The Demon King' Chapter 88: “Before Winter”

December crept in quietly, like a small beast stepping across the snow.

I barely had ti to look back—and already half the Academy was walking around in scarves, and the teachers were holding heat runes more often than books.

We finished half of the wind magic course.

And, strangely enough, we finished it faster than expected.

The instructors said:

— The group’s level… is progressing.

Though I saw sothing else:

Kairen is like a fish in water.

Elinia seems as if she was made for the sky.

Finn tries hard, but he’s nervous.

Edgar absolutely hates levitation.

The rest of the group either falls, crashes into walls, or argues about who’s making the “gust” correctly.

And …

I pretended to be bored.

It was easier than explaining why everything felt too easy.

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But that’s not what this is about.

This is about December.

Sowhere between training sessions and yet another argunt between Elinia and Kairen, a thought suddenly hit :

Winter break is coming.

Ho.

Father. Mother.

The old yard.

The room that still holds things I hid as a child.

And—the Forest.

The elves.

Mira…

No—she’s supposed to be far away.

I still haven’t gotten used to the thought that she won’t be nearby.

I don’t know who’s waiting for the reunion more— or Mira.

It’s almost funny.

But the strangest thing is that many people at the Academy aren’t happy about the break at all.

So sit on benches in the hall, staring out the windows as if answers might appear there.

Finn twists an amulet in his hands and frowns:

— Going back ho. There are… too many people there.

Edgar grumbles:

— My grandfather will start checking my forms and make

forge for twenty hours straight.

Even Elinia looks at the snowy courtyard without her usual shine:

— They’ll expect performances for the councilors. And demonstrations of magic.

Only Kairen is glowing:

— Ho! The steppe winds! Real air!

I looked at all of them and, for the first ti, felt sothing like… warmth.

Not the warmth of a fireplace.

But the warmth of a group.

And still—

Two roads are waiting for .

Ho—and the Forest.

I wonder…

How much stronger have they beco?

Have they grown up?

Have they changed?

I rember them small.

Funny.

Clumsy.

And now… I don’t know what to expect.

But one thing I know for sure—

This winter, a lot will change.