Ren could see the three of them through the doorway, still hard at work cleaning the vacant room. He was greeted with a warm "Welcome back," and he immediately set to work helping them finish the job.
By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, the cleaning was finally complete.
"Chronoa-san! What should we do with these old books?" Ren asked, pointing to a stack packed into a wooden box.
"Wait a second! I'm coming!" Chronoa called back. She hurried over and pulled a single volume from the box to inspect it.
As was her habit, she gave her staff a light flick, using a gust of wind to sweep away the dust. "This is an encyclopedia of ancient monsters. Usually, the academy replaces these the moment even a fraction of the information becomes outdated."
"Isn't it a waste to just leave them tucked away in a storehouse, though?"
"I agree," Chronoa said with a nod. "But once a new edition comes out, the old ones are swapped out immediately. It’s part of the academy's policy, among other things. I thought it was a shame to throw them away, so I’ve been hauling them to the storehouse myself."
"So it’s not that the information is actually wrong?"
"In some cases, perhaps. But since these encyclopedias focus on monsters from the ancient past, the details rarely change. Spotting an error in here would be harder than a game of spot-the-difference."
"I see... In that case, would it be alright to keep them here in this room?"
"Certainly! The bookshelves are clean now, so let's line them up. You and the others can read them whenever you have a free moment."
Chronoa sent another breeze into the wooden box to clear out the remaining grime. Ren gathered the cleaned books, carried them to the shelves, and began arranging them. As he reached for the final volume, the title caught his eye.
(—Monsters of the Demon King's Army?)
Intrigued, he made a mental note to look through it later.
After another few dozen minutes of final polishing, they were finally done.
"Good work, everyone! Why don't I treat you all to dinner on the way back?" Chronoa suggested.
The four of them stretched their aching backs and took deep, satisfied breaths. While Chronoa’s magic had made the dust easy to manage, they had still worked up a sweat. The girls decided to head for the showers first, and Ren decided to follow suit, making use of the academy’s facilities.
Later, as they walked back together, Licia spoke up. "Come to think of it, Chronoa-sama, there are no extra-curricular lessons this year, are there?"
"That's right... but it's not just this year. They’ve been suspended ever since the incident in the Baldur Mountains."
(Right. Normally, they’d be happening around this time.)
The lessons Licia mentioned were the excursions where the first-year Special Merit Class headed into the forest—essentially a follow-up to the final entrance exam. However, as Chronoa noted, they had been put on hold recently. Even if they had been held, they wouldn't have played out the way Ren remembered from the game.
"...Since Jelququ isn't here either," Ren murmured.
Licia tilted her head curiously. "Why are you bringing up Jelququ?"
Ren waved his hands dismissively. "N-no, nothing! Thinking about the forest just brought back some old memories."
"Oh, I see."
Ren felt a secret sense of satisfaction. It was becoming increasingly clear just how many changes he had carved into the timeline.
Ren and Licia stood at the station, preparing for the journey back to Erendil. Before heading to the platform, they paused to look at each other.
"Ren, if you still have the energy, would you like to stop by the Lion Sanctum?" Licia asked.
"That sounds like a good idea. Shall we?"
If they put in a few hours of training before heading home, they would still make it back to the Ashton Manor at a reasonable hour. Instead of boarding the train for Erendil, they caught the one heading for the Government District.
The cars were crowded at this hour. Licia felt a quiet thrill at how Ren positioned himself to shield her from the press of the crowd without even being asked. By the time they reached the Government District, the sky had turned a deep indigo.
"Ren, you met the Director the other day, didn't you?" Licia asked as they walked the familiar path.
"Yes. Though since I had classes at the academy, it was only a brief greeting."
"Tell me! What was she like?"
"It’s hard to put into words... but she gave me the impression of being a fierce, upright person. Like the living embodiment of the Strong Sword Arts."
Ren recalled their first meeting vividly. Estelle was more than just powerful; she carried the undeniable gravity of her office. He had only spoken to her for a few moments, but that much was certain.
"The Director has returned to the capital, so I really should offer a formal greeting myself..." Licia mused.
"I agree. Though I imagine she’s quite busy."
"True, but there are days like today," a voice spoke from behind them.
"I doubt that," Ren countered. "She is the Director of the Lion Sanctum, after all. There's no way she'd—"
"Exactly," Licia added. "So, I wonder what the best way would be—"
The two of them stopped dead. As if on cue, they turned toward the source of the voice that had so naturally joined their conversation.
"An admirable sentiment. Proper greetings are the foundation of any relationship."
A formidable woman stood there, her military uniform snapping in the night breeze. It was Estelle Osroes Drake.
"However, save the stiff formalities for the other nobles—wait, the Saint is technically a noble too, isn't she? Regardless, I have no patience for such things. Treat me as you normally would. And only my subordinates need to call me 'Director.' Use the name my parents gave me."
"Director! You disappeared so suddenly... Oh, it’s the two of you," a second voice called out.
An aide followed behind Estelle—a female knight whom Ren spoke with often and who frequently sparred with Licia. She was carrying two large paper bags, and a savory, toasted aroma drifted out from them alongside wisps of steam.
"Deliver those to the others," Estelle commanded. "I’ll take our share."
"Understood. Where are you heading, Director?"
"I want to speak with these two. I’m sick of paperwork. I won't do another page."
"Yes, yes... I’ll let the officials know. Please, take your time."
Estelle reached into the bag and pulled out three items wrapped in thin paper. They were round and warm, smelling of sugar. After seeing the knight off, she handed one each to Ren and Licia before taking the third for herself and leading them into the sanctum grounds.
She led them to a garden within the complex, far from the temple-like halls Ren usually visited. It was a quiet space filled with fountains. Estelle sat on the stone ledge of a fountain, her cloak fluttering around her. She looked perfectly at home in the regal setting.
"These are a favorite of mine," Estelle explained. "Sugar is the best remedy for exhaustion."
She mentioned that she often bought these as treats for her staff. "I buy them for the knights and the officials. Not everyone likes sweets, of course, but if I leave them in the breakroom, they're gone in minutes. They’re quite good."
Ren and Licia looked at each other, then back at the warm parcels. It would have been rude to decline. When they opened the paper, they found soft, fluffy bread.
"There's cream inside," Estelle said with a smirk. "It's a bit ridiculous, isn't it? A grown woman bringing sweets to the elite of the Lion Sanctum."
"Not at all. If they disappear that quickly, I’m sure everyone appreciates it," Ren said.
"I agree. With a scent this good, I’m sure even the most exhausted staff member couldn't resist," Licia added.
Pleased by their response, Estelle took a bite. Ren and Licia followed suit, and warm, rich cream spilled out from the center.
"Is this from that shop on the Main Boulevard?" Licia asked.
"Hm? You know it?"
"A friend of mine, Sera, mentioned it. I’ve been curious about it for a while."
"And? How is it?"
"It’s... it’s delicious!" Licia beamed.
"Glad to hear it. I’ll let the baker know."
Ren nodded in agreement, thoroughly enjoying the snack. Once she finished her bread, Licia straightened her posture, realizing she had been so swept up in the moment that she hadn't introduced herself properly.
"I apologize for the delay. My name is Licia Clausel."
"I know. And as you likely already know, I am Estelle Osroes Drake. I hold several territories under His Majesty’s trust and serve as a Count of the Empire." Estelle paused, looking between them. "I noticed you aren't traveling with a guard, Licia."
"The capital is safe enough, and I have Ren with me."
When Ren wasn't available, she usually brought Weiss, or joined Sera under the protection of the Riohalde guards.
Estelle finished the last of her bread. "By the way, Ren... I’ve been hearing things about you."
"About me?"
"That you’ve already reached the level of a Master Swordsman at your age. I saw it myself the other day—you were handling my subordinates however you pleased."
"I... I apologize if I caused any trouble."
"Trouble? Don't be silly. I was the one who interrupted the morning drill, and you 'handled' them because they were weak. It was a much-needed wake-up call for them."
Estelle had been genuinely surprised upon her return. While she knew her knights weren't slackers, they were more motivated now than she had ever seen them. It was obvious that the presence of young talents like Ren and Licia was the catalyst.
"Be sure to spar with them again sometime."
The three of them talked for nearly an hour. Estelle was particularly curious about how Prince Radius had been faring in her absence, and she questioned Ren thoroughly about their relationship. She also asked about their training.
"I heard the two of you are students of Edgar."
"Yes," Ren replied. "Though Edgar-san has been busy lately, so I haven't seen much of him. I take it you know him?"
"We’re both Strong Sword users. We’ve crossed paths at the Sanctum a few times."
She mentioned she had met Ulysses a few times as well during military briefings, though they had never moved in the same circles. They knew each other by reputation more than anything else.
Though Ren and Licia had come to train, the conversation with Estelle was fascinating, and the time slipped away. Eventually, Estelle stood up.
"It’s getting late. You two should head back."
Normally they would have stayed later to practice, but tonight was an exception. Knowing Estelle had work waiting for her, they both bowed respectfully.
"Thank you for your time today," Ren said.
"We look forward to seeing you again at the Sanctum," Licia added.
"Safe travels," Estelle said, watching them walk away. She remained by the fountain long after their figures had disappeared into the night, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
"—Now then, what to do?"
What she meant by that, or what she was planning, she kept entirely to herself.
Once the weekend was over, the work for the Executive Committee began in earnest, and Ren found himself busier than ever. The committee was responsible for organizing the student representatives for various events and coordinating with the faculty for any necessary selection trials.
As the days passed, a palpable tension began to settle over the academy. The Lion King Grand Festival was set for early July, and the Martial Arts Tournament—the festival’s crown jewel—was all anyone could talk about.
"The third and fourth-years are incredible, of course, but Upperclassman Leonard is on another level. He’s a lock for the representative spot!"
"Wait, how many spots are there per school?"
"Four, I think. Up to four students, regardless of their year."
As Ren walked down the hallway during lunch, he heard the same conversation mirrored in every corner.
(Technically, the school that won the previous year gets an extra spot. Usually, it's only three.)
He leaned against a window frame, keeping the correction to himself. He didn't care much for the politics of the tournament, but it was a fact that the Imperial Academy had held the championship for decades.
(It would be a scandal if the most prestigious school in the Empire lost to some local institution, after all.)
Winning was a matter of survival for the academy’s reputation. If the Special Merit Class couldn't beat their peers from other schools, the academy’s very existence would be questioned.
"Personally, I'm betting on Ashton! If he enters, he's a guaranteed winner!"
The voices of his classmates reached his ears. Ren appreciated the support, but since he had never intended to enter the tournament in the first place, he could only offer a wry smile to the glass.
As he stared out the window, a voice called out from right beside him.
"Yo, Ashton."
Ren turned to find Kaito Leonard standing there, looking relaxed with his uniform jacket slung casually over his shoulder.