Extra 1: Graduation Day Part 1
It was a day when the severe winter cold still remained.
It had been about a year and a half since the war ended. The were still many post-war matters yet to be settled, but Razé’s regular duties had gradually increased similar as before and her personal life routine had returned to the way it was.
In her small house that she bought located inside the imperial capital, Razé was getting ready as she checked her appearance in the mirror. Today, she was dressed smartly in her military uniform. She raised her head and looked at the wall clock.
“It’s almost time.”
She heaved out a breath and looked down at the paper on the floor. There was a magic circle written on the paper which was connected to Centrior Imperial Magic Academy.
“I can’t believe everyone is about to graduate already. Time really flies,” Razé muttered to herself thinking so much time had passed.
Today was the graduation day for her ex-classmates, Folia and Carna. Harlens had invited her, so she planned to go visit the academy for the first time in a while.
She had been busy doing her job while Folia was studying diligently. She had been keeping in touch with her friends through letters and sometimes they met during long holidays, but she rarely visited them at the academy.
She was hoping that she could get assigned in the academy for security duty during the tournament but she had to spend most of her time in Baruda because of the demonic mutation issue. It couldn’t be helped.
Harlens had been very considerate of her but they rarely managed to match their schedule. According to her memory, the last time she visited the academy was when she secretly went to see the 2nd Centrior School Festival. Based on that, it seemed she hadn’t been to the academy for half year. Time really does fly.
While she was spacing out with her thoughts, it was almost time for her appointment with Harlens.
Razé stood on the magic circle. Even though she was an expert at movement magic, it would be difficult for her to teleport to the academy without the magic circle because it was protected with high-level barriers to prevent enemy invasion. It was fortified with Shian’s highest security system. She knew it very well because she had personally confirmed it. This way, she could rest assured that the students were doing well in the academy.
“It’s time to go.”
Today must be a good day. Her voice sounded gentle and kind, perhaps because she was thinking about her friend’s special day.
* * *
Harlens: “It has been a while. How have you been?”
Razé: “I’m fine. Thank you, Harlens-sama.”
Harlens had modified her magic circle so that she would be directly teleported to a guest room inside the academy. They greeted each other and had a small talk.
“The ceremony is about to start so I have to leave soon. You can sit here. After the ceremony is over, you should go to the classroom.” Harlens seemed busy today but he still made time to greet Razé.
Razé looked at the seat that Harlens had prepared for her and felt that he still treated her like his student.
At least he didn’t make me sit on the stage.
Her seat was at the back of the hall. From there, she could see the back of the students. She planned to wait until right before the ceremony began when everyone was already seated before entering the hall. She had already pre-marked the hall when she was studying in this academy.
After Harlens left, Razé waited in the guest room until the ceremony was about to begin. Looking at the time, she assumed all students had already entered the hall and so she teleported to the venue. She sat quietly on a chair while feeling nostalgic looking at the large hall. The graduation ceremony was about to begin in the warm hall equipped with heater.
Razé looked around searching for her classmates.
Oh, there they are.
She found the beautiful purple hair. When she observed Carna’s surrounding, she found Folia and Ruben too. Those were the people that she interacted the most. She gently watched over their backs.
The ceremony went smoothly.
Ruben went on the stage as the representative to accept the certificate from Harlens while the certificates for other 3rd Year students were delivered directly to them using magic.
Carna-sama was going to take lessons in preparation for her wedding while Folia said she wanted to work at the hospital as a healer. She wondered what the other members’ plan was.
Razé tried to imagine what they would look like after graduating from the academy. Considering the decades waiting for them in the future, the 3 years they spent in the academy seemed very short. She was sure that these golden eggs would play an active part on various stages. She felt happy for their new beginning and at the same time felt a bit lonely.
Carna went up the stage for her speech as the representative of the 3rd Year students.
While listening to Carna talking confidently giving her speech, Razé felt that their eyes met and wondered if it was only her imagination. Perhaps Carna could see her sitting at the back from the stage. She had averted her eyes but Razé was sure that Carna had noticed her. She broke into a grin.
The ceremony was almost over, so Razé immediately left the hall using teleportation.
They already graduated…
She was overwhelmed with emotions while sitting in the guest room quietly. She had quit the academy halfway but still felt overwhelmed when she thought about the graduation. She was sure that her classmates must felt it even more.
Considering that the other members must have gone to greet the teachers, Razé decided to wait for a little more before going to the classroom. She sat comfortably on the sofa.
After a while, she heard bustling sounds outside the room. It seemed the juniors were saying farewell to their seniors. She headed for the classroom as per Harlens’ instruction.
“Oops. The bouquet is falling apart.” Razé looked into the large paper bag in her hands. The bag was full with small flowers that could not be found in this continent. She had prepared bouquets for all members of Class A including Hugan. She found the harmless beautiful flowers with jewel-like petals in Baruda and picked them specially for this day. She kept them at home so they wouldn’t wither and then brought them over using a copied magic circle with the transporter she borrowed from Harlens. It took her a bit more time because she was not familiar with movement magic using teleporter machine as the medium.
Razé hurried to the classroom. On the way, a few classmates saw her and kindly informed her that Carna and Folia were in the classroom. It seemed they knew that she was close with Carna and Folia. She handed the bouquet to each classmate and finally arrived at the classroom. She took a deep breath and then entered the room.
“Razé-chan!!” Folia was the first one to notice her. She immediately rushed towards Razé.
Razé: “It’s been a while. Congratulations!”
Folia: “Thank you～! I’m so happy that you could come!”
Razé handed her a bouquet. She was glad that she could see them personally to congratulate them. The usual members slowly gathered around Razé.
Razé: “Carna-sama, your speech was great. Congratulations!”
Carna: “Thanks, Razé. I’m glad you could come today. How is your work?”
Razé: “I’ve finished my work before I came here.”
She gave a thumbs up. She stood out among the students because of her military uniform but the way she chatted with them was still the same as when she was their classmate. She talked with the girls, Ruben, Claude, Ian and Luca. She didn’t forget to hand out the bouquet to her classmates in the classroom.
Razé: “Huh? Where is Adis-sama?”
Claude: “He was here just now…”
Ruben: “Hmm. He’s not here. Where did he go?”
Adis had helped Razé a few times before so she wanted to congratulate him personally. Unfortunately, he was not in the classroom.
“He was chased by the juniors. I think he must have run away,” Luca said and shrugged his shoulder.
“They were quite scary. They looked like they wanted to strip him. Hahaha.” Ian laughed cheerfully. His uniform’s buttons, class badge and all other accessories were all gone. The juniors must have taken them as souvenirs. Razé remembered that in her past life, the students also present their second button as souvenir so she assumed it must be something similar.
“It looks like he still famous as before. I’ll go look for him later.” Razé had an idea of where he might be. She planned to go looked for him there later.
Carna: “Razé, thank you for coming today. We also have something for you.”
Razé: “Something for me?”
Folia: “Un! Can you stand there for a while?”
Razé wondered what it was as she stood in front of the classroom as requested by Folia. Carna stood on the other side of the teacher’s desk. She was holding something in her hand and smiled at Razé.
“Razé Granoli, as well as Razé Orphan. From the first day you entered this academy, you had been studying diligently while fulfilling your duty protecting the students. You have given us countless wonderful memories. Although it was only for a short time, it was also a very meaningful time. I hereby acknowledge your completion of the best school life here in this academy.”
Carna flipped the document in her hand and hold it out with both hands. It was a handmade certificate of graduation.
“This is…” Razé looked at Folia and Carna with widened eyes.
Folia smiled like a sunshine. “Please accept it! We made it ourselves after we heard you’d come!”
Carna nodded her head to urge her. Razé slowly reached out both of her hands and took it. It was a one and only certificate in this world that her precious friends had made for her. She was very happy that tears were welling up in her eyes.
Razé gave a big smile to them. “Thank you! I will treasure it!!”
She smiled shyly and thanked them while holding the certificate to her chest. She felt she was lucky to have such good friends. She wanted to thank His Excellency the Grim Reaper for sending her to this academy.
Razé spent time with her friends chatting happily.
T/L Note: The chapter is too long so I split them into two.
