The knights of captain's rank in the Isle Rose Fortress have their private rooms in the 'Officer's Building'. Presha-san was also returning to his private room now.

　There is an uncovered area on the third level of the fortress, and you will pass through it on your way to the "officer's building". The moon was floating in the sky between the clouds - the moon was a little less than it was when I saw it with Mr. Deete before.

　Her health has improved a lot since Ms. Deethe used "Night Forgot Flower". Sleep contributes to both recovery from fatigue and maintaining mental equilibrium, so if her sleep cycle is a little out of whack, she should work on improving it.

　The soldiers of this fortress, who had been fighting alone against the Zirconia attack for so long, may not have any visible health problems, but they may have symptoms that could be the source of the disease. I think we should do a medical examination of all of them, but all of this is something to consider after this mission is successful.

　There was only one older guard in front of the entrance to the officer's building, and when he saw me, he gave me a salute. She's old enough to be a mother to me, but her body is well-trained, and the way she stands with her stick gives her an unapproachable swagger.

　-- but as soon as she sees me, her expression relaxes. Apparently, she knew me.

'Dr. Glass, you're welcome. Can I help you with the officers?　They're all in their rooms except for Miss Chloe, who's doing her nighttime rounds.

　If you only look at her cheerful smile, you get the impression that she's a good-natured lady. Everyone is like that - when I first saw them, many of them were killing, but their expressions are soft, even though the current situation is not good.

　The time for exclusive defense ended with the determination of His Highness Astina. It means they have already heard that from their superiors.

''Depending on the outcome of tomorrow's military council, I've heard that we'll be attacking Zirconia soon. Dr. Glass, please take good care of your comrades who remain in the fortress.
''No, I will accompany you. We mages must do everything in our power to get things done, otherwise we can't break out of our current predicament. ...... Sorry, I'm sorry, I haven't been here long enough to say that.

　She was surprised that I said I was going too, and she didn't hide the heartache on her face. I guess the reason she gives me that look is because she thinks that my accompanying me, a military doctor, is in danger of death.

　I'm well aware that I can't let my guard down. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it.

I've heard that magic is more powerful in warfare than we can ever imagine. But ...... I'm sorry that it was me who took the liberty of putting my son in front of the doctor. I volunteered to be a soldier rather than let my little boy eventually go into battle.
...... I see. Your son is still at .......
'My family lives in the town of Portoro, and I have the opportunity to return twice a year. My family lives in the town of Portoro and I return twice a year, and I get to see my son grow up every time I return. I wondered if I was making my son feel lonely by not having his parents around, but that's not the case. He's proud that I'm in the Knights of the Order. ......

　I can see why she speaks so eloquently. At the same time, I make sure that every soldier, not just this one, has someone waiting to come home.

　And she's also prepared to face the prospect of leaving the army. She wants to talk to someone - a child who wants to protect her family, even at the risk of her life.

'I'm sure your son will be even more magnificent when he returns to Portoro again.

　Maybe it's insensitive. To say now that there is more to come than tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

　But I still say it. It's a reminder to myself of what I learned about magic and what I learned how to make the most of people.

'We'll definitely go back together. So let me fight with you all.
...... You may be so young, but you're still a teacher. I'm sure he knows everything about everyone's feelings when he talks to you.
'We have not yet been able to examine everyone. For that reason, we must come back victorious ...... Yes, may I ask your name, belatedly?
'My name is Odessa. If I am ......

　After she says her name, she tries to tell me something. I knew what it was, and I was going to listen in - but.

　Ms. Odessa shook her head and dropped the words she was about to say to her chest.

'No. Dr. Glass, it's been a pleasure talking to you.
'Me too. I'll get cold at night, and I'll bring you something to warm you up later.

　There's not much I can do. As I entered the officer's wing, the caretaker woman was about to go and offer Miss Odessa a drink, apparently having been asked about what was going on outside.

'Good evening, sir. I didn't want to be a bore, but I'll bring the guards some drinks now.
'Thank you. Um, where is Captain Presha at ......?

　The woman's expression shades as she asks. She hesitates, but still answers the question.

'Only Raquel-sama is allowed to visit Presha-sama's room at night. But if you're Dr. Glass, you can go to .......
...... I'll go to the front of the room. Will you allow me to go that far?
Yes, sir. I've heard that Mr. Glass is a trustworthy man, and I'm sure you have confidence in him, too, Mr. Presha. Presha-sama's room will be upstairs.

　I get directions to the stairs upstairs and start walking towards them.

　And when I get to the second floor - I find a dark-haired woman looking out of a hallway window.

'Raquel, Knight Commander ......'

　When I called her name, she responded with a twitch and then slowly turned around.

　She was wearing a gown over her thin sleeping gown, and her expression was so gentle that I couldn't help but admire it, quite different from the stern knight-errant figure she showed during the day.

　-- but her eyes are tinged with melancholy when she looks at me. She slid the moonlight into her long eyelashes and looked at me without saying a word.

'...... I was going to keep Presha's affairs a secret between me, your highness, and Deite. Presha herself wouldn't want you to know about it yet, either.
"I'll let you know that I'll have ...... ...... for Mr. Presha.

　I was about to tell him that there was something he was hiding, and then I reminded him that there wasn't.

　Everyone has something to hold onto. It's no wonder I've only been here for a short time and there's a lot I can't reveal to you.

...... To me, it looked like Ms. Presha was in a hurry to live. If she is willing to sacrifice herself to help us win this battle, I came here to tell you now while I can.
'I know. I knew that Glass was nervous and thoughtful while Presha was speaking ...... His Highness would have noticed that.

　Me and Your Highness are connected to each other through the contract with Kamiki. So if Your Highness sensed that I was about to meet Presha-san, he could stop me.

　But I'm here. I don't want to be conceited, but I also have the idea that when I'm here without being blamed for anything, I'm allowed to meet with Presha-san.

　But I thought the reason Raquel-san is here is also to test me. I read that he was coming to see Presha-san and was waiting to determine if I should let him meet with her.

'...... Don't be surprised if Presha shows up in any way. If you see her differently than Presha in the daytime, I hope you'll take her as she is. Yes, can you promise me that?
'Yes, sir. 'I did not come here on a joke or a whim. It's my duty to take care of the health of the generals who go out to battle. Ms. Presha is in a position to organize a lot of troops ...... and I can't let what I find disturbing about her go unchallenged.

　The best I can say is that she is concerned about herself, but I can't phrase it well or do anything about it. However, I felt I should tell her that I wasn't acting out of personal feelings.

　Raquel folded her arms and closed her eyes as she listened. It wasn't like he was trying to intimidate me, I thought, but he was examining the words deeply.

'...... I see. Right. I'm sorry for trying that. Because of the treatment you've given me and the way you've conditioned my body, I'm able to go through the night without having to endure the searing pain. I know that I am the best person to leave it all to you.
''We need to make sure that the Raquel Knight Captain continues to receive treatment. If you have the time, I would even be happy to visit you later.
'No ...... tonight, don't worry about me. Just think of Presha. And hopefully, from the bad dreams she's been having for a long time ...... by your hand.
'You're too overprotective to tell me everything. Let's leave the rest to the doctor.
'...... Dite, how long have you been listening to me? Isn't eavesdropping an act against the pride of the nobility?

　I wonder if there is a bedroom on the same floor or not, and Deethe-san shows up. Her bed clothes are not that opulent, even though she comes from a noble family, but since I've always seen her in armor, she looks very fresh.

　Once again confirming that this order is full of beautiful women, my heartbeat quickens undeniably - I thought I didn't have that kind of impulse, but is this what is called the preservation instinct of the species? It's hard to control with reason, just like the hunting instincts of animals.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make me aware of the fact that I'm a woman when you respond to me like this ......
"Nah, what are you talking about ...... at all. Glass responds etc. ......
'Oh, no, no, ...... we both have a different impression of each other than usual, so ...... I'm sorry, it's just before bedtime, so it's only natural.

　I don't think this is the time to be embarrassed, but with Deite-san and Raquel-san in front of me, with their hair down, I feel like this is not a place for a man to enter.

　Whether he knew my inner feelings or not, Mr. Deite came halfway down the stairs and went around behind me, touching my shoulder and urging me to move forward.

'I'd really like you to come into the room to see how the flowers you gave me before were placed, too. It would be a collegial concern to have them think only of Presha for now.
'Mmm ...... Dite, we'll stay in our room just in case. It hasn't been around lately, but if Presha is having a nightmare ......
Nightmares ...... Are you saying that's the cause of the obsession you've always had, Presha?
...... Heartbreak is not an easy thing to heal. Even if I knew the cause, there was nothing I could do about it. You can't change the past, and you can't bring back what you've lost.

　Still, the girls said they would let me go to Mr. Presha. I would never want to betray that trust.

'I'll be fine. You two should go to your room and rest. May I have a checkup again at a later date?

　It would take a toll on both of us to keep the air heavy. So I smiled, though I wasn't sure I was playing it well.

　Their eyes were blushing - I didn't want them to look like that, but they were both kind-hearted and thought that much of Presha-san.

...... Take care of that girl, Dr. Glass.
'Please do me a favor. Please don't let Presha one day do anything that would cause her to lay down her life in battle ...... even a little bit of her heart.

　If it's a physical injury or illness, there are numerous cases that have been proven to be curable and I'm confident in my ability to treat them.

　Equal to or even more difficult to treat than those, and even more difficult to find an answer to, is mental illness. There were soldiers in this fortress as well who were left with the aftereffects of battle - but now they are laughing at me when they see me.

　You can't start by giving up from the beginning. I'd rather find what I can do than give up because it's too hard.

　I leave the two of them and make my way down the dimly lit hallway. And at the far end, I stood in front of Presha's room.

　I was about to knock on the door, and I knew that if Mr. Presha was asleep, I shouldn't wake him up. By touching the wooden door and listening to the 'voices' coming from the wooden items in the room, I could see how Ms. Presha was doing.

　There is almost no plant 'voice' coming from inside the room. The wooden products seemed very bleak, although I could tell that there were shelves for storing weapons and clothes and a bed in the room.

(...... Is this voice talking to ...... someone?　(No, ...... different ......)

　I thought I might have heard it wrong. Everyone talks in their sleep - but.

　A wooden bed in the room. It felt to me like Mr. Presha, sleeping on it, was crying.

　--Mom, please ...... forgive me, don't leave me ...... and I'll be a good boy. ......--

　What do those words mean? Even if she doesn't know, she experiences a pain that gouges her heart.

　She's having a dream now. There's a way to find out if it's a 'nightmare' as Racquel-san calls it - with the help of Alraune, a spirit that enables her to touch people's hearts.

　He places the bulb at his feet as a medium. Then he chanted in a small voice.

''O glossy flower that blooms in the garden of demon flowers, ...... once appear in this world and show your power.''

　In response to the summons, the roots of the grass formed a magic circle around the bulb. Then the flowers opened and Alraune's Lune appeared.

''Thank you for calling me, Summoner-sama. Huh, it's always dark outside when I'm summoned these days.''
I'm sorry, I know it's late.
'I can make a lot of nutrients in the moonlight. Look how alive the leaves are.

　Lune shows me a flower that has bloomed on her head. It looks like a flower hair ornament, but it absorbed the moonlight coming into this corridor and converted it into magic.

'...... I can hear your sister Presha crying. Summoner-sama wants to help your sister, right?
'I would if I could. But ...... what's the point of coming up here and going into her room where she's asleep .......
'I don't have time to say that; I'm in so much pain. If you continue to have nightmares, your mind will become more and more consumed. A sad dream is like a bug that withers the roots of a flower.

　Alraune is desperate to appeal to me. Deite-san was also being consumed by insomnia, but of course it would be better if Presha-san didn't have any nightmares to make the most of the power she had, too.

　In the meantime, Raquel and Deite came in, apparently checking on you before returning to the room.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that ...... you're not comfortable with it, so we'll tell you as well. Not long ago, when Preciousha had dreams, I would stay with her and rest when she had them. It's a good thing that you're a long-time friend of mine, because I'm the only one who can calm her down. ...... But Presha has grown up. She's started to rest on her own, not to be coddled by me, but ...... honestly, I'm not worried about her.
'Presha said she was worried about keeping Dr. Glass and another woman in the same room. She was probably thinking that she could take the teacher back to her room. It's a possibility, but if it really did happen, if she let the teacher see her having nightmares ...... that way, Presha would suffer more.

　The fact that you'll be rooming with me is just an example. What Mr. Deite is trying to say is that Presha will always try to be stout in front of me and will hide the nightmare from me.

If Presha were to invite Glass into the room, then he would not show ...... the 'current state' of affairs. That makes no sense. I want Glass to see her room as it is now. It may be too much interference, but I'm not in a state ...... that I can leave very well alone.
'I understand. If Mr. Presha is angry at you for entering his room without permission, I will take that anger as a given. I will do my best to avoid that, though.
'It's a bad habit of teachers to take everything on as their own responsibility. Presha and I are colleagues, and though it may seem spoiled, ...... we have spent a long time together. It's us meddling that should be upset with that girl.

　Raquel nodded at Deite's words. Then she opened the door quietly.

　Rune and I entered the room together, and I looked at the room - and accepted the scene as it was.

　If Raquel-san hadn't told me beforehand, I would have been more than a little upset. A number of cuts, perhaps from spears, left marks on the walls and floor that looked like they had been cut and repaired.

　There was an old wooden bed by the wall of the room that did not seem to be used by the officers of the Order, and Presha-san did not lie on it, but sat there holding something in her arms, leaning against the wall.

　The thing she was holding was a tattered doll. And the spear propped up on the bed is always within her reach.

'...... Summoner-sama, you can't go near it now. I'm sure it's not your sister Raquel, and if you get close to Presha-san, you will have to ......

　Even in this state, everyone in the knight's group treated Presha-san as a 'fierce general'.

　That's because Presha-san's knightly pride is something that has nothing to do with the heartbreak she's had to deal with.

''Lune is right. I'm not allowed to get any closer to her now.''

　The anger she showed when she condemned the betrayal of her countrymen against our country, Laiseneier. It was a hatred, if you can call it that.

　As we fought together, she recognized me as one of her friends and even called me 'teacher'. Still, somewhere along the line, I felt that there was a lack of understanding between me and Presha-san.

...... utterly inadequate doctor. I was terrified somewhere inside, seeing how strong Presha was. How could you say you wanted to heal her wounds with that?
Dear Summoner: ......

　Even the floor at her feet was scarred by a spear wound. One more step and she could be attacked by her nightmares.

'We will fill this distance. "Alraune, can you help me?
'Huh ...... yes. For the sake of the Summoner, I'm at your service for cheap: ......

　Lune answers and she touches her hand to the ground. Then the arraune ivy grows from under my feet and tangles, and the ivy travels across the floor to reach Presha's bed.

　Then the ivy puts on a single flower. The pollen that the flower opens and makes it dance leads me to sleep - with the connection between me and Presha-san's consciousness.

　I am shown the dreams she is having, and I am shown the dreams she is having. Even though I could imagine how painful it was, I wasn't going to step back from where I was standing now.

　　　◆ ◆ ◆

　There is the sound of something, something metallic, clashing with each other. The sound of horses' hooves, the sound of people in armor pacing - and a scream.

　What is it that I'm seeing? Amidst the faded scene, only the black smoke rising in the sky and the red color of the flames burning the houses are brightly colored.

'--Mom!　Just wait and I'll help you in a minute. ......!

　The voice was a little younger and more innocent than it is now - but it was certainly Presha-san's.

　This is what Presha-san is dreaming about. She's a little girl, and she's running to her village where she's being attacked by someone, with a wooden stick in her hand.

(Don't go, don't go ...... Mr. Presha, if you go now you will be killed ......!

'Wow!

　This is an event that happened in the past. It was a scene of soldiers flying the flag of an enemy country - not Zirconia, but the troops of the 'Grunica City Alliance', which borders the eastern part of the kingdom, attacking a village.

　From the moment I connected my consciousness, Presha-san's memories had flowed into me. But the sheer volume of information and her emotions burned into my memory create a tearing pain - not in my body, which is not here, but in my heart itself, which feels pain.

　Young Presha-san runs single-mindedly - jumping through the hole in the fence that surrounded the village, destroyed by force, and running as fast as a child, even if the cavalrymen who entered the village noticed her.

''Mother, mother, mother! ......!

　Wildly wiping away her tears, she calls her mother repeatedly. Each time she does, her heart seems to tighten, but there's nothing she can do about it now.

　--I can't change the past. But I can't allow myself to look away.

　I still only thought I had seen part of it and knew how horrible the consequences of warfare could be.

　The girl, Ms. Presha, opens the door to the house she believes to be her own, which was set on fire.

'...... mother ......?'

　I want to scream at her to stop looking, but I can't change her behavior in the past.

　Ms. Presha follows the bloodstains left on the wooden floor and proceeds to the back of the house. She then enters the dining room where she would have once eaten with her mother and sees the room destroyed at random.

　Everything else turns gray. Only the blood that has flowed to Presha-san's feet burns more red in my vision than anything else.

''I don't want to ...... ......!

　Removing the stick from her hand, Presha ran to her mother, who was already motionless, and clutched at her body.

　Memories of her time with her mother poured in. One by one, the memories of her time with her mother drained away and filled in black.

　The last thing Presha's mother said to her was, 'It's Presha's birthday, I'm going to cook something delicious with my skills.

　If only she had left a little earlier. If only I had told her mother to be selfish and taken her out into the forest - in the midst of this regret, Presha realizes. She held her mother's hand and the needle wound left on her fingertips.

　In the cleaved room, 'it' was there, mixed in with the wreckage of the furniture. A hand-sewn doll, probably made by her mother for Miss Presha.

　Gifts that could be prepared to please a child were not so available in this village. Ms. Presha, who wanted a paper book, a precious paper book in the village, knew her mother was making a doll, but she was not pleased with it.

　She held the doll in her blood-soaked hands. As she held it in her arms, she saw a shadow stretching out from behind her.

'Don't feel bad about ...... what you would have died if you hadn't come back.

　-- instead of cowering in fear when she heard the voice.

　Reflexively, she picked up the stick placed beside her and swung it at the man standing behind her, who might have groped her mother.



　A sharp blow - but against a soldier in armor, it could not be a fatal blow.

　The soldier was enraged by the unexpected counterattack and swung his long sword. There was no way to receive it with a wooden stick - yet what Presha-san chose to do was to make a thrust with the resolve to stab it out.

''--Aaaaah! ......!

　I don't care if I get killed. Only this man, by his own hand--.

　Her thrust, unleashed to avenge him, however, completely cut through the sky.

　That was because the weapon of immense mass cleaved off the place where the soldier had been. The great man wielding a steel horse-mounted spear on the ground - the black-haired knight, Raquel-Ritkasha, who wore the same spirit as now, was there.

''Ah...... ah......''

　The blown-up enemy soldiers don't move. Seeing Presha-san's figure holding the stick, Raquel-san's eyes are filled with sorrow.

''I'm ...... sorry. If only we had arrived a little earlier ......''

　Even though he knows he's on our side, Mr. Presha can't put down his stick. Her emotions, which have nowhere to go, are making her body's freedom ineffective.

　She can only glare at her friendly knight who saved her. Even so, Raquel-san continued to face Presha-san in silence.

''You fought well ....... But just being able to use a stick is not enough to survive in this desolate battlefield.''
I'm ...... with my mom ...... and my mom wouldn't leave me. This is ...... such a thing, this is ...... such a thing, this is ......!

　It's a bad dream. Before Presha-san could utter that, Raquel-san let go of her javelin, and without fear of being attacked, she stepped in front of Presha-san with her stick at the ready.

''--Don't come!

　Reflexively, Raquel-san just tilted her head to avoid the stick that was brought out, and clutched it.

''Let go ...... let go ......!
"...... You have the makings of martial arts. The enemy forces that attacked the village were routed by our Royal Army of the Raseneian Kingdom ...... under the command of my lord, Your Highness Astina.
"I don't know that ...... our village has done nothing wrong. ......
"...... No matter how strong we get, we can't protect everything. But in our army, we want to be. Even if that is a distant ideal.''

　The power in the stick loosened. It was because I saw the tears on Raquel's cheeks.

　My vision blurs and blurs. Presha-san is also crying - even though she was sad, she had forgotten to even cry, but seeing Raquel-san's tears reminded her.

　The sticks that had been removed rolled across the floor. Raquel kneeled on the floor and hugged Presha.

　That was the beginning.

　One knight, Presha Hortensia, was born on the day she lost everything.