Sakuramoria

“You know, daughter, sometimes you simply amaze me with your stubbornness,” Mr. Melvans said thoughtfully, scratching his bald head and shaking his head. “First, you resisted my decision to go to this academy, and now you seem to be deliberately doing everything the opposite! With a heavy sigh, Nira’s father sank into an armchair upholstered with expensive fabric, absentmindedly twirling a glass of fiery liquid in his hand. “My dear, there is no question about it,” Nira’s mother looked more worried than usual, and for the first time, she ceded the initiative in the main negotiation to her husband. “What a scandal, what a disgrace to the royal academy! And these pathetic attempts to hush up the situation and blame everything on some magical teacher, who was retrospectively dismissed from the grandmasters!” “I must admit, I am also somewhat disappointed with the whole situation,” the father nodded, taking a sip of his whiskey. “My opinion of the king’s granddaughter and the brave general was much higher.” “And the other teachers are no better,” Mrs. Melvans echoed her husband. “Where were they during these events? Was the knight secluded with the athlete and the doctor? And that long-eared historian you told me about, he was probably glad to get rid of a competitor for the sorcerer’s position, he probably secretly cursed everyone!” “Well, there you have it, Thora, don’t fill the child’s head with nonsense, she’s suffered enough,” Roviol Melvans waved his hand dismissively. “Personally, I think that the situation was resolved, more or less, as they say, ‘the first pancake is always a flop.’ Everyone who needed to be reprimanded was reprimanded, and the rest learned their lesson.” “No, we’ve had enough of these pancakes!” “Okay,” Mr. Melvans finished his drink and looked intently at Nira. “I admit that you were right in your concerns, daughter. For that, you should forgive me, and I will no longer interfere with your educational decisions.” “Thank you, Dad,” Nira replied in a quiet and obedient voice. Nothing warmed the soul and ambition more than acknowledging one’s own rightness in the eyes of one’s parents. “...Therefore, I will neither persuade nor object to your decision,” the father continued. “Think carefully, while there is still time, and decide for yourself about this academy.” “What?!”, the mother exclaimed in angry surprise. “What are you saying? How can she decide such things, it’s completely…” “I’ve said everything, Thora,” Mr. Melvans said sternly. Such seriousness in the father was so rare that Nira’s mother immediately fell silent, not finishing her sentence. Nira thought again about the incredibly idiotic foolishness she was about to commit. An act not justified by logic, devoid of meaning, a risk completely disproportionate to her character. And what could she say in her defense? That she wanted to see new friends and classmates? That she wanted to learn how to shoot a pistol, learn all the countries of the continent? Perhaps she was deeply hurt by the old Duncan’s biting comment about running away? No, all of this was utter nonsense, and the real reason lay elsewhere. For some reason, Nira felt like a character in this academic story, temporarily linking her fate with the fate of her first class. And a good story, as you know, should be enjoyed from beginning to end. If she left now, her place would certainly be taken by another character, with their own life, story, and destiny. But then it would be a completely different story. “I’m going back,” Nira said briefly to her parents.