The Healer Mage's Formation

Chapter 5: Back to the dorms

When the train disappeared from our field of vision, a silence began between the four of us. Without Noru around, I had a feeling that something was incomplete, as if John, Hugo and she were thirds of a single entity. Hugo, in particular, was standing still, looking at the rails with an empty look. I think this is the first time he and his sister will stay away for so long. If so, I can understand his feelings, because I also felt that way five years ago, when John joined the Academy. In this case, it is better to leave him alone, so that he can reconcile his feelings calmly.

In two minutes, Hugo sighed and turned around, with his back to the tracks. He seemed to be ready to at least leave the station. Approaching John, Hugo put his hand on his shoulder, took his face closer to John's ear, and spoke discreetly:

"You will have a lot of work from tomorrow. Don't forget to rest for the rest of the day."

"Don't worry, I will", John touched his hand and smiled.

After saying goodbye to John, Hugo passed by Erina and me and told us:

"The same goes for the ladies. Things won't be easy for you both."

We both swallowed dry.

"Hugo...", John, who had noticed our reaction, murmured, as if he wanted to give a sermon on him.

Hugo, in turn, let out a slight laugh and smiled.

"Sorry. I'm sure you two will do well."

With this, Hugo turned his back on us and continued his steps. Without Hugo's look, Erina and I were calmer, especially her, because as soon as her fears dissipated, she threw herself into John's direction and hugged his arm again.

"John, could you take us to the dorm?", she asked sweetly.

Hugo, when he heard Erina's mellowed voice, turned around and came across my friend hugging John's arm, almost rubbing her face on him. Hugo stared at Erina with a certain intensity that seemed more disapproval and I felt chills with that look. I tried to say 'Let him go' with my lips, but Erina didn't even look at me.

"E-er, yes, I can, Miss Erina... Hum?", John had noticed that Hugo was looking, "Something wrong?"

Hugo remained silent for a few more seconds, looking at the shameless Erina and the completely oblivious John, until he decided to speak.

"... No, nothing."

And he was finally gone.

John kept watching him leaving, with a confused face.

"What got into him, huh?", He murmured, scratching the back of his neck and looked at Erina and me, "anyway... let's go?"

.........

The walk back to the dormitory had been quiet. It was the perfect opportunity for me to assimilate all the information I heard on the day. And it was thanks to this tranquility that I could remember something I should have done first thing in the morning: I should have delivered the letters I kept in my suitcase to John! I was supposed to give it to him as soon as I saw him, but the scene that Erina made by throwing herself into his arms the moment she saw him made me forget completely!

Therefore, as soon as John left Erina and I in the dorm, I asked him to wait a while and ran to my room. As I remembered which suitcase I had put the cards in, it didn't take long for me to return and deliver them to him. There were three letters of congratulations for the new job, one from Mom, one from Dad and one from Elbern.

Elbern was a family friend. A handsome traveling elf with salmon-coloured hair and water-green eyes who was very good of magic, but terrible of potions. That's why he went to my parents and asked to be their apprentice. I was three years old at the time. When I first saw him, I thought he was so beautiful that I took advantage of my age and nicknamed him "Pretty Elf". And the funny thing is that he turned red whenever I called him that, so I didn't stop. In addition, I would often invade his room to dig through his grimoires while he was learning potions with my parents. In my defence, he had books that I had never seen before, not even dead would I miss such an opportunity!