.

Smiling once, Nox said, “Want a snack?” He gestured to one of the small tables at the edge of the Western Training Grounds. It was nearly sundown, but thankfully he had managed to buy several pastries before the cafeteria closed.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

His Squire brightened at that. They sat facing each other, and Ireela gaped at the food in front of her. She picked up a blueberry muffin. “How did you know this is my favorite?”

Nox arched an eyebrow and chuckled. “I’d be a poor teacher if I don’t know my student. I saw you eyeing them several times during the past few days.”

“Oh.” She looked embarrassed. “Well, I was saving up for them.”

He frowned. “They don’t cost that much.”

“No. But I don’t have enough money, Master.”

Nox paused mid-bite, his frown deepening. He regarded her quietly. “Ireela, you’re receiving allowance every week.”

“I do. But my parents…” She trailed off, casting her gaze downwards.

He stared at her with sympathy. “I see. Even so, you have to save up for yourself too.” He glanced around furtively then lowered his voice. “Besides, this is against school policy.”

“I know, Master. But I’m the only one they’re relying on.” She shrugged helplessly. “My father can’t work much because of an old injury, and my mother takes care of my younger brother.”

“Where do they live?”

“Farid village. Two weeks’ ride by carriage from here.”

One of the villages in Faven’s outer rim, he thought. “Your father is a farmer?” he asked.

She nodded. “Ever since he’s able to use a sickle. But he stopped five years ago. He’s a carpenter now. My mother was a seamstress, but ever since Father’s injury and Raion was born, she had to stop.” Ireela drew a deep breath. “I want to help them, Master.”

“And you thought you could do that by becoming a Knight?”

“Yes.”

Nox smiled. “Is that how you manifested Aeolus?”

“Y-Yes. My desire was to help them.”

He didn’t miss the way she stuttered. He chuckled softly, but didn’t comment on it. A Wielder’s desire was often a private matter; he wouldn’t blame Ireela if she didn’t want to reveal everything about her past.

“What about you, Master? Do you have any family?”

“Yes,” was his swift reply. “Up north, near the Alzeris.”

“Oh, you’re a Northerner!” Her eyes shone with eagerness. “I’ve always wanted to visit the northern territories.”

He grunted. “It’s very cold up there. And full of monsters.” And demons. But he didn’t say that out loud.

Maybe you should. The girl looks enthusiastic.

Don’t want to terrify her too much.

Well, she doesn’t look terrified.

Indeed, she seemed rather excited. “Does that mean you’ve hunted monsters, Master?” Ireela asked.

“Many times more than I wanted,” Nox answered. He shook his head. “The north is a dangerous place, Ireela.”

“But not as dangerous as the Forsaken Forest,” she insisted. “And yet you survived.”

“I had Estella with me. And we barely survived.”

“But—“

The evening bell tolled, signaling the call for dinner. Nox stood up, gathering the remaining snacks. “Come on. We’ll finish this in the cafeteria.”

“Yes, Master.”

***

In the following days, a routine was established.

Unlike Estella’s training methods last year, Nox didn’t focus too much on Ireela’s academics. The girl was studious, and there was nothing he could teach her on that regard, though he made sure to help her during assignments.

Instead, he focused on her combat skills, which she was severely falling behind compared to the rest of their class; an oddity considering what happened during the Selection Duels.

“Beginner’s luck, perhaps?” Estella said one night as she sat at her desk. She glanced at a test sheet, frowned, then began grading it.

Nox shook his head. “Unlikely. She’s far too talented for it to be a lucky win.”

“And you are far more talented. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you winning.”

“If she keeps losing against me, I’m doing a poor job as a Knight and her master.”

His lover paused at that, expression contemplative. Nox sighed. He had been training Ireela for weeks now. And while there was improvement, he wasn’t satisfied with how slow they were going. Was it like this when he trained under Estella?

She smiled. “No, you were magnificent. That’s what I’m telling you, love. Ireela may be talented to beat you once, but she’s still inexperienced. Give her time. It’s only been less than a month when she became your Squire.”

“I suppose you’re right,” he sighed. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was doing something wrong.

He glanced at Estella, who had fallen silent, her attention focused entirely at the paper she was reading. A quick look at the clock told him that it was almost 8pm, but there was no indication that she would be finish any time soon.

Nox shifted in his feet. “So, until tomorrow?” he asked.

She nodded, flashing him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I have to finish this first.”

He chuckled at that and leaned forward to press his lips on her cheek. It was nice to see her focusing on her duties as a teacher, and though both of them craved to share a bed together, Nox knew that Estella’s work should come first.

“If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask,” he said as he stood up.

Her gratitude flowed through their Resonance. “Thank you. But I’ll be fine.”

She was still grading test papers when Nox closed the door.