Tears of Souls: Lament at Midnight

Chapter 3

Candace didn't rush back to her dorm room. Instead, she wandered around the city for a while, buying some food before heading back.

The atmosphere was a bit strained after that morning's events, and she felt awkward facing Vina so soon.

In the square at the academy entrance stood a bronze statue of a young man.

The bronze had darkened with time, and from Candace's angle, she couldn't make out the details of his features. However, the statue's posture exuded an air of carefree confidence.

The base of the statue bore an inscription:

[To the Great Hero, the Champion of Modan - Irelius Yagn]

Candace sat on a bench in the square, munching on her bread as she stared at the statue.

The hero Irelius, a legend across the six continents, the savior of the world two hundred years ago.

Humus Academy had always claimed Irelius as one of their own, but Candace could never understand how a warrior could have graduated from a magic academy...

Swallowing the last bite of her bread, Candace bowed deeply to the statue, her expression a mixture of respect and apprehension.

If all went according to plan, her mission was to essentially rob this hero's grave...

She hoped his soul had found eternal peace in the past two centuries.

After deliberately taking her time, Candace returned to her dorm room close to curfew.

She cautiously opened the door to find Vina already asleep, curled up under her covers. Candace breathed a sigh of relief.

She closed the door and tiptoed towards her desk, only to be surprised by several stacks of books piled on top.

"100 Things Every Adventurer Should Know," "The Insect Cookbook: Wilderness Survival Edition," "The Complete Illustrated Guide to the Magical Creatures of France," and many more...

Professional publications were mixed in with cheap paperbacks, creating a rather surreal sight.

Candace glanced at the drum bag leaning against the other bed and couldn't help but smile as she picked up a book.

That is, until she came across a book titled "My Scandalous Affairs with the Hero," which finally broke her composure, and she burst out laughing.

"You laughed! I heard that!"

Vina threw off her covers, her eyes sparkling. "You're not mad at me anymore?"

Candace shook her head, holding up the book in her hand. "Where did you even find all of this?"

"Some are borrowed from the library, some I bought in town." Vina sat up in bed, her face peeking out from under the covers, a smug grin on her face. "I spent the whole afternoon gathering these, not bad, right?"

Candace raised an eyebrow, lit a candle on her desk, and settled down on her bed with the scandalously titled novel. "I don't know about the others, but this one's definitely going to be my bedtime reading tonight."

Vina grabbed her blanket and snuggled up next to Candace. "Are you really going on that mission?"

"Of course, I have to try, even if I don't succeed." Candace leaned back against her pillow, casually flipping through the pages. "I promised Mr. Wood at the apothecary that I'd work for him after graduation."

Vina rested her chin on her hand, studying Candace's profile. "Have you considered coming with me? With your skills, you could easily become a court apothecary..."

In the flickering candlelight, Vina's features were cast in a mix of light and shadow, highlighting her delicate bone structure.

Her red curls cascaded over her shoulders, contrasting with her porcelain skin.

Her upturned eyes held a natural allure, her long, thick eyelashes fluttering slightly as her emerald green eyes reflected the candlelight.

She was like a rosebud about to bloom.

Sometimes, Candace had to admit, beauty was the deadliest weapon of all.

One look at that face, and any lingering anger simply melted away.

"The professor wouldn't let me go that far, you know that." Candace gently pushed Vina's head away with her index finger. "Besides, I don't want to work at the palace, dealing with people is too tiring."

Vina simply snuggled closer, her fingers still tracing the pages of the book. "He's too controlling... Speaking of which, what's the farthest you've ever been?"

Candace thought for a moment, unsure. "... Mirebeau Street?"

Vina: "..."

Vina sat up abruptly. "That's just by the city gate!"

Candace: "Yes."

"Yes, my foot!" Vina grabbed Candace's shoulders and shook her lightly, as if trying to dislodge something from her brain. "You've never even left the city?"

Candace remained unfazed, her body swaying slightly with Vina's movements. "What's so strange about that? The outside world is dangerous. If I can stay somewhere safe, why would I risk my life going out there?"

Vina was speechless.

Candace always maintained this calm and collected demeanor in public, mature and reliable beyond her years.

In a magic academy full of eccentric personalities, she stood out with her down-to-earth practicality.

That was why, when Vina had been looking for a new roommate, Candace had been her first choice.

However, as they got to know each other, Vina gradually realized her misjudgment.

She had initially thought Candace was just a mature young girl, but beneath that youthful exterior resided the soul of a tiny old woman.

Candace had a strict schedule, refused to drink anything but hot water, and was meticulously mindful of her nutritional intake...

This translated into Vina being served extra portions of meat when she was trying to lose weight, being force-fed vegetable juice when she wanted to indulge, and being subjected to hot water every morning...

Vina had essentially acquired a mother figure younger than herself.

She had gained health but lost the joys of youth.

"Then why did you agree to go to the North..." Before she could finish her sentence, she met Candace's death glare and quickly changed her tune. "I mean, if you don't want to go, you can always graduate two years later. I'll stay and keep you company."

Candace picked up her book and hid behind it. "Don't be ridiculous, aren't you getting married soon?"

"That sickly boy is nothing compared to you." Vina pulled the book away and blew Candace a kiss. "This is the perfect excuse to postpone the wedding. Maybe he'll even kick the bucket before then, two birds with one stone."

Candace pushed her head away, exasperated. "Don't talk nonsense."

The two girls continued to chat and tease each other until the dormitory supervisor knocked on their door, warning them about the noise. Vina reluctantly retreated to her own bed, clutching her blanket.

"Candace."

"...Hmm?"

"I think you made the right decision."

"..."

"Go out there and see the world, before the old man comes back."

There was no response from the other bed.

Vina turned over, unable to see Candace's expression in the darkness.

"Go to different places, experience new things, don't let yourself be trapped here." Her voice was soft as she closed her eyes. "I'll help you..."

Candace lay flat on her back, staring at the ceiling, her mind racing. It had been a long time since she had last experienced insomnia.

***

Vina wasted no time.

While Candace spent the next two days buried in the library, researching everything she could find about the Hero's Tomb, Vina put her considerable resources to use, constantly bringing back various supplies essential for any adventurer.

"...I can't take it anymore... It's... It's starting to affect me..."

"We should report it... This isn't doing anyone any good..."

Vina frowned, her gaze drawn to a group of girls huddled in a shadowy corner across the hallway, whispering amongst themselves. Their expressions were anxious, and one of them looked particularly distressed.

It was Emily's roommate...

"Vina?" A male voice called out from behind her. Vina turned to see Professor Corwin approaching, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "You haven't been in class for the past two days, I thought you were ill as well."

"Professor Corwin."

Despite being caught red-handed, Vina greeted him with a smile. "I'll catch up on the missed lessons, I promise."

Corwin's gaze fell on the cloth bag in her hand, and he smiled knowingly. "Preparing Candace's luggage?"

Vina nodded. "The climate in the North is harsh, I wanted to make sure she's well-prepared."

The young professor pondered for a moment before beckoning her closer. "Come to my laboratory, I have something for her as well."

Vina had a favorable impression of Professor Corwin. In fact, it was hard to find anyone who disliked the affable professor.

Without hesitation, she followed him to his laboratory.

The damage from the explosion had mostly been repaired. The lower floors were probably still a mess, but the floorboards in Professor Corwin's lab had been replaced.

He rummaged through a cabinet and retrieved a delicate-looking lantern.

"This is a magic lantern I used to use. It only needs a small magic crystal to stay lit for a long time. See, there's still some charge left in this one." He demonstrated how to use it before placing it in Vina's bag. "The North is prone to blizzards, ordinary lanterns wouldn't last long. I hope this helps."

Vina looked from the lantern to the professor, a grateful smile spreading across her face. "Thank you, Professor Corwin."

Corwin shrugged, waving away her thanks. "It's nothing, I want her to succeed as well."

He paused, then added in a low voice, "It's alright if she doesn't find it. She's practically Aubrey's adopted daughter, the Headmaster won't be too hard on her."

Vina sighed. "I've told her the same thing... But you know Candace, she's too proud to ask for help."

Corwin chuckled. "You're right, she's always been a stubborn one."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Vina returned to her dorm room with her latest haul.

Candace was hunched over her desk, marking up a map, when Vina entered.

"What's that? A route map?" Vina peered over her shoulder.

"I contacted a merchant caravan today, they agreed to take me as far as Parma Town." Candace circled a spot on the map, then drew a large circle around it. "North of Parma Town is the Northern Plains... If Professor Corwin's information is correct, the Hero's Tomb should be somewhere within this area."

Vina stared at the massive circle, her shoulders slumping. "That's huge, how are you going to find it?"

"The legend of the Hero's Tomb has been around for centuries, I've spent the past two days compiling every story that mentions it." Candace patted a stack of books beside her and drew three smaller circles within the larger one. "None of the stories reveal the exact location of the tomb, but most of them originate from these three villages."

The Northern Plains, located near the Black Abyss at the center of the continent, were perpetually covered in snow and sparsely populated. The villages were situated far apart from each other.

The three villages on the map formed a triangle. While still a considerable area, it was significantly smaller than the initial circle Candace had drawn.

Vina leaned closer, tracing the triangular area with her finger. "So, this is where you suspect the tomb to be?"

"Yes, it's as good a place to start as any." Candace folded the map and tucked it into her notebook. "I'm planning to leave tomorrow."

Vina's jaw dropped. "...So soon?"

Candace opened her drawer, rummaging through its contents. "The caravan won't wait for me."

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow on her, making her flaxen hair appear even lighter.

Her dark eyes, framed by her wispy bangs, were focused and determined.

When Candace spoke to someone, she looked them straight in the eye, her gaze direct and unwavering.

Pure black eyes were uncommon in East France, but Vina found them captivating.

Clear and straightforward, just like Candace herself.

Candace retrieved a pouch of magic crystals, a necklace, and her diamond earrings from the drawer.

The necklace, a defensive artifact crafted by Aubrey, was a must-have for this trip. But the earrings...

She frowned, stuffing them both into her waist pouch.

It was safer to keep these dangerous trinkets close at hand. She didn't want to return to a dormitory that had also been blown to smithereens.

Noticing Vina still standing there in a daze, Candace waved a hand in front of her face. "What's wrong?"

"It's just... so sudden, it doesn't feel real." Vina shook her head, a hint of melancholy in her voice as she gazed out the window. "Time flies... It feels like we just started at the academy yesterday."

Candace: "Oh."

She didn't quite understand her noble friend's sentimentality.

She turned back to her packing, her expression impassive.

Vina: This heartless woman!

"Aren't you even going to comfort me?" Vina seized the opportunity to latch onto Candace's arm, pouting. "You'll be gone for at least two months. By the time you get back, either I'll have graduated, or we'll both be gone. We might never see each other again!"

Candace chuckled and gently pushed Vina's head away. "We can write letters."

"Letters aren't the same as seeing each other." Vina tightened her grip on Candace's arm. "Promise me you'll come to my wedding."

"I can't promise that." Candace's blunt refusal only made Vina's eyes well up further.

Seeing her friend on the verge of tears, Candace quickly added, "I don't make promises I can't keep."

Vina's carefully crafted facade of distress crumbled. "...You could have just said yes..."

She released Candace's arm and started helping her pack.

They had bought far too many supplies, and it was impossible for Candace to take everything with her.

After several rounds of sorting and discarding, they finally managed to condense her luggage into a backpack and a small suitcase.

Vina, seemingly out of nowhere, produced a sturdy-looking staff, insisting it was an unbreakable magical weapon, equally useful as a walking stick.

"You might not have graduated yet, but you're still a scholar! And what kind of scholar doesn't carry a staff?" Vina brandished the staff, her sales pitch bordering on the absurd.

Candace suspected she had been reading too many fantasy novels.

People who wandered around with cloth-wrapped sticks weren't scholars, they were beggars.

But for the sake of their friendship, she agreed to take it.

The next morning, accompanied by her friend, Candace boarded the carriage bound for the North, her suitcase clutched tightly in her hand.

Vina eyed the caravan's escort with a hint of concern.

They lacked any sort of uniform, looking more like a ragtag group of mercenaries hastily assembled for the job.

But it was too late to back out now.

Vina frowned, adjusting her shawl. "Come back soon... It's alright if you don't find it, just come back safe..."

Candace fiddled with her earring, feeling a little awkward at this sudden display of emotion.

Meeting Vina's pleading gaze, she finally relented. "I will. I want to graduate with you, remember?"

A genuine smile finally lit up Vina's face.

She watched as the caravan disappeared into the distance, deep in thought.

Finally, with a determined stomp of her foot, she turned and ran in the opposite direction.

***

The Adventurer's Guild was a recognized organization across the six continents. They had branches in all major cities, serving as hubs for posting and accepting various tasks.

From bounties on dangerous beasts and bandit gangs to helping villagers harvest their crops, the tasks varied greatly in nature and difficulty, providing a source of income for a large number of freelancers and adventurers.

The Adventurer's Guild in Aruboum City also doubled as a tavern, a popular gathering spot for young adventurers and those seeking excitement.

Aber, having just completed a lucrative assignment, was enjoying the camaraderie of his fellow adventurers, listening to the latest gossip.

Suddenly, a slender hand snatched the tankard from his grasp.

The tavern, filled with rough-and-tumble adventurers, fell silent for a moment before erupting in laughter.

Crude jokes and good-natured ribbing directed at Aber filled the air, accompanied by loud whistles welcoming the newcomer.

Aber, his good mood shattered, was about to turn around and see who had dared to interrupt him when a familiar voice reached his ears, and a hand landed on his shoulder.

"Aberien, long time no see." The sweet, familiar voice sent shivers down his spine. "I have a proposition for you."