Chapter 23: Fairy Eyes
[May 21, afternoon]
[You accepted Baobhan Sith's advance invitation; you must keep a day free in the long June vacation to go on a date with Baobhan Sith.]
[Therefore, you must ensure your midterm exam results are above the grade average.]
[If you fail, the new Homeroom teacher Scathach will drag you to a retake, and the date with Baobhan Sith will be canceled...]
That afternoon.
After making the appointment with Baobhan Sith, Eikou walked with Aesc through the corridors of Chaldea Academy.
"..."
Selfish instinct and calculating reason seemed to be reminding him,
right now he should obediently return to class, attend Artoria's tutoring after school, and find a way to raise his grades.
But if he did that, today he wouldn't be able to take care of Morgan.
Forget it, he truly couldn't relax about Morgan's current state—she looked entirely like a Princess raised deep in the palace, never experienced in the world, innocent and pure; a single careless moment and she could be led away by a stranger.
Grades can be sacrificed; he absolutely would not let Morgan, in this condition, wander around unsupervised.
Moreover... Morgan in the Aesc the Savior era was indeed far too cute.
Eikou quickly noticed that no matter how close the two of them stood, as soon as he stepped half a step away, Aesc would quietly move half a step closer, shy yet always clinging to him.
Just like a gentle little kitten, fond of sticking to people and seeking affection—could it be that Morgan in her youth also loved to stay close like this?
Eikou heard his heart thumping; this weaker Morgan, carrying the aura of a young schoolgirl, struck directly at his soft spot.
It's over, isn't this... he really likes Morgan in the Aesc era?
No, actually this also counts as a part of Morgan; it's just the side of her that Morgan once hid, or that once existed in the past.
"..."
When Eikou thought of this point, he suddenly froze.
"Once existed," huh...
Just what years and experiences had Morgan gone through to transform from an innocent, friendly girl into the outwardly cold, taciturn Fairy Queen.
Just imagining it, a wave of sorrow welled up in his chest, and he couldn't help but feel pity for what Morgan had endured.
If so, then today he all the more should stay by her side.
If this could become a comfort for Morgan.
"What's wrong, Eikou?"
As if sensing his slightly different expression, Aesc tilted her head and gently asked.
"Nothing,"
Eikou pretended to be casual, shaking his head,
"Aesc, have you thought about where you'd like to go have fun with me?" he asked softly, "Is there any place you'd like to visit?"
Aesc smiled happily: "I like being with you."
"...That answer is way too much of a cheat."
Eikou couldn't help blushing,
"Then, on the condition that I go with you, is there anywhere else you'd like to go?"
"Umu... let me think..."
Aesc slightly knit her delicate brows, seriously considering,
"Then I'd like to take a trip to the nearby library."
"The library?" Eikou was a bit surprised.
"Umu umu, can you take me there?" Aesc looked at him with eyes full of expectation.
"Of course," he said with a bright smile.
Though he himself wanted to take Aesc somewhere else for fun, it was better to follow her wishes.
"But before I take you to the library, can you agree to one request of mine first?"
"What request?"
Eikou raised a finger, deliberately using a serious tone: "In the future when I want to stroll outside, I hope that you will come along with me then."
"Alright, I also want to go for walks outside with you!"
Aesc adjusted the pointed witch hat on her head, then clasped his wrist tightly, naturally and affectionately leaning closer to him,
"Then let's go to the library, and after that quickly go out to have fun!"
...
[In the afternoon, you go with Aesc to the library of Chaldea Academy.]
[The library is just as it was yesterday, the atmosphere quiet and gentle, filled with the distinctive scent of paper.]
[Aesc loves the tranquil atmosphere here, and there are countless rare books contributed by Servants, which makes her eyes immediately shine, flashing with pure and brilliant thirst for knowledge.]
"So that's how it is,"
Aesc, leaning on her magic staff, curiously looked at the rare books on the shelves,
"So that's how it is, I heard this place is the rare book room of King Iskandar and Ptolemy, the sheer number of books is truly astonishing. I heard that Ptolemy here changes into different forms every day, sometimes in a youthful state, sometimes in an old state—Servants can even do something like that?"
"Don't you want to look in the mirror at yourself?" Eikou couldn't help but say.
"Sir Eikou, you finally came back?"
At that moment, the people quietly studying in the library suddenly noticed the movement of the couple, and a tall blond knight waved at him.
It was none other than the Round Table Knight Gawain.
More precisely, this was a study group organized by Gawain; Tristan and Gareth were also present.
When he noticed Eikou, of course he also noticed Aesc standing next to him.
Gawain immediately froze.
His gaze suddenly became sharp.
"Sir Eikou, you actually..."
But when the witch (witch) Aesc also noticed Gawain and the others, she couldn't help but be stunned.
"That blond knight over there is..." She suddenly felt astonished.
Eikou's heart instantly pounded, thinking to himself that this might be the scene of mother and child recognizing each other. Aesc's identity might be hidden from Baobhan Sith, but it might not be hidden from Gawain, the eldest son of the family; conversely, perhaps it was the same.
Only to see Gawain smile, giving a thumbs-up: "Sir Eikou, this time you struck up a conversation with quite a good target. The radiant innocence that's similar yet completely different from our King, what's that about? Most importantly, she's even a younger girl!"
"???"
"Over there, that little blond knight girl, she looks as cute as the little red-haired fairy girl just now," Aesc smiled brightly, she pointed toward Gareth over there, "Eikou, can you help me ask what her name is, I'm too shy to strike up a conversation with her."
"These people really are all from the same family." Eikou muttered.
Forget it, don't expect anything from the eyes for judging people of these fools!
[You stroll through the Chaldea academy library together with Aesc.]
[Though a bit unexpected, you and Aesc joined the study session organized by Gawain.]
[To avoid the situation becoming complicated, you temporarily conceal Aesc's true identity in front of everyone, and interact together as peers.]
[Under the guidance of Aesc and the others, your academic ability has made some progress.]
[Perhaps because you get along very well, or because of the special bond of once being a family, Aesc seems to be very loved by everyone.]
[Gareth is very close to her, and also trusts her erudite and clever teaching in studies; while Gawain gives her mashed potatoes he made himself, though a bit puzzling, she still accepts and thanks him for his kindness.]
[Aesc is also favored by librarian Murasaki Shikibu, and successfully receives volumes 1 and 2 of "Eigu: Reverse Genji Plan" with her handwritten signature.]
[You look at Aesc's radiant smile, a warm feeling gradually spreads in your heart.]
[You see the youthful appearance of the Fairy Queen, the existence that once was Aesc, and sense her goodwill.]
[You learn the new skill "Fairy Eye E."]
[Just like that, time gradually drifts toward evening…]