I stepped out of the Magic Association building alone.
My destination was Master’s house. I had originally planned to meet up with the others before heading over, but I was in a mood for some solitude, so I decided to walk.
Snow fell steadily, blanketing the night. My breath came out in thick white clouds, a testament to how much the temperature had dropped.
I pulled my scarf up to cover my mouth.
As I walked, the faint glow of the streetlamps was my only company.
"Has it been a year already...?" I muttered to myself.
Today was Master’s birthday. I could remember last year’s celebration as clearly as if it had happened only yesterday.
She always grumbled that having a birthday on the same day as the Carol Festival wasn't her style, but I personally thought it suited her perfectly.
I stopped at a flower shop in the Central District to pick up the bouquet of roses I had pre-ordered.
"Will this be all for you, sir?" the clerk asked.
"Yes. Thank you very much."
I gave a polite bow and accepted the flowers. Though it wasn't the right season for them, these roses were a special variety crossbred to bloom even in the dead of winter.
Furthermore, they weren't red—they were a deep, vibrant blue. Apparently, they were a rare item that had only recently come into stock.
I had visited the shop a few days ago to ask for advice, and in the end, I had settled on these sapphire-colored blooms. Master always insisted she didn't need any gifts, but I made it a point to bring her something every year regardless.
"I’m here."
Because I had wanted to walk, I’d taken the long way around. I wasn't exactly late, but I was sure everyone else had already arrived.
When I knocked on the door, Carla-san was there to greet me, just as she always was.
"Ray-sama. Welcome. Please, come in."
"Thank you. Is everyone already here?"
"Yes. They are already enjoying the food and spirits."
"Hahaha. I see..." I gave a wry smile. If the drinking had already started, things were likely already becoming a handful.
When I was shown into the living room, there were more people present than I had expected. According to the original plan, only Abby-san and Carol were supposed to be there, but Lise-san and Fran-san had joined them as well.
"Oh! Ray’s here! Ahahaha!"
Already clearly intoxicated, Fran-san—her face a bright, flushed red—came stomping over and charged into me, clinging to my waist. She reminded me of Stella in a way, but despite her youthful appearance, she was sixty-two years old.
"It’s been a while, Fran-san."
"Indeed it has!"
"When did you get back?"
"Hmm... I don't recall exactly, but I saw your tournament, Ray! Congratulations on the victory!"
"Thank you very much."
With another boisterous laugh, she went stomping off again.
"Ray. You’ve come."
Sitting in her wheelchair as usual, Master gave me a gentle smile. She was as radiant as ever; Master looked truly angelic today.
"I’m a little late."
"I didn't set a strict time. I’m just happy to have you here."
"I’m honored."
I pulled the blue roses from behind my back and presented them to her.
"Master. Happy birthday."
"Oh... are those... roses?"
"Yes. They’re a blue variety created through crossbreeding. Their flower language is 'dreams come true.' They were so beautiful that I absolutely wanted to give them to you."
"Hahaha. Well... it’s not quite like me, but I’m happy. To think the day would come when Ray would give me flowers."
As she smiled, I couldn't tell if her face was flushed from the alcohol or from blushing. But such details were trivial. As long as Master was happy, that was more than enough for me.
"Ah! Lydia-chan, I’m so jealous! Getting flowers like that! Hey, hey. Doesn't Caro-caro get anything?"
"No. It’s not your birthday, is it?"
"Ehh! Ray-chan, you’re so mean!"
"Ugh... wait, get off me. I’m getting motion sick..."
"No way! I’m never letting go~☆"
Whether it was the alcohol or just her usual self, Carol clung to me tightly. The scent of wine and perfume mingled with the unique, feminine pheromones Carol exuded, creating an intoxicating aroma. It wasn't an unpleasant smell, but it was certainly... overwhelming.
Realizing this was getting dangerous, I tried to pull her off by force, but since she was skilled in jujutsu, I couldn't easily peel her away. She wasn't a former soldier for nothing.
"Hey, hey. Let's kiss, okay? It’s fine, right? Mmm~..."
"W-waaaah! Someone help me!"
As a past trauma flashed before my eyes and I cried out for help, Carol was suddenly sent flying backward. Unable to even break her fall, she let out a muffled "Mugya...!" as she crashed into the wall.
"Honestly... Carol is the same as ever."
"Abby-san. You really saved me."
"I’d like to say 'don't mention it,' but managing her is my duty. Leave her to me."
"A-Abby-san...!" I looked at her with pure respect. Out of all the adults I had met, Abby-san was undoubtedly the most sensible. Without her, I would have certainly ended up in countless difficult situations by now.
Afterward, as I took my seat to eat, I noticed Lise-san dining in silence. She sat there with her usual expressionless face, like an exquisite doll... but on her head were those cat ears I had seen once before.
"Lise-san. It’s been a while."
"Ray White. Yes. I suppose it has. I watched the entire tournament. Those were good matches."
"Thank you. By the way... why the cat ears?"
"Hm? It’s Lydia-senpai’s birthday, isn't it? I thought they were appropriate for the occasion."
"I see..."
She seemed to genuinely like them; I thought I saw the ghost of a smile on her face. Then, suddenly standing up, Lise-san made a startling announcement.
"I, the humble Lieselotte Eden, have polished a performance for Lydia-senpai’s birthday."
Everyone froze—including Carla-san, who was serving, and the rowdy Fran-san. Everyone there knew Lise-san well. They knew she was a person of few emotions, hardly the type to put on an act.
In the silence that followed, as if time itself had stopped, Lise-san unleashed her performance.
"Master~☆ I’ll be your kitty-cat~☆ Meow, meow!☆"
I had no idea where she had learned those lines. However, the pose she struck was a further polished version of the one I had once shown her. The angle of her hands, the height of her raised leg—everything was technically perfect. Even that cloyingly sweet voice was flawless, though it was hard to believe it belonged to Lise-san.
Yes. Everything was perfect... except for the fact that her expression remained completely deadpan.
"How was that? I gave it my all."
Her words carried a distinct sense of accomplishment. Her aura seemed to say: Well? You can praise me now.
"S-so cute~☆ Hey, everyone! Isn't she just the cutest?☆" Carol’s face was twitching, but for once, her interjection was perfectly timed. As everyone else nodded in stunned agreement, Lise-san gave a satisfied smirk.
"S-say... what has happened to Lise?"
"Lydia. Didn't you request that?"
"Don't be stupid, Abby. There's no way I’d ask for that."
"That was a shock even for me... it sobered me right up..."
It seemed everyone else’s reaction matched my own.
We spent the rest of the night drinking and talking about everything under the sun. Of course, as I was a minor, I stuck to non-alcoholic drinks, but the party was incredibly lively. With more people than usual this year, I felt like Master was laughing more than I’d ever seen.
"Everyone has passed out."
"Yeah. Well, it’s only natural that I’m the last one standing."
The room was filled with people who had completely lost consciousness from the alcohol. I knew Master could hold her liquor, but I hadn't realized her tolerance was this high.
As Carla-san began to handle the cleanup, Master and I decided to step outside for a moment. The chill was a welcome relief for my slightly flushed body.
I pushed her wheelchair through the darkness. The light snow from earlier had stopped, leaving the sky clear. The moonlight shone down, illuminating the path ahead of us.
"Ray. I had a wonderful time today. Thank you for coming."
"Don't mention it. It’s an annual tradition. Besides, it was fun having such a big group this year."
"That’s true. People, like the seasons, are transitory. We can't remain unchanged forever."
"I suppose not..."
It had been nearly ten years since I first met Master. When I was a child, I thought things would never change. But people do grow. As Master said, perhaps nothing is truly immutable.
"Master. I think enrolling in the Academy was the best thing I could have done."
"I see... that makes me happy to hear."
"That’s why I don't think you need to push yourself for my sake anymore, Master. I thought the Overheat would take more time to settle, but I think I’m okay now."
"I see... Ray, you always manage to exceed my expectations."
Her voice was gentle—a far cry from the fierce warrior she had been when we first met. That smile was perhaps the most compassionate one I had ever seen on her face.
"You don't need to be bound by me anymore, Master. I think you should stand on your own two feet."
"...Phew. To think the day would come when Ray would say such things to me. But you’re right. Seeing a student’s growth is truly a joy."
I stopped the wheelchair and knelt on the ground so I could look Master in the eyes. I realized then that she was quietly crying.
"Ray. I have loved you so dearly. But you’re right. You no longer need these shackles."
"...Yes. Thank you for everything."
"Very well. Let’s aim for the end of the Third Semester. Come to me on the day of the Closing Ceremony. At that time, we shall dissolve this Covenant."
"Understood."
Master lifted her gaze to the moon.
"Tell me, Ray... was I wrong? I know you look up to me. You call me Master and respect me. But if I were asked if I never made a mistake... I don't have the confidence. There are times I wonder if I could have treated you better..."
I had never heard Master speak like this. I had never imagined she would show such vulnerability. But I realized then that there is no such thing as a truly unbreakable person. Everyone faces their own weaknesses and strives to remain strong in spite of them.
"It’s okay, Master. You’ve given me something truly wonderful. Thank you so much for everything."
I reached out and pulled her into a gentle embrace. She hugged me back with all her might. It was a fierce, almost painful embrace, reflecting the depth of our shared history.
"I see. Thank you, Ray. I am so happy I met you. Truly... I mean that from the bottom of my heart."
"I feel the same way. I’m so glad I met you, Master. I have nothing but gratitude."
Just as she had done for me so many times in the past, we remained in that embrace for a long while. My body was already larger than Master’s now. But no matter how much time passed, the fact that Master was my Master would never change.
That, at least, was immutable.
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