Chapter 13

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That day, I became an apprentice royal alchemist.

"Congratulations, Laura! You passed with flying colors!"

Kaspar, with his same old messy hair and round glasses, said to me with a bright voice. It had been two years since then. I had turned 14. I took the exam to become an apprentice royal alchemist, and just now, I was told I had passed.

"Thank you...!"

"You're a genius, just as everyone said! A perfect score, it's a first!"

Kaspar said, waving the restorative potion I had made during the practical exam. Over these two years, I studied even harder. As a result, my brain is now a pharmacopoeia, and I can handle complex concoctions that even a full-fledged alchemist would struggle with. My master even said, "I have nothing more to teach you," which was the highest praise I could receive.

So, to be honest, I was confident about the exam. But when I was told I had passed, I was so happy I felt like jumping.

I took a step closer to my goal. No, it wasn't just a step. It felt like I was almost within reach of my goal.

"Master, I passed!"

"I heard. Congratulations, Laura."

"I'm going to tell my parents and Luka!"

After informing my master, who had accompanied me to hear the results, I ran off. I passed through the garden and ran to the tower where I had waited for Arnold two years ago. If I passed, I would start living in the castle the next day, so I wouldn't have time to return to the village. My parents and Luka came with me to support me. When I left for the exam, my parents looked more nervous than I did, and Luka had a more confident expression than I did.

I opened the door to the tower. Among the eyes that turned to me, I saw the familiar golden emblem.

"Father, Mother, Luka! I passed!"

I ran to my parents and hugged them. They were probably surprised. After a few seconds, they hugged me back so tightly it was almost painful.

"Congratulations!"

"You're our pride, truly congratulations."

The voices whispered in my ears were both trembling.

My parents supported my seemingly outlandish dream without asking for detailed reasons. "If Laura wants it," they did their best to support me. Since I couldn't directly take care of them in the village, I wanted to become a good alchemist and earn enough to give them a better life.

I loosened my embrace and looked at them seriously. Their eyes, which were about to tear up, made me feel a bit silly, and I laughed out loud. Maybe I was just feeling elated.

--- Suddenly, I met Luka's eyes over my parents' shoulders.

Luka is steadily growing into the hero I know. Compared to two years ago, his features have become more defined, and his eyes have a cooler look. Instead of "cute," he now fits the description of "beautiful" and "cool."

Luka smiled gently as soon as our eyes met. His eyes seemed a bit sad, but maybe it was just my imagination.

"Congratulations, Laura."

"Did you think I should have failed?"

His voice had fully changed, and his height had grown, making our eye levels no longer match.

"Of course not. ...I did think that until about three years ago, though."

Despite his words, his tone was a bit sulky, and his voice had become more boyish.

I chuckled and hugged Luka. He returned the hug gently. This level of physical contact was normal between us, childhood friends.

At first, his hug was gentle, but it gradually became stronger. He pulled me close, and his bony body was a bit painful. But more than that, his warmth was reassuring.

"Congratulations, Laura."

"Thank you, Luka."

His voice was gentle and enveloping.

As I immersed myself in the sentiment of not hearing this voice for a while, a low voice I didn't recognize called out to me.

"Ampeur"

The voice, though not raised, carried well. There was only one person who called me Ampeur.

I broke away from Luka and turned to the entrance. There stood—

"Arnold...?"

Arnold Rocco, with his even more perfect features, stood there. The most noticeable change was the addition of glasses to his perfect face. Perhaps he had studied too hard. However, the black half-frame glasses made his appearance even more striking—indeed, they suited him well.

In response to my question, Arnold shook his head slightly. His glossy black hair swayed softly.

Arnold, whom I hadn't seen in two years, had grown into a young man so beautiful it made me want to laugh. He should be 16 now. Despite his age, his face, body, and aura were so refined that he could easily pass for an adult—18 is the age of adulthood in this world.

The area, which had been noisy, fell silent, and all eyes in the waiting room turned to Arnold. However, he walked towards me with a slow, steady pace, as if he didn't care about the attention.

"Kaspar is calling. Come quickly."

His voice was much lower than it was two years ago, yet it was pleasant to the ear, with a hint of sweetness. It seemed that God had given this man not only a perfect face but also a perfect voice.

Kaspar is calling. I reflexively tried to leave Luka, but he grabbed my arm. Surprised, I looked at Luka, who was staring at Arnold with a serious expression.

"Please take care of Laura."

Holding my arm, Luka bowed. I followed suit with a light bow.

"…Just a childhood friend, right?"

"A precious childhood friend."

--- This atmosphere was familiar. It was the same as two years ago.

A tense atmosphere. These two clearly don't get along. I don't know why, but from an outsider's perspective, they are physiologically incompatible.

Arnold, who had been glaring at Luka, shifted his gaze to me and urged me with few words.

"Hey."

I flinched at his sharp black eyes but quickly responded.

"Wait a moment!"

I turned to my parents, who were still in a tense atmosphere. I ran to them and held their hands tightly.

"If I go with Arnold to see Kaspar, it will be a while before I can see you again."

"Father, Mother. I'll take a continuous leave when the seasons change, and I'll definitely come home then. I'll write letters too! If I find any delicious sweets, I'll send them. Take care of yourselves! And, um, um..."

I rambled through all the words I could think of. My parents smiled at my flustered state. Their narrowed eyes were filled with overflowing love, and my vision blurred.

"It's okay. It's not like we're saying goodbye forever. Laura, it's good to work hard, but take care of yourself above all."

Their hands touched my cheeks. I closed my eyes to remember their warmth and whispered, "Thank you."

Reluctantly, I left my parents. Luka immediately approached and held my hand tightly.

"Laura, you work too hard, and I worry."

"That's not true. I'll write to you too, Luka."

"Okay. I'll write too."

The golden emblem glinted. Looking at its shine, I thought about the future a few years from now.

Laura and Luka are both 14 now. Luka will become a hero in about three years, just before his 17th birthday. There have been no reports of increased monster power yet, but the revival of the demon king is undoubtedly approaching. The time when Luka becomes a hero is also near.

The next three years will pass quickly. The time from the day "I" remembered to today also passed quickly.

"…Take care of yourself, Luka."

Those words came out naturally.

Luka responded to my words,

"I remember everything you said that day."

He smiled as if he could see through everything.

Thinking that I wouldn't see this smile or hear his gentle, encouraging voice for a while, a sudden wave of loneliness washed over me.

"…Maybe I'm the one who's feeling lonely."

"That's not true. I'm definitely more lonely."

We frowned and laughed. Then, without a word, we hugged each other again.

I will get a leave when the seasons change. Then, I'll return to that warm, albeit small, village where my important people are.

I looked at my parents, then at Luka. We exchanged smiles, and I cut the lingering feeling and ran to Arnold.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

Arnold didn't respond and started walking. He seemed as aloof as ever, if not more so.

This is the third time I've met Arnold. We've probably spent less than 10 days together. As a boy of the same generation aiming to be an alchemist, I felt a certain sense of camaraderie. However, that doesn't mean I know him well or understand him.

We will be living in the same environment for the next year, but—

"…I was tired of waiting."

I shrugged at his sudden complaint.

I know Arnold isn't a bad person. His master, Mercedes, said he was just shy. Moreover, I could tell she doted on him from the way she spoke and the affection in her words. She must know many things about Arnold that I don't.

From her words and the ones she used for me, I also know that he is a good brother to Elvira.

He is a good person, probably. Just not very sociable.

Even knowing this, I can't help but tense up at his sharp gaze and words.

"Sorry... but the time wasn't that—"

"No. I was tired of waiting."

I didn't understand Arnold's words and let out a strange sound. At my pitiful voice, Arnold stopped and turned around.

"Two years is a long time."

Did I see a slight smile on his lips? But the cold air around him definitely softened.

Silence fell. I didn't know how to respond.

Two years is a long time.

From his words, I inferred that "I was tired of waiting" meant "I waited for two years for you to become an apprentice royal alchemist," and "two years felt long to me," and "I was tired of waiting." Indeed, two years ago, he said he would wait for me, but I didn't think he would be so tired of waiting.

Honestly, to me, two years didn't feel that long, but if Arnold is complaining, I should apologize to avoid hurting his pride. I struggled with my words and finally managed to say:

"Um... I'm sorry for keeping you waiting?"

This time, Arnold definitely smiled. His eyes behind the glasses narrowed.

It seems my half-hearted apology pleased him.

"Let's go."

I walked beside Arnold, who started moving. I glanced at his profile, which was the softest I had ever seen.

Ahead of us, the castle loomed.

--- From now on, my days as an apprentice royal alchemist will begin.