A holiday that returned at the end of each week.

On her way back from the Cavalry’s meditation study circle, Glowe happened to spot Fay walking down the corridor and stopped in her tracks.

'Ah. He said he was going out today to meet friends from his hometown, right? Looks like he’s heading there now.'

She’d become friends with most of the 2nd-class recruits she’d trained with. But Fay was rather special among them.

Assigned to the Northern branch, Fay was especially timid and faint-hearted. He was several years older than Glowe, yet from the way he acted you could have believed he was younger—he was that naïve about the ways of the world.

He had neither outstanding stamina nor strength, and he wasn’t clever either. Whenever the new recruits trained together, he almost always took last place.

But truthfully, the same was true of Glowe. At best she was called “old-fashioned” as a compliment; in harsher words, she was born with gloomy black curls and had drifted from one traveling troupe to another since childhood. She had managed to earn her keep as a fortune-teller—something that fit her looks—but that was all. She had no other strengths to speak of.

By good luck she awakened and entered the Cavalry, but the first studying and training of her life had been hard enough to make her cry. If not for Fay, Glowe would probably have been last every day.

Perhaps because they took turns being last, Glowe felt gratitude and comradeship toward Fay. And Fay, for his part, showed far deeper closeness to Glowe than to others.

A few days ago, Fay had brought good news. He said there were friends who’d given him the courage to enter the Cavalry, and that those friends were visiting the capital this time and they’d decided to meet.

A chance to reunite in the capital with friends met in his hometown—what better opportunity to show he’d become a fine Cavalryman? Glowe cheered Fay on.

Yet on the very day of the meeting, Fay’s face as he walked through the Cavalry looked terribly dark. On a day when he should have been in high spirits, he was dragging his feet. Something was off.

'Why? Did something happen?'

Without hesitation, Glowe greeted him first.

“Fay. Hi.”

“Ah. Uh, Glowe. Hi……”

It had been quite some time since the newbies had agreed to speak casually, yet Fay still jumped every time he started a conversation. Awkwardly waving his hand, he darted his eyes and asked timidly,

“You’re… in plain clothes. Were you… coming back from somewhere…?”

“The meditation study circle.”

“Ah… Senior Yuder’s!… the one said to teach his training method. Was it alright……?”

“It was good. Everyone laughed when Elpokin started snoring in the middle.”

“Sounds… fun. I’ve got to go next time too…….”

Like most of the 2nd-class recruits, Fay admired the Cavalry Commander and his aide. At the mention of Yuder, his eyes lit up in excitement—only to cloud over again with some gloomy thought.

Glowe asked carefully,

“Did something happen? Did something go wrong with your plans with your friends?”

“Gasp……. D-did you figure that out with your ability……?”

It seemed Fay still didn’t realize his feelings showed all over his face. Glowe shook her head.

“No. You just didn’t look well. Is it something I could help with?”

“N-no, it’s not that……! It’s just… I thought only three were coming to today’s meeting……. But last night I suddenly got a message asking if someone else could join……. I don’t know them, so I suddenly got worried if it’s okay…….”

“Someone you don’t know? Who, exactly, is trying to tag along?”

“My friends… said he’s from the same merchant company…… but I’m not sure…….”

According to Fay, the people he was meeting today weren’t simply hometown friends. To be precise, they were merchant employees who had visited his hometown; they’d stayed for a few days and naturally became friends as they talked.

Fay had wanted to leave home but had wavered for lack of courage; thanks to their advice and encouragement, he had resolved to take the Cavalry entrance test. After becoming a member, he wanted to express his thanks, so he sent a letter to the merchant address they’d given him, and they happily replied suggesting they meet. That was how today’s appointment had come about.

'So they’d known each other for less time than I thought. Since he said they helped him join the Cavalry, I assumed they were childhood friends…….'

For timid Fay to write a thank-you letter first and accept the meeting—he must have been very grateful to them. But now that a stranger had suddenly asked to join on the day of the meeting, he’d gotten scared.

Fay even said he didn’t know ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) whether the extra person was just one, or more than that.

'It might be nothing, but he’d worry.'

Looking at Fay, who kept letting out deep sighs, Glowe suddenly recalled meeting Kanna yesterday. Vice Commander Kanna was a good person who understood that Glowe’s ability was unusual and made training harder than for others, and she kept an eye on her in many ways.

While reviewing Glowe’s ability and giving advice yesterday, Kanna had said this:

“—Glowe. Your ability is a truly wonderful power that can help others. So don’t be afraid to use it—use it freely. All the more so if there’s someone you want to help, I think that’s the right thing to do!”

Back in the South, after helping Yuder Aile by using her ability in an unfamiliar way, Glowe had once fainted for several days. She was glad she’d helped Yuder, but having realized a new facet of her power, fear surged up in her. If she misused it, she might faint and become a burden for days, or be unable even to protect her own body. That was a truly serious side effect among ability overloads.

But Kanna said that for that very reason she should use her ability all the harder and develop it, so she could know her own limits better than anyone else. It was a fine, correct statement—so very Kanna Wand.

Still, fear made it hard to attempt something bold all at once, but for someone like Fay in front of her—couldn’t she offer a little help with her ability?

'A quick card reading is no problem at all…….'

Resolving to follow the advice of the Kanna she respected, Glowe spoke up.

“Mm. Hey, Fay. Do you want a card reading…?”

“What?!……. I—huh? Uh?”

“You’re tense and worried because someone new is joining, right? If we take a look at today’s fortune and you receive a small blessing, maybe you’ll… feel a bit braver?”

Flustered, Fay fidgeted helplessly.

“Your ability only works once a day…… That’s such a special power—using it on me would be t-too much…….”

“It’s not too much at all. I was going to go back and rest anyway, and Senior Kanna advised me to keep using my ability and practicing. So… I’ll do it.”

“Right here?”

You could do a card reading anywhere, anytime. Glowe took out the worn deck she always carried in her bosom. She shuffled with practiced ease, drew five cards, and raised them showing only their backs. She felt an unseen force flow through her body and spread over the cards.

“Pick just one.”

After a moment of indecision, Fay screwed his eyes shut and chose a card. Glowe’s eyes narrowed, a flicker of surprise passing through them, but Fay didn’t notice.

“…Trumpet Jester’s Festival.”

—Whoosh.

For an instant, a transparent heat-haze bloomed from the card and struck Fay’s body, seeping into him. Startled, Fay jumped and patted himself here and there in wonder.

“Gasp……. S-so this is what it feels like……. Warm and amazing……. What blessing does this card have?”

“……It’s a card that protects the body.”

“I see…! Thank you so mu—”

“Fay. If it’s not rude… could I go along to your meeting today?”

“Huh?”

Still moved, Fay blinked rapidly, belatedly processing the words.

“C-come along? With me?”

“The other side said they were suddenly adding someone today, didn’t they? It should be fine if we do the same, right? Do you mind?”

When Glowe asked in earnest, Fay’s face filled with awkwardness and puzzlement.

“Why so suddenly……?”

“No reason. I just got very curious about who the friends are who helped my fellow recruit.”

'Trumpet Jester’s Festival.'

It was also the card Yuder Aile had chosen when he took the Cavalry entrance exam. Its blessing protected the target from one crisis aimed at the body—but in other words, that meant……

'The target might face something dangerous enough to warrant that.'

She later heard that even Yuder Aile had suffered an accident so serious that had the card’s blessing not manifested after he chose it, he might have been in danger. When this card came up, it meant an incident of that level of danger could occur.

For Fay, who was going to meet friends, to face an event that endangered his body—common sense couldn’t make sense of it.

'Maybe I’m taking it too seriously… but I should go and check.'

If something really happened and they were caught up in it, what should they do? Both Glowe and Fay had abilities that were far from combat. At best, they could run. Would that be alright?

Just as Glowe’s expression turned grave, she happened to see someone passing by.

Among the 2nd-class recruits, he was a prodigy who never missed first place in physical ability, and he had an appearance that inspired fear in others even just standing still.

But if you knew him, he was kinder and more cheerful than anyone—Elpokin.

In a flash, Glowe’s mind lit up.

'From what I heard at the meditation circle, Elpokin also said he had no particular plans today. In that case……'

“Fay. Um, would you be willing to bring one more person along?”

“……Huh?”

Fay’s gaze followed Glowe’s to Elpokin.

***

“Yuder. Fay finally stepped outside. If it goes as planned, he’ll be here soon.”

Yuder, hiding himself in an alley near the District Seven fountain, made contact with Kanna.

“Good. But if it’s as planned, why the face?”

Wearing a peculiar expression, Kanna gave an awkward smile.

“Well. I could’ve sworn he was supposed to go alone… but they said three people walked out of the Cavalry.”

“……Three?”

“Yeah. Glowe and Elpokin on top of Fay—three.”