I bit into the piece of bread again.
‘Summer vacation, huh…….’
The first vacation since coming to the academy.
It would probably be best not to expect that I’d be able to rest like an ordinary person.
That evening, at the dinner table in the Valerion estate, Elysia brought up Iris’s invitation.
Leopold listened in silence for a while.
“The Asteria marquisate, Stellarium.”
His voice was low.
“It is called the city of magic and knowledge. Considering Haku’s and Elysia’s condition, there is a chance it may be of help.”
Isolde looked both worried and curious.
“Since Lady Iris personally extended the invitation, it would not do to refuse rudely.
However, we must make sure Haku does not become exhausted in an unfamiliar environment.”
Mina quietly added,
“If you travel, we should prepare Lord Haku’s snacks and blanket, as well as items for motion sickness.”
Lucius folded his arms and thought.
“Asteria is a house of a different nature from Valerion.
Valerion is of the sword and the military, while Asteria is of knowledge and magic. They have plenty of reasons to take an interest in Haku.”
I folded my ears slightly.
He was right.
Lucius looked at me and added,
“But Iris Asteria is, at the very least, someone who follows proper procedure.
If she is in the middle of this, there is no need to view it as entirely negative.”
Grayden also spoke in a low voice.
“Haku’s power cannot be fully understood through the eyes of a swordsman alone. There are times when someone who sees with different eyes is necessary.”
Camilla’s eyes sparkled.
“Is Sister going on a trip? With Haku too?”
“Nothing has been decided yet.”
Elysia said with a smile.
Camilla looked a little disappointed, but soon turned to me.
“Haku, if you go, you have to buy me a present.”
I blinked.
A present?
No, me?
Camilla was extremely serious.
After thinking for a moment, I gave a small nod.
If it was something small.
Something really small.
Finally, Leopold looked at Elysia.
“When the official invitation arrives, I will review it.
We will decide after confirming the schedule, the accompanying personnel, Haku’s condition, and even Asteria’s intentions.”
“Yes, Father.”
Elysia lowered her head.
I sat quietly on the cushion beside the dining table and thought.
Vacation was approaching.
And that vacation would probably not end as simple rest.
Iris’s hometown.
Stellarium.
I did not know what we would encounter there.
But at least one thing was certain.
There was almost no chance it would be an ordinary vacation.
I let out a small sigh.
Elysia smiled as she stroked my back.
“Nothing’s been decided yet, Haku.”
Right.
Nothing had been decided yet.
But strangely enough, it already felt as though the next story had begun to move, slowly.
For the next few days after Iris’s invitation came up, the atmosphere at the academy gradually began to lean toward vacation.
Classes still continued, but the students’ conversations naturally shifted to their vacation plans.
“I have to return to my territory.”
“I might come back midway because of preparations for the Sacred Radiance Festival.”
“I heard the Elemental Magic Department has vacation assignments?”
“They say the Magic Knight Department is getting swordsmanship reports too.”
Sitting on the cushion atop Elysia’s desk, I quietly curled my tail as I listened.
Vacation.
Just hearing the word made it sound like time to rest, but the academy’s vacation did not seem to be anything that simple.
For noble students, vacation was the time to return to their families,
the time to attend social gatherings, and also the time to prepare for the next semester.
And for us, perhaps.
It might become the time to head for Stellarium, in the Asteria marquisate.
‘The city of magic and knowledge, huh…….’
I muttered inwardly.
To be honest, I was a little curious.
The place where Iris was born.
A city with a spirit garden and ancient texts.
I was also curious how the people of House Asteria would see me.
Of course, I was just as anxious as I was curious.
Asteria was different from Valerion.
If Valerion treated me like someone to be protected within their fence, Asteria would try to understand me.
That understanding was not necessarily a bad thing, but from my perspective, it inevitably made me a little tense.
Especially if Iris was not the only person like that, and her entire family had that sort of atmosphere.
‘……That would be a problem.’
I suddenly imagined it.
The moment we arrived in Stellarium, dozens of Irises holding record tablets would be staring at me.
My ears flattened reflexively.
No.
If it was that kind of place, I would have to run away.
Just then, perhaps sensing my reaction, Elysia asked softly,
“Haku, what are you thinking about?”
I shook my head.
‘Nothing.’
I had only imagined something very frightening.
Perhaps knowing I would not truly answer, Elysia did not ask further and quietly stroked my back.
A few days later, an official invitation arrived at the Valerion estate.
It was an envelope stamped with the crest of the Asteria marquis house.
A crest engraved with a silver star and an ancient tree together.
The envelope was neat, and it had almost no fragrance.
Rather than splendor, it gave off a sense of formality and dignity.
At dinner that evening, Leopold opened the invitation and checked its contents.
The air around the dining table was a little more serious than usual.
I also sat on my cushion and pricked up my ears.
In a low voice, Leopold summarized the invitation’s contents.
“The Asteria marquis house invites
Elysia von Valerion and her registered familiar, Haku, to Stellarium during the summer vacation.”
Elysia’s fingertips moved slightly.
I looked up at her.
She seemed nervous as well, but there was a faint hint of anticipation in her eyes.
Leopold continued.
“The stated purpose is exchange between students, access to texts related to spirit resonance and aura stabilization, and a tour of the Asteria family’s spirit garden.”
Lucius smiled quietly.
“On the surface, it is a very courteous invitation.”
“On the surface, yes.”
Leopold set the invitation down.
“However, they have not hidden the fact that their interest in Haku is included. That is better, if anything.”
Isolde nodded.
“Lady Iris was that sort of child as well. She does not hide her curiosity, but at the very least, she did not behave rudely.”
“I acknowledge that part.”
Lucius said.
“What matters is what attitude Marquis Asteria and his family will show.”
At those words, I folded my ears a little.
Iris was someone I had grown somewhat used to by now.
She observed quietly, was accurate to an annoying degree, but she kept her promises.
The problem was Iris’s family.
I could not know how they would see me.
Leopold looked at me.
“Haku.”
I pricked up my ears.
“Your opinion is important as well. Do you want to go to Stellarium?”
The gazes around the table gathered on me.
I thought for a moment.
If asked whether I did not want to go, that was not the case.
Unfamiliar places were a little frightening, and I was worried about how House Asteria would see me.
But I was curious about the spirit garden and ancient texts Iris had mentioned.
More than anything, there was a chance it would help Elysia.
If there was a way to make Elysia’s aura more stable, it was better to confirm it.
I slowly nodded.
Elysia drew in a small breath.
“Haku, will you be all right?”
I nodded again.
‘I’ll be fine, probably.’
Mina said with a worried expression,
“However, I believe the method of travel must be chosen carefully.
Lord Haku becomes tired when exposed to magic devices for long periods.”
Right.
I had forgotten that.
Stellarium was located in the Asteria marquisate, outside the eastern part of the Kingdom of Solea.
Long-distance travel would be necessary.
The fastest option would be a gate, but I was not compatible with gates or magical engineering devices.
Compared to before, I had become able to handle my yokai power, and my magic-device sickness had lessened somewhat, but it was still difficult to say I was completely fine.
Lucius immediately pointed out that part.
“Considering Haku’s current condition, it would be best to avoid using a long-distance gate immediately.
It would be better to travel in short sections with rest in between, or use a combination of ordinary carriages and gates.”
Leopold nodded.
“I will convey that to Asteria. We will use Haku’s condition as the reason to keep the travel schedule relaxed.”
Camilla said regretfully,
“Sister and Haku are going far away…….”
Elysia smiled gently.
“We won’t be gone for the whole vacation. I’ll let you know once the schedule is decided.”
Camilla looked at me.
“Haku, you really have to buy me a present.”
I gave a small nod.
I remembered.
Something small.
Something really small.
If possible, something not related to Haku.
Isolde looked at Elysia and said,
“If you go, do not forget that you are going as a guest. But when it comes to protecting Haku, you do not need to yield.”
Elysia’s eyes became serious.
“Yes, Mother.”
Leopold reached his conclusion.
“I will send an official reply. We will accept the invitation. However, the schedule and conditions will be coordinated by Valerion.”
A quiet tension and anticipation rose together on Elysia’s face.
Looking at her, I thought inwardly.
‘So we’re going after all.’
Stellarium.
Iris’s hometown.
There, we would probably meet new people.
Iris’s family.
Spirits.
And perhaps, beings who would look at me strangely again.
I let out a small sigh.
Elysia stroked my back.
“It’s all right. We’re going together.”
Right.
She was right.
I was not going alone.
I was going with Elysia.
So it would be a little all right.
Probably.