[Late Afternoon – Oxoford School Library]
The late-afternoon light slipped through the tall windows of Oxoford's library, casting golden streaks across the pale marble floor. Fine dust drifted slowly through the air, illuminated by sunlight leaning toward the west.
The library was quiet.
Towering bookshelves stood like walls of knowledge, filled with old archives, aging journals, strategy records, and fiction novels rarely touched by armed students.
At one of the long tables near the window, Anwar sat upright. His classic Thompson rifle leaned casually against the side of the table—placed deliberately, as if to remind anyone who saw it: this is Oxoford.
Across from him sat Haruka, her feet not quite reaching the floor. Her silver laptop was open, its screen filled with lines of code and archived notes. The cat-ear headband on her head twitched slightly.
Haruka tilted her head, peering at Anwar through thick glasses.
Haruka (curious, slightly insistent):
"When are you continuing your novel?"
She paused, then grinned faintly.
Haruka:
"I've been waiting for the continuation of The Eclipse Knight. I want to see… how the cracks in that knight's mind keep spreading."
Anwar smiled thinly—a signature expression that hovered between friendly and sardonic. He closed the notebook in front of him neatly.
Anwar (calm, relaxed):
"Don't worry. The novel is still ongoing."
He glanced toward the window, watching the sun slowly descend.
Anwar:
"It's just that… lately my schedule has been too crowded. I'm waiting for a moment that's truly quiet before I write again."
Haruka snorted softly, her fingers tapping the table.
Haruka:
"Hmph… a classic writer's excuse."
Yet her eyes sparkled—she knew Anwar never truly stopped writing.
Suddenly, Haruka glanced at the surface of Anwar's desk. A neat white envelope lay there, bearing the sender's name:"Kagura."
She pointed at it with her index finger.
Haruka:
"Have you read that letter?"
Anwar raised an eyebrow. He picked it up, flipping it over once.
Anwar (lightly, half-joking):
"Oh, this letter? Not yet."
He slid it back into the desk drawer.
Anwar:
"But judging by the pattern… it's probably just another heartfelt confession from a Primanoel student."
Behind his calm expression—
Anwar (inner thought):
❝But… how does this student even know about me?❞
The library doors opened slowly.
Leather shoes stepped inside—quiet, firm.
Kaito entered first, his dark blue coat catching the evening light. Miraka walked beside him, her yellow eyes roaming the towering shelves with curiosity. Levi and Harisa followed behind.
Anwar rose slightly from his chair.
Anwar:
"Flying Teacher."
He nodded respectfully.
But when Anwar glanced to the side—
Haruka was gone.
Her laptop closed. Her chair empty.
Anwar showed no surprise.
Anwar (inner thought):
❝As usual… appearing and disappearing without a sound.❞
He turned back to Kaito.
Anwar:
"What brings you here, Teacher?"
Kaito stood straight, one hand slipping into his coat pocket.
Kaito (flat):
"I want you to recommend a book. Something that can calm the mind of someone under heavy pressure."
Anwar paused, adjusting his glasses.
Anwar (honest, careful):
"Hm… Teacher, people's tastes differ."
He shook his head gently.
Anwar:
"I can't name a single book that would definitely fit that description. So… I'm sorry, but I can't give you one."
Kaito didn't argue.
He simply glanced sideways—toward Harisa, who stood near a bookshelf, staring at the books without truly seeing them.
Anwar noticed.
He let out a small sigh.
Anwar:
"In that case… it would be better if you met Mag."
Kaito turned his head.
Anwar:
"Students under stress or mental pressure usually go to Mag. And his 'therapy' often works—though his methods aren't conventional."
Kaito paused briefly, then nodded.
Kaito:
"…Alright."
He turned to Levi and Harisa.
Kaito:
"It looks like tomorrow morning, we'll be visiting Mag."
Levi (slightly startled):
"Huh? Mag? …Okay."
His voice was uncertain, but he didn't refuse.
Harisa said nothing.
She only nodded faintly—almost imperceptibly.
Levi turned to her.
Levi (softly):
"Come on… I'll walk you to the medical room first."
Harisa complied.
They left the library together, her steps still a little unsteady.
Anwar then looked at Miraka, who stood close to Kaito, gripping the edge of his coat.
Anwar (gesturing lightly):
"If I may ask… who is this child, Teacher?"
Kaito looked slightly uneasy.
He lowered his gaze briefly before answering.
Kaito:
"She's my student. From… Glaxina."
He paused.
Kaito:
"I was asked to look after her."
Anwar nodded without probing further.
Anwar:
"I understand."
He pulled out a chair.
Anwar:
"Please, have a seat."
Anwar handed Kaito a tablet. The screen displayed story outlines, dialogue, and stage layouts.
Anwar:
"I've already designed the story for the stage play at Elizabeth School's Cultural Festival."
Kaito skimmed through it quickly.
His eyebrow lifted slightly.
Kaito:
"This is… good."
His tone remained flat, but sincere.
Anwar smiled faintly—proud, but restrained.
Suddenly—
BEEP!
Anwar's tablet vibrated.
A message appeared.
Rei: "Get here fast. I found an idea."
Anwar stood up immediately.
Anwar:
"Sorry, Teacher. It looks like I need to go."
He saluted briefly, then hurried out of the library, leaving Kaito and Miraka among the quiet shelves.
---
The sky over Akarius was pale orange, gradually fading into thin violet near the horizon. Long clouds hung low, reflecting the sun as it neared sunset. In the distance, the AMIRATUL HUKM TOWER rose like a colossal spear—its silhouette dark, its peak still catching the last light of dusk. It looked close, yet always just out of reach.
Kaito walked on the left, his coat fluttering lightly in the evening wind. The G.T. ID necklace around his neck swayed, its blue-gold sheen dimmer under the fading light.
Miraka walked beside him, her yellow cat hoodie standing out sharply against the gray concrete and the armed students dispersing around them.
Groups of Oxoford students passed by.
Elite students in white uniforms walked neatly, laughing as they discussed shooting-range bets before curfew.
Nearby, bronze students in brown uniforms argued loudly over who had misloaded a magazine—weapon clicks and petty complaints blending with the hum of patrol vehicles.
Kaito glanced briefly, then looked forward again.
In a flat voice, almost like forced small talk, he spoke.
"So. Have you seen enough of my job?"
Miraka turned toward him, her silver-white hair glowing softly in the sunset. She nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"
Kaito nodded once.
He exhaled, slipping his hands into his coat pockets.
"Well… that's what a teacher's daily work looks like. So I want you to—"
Miraka suddenly stopped for half a second, then looked at him with an expression as if she had known the answer all along.
"To follow in your footsteps, right?"
Kaito stumbled mid-step.
"Huh!?"
He stopped abruptly, his leather shoe scraping slightly against the still-warm pavement.
Several Oxoford students nearly crashed into them.
"Hey bro! Move it, Teacher—uh, Flying Teacher!" one bronze student shouted.
Kaito glanced back coldly.
The student immediately pretended to admire the evening sky.
Kaito turned back to Miraka, eyebrow raised.
"What did you just say?"
His tone rose slightly—not angry, just surprised.
"Why would you want to follow my path?"
Miraka lowered her head briefly, then resumed walking slowly. Her shadow stretched across the road.
"Because… even in dangerous situations, you still care about the people around you."
Kaito's pace slowed.
❝I only do that out of duty.❞
❝Not because I'm a good person.❞
His eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at the road ahead, now filled with creeping twilight.
Miraka continued, her small hands clenched at her sides.
"And I want to become a teacher because I want to be useful to the people around me."
She looked up at him.
"And Uncle once said—"
She raised one finger, mimicking an adult.
"'One teacher is worth more than a hundred generous but foolish kings.'"
Kaito stopped completely.
The evening wind grew stronger. His long coat fluttered as the city noise seemed to fade for a moment, replaced by wind and echoing footsteps.
❝That line…❞
❝Why does it sound like something someone I know would say…?❞
He cleared his throat, forcing his casual tone back.
"You know, being a Flying Teacher is—"
BEEP—BEEP—
A traffic drone descended low above their heads, its lights reflecting across their faces.
"Warning! Your walking speed is below evening rush standards. Please move more efficiently or you will be fined."
Miraka looked up, eyes shining.
"Whoa! Teacher, we're getting scolded by a robot!"
Kaito stared flatly at the drone.
"…I'm a Flying Teacher."
The drone froze for one second, its propellers humming awkwardly.
"System adjustment complete. Respect acknowledged, Flying Teacher. Public order prioritized. Please continue at your own pace."
The drone ascended again with an embarrassed bzzz.
Miraka giggled.
Kaito covered his face with one hand.
❝Why do machines like this even exist in Akarius…? This city gets more absurd every evening.❞
He continued, more quietly now.
"Being a Flying Teacher is dangerous. There's pressure. Dirty decisions."
Miraka walked a little ahead, then turned around while walking backward, the sunset framing her small silhouette.
"Then you can teach me how not to make mistakes, right?"
Kaito fell silent.
Miraka tripped over a small stone.
"Wah—!"
Instinctively, Kaito grabbed the back of her hoodie, stopping her before she fell.
"…Watch where you're going," he muttered.
Miraka grinned widely.
"Hehe. Thanks, Dad."
Kaito released her immediately.
"Don't call me that outside the AMIRATUL HUKM TOWER."
But the corner of his mouth lifted—barely visible—swallowed by the dusk.
In the distance, the AMIRATUL HUKM TOWER now appeared closer. The large letters on its rooftop became readable under the city lights:
"AMIRATUL HUKM TOWER – CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR OF AKARIUS"
Kaito stared at it for a long moment.
❝If this world still needs teachers…❞
❝Then maybe… I can at least make sure she grows into one better than me.❞
He glanced at Miraka.
"Then," he said flatly,
"your first lesson… never trust traffic drones."
Miraka nodded solemnly.
Their journey continued, accompanied by the fading glow of dusk.