<span>Rishe looked up abruptly when someone suddenly called her.


    <span>“What’s the matter?”


    <span>“Ah, I’m sorry!”


    <span>Because of her reflexive defensiveness, Rovine looked at her strangely as he entered the training grounds. She hardly meant to show it, but he was indeed keen on observation.


    <span>But, she couldn’t possibly say, “I escaped from your presence all nightst night, so it was just a reflex.”


    <span>I heard Fritz Nnd screaming a moment ago. I came in to see what’s going on. Did you get hurt?”


    <span>“No, I’m simply taking a break!”


    <span>Rishe excused herself while brushing the dust from her clothes.


    <span>“I was just thinking about something pitiable. I was feeling guilty, so I acted a little weird.”


    <span>It was a deceptive exnation, but it wasn’t an outright lie.


    <span>“What do you mean by ‘pitiable’?”


    <span>After a short struggle, Rishe asked, “If the knight cadets here be knights and then we wage war with some country… At that time, everyone will go to war, right?”


    <span>“… That’s right.”


    <span>Rovine affirmed in a quiet, slightly snatched voice.


    <span>“Beyond the aim for knighthood, there could be a future where everyone is in danger… When I thought that, it kind of freaked me out.”


    <span>That thought had been lingering in Rishe’s mind for some time now.


    <span>Garkhain was an enemy country back when Rishe was fighting as a knight.


    <span>The knights of this country were really strong and were a great threat to their enemies, but that didn’t mean none of them died.


    <span>Looking at Fritz and the other cadets, she hoped that their dreams woulde true.


    <span>But Rishe knew that if things progressed as they stood now, there would definitely be a war.


    <span>Then Rovine spoke, “My son died in thest war.”


    <span>“-!”


    <span>Rovine exhaled with a faint smile.


    <span>“I wanted to praise my son for a wonderful end after he fought proudly… But as much as I felt that sentiment, I wanted my son to live.”


    <span>“Rovine-sama…”


    <span>When Rishe was stuck, Rovine added, “I want the youth of today to grow up healthy. I want the future to be filled with hope… Since I lost my son, that has been my greatest wish.”


    <span>He sounded gentle, but lonely.


    <span>Rovine has always been looking out for his trainees. It finally urred to her why his gaze was so gentle.


    <span>“War is about depriving someone of the future. Of course it’s better that such things don’t happen, and even if you’re aspiring to be a knight, you have every right to be afraid. The only way to ovee it is to face it.”<span>


    <span>“Face it.”


    <span>“Don’t deny your wishes, your feelings. Feed off of them and move forward. Explore what you can achieve.”


    <span>“…”


    <span>His words prodded Rishe into thinking.


    <i><span>My wish – What I can achieve.</i>


    <span>Rishe was once a knight, too.


    <span>She met a respectable master and swore to protect them. She didn’t regret dying for them, and still thought that way.


    <span>But it also urred to her.


    <span>She never wanted to see her loved ones in danger and her friends dying.


    <span>“Thank you, Rovine-sama.”


    <span>“Yeah. It looks like nothing happened, so I’ll head back. See youter.”


    <span>“Yes.”


    <hr>