Longing for the Stars - Chapter 16

The following afternoon, Yard and I were once again assigned to tidy up the room.

“…Stark, have you been tired since this morning?”

“Yeah, a certain idiot wore me out…”

Yard gave a wry smile at my murmur, which was thick with exhaustion.

My fatigue had been building since today or rather, since last night. When it was time for bed and I was getting ready to sleep, Sirius picked me up without a word and tossed me onto the bed. I didn’t expect that sleeping together once would turn into two nights in a row, so I protested loudly. I protested, but Sirius stubbornly refused to budge, so I gave in and ended up spending another night in the same bed.

I had just told him to learn how to communicate smoothly with people other than me, and yet here we were.

Even in the mess hall afterward, he followed me around like a baby bird; that continued until the afternoon when our work assignments split us up. It’s exhausting.

“…Why is he like this?”

“Well, Louvre has always been that way.”

My hands stopped organizing the documents at his dry remark.

“…Was he?”

“Wait, are you not aware of it?”

“No, it’s not that. He’s always clung to me. It’s just that lately, it feels like it’s getting worse.”

“Ah.”

The sound of Yard sorting through papers—flip, flip—filled the air.

“I think it got worse starting yesterday, actually.”

He picked up a Stark of papers and tapped them on the table a few times to align the edges.

“He was badly hurt and unconscious for a few days, then for some reason you two fought for about a week. Just when he thought you finally made up, that thing happened yesterday. I think it’s only natural that Louvre’s ‘clingy bug’ mode has accelerated.”

“…I didn’t say anything wrong.”

“Yeah, I know. You’re always right, Stark.”

One Stark of documents was finished, and he reached for the pile to start the next.

Mr. Heilden hadn’t arrived yet.

“Hey, Stark, why did you say that yesterday?”

“Say what?”

“About putting you and Louvre in different squads.”

“Oh,” I nodded.

“Mr. Heilden told me. He said the time for us to be treated as a set is over.”

The sound of paper stopped, and Yard looked at me.

“When I heard that, I realized he was right. He’s a genius, and he’s the son of the Knight Commander. This place is just a stepping stone for him; eventually, he’ll go back to the Royal Capital. But when that happens, I won’t be by his side. I’m not the kind of elite talent who belongs in the capital.”

For the past eight years, I have probably watched that “first-magnitude star” from a closer distance than anyone else. That is exactly why I know my own talent ends here—that I’ve hit my ceiling.

I wanted to take Sirius down a notch at least once, but I’m sure that will be difficult.

The capacity for mana is something determined at birth. My “vessel” is reasonably large, but at most, it’s about the size of a bathtub. Compared to that, Sirius has a vessel like a lake, or something even more vast. You can’t do anything about the amount of mana you’re born with; it’s pure talent.

Still, I’ve done my own share of trial and error. I’ve been searching at the academy and even now for how to compete with others using the talent I do have.

Maximum damage with minimum effort. That is the theme I always keep in mind and practice during drills and battles with monsters. Instead of swinging wildly, I aim for a single thrust that surely strikes a vital point. Instead of burning things away with grand magic, I use small spells to kill by cutting off the oxygen supply.

I’ve done well that way. I’ve handled both theory and practice. That’s why I was praised at the academy and was able to be posted to the borderlands—which, for a country boy, is quite a promotion.

But since coming here, I’ve learned how small I really am.

“There are plenty of people here with more magical talent than me. With people like that around, there’s no way I can keep standing beside him. Besides, the Royal Capital is bound to have plenty of ‘monsters’ similar to Sirius.”

A brilliant first-magnitude star should have stars of equal brightness beside it.

“So, in truth, maybe he doesn’t need ‘communication practice.’ Between geniuses, they can probably sense each other’s maximum potential without saying a word. But there’s always a chance the person he’s working with won’t be like that. I thought it would be a waste for Sirius to stay the way he is now when that happens.”

I have no doubt that Sirius will become one of the country’s leading figures within ten years.

Because I believe in that future so firmly, I don’t think my suggestion yesterday was a mistake at all.

“…That’s not your responsibility, Stark.”

His words leaked out as if he couldn’t help it, and my hands stopped. I turned to see Yard looking at me with eyes the same color as his hair.

“That’s not a problem for you to fix. That’s Louvre’s problem, not something for you to propose. You’re not his teacher or his parent. Because you coddle him like that, Louvre stays…”

“……”

I was caught off guard by his blunt words.

Seeing me wide-eyed, Yard snapped out of it and looked apologetic, but I quickly shook my head.

“I was just surprised.”

“Eh?”

“I thought I was only ever seen through the filter of being ‘Sirius’s caretaker,’ so I was surprised that you scolded me. You’re a good guy, Yard.”

“No, uh, it’s not like that.”

“…It’s been eight years, after all.”

I straightened the Stark of papers I had finished and organized them so they would be easy for Mr. Heilden to read.

“I’ve been thinking about nothing but Sirius since I was ten, so naturally, his priority has become higher. That’s why I end up taking care of him. Even though I won’t be doing it forever.”

I gave a self-deprecating laugh.

“—Stark.”

“DAAA! I’VE ARRIVED, YOU PUNKS!”

The door slammed open with a deafening bang.

I looked back to see an obviously grumpy Mr. Heilden, and I let out a sigh at the sight of his face.

“Hey, Stark, you punk! That’s quite a greeting, sighing the moment you see a person’s face, huh?!”

“Please stop picking fights like a low-life thug. Good work today.”

“You need to learn how to be more charming! You’ve always got that sour look on your face.”

“Mr. Heilden.”

“Ohyo?!”

Mr. Heilden, who had leaned in close to glare at me with a delinquent attitude, had his shoulders jump like a startled cat. As he slowly turned his head back like a mechanical doll, a small wheezing sound came from his throat.

“Let’s work hard today, shall we?”

“I-I-I-I know that! Hey, bring me the documents!”

“They’re over there.”

“There’s so many of them…?”

After watching his slumped back as he trudged away, I glanced at Yard. He was wearing a smile that brooked no argument. I thought that was a smile he only used when he was angry, but it seems he mastered it since yesterday.

I decided Yard is a very capable man.

“……”

However, seeing his hands tremble as he sorted the documents, I realized he was pushing himself.

Including that part, I thought he was very good at his job.

Mr. Heilden started off handling the paperwork at a good pace, but as time went on, his momentum faded. Eventually, he was cornered by a truly angry Yard. The sight of him processing documents while yelling and complaining was surreal. I wondered which one was the boss, but I helped out by pushing Mr. Heilden to finish his work, too.