The next day at lunch, Elysia conveyed House Valerion’s reply to Iris.
“I spoke with my parents. We’ve decided to accept the formal invitation.
However, they said the schedule and method of travel must be coordinated between both families.”
Iris’s expression didn’t change much.
But I could tell.
She was glad.
Her gaze had softened, if only a tiny bit.
“I’m relieved that you’ll be coming.”
“The exact schedule hasn’t been decided yet.”
“Of course. We must also consider Haku’s burden from travel.”
I looked at Iris.
To think she’d mention that first.
Meeting my gaze, Iris spoke calmly.
“Haku shows fatigue reactions to high-output magical devices.
It wouldn’t be appropriate to use long-distance gates consecutively.”
As expected, she knew everything.
I chewed a piece of bread, flattening my ears slightly.
Iris continued.
“The Asteria side will prepare intermediate rest points and stable spaces.
If necessary, I will request that a detached building near the spirit garden be made available.”
Elysia asked in surprise.
“Is it alright for you to prepare that much?”
“It is the courtesy of the host.”
Iris answered calmly.
“And if Haku is tired, observation will be difficult as well.”
I narrowed my eyes.
So that’s your angle.
But Iris averted her gaze ever so slightly.
“...Of course, Haku’s health comes first.”
Elysia smiled.
I pretended to give up and ate more bread.
Either way, it wasn’t bad that they were making preparations.
That day’s lunch lasted a little longer than usual.
Iris briefly explained about Stellarium.
The central city of Count Asteria’s territory.
A massive library and an observation tower.
A garden where spirits dwelled.
Streets that shone silver-blue under starlight at night.
And the ancient tree behind the Asteria family mansion.
“That tree is also the symbol of our family.”
Iris said.
“It is a place where spirits stay for long periods, so the mana flow is very stable.”
Hearing that, I became a little interested.
If it was a place with stable mana flow, perhaps I would be less tired.
Iris looked at me for a moment, then said.
“It won’t be bad for Haku either. Because its flow is far more natural than the spirit greenhouse.”
I tilted my head.
If you put it that way, you’re making me want to go.
Iris’s lips moved very faintly.
Could she be doing that on purpose?
As lunch was ending, Iris added.
“And my younger sister will want to meet Haku as well.”
Elysia raised her head.
“Your sister?”
“Noel.”
Iris’s voice lowered slightly.
“She is frail and sensitive to mana. She cannot stay long in places with many people.”
I stopped eating bread.
Elysia too seemed to sense something from those words, her expression becoming cautious.
“Do you think meeting Haku might help?”
Iris didn’t answer immediately.
A moment later, she spoke very honestly.
“I am hopeful. But I have no intention of forcing it.”
The words weren’t heavy, but they contained sincerity.
I quietly looked at Iris.
This was probably one of the reasons for the invitation as well.
Because she wanted to study me.
Because there was a possibility it could help Elysia’s aura.
And perhaps because it might offer some hope for her younger sister Noel.
Iris looked far more human than before.
Not a cold, calculating prodigy, but like an older sister worried about her sick sibling.
I pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly.
It was fine to just meet her.
Iris’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
“Thank you, Haku.”
I looked away for no reason.
I hadn’t said I would do anything yet.
I would really just meet her.
But Iris didn’t seem to take that small agreement lightly.
That day after class, the jewelry crafting club also talked about the vacation.
Since preparations for the Festival of Sacred Light would continue during the break, the club members were organizing the designs each would take charge of.
The jewelry crafting club president’s eyes sparkled upon hearing that I might go to Stellarium.
“Stellarium is also famous for glass art and starlight decorations.
If possible, it would be nice if you could bring back small material samples.”
Elysia smiled.
“The schedule isn’t even confirmed yet.”
“That may be true, but Asterian-style decorations could also serve as reference for the Festival of Sacred Light booth.”
I listened quietly from the side.
So club assignments followed you even when traveling.
Academy life in another world wasn’t easy either.
That night, Elysia began writing a travel preparation list in her room.
The date hadn’t been set yet, but Mina had said it was better to organize the items to prepare in advance.
Haku blanket.
Haku snacks.
Anti-motion sickness herbs for magical travel.
Small water bowl.
Brush.
Small pouch for storing fur.
I perked my ears at the last item.
A small pouch for storing fur?
Elysia laughed at my reaction.
“Your fur would be a waste to just throw away. It’s material now.”
She had a point.
But it felt a bit strange to have my fur on the official travel packing list.
I rubbed my face with my front paw.
Elysia laughed at me like that, then soon became a bit serious.
“Haku.”
*Hm?*
“If we go to Stellarium, we might learn a lot of new things.”
I quietly looked at her.
Elysia was silent for a moment, as if choosing her words.
“About your powers. About my aura. About Lady Iris’s family.”
I nodded.
We would.
“I’m a little scared too.”
I placed my front paw on the back of her hand.
Me too.
I wasn’t not scared.
An unknown place, unknown people, unknown spirits.
And Asteria’s gaze trying to understand me.
But I didn’t want to run away.
I sent a small thought.
*It’ll be okay if we go together.*
Elysia’s eyes widened slightly.
Then she soon smiled softly.
“Yes. It’ll be okay if we go together.”
She hugged me to her chest.
I quietly curled up in her embrace.
Summer vacation hadn’t started yet.
But my heart was already slowly turning toward that place.
Stellarium.
The city of starlight and spirits.
Iris’s homeland.
I looked at the night sky outside the window and thought.
This vacation wouldn’t pass quietly either.
But strangely, this time it didn’t feel so bad.
I pondered for a moment, then placed my front paw on the back of Elysia’s hand.
Elysia stopped writing the travel list and looked down at me.
“Haku?”
Meeting her gaze, I carefully sent a thought.
*I’ll try taking the gate.*
Elysia’s fingertips stopped.
“...The gate?”
I nodded.
*My control over spiritual power has improved. I somehow feel like it’ll be okay now.*
I was a bit nervous even as I sent those words.
The gate.
A magical device.
A means of transportation where mana flow was violently twisted.
The old me hadn’t gotten along well with such things.
Even passing through a short-distance gate made my stomach churn,
and just going near the Department of Magical Engineering felt like the spiritual power inside my body was colliding with mana waves.
But now it was different.
I could now handle foxfire much more stably,
and could manipulate my spiritual power delicately enough to create hands.
More than anything, I had now learned a little how to wrap my spiritual power around my body like a thin membrane.
If so.
Couldn’t I prevent the external mana waves and my spiritual power from colliding directly by using that membrane when passing through the gate?
Elysia didn’t answer immediately.
She knelt before me and looked at me with a very serious face.
“Will you really be okay?”
*I won’t know until I try.*
*But we have to go all the way to Stellarium. If I keep avoiding it, it’ll always be inconvenient.*
Elysia’s eyes wavered.
It was a worried face.
Naturally.
Thinking about how I had used too much spiritual power a few days ago and slept for nearly three days, Elysia wouldn’t easily nod her head.
“You mustn’t overdo it.”
*I know.*
“If anything feels strange, you must stop immediately.”
*Yes.*
“You can’t pretend to be okay either.”
I looked away for a moment.
Elysia narrowed her eyes.
“Haku.”
I hurriedly nodded.
*I won’t. Really.*
Only then did Elysia exhale lightly.
“Then... let’s tell Father. This isn’t something to decide alone.”
I nodded.
She was right.
Especially for devices with strong mana flow like gates.
That evening, Elysia carefully brought up the matter at dinner.
“Father, Haku says he wants to try gate travel.”
All eyes at the table immediately turned to me.
I had been sitting quietly on a cushion and perked my ears slightly.
Leopold looked at me for a moment.
“Haku said that himself?”
Elysia nodded.
“Yes. He said that since his control over spiritual power has improved, it might be okay now.”
Lucius rested his chin on his hand, intrigued.
“Indeed, it would be difficult to avoid gates completely when traveling to Stellarium.
It would be better to check the reaction over a short distance in advance.”
Isolde asked with a worried face.
“Haku won’t overdo it again, will he?”
I shook my head immediately.
I won’t overdo it.
Really.
Camilla looked at me with an expression mixed with worry and anticipation.
“Haku, you mustn’t collapse this time.”
I nodded again.
I don’t want to sleep for three days either.
Mina already had the look of someone mentally organizing what to prepare.
“Should we proceed with the test, a nearby short-distance gate would be best.
I will prepare a room to rest in immediately after the move, warm water, a blanket, and light snacks.”
Grayden listened silently for a while, then spoke in a low voice.
“It’s not bad to want to check rather than run away.”
At those words, I looked at him.
“But don’t try to resist inside the gate. What you must do is not overcome the mana, but let it flow past you.”
Let it flow past.
I repeated those words internally.
Grayden continued.
“A sword is the same. Even force that shatters upon impact will pass when diverted.
Don’t think of making a wall with your spiritual power; wrap yourself in it as you would put on thin clothes.”
That explanation was strangely easy to understand.
Not a thick shield, but thin clothes.
Not blocking the mana waves, but sliding the surface so that it didn’t collide directly with my body.
I nodded.
Leopold reached a conclusion.
“Very well. The test is permitted. However, there are conditions.”
I straightened my posture.
“First, use not a long-distance gate, but the short-distance practice gate inside the mansion.”
So such a thing existed.
As expected of a ducal family.
“Second, Elysia, I, and Father will accompany you. Lucius, you will take records.”
Lucius nodded.
“Understood.”
“Third, if Haku shows even the slightest negative reaction, we stop immediately. We do not attempt again.”
I nodded.
“Fourth, we do not do it today. Tomorrow morning, after Haku has rested sufficiently.”
I paused briefly at those words.
I wanted to try it now.
But Leopold’s gaze was resolute.
I meekly flattened my ears.
Camilla smiled upon seeing that.
“Haku, you wanted to do it right now.”
I turned my head, feigning ignorance.
Why was this family so quick to notice these things?