Faced with Sefina’s straightforward question, Feliel quickly wiped the resentful expression from her face caused by the exam and returned to her usual calm and sharp demeanor.
She walked over to the office desk, pulled out a chair, and sat down. Her tone became flat and direct.
“Actually, it’s nothing major. I just came to ask how your preparations for the trip to the Western Continent after the semester ends are going. Also, are the few people under your command going with you?”
Sefina set the graded exam papers aside, picked up the warm water beside her, took a sip, and then replied calmly.
“Preparations are about done. Flovi will come with us. Nona and Lisika will stay behind to guard the base and maintain the basic intelligence network operations on the Eastern Continent.”
Feliel nodded, having no objections to the arrangement. Flovi’s combat prowess was obvious to all; bringing her along would indeed allow them to handle more unexpected situations.
But then Feliel seemed to sink into thought, as if a connection had suddenly occurred to her. She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice to ask.
“Sefina, about the Fourth Seat’s death… have you already uncovered some leads?”
Feliel had only recently learned that Sefina also had the identity of “Holmes.”
She had also heard rumors about “Holmes.”
At first, he was a moderately famous detective on the Western Continent and a temporary teacher at the magic academy, but in the end, he inexplicably became a wanted criminal pursued by multiple countries.
Feliel voiced her speculation.
“The Fourth Seat died in the church in the Sarkax Royal Capital. And ‘Holmes” wanted status also seems inextricably linked to the church, or rather, to the entire Western Order.”
“Is there some connection between the two? What exactly made the church target you back then, to the point that you were wanted by so many countries?”
Sefina did not deny it. She nodded slightly to confirm.
“Your deduction is correct. The death of the Fourth Seat and my forced departure from the Western Continent back then do share the same root—the Western Order.
“As for the specific reason I was wanted, I need to start from a long time ago…”
Sefina briefly recounted everything.
Feliel listened quietly. At first, she maintained her composure, but as Sefina’s description deepened, her expression gradually grew serious.
“So… that’s how it is… I never expected that kind of thing to be lurking within the church…”
Feliel muttered to herself, frowning deeply.
Sefina paid no attention to Feliel’s shock. She continued calmly.
“However, before the semester ends and we officially depart for Sarkax, there’s one more thing I need to take care of. It’s also related to the church.
“Or rather… it relates to the church’s ‘Former Saint.'”
Feliel snapped out of her shock and nodded.
Although she wanted to ask for more details, she understood that this office was not a completely safe place for secret talks; the risk of walls having ears always existed.
“I understand.”
Feliel stood up, preparing to leave.
“We can discuss the specifics when we meet at the underground base later. I’m going back to prepare for the Combat Exam. Even though you tricked me with the Written Test, I don’t want to lose points in combat.”
Feliel’s tone returned to its usual slightly teasing note.
But just as she turned around, Sefina’s calm, flat voice came from behind.
The words she spoke made Feliel freeze instantly.
“Oh, by the way, after school today, go to the base.
“Nona sent me an urgent message last night saying… that Campbell seems to be showing signs of waking up.”
Feliel’s spine snapped straight.
She turned around extremely slowly to look at Sefina.
Her eyes widened to their limit, and her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.
The immense shock rendered her speechless.
But the storm within her heart threatened to drown her completely.
***
Underground base, Nona’s exclusive experimental room and medical bay.
Almost as soon as the school bell rang, Feliel shot off like an arrow from a bow, using acceleration magic as she rushed there recklessly.
Sefina followed behind her at a steady pace, unhurried.
She could understand Feliel’s mood at that moment.
The metal door to the experimental room was tightly shut.
Feliel didn’t even knock. She grabbed the handle almost roughly and shoved it open.
Bam!
The door slammed against the wall with a loud crash.
Nona, who had been recording data in front of the observation instrument, was so startled that she jumped up from her chair, nearly sending her clipboard flying.
She adjusted her crooked glasses and, seeing that it was Feliel, immediately frowned and complained.
“Feliel! What the heck?! You scared me! If the door breaks, you’re fixing it!”
But Feliel ignored Nona’s complaints entirely.
The moment she burst into the room, her gaze locked onto the bed in the center.
On the bed, a pale-faced girl lay quietly.
Unlike the prolonged deep coma of before.
At this moment, her tightly shut eyelids were faintly trembling.
Her eyes slowly opened into slits.
And when her gaze swept over the rushing Feliel, her dry, cracked lips moved ever so slightly, producing a faint sound.
“Fe… Feliel…?”
At that moment, Feliel felt time stop.
She stood at the doorway, motionless.
She just stared intently at the friend on the bed who was struggling to call her name.
Then, tears that had been held back for far too long burst forth uncontrollably.
Large, crystalline teardrops, like a broken string of pearls, rolled out of her eyes, slid down her warm cheeks, and dripped onto the cold floor.
“Cam…bell…”
Feliel’s voice was choked beyond recognition.
She practically stumbled to the bedside.
She knelt by the bed, covering her mouth tightly with both hands.
She sobbed uncontrollably.
Finally…
The moment she had been waiting for had truly arrived.
Nona watched Feliel’s state and swallowed her earlier complaints. A mixed expression of understanding and helplessness appeared on her face.
Still, she dutifully stepped forward to try to pull the emotionally overwhelmed Feliel away.
“Hey, hey, hey! Feliel! Calm down!
“The patient is extremely weak right now! She needs an absolutely quiet environment to recover! You should go out first, talk to her when she’s more stable!”
But Feliel couldn’t hear anything at that moment.
She just stared greedily at Campbell’s face, tears flowing nonstop.
Sefina stood at the doorway, quietly watching the scene.
She didn’t go in to disturb them, and her expression was mostly blank.
But deep in her wine-red eyes, a flicker of softness and relief passed through.
Seeing that Feliel had finally seen the dawn of her friend’s awakening, she felt genuinely happy for them.
After a moment, she silently closed the door, leaving the space to them.
She walked to the slightly empty corridor of the base.
Sefina leaned against the cold wall and slowly let out a sigh.
While she was happy for Feliel and Campbell, an indescribable ache quietly gripped her heart.
She also had a close friend.
She once had a friend who would take her cold hand in the wind and snow and tell her, “Come with me.”
Theresa…
The girl with pink hair and clear, warm eyes—where was she now?
Sefina closed her eyes.
Before her eyes, it was as if the dancing flames of that old stone house reappeared.
As if the warm scene of Theresa handing her half a black loaf reappeared.
As if the nights they spent huddled together on the narrow bed for warmth reappeared.
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