Chapter 10: With the arrival of spring.

The first owner of Lemuria was a member of the old Royal family. 

Verlich had constructed it at the request of the imperial family, but due to the reckless way they used it, the furnace was destroyed, and it was so damaged that it even affected the framework.

Finally, after a long time, the repairs were completed to the point where it could be test-flown.

“It’s quite impressive, isn’t it? This is Lemuria, which has undergone repairs and improvements!”

In a corner of the dock in the Sky Garden, Verlich, a blacksmith and a magic ship technician, spoke loudly.

Having heard about it just last night, Ren had come here with Licia to see the nearly repaired Lemuria.

The two of them stood on the ironclad floor at the dock’s bottom, unable to find words.

They were left imagining how beautiful it would look if it could fly.

“In spring, it will be able to fly long distances! We plan to perform a test flight soon… Hey, what are you two so quiet for?”

“Sorry, we were just too impressed.”

“I am too. I’ve never seen a magic ship this beautiful before.”

Verlich, a bit unusually bashful at their reactions, scratched his nose and proudly gazed at Lemuria.

“Oh, it’s amazing!”

The appearance of Lemuria hadn’t changed much since Ren had last seen it. Internally, it had been extensively modified, though it still had several rooms divided within, it was smaller than a typical magic ship designed to carry passengers.

The bullet-shaped upper part had translucent wings that folded like fish fins and shone like polished crystal. Some decorations from its time as the imperial family’s magic ship were still present.

The lower part connected to these upper parts resembles a sailing ship without sails.

The impression Ren had before, that it looked like a flying ship, had been refined.

“The appearance and size haven’t changed much, but due to adjustments to the furnace’s output, various modifications have been made internally. First, the main furnace’s responsiveness to magic power… Then, I recalculated the coefficient for increasing the output…”

Ren couldn’t understand his explanation, but he got the gist of it from the atmosphere.

This Lemuria had been considerably modified, and it seemed like the internals were completely different from before.

Asval’s horns and the dragon vein route Ren had received from Ragna last year had merged there, combining with Verlich’s skills as a technician to bring Lemuria back to life with even greater power.

“I’ll register myself as the pilot. It’s difficult to operate this thing, so it’s better this way.”

“Do you have to register for magic ships?”

“What are you talking about, Ren? Of course, you do. Even for my sister’s magic ship, my name is registered along with the Drake family’s members. You have to be thorough about these things.”

“I understand. Although, I think Lessard-sama will confirm that kind of thing.”

“I think so too… but in reality, what’s the situation with ownership of this thing?”

That’s something that should belong to the Clausel family.

As Ren was about to say that, Licia spoke first.

“Lemuria was granted to our family along with Elendil by His Majesty, so ownership lies with our family.”

However, it was received as a gift, unlike territory.

“But I’ve heard that your name is jointly listed with your father’s name for certain rights, including the right to use.”

“That’s right. By the way, I just heard about it this morning.”

“I just found out this morning too. I didn’t think it was something to keep a secret.”

“Hahaha! I see! Well, I understand what you mean. Thanks to Ren, Lemuria is like it’s been resurrected. So, I guess Lessard-sama will do the same!”

It shouldn’t be so easy to transfer ownership of something granted by the Emperor.

Even so, as much as possible, Ren’s name would be clearly stated as the owner of this magic ship. It was just right for Ren, who had planned to use it in the spring.

“I’ll take care of the test flight soon. I can’t promise it’s completely safe yet, so I’ll do it alone.”

He firmly declared that. 

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇　

Since that morning.

Licia was telling Fiona about what had happened in the Hanging Garden dock. The three of them were in the usual room in the academy, with Ren included.

“It seems like they’ll be doing a test flight soon.”

“Fufu, I’d like to see it myself. …By the way,”

Ren wasn’t participating in the conversation and was staring at a map.

“Hmm…”

He was fiddling with a pen in a troubled manner, which was an unusual sight for him.

“What’s up with Ren-kun?”

“I think Ren is probably pondering something about going to Windea.”

“Wi-Windea? Why are you going there?”

Licia explained the situation, and Fiona immediately said, “I see.”

The two of them spoke, but Ren’s ears weren’t really picking up their words. Or more accurately, he was aware of their conversation but didn’t process it as words, only as the fact that they were talking about something.

Ren continued to stare at the map.

“I should discuss this with Ragna.”

Saying that, he returned his attention to where the three of them were.

“Is there something wrong with both of you?”

“No, nothing’s wrong.”

“Yeah, it’s nothing.”

Finally realizing that the two girls were looking at him, and rather than pretending, genuinely inquired, the girls smiled.

A little over ten minutes later,

“Oh? You’re all here?”

Radius arrived in the room.

Following him, Mirei also appeared. Her cat ears, a mix of Cait-sith and human, stood upright, and her tail swayed gently.

Seeing the same faces as during the Lion King Festival last year gathered, it brought back memories of the bustling from spring to summer.

“Hmm?”

When Radius tried to sit down in the seat next to Ren,

“A map. It looks like it’s near Windea.”

“Yeah, I’m planning to go there in the spring.”

“…I don’t quite understand, but is it a trip?”

When Ren explained the reason to Radius, he also understood and nodded knowingly.

“Probably, but it’s an emblem with that mark. Ren is probably the only one who would take on such a task.”

“I mentioned the same thing to Ragna. It’s not like I have any immediate plans for the spring, and I’ve been curious about it.”

“That’s probably true. But… you’re still as active as ever, Ren.”

“Well, I’ve learned a few things.”

Then Radius muttered to himself, “It would have been better if Ragna had told me first,” and after that,

“What are you going to do about the magic ship?”

“I was thinking of using Lemuria or having Ragna prepare one. I also plan to discuss how to proceed once we’re there.”

Hearing that a test flight would be conducted soon, Radius celebrated it.

Immediately, he took out a small piece of paper from his pocket, wrote something on it, and handed it to Ren.

“Then I’ll tell you where Ragna is staying. How about stopping by on your way back?”

“Ah… yeah, that sounds good. I have some things I want to check too.”

Ren said so while thinking about the broken key and the Water Magic Sword. He hadn’t been able to look into it last time because the conversation was so sudden, and even if he summoned it outside, it was in a conspicuous place, so he had avoided it. But he thought it wouldn’t hurt to investigate before going to Windea.

“It’s not clear whether it’ll be in the summer or autumn, but when I become Crown Prince, I think I can help with the Forbidden Library issue.”

“Thanks. I’m counting on it.”

To see them conversing so naturally, 

“Both of you, please explain properly to these two, who are bewildered here.”

As Crown Prince, there was no need to explain the meaning of those words.

What needed to be said was that Radius would become the Crown Prince and the fact that Ren already knew. The latter could be inferred from their relationship, but

“Not many people know yet, but I will eventually become the Crown Prince. Keep it a secret for a while.”

That was such a casual statement that even those who heard it would be surprised.

(Ulysses-sama and Fiona-sama didn’t know about this either.)

She would probably be surprised as well.

Ren, who turned his gaze toward the girls, felt that they looked just like he did the other day.

The talk about the Crown Prince wasn’t continued much, and Radius said, “It’s a long way off,” and cut off the conversation himself.

“We came to study during the winter break, but what about you Radius?”

“It’s about Mirei’s work. I’m also free, so I just came along.”

“Work in the library? Doing research?”

“Not exactly. Won’t the winter break be ending soon? And then the day to part ways with the fourth years and the graduation ceremony will come.”

“So that means I won’t be a student anymore.”

She said it lightly, but Ren felt a bit lonely about Mirei leaving. It couldn’t be helped, but his feelings were different. Ren, Licia, and Fiona, the three of them would have significantly fewer chances to meet Mirei.

“Well, I’ll come to check on you all from time to time, nya.”

“Ah, right. Mirei is not just a civilian in the castle due to her position as my assistant. From spring, she’ll be a part-time worker, but she’s also planning to register as a staff member at this library. In other words, our five-person relationship won’t change much. Mirei will occasionally come to the academy.”

“Oh…”

“What’s wrong, Ren? Your response was rather deflated. Well, not just Ren, but you two over there also seem a bit down.”

“Ah, ahaha… Sorry, it’s just that Licia and I were thinking about it right before we heard this…”

“Yeah… I mean, I’m happy that we’ll get to see Mirei-san again…”

“Nyahahaha! Well, that’s how it is, nya! It would be strange if I, who will become the Crown Prince’s assistant, stayed in the castle all the time, nya!”

Presented with a logical argument, the three of them nodded in agreement.

The fact that the Third Imperial Prince Radius and his assistant Mirei were close in age made it convenient for both the castle and its surroundings. Such developments were not unusual.

“So, what’s Mirei’s work all about?”

It was Licia who spoke.

Ren addressed Radius.

“So there will be a graduation ceremony, and then after a little while, an entrance ceremony?”

“Yes. This time of year always gets busy.”

Once again, a new spring arrived. Ren wondered what kind of spring it would be this year, and these thoughts weren’t limited to just that.

“I see… So this year is the year, huh?”

Ren and Licia advanced to the second year, it happened one day that year.

In the Great Hall of the Imperial Officer Academy.

“Re… Ren! What are you doing!? You just… killed her!”

“You can tell just by looking, right? I just killed her.”

The exchange between Ren Ashton, before he disappeared while holding Licia’s body, and Vane, the descendant of the Hero, in the Seven Heroes legend.

For Ren, it was the beginning of everything.

A determination to avoid this at all costs, an awareness of such a strong beginning.

If we were to talk about timing alone, it should have happened this year.

“Ren? What do you mean by ‘this year’?”

He squinted at his own face and looked into the eyes of the delicate girl, Licia.

“Please don’t mind it. It’s really nothing.”

Repeating it as if he were telling himself.

Licia looked up at Ren, and smiled softly “How strange.”

Just by looking at her smile like this, Ren felt an inexplicable sense of calm.

On the way home that day, Ren told Ragna about Lemuria.

When he asked Ragna to show him the broken key again, Ren had alrerady summoned the Water Magic Sword from the beginning and carried at his waist, then he brought the key close to it. There was no response that seemed like a reaction at all.

Perhaps it was necessary for it to be an item that directly contained the magic power of the Water Goddess.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

The winter days passed in the blink of an eye, especially since the incident with Wadatsumi, the messenger of the water god, where the flow of time felt particularly fast.

The graduation ceremony was held right after March began.

Among the prestigious academies in the imperial capital, the Imperial Military Academy was somewhat different. The number and quality of the guests made it hard to believe it was a student graduation, and the security arrangements around it were the same.

The solemn occasion, attended by the Commander of the Royal Knights and generals, among others, was held in the academy’s Great Hall.

Nevertheless, in the end, the bright voices of the graduates echoed throughout the hall.

When Klonoa declared the end of the ceremony, the graduates enjoyed their final conversations with friends their age just like they did when they lived at the academy. Even as they left the venue and were showered with the voices of the current students, they wore smiles that didn’t waver, even if they were crying.

Outside the academy, graduates exchanged farewell words with current students and faculty members.

The trees planted in the garden bore flowers in various colors. Under the clear blue sky, numerous graduates were taking flight.

On such a radiant midday,

“Hey! Have you seen Ren!?”

Vane was running through the school building, looking for his classmate, whom he hadn’t had a chance to talk to today.

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