Chapter 50: The Promised Date [2]

♢♢♢♢

After finishing their meal, they returned to the plaza. Mirai insisted on visiting the spirit tree grove, where glowing petals drifted down like gentle snow. She twirled beneath them, laughing freely, while Louis stood still, watching her.

For the first time in a long while, the crushing weight of his vow, his cultivation, and his endless struggles eased, just slightly. He didn’t know why, or perhaps he didn’t want to admit why.

Niflheim’s voice whispered within him.

“This girl… she may be the anchor you need. Do not dismiss her so easily.”

Louis narrowed his eyes but didn’t argue. He simply watched Mirai dance beneath the falling petals, her laughter echoing through the garden.

“Prince Louis! Please come with me, there are so many Spirits!”

“What? I can’t see anything.”

“You can’t?”

Mirai hurried over and grabbed his arm.

“Please come!”

“I told you not to touch me!”

Louis quickly pulled his arm away, surprising her once more.

They stared at each other in silence for a moment. Then Mirai furrowed her brows.

“Prince Louis… I think I know why you’re the way you are.”

“…What?”

Mirai clenched her fists and met his golden eyes directly.

“It’s because you’re afraid, right?”

“…”

“You’re afraid of making connections with people… you don’t want relationships either. You feel—”

“Is that it? Mirai, have I ever lied about that? I am indeed a coward, and I have always said so. I am not the perfect fairy-tale prince you imagine. I am a man filled with flaws, a man who constantly doubts himself. I am not someone you can rely on… And yet I am forced to pretend I can be reliable because of my position… because of the vow I made to my mother to protect this country.”

“…”

“See? I’ve opened my heart to you. Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?”

“N-No! I mean… Prince Louis, please… I’m sorry.”

“You’re always apologizing for everything. You think saying sorry will somehow fix things. It won’t.”

“…!”

“I’m done with this. We had our date and now I am busy. There are so many things I need to do. I cannot waste my time—”

“Wait! Please wait!”

“…?! You’re so insufferable. Let go of me!”

Louis groaned, baring his sharp fangs as he clenched his teeth. Mirai held tightly to his arm to stop him from leaving.

“I want… I want us to enjoy this time together… please… I promise I’ll do anything you ask later… I’ll train even harder… I just… I want you to smile, genuinely…”

“…Wh-What?”

Mirai looked up at him, tears shining in her eyes.

“I just want to see you smile…”

As he gazed at her tearful face, Louis felt a sharp pain pierce his chest—not physical, but a deep ache that reached even his soul and Fantasy Heart.

He felt terrible.

“Why?”

“Because… I’m sure your smile is very beautiful… And well, you work so hard. I want you to enjoy yourself for a moment without thinking about anything else.”

“You’re impossible.”

“And you too…”

Louis clicked his tongue, looked up at the sky for a moment, then nodded.

“Okay.”

“Really?!”

“But you’ll train even harder starting tomorrow. Also, I will be calling someone to train with us.”

“Sure? Okay, I don’t mind.”

“Then let go of my arm.”

“Nope…”

“What!”

“Let’s go see the Spirits!”

Mirai dragged Louis into the spirit tree grove. The prince looked everywhere, trying to spot the spirits she mentioned, but he saw nothing.

“Where are they? I cannot see anything. Mirai, did you lie to me?” Louis asked, visibly upset as usual.

“They are there, Prince Louis,” Mirai said. “But… Belladine once told me that Spirits only show themselves to those who open their hearts.”

“…? Belladine told you that?” Louis felt a pang of guilt at the mention of the fallen elven knight. “I had no idea you two had talked before…”

“A few times… she was a great woman,” Mirai said with a gentle smile. “She was kind, and I’m sure she must be with the Spirits now.”

“…And what am I supposed to do then? You talk about opening my heart like it’s something easy,” Louis said. “But… I’m not sure how to even do such a thing.”

“It’s not too hard,” Mirai replied, smiling back at him. “Just… tell me something that genuinely comes from deep within your heart. No more masks, no more lies… don’t pretend anymore to be happy or smile.”

“…You can see through me, huh?” Louis sighed.

“I think it’s part of my ability…” she said. “That’s why I know you suffer so much, and that’s why… I know you also love this country… and all of us so much.”

“…What?” Louis’ eyebrows twitched. “I don’t—”

“What man would go as far as you’ve gone for his country and his people if he didn’t love them?” Mirai asked. “Perhaps you’ve lied so much in your life that you even lie to yourself so naturally, you believe all your own lies.”

“Who do you think you are, talking so sharply like you know me…” Louis sighed. “We’ve only known each other for a bit over two months…”

“But somehow it feels like I’ve known you for much longer…” Mirai said. “I don’t know why…”

“…You’re crazy perhaps,” Louis muttered. “Take your pills.”

“Hahah, Prince Louis…” Mirai giggled. “I don’t think you’re someone who should be saying that, considering you…”

“Tsk!” Louis tried to pull away, but Mirai held firm. “Opening my damn heart, huh? So annoying… so damn annoying…”

“I know it’s hard…” Mirai said. “But I’m also doing my best to talk with you, even though I’m dying inside from embarrassment…”

“Hmph…” Louis sighed.

For a moment he fell silent, thinking deeply.

He wanted to communicate with Spirits, to see them, perhaps even contract one.

Handy was useful, but he didn’t want only that creature to aid him.

He didn’t want to admit it, but… he truly admired her.

“I was always jealous of Belladine.”

“…? What?”

“Because she was born with incredible talent inherited from her family and was never crippled from having it. Since I was a child… I wanted to communicate with fairies and spirits. My mother did so all the time, and I wanted to do it too.”

“I see…”

“I never had a close relationship with Belladine. I only ordered her around or watched her from afar. But… whenever she came to take care of me as a child, or when she learned from my mother alongside the other knights since she was young… I suppose I did appreciate her.”

“Prince Louis…”

“Why did she have to die, Mirai? Why… Why couldn’t I save her?”

“…!”

Then Mirai saw Louis for who he truly was. Though no tears fell from his eyes, his heart, his Fantasy Heart, was weeping.

Threads of light emerged from it, and the world around him slowly shifted in color.

“Why couldn’t I save everyone… I failed… I failed everyone.”

Mirai realized the profound sorrow buried deep within the prince, sorrow he hid so well.

“As you said… nobody is perfect, and perhaps this world is indeed full of suffering too.”

FLASH!

The world around Louis transformed. Countless colors appeared everywhere, coalescing into small creatures of every hue.

His golden eyes shimmered with rainbow light. For the first time in his life, he could see them.

The Spirits of the Forest.

“But… I think you did everything you could, and you should feel proud of it. It was thanks to your plan that we prevented even greater losses.”

Mirai stepped forward, finally releasing Louis’ arm. She extended her open palm, and a small yellow spirit settled gently onto it.

“Look.”

She showed Louis the tiny spirit in her hand, shaped like a golden cicada, yet made entirely of bright light.

“…My mother always said that Spirits are the purest form of life. They are born in Mana and make up ninety-nine percent of the world’s Elemental Energy. But at the same time, they can die within days of being born… or last for thousands of years.”

“I had no idea. What do you think about this little guy?”

“He’s definitely a young one. Their Mana Signature is small and weak… they could die if you shook your hand even slightly harder.”

“A-Ah…”

Mirai panicked, but the spirit quickly left her palm and flew away. As she watched the cicada disappear, she stepped forward to search for another and nearly tripped.

“What are you doing? Be more careful.”

Louis caught her before she fell, holding her hands without hesitation.

“I’m sorry… I…”

“…”

And at that moment, she didn’t realize just how close her face had come to the prince’s.

Both of them stared at each other, startled by the beauty they saw reflected in one another’s eyes.

Mirai knew this was her chance.

She leaned closer and closer.

“…!”

But Louis noticed her intention and quickly stepped back.

“Ah… Um…”

Mirai stood frozen, blushing furiously, unable to speak.

Louis chose to pretend nothing had happened, even though his own heart raced and his breathing had grown uneven.

He hated it, this overwhelming feeling…

A feeling so powerful he wanted to forget it entirely, to never experience it again.

But as a human.

And even as a dragon.

It was a natural emotion shared by both species that formed him.

“Let’s forget what just happened…” he said, walking toward a nearby cluster of spirits.

“I… I don’t want to forget it…” Mirai said, glancing at him. “Prince Louis… I…”

“Don’t say it,” Louis replied, turning back with sorrow in his eyes. “Don’t do it.”

“…” Mirai couldn’t protest. She knew she was overstepping her boundaries. “I’m sorry, your majesty.”

♢♢♢♢

The Dragon Garden Plaza began to quiet as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky in warm gold and soft violet. Families packed up their picnics, children were carried home, and glowing petals drifted lazily in the evening breeze.

Louis and Mirai sat together on a bench beneath one of the largest spirit trees. Its branches hummed faintly with Fantasium. Mirai leaned back, eyes closed, savoring the moment. Louis remained upright, staring at the horizon. His breaths stayed steady and deliberate, each one an attempt to align with Niflheim’s Sword Breathing rhythm… yet each one also carried the weight of emotions he had long kept bottled inside.

Mirai spoke first. “You know… I had fun today. Even if you didn’t smile much, I think you enjoyed it too.”

Louis glanced at her; his sharp eyes softened just slightly. “Enjoyment isn’t something I seek. But… it wasn’t unpleasant.”

Mirai giggled. “That’s your way of saying you liked it, right?”

Louis didn’t answer immediately. He looked at her, at how easily she smiled despite everything they had endured. Despite her immense power, she sometimes seemed so fragile, yet she remained so bold and persistent. Somehow, she had pulled him out of his endless cycle of training, political duties, and burdens, if only for a few hours.

Louis exhaled slowly, his breath steady, recalling Niflheim’s earlier words. “An anchor…?” He hated the idea of relying on anyone. Yet Mirai’s presence had kept his thoughts from spiraling into obsession, even while he secretly practiced Sword Breathing.

He stood up and looked down at her. “Mirai. You’re troublesome. But… perhaps necessary.”

Mirai blinked, confused. “Troublesome? Necessary? That’s not very romantic, you know… From what I’ve read, you’re supposed to confess your love to me now…”

“What sort of joke is that?” Louis shook his head. “I’m not interested in romance. But you… you remind me that I’m still human. That I can still walk among people without being consumed by my illness… that maybe I can be… ’normal,’ even if only for a short time.”

Mirai’s expression softened. She stood beside him, smiling gently. “Then I’ll keep reminding you. Even if you don’t want me to.”

Louis looked away, narrowing his eyes at the fading sun. “She’s bold. Too bold. I want nothing more than to push her away, but I really… can’t. So this is the terrifying power of the Protagonist.”

As they walked back toward the castle, Louis reflected quietly.

“Mirai may never be a warrior. Throughout the entire Sinners Academy story, she never wanted to fight, she was forced by circumstances. Innately, she’s peaceful and only wants the ordinary life she was always denied. But she possesses something I lack: a tether to normalcy, to humanity. If I ever lose myself, she might be the one to pull me back. And perhaps… that is her role in my life.”

“Were you able to contract a Spirit, Louis?”

Mirai’s voice interrupted his thoughts, startling him for a moment.

“No… I don’t want a weak Spirit anyway. I want a powerful, ancient one,” Louis replied. “A small, weak Spirit is not for me.”

“You sure ask for a lot…” Mirai said. “I made a friend today.”

She opened her palm, revealing a black-and-red butterfly.

It was no ordinary spirit.

“A Spirit of Darkness? How did you…!”

“I’ve heard they’re very rare. This one approached me and wouldn’t let go, hehe.”

“Hmph…”

In secret, Louis felt a sharp pang of jealousy. He had been unable to contract a Spirit because he still lacked the talent, spirits always fled when he drew too near.

“I don’t mind giving it to you if you want,” Mirai offered. “I heard you have Void Affinity; it might be compatible.”

“…No. It’s yours,” Louis said. “I don’t want it.”

“Aw, come on,” Mirai insisted. “I’m sure you’ll love it…!”

“I said no…!” Louis replied. “And…! Get that thing off my face. I’m not going to touch it—Huh?”

Something strange happened the moment Louis drew too close to the butterfly-shaped spirit.

It suddenly sprouted glowing golden wings, and its back opened wide, revealing another butterfly emerging from within.

This second butterfly was made of yellow light, with large blue eyes like sapphires.

The original butterfly remained unharmed even after its back split open. It watched the new spirit for a moment before the yellow one flew straight to Louis and settled gently on his nose.

“W-What is this?!”

“Wow! It gave birth!”

“It what?!”

Louis, despite his shock, understood what Mirai meant. Spirits sometimes reproduced by dividing themselves into a similar yet distinct form.

And somehow, when this spirit met Louis’ gaze, it divided, creating a new spirit of yellow light.

The spirit clearly wanted to bond with him, surprising him even more.

Louis had thought he simply lacked the talent to befriend Spirits, let alone earn their affection like this.

He was stunned that it had happened because of Mirai.

“Look, Louis! The Spirit seems to like you!” Mirai giggled. “Give it a name, and then it might befriend you.”

“A name? Wait…! Hold on, a name?” Louis grew nervous, sweat beading on his forehead. This might be his only chance. “Name…”

And then he remembered someone whose name felt perfectly fitting.

A knight beloved by all Spirits, whose family did not mourn her passing, because they knew she had joined the Spirits of the Forest.

“Belladine.”

The moment he spoke the name, the spirit glowed brightly and transformed.

From a butterfly it became a small fairy with long blonde hair, pointed ears, and a gentle smile.

She hugged his nose tightly and refused to let go.

As a newborn spirit, she couldn’t yet speak, yet she already showed such clear affection.

Perhaps the young spirit believed Louis to be her parent.

“She transformed! Wow!” Mirai exclaimed in amazement. “Belladine… I guess that really is a fitting name, Prince Louis.”

“Yeah…” Louis smiled faintly, letting Belladine perch on his finger. “Thank you for choosing me, Belladine.”

“Heheh!” The little fairy giggled, dangling her legs happily while sitting on his finger.

Once Louis and Mirai returned to the castle, they had dinner together with Catrise and Robert. Gustaf, as usual, was absent.

“How was your romantic date today, Lord Louis, Lady Mirai?” Robert asked, teasing them both.

“It was not romantic…” Louis sighed. “It was merely a recreational outdoor experience to relieve some accumulated stress.”

“No, it was definitely a date. It felt like one to me…” Mirai giggled, irritating Louis.

“I see…” Catrise smiled. “It’s beautiful that you both were also able to find Spirits today… perhaps it truly was a fateful day.”

“Hm…” Louis nodded. “Maybe…”

After dinner, Louis headed back to his room, but not before saying something to Mirai.

“Tomorrow morning at 6 AM, I want you ready to begin even more intense training. I will help you awaken your Spiral. You will need it if you ever want to grow stronger.”

“…! Ugh… okay. I thought you were going to say something nice.”

As Mirai turned to leave, Louis suddenly stopped her, grasping her arm for a moment and surprising her.

“L-Louis?”

She looked back at him; his face was closer than she expected.

“And… thank you, Mirai. For trying to make me smile… I’m still thinking about these things called feelings, and what I should do with them, but… I’m grateful.”

Mirai’s red eyes glowed brightly as she nodded, smiling.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it!”

Then she hugged him tightly, leaving Louis surprised.

“…! Why are you hugging me?”

“I didn’t get a kiss… but at least a hug is fine, right?”

“…You’re too bold.”

“I have to be bold when dealing with someone like you, hahah… ugh… I think I drank too much tea; I have to pee!”

She ran off, leaving Louis staring after her blankly.

“Hm?”

He noticed Belladine perched on his right shoulder, laughing softly and watching him and Mirai with a truly happy smile.

Was she really a newborn spirit? She already acted like a mischievous little fairy.

“Let’s go to sleep, Belladine.”

As Louis slept, Belladine watched over him with gentle, almost motherly eyes. She caressed his hair from time to time until she finally fell asleep, hugging his head.

—–

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