"Big Brother! Look!"
"****"
"Hehe~ You’re the best, Big Brother!"
"****"
"...B-Big Brother?"
"****"
"What’s wrong with you? W-Why are you looking at me like that?"
"****"
"N-No, I-Argh!"
"****"
"N-No, d-don’t hit me, please!"
"I-It hurts!"
"B-Brother!"
"!"
Nura’s eyes snapped open.
"Huff... Huff..."
She took quick, shallow breaths, her chest rising and falling as the heat pulsed through her body. Her skin was burning, her heart hammering against her ribs like a caged bird. The remnants of the dream clung to her like smoke, suffocating and impossible to grasp.
"My lady!"
A familiar voice cut through the haze. Before she could fully register it, a glass of cold water was pressed into her trembling hands.
"Here, drink this."
With the voice owner’s help, Nura brought the glass to her lips and gulped it down, the chill spreading through her chest and slowly easing the fire in her veins. Her breathing began to steady. The heat receded, inch by inch, until only a dull warmth remained beneath her skin.
Her fingers found the moon-shaped necklace resting against her collarbone, and she clutched it tightly, the cold metal grounding her in the present. The shaking stopped, and her surroundings gradually regained their clarity.
"Huff... Huff... T-Thank you..." She weakly muttered, turning to her left as a familiar face came into view. "Sister... Grace."
The woman beside her bed had soft blonde hair tied back in a simple braid and features that still carried the freshness of youth, though the warmth in her eyes reflected years she had truly lived, not just her age. She wore the usual black-and-white uniform of a maid, but the way she knelt beside the bed, one hand still hovering near Nura’s shoulder, spoke of a care that went beyond mere duty.
"You don’t need to thank me, my lady." Grace shook her head gently. "I’m just glad I came at the right time. But... did you have another nightmare?"
"...Yes," Nura replied. "B-But... I... I still can’t remember anything..."
"Then perhaps it’s better you don’t remember," Grace said softly, brushing a strand of damp hair from Nura’s forehead. "No one needs to hold onto bad dreams. What matters is that you’re awake now, and I hope you have only good dreams."
Nura managed a faint smile, her strength returning. "Thank you, Sister Grace."
Grace returned the smile and stood up. "Come, let’s get you ready for the day. A bath will help you feel better."
"Ok!"
Grace helped her out of her nightclothes and into the bath, the warm water doing its work as the last remnants of the nightmare faded from Nura’s limbs. By the time she was dried and dressed in her academy uniform, the heat beneath her skin had cooled to a gentle warmth, and her heartbeat had returned to its usual steady rhythm.
They stood together before the tall window, the morning light spilling through the glass and catching Nura’s reflection in the mirror. The dark fabric of her uniform fit her neatly, a stark contrast against her pale skin, while her crimson hair fell past her shoulders in soft waves. Her amber eyes still carried a faint trace of sleep, but the warmth in them was slowly returning.
"You look lovely, my lady," Grace said, meeting her gaze in the reflection.
Nura let out an embarrassed laugh. "Come on, Sister Grace. I’m just wearing the uniform like always."
"Then that means you’re always lovely." Grace smiled, tilting her head. "I’m simply stating the obvious."
Nura shook her head, but the smile on her lips was genuine. Then a soft laugh escaped her, and Grace soon joined in, their laughter mingling in the morning light.
"Alright," Grace said, smoothing a final crease from Nura’s collar. "Let’s have breakfast before your morning lessons start. You’ll need your energy."
"...You’re right." Nura agreed readily, recalling how strict her schedule was.
However, that was exactly what she wanted. Every lecture, every training session, every hour spent pushing her limits brought her one step closer to mastering the flames inside her. The family had sacrificed so much for her. They had spent a fortune on her treatment, given her the best doctors and resources, and asked for nothing in return except that she focus on getting better. Her mother had told her again and again to just take care of herself and not worry about anything else.
’I’ll get stronger. I’ll control this power completely. And then... I’ll finally be able to repay everything they’ve done for me.’
Grace led her to the small dining area attached to her dormitory, where a simple but nutritious breakfast was already laid out. Nura ate quickly, her mind already running through the day ahead. Morning lectures on mana theory. A practical session on elemental control. Independent study in the library. And then, in the afternoon, a private training session with her assigned instructor.
It was a packed schedule, but she had chosen it herself. While most students had left for the summer vacation, she had stayed behind to catch up on everything she had missed during the time she spent ’sleeping’. The gaps in her knowledge were still wide, and she refused to let them stay that way.
The morning passed in a blur of notes and diagrams. The professor droned on about the properties of elements while she scribbled down every word, determined not to miss a single detail. By the time the midday bell rang, her hand was cramping, and her head was full, but she felt a quiet sense of satisfaction.
"Good work today, my lady." Grace appeared at the door. "Shall we head to lunch?"
Nura nodded and put her notes into her storage ring. They ate together in the nearly empty dining hall, the usual chatter of students replaced by silence and the occasional clink of cutlery. Grace kept the conversation light, talking about small things, the weather, a cute rabbit she saw, the new flowers blooming in the courtyard. Nura paid attention and spoke in the appropriate moments.
As they were about to return to her room to change into her training clothes, a member of the academy staff approached them in the hallway. The man was dressed in the formal robes of the administration, his expression neutral but his posture stiff.
"Student Valmere," he said with a short bow. "Someone from your family is here to see you. Please follow me."