I reincarnated as a losing heroine, the hero’s childhood friend who lost to the main heroine, so I switched jobs to alchemist

Chapter 12: Matching bracelets

Our last day in the Royal Capital, before returning to the village of Emme in the afternoon carriage, Arnold didn't go to see us, he didn't even return to the inn again after the exams.
Apparently, it's because those who passed the exams will be living in the Royal Castle from that moment on, the rooms were already prepared since long ago.
Miss Mercedez commented it to me in the morning and later, she went to the Castle to see if, following the royal protocol, there was still anything more required to be done.

According to the setting of The Last Brave, Arnold's parents - Elvira's parents - lived in an elves village deep in the woods.
In this world the racism against elves doesn't exist, but it is difficult for races with different lifespans to coexist with others... not to mention marriage or anything like that.

For that reason, the elves, as other races did too, established villages in various parts of the world only for those of their same race.
Thinking about Arnold, I'm not sure what to think about that.
He had been studying far away from his parents up until now, so from his perspective, I don't think his environment would be so different now that he had become an apprentice of the Royal Alchemist Master and have to live on the Castle.
But I'm still wondering about it... Why didn't he come to see us a last time before moving into the castle?
At least, as a farewell... Did he do the same with his parents, when decided to go to study under Miss Mercedes?
He was pretty confident on passing the tests easily and, knowing he'll have to live on Capital from there on...

"Laura!"

"Lucas, please wait!"

He is really excited about showing me the city, so excited that was leaving me behind without noticing.

"It's the shop over there... Laura, don't you like it?"

The "shop that seem as something I would like"...
The same one Lucas had mentioned yesterday was a lovely general store, with very fancy exterior decorations.

Was not it supposed to be a restaurant in the original plot of the "Last Brave"?

The question appeared on my mind without a moment of delay, but I quickly threw it out.
It's an interesting thought, but due to the nature of the Last Brave game, the only stores the "protagonist" needs are a weapon shop, armor shop, and tool shop.

Of course, that's fine for the game development, but since I'm living here now, it's the "real world".
And thus, even if those three stores are on high demand, it doesn't mean they must be the only stores in the city.

That's right, the juice bar where I bought Arnold's drink yesterday didn't even exist in the original "The Last Brave" scenario.
But, if a place as important for the plot story as the Fountain Square of Sittenhelm, has disappeared, this change seems even like a natural turn of events.

Lucas showed me the way but when we came closer to the store, I started noticing that the interior was full of pastel colors...
Sorry Lucas, but as I'm mentally older than I appear, I don't get carried away for things like this...

A lot of girls were filling the store - girls of the same age as us and some girls who were a little older.
There were a few boys too, but it seems they came dragged by the girls.

"You're so cute! I think I'll buy you as a souvenir and take you home....."

A girl mumbled as she stared at a small teddy bear on the display shelf near the entrance.
Thinking of it, you won't find such cute stuffed animals in the village of Emme, so I'm sure Petra and the others will be delighted when if I take something like that home as a souvenir.
Lucas looked at me as I shifted from one side to the other of the shop window looking carefully at the stuffed animals, smiled with satisfaction.

Loosing track of time, I drowned myself in the fancy space, filled with a cuteness and bright colors that you won't see in the village of Emme.
Even though I've lived for more than 30 years (including my previous life), I'm still a girl when it comes to indulging in these kinds of things.

I went around the store and bought some souvenirs always taking a moment to consult the amount of money available on my wallet.

In the meantime, Lucas was following me from behind, but he didn't follow me to the register.
After finishing paying, I spotted Lucas in front of a smaller display glass, not far from the register and went to his direction.

"After leaving the store, do you want some juice? I saw a good place to eat yesterday"

I was thirsty and remembering the juice bar where I bought a drink for Arnold, decided to suggest the idea to Lucas.
I thought he'd nod cheerfully at my words, and immediately accompany me there, but...

"Oh, yeah. Can you go ahead? I was thinking on buying some souvenirs for-- for my mom"

He smiled suspiciously while saying so, hiding something behind his back.
Even if it was pretty obvious that he had something hided, I decided to nod and went ahead as I was told without any further questioning.

When opened the door to the store, I glanced back at the store and saw Lucas hurriedly running to the cash register to pay for his "secret souvenir".
I'm sure he bought something, but why is he acting like that, hiding it from me?
Wondering, I sat on a bench in front of the store and waited for him, naturally, I decided to observe the people on the street.
A well-dressed lady.
A young girl selling bread.
A couple of two aged persons, but they seem as still having good health.
A young man in armor.
A man with a sword in his waist - Probably, a warrior or an adventurer.

... It seems as they're a lot more than before.
I wonder if the number of demons is increasing already.
But I haven't heard any story about that until now and there are still four years and a some months before Lucas leave the village to start his journey as the Hero.
Maybe the story is moving faster than I thought it would....
Even, so I know Lucas will be fine.
I know that, but ... I'm not sure if I'm ready for it to happen.

"I'm sorry, did you wait for too long?"

Before I noticed, I was looking at the ground with my head down, but Lucas' voice called out to me.
As I looked up, my vision encountered his golden hair shimmering, reflecting the sun's rays, focusing my view in his face, I smiled back at him.

"No, not at all. The shop is over there. Let's go."

*******

"Laura, this is..."

We sat down on a bench, and I was about to put my mouth on the apple juice I'd bought, when I heard my name called out.
In front of me, a bracelet with a beautiful shining color was being held out.
The person who offered it to me was, of course, Lucas and, looking at it closely, it was a very simple design.
I thought the store was only filled with cuteness but surprisingly, this one was beautiful and elegant.

"...a bracelet?"

"I bought it at the store this morning. Look here! I've the same one too."

Smiling, Lucas showed his right wrist to me, where a bracelet with the same design that the one he offered to me, was shining.
I take the bracelet from Lucas' extended hand and looked at it in the sunlight, glittering gold, accented with tiny rubies embedded in it.
It's probably an imitation not that expensive as the real thing, but I don't think it's too cheap either.

"Thank you. But... why?"

This question isn't because I don't like it but, today isn't my birthday and I haven't done anything important, so I cannot find a reason to be given a gift.

Loneliness blurred those blue color eyes.

"I knew that Laura was working hard, and I thought I knew that the Royal Alchemist Master was an important and great profession, but as I listened to the story this time, I felt like Laura had gone too far from me."

Lucas let out a sigh that seemed to come directly from his heart, carrying all his contained sorrow.

I knew that he would miss me in the future when I left the village, but maybe he felt that "that future" was closer after witnessed this trip's events...
From the bottom of my small young heart, some words started reaching my mind, regretting having left Lucas alone with Miss Mercedez and Master until today.
He had followed me, and I should have set aside some time for him or at least, be more interested on what he did during while I wasn't there.

"When Laura turn fourteen, you will leave the village and live here, right?　And that's when I thought, - She's going to forget about me-."

"Of course not! You should already know that won't happen!"

I've kept silence until now, but after hearing the nearly inaudible words coming from him I stood up and angrily retort.

"I know, I'm a pessimistic person" he said while shrugging his shoulders.
"Also I've thought, of course not, she's not the kind of girl who would forget about me… But even when I didn't want to think like that, I feel anxious...."

That won't ever happen! We've known each other since we were kids, it's impossible to forget about someone so close to you like that.

The words that popped into my mind, however, I swallowed them, thinking that even if I said them now, they would not be enough to make Lucas' fears disappear.
Surely the best thing I can do for him right now is to receive the bracelet with a smile on my face.

I wonder if Laura from "The Last Brave" had similar insecurities, just as Lucas has now.
She was waiting for him in the village of Emme...
Worrying about her childhood friend who had left the village to fight...
Worrying about the fate of this world...
Fearing that her existence would fade from her childhood friend's memory?

Laura and Lucas in "The Last Brave" were portrayed as if they'd never left the village of Emme during his childhood.
The two had known only a small, narrow world.

However after the game's events, while Laura will continue to know only the village of Emme, the world of the protagonist continued expanding.
A person who has fallen in love... filled with different, complex and new feelings...
In a situation like that, would probably think that the pain comes from realizing how insignificant he/she is to his childhood friend.

... If I dare to take the liberty of imagining Laura's feelings in the original "The Last Brave", my heart starts aching inside my chest.
After an ending like the game, I can only hope that somehow they find their own happiness.

"I thought it would be nice if this bracelet reminded you of me... sometimes."

"Thank you. I'll treasure it"

I replied, and quickly put the bracelet on my wrist, seeing this, Lucas smiled as if he was looking at something dazzling.
It wasn't the normal smile he shows to be gentle with everyone but when he is truly happy.
This bracelet has been blessed by the brave hero's true smile, I'm sure it'll help me a lot in a future.

"Let's go home... to the village of Emme."

Lucas nodded at my words as we stood up and walked away.
Naturally holding hands with each other, the matching bracelets gleamed on both wrists as if we were connected by them.

TRANSLATED BY http://novelsetromans.eklablog.com

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