บท 13: Already Met A Heroine
The crowd began to descend the steps once more, but this time, Kalem noticed, they seemed to be fewer people than they had for him. He felt the same sense of déjà vu, watching as the young woman – Lily – stepped forward, visibly anxious yet resolute. His curiosity sharpened; he could feel an energy in the room shift as all eyes focused on her, waiting.
The woman with blue-tinted hair, who had earlier exuded an aura of calm authority, stepped forward. Her eyes glowed with an unspoken promise as she looked at Lily.
He could see them talking but not hear from above since he was just a novice - a normal young man who just bonded with his first beast.
Without a word, the blue haired woman extended her hand, and at that moment, the air thickened, becoming almost electric. Kalem watched, wondering if Lily was about to become the woman's disciple, and choose her path.
As he observed, his thoughts drifted. "Wait…isn't she supposed to study at the academy?" he muttered to himself, half-remembering Andre's endless monologues about Lily's storyline. "But now…she's becoming that woman's apprentice?"
As if reading his thoughts, the man in indigo at Kalem's side chuckled, his voice low but warm. "She is already a student of our academy," he said, an amused glint in his eyes. "Even though she has now become Maria's pupil, she will still attend."
Khalil nodded slowly, piecing it together. "So…does that mean I could study at the academy, even if I became someone's disciple?" he asked.
The man in indigo inclined his head. "Right. Though your master would teach you personally, there is much for a tamer to learn that only the academy can provide. It's a rigorous and vast study, after all."
He paused, watching Kalem's reaction with quiet interest. "Why?" he asked, a playful tone in his voice. "Do you regret it now?"
Kalem shook his head, though he wasn't entirely sure what he felt. "I don't know yet. But no, I don't regret it."
A smile tugged at the corners of the man's mouth, and he gave an approving nod, his gaze now steady on Kalem. After a moment, he asked, "Tell me, young man – do you know who I am?"
Kalem felt his breath catch. Something in that tone, paired with the man's calm, watchful presence, made him realize he hadn't considered it.
Quickly, he began searching his new memories, combing through information like he might rummage through lines of code. And then it hit him with the same clarity as a sharply defined function call – the precise face, the dignified stance. He recognized him.
Kalem's eyes widened as he looked at the man anew. "I…Principal! I'm sorry," he said, bowing his head reflexively. "I didn't recognize you right away."
The Principal chuckled, a rich sound that conveyed both understanding and humor. "Why apologize? You've done nothing wrong. It's simply that you spoke to me so comfortably, which is rare. I suspected you might not know who I was." He waved his hand dismissively. "But no need to be formal. Keep speaking to me as you did before – that's what I prefer."
"Understood." Kalem nodded in understanding, a subtle warmth in his gaze.
Something about the Principal's words brought him back to a professor he had recently met back in his own world. The memory made him feel a faint, grounding connection to that world, a reassuring thread of familiarity in the sea of unknowns he was currently navigating.
Meanwhile, the crowd steadily climbed the steps back to their places, with Lily and her master Maria being the last just like they were.
As the blue-haired woman drew closer to where he and the man in indigo waited, she glanced at Khalil with a calm, appraising look. She stopped in front of him, her expression softening slightly. "Hey, kid," she addressed him with a casual tone, her voice still carrying a quiet authority. "This is my disciple," she said, gesturing to Lily, who stood respectfully at her side. "I hope you two will get along and become friends."
Khalil blinked, surprised by her words.
He hadn't expected her to speak so kindly, not after he had politely declined her offer to be her disciple not long ago. And yet, here she was, introducing her pupil to him, bridging a connection he hadn't anticipated. He hurriedly collected himself, offering a respectful nod to both of them.
"My name is Kalem," he introduced himself, using his new identity with ease. "I'm a new student at the academy. I hope we'll get along." He bowed slightly, trying to convey respect without overdoing it.
Lily's eyes lit up with int
erest as she returned his greeting, her tone friendly yet curious. "I hope so as well," she said, inclining her head in acknowledgment. The quiet exchange of introductions held a warmth that surprised him, an unexpected sense of camaraderie he hadn't anticipated.
The blue-haired woman watched them with a subtle but approving look before leading Lily away, her calm, steady presence leaving an impression. Khalil observed them go, feeling a sense of gratitude for the meeting. The people he would meet here, he realized, might become an essential part of his journey.
She was a heroine, right? So, she would also participate in saving the world.
The man in indigo beside him must have noticed his contemplative expression, for he smiled slightly, a wise glint in his eyes. "You never know where a good friend will come from," he said, almost as if he had read Khalil's thoughts.
Khalil nodded thoughtfully. "Yes," he replied quietly, feeling the truth of those words. And he understood then that his journey here was only just beginning, in ways he had yet to imagine.
"Hmm?" Suddenly the whole space went silent, different from how it was with him or Lily but all the eyes were on below, on the new young tamer.
Khalil also turned his attention to the figure, his heart then started to beat faster.
'S-Sira?'
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