Academic gathering with a lich

"What’s the matter, William?" Fannila’s eyes blinked, drawing William’s gaze back to her.

"What is that? A wardrobe?"

"That’s Mr. Heinz’s wardrobe."

"I thought I just heard some noise from the wardrobe."

Faced with William’s puzzled inquiry, Fannila smiled.

"You’re imagining things, William," as if to prove something, Fannila stood up from her seat and pulled William closer to the wardrobe. "It only contains my uncle’s clothes, if you’re interested, feel free to take a look."

"Forget it, it’s just my imagination," Although William felt something was off, the idea of a young man showing interest in an older man’s wardrobe seemed quite odd, and he definitely didn’t want to gain another strange label.

William pulled Fannila back to her seat, not knowing why, she wore a triumphant smile, although William just thought she seemed happy.

Today might be a good opportunity.

Thinking thus, William took out the gift box he had on him.

The crystal hanging from the vine on the ceiling scattered the light of the gem, painting Fannila’s fair skin with a blush like that of the morning light. The two seemed to read each other’s minds, smiling and keeping silent. Fannila’s palms came together, resting on the tabletop, her eyes reflecting William’s image, as if rippling with water.

William’s fingers began to tremble, was his gift truly worthy of her? Her smile, her lively eyes, her smooth wrists. William hesitated, and at that moment.

There was a snap, a strange wind blew the box onto the table, the wooden box made a light tapping sound on the tabletop, drawing everyone’s attention.

William cursed inwardly, this was, he had to go ahead with it.

Fannila’s eyes were fixed on the box, those eyes as if speaking, demanding William to explain.

All or nothing.

William took a deep breath and opened the wooden box.

"This is my gift for you, Fannila, a bracelet, I hope you like it."

The cool touch of jade froze the fine sweat in William’s hand, and he placed it in Fannila’s, his trembling fingers briefly touching her warm, soft skin before parting.

Seeing the sweet smile on Fannila’s face, William saw her happiness. A warm feeling spread to his limbs, he was so glad he could give it.

"I love it, William, it’s the best gift I’ve received this year." Fannila put the bracelet on her wrist, flaunting it in front of William.

"Oh no, I forgot to check the inscription. Sorry, William." Fannila stuck out her tongue, took off the bracelet, and seeing the faint magical inscription on the inside, her smile grew even brighter.

William felt even more puzzled, he hadn’t started to explain the inscription about luck yet, but Fannila’s actions were as if she had seen this never-before-unwrapped gift beforehand.

"This is an inscription of ’Luck’, Fannila, how did you find it? I haven’t told you yet..."

Fannila’s eyes widened, like a startled bunny, she stumbled, blurting out a few words, "I... I just happened to... see it, yes... just happened to, Elves have good eyesight!"

Fannila’s cheeks turned red, "As for the inscription, I have a reliable elder at home, who just happened to teach me these things."

"That’s quite a coincidence."

"Yes, it is."

In a corner unnoticed by the two, two voices were conversing.

Slender bony fingers tugged at Heinz’s broad hem, Irason’s soul flame flickered in the dark.

"Heinz, Fannila is talking about me, saying I’m the reliable elder!"

In the darkness, Heinz’s brows twitched. The Mage’s inscription, wasn’t it taught to Fannila by me, something I learned from my colleagues among the Arcanists, how could you, a slacker elder, possibly teach these things.

That’s what I thought in my heart.

"Yes, honorable Irason, you are indeed reliable."

"Hehe."

In the room, Fannila finally couldn’t stand William’s gaze; she blushed, looked at William, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s hum.

"William, is there... anything else you want to say?"

"Something I want to say?" William thought back to the rehearsal he had done earlier in front of Lady Betty of the Elves. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

[You are my luck, Fannila.]

By saying these words, it would be akin to a confession, wouldn’t it? Fannila and I, the girl in front of me who’s now completely shy, would also embrace our ending.

The happiness that I desired.

William wanted to reach for it, but his breath lingered on his lips, and the image of Anna faintly surfaced in his mind. William’s voice changed as well.

"Indeed, I have something I want to say, Fannila."

In Fannila’s expectant gaze, William pursed his lips and bowed his head, pressing his forehead tightly against the tabletop.

"Back in Hamlet, it wasn’t our first encounter, Fannila. The first time I saw you was in the City of Wandering, I was that clown peeking at you, that Mr. Surprise."

Elves sure hold grudges, I kept telling myself that. This way, perhaps, the good impression would also disfigure. But this is the right choice, if facing the person I like still requires hiding and concealing, then life is indeed a sorrow.

Anna told me that.

In such self-confession, William realized Anna’s place in his heart.

William liked Anna, just as much as he liked Fannila.

No cold gazes, only two soft hands that cupped his forehead.

William didn’t bump into the wooden table, but pressed close to the palms Fannila extended.

Those soft hands, scented sweetly like flowers, cradled William’s head, making him look into those unchanged, shy eyes.

"I think you’re wonderful, William, a boy who dares to face his own mistakes shines like a flash. I forgive you, William." William could feel the slight tremor of Fannila’s fingers and her face, almost as if it were roasted.

"Also, the fact about William being that clown, I knew it a long time ago. After all, the Plague Doctor’s attire, that is, Lyle’s disguise, hasn’t changed at all. I’ve been aware that you are the clown, William, yet every time I see your eyes, my heart still races."

"Fannila, you..."

"It feels like Mr. William isn’t going to say those words I want to hear, seems Betty was right to mock me." Fannila took out something familiar from behind her." Actually, I also have something difficult to confess to you, William."

A golden pendant with a huge emerald at its center, identical to the one Betty once carried.

"This is the Heart of Dreams, created by my elders, a magical artifact. They come in a pair, and you, Mr. William, have already seen the other one. It fuses two different souls into one body. Betty had actually been my companion for a long time; she’s the female thief of the Sinners Gang I joined, my best friend. Every encounter you had with Betty, every time you talked about me, actually, I was there, feeling it as if I were in my own skin."

"That mockery from Betty, ’A timid heart and no courage will only cause trouble for those around,’ was actually directed at me too."

"Mr. William’s work at the Bloody Rose, that dazzling magic, and the way you get along with people, showing all those shining qualities—I saw it all."

"As timid as I am, there are things I must say too."

"William, meeting you is my luck."

On Fannila’s face appeared a radiant smile as blooming as the flowers of spring.