Misunderstandings and Realizations

For a spirit famous for avoiding people to cling and play so freely.

Agniele felt a sense of wonder so profound it was almost suffocating as he watched the mystical scene.

Perhaps his initial impression of Ensius as a fairy had not been a mistake after all.

If not, there was simply no way to explain the spirit acting so affectionately.

The spirit, perched atop Ensi’s head and busily twisting gold silk-like strands of hair, puffed out its cheeks in dissatisfaction as Agniele’s gaze grew increasingly blatant.

‘He is not a bad human, I know that.’

‘But I hate how his eyes follow me so obsessively, as if he wants to bite me!’

Because of that stare, it could not even play in peace.

The spirit used its tiny hands, much smaller than a fern frond, to pat Ensi’s head.

“—Hm? What is it?”

The spirit had always just used his body as a playground, so this was the first time it had actually called him like this.

Ensi closed his book and reflexively tilted his head back.

The spirit, nearly tumbling backward from the sudden movement, quickly grabbed a tangled lock of hair to stabilize itself.

“Oh, sorry about that.”

Belatedly noticing the spirit flailing to avoid a fall, Ensi returned his head to its original position and reached up with an awkward smile.

He gently stroked the spirit’s head with his index finger, but the creature let out a huff and nipped his finger.

It seemed it was thoroughly cranky.

“Will you forgive me?”

Ensi could not even pull his finger away and simply maintained a troubled smile.

He sought forgiveness in a low voice.

The spirit, munching on the cool finger, recalled a sweltering summer day with scorching sunlight at the sound of his soothing whisper.

It was its favorite kind of day.

Acting as if it had no choice, the spirit released the finger and began rolling around on Ensi’s head.

Ensi let out a soft chuckle at the spirit’s clear expression of its emotions and set the book on his lap aside.

He reached out again, offering his palm.

The spirit did not stop rolling; it simply changed direction and headed straight for the palm.

Once settled in the most comfortable spot, the spirit gave a little shudder.

Every time the spirit shook itself, small sparks flew, and its ruffled form was instantly refined.

Agniele still could not take his eyes off the two of them.

He realized the spirit’s discomfort was his fault, but regardless, he could not turn his head away.

It felt as though a mysterious force was holding him captive.

It was exactly the same feeling he had experienced when he first encountered Ensius in this place.

He was careful with every breath, every blink of his eyes.

As if he wanted to hold onto this unfamiliar, brilliantly shining moment forever.

Perhaps.

“Is he truly a fairy……?”

“Pardon?”

Ensi, who had been conversing with the spirit through eye contact, looked up as the unmistakable murmur brushed against his ear.

‘Just now, what? A fairy?’

Sure that he had heard something strange, Ensi asked back, and Agniele only blinked blankly.

“……Did I say that out loud?”

It was a dazed voice, quite unlike Agniele.

Ensi frowned slightly but nodded slowly.

Whether it was because the distance between them was short or because Agniele’s voice was louder than expected.

Whatever the reason, Ensi had heard the words vividly, and while he found it eccentric, he was also dumbfounded.

He did not know why the word fairy had suddenly come up.

‘He does not truly believe that, does he?’

Meanwhile, flustered by Ensi’s confirmation, Agniele instinctively retreated a step.

He rolled his eyes, looking around to see if there was any way to escape the situation.

Coming to the conclusion that he had to solve this himself, he let out a low groan of distress.

“—No. I must have misheard you.”

While Agniele’s lips worked to find an excuse, Ensi, who had watched the whole process, cut him off.

Even if he heard an answer, he felt Agniele would only become more flustered.

Ensi shifted his gaze, moving the spirit to his shoulder as he looked away.

“You seem to be feeling the heat. Why don’t you head back for now?”

‘It seems Agniele has temporarily lost his mind due to the Sun Grass heat.’

‘Otherwise, why would he suddenly say something like a fairy?’

Ensi manufactured a reasonable excuse for the sake of escaping reality.

At Ensi’s suggestion, Agniele checked his body.

He slowly clenched and unclenched his fists, then pressed the back of his hand to his forehead.

It was certainly hot, just as Ensius said, but—.

“You did not mishear. Ensius, I said you were beautiful. Like a fairy.”

“…….”

Unaware of Ensi’s desire to smooth things over, Agniele kicked the opportunity away instantly.

To make matters worse, he added a sentiment that Ensi had not been curious about, causing Ensi to feel a belated regret.

‘I should have given him a cooling artifact so he could keep his wits about him.’

“If you do not mind, may I ask one thing?”

When Ensi’s silence stretched long, Agniele spoke first.

Ensi looked at Agniele as his voice broke the quiet, then nodded to grant permission.

‘What is he trying to say now?’

He did not have the slightest clue, which made him a little nervous, but he could not just keep his mouth shut in this awkward atmosphere.

“What is your relationship with the Saintess?”

Ensi tilted his head at the question that came after a short hesitation.

‘The Saintess… he must mean Cyril.’

‘But what kind of relationship?’

Ensi scowled slightly, confused by Agniele’s intention.

“Calling us friends would be the most accurate, I suppose…… why do you ask?”

They were a pair for whom many descriptions could be attached if one wanted.

They had a relationship full of secrets in many ways.

However, these were not matters he could openly discuss.

“Friends, right. So that was it.”

Agniele’s face brightened upon hearing the simple, clear answer.

With an obviously relieved expression, he murmured the word that defined the relationship between the Saintess and Ensi.

“That’s a relief. It seems Genea was right, and it was just my misunderstanding.”

A bright smile hung on Agniele’s lips as he added that it was nothing and not to worry.

A smile that, perhaps, he himself did not even realize he was making.

“I, see.”

It was a smile Ensi never expected to see from Agniele, who was always so stoic, so he stuttered slightly.

When Ensi nodded with a somewhat dazed look, a faint laugh escaped Agniele’s lips.

Feeling strangely embarrassed by that laugh, Ensi looked away again.

He escaped the situation by fidgeting with the spirit that was hovering around him.

And so, the time—which was awkward for Ensi and perfectly fine for Agniele—ended when Agniele left first.

Left alone in the greenhouse, Ensi pressed the back of his hand against his cheek, which felt inexplicably hot, and let out a small sigh.

The spirit tilted its head when the aura of Ensi changed.

Wondering if it was because he lacked warmth, the spirit stuck itself firmly to Ensi’s cheek.

Startled by the sudden spark against his sensitive skin, Ensi let out a short cry.

‘……So, what exactly was the misunderstanding?’

The question hit him a step late, but unfortunately, the moment had already passed.

Ensi was not particularly thrilled by Lily’s visibly joyful appearance, but he asked out of politeness.

“You seem to be having fun.”

“Of course! Going out to play and escaping this boring Academy—how could I not be happy?”

Even though they were not leaving immediately, Lily hummed a tune.

Ensi let out a sigh, seemingly unenthusiastic despite her response full of anticipation.

“Even though you won’t be able to see your beloved Nocturne?”

“I have to endure for a week or so. I aim for a mature kind of love.”

Above all, they had decided to spend a very deep night together to make up for the longing, so she had no reason to be sad.

If anything, she should thank the Academy for providing the excuse.

“But Ensi, you really don’t want to go, do you?”

Lily let out a snicker at his inner thoughts which were written plainly on his face.

“It’s hard to get out of this practical. Why not just enjoy it?”

“……I suppose I should.”

His head understood, but his heart had not accepted it yet.

Ensi pressed his forehead as if he were getting a headache.

“Let’s check the teams first. Let’s hope we’re in the same group.”

Lily threw her arm around Ensi’s shoulders.

Then she sped up, practically dragging him along.

“Come to think of it, Ensi, did you collaborate on something with Cyril recently?”

“Collaborate? That’s a word people might misunderstand.”

“Is it? Then I’ll call it a club activity.”

Lily immediately corrected herself and prodded for an answer.

Ensi reflected on recent events.

There was, in fact, one thing that fit the reason for founding the Romance club.

“Lancelot was being frustrating, so… a little bit.”

“Aha, inducing jealousy? True, it felt like their progress had slowed down lately. Anyway, congratulations. Cyril said it was a success. Apparently, they shared a very passionate kiss.”

“That’s good.”

‘They even kissed because of that trivial activity.’

‘Now that I think about it, maybe they just needed a proper excuse.’

Lily pouted at the rather dry response.

Then, realizing they were close to the training hall, she lowered the arm wrapped around Ensi’s shoulder.

Ensi glanced at her and stepped into the training hall first.

“Ensi, wait for me!”

Lily shouted at Ensi’s back.

Even at her following grumble about how unfair he was being, Ensi only waved his hand, signaling her to hurry up.