[Elmer]

It was when we are walking behind Sir Keirai in the royal palace that it appeared unexpectedly in front of us.

I thought at first it was fog or smoke, but I realized it was a translucent white film when we approached closer.

“What’s that?”

Didn’t anybody walking in front notice? Or did they notice it but they didn’t think it was worth minding?

No one stopped and just continued walking even if they are approaching the film in front. As soon as they pa.s.sed through, the film traced the shape of a human then turned back in the next second. The film shook like as if nothing happened.

It was a mysterious spectacle.

I stopped walking as I had no courage to pa.s.s through this thing which true nature I don’t know.

What do I do? I utilized my position at the rear and poked the mysterious object with my index finger. I felt a faint elasticity on my fingertip and the film slightly depressed. It is as thin as soap bubbles. If I use a nail to scratch it, it seems like it will easily tear.

While I did something like that alone, everybody turned at the corner without noticing that I did not follow them. I can’t see anyone any longer. According to what Sir Keirai said, the training grounds is just around the corner so I won’t lose my way, but what should I do?

I don’t want to pa.s.s through here even if I know that I need to hurry up and follow them.

I expected that film ends somewhere, and decided to walk along the film.

There should be many people in the royal palace, but it is convenient that there are no signs of life in the place I am advancing to.

I completely ignored the road and walked ahead. I forcibly elbowed my way through the thicket as I chased along the film. I felt that I walked a considerable distance, but the film seems to continue forever and I cannot see the end.

“What is this, really? It feels unpleasant.”

I remained standing in the middle of the way, not knowing where it leads to.

“What’s wrong?”

While I worried for a while, I heard a voice from behind and raised my lowered face.

When I looked back, I saw a strange old man standing there, smiling.

He didn’t seem to be a suspicious person, so I judged that this old man works at the palace. I thought of a proper excuse and tried to run away. I remembered it’s not good for me to exchange so much words to people related to the royal palace.

“No, it is nothing. I am being a hindrance while standing in the middle of the way, right? Pardon me.”

I did not see him walking here, so he must have pa.s.sed from the other way.

I intended to make room for the old man and moved aside.

“Good gracious…”

There should be nothing obstructing the old man since I already stepped aside, but the old man stayed still idly without giving any signs that he will walk forward.

“Uhm. Is there something wrong?”

I wondered if his condition is bad. The old man hardly said anything different from before.

“You.”

The old man started talking without answering my question nor even looking at me with a fleeting glance.

“Why did you stop here? I want you to tell me if it is alright.”

“No… I had some spare time, so I just stood there.”

Are you still fixated over this place? Why won’t you just go past me!? While I thought of that, he repeated the same thing.

“I see, I see. It was on my mind since you seemed to be looking at something. Was it my imagination?”

“Indeed.”

I thought the old man also saw it, but it looks like I’m wrong. I do not want to be considered a weird person so I gave a vague answer.

“It is sad but I can hardly see in this age. I cannot see your face very well. That is why I was worried.”

When the old man finished talking in a hoa.r.s.e voice, he watched me with a smile.

When I observed him, he is quite surely in his old age. The condition of his body may not be good anymore, either. Even if I say I came across something here or I was just staring absentmindedly here, I feel like it will still be suspicious no matter what.

Maybe I can say it to this person. He looked like he knows me, but I don’t remember meeting this person even for an instant.

“I saw a white film here a while ago. I asked what it was to the people with me a while ago, but they just pa.s.s through it… I was thinking what to do.”

“I see, I see. A white film, huh…”

The old man listened to my story without changing his expression. The old man muttered and grumbled to himself, while I looked for words to say.

“Are you easily scared that’s why you were afraid of it?”

“No way! It’s normal to be confused when there’s something as weird as that.”

My manner of speaking became rough as I denied it, but the old man said nothing and just narrowed his eyes.

After staring at each other for a while, I became aware that I was just compelled to say this kind of thing to a person I just met. An indescribable discomfort began to precipitate in my chest.

“Ah, really! Please cut it out. I am leaving. You should go, too! This is nothing at all.”

Stubbornly, I declared that to the old man who did not say anything.

If I don’t go back quickly, my disappearance will cause a commotion. I also feel bad it will betray Teacher Saleel’s expectation of me, that it will be alright to bring me since I am reliable.

I spit out those words and stand before the film. This time, I stepped forward without halting.

I entered inside while feeling the sense that something soft slowly pats me behind. The surrounding scenery doesn’t change and my body didn’t experience any pain, either.