Maple High School Academy Hidden Year 1
The Vow in Ginkgo Forest - First Kiss

First Kiss

A LEAF OF VINES lay in front of Thedon and Chalia. The two can only look at each other. “Here?” ask Thedon. Chalia closed her eyes. He sharpened all the functions of his senses. Even though Red's olfactory had already led them to this place, he still wanted to prove it himself.

The smell of ginkgo is too strong to break down. The pigtailed woman could smell nothing but ginkgo and wetlands. His ability is still only to recognize two types of smells. If it is disguised, any smell cannot be sought by the woman. He finally chose to sharpen his hearing. Other than the wind, Chalia had not heard anything.

“They are already in front.”

“Ssstt ... don't be noisy.”

“I'm not noisy. He's the one who voices.”

“You two are noisy.”

Chalia smiled. The whisper was heard clearly in his ears. Seeing that smile, Thedon just frowned. He touched Chalia's shoulder, making the concentration of the woman break. “What's funny?” ask Thedon.

Chalia simply put her index finger on her lips, then pointed towards the vines with the same index finger.

“They're inside?” ask Thedon. This time without a sound. Only his lips moved.

Chalia nodded in confirming. Hearing the conversation of the three Dwarves who only blamed each other made the woman convinced.

“Wait here,” Tell Thedon while stepping in.

Chalia had not had time to protest at the decree, the tall black-haired man had disappeared behind the vines. Slowly Chalia could hear the echoing sound of Thedon's steps.

Ah, it turns out there really is a cave. Red nudged Chalia's leg and snorted. The woman looked over and carried Red.

What was? ask Chalia. He can feel the turmoil of his contract animal.

I don't know, I feel something weird.

Whahuh? Bereavement?

I'm not sure. It's not a bad thing, but it's not a good thing either.

Chalia scratched at Red's nape. The words that Red spoke made him uncomfortable. Moreover, Thedon had not yet come out of the cave.

You freaks! chalia.

I'm serious! The sooner we catch the thief, the sooner we get out of this forest.

Are you afraid of this forest?

I just felt something move. Not something natural.

Thedon had not yet come out of the cave. Chalia's worries are growing. Especially with all the feelings of Red. One thing Chalia knows, her contract animal never misjudges anything. If Red says there's something, then it's true.

Should I come in?

Nay! He said you should wait here.

But …

Chalia's sentence is not finished. His ears caught the echoing sound of footsteps. Sounds heavier than when Thedon stepped in. The woman prepares and drops Red from her sling. He started putting up horses. Wake up if it's not Thedon.

Bugs!

An object was thrown and fell right in front of Chalia's feet. The woman jumped back. Red was grunting in his shock. It was wriggling incessantly. It made Chalia feel disgusted to approach him. Meanwhile Thedon stepped out with messy hair. He smiled proudly and approached the squirming object.

When Thedon stood right next to the object, Chalia realized that the wriggling was the Dwarves who had been tied together. The three turned to each other.

"You tied them up?" ask Chalia in amazement.

Thedon just slicked his shoulders. He crouched down in front of one of the white-bearded Dwarves. "We are in a place full of sun. So tell me where the book is?"

The other two Dwarves were indeterminate. The two shouted telling the white beard not to tell the location of the book they stole. "You won't be able to find the book, Young Man. No one will be able to!"

Meanwhile, Chalia heard something quite strange from the two Dwarves shouting.

"You don't deserve to have that."

"Only we can realize our prince's hope."

Chalia pulled Thedon who was still trying to negotiate. The woman took the prefect away. "What's wrong?" ask Thedon annoyed.

Chalia looked at Thedon long ago and said, "They're talking about the prince."

Thedon fell silent, his response quite calm. "How exactly do they say about the prince?"

"Eitherway. They just said it belonged to our prince. That means the book that was stolen belonged to that prince, right?" Chalia asked questions as well as the motive for the theft.

"We'd better focus on finding that book. Regarding the mention of the prince, that's enough to be our secret." Thedon decides not to prolong Chalia's suspicions. For him, the mission he carries is to find the stolen book.

Seeing that Thedon had not piqued her suspicions, Chalia snored in annoyance. He ruffled his waist while looking at the back of Thedon who was approaching the three Dwarves. The girl muttered indistinctly giving off her frustration.

Finally he turned his head with his eyes closed while closing his ears. Closing the sounds around it. When Chalia opened her eyes, a gleam made her blink her eyes. That glint caught Chalia's attention. The girl squinted her green eyes. He sharpened his eyesight. Smile them.

"Hey, Thedon. Come here!" call him in a happy voice.

The main prefect who was just about to open a chat with the Dwarves sighed. He turned around and approached Chalia who was still turning her head. "What else is this time? Didn't I tell you we're focused on finding the stolen book."

"Try reminding me again, how does the book look?"

Thedon. Chalia spoke without looking at him. "Books that are not too thick. The cover is golden or golden. It's a little bigger than the notebook Mevel always carries."

"Isn't that the book?" Chalia pointed far up the top of the tree.

Thedon followed Chalia's direction. He even squinted his eyes until it narrowed perfectly. However, not once was he able to see what Chalia pointed to. "Where? You sure?"

"On the top of the tree. Should I climb up and get it for you?" ask Chalia.

Thedon did not answer. He thought for a moment. "I have a better idea." The man whistled high.

Chalia looked around. There's nothing. He looked at Thedon who was staring at the sky. Suddenly the sound of birds squealing came closer. Thedon raised his right hand. A Phillipine Eagle lands on Thedon's arm.

Chalia looked amazed at the eagle. She was quite big compared to the other eagles the girl had seen.

"introduce. It's Olive," Thedon said, introducing the bird in his hand to Chalia.

The bird looked like it was nodding in Chalia's eyes. The girl nodded slowly, answering a nod of greeting from Olive.

Slowly, Thedon whispered something. Olive shrieked softly, answering whatever the owner whispered. The bird flew back. This time it's headed in the direction Chalia pointed to.

"That's your contract animal?" ask Chalia.

"Hhhh."

"I didn't think it was an eagle."

"Hhhh."

"He's handsome."

Thedon laughed a little. Chalia who heard the laughter looked at the strange Thedon.

"Olive will be very angry to hear that."

"Why?"

"She's a female."

Chalia covered her mouth with both hands. He felt guilty for assuming that men would have contracted animals of the male sex.

"Hey, academy student!" call the white beard. Both Chalia and Thedon looked at the same time. "You are too brave to come to this forest alone!" yells.

Red suddenly ran away from Chalia. He hides behind a tree. Meanwhile the wind was blowing unnaturally. Thedon, who controlled the power of the wind element, was astonished by the movement of the wind. Chalia started to spin in place to look around.

The ginkgo trees seem to move like they are dancing. Shaking to the right and to the left in rhythm, then a gust of cool breeze moved vertically towards the top of the tree. The gust shook the branches and twigs. Ginkgo leaves fall off simultaneously.

Chalia looked amazed. His face was radiant to see this miraculous phenomenon of ginkgo leaf rain. He looked at Thedon who was also looking right into his eyes. Their feet approached each other. Thedon. He observed Chalia's facial features without anyone missing. Both of his eyes were fixed in one place. Without hesitation, the man lowered his head, smothered by Chalia's lips.