57
Hidekazu
Every time Taniya cast the spell with the amber glowing rings to flick through a book at lightning-speed, Hidekazu’s eyes darted in circles, trying to keep up and figure out exactly how it worked.
After days of trying to work up the courage to ask, he finally said, “Can you teach me that spell?”
“I would be honoured.” Taniya cast a sideways glance at Aihi. “Would you like me to show you as well, princess?”
Aihi’s eyes did not leave her book. “I am fine like this.”
Taniya’s shoulders slumped as if a subtle tension existed between the pair. Hidekazu hadn’t noticed anything off about them until that moment, but reflecting on the past few days, it was strange how infrequent they regarded each other at all.
“As you wish,” Taniya said. “Hidekazu, come over here.”
He joined Ta
