Time flies by faster the more I age, huh.

I was in a carriage. I was already on my way to Yosai. The atmosphere was... unpleasant. For me at least.

The carriage could fit quite a lot of people. 15 to be exact. And all of them were different.

There were knights whose age was no more than 20, those who were definitely over the age of 30. Some were gloomy, some were excited, some saw this as a waste of time, some were already longing for their home.

Just as I expected tho: all of them were novices.

It seems like this invasion is a way for new knights to better learn the way of battle and that wasn't surprising.

A regular scheduled event is the one you can control the most after all.

It seems like there are some more experienced knights in other carriages, but there's not a lot of them. They are probably there for reassurance and/or giving commands. It would be a literal death sentence for a novice to give commands in a situation in which you could lose your life after all.

There was also one royal guard. I wasn't quite sure what he was here for.

Back on the topic of why this ride isn't enjoyable for me: the knights are looking at me weird.

And I'm not blaming them. I'm a 15 year old after all. All of them are older than me and it seems like they have different reactions to me.

Some don't care about my existence (The best ones), some were looking at me in desbelief and confusion (Still fine), but then there were some who were looking down on me and/or were seeing my existence as an insult to them.

Their thoughts were probably like: Why is this little girl with us? I am a knight and they decide to put such a frail looking girl with me? Are they looking down on me?! There's no way a girl like this could be anywhere near my level! or something like that.

At the very least they didn't say anything. Probably because they didn't want to look bad, but that's still a good reason. All of us have unpleasant thoughts, it's the ones who say them are the worst ones. So it's good to see that they picked a sensible bunch for knighthood.

So while the ride wasn't enjoyable, it doesn't mean it was inherently bad. I could just ignore the looks people gave me, and be in my own little world.

I would close my eyes and either try to improve my Mana Sense, Thought Acceleration, or just remember some music that I liked listening to and replay it in my head. My memory was already extremely good before, and now that I'm in this body, it's gotten even better, so I can easily remember some songs.

I also remembered the lessons Julius gave me. There was one interesting thing I find out during them: The colder and the hoter something is, the harder it is for me to eat. The easiest temperature is about 25 celsius (77 fahrenheit).

The way I found out about it is when Julius sent a fireball straight to my face, and I decided to eat it with Predator, but I failed. I instinctively reinforced my face as much as I could, but it still hurt like hell. Even thinking about it gives me shivers.

I felt like my eyes were about to melt.

?: "What's up?"

That was clearly said to me, so I open my eyes.

I look at the source of the sound and it's a young knight. He's probably the 3rd youngest person in this carriage. He has green spiky hair, yellow eyes and a cheerful expression.

Cylob: "The ceiling."

He was taken aback by my 'joke'.

knight: "That's... true. Hehe, the first thing I hear you say is a joke. I didn't expect that from you. You look so serious."

Cylob: "Just because I'm serious doesn't mean I want others to be serious. The more joy I can spread around the world, the better. Telling jokes is a way to do that."

He seemed even more surprised by my way of thinking and honesty.

knight: "I see... What's your name?"

Cylob: "Mine's Cylob. What's yours?"

knight: "Shinyu."

Cylob: "Shinyu, huh. That's a nice name."

Shinyu: "Thanks. I remember my mom and dad telling me that they spent a whole week coming up with it."

Isn't a week, too much?!

Cylob: "A week... They must've put a lot of thought into it."

Shinyu: "They most likely did." He smiled, while staring at nothing in particular.

Shinyu: "That's enough about me though. Can you tell me about yourself?" He looked back at me.

How much of the truth should I tell him? Should I fabricate some aspects? Or should I just say I'm not comfortable talking about it?... In the first place he didn't even ask for my past, he just asked me to tell him about myself. So no need for anything complicated.

Cylob: "There isn't much to know about me. I'm a very rare kind of demi-human, but that's most of it. Every other quirk I have is an emotional one."

Shinyu: "So I'll learn more about you the more we talk?"

Cylob: "Yes. Although I'm not sure how easy it'll be. I'm a person who likes to keep things to myself. It would be much easier for you to get along with the other young knights."

He looks at me with a dumbfounded expression, before smiling widely like an idiot.

Shinyu: "Challenge accepted!"

Cylob: "Good luck."

.▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒.

The trip started at about 7 a.m. and right now is 1 p.m. Six hours have already passed, huh. I thought time would feel longer. Well, it's probably because of this guy:

Shinyu: "Are you sure you don't need to eat?"

The carriages were stopped and everyone was having their meals right now.

Cylob: "Yes. I told you I'm a very rare demi-human, didn't I? I don't need to eat right now."

Shinyu: "If you say so..."

He seemed doubtful, but decided not to probe me further.

The reason he could talk so freely even while eating is because he already ate everything. At first he kept talking to me even while eating, but I stopped him and told him that I wouldn't talk to him until he ate everything, so he finished in 10 seconds flat. He's still drinking some water though.

Cylob: "*sigh* Still, I don't fully understand why you're so intent on interacting with me so much."

Shinyu: "It's because you're really kind."

Cylob: "I think there are people kinder than me."

Shinyu: "But that doesn't stop you from being kind, does it?"

Cylob: "No, it doesn't. But I don't feel like that answer is the full truth. It just feels like a very weak reason to me."

Shinyu: "Well, I'm only 18, so I thought since you're so young I could get along with you."

Cylob: "There are other people who are closer to your age. Why didn't you talk to them?"

Shinyu: "I did, but no one answered with "the ceiling" except for you. I just thought that it was such an interesting response, that I wanted to learn what kind of personality you would have to have to answer with that." He takes a sip of water. "On the topic of age: How old are you?"

Cylob: "15."

Shinyu: "15, I see.." He starts drinking wat- "PHFF! YOU'RE 15?!" I immediately Beelzebub the water that he spit out. "Aren't you a little bit too young for this?!"

Cylob: "Please be quieter, you startled everyone. And to answer your question: Yes. Yes I am."

Shinyu: "So you just admit it like that, huh." He wipes his mouth.

Cylob: "Yes. But no matter how young I am, I know that I have to do this. I don't want to be a useless person who can't do anything, so I have to get used to real battles."

Shinyu: "But isn't doing this at 15 too early? Why don't you enjoy your youthfulness for now?"

Cylob: "I can't."

Not while knowing about what's going to happen.

Cylob: "And I feel like it is quite hypocritical of you to say that. 18 is also an extremely young age."

Shinyu: "That's because I want to do this, not have to. You're forcing yourself, I'm not. *sigh* Jezz, just how kind can you get?"

Cylob: "What part of that was kind?"

Shinyu: "Well, you want to get stronger because you want to help people, right?"

Cylob: "Yes... but how did you know that?"

Shinyu: "I can already somewhat understand you, I guess. I say that's big progress!"

Cylob: "...Mhm. It is."

He stared at the sky with a thoughtful expression.

Shinyu: "...Now that I think about it, is there anything you do for your own sake?" He takes another sip.

Cylob: "For my own sake..."

Not... really. Now that I think about it, since coming to this world I haven't done anything for my own sake.

Sure I did stuff that I enjoyed doing, but whenever I do something, it's for others. Is that bad? Is doing stuff solely for the sake of others... bad? That's quite the question, huh.

Cylob: "To be completely honest, I don't feel like I do."

Shinyu: "Don't you feel like you'll burn yourself out then?"

Cylob: "Most likely not. I still do things I enjoy, and I do take breaks."

Shinyu: "Heh."

Cylob: "What's so funny?"

Shinyu: "You keep saying that there are people kinder than you, but then you say that you literally do everything for others' sake. If you ask me, that's exactly what kindness is."

Am I... really that kind? I don't feel like I'm that kind.

Shinyu: "Just when I started talking to you, you said that I should talk with the others instead, right?"

Cylob: "Yes."

Shinyu: "That's yet another act of kindness. You didn't want me to 'waste' my time on you, because you think that you are hard to be friends with. You pushed me away because you cared about me, even when you didn't know anything about me."

Huh. Now that I think about it, it was an act of kindness.

Cylob: "Is all of this a continuation of the reason you wanted to be friends with me?"

Shinyu: "Yeah. I just wanted you to realize how kind you truly are. And you finally said friends! Do you finally think of me as a friend?"

This is the fastest I've ever become friends with somebody.

Cylob: "Yes." I smile a bit. "Then... is the reason you want to be friends with me, is to take advantage of my kindness?" I say with an overexagerrated teasing expression.

Shinyu: "Of course not! I would never do that!" He started getting flustered.

Cylob: "Then why is my kindness such an important factor in your want to become friends with me?" I keep my teasing expression.

Shinyu: "I-... I don't know, alright! I just... feel like I will get along well with you!" He got even more flustered.

Cylob: "I know, I know. I was just teasin' ya." My neutral expression comes back.

Shinyu: "*sigh* Thank god. As soon as you saw me as your friend, your attitude changed completely. I didn't expect that. What even was that?"

Cylob: "I judged you worthy enough to see a little bit of my weird side. That's it."

Shinyu: "Weird side... So you just keep it hidden most of the time?"

Cylob: "All of the time." I correct him.

Shinyu: "That's... wrong." He seemed uncomfortable.

Cylob: "Maybe. But I don't really have a choice. If I show this side, who knows what will happen? Maybe everyone around me will stop interacting with me, because they'll start seeing me as a weirdo. I don't want that to happen."

Shinyu: "But hiding your true self is bad for you, right? I mean, you can never truly be yourself..."

Nothing new. The only place I could truly be myself was around my best friends and that time was very limited. I couldn't act like myself even in front of my parents.

Cylob: "Yes, it is bad. But I've gotten used to it, so no need to worry about that."

Shinyu: "There you go with your kindness again. I will worry. You're my friend after all."

Cylob: "Do whatever you feel is best." I shrug.

I could see him staring at me. His eyes held determination. I didn't know what he was so determined about, but I wouldn't probe him for answers, so I would probably never know.

.▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒.

Cylob: "So you've got a little sister?"

Shinyu: "Mhm. She's the cutest thing ever!"

We were riding in the carriage again. In about one hour we would be at McMahon's estate.

Cylob: "What's her name?"

Shinyu: "Ashley. But what makes me tick, is that one boy who she can't get her eyes off! She's just too infatuated with him, and because of that she would rather spend time with him rather than me! That hurts so much!" He puts on a fake hurt expression and clutches his chest.

Cylob: "I feel for you, man." I pat his back.

He stops putting on an act and sits up straight with a worried expression.

Shinyu: "In all seriousness, I'm quite scared for her. I hope her feelings will go away, because the family of that boy is leaving the Capital soon. I don't want her to get heartbroken at such a young age."

I was taken aback by the sudden change in atmosphere, but I quickly adjusted.

Cylob: "The best thing you can do for her is be there when she needs you. If you make sure that she gets the help she needs, then even a heartbreak will be overcomed, and she'll emerge stronger than ever."

He looked at me with a bewildered expression.

Shinyu: "...Thank you for the words of encouragment, but even with them, I can't help but worry *sigh*."

Cylob: "That's normal. The fact that you're worrying, just shows how much you care about her."

He gets lost in thought.

Shinyu: "I guess... that's true, huh. And here I was thinking I was acting like an idiot, or that I was too clingy."

Cylob: "You can care and be clingy at the same time. Those two are not interchangeable."

Shinyu: "And here I was starting to feel good about myself! Why do you have to raise me up and then bring me down like that?!" He had a hurt expression, but we both knew that he was faking it.

Cylob: "I just tell the truth. I very rarely lie, whether that's a good or a bad thing."

Shinyu: "? How can telling the truth be a bad thing?"

Cylob: "Well, you see, I don't like to lie, but I also have to hide a lot of things. This resulted in me having a speech patter, in which I either give as little information as possible, or use my conversation partner's mind against them."

Shinyu: "Use their mind... against them?"

Cylob: "That's right. Say for example: I'm late for an event. What I will say is: "I had sword training today". How will you react to that?"

Shinyu: "Well, you had sword training just before this, so you couldn't come on time."

Cylob: "That would be wrong."

Shinyu: "Huh?!"

Cylob: "I did have training today, but it was in the morning, waaaay before the event. The reason I was late, was because: I was either too lazy, or I forgot about it."

Shinyu: "I see. It's technically the truth, so you're not lying, huh. So that's how it can be bad..."

Cylob: "That's right. And the worst part - I do it unconsiously. I don't even think, and yet I still talk like that."

Shinyu: "Have you... done something like that while talking with me?" He didn't look hurt. More in desbelief than anything.

Cylob: "Most likely. But it was probably for a very small thing, since I don't remember not telling something too important."

Shinyu: "So you trust me enough to tell me the full truth about things?"

Cylob: "Yessss... but not for everything. There are some things I have to keep secret after all."

Shinyu: "But most, right?"

Cylob: "Yes, most."

Shinyu: "Yes!" He did a fist pump.

Why the hell do these news make you so happy?! This isn't something big!

.▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒░▒.

We were in a special building specifically made to fit a lot of people.

Since Shinyu just fell asleep, I had nothing interesting to do.

I went outside to practice my sword, but that was too boring, so my mind started drifting off to random topics.

I wonder how Subaru is doing right now. Tha last time I saw him, he was back to normal, so I hope nothing bad happened.

If I remember correctly there was a royal guard who went to visit Roswaal's estate, so something probably happened, but all I can do is hope nothing too bad happened.

...

Now that I think about it, a lot of royal guards have been going all over Lugunica. I wonder what the hell they're doing.

I should probably ask Crusch about it when I get back.

Is the one with us also for the same reason?... Maybe.

I have too little information to tell for sure.

Oh! Before I forget.

Thank you for always looking out for me, Ashna.

I once again thank you for everything you have done for me.

I'm sure that without you I would have way more regrets.

And I don't think I can handle any more...

...

So yeah! Thank you very much!

And so I spent the night swinging away...