The snow that fluttered throughout the night finally stopped just as dawn began to break.
The road piled high with snow was busy with people trying to clear it away. There were more people out to shovel snow early in the morning than I expected.
“It seems quite a lot of snow fell overnight.”
That was the comment from Sofia Sub-priest, who was walking closely while hugging my arm. I nodded, feeling the warmth conveyed through my arm.
“It fell so much that I couldn’t even see the streetlights.”
“Is that how much it came down? Maybe I should have slept in a bit longer…”
“There wasn’t much to see. The snow was swirling around so heavily that I couldn’t see ahead.”
“Is that so?”
“More importantly, we need to catch the train early this morning, don’t we? If I hadn’t woken up late, I probably wouldn’t have gotten up properly.”
“That’s true…”
In reality, I hadn’t slept a wink. I had simply sat in front of the desk made from a venerable oak in the accommodations, gazing at the scene outside the window, which was softly illuminated by the light of the street lamp in the dimness.
All I could do was watch the thick snow pouring down like a rainstorm, dyeing the whole world a pure white without end, and by the time I came to my senses, the light of the street lamp had also gone out, and morning had brightened. That was how I spent the time last night.
“Head Priest, are you tired?”
Though it was not particularly special to have spent a night with my eyes open, Sofia Sub-priest seemed to catch onto my state like a ghost, showing a worried expression. I shook my head.
“I’m fine.”
“You did sleep, didn’t you?”
“Yes. I slept well.”
“…Last night…”
Sofia Sub-priest, who seemed about to say something, quickly shut her mouth. There was no sign that she would open it again.
I had met Priest Camilla yesterday. I had given a heads-up to Sofia Sub-priest before meeting her, so Sofia Sub-priest roughly understood the situation.
Of course, she wouldn’t have known what kind of conversation Priest Camilla and I had.
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
Wanting to ask about it, Sofia Sub-priest hesitated, biting her lip before eventually seeming to give up and lowering her head.
In the past, she had desperately tried to uncover my past.
As time passed, Sofia Sub-priest’s attitude towards me had grown a bit cautious. I welcomed the change, but at the same time, I felt somewhat dissatisfied.
“Priest Camilla is the sister of Priest Camilla.”
“…What?”
It looked like she didn’t expect me to speak first, as she stared at me with wide eyes. My mouth kept moving.
“I first met Priest Camilla about three years ago, when I returned to the Holy Empire from the battlefield.”
“Ah, no. That is…”
“Unlike me, Priest Camilla was a person who shone with light. She encouraged those around to not lose hope and offered me comforting words.”
“Ah…”
“However, I turned away Priest Camilla’s kindness.”
Strangely enough, I was still covering wounds I had inflicted on others.
Even though I knew they had grown too large to hide.
I stopped walking. Sofia Sub-priest, who had been walking beside me, also came to a halt.
“Ah! It’s cold!”
“Hehe… I’ve never lost a snowball fight before, you know?”
“Hey! Elly! We have a temporary alliance!”
“Sounds good.”
“Waaah! Professor Esther! Help me!”
The four people who had been trailing behind us had begun making snowballs and throwing them at each other. Their laughter echoed in my ears.
It felt as if they were the residents of a different world from where I stood with Sofia Sub-priest.
I turned my gaze back to Sofia Sub-priest. She was still looking at me.
“It seems I haven’t yet escaped from the shock of losing Helena, or the sense of loss from losing other precious people… I guess I’m still stuck in that time.”
“……”
“Three years ago, I spouted harsh words to Priest Camilla.”
No matter how desperately I tried to hide the wounds, the blood dripping onto the ground and the strong scent of blood were things I couldn’t cover. My attempts to hide the wounds only served to advertise that I was wounded.
Thus, it wasn’t surprising that Sofia Sub-priest had asked me so desperately.
“So, yesterday, I apologized separately to Priest Camilla. That’s about it.”
“…I see.”
Sofia Sub-priest nodded and momentarily rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought. The arm that had been locked with mine naturally slipped away. I silently walked beside her, waiting.
“Head Priest.”
“Yes, Sofia Sub-priest.”
“You’ve changed.”
Sofia Sub-priest looked up at me. Her eyes shimmered with a familiar glimmer.
What I had seen in the pale eyes of Priest Camilla yesterday. It was undoubtedly a light of hope.
“Do I look that way?”
“Yes. You’ve changed a lot. Unlike before… a bit…”
“A bit?”
“A bit, you’ve started to shine.”
And it seemed that light had also infected me.
“It seems the pessimistic attitude I used to have has vanished as well…”
I inhaled the chilly and refreshing morning air without answering and walked through the heart of winter. A pleasant breeze brushed against my hair.
“And you’ve become a bit neater.”
Sofia Sub-priest stood on her tiptoes and adjusted my slightly crooked glasses. I looked at her with an awkward expression.
When our eyes met, Sofia Sub-priest smiled bashfully, her dark green eyes shining.
“But still, it seems like you can’t do without me yet, right?”
“…Sofia Sub-priest.”
“I’m just joking.”
Although it didn’t quite sound like a joke, Sofia Sub-priest playfully stuck out her tongue.
Seeing that, I might have felt a little annoyed.
Before I realized it, I had brushed aside Sofia Sub-priest’s bangs and lightly pressed my lips against her exposed forehead. Her dazed expression was quite a sight to behold.
“Yes, I still seem to need you, Sofia Sub-priest.”
“Ah, uh…?”
“So please don’t say you’ll leave, even as a joke. Your teaching position as a Sub-priest is a lifelong contract.”
“Head Priest…”
The gaze Sofia Sub-priest directed at me grew deeper.
It wasn’t the eyes like Helena’s, that sparkled as clear as emeralds. It was the eyes of Sofia Sub-priest.
Eyes filled with affection. Eyes that could convey the color that only Sofia Sub-priest possessed.
Sofia Sub-priest stared at me with a flushed face. I wasn’t sure how my expression looked, but feeling my own cheeks heat up led me to think I probably wasn’t so different.
For a moment, we continued to gaze into each other’s eyes. The surrounding scenery blurred, and Sofia Sub-priest’s face turned scarlet.
– Pfft—!
A white snowball, flung from somewhere, covered half of Sofia Sub-priest’s face. I could see her flushing face quickly cooling down.
“Haha! Sofia Sub-priest! You can’t let your guard down!”
“Chloe. I don’t think that was a great choice…”
“No. Chloe is right. We can’t let our guard down.”
Chloe chuckled as she began making another snowball. I glanced at it for a moment before brushing the snow off Sofia Sub-priest’s face, still covered in white.
“Sofia Sub-priest… are you okay…”
Sofia Sub-priest was smiling.
“Haha…”
“……”
But then again, I’m not sure if this can be considered laughing.
“…A snowball fight sounds good. Yes.”
Muttering that, Sofia Sub-priest shook off the snow stuck in her hair and slowly walked over to Chloe, who was diligently compressing the snow.
I turned my head indifferently. The sounds of Chloe’s desperate struggles echoed behind me, but all I could see were the clear blue skies of winter.
“Kyyaaaack—!! Sofia Sub-priest! It’s cold! It’s cold!!”
“Why are you running away?! Come here! I won’t lose in a snowball fight either!”
“Uwah! Wheeekk!!”
The winter migratory birds flapped their large wings, flying freely across the pastel-toned clear blue sky. It was a sight that somehow felt refreshing.
“Huh…”
Watching my white breath briefly cover them, I took a deep breath, filling my chest with the cold air one last time.
‘No, it is the last.’
It had already been a week since I came to the Holy Empire.
Today was the day to finish my journey in the Holy Empire and return to the city.
*
[ The train is scheduled to arrive shortly. Please step back into the platform if you are close to the tracks, and board in an orderly manner after the train has come to a stop. ]
There had been many twists and turns on the way to the platform.
And it was proven by the snow sticking to my coat that fell off in puffs every time I moved.
“Phew! Professor Antoinneri, you’re completely a snowman…”
“Chloe.”
“Yes. I’m sorry.”
The slush that slightly melted and refroze from the winter breeze wasn’t easily shaken off. I could feel that my coat’s wool was quite worn out.
I sighed and vigorously brushed off the snow still clinging to my coat. This coat isn’t cheap, you know.
‘I guess I need to buy new clothes soon.’
While I was thinking that, Sofia Sub-priest, who was also brushing snow out of her hair, caught my eye with a discontented expression.
“Are you okay?”
I was fine, but Sofia Sub-priest looked more serious.
I nodded and wiped off the snow and ice pieces stuck on her neck with my hand. I felt her flinch a bit from the cold.
“I’m sorry. It was stuck on you.”
“Ah, no. I’m… I mean, yes.”
Leaving behind the somewhat flustered Sofia Sub-priest, I turned to Professor Esther, who was also shaking off snow.
“Even if it’s the students, what’s with you, Professor?”
“I-I’m sorry… I got a bit too excited…”
Just like I did for Sofia Sub-priest, I brushed off the snow that Professor Esther hadn’t cleared yet.
Suddenly, Chloe and Laura, who had been diligently shaking off snow behind Professor Esther, abruptly froze in their movements. Snow was still clinging to their clothes.
“……”
“Hehe…”
“Um, why are you two like that?”
Looking at the awkwardly smiling Chloe and the shamelessly asking Laura, I silently brushed the snow off their clothes neatly.
[ The train is arriving. Please step back into the platform if you are close to the tracks, and board in an orderly manner after the train has come to a stop. ]
After wiping my damp hands on my handkerchief, the train was soon entering the platform.
The train, which had begun to slow as it entered the platform, eventually stopped in front of us and began to unload its passengers.
“Then… shall we go?”
“…Yes.”
Professor Esther and the students were already lined up to board the train. I peered at Sofia Sub-priest’s outstretched hand, hesitating for a moment before taking it.
No, I intended to take it.
“Head Priest Antoinneri—!”
Before someone cried out my name.
I turned my body toward the sound. Had she rushed in from the other side of the platform? Priest Camilla had suddenly stopped in front of me, kneeling and catching her breath.
“Priest Camilla.”
“Ugh… Hah… Head Priest. I have something to tell you.”
Priest Camilla, whose shoulders rose and fell continuously as she caught her breath, raised her head after brushing aside the hair stuck to her cheek.
“Thank you sincerely for being with Professor Helena until the very end.”
She bowed her head again, speaking with a polite demeanor.
“And… in the future.”
“……”
“Please continue to take Helena Professor’s place.”
Looking at her, I felt as if I had been struck on the back of the head with a hammer.
– My father was killed in battle, and our household fell into disarray… I was told I can’t afford tuition… So I volunteered for the relief priesthood to provide for my mother and siblings… That’s what she said.
The student Helena had spoken of.
The seed that had taken root had woven another connection.
“Priest Camilla.”
“Y-yes…”
I placed my hand on Priest Camilla’s shoulder. She shivered before cautiously looking up at me.
“Next time, please come to the city.”
“To the city…?”
“Wouldn’t it be good to at least pay a visit to Helena’s grave?”
“Ah…”
Priest Camilla, who had been staring vacantly at me,
“…Yes! Of course!”
Nodded her head with a smile I had never seen before, filled with brightness.
Only then was I able to board the train with a relieved heart.
Winter of 1922.
This winter felt particularly warm.
