Last Gun Alchemist

A little earlier, before the fireworks began...

”You are already leaving, Musician?”

Vera tilted her head slightly as she looked at Ezra, who was calmly walking away with Lucy and Cyrus.

The three of them had already reached the entrance of the Mix Arena. While far away from them, the sounds of the celebration were still spreading through the park, with students laughing, talking, and moving between the tables as they continued enjoying the night.

Ezra turned back and looked at Vera plainly.

”We will wait for you at the station.”

Cyrus said before leaving with Lucy.

Although Lucy wanted to remain with her master for a little longer, she eventually left with Cyrus.

She had enough awareness to know that remaining behind would only make her a third wheel.

The moment they left...

The area around the entrance became much quieter.

Most of the noise was now coming from the celebration from the park of the mix arena.

”Do you have anything to say to me? I really need to be going.”

Ezra said calmly.

”Already planning for your next action, I see, Inventor.”

Vera walked closer to Ezra with both hands behind her back.

Ezra quietly watched her approach beneath the moonlight that had begun shining over the academy grounds. The light from the celebration occasionally reached the entrance, while the lamps around the Mix Arena created a softer glow across the stone path.

Vera stopped close to him.

”You know, I didn’t know you could play the piano that well.”

Vera said in a calm but soft tone.

Her dull black eyes looked upward at Ezra, who was now looking down at her from close range.

”And then there was the dance.”

She suddenly turned away from him.

Ezra’s eyes followed her movement.

Vera took several light steps forward before slowly turning her face halfway back toward him.

”Do you have anything to say, Musician?”

Vera asked in a casual tone.

”There is nothing to say, though.”

Ezra shrugged nonchalantly.

Vera’s expression remained calm.

However, there was something in her eyes that made Ezra feel that she had clearly not finished whatever she was trying to say.

”You know... you really are seductive.”

Vera said in the same casual tone as she began walking back toward Ezra.

Ezra’s eyes narrowed slightly.

”Mysterious and very seductive.”

She stopped.

”Oh.”

Vera tilted her head slightly to the right.

She was standing close to Ezra again.

”I already said that before.”

She placed a finger lightly against her lips as though that fact meant something important to her.

What is she up to now?

Ezra thought to himself.

He was trying to figure out exactly what Vera was planning.

However...

He couldn’t completely understand what was going through her mind.

Vera had always been difficult to predict.

A faint smile appeared on her face.

”Bam.”

She said softly.

At that exact moment...

Boom!

Boom!

Fireworks exploded and brightened the sky.

The sudden bursts of light spread above the Mix Arena, and the colorful glow briefly covered the entrance where Ezra and Vera stood.

Vera leaned forward.

Ezra’s eyes twitched.

Boom!

Boom!

More fireworks exploded across the night sky.

The loud sounds continued echoing through the academy grounds.

And beneath those fireworks...

Vera’s shadow moved closer toward Ezra’s cheek.

Silence for only a brief second.

”What do you think you’re doing, Vera?”

Ezra looked at her plainly.

His hand had moved quickly and blocked the cheek Vera’s lips were about to touch.

But...

”I knew you would react quickly.”

Vera replied calmly.

Her hand had already interlocked with the hand Ezra moved to block her attempt instead.

Her fingers slipped between his fingers.

She held his hand tightly.

”So close.”

Vera said, acting as though she was disappointed, when her tone remained calm.

Yet the faint smile on her face made it clear that she was enjoying herself far more than she was pretending to.

Ezra simply looked at her.

For a brief moment, neither of them moved.

The sounds of fireworks continued behind them.

Then Vera slowly released Ezra’s hand.

She took a step backward.

”Next time, Inventor.”

She waved lightly.

Then she turned and began walking toward the direction where Becky and her driver had parked the Royal Steam Carriage.

Ezra remained where he was.

His dull black eyes followed her figure as she gradually moved farther away beneath the night.

He then lowered his gaze.

His eyes rested on the hand Vera had interlocked with moments ago.

Her fingers had been soft.

”Ahh...”

Ezra sighed lightly.

He lowered his hand before finally turning away.

Then he began walking toward the station where Lucy and Cyrus were waiting for him.

***

With the Club Tournament finally coming to an end...

The next month came with preparations for the next academy trial.

The students of the Royal Academy had different schedules depending on the year they belonged to.

The second-years had to prepare for their academy examinations during the following month. After completing them, they would be able to use the other remaining month for personal training and growth on their Alchemy Paths before eventually going on holiday.

The third-years had even more freedom.

They had the remaining two months for their own personal training.

However...

The first-years were different.

They only had one month.

One month to prepare their minds.

One month to improve their strength.

And one month to make sure that they were ready for the Grand First-Year Combat Festival, which would take the entirety of the following month to complete.

There was a lot that needed to be done.

If they wanted even the slightest chance of going far in the Combat Festival, they couldn’t afford to waste their time.

Because of that, many first-years immediately began entering seclusion and booking the academy’s seclusion rooms.

And this was also where the Faction Wars began taking place in full force.

The buying of high-grade Ese that could help with the growth of Cognis was gradually being monopolized by the factions with greater power inside the academy.

The number of seclusion rooms available within the first-year academy district was also being controlled.

The strongest factions naturally had greater access to those resources.

And for students without a powerful faction behind them...

Getting what they needed became much more difficult.

***

During the first week, on Wednesday...

”I will miss you, my dear.”

Nickolas held Celestina’s hand as he looked at her with watery eyes.

The two of them stood facing each other while several other students waited nearby.

”I will miss you too.”

Celestina replied softly with the same emotional expression.

Their hands remained together.

Neither of them seemed willing to let go.

”Urgh... these two are beginning to get on my nerves.”

Linda said arms folded as she looked at the couple with an irritated expression.

Her eyebrows had already begun twitching.

”Just say you’re jealous that the Young Lord and you don’t have this type of relationship, and Nickolas, of all people, has found love even before you.”

Tracy leaned closer to Linda.

She spoke directly beside her ear, clearly making sure that every teasing word entered Linda’s head with full force.

”Shut up!”

Linda immediately reacted.

She moved away from Tracy with an annoyed expression.

”What about you?”

Linda pointed at Tracy.

”You’re also a single soul like me.”

She said while glaring at her.

”I’m the one who chooses to be single, though.”

Tracy replied with a shrug.

Linda stared at her.

”Nickolas, let’s go.”

Veda waved his hand toward Nickolas.

He held a pass that allowed them to enter the seclusion rooms they had booked with help from their Faction.

The Golden Circle Faction was one of those factions that had a strong hold over the monopoly of the seclusion rooms and several private training rooms.

Because of their support, members of the faction could gain access to places that would otherwise be difficult for ordinary students to obtain.

”Bye, Cele.”

Nickolas finally released Celestina’s hand.

He waved brightly at her.

Celestina also waved back brightly towards where the two other girls stood.

”Also, bye, girls. Make sure you take care of my lady.”

Nickolas pointed toward Linda and Tracy.

Tracy slowly narrowed her eyes.

”Okay... maybe you were right about getting irritated at Nickolas.”

She admitted.

A simple smile appeared on her face as she looked at him.

However, hidden beneath that smile was a deeply annoyed young lady.

”You see.”

Linda replied.

She had the same expression.

Celestina looked at both girls with a dumbfounded expression.

She had absolutely no idea what they were thinking.

Or what they were even talking about anymore.

”Why are you two acting like that?”

Celestina asked.

Linda and Tracy immediately looked at her.

Then...

”Nothing.”

The two replied almost at the same time.

Celestina blinked.

Nickolas, however, did not seem to notice anything.

”Come on.”

Veda called again.

Nickolas quickly turned toward him.

”I’m coming.”

He said before taking several steps backward.

However, he was still facing Celestina.

”Don’t forget me.”

”I won’t.”

Celestina replied.

”You better not.”

Nickolas pointed at her.

Celestina stared at him.

”Go.”

Linda said coldly.

Nickolas froze.

Then he slowly turned his head toward Linda.

”Did you just tell me to—”

”Get out of here idiot!!”

Linda and Tracy shouted at the same time at him.

Nickolas looked at the two girls, his earlier bright smile crumbling from their sudden scolding.

He looked back at Celestina.

”Fine.”

He finally turned around.

Veda shook his head laughing faintly as Nickolas walked toward him.

The two soon left the area together, heading toward the seclusion rooms they had booked.

Celestina continued watching until their figures gradually disappeared from sight.

Only after they were gone did she finally lower her hand.

Linda immediately turned toward her.

”You have no shame.”

Celestina’s eyes widened.

”What did I do?”

”You know what you did.”

Linda replied.

Tracy nodded.

”I agree.”

Celestina looked between the two of them with a confused expression.

”I literally just said goodbye to my boyfriend.”

”Exactly.”

Linda replied.

Celestina blinked.

”As a lady... you should mind how much you express your love to a man. What if you two don’t end up together, after all the affection you have shown to each other in public like now? That’s the problem.”

Tracy added pointing at Celestina.

”That’s a big problem Celestina.”

She said looking at Celestina with a serious expression.

Celestina stared at them for several seconds, narrowing her eyes.

Then she slowly turned away.

These two are definitely jealous.

She thought to herself quietly.

However, she wisely decided not to say those words aloud.

Otherwise...

She was certain they would immediately start attacking her.

Veda and Nickolas were only two among the many students who entered seclusion for their preparation toward the Combat Festival.

Diane Bergwyn.

Selena Galehart.

Fatima Drakes.

Starke Drakes.

Logan Drakes.

Prince Tristin Aethelmont.

Princess Stella Aethelmont.

Felix Ashenlocke.

Page Ashenlocke.

Nate Ashenlocke.

Priscilla Ashenlocke.

Nina Ashenlocke.

And many other well-known first-year students also entered seclusion as they prepared themselves for the coming Combat Festival.

The celebration was over.

The tournament had ended.

Now...

The students had to prepare for what came next.