Effort and Aspiration
Nobles dispatched to the Mallidan Wall had been there for a week now. More had happened than expected, but that was just the beginning. The nobles were slowly adapting to the North, and the Wall's soldiers were building their own bonds with them.
It was 4 a.m., before dawn broke. Silberna, switching shifts, yawned as she slung her spear over her shoulder.
"Yaaawn... So sleepy."
The nobles' arrival hadn't made shifts any easier. If anything, recent monster swarm activity meant even dawn patrols often turned into early action.
"Milady."
Anna, who had stood watch with her, popped out from the departing soldiers and approached Silberna.
"Anna, wanna hit the kitchen before bed and beg the head chef for some soup?"
"No, milady. More importantly..."
Anna leaned in close, whispering so the others couldn't hear.
"Why aren't you wearing your binder lately? The soldiers are starting to whisper about it, you know."
"..."
As if she didn't know. She could even feel the sidelong glances. The Wall soldiers tried not to stare, but the dispatched nobles were blatant sometimes. It annoyed her, but it stung her pride too, making her strut even more defiantly.
"That obvious?"
Silberna glanced down at her chest. She knew it was an asset as a woman, but as a spear-wielding warrior, it was nothing but a nuisance.
"Very. Why the sudden change? You used to wear it even to sleep because it bothered you."
"I did, but... well..."
Silberna sighed. She waited until the last watch soldiers passed, then spoke.
"Someone told me I should get used to these."
"Pardon?"
"Said from now on, when swinging my spear, I need to get accustomed to having big breasts. That there'll come a time I can't use a binder."
"Why couldn't you?"
"...They'll get even bigger."
Anna stared blankly at Silberna, whose rare blush and averted gaze were oddly cute.
'Even bigger here?'
Big enough a binder couldn't handle? When Anna asked who spouted such nonsense, Silberna mumbled a whisper.
"Uh, Isaac."
"What?!"
The name dropped out of nowhere.
"Isaac said physical changes are something you have to accept. That's why he gave up Helmont greatswords himself."
"Th-that's the same? Isn't that sexual harassment?!"
"Anna, what are you saying? He said it thinking of me."
"Even so."
Anna knew Silberna had been spending more time with Isaac lately. His spear insights on the second day at the training grounds were astonishing. Even some Wall soldiers sought his advice regularly, and satisfaction was sky-high from the growth they felt.
"Anyway. I don't think he's entirely wrong. It's not just about them getting bigger— you can't always wear a binder, right?"
"True..."
"What if it snaps mid-fight?"
"I've sewn so many buttons on your shirts I lost count."
"Ahem, anyway, that's why—"
As the two headed back to the barracks, a whoosh of wind-cutting steel echoed from the training grounds. Both heads turned to see Isaac alone in the dark corner, swinging his sword.
"Isaac?"
"He's out every day like that," Anna added to Silberna's surprise. "Hits morning PT without fail too."
"No patrols?"
"Nope. And at night, his light's the last to go out. Know how many candles he's gotten this week?"
As someone handling supplies, Anna would know.
"Soldiers are saying, 'Are all Helmonts like that?' It's quietly motivating."
"...Impressive."
Silberna murmured, staring blankly at him. Anna, watching her, felt a chill and quickly warned.
"He's married! You know that, right, milady? Lianna Helmont's husband! Stick too close and rumors will fly!"
They were rival houses. The Kaldias heiress making moves on the Helmont eldest's husband? Gossip fodder for sure.
"I know, I know. Never saw him as a man anyway. Just admiring the effort from someone grinding like me."
"R-right? That's it, yeah?"
"Stop worrying weirdly."
Silberna laughed, raising her hand high in greeting.
"Hey! Isaac! Up since dawn, huh?"
Isaac, who had set his sword down to squat and scribble something, whipped his head around. He waved back with a faint smile.
'Handsome guy.'
Anna admitted it. No wonder he charmed the Blood Rose. Sweat-slicked, he looked mysteriously sexy compared to the North's rugged men.
"What's he writing, though?"
Anna shifted thoughts; Silberna tilted her head curiously too.
"Yeah."
Suddenly stopping mid-swing to write? They trotted over.
"Dawn training, huh."
"Good morning."
Isaac nodded briefly at their greetings.
'Did we interrupt?'
Anna eyed his less-than-thrilled vibe, but
"Whatcha doing? Lemme see."
The North's wild lady approached casually, peering at his book.
"Sword manual?"
Isaac showed it freely, curious for her take.
"Hmm?"
"..."
Anna peeked too. Neat script and diagrams explained precisely, but later pages added improvements and fixes.
"You writing this yourself?"
Not an existing manual, but a new one? Isaac nodded at Anna's question.
"Yeah."
"...But you're Helmont?"
Anna asked carefully. Could the Helmont son-in-law use something other than their swords? Isaac smiled awkwardly.
"Can't swing Helmont greatswords. Born with weak strength."
"Ah, r-right."
Of course a commoner like Isaac couldn't match Helmont's blessed genes.
"But Isaac."
As awkwardness settled, Silberna— engrossed in the manual— asked without looking up.
"What sword is this even for?"
"..."
"Not a Helmont greatsword, not a standard two-hander. One-handed, but no shield either."
Her points were spot-on. Even from text alone, she'd caught the nuances. Isaac smiled, impressed by her insight.
"Right. The sword I'll use... is rare in the kingdom. My master's."
"Master?"
"Yeah. Can't say more."
He dodged deliberately. Curious, but they saw he wouldn't elaborate.
'If I can wield a sword, it's thanks to Great Master. I wanted to be just like her.'
Two people shaped Isaac's sword path: Lianna Helmont, sparking his awe in a slum kid; Great Master, confirming it suited him through endless demos.
"We're heading to the kitchen to wheedle soup from the chef— wanna come, Sir Isaac?"
Anna steered to lighten the mood.
"Yeah! I smuggled cheese— let's add that."
Silberna playfully tugged him; he followed with feigned reluctance.
"And hey. If you need help, say so. Whatever I can do."
Silberna added smiling. She guessed his Helmont treatment for lacking their sword style. Touched, Isaac nodded.
"Thanks. Appreciate it."
Anna watched the two bond, that nagging doubt returning.
'Nah?'
No way. Even for her lady.
'Gotta be nothing.'
He was married, after all.
A woman with long black hair cascading down. Wolf ears perked atop her head, she shouldered a slender, crescent-moon-like greatsword and spoke.
"Call me Great Master."
Her abrupt words puzzled the disciples before her.
"Great Master?"
"You've always been 'Master' till now."
"Some change of heart?"
Elite disciples all. She pointed her staff at Isaac among them.
"That one's threatening my position. You're all flocking to learn from him."
No one denied it. Isaac knew more than anyone, even if he couldn't swing a blade.
Thus, the master became "Great Master."
After dismissing all but him.
Great Master perched on the windowsill, tilting her cup with a laugh. Isaac apologized to her.
'Sorry. I overstepped, causing you trouble.'
"Hm? What're you on about?"
Great Master chuckled dryly.
"Don't misunderstand. I said it 'cause some disciples whined their pride stung learning from you."
'...'
"Kid, your talent's special. Maybe why heaven took your leg."
'Great Master, my efforts are—'
"I know. You want a sword you can swing, even with one leg."
But pity filled her eyes.
"Impossible. No matter your effort, real swordsmen will crush you."
His grip tightened on the staff. His useless leg felt especially cursed.
"Kid."
Great Master offered no comfort. Just stated truth calmly.
"Such a shame."
'Great Master...'
"If only I'd found you sooner."
Great Master didn't look at him. Just gazed at the distant full moon, drinking in quiet loneliness.
"Assembly!"
Silberna's shout snapped Isaac awake. Like a seasoned soldier, he bolted from bed and out the door. In the hall, armored Silberna was mustering the nobles.
"Full gear, training grounds in ten!"
Her urgent tone and actions screamed this was no drill. Mallidan's long night was about to begin.