The two of them weren't the fishing types. Even when the other students and staff participated in the fishing tournament held by Seteth all those days ago, they didn't participate. Why should they, when they had better things to do than sit down and wait for something to bite?

Yet the two of them were by the pond, anyway, sitting by the pier with their feet dangling off the edge. Shoes and socks removed, clothes adjusted to remain dry, they soaked their legs, enjoying the quiet evening that settled over the monastery.

Dorothea spoke first. "This reminds me of the time where the company went on a group vacation together. Remember, to the coast?"

"I remember," Manuela said. "Some of those girls hadn't ever left Enbarr and were excited to see the ocean. All those handsome men, sunbathing and swimming with their shirts off...what a time."

Dorothea laughed. She flipped her hair behind her shoulders, and felt the weight of it as she leaned back on her hands, head tilted skyward. "I pushed Cecily and Alice into the water, too. The way they screamed was priceless! Until they pulled me in, that is."

"And you girls pulled me in at the end of it," Manuela reminded her, less angry and more reminiscent. "I had just gotten my hair fixed! It was going all frizzy from the wind, the humidity. And some handsome soldier had just gotten interested in me, but left as soon as I was dunked. That could have been my future husband."

"Could have been," Dorothea agreed. She removed her cap and held it in her lap, looking towards Manuela with awe. "It was those kinds of days that I missed the most, you know."

"Really?"

"When I decided to come to the Academy, I was sure I'd never see you or the others again."

"Well, we all pretty much thought the same. Here you were, chasing your dreams of something more, inspiring the rest of the girls, all the while. Honestly, I was jealous."

"You? Jealous of me?"

"Dorothea, you were practically the star of the company, you know. Budding and rising, only outdone by yours truly," Manuela mused, placing a hand on her chest. "But I was more jealous about the fact that you were so willing to throw everything away to do what you want with your life. I'm not that much older than you, but I felt as if I had somehow become your junior at that time. Like, If Dorothea can chase her dreams, so can I!"

"Manuela…you know, I've said this before, but I really looked up to you back then."

"I know, I know. And this is a lot of talking over something that wasn't such a big deal in the first place." She ran her fingers through her hair before adding, "In the end, we both arrived at the same place, didn't we?"

"We did. And you even ended up being one of our professors. It's almost like nothing changed!"

"I'm teaching things like history, combat arts, and science instead of singing, but I suppose you're right."

"Look at us, talking like we're old and retired already!" Dorothea laughed as she shoved Manuela playfully, hands slack against her shawl. "We're far from it."

"Yes, but the truth is that time is running out, and for commoners like us, we really need to get a move on with potential suitors."

"I know," Dorothea muttered. "I know. These nobles have it easy, don't they?"

"In some ways. In others, it reminds me that maybe I'm just a little better off than them. Imagine being like Hanneman and obsessing over Crests? I'd rather throw up and eat it!"

"Ew!" Dorothea shuddered at the thought. "Don't say things like that! I just had dinner, you know."

"Haha, it's true, though."

"Just because it's true doesn't mean you should say it," Dorothea insisted.

"I guess you're right."

Others would look down on Dorothea for speaking to Professor Manuela so casually, but could she help it? They knew each other for such a long time now—long before they were professor and student—that formalities were beneath them.

Dorothea was sure of this as she placed her hand over Manuela's, and squeezed tightly.

It was just as warm as it used to be.