Chapter 20 - Three Days Before The King's Game, Day 1 (2)

After reading the letter, which wasn't very long, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. It transported me back to my days in the orphanage, where Sister Lily and the other nuns cared for me. Among the orphans was Alice, my childhood friend whom I grew close to. When I left the village at 16, it had been two years since then. I vividly recalled our parting; Alice's tear-streaked face as she begged me not to leave. I promised to return whenever possible, though she hesitated to let me go. Eventually, she relented, expressing her hope that after I graduated from the academy and became a magic knight, she would also pursue her dream of becoming a full-fledged priestess. I made sporadic visits to the orphanage, as promised, but as time went on, these became less frequent. It had been nearly four months since my last visit, prompting Alice to reach out to me with this letter.

"I suppose it's about time I paid them a visit," I mused. "I should bring along some souvenirs."