Was she mad?

'I cannot.'

'Why?'

'It is by all signs a property of your family. I know Archadia's history much less than her laws, but this sword is decades old, if not centuries.'

'It might be', said Vicky with a smile. 'And I still love my family profoundly, as it is. We are all knights from the Empire's Old Order. I will continue to apply our rules and customs. However, this sword only belongs to me, Vicky. It has been assigned to me at birth; and today, I can do as I please with my property, so I give it to you as a present. Your future fights might be worth more than mine.'

Anyone accepting this would be even more mad than her.

I observed her for a while; her whole posture and features were probably the most serious ones I had seen in all my life. My breath was short. I felt nervous. But Vicky would not give up, and the meeting had to end. I stretched out my arms, as regret already had taken over me:

'I shall do it justice… and honor.'

The round cute face immediately got drowned in sunlight:

'Her name is Highway Star. May she guide you along your quest. Wherever you carry her, I'll be there.'

She put it in my hands, and I took some seconds to think about its weight. Not on my hands, but on my life. Where would this sword lead me? Was it even allowed in the Order of Judges? I would not use it soon, anyway. Swords still frightened me. Swords were the weapon that decimated my friends.

I instinctively went back to sit. She came as well. Once again, we were two souls in a temporary protective shell of hope and cuteness, before leaving for the real world. We could not be more different, but we were looking at the same direction.

'Gabranth…'

I hadn't seen that coming, but my hand was in hers. Her big, yellow-gloved one. I gasped.

'… Now I have the elements that I needed to pursue my destiny', she boldly said. 'Yes, the students do not like me in the Akademy, but I shall pass each year without caring for their opinion. I will resume training as you said. I want to be a balanced knight that brings order and justice to those who are deprived. I am young today, but my parents will soon leave to me a huge responsibility.'

I assumed it was better to refrain from asking any detail, especially since I sensed her weight – oh how majestic – falling against my side. I hesitated, then surrounded her with my arm as she was embracing me with hers. I played with her curls with my other hand.

'You're going to be a jurist', I said. 'Your determination will get you there.'

'After I pass the final contest', she added, 'there's an ultimate goal I plan to achieve, if you… uh, if I am lucky enough to deserve such a happy situation. What about you, Gabranth? Do you have a goal you hope to achieve as a knight, or as a Judge?'

I would never forget that moment. That bubble of tenderness between two brackets, reviving in a flash of light the winds of bliss I had considered buried forever. And the last person I mentioned in this setting, before bowing to each other and bidding farewell, our four brown eyes instantly leaving a longer print than all the encyclopedias at the Akademies.

'Yes, I have a goal. My ultimate goal… has to be talking to someone lost since Landis, but still alive, far in the south. I shall not stop fighting until I find him, and ask him one question.'

Yes. I had a goal. It was called Basch fon Ronsenburg.

Pancha, Aries 1st, 698

Dear Gabranth,

Happy New Year.

Everyone is celebrating in the estate (which, under any circumstance, you must please promise to never visit), by hanging decorations on the walls and inviting Ordalian dance companies for a feast tonight. But I had to rush to my office to write to you instead. May this new year find you in good health, increasing success, and get you closer to your goals.

As usual, my Lady Sister is isolating in her quarters, my parents are nowhere to be found, and my Lord Brother is taking the free space to force us to do as he pleases. He is the first one we had to convince to allow me to follow the Akademy's regular path; and just like in the fields he is fond of, he expects me to excel. He is 10 years older than you and, although he would never lay a hand on Dolores or me, he believes violence solves everything.

That is why, Gabranth, I never wanted to speak with the Dean about my academic hardships. An Akademy Dean is a sacred person to everyone in town – except to my brother. He grew up with weapons instead of books, and would feel entitled to use our name to get him to make me pass each year. However, I got my chance last week: the Lord Dean himself was giving a course, and I felt comfortable enough to raise my hand to answer a question. The answer was wrong, but be aware that this attempt would never have made possible before meeting you. As you suggested, I talked to him after class, and he fortunately told me that my level was not satisfactory (which means my Lord Brother did not reach out to him). I promised I would do my best to improve it, and I learnt with great pride this morning that I was accepted to the second year.

I can't wait to discover the new year's lessons, but I am not at ease with one of the last things we saw. Can you help me solve this case? […]

Take good care of Highway Star. I would lie if I said I don't miss my sword. But I know she is in good hands. Use her to seek the true sense of justice, and accordingly redirect any anger that may arise. I come from a family of knights, but it is said that we descend from one of the jurists who founded the Archadian nation, in the beginning of our era, and who tried to fight the Galtean Dynast-King with their knowledge. That is why, with Highway Star, you will be able to achieve your job as a Judge – and as yourself.

With love,

Vicky