Respected and Beautiful Goddess Silberin
"Then, I'll be going now."
It had been such an emotional moment just moments ago, her chest heaving with feeling. But after only a few minutes, awkwardness and embarrassment set in. As Lianna glanced around cautiously and backed toward the door, Isaac lay back down on the bed.
"B-be careful."
She was just heading back to her room anyway—what was there to be careful about? Isaac himself had no idea, but he was blurting out whatever came to mind.
Lianna gripped the door handle. She hesitated as if about to step out, then carefully turned her head. Her cheeks flushed pink. Her small voice rang out clear and tentative, like tapping a stone bridge to test it.
"Um, Isaac…"
"Yeah?"
He wondered if she had more to say. But Lianna just stared at him intently, the words never following.
"What is it?"
"…"
"Lianna?"
Only when he called her name did she flinch. She bowed her head regretfully and murmured.
"You're back."
"…"
"I-I'll go now."
She fled like she was escaping. Isaac sighed as he watched the spot where she'd been, releasing the tension from his body.
Rea, huh.
That was a pet name from their old dating days, wasn't it? It was embarrassing and absurd that he'd let it slip out unconsciously.
Get it together, Isaac. No weird thoughts.
Lianna's appearance had been undeniably alluring. What man wouldn't be swayed by the sight of one of the kingdom's famous beauties holding back tears?
But he'd already fallen for that once before.
Absolutely not.
Isaac took a deep breath, firmly sorting out his emotions.
As a fellow swordsman. That's all it was—just joy. She's the swordswoman I always admired, after all.
"Sigh."
As he grumbled to himself, chiding his mind to straighten up—
Click.
The door opened again, and Vivian, the head of the infirmary, stepped inside.
"I heard you woke up."
"From Lianna?"
"Pardon? No, Lady Silberna told me."
Silberna? Isaac was briefly flustered but extended his right arm to Vivian for examination.
"There's still pain, right?"
"Yes, it hurts even now."
"To put it simply, you cracked an egg against a rock."
"…"
"Your right arm was the egg. It shattered from an impact it couldn't handle. Once my mana recovers, I'll cast a healing spell, but there might be some lingering aftereffects."
Isaac felt a chill of fear. Memories of giving up everything due to injury were still vivid.
Noticing the shadow on Isaac's face, Vivian added an explanation.
"It can't be helped. If anything, it's like you wielded something you weren't permitted to."
"Talking about talent again?"
Vivian, whom one might call a talent zealot. His mage supremacist views and sense of privilege for the gifted made it seem like he resented Isaac—a man with extremely low mana—pulling off such a sword strike.
"Yes, exactly. It's about talent."
"Didn't you see it with your own eyes?"
"That's why…"
Vivian rubbed his forehead, replying with a sigh and an uncomfortable tone.
"That's why it's so baffling. What you showed wasn't talent—it looked more like effort."
"…"
"Mages don't usually bend their convictions. Because we think more deeply, deliberate more, and arrive at answers than others!"
He twisted away hurriedly, sorting medicines in an awkward attempt to hide his embarrassment.
"So remember this! Breaking a mage's conviction is no small feat. I-I'm not someone who gets swept up easily or changes opinions lightly!"
Vivian cut away the splint and bandages on Isaac's right arm with scissors, then wrapped fresh ones.
"Keep coming for treatment. That way, I can see how far this 'effort' of yours takes you. How wrong I was…"
After finishing the bandages, perhaps having sorted his thoughts, Vivian stepped back. His gaze on Isaac held sincerity.
"Your back as you climbed the wall—"
The gait of one challenging the impossible, despite lacking power.
"It left a deep impression on me, in many ways."
As Vivian turned back to his duties, Isaac watched and asked.
"Hey—"
"Yes?"
"Even if things are bad between us, it's not weird to use a pet name for your wife, right?"
"…"
Vivian stared at him in an awkward half-crouch, then snorted and nodded.
"You didn't hear a word I said."
Sorry, but he hadn't had the bandwidth for that.
* * *
The great swarm had been resolved. The royals sent supplies in celebration and condolence. The Mallidan Wall buzzed with festival vibes under the guise of a victory feast for days.
A massive bonfire blazed in the training grounds' center. Everyone except minimal guards could rest until it burned out. But they'd stuffed it with logs and long-burning fossils, so it had raged nonstop for three full days. To the point where Uldiran posted sentries suspecting someone was adding fuel at dawn for extra rest.
Anyway. The Mallidan Wall, which had endured such hardship, spent its days in a relaxed atmosphere.
But naturally, with the swarm gone, farewells loomed.
Recon Squad 5 gathered together. Amid departing nobles, it was time for Meladic DrakeMoore to go too.
His family had urgently summoned him, so he couldn't even share a few drinks reminiscing.
"Actually leaving feels bittersweet."
He'd come north for real combat experience as a promising DrakeMoore heir. He'd gained ample battle seasoning beyond his years, and insights in many areas.
"Good work, Meladic."
"You too, Captain. Feels like yesterday we beat you down on day one."
"Lucky you listened after the thrashing."
Meladic grinned and shook hands with Silberna. After greeting everyone one by one, he stood before Isaac and gripped both his hands firmly—unlike the others.
"Thanks to you, I learned so much. Not DrakeMoore swordsmanship, but what Meladic's sword is. You opened my eyes."
Sincere gratitude from Meladic, who'd received much advice and learning. Isaac smiled back.
"Don't confuse learning with imitation. When you swing the sword, only you are there—purely."
"Hm?"
"Something someone told me. Stuck with me because I agreed."
"…"
"Remember you're a DrakeMoore. Don't fit yourself to it—where you go becomes the DrakeMoore path."
Sniff.
"Ah, the wind."
He grumbled, pretending the wind had just blown into his eyes to hide his surging emotions.
And so, Meladic DrakeMoore departed.
Many dispatched nobles had left early, complaining the north was suffocating. But this was the first from Recon Squad 5.
Even though it'd been just over a month together, the emptiness in their chests was surprisingly keen.
"You said that to me too, last time, right?"
On the way back from seeing Meladic off, Silberna sidled up and asked.
"Don't forget you're a Kaldias."
Advice not to fit herself to Kaldias spearmanship, but to advance as a Kaldias herself. It lingered deep in her heart—a source of pride and drive to refine her skills further.
"Who said that?"
"It was in a book."
"A book? What book?"
"Please recommend one. Let the lady read a bit."
Anna chimed in from the side, and Silberna pouted grumpily. Isaac gave a hollow laugh.
"Can't. It's a book that doesn't exist now."
To delve deeper, it was an autobiography.
And a will.
"Hm?"
Silberna didn't press. She doubted she'd read it even if handed to her.
"More importantly, Father wants to see you."
"The Marcher Lord?"
"He keeps asking about your condition."
Isaac still had his right arm in a splint and bandages. He got treatments whenever possible, but no healing magic yet. It required lots of mana, needing days to recover, so only basic care for now.
"Am I worrying him?"
"Nah, more like he wants to thrash you soon."
"…This?"
Isaac pointed to the silver taedo at his waist, resembling an ice crystal.
Silberna crossed her arms and nodded curtly.
"Right?"
"Ahem, Silberna. About this…"
"This? Did you just say 'this'? I named it, you know?"
"…"
"Don't like it? Then hand it over. I'll have Antonio melt it down right—"
"Okay! I got it!"
Isaac cleared his throat awkwardly. Anna smirked watching from the side, while Sharen and Jonathan glanced over. Lianna had slipped away unnoticed.
"This… 'Respected and Beautiful Goddess Silberin' is why he's calling?"
"Yeah. It's basically Frost Silver Light leaking out."
"Silberna, I'm grateful, really, but maybe change the name?"
"Nope."
Silberna shot him a displeased look and strode past. Isaac chased after her hurriedly.
"Wait, Silberna—hold on!"
Anna watched inwardly impressed.
The lady's got her weakness pinned perfectly.
* * *
Sunset bathed the serene Helmont mansion in warm light. On Arandel's desk lay a dispatch lavishly worded with the north's victory report.
With the swarm resolved, the Sword Eclipse proceeded without hitch. A bit delayed, but considering the extraordinary circumstances, it was fortunate.
"You called, Father?"
Eldest son Roengreen Helmont entered. Confident smile, upbeat stride. He'd heard the news of the swarm's defeat too.
"Truly fortunate. I worried the Sword Eclipse might be postponed, but now it can proceed smoothly—"
"You—"
Arandel cut off the needless chatter. As if not hearing his son's voice, he interrupted without hesitation.
"What are you swinging?"
Shoulders back, chest out, he answered boldly with confident smile.
"The Helmont sword."
"…"
Was the answer wrong? Roengreen swallowed under Arandel's heavy gaze and added.
"O-of course, compared to Father's sword, I'm sorely lacking—!"
"Hah."
A short sigh. Eyes closed briefly, Arandel uttered curtly.
"Don't become a derivative."
"…Pardon?"
That was it. Arandel returned to the dispatch, saying nothing more. Roengreen bowed blankly and left.
"What does that even mean?"
Crunch! Fist clenched till bones ground, he muttered through a twisted face.
"Helmont is Father, isn't it?"
Burying his frustration, Roengreen headed out for training again. Tomorrow, Mother returned. He'd ask her to probe Father's inscrutable heart.
Mother wants me as heir.