Maelo Sansone carefully wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth as if handling something precious. I adjusted my posture and sat up straight, eagerly awaiting my master’s Jade Voice. Only after Maelo Sansone roughly ruffled my hair did he give his answer.
“I taught you how not to be intimidated by Murderous Intent, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore your intuition.”
“…Ah.”
“Remember, you only have one life, Michael Ernhardt. Are you going to act like this in a real battle?”
“No, I was wrong.”
“Good.”
I rose as Maelo Sansone got to his feet. Disregarding one’s life and rushing in is something one shouldn’t do even when facing a Mortal Enemy. Without realizing it, I had become complacent, knowing he wouldn’t harm me, and made it a habit. I shouldn’t have done that.
A strange pain made my whole body tingle.
“Cherish your body and slowly draw your opponent into your pace. Even when dealing with non-humans, treat them as if they were human. They are smarter than you think and have been fighting for survival for a long time.”
“Yes.”
“Do you think you’re stronger than me?”
“…No.”
“The weak should be more careful when hunting the strong.”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
Maelo Sansone turned his back and walked away. I followed. We stood five steps apart again, just like before. Without rushing, slowly… like dealing with a person.
I charged again. Kaang, a sharp sound rang out as sword met bare hand. I immediately retreated. I saw a faint smile flicker across Sansone’s lips and disappear. But I didn’t smile. With a serious mind, like a real battle.
Dozens, hundreds of exchanges flew by like sparks.
Even as I pushed out my sword and lunged forward, my grip aching, I was no match for him. The swelling arrogance gradually turned into anger. I swallowed my panting breath, suppressing the sound, and lowered my body. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t even cut a thread of his clothing.
Would I be like this when facing Wesley?
As I thought of the pale-faced man with lavender hair, Murderous Intent sprouted in a corner of my heart.
The sword reflects the dark heart. Each thrust of the sword was imbued with Murderous Intent. I aimed for my master’s throat and slashed with the sword in one swift motion, but it was futile. Sansone’s hand traced the side of the sword and rotated halfway around. I quickly pulled my body back to avoid being caught by his hand.
The wall of the training hall was close behind me, leaving me nowhere to run. I gripped the sword tightly with both hands and struck down at the hand trying to disarm me. Sparks flew as the blade collided with Sansone’s Palm Center, which was extended as if to tear my body apart.
Kuuung…!
An eerie sound, unbelievable for the sound of metal and hand colliding, filled the training hall. I clenched the sword hilt and was pushed back along with it. My grip slipped because my hands were slightly torn from enduring with strength. Maelo Sansone’s eyebrows lifted slightly. Whether it was admiration, pride, or just… pity for me, I couldn’t tell.
I never let go of the sword.
It was ingrained in my body. On the battlefield, I used to tie my hand and sword together with a belt. It was an unavoidable habit for my grip to tighten when I was most tormented and most afraid. Ah. I sighed and readjusted the sword in my hand. I suddenly felt dazed.
Come to think of it, haven’t I been thinking less about the Central Plains lately?
It was because the endearing Children had taken my mind off things. It was also because I had learned so many new, interesting, and different things. It was also thanks to the Martial artist of Hwagyeong who looked at me with worried eyes and gentle care…
In moments like these, I only remembered the past when the memories left in my body desperately clung to me.
It was a ridiculous thing.
“What’s wrong all of a sudden? You seemed half out of it.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s not something to apologize for, I’m just curious. Who did you think of that made you suddenly angry?”
I hesitated, unable to carelessly utter Wesley’s name. To Maelo Sansone, I was just one of many disciples. I knew that his gaze towards Wesley and his feelings towards me would not be different.
I shook myself off and checked my body. I wasn’t going to get hurt from rolling around this much.
“I just felt a little competitive.”
“Hmph. And you’ve only just become a Sword Master?”
“…I’m just a little greedy.”
He was a master who didn’t know that I had reached the Transcendent Peak level more than twenty years ago and had been spending arduous time ever since. Sansone tousled my hair, saying let’s stop for today. Under his attentive care, I kept having foolish thoughts.
In the end, I couldn’t suppress the rising curiosity.
“Wesley Kiadris… what kind of disciple was he?”
“Huh?”
A gentle smile permeated the gaze he gave me.
Whatever he was thinking, Maelo Sansone found me very endearing and burst into laughter.
“Well, he’s someone you can aim for. You must have heard a lot about him.”
“…Yes.”
“That guy… well, you could say he’s the complete opposite of you.”
“Yes?”
Maelo Sansone, who had opened my grip and looked at the torn wound, told me to go to the infirmary and talk, so I quietly followed him. It was a season close to late spring, but the night breeze felt cool against my wet body. I didn’t refuse Maelo Sansone’s coat that was draped over my shoulders.
I walked quietly beside him towards the infirmary. His voice, which felt somehow distant, slowly unraveled his memories.
“He was a strange guy. Compared to him, you’re on the endearing side.”
“…Strange?”
“Well, he’s a Kiadris, after all.”
I now knew the meaning of the name Kiadris in this land. They were swords that bloomed alone in the cold land. There were often rude jokes from children asking if they came from the west to those who had grown up harshly under heartless parents.
It was said that not only the current Duke Kiadris, but also his ancestors, were like that.
Even beasts cherish their young, so I wondered how they could be like that, but when I saw them teaching so harshly to open up their own path, I thought they must have some affection in their own way. It wasn’t my place to comment on how other families continued.
But I was curious about how Maelo saw them. Wilton Roberts was a watcher. I wanted to know about them through Maelo Sansone’s warm and affectionate eyes, not his cold eyes. I was afraid that I might be missing something again.
“I heard he didn’t have any close friends.”
“Close… well, you could say that… he wasn’t one to keep people by his side. He was also very thorough… but he’s not a bad guy by nature.”
“Perhaps.”
“Hmm?”
“Is the First Prince similar to Wesley in personality?”
“Huh?”
The smile disappeared from Maelo Sansone’s face as he turned to look at me. He thought for a moment, then barely gave a vague answer, saying he didn’t know. Until I arrived at the infirmary, treated my cheeks and hands, politely greeted him, and left, Maelo Sansone didn’t continue the conversation.
❖ ❖ ❖
As promised, on Saturday morning after the exam, I prepared to meet Rubel.
Before going to bed and after waking up, I spent a long time in front of the closet. I wondered if I should dress up since the Child would no longer be wearing a school uniform, but I hesitated, wondering if I should worry about my attire just to meet a close friend.
Shayden had paired up clothes, saying that this outfit should be worn with this, but I couldn’t tell which one was the most stylish and which one was the most plain. They all looked too flashy to my eyes.
But last time… when I went to the Second Prince’s palace to see Rubel, I remembered Rubel’s face when he was happy that I had dressed up well, so I didn’t want to go out carelessly.
After much deliberation, I chose an outfit that matched a blue vest. I wore the vest over a silky shirt with dark indigo pants. I hesitated and didn’t wear a jacket. After choosing a dark-colored belt to hang my Sword Armor, I became embarrassed and stared at Donggyeong for a long time.
I’m getting old and doing all sorts of things.
Seeing the pink-haired boy with a youthful face peeking around inside Donggyeong, I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. Embarrassed to look any further, I hurried away. I didn’t want to be late for the appointment.
I saw the black-haired Child standing tall in front of the academy gate, looking at his watch. The tips of the guy’s fingers, who had parked the carriage and was only looking at his watch, were red again. Because I was at a higher level than the Child, Rubel, who was standing at a distance, didn’t notice me right away.
I stopped walking and looked at the side of the boy’s, no, the young man’s face as he waited for me.
His calm face and slightly lowered eyes looked cool. He had grown up well. It was clear that the youthful air that had permeated his face would soon disappear in just a year or two.
How can I explain the feeling of longing even as I looked at him? After watching for a long time, I started walking again. As soon as I entered his range, the Child’s face lit up with a smile.
How cute.
“…Mika.”
“Why did you come out so early?”
“Because you told me to come out early…”
“We even set a time.”
“I didn’t come that early. I just got here.”
When I thought about it, it had only been a couple of months since I saw him at the beginning of the year, but I didn’t know why it felt like it had been so long and why I was so concerned. I felt uncomfortable every time my stomach churned when I saw him. I didn’t show it because I was worried that the Child would be upset.
Rubel, who was standing in front of the carriage door, hesitated and asked without getting in right away.
“Um, is there anything you want to do today… or anything you had in mind? If you want to Sparring first…”
“No. I have something I want to talk about today, so I’d like to go out right away.”
“Huh?”
The Child’s eyes widened. Knowing that Rubel was nervous, I raised my hand to pat his shoulder, but I withdrew it before my hand touched his body.
Anyway, I’ve developed strange habits. When I had the Child in front of me, the desire to hug and embrace him disappeared. I felt it was better not to touch him because I felt awkward and embarrassed for no reason. To bring a grown-up guy and do that.
Yes, it won’t do. I just pretended to be a kind voice to soothe the Child.
“Didn’t you say there were many restaurants you wanted to go to?”
“Ah, yeah. That’s right… then shall we go to number 23? You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?”
“No.”
The guy who got into the carriage first reached out his hand for me to grab, so I didn’t refuse and grabbed his hand and got into the carriage. I didn’t want to care about the fact that both he and I had developed the habit of escorting, but I couldn’t help but care.
And his hand is cold again.
How long had he been waiting? I came on time, but still. Really, for no reason.
“From now on.”
“Um, yeah?”
“You can wait inside the carriage.”
“…I will.”
The Child’s expression was so bright that I was embarrassed again. I looked out the window for no reason.