The Distant Trail Of Ciara Badvia

The Saria Magic Academy
Part 4: Magical Talents

MISTY’S OLD FRIEND

As Tyril and Misty conversed near the entrance of the research building, away from the main path, they suddenly heard a racket approaching them. They realized that it seemed to be coming from the research building.

“Some noisy people there, seriously…” Misty sighed, crossed her arms, and peered at the entrance. Then, she gasped in surprise.

“What is it?” Tyril also looked.

Coming down the stairs was a mixed group of six or seven. Well, to say “mixed” was a stretch, what with the skewed ratio; a group of women were fawning over a tall and handsome young man with hair dyed a striking yellow. They were chattering and laughing noisily.

Their atmosphere wasn’t something Tyril felt suited to, so she hoped to avoid any interaction. Misty, however, didn’t share the sentiment.

“Hey, Ruth! What are you doing?”

“Huh? Oh, hey, Misty. What a coincidence to meet you here!”

Tyril had already pulled her head back from the entrance so her face couldn’t be seen, but she could clearly hear the low, warm voice of the young man still. He was more friendly than she expected.

“It’s not a coincidence. Hurry up and leave already. This is a research building, you know?”

“I do know. And?”

“You being loud is a nuisance.”

So she says, but they were already on the way out to begin with. They had descended the stairs and were almost past the entrance when they were held up by Misty. That, in itself, was a nuisance.

The man in question looked dumbfounded; he didn’t seem to comprehend what Misty was saying. The women around her, meanwhile, were whispering things like “Who’s this woman?” and “So annoying…” No thought was spared for someone like Tyril.

“We weren’t being noisy, just walking and talking normally. We didn’t pass by anyone, and I don’t think we were blocking the way, either.”

“Like you’d know, anyway. You’re only focused on yourself, so you wouldn’t understand.”

“A bit harsh, isn’t it? I still keep an eye on my surroundings even like this. Might miss a cute girl if I didn’t.”

The young man—did Misty call him Ruth?—rebutted her calmly while grinning. The women behind him let out high-pitched noises, saying things like “Wha…? You still want to look for cute girls? Treat us better with that time instead,” and so on.

Trapped in a conversation between people like they were in an entirely different world, Tyril tried to curl up and make herself appear as small as possible. However…

“That means I can still see her, even if you try to hide her. Who’s that cute girl over there, Misty?”

… she was found out anyway. Inwardly, she whimpered like a puppy.

“Oh, no. I won’t introduce this girl to you. She’s innocent, unlike you. Don’t you mess with her.”

“Come on, I’m not gonna do anything. I just wanna say a quick hello. Hey there.”

“Um, well, I…”

Now directly addressed, Tyril turned into a stuttering mess in her confusion. Misty’s words suggested that she didn’t have to engage with him, so she wondered if ignoring him was the right choice. At the same time, she also worried that might be too rude of an attitude.

“Huh? Wait, I know this girl. She’s the one who couldn’t do anything during the practical class, I think. The one who just stood there like she was about to cry.”

A jolt ran through Tyril’s spine, almost feeling like it was shattered. She never expected to be recognized by someone who was part of the same class, let alone be remembered so clearly.

“She was completely useless even though it was a simple task. The professor even had to spend all his time with her, so the rest of us had to spend time doing nothing. It was seriously annoying.”

“No way. What’s with that selfish attitude?”

“Maybe the professor was playing favorites?”

The women gossiped in whispers that were clearly audible. Misty was about to stand her ground to defend Tyril, but just as she was speaking up, Ruth got ahead of her.

“All right, you guys. I know you have things to say, but you’re all good girls, aren’t you? Can’t you be kinder to a girl like her, too? Why not give her a ‘do your best’ with those beautiful smiles of yours?”

Despite their feelings toward Tyril, they seemed intent on playing along. “Oh, if you say so, Ruth… You’re way too kind.”

“May I, hmm, ask for your name?”

“It’s… Tyril. Tyril Zeeland…”

“Tyril, huh? A lovely name. How about we go hang out next Dark Day?”

“Er…”

“They said that things didn’t go well for you in class, but sometimes, that kind of thing just happens, you know? How about we all have some fun together, move on from all the depressing stuff, and then try our hardest again?”

“T-that’s, um…”

“Ugh, Ruth. You’re inviting that girl? Seriously?” The girls in the background suddenly became agitated. Whether Ruth was simply oblivious or indifferent, their dissatisfied gazes turned to Tyril regardless.

Once again, Misty moved to shield the confused Tyril.

“Stop messing around. Don’t involve Tyril in your womanizing!”

“Womanizing? That’s not my intention. I just want everyone to hang out so we can all cheer up.”

“Then if a guy were struggling, you’d invite him too?”

“You’re joking. What’s the point of being nice to a man?”

He said that with such confidence, and Tyril inadvertently rolled her eyes. Ruth’s calm and gentle demeanor on the surface thinly hid his shallowness inside. He was a playboy, plain and simple.

“It’s not like I’m inviting you, Misty. It’s Tyril I’d love to hear from.”

Misty sighed. “You’re such a pain. Tyril, just say no.”

“Uh, um! I-I appreciate the invitation, but this time, I’m—”

“Aww…”

Though Ruth seemed annoyed at Misty’s interference, he didn’t press any further and only pouted. It was then the women behind him began pulling him by his sleeves, as if they were impatient to leave. Ruth managed no more than a “Well, see you later!” and a wave before he was led away.

Watching the group head toward the courtyard, Tyril sighed, hit by a wave of exhaustion.

“I’m sorry about that. That idiot said some weird things. He’s not a bad guy, but… well, he’s an idiot.”

“Oh, no, it’s fine!” she quickly replied with a giggle, knowing it wasn’t Misty’s fault. “Are you friends?”

“Yes. But our relationship is… complicated, at the moment. We were in the same class when we first enrolled, and we ended up talking a lot. But lately, it seems like he’s been playing around more than studying properly. I’m not sure what to do about him…”

Tyril nodded in understanding.

Is Ruth to her like what Well is to me? But something of a more distant friend, maybe? Tyril thought of Well acting like Ruth all of a sudden and found herself rather annoyed.

———————————————

MTL/N: Ruth was referring to Tyril with a -chan, btw.

For more from the author, visit:

Narou: https://mypage.syosetu.com/1258514/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/inui_takafumi

—————

Last revisions: 01/09/23

Glossary:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_D4XF1ID8j7zti3pG-fqtcd0h0T9aZHK_CXsCrr5gwY/edit?usp=sharing

Revisions:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jS9QeSLaJfl6P_-Gl-zAY0dnKPep3or9fUl-HPukc9g/edit?usp=sharing