How to Survive at the Academy
chapter-210

Please restrain yourself, Ms. Yenika. (1)

“You may return to Ophelius Hall whenever you are ready.”

It was on her way back to the camp after the Spirit Academy and Elemental Studies class when Yenika received this message from Belle Mayar.

Yenika, who had just stopped by the dormitory to do some errands and was now merrily humming with bundles of paper bags in her arms, happened to run into Belle, who was tidying up the path leading to the entrance of Ophelius Hall.

Belle had been the senior maid who offered Yenika Faelover the most help during her initial days at the academy when she still couldn’t shake off her country background and struggled even with trivial matters.

Moreover, bell often visited the camp to manage the estate of Lortelle, so exchanging friendly greetings whenever they met was quite natural.

“Eh?! Wa-wait… Isn’t it fine? Didn’t I lose my right to enter Ophelius Hall because of a disciplinary action?!”

“The sanctions set forth by the Academic Disciplinary Committee typically expire after one year. You were punished last spring, and now we’re well into autumn.”

The path to Ophelius Hall was neatly cleaned starting from the entrance. Although Yenika couldn’t see what more there was to tidy, bell nonetheless continued giving various instructions to the workers.

This was a testament to Belle’s meticulous nature.

“The fact that the Disciplinary Committee hasn’t convened to extend your punishment indicates that the academy is also inclined to let bygones be bygones. Usually, the major uproar dies down after a year.”

“Does… Does it now…?”

“It’s significant that the current student president is Miss Tanya. She’s not the type to harshly punish you, Miss Yenika. Besides, it doesn’t seem like she has the leisure to focus on last year’s matters…”

The power to convene the Disciplinary Committee lies with both the academy administration and the student body.

While there is some difference in authority between the two, the effectiveness of the execution plan following the committee’s decision is not affected.

It’s quite encouraging that Tanya Rothtaylor is not keen on pursuing punishment against Yenika.

“Besides, the general student body holds a friendly view towards Miss Yenika… There shouldn’t be any major problems if you wish to return to Ophelius Hall.”

Among the students, Yenika Faelover still enjoys popularity.

Since Yenika wasn’t at fault during the Glasgow event—having been overpowered by a high-level dark spirit—it’s reasonable to consider her actions as not malicious. Considering the petition that followed and the sympathetic public opinion among students, ending the disciplinary measures wouldn’t likely cause any backlash.

“Since you’ve been living off-campus since the second semester last year, you will be eligible to apply for residency again during the vacation after this semester ends.”

“I see…”

“But frankly, you don’t actually have any intentions of returning, do you?”

Belle Mayar was indeed sharp.

The rumors of Yenika Faelover’s rugged lifestyle had already spread around the academy.

However, this was talk among only a few people close to Yenika. It would be odd if every student paid attention to such matters.

Nonetheless, the fact that Yenika was cohabiting with Ed Rothtaylor was certain… and some students even suspected that there was more to their relationship.

And… though it’s embarrassing to admit…

Yenika didn’t really mind such misunderstandings…!

“It seems you’re quite content with your life at the camp, so I thought it might be an unwarranted intrusion… But I thought it was right to mention it anyway.”

“Th-that’s…”

“Since there are always loads of applicants for Ophelius Hall, you should be aware of the opportunity.”

“Uh, yes… Thanks. Sure, many people desire to get into Ophelius Hall… To reject it might be considered haughty…”

Despite her words, Yenika Faelover didn’t harbor the slightest intention of returning to Ophelius Hall.

And then there was the daily routine; how could that be overlooked? If I were to force Ed Rothtaylor’s existence into this narrative—after all, isn’t it with him that I start and end each day? It’s inevitable to mention Ed Rothtaylor, even if reluctantly, persisting through the sheer nature of the days being so fulfilling that his name naturally surfaces when one is nudged to give a reason for their contentment.

Talking to oneself is futile without a listener, yet as Yenika walked along the path following the evening glow, she unconsciously rubbed her fingertips together. Isn’t a life free of worries the dream of all? The days that Yenika Faelover currently luxuriated in had that exact feel, almost to the point of an overabundance of happiness.

“Gasp, more than half of the semester has already passed…”

“Unbelievable… I have to start preparing for graduation next year… Have I been living too lazily…?”

“I’m worried too, barely dodging failing grades… Once we hit third year, the difficulty of the classes really jumps up.”

“Yeah, up to sophomore year felt like just practice. Can we even survive senior year at this rate…?”

Classmates brushed past each other, sharing their troubles amidst murmurs. They greeted Yenika cheerfully, but all she could muster was an awkward smile in return.

‘Me… I really have nothing to worry about…?!’

It felt almost wrong. Thinking back on my daily life, it was a perpetual repetition of days immersed in happiness, smiling foolishly from beginning to end. It’s almost as if one could get lost in their thoughts and forget.

Yet, isn’t it human nature to have at least a couple of chronic worries or concerns? Yenika Faelover was a person of little ambition or desire. Maintaining decent grades, having smooth interpersonal relationships, just being able to eat well and sleep well were more than enough to satisfy her.

“…”

It wasn’t wrong, strictly speaking. But what troubled Yenika was ultimately Ed Rothtaylor. The satisfaction of her current days was so profound that each night, as she lay in bed, she prayed alone for these plentiful times to continue.

One night, she opened the cabin door slightly, stirring at the sound from the campfire. Ed Rothtaylor was always the last to fall asleep. Either reading a book, practicing mana-sensing exercises, tending to miscellaneous camp maintenance, or finally zoning out as he stared into the fire, organizing his thoughts to end the day.

The stilly hours of the night, decorated with a coat of stars in the sky – Ed’s solemn face, spied through the crack of the door, still lingered in Yenika’s mind. In contrast to her blissful days, it seemed Ed was still laden with heavy burdens and worries. Prodding at the firewood with a poker, he would lose himself in deep thought as he concluded his day.

Entangled with Ed, she’d been involved in numerous affairs, solving many problems along the way, even dealing with a god’s descent at Ed’s family estate. Although too many trials and tribulations for one person to endure, Ed had managed to navigate through them one way or another.

Even though his family’s matters were settling down somewhat and Tanya’s becoming the student council president was smoothing over the internal political strife within the academy, there appeared to remain significant concerns and burdens for Ed, burdens that invariably led him to lose himself in thought by the fire at night.

Such was the stark contrast between Ed’s circumstances and her own seemingly heavenly days, that Yenika wondered if she should suppress even the happiness she felt.

Despite having weathered so many trials, there still remained mountains for Ed to conquer. Despite this apparent harsh reality… she did not want to remain a naive girl, unwittingly smiling as if she were blissfully ignorant.

To qualify one’s right to happiness felt unreasonable. However, the girl was still too naive to come to such a realization on her own.

*

“A letter has arrived from Princess Phoenia. Not just for me, but she has summoned you as well, Yenika.”

“Huh…?”

Distracted with other thoughts, Yenika quickly recollected her hands from her chin, taken aback.

Still attending to my bow, I sent Yenika a puzzled look as she appeared suddenly surprised. For four days now, I’ve been busy crafting a bow—a week’s practice with the wood provided by Lortelle should yield a decent weapon.

“What? A letter? From whom?”

“It’s strange, Yenika, lost in thought one moment, perplexed the next.”

“Eh, um… I had things on my mind.”

“Thoughts? About what?”

“Ed.”

Our conversation flowed naturally as we sat by the campfire. But Yenika, realizing the conclusion the conversation was taking, suddenly held her breath.

“… My thoughts?”

“Yes, not that I had any weird thoughts! I just misspoke! I mean, technically, I did think of Ed, but not anything particularly important or serious!”

Her quick desperate explanation revealed there wasn’t much to it, indeed. Yenika was terrible at lying, her words mostly honest or frank, leaving me little reason to doubt her.

“I swear! When I’m about to say something, it should pass through my brain first, but when I’m with Ed, words just flow out naturally sometimes!”

“Whatever you’re thinking… first, let’s focus on the letter.”

I put down the piece of wood I had been carving and drew out the letter received that morning from the royal residence.

“It seems Emperor Clowell is planning to resolve this draggy royal succession before the year ends.”

“Really…?”

“Yes. It has been quite a while since Crown Prince Lindon mysteriously renounced his claim without giving a reason. The empire must settle this chaos soon. By confirming a successor, imperial education can begin properly, and the internal royal power structure can also stabilize.”

From Princess Phoenia’s point of view, it was a moment where she couldn’t remain idle. Having come this far, she would have to throw herself into the succession.

“And during this year’s Crestol Grand Festival, Princess Sella is also coming to Sylvania… It’s an opportunity to take some action.”

“But what does that have to do with summoning us?”

“No doubt… from her perspective, she’ll want to involve us, too.”

The royal residence—Princess Phoenia’s abode—stood tall on the westward cliffs of Acken Island. I had been there a few times, so finding it wouldn’t be difficult.

“We’ll find out what this is about only if we go there. Let’s go together tomorrow morning; is your class schedule flexible?”

“Uh, yeah… alright.”

I nodded and slipped the letter back into my pocket. The academy would be fully engaged in festival preparations starting tomorrow, and I, too, had to begin my preparations.

Yenika’s hesitant demeanor felt strangely unsettling… I had some inklings of what might be concerning her.

It might finally be time for Yenika to be enlightened about everything.