Chapter 13 The Trainee Royal Alchemist
――On that day, I became a trainee Royal Alchemist.
"Congratulations, Laura! You passed without a doubt!"
With the same messy hair as two years ago and round glasses, that person - Kasper-san - said to me with excitement.
It's been two years since then. I'm now 14 years old. And after taking the Royal Alchemist trainee exam, I was just informed that I passed.
"Oh, thank you!"
"You're truly a genius! Getting a perfect score is a first!"
As I shook the healing potion I made during the practical exam, Kasper-san said.
Over the past 2 years, I've been studying even harder. As a result, my brain is now like an herbal encyclopedia, and I can handle complex synthesis that even a seasoned alchemist would struggle with. I even received the highest praise from my mentor, saying, 'There's nothing more I can teach you.'
So, I was pretty confident about the exam. But when I was told I passed, I was so happy I felt like jumping for joy.
I've gotten closer to my goal. No, not just closer, I feel like I'm almost there.
"Mentor, I passed!"
"I heard. Congratulations, Laura."
"I'll go tell my parents and Luka!"
After telling my mentor, who had accompanied me to hear the results, I dashed off. I ran through the garden towards the tower where Arnold had been waiting for me two years ago.
If I pass, I won't have time to return to Emme Village the next day to live in the royal castle, so both my parents and Lukas came with me. As I headed towards the exam, my parents looked more worried than me, and Lukas gave me a confident send-off with a more self-assured expression than mine.
I open the door to the departure. In the eyes that were all focused on me at once, I found a familiar golden crest.
"Dad, Mom, Luka! I passed!"
I run to my parents and hug them. They are probably surprised. After a few seconds, I was hugged tightly as if it were painful.
"Congratulations!"
"You are our proud daughter, truly congratulations."
The voices whispered in both ears were trembling.
Both my father and mother supported my seemingly unrealistic dream without asking for detailed reasons. They said, "If Laura wishes for it," and provided as much support as they could. Since I couldn't directly show filial piety in Emme Village, I wanted to become an alchemist, earn a stable income, and give them a better life.
As I loosened my embrace, I gazed firmly at the two of them. Somehow, I found it funny looking into their eyes, which seemed on the verge of tears, and I burst out laughing. Maybe my emotions were running high.
――Suddenly, beyond my parents' shoulders, my eyes met Lukas'.
Lukas was steadily following the image of the Hero-sama I knew. Compared to two years ago, his features had softened, and his eyes gave off a cool impression. Instead of being described as cute, he now seemed more fitting of beautiful or cool adjectives.
As Lukas' gaze met mine, he gently smiled. Was it just my imagination, or did his eyes seem somewhat lonely?
"Congratulations, Laura."
"...Do you wish I had fallen instead?"
His voice had completely changed after going through puberty. His height had been steadily increasing, and our eye levels no longer matched.
"There's no way I would think that. ...I used to think that about three years ago though."
Despite saying that, his voice sounded a bit sulky. His way of speaking had also become a bit more boyish.
I chuckled wryly and hugged Lukas. In return, he hugged me back gently. This level of physical closeness was normal between us childhood friends.
At first, his embrace was gentle, but it gradually grew stronger. He held me tightly against his chest, and the bony structure of Lukas' body was slightly painful. However, more than that, Lukas' body warmth was comforting.
"Congratulations, Laura."
"Thank you, Luka."
It was a gentle, enveloping voice.
I was indulging in sentiment, thinking that I wouldn't be able to hear this voice for a while..." As I was lost in my emotions, a low voice, not in my memory, called out to me.
"Ampère"
Even though I didn't raise my voice, that voice was strangely clear. There was one person who called me Ampère, and I had an idea of who it might be.
I released myself from Lukas's embrace, turned towards the entrance, and there stood...
"Arnold-san...?"
Compared to two years ago, Arnold Rocco, with even more polished features of perfection, was standing there. Each part seemed to have been meticulously placed in perfect positions, as if God had thought it over and over.
A perfect face with noticeable changes, as an element to form that perfect face, glasses had been added. Perhaps he had been studying too hard. However, the black semi-frame glasses further accentuated Arnold's appearance. In short, they suited him well.
In response to my muttered question, Arnold nodded slightly. His glossy black hair swayed smoothly as he did so.
It had been two years since I last saw Arnold, and he had grown into a strikingly handsome young man, almost making me want to laugh. He should be 16 years old, two years older than me. His facial features, physique, and overall demeanor were so refined that one might easily mistake him for an adult—considering that adulthood in this world begins at 18.
The once bustling area fell silent, with all eyes in the waiting room now on Arnold as he approached me with a leisurely pace, seemingly unconcerned by the attention.
"Kasper-san is calling for you. Hurry up."
Indeed, his voice had become much deeper compared to two years ago. Yet, it remained pleasant to the ears, carrying a hint of sweetness. It seemed that besides granting him a perfect face, the heavens had also blessed this man with a perfect set of vocal cords.
Kasper-san called out. Startled by his words, I reflexively moved away from Lukas, but he firmly grabbed my arm. Surprised, I looked at Lukas, who had a serious gaze fixed on Arnold.
"Please take care of Laura."
While still holding onto my arm, Lukas bowed his head. I followed suit with a slight nod.
"...Just childhood friends, right?"
"She is my important childhood friend."
――The atmosphere felt familiar. It was the same as two years ago.
Tension was in the air. It seemed like these two still didn't get along. I didn't know the reason, but it felt like they were no longer compatible on a fundamental level.
Arnold, glaring sharply instead of bowing to Lukas, turned his gaze towards me and urged me with few words.
"Hey."
Shifting his gaze away from me, he impatiently prompted me with few words.
I momentarily flinched at his sharp black eyes but quickly responded.
"W-Wait a minute!"
I left the two on the verge of a showdown and turned to my parents. Running towards them, I tightly held the hands of both with both of mine.
If I go with Arnold to Kasper-san's place, we might not meet for a while.
"Dad, Mom. I heard I can take consecutive breaks around the changing seasons, so I'll definitely come home then. I'll also write letters! If I find delicious snacks, I'll send them. Take good care of yourselves! Oh, um, um...
I rattled off words as fast as I could think of. Seeing their daughter visibly flustered, the parents laughed. In their narrowed eyes, it seemed like an overflowing love was packed, making my vision blur involuntarily.
"It's okay. It's not like it's a final farewell in this lifetime. Laura, it's good to work hard, but above all, take care of yourself."
The warmth of my parents' hands touched both of my cheeks. I lowered my eyelids so as not to forget that warmth and quietly murmured, "Thank you."
It's sad to leave my parents, but I have to. Then suddenly, Lukas came closer and held my hand. His grip was really strong.
"Laura works too hard, I'm worried."
"Don't worry. I'll send a letter to Luka too."
"Yeah, I'll write one too."
A shining gold crest caught my eye. The gleam of that crest made me think of the future a few years from now.
Lukas and I are 14 now. It's less than 3 years until Lukas becomes the Hero. Just before his 17th birthday, Lukas will leave Emme Village.
There haven't been reports of monsters getting stronger yet. But without a doubt, the demon king's revival is approaching. The time when Lukas becomes the Hero is also near.
Spending these less than 3 years here will surely pass in the blink of an eye. From the day "I" remembered until today, time has flown by.
"...Luka, take care of yourself too."
Those words naturally slipped out of my mouth.
Lukas responded to my words, saying,
"I remember what Laura told me that day."
He smiled as if he could see right through everything.
Seeing this smile and hearing his kind voice that always encourages me, I suddenly felt a wave of loneliness when I realized it might be a while before I can experience them again.
"...I wonder if I'm the one feeling lonely now."
"No way. I'm definitely the one feeling lonely."
Both of us furrowed our brows, laughed, and then embraced each other once more.
We'll have some time off during the changing seasons. When that happens, let's return to Emme Village. It's small but warm, and it's my hometown where my loved ones are.
Looking at my parents, looking at Lukas, we exchanged smiles alternately, then I ran towards Arnold to shake off the feeling of being pulled back.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
Arnold didn't reply to my words and started walking.
He's still as unfriendly as ever. No, rather, the coldness and sharpness I sense from his expression have increased since two years ago.
This is the third time I've met Arnold like this. It's been less than 10 days in total. As boys of the same generation aiming to become alchemists, I felt a certain closeness to him. However, that doesn't mean I know him well or understand him.
From now on, I'll be sharing living space with him for a year――
"...I'm tired of waiting."
I shrugged my shoulders at the sudden voice of dissatisfaction.
I know Arnold is not a bad person. Marcedes-san, who was his mentor, said Arnold is just shy. And above all, from his words and actions, I felt that Marcedes-san cared for Arnold. Surely Marcedes-san knows a lot about Arnold that I don't, and that's why he cared for him in that way.
From Marcedes-san's words, and the words he has said to me in the past, I understand that he is a good brother to Elvira.
He's a nice person, probably. Just not very friendly.
Even though I know that, I can't help but be on guard against his sharp gaze and words.
"Um, sorry... but time is just――"
"No, I've been waiting for a long time."
I couldn't immediately grasp Arnold's words and let out a strange sound, "Huh?" My pitiful voice made Arnold, who was walking ahead of me, stop in his tracks. He turned around.
"Two years is a long time."
I felt a faint smile tug at the corners of my mouth. Maybe it was just my imagination. But the cold atmosphere around us definitely eased.
Silence fell. I didn't know how to respond.
Two years is a long time.
From those words, it seems like the phrase "I waited for two years to become a Royal Alchemist trainee, but for Arnold, two years felt long and he was tired of waiting" is implied. Two years ago, he called out to me as I was leaving, but did he really wait for me so much that it could be described as "tired of waiting"?
Honestly, from my perspective, two years didn't feel like such a long time, but if Arnold is complaining about being "tired of waiting," this proud guy might get upset if I don't offer some kind of apology. Despite struggling with my words, I managed to say something.
"Um... Have you been waiting?"
――This time for sure, Arnold smiled. His eyes behind the glasses seemed to soften.
It seems like my half-hearted apology pleased him.
"Let's go."
Walking beside Arnold as he started walking. Arnold's face, which I sneakily glanced at, was the softest I had ever seen.
Walking side by side, we headed towards the royal castle.
――From now on, my days as trainees at the Royal Alchemist will begin.
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