The Strofe Family (3)
Even though I was utterly shocked by the Aura I had just manifested and couldn't stop staring at the blade of my iron sword, the spectators watching my duel with Luke didn't seem particularly surprised. While a few looked mildly intrigued, none shared my internal bewilderment. Did they simply assume it was natural for a Hero to wield Aura when using a weapon other than the Holy Sword?
"..." Having actually drawn out the Aura, I was now at a loss as to how to handle it. If I fought the way I did when slaughtering monsters with the Holy Sword, I risked laying waste to the entire training ground. But if I held back too much, I feared I wouldn't be able to control the Aura at all.
"...So that is the color of your Aura, Hero." Unaware of my inner dilemma, Luke's voice drifted over from across the field. Honestly, after fighting this far, shouldn't he have realized something by now? "Experiencing your Aura firsthand will surely help me understand your true intentions better."
No, he hadn't realized a damn thing. Stubborn bastard. I let out a sigh and adjusted my grip on the hilt. I might as well use this opportunity to learn how to handle a sword that didn't communicate with me.
"Here I come!" With gleaming eyes, Luke kicked off the ground and lunged at me. His blue Aura surged forward like a tidal wave. I didn't dodge, nor did I deflect it. I swung my sword in the exact opposite trajectory of Luke's strike. First, I would meet him head-on.
Boom—!!! An explosion that sounded nothing like two swords clashing reverberated through the air, sending a shockwave rippling across the entire training ground. Worried that the young, unsuspecting Karin might get hurt, I glanced in her direction, but Grand Duke Kuenor was standing firmly beside her like an immovable shield.
"You are strong, Hero." Meanwhile, my Aura and Luke's seemed to be almost equal in power. Deep gouges, looking as if a giant beast had clawed the earth, scarred the ground around the epicenter of our clash.
"Once this duel is over, whether I win or lose, I believe I will finally accept you."
I let out a dry chuckle. Right, as long as you accept me, there won't be anyone left in Evernode to give me a hard time for no reason.
"...But since we have started this duel, we must see it through to the end, must we not?" Luke said, raising his sword. I nodded.
A torrent of power swirled around my blade. Suddenly, the Holy Sword's words about softness came back to me.
It was an elusive sensation, hovering just on the edge of my grasp. This was especially true now, with an Aura blade humming in my hand. A method to control this power was flickering in my mind, yet it remained faint and abstract, shrouded like a mist. Still, that tiny thread of a clue was enough for now.
The flickering silver Aura settled onto the blade, responding to my will. I moved my sword as if channeling a massive river, launching into an offensive. Undeterred, Luke threw his own Aura head-on against my blade. Steel clashed against steel.
Luke's defense against my strikes was textbook—highly organized and stable. Unfortunately for him, my swordplay—or rather, Elroy's style—was a terrible matchup for such textbook techniques. A fierce exchange of blows ensued, but the tide of battle was gradually turning in my favor.
Clang—!! I instinctively knew that the next strike would decide the match. Our swords crossed, and we swept past each other, swapping positions—
Crack. A fracture ran down my iron sword, and a portion of the blade crumbled away. The knights and soldiers gasped, their eyes widening in shock. Soon, a low murmur rippled through the crowd.
"...Did Young Master Luke win?"
"He beat the Hero?"
Hmm. I don't think that's quite what happened. I withdrew my Aura from the half-broken sword and lowered it. Turning around, I saw Luke staring at his own sword in disbelief. Then—
Clink. With a sharp metallic ring, the Aura fading from Luke's sword vanished, and his blade snapped cleanly in half. The broken tip fell and embedded itself into the dirt. The murmurs of those who had anticipated Luke's victory died down, replaced by a stunned silence.
Luke stared quietly at his broken weapon for a moment before letting his arm drop to his side.
"...Incredible," Luke said, his voice sounding remarkably light.
The referee, who had been watching closely, declared my victory. As Luke and I shook hands, cheers erupted from the knights and soldiers.
Fortunately, instead of rushing toward me, they all crowded around Luke, offering "consolation" that was anything but comforting.
"You got completely wrecked, Vice-Commander! But man, that was fun to watch."
"You're not going to pout over this, are you?"
"Seriously, why did you even challenge him in the first place?"
...No, these crazy bastards weren't consoling him at all; they were just straight-up teasing him. The solemn, dignified image of Evernode I had initially held in my mind was completely shattered. In its place was a bunch of trolls who lived to mock their comrades. Where did it all go wrong?
"Piss off, all of you. I want to be alone."
"Are you crying? Are you going somewhere to cry?"
"Honestly, if you're embarrassed, just say so. To be fair, it was pretty embarrassing for us to watch too."
Cutting through the noisy banter, Grand Duke Kuenor stepped in front of Luke. His eyes held no reproach for his defeated son.
"I lost, Father."
"You did well. It seems your time in the Royal Capital was not spent in vain."
"Still, it is true that I am lacking."
Grand Duke Kuenor glanced in my direction. What? I shrugged, and the Grand Duke let out a wry chuckle, shaking his head.
"Work hard so that you may defeat the Hero one day. Just because you lost once does not mean you are destined to lose to him forever."
That old man definitely intended to say something else, but changed his tune the moment he saw me. Beside him, the "Iron-Blooded Princess" patted her brother's leg with a worried expression, trying to comfort him.
"Cheer up, Brother."
"...Thank you, Karin."
My party members approached me. Daphne handed me the Holy Sword. Normally, she would have asked me all sorts of questions, but the Holy Sword remained silent. Was she still sulking?
The Holy Sword spoke with a prickly tone.
Indeed. Although I had only caught a faint, blurry glimpse of it, I felt like I was beginning to understand what she meant by "handling power."
Sure, sure. I'll give you a nice polish later.
When I teased her in my mind, the Holy Sword abruptly cut off the connection. I felt a little guilty. Perhaps staying in Evernode had caused the knights' mischievous nature to rub off on me.
Pitter-patter. Just then, I heard timid footsteps approaching. They sounded somewhat like Daphne's, but much smaller and far more hesitant. Turning my head, I saw little Karin standing beside me. Behind her, Luke and Grand Duke Kuenor stood side by side, watching her intently. What are you guys doing, watching her like parents sending their kid on her first errand?
"Hero... congratulations on your victory."
Her vocabulary wasn't extensive, but her polite speech was highly formal. I wondered if she was being a bit too formal, but considering her nickname, I figured it made sense.
"Thank you, Iron-Blooded Princess—no, Karin."
Seriously, these Evernode trolls. And Karin, I had no idea how she had managed to come up with such a perfectly fitting nickname. Unaware of my struggle to suppress my laughter, Karin's eyes sparkled as she clearly and deliberately made her proposal.
"I would like to guide you and your companions through the upcoming Midsummer Festival."
"The Midsummer Festival?" Hearing the unfamiliar term, I turned to Grand Duke Kuenor.
"In Evernode, we hold a festival for three days around the summer solstice. It starts this weekend. Though we are preparing for war against the Calamities, the opening skirmishes have not yet begun. I believe it is only fair to allow the people some time to enjoy themselves."
The Grand Duke approached and patted Karin's head proudly.
"During the festival, everyone in Evernode except the patrol guards puts down their work to enjoy the newly arrived summer. While endless days without night aren't entirely pleasant, summer is a far more welcome guest than the bitter cold."
So the estate being noisier than usual wasn't just because the Grand Duke's family had returned. I quietly listened to the sounds drifting from outside the training ground. The bustling noise and energy were quite different from the usual mechanical routine. It was a restless, vibrant energy born of genuine excitement.
"I hope you and your companions can forget about your duties for a short while and enjoy the festival. I haven't even had the chance to show you around the territory properly yet."
The summer sun beat down brilliantly. Grand Duke Kuenor squinted slightly against the glare, a faint smile playing on his lips. I returned the smile, but mine lacked genuine warmth. The first warm breeze of summer was blowing in.
Shuck, shuck. I wiped down the hilt of the Holy Sword with a clean cloth. The leather wrap around the hilt didn't seem to be made of ordinary leather; despite its long use, it remained stiff and sturdy. I wiped the pommel at the end of the hilt and rubbed the crossguard. Dirt, dust, and dried blood came off onto the cloth.
The Holy Sword spoke in my mind with a soft sigh. My eyes widened in surprise. She spoke as if this was the first time she had ever been polished. "Did your previous wielders never clean you?"
The Holy Sword said playfully. I chuckled softly and applied oil to the cloth. Then, I carefully wiped down the Holy Sword again, starting from the pommel. Just as she had said, the blade was in the exact same pristine condition as when I had first seen it, but I paid no mind and meticulously wiped down the entire length of the sword. I cleaned every groove and engraving, leaving no spot untouched.
"Well, even if I polish it like this, your blade was already glowing anyway, so it doesn't make much of a difference."
The blade did seem to shine a bit brighter, but it didn't have any special magical effect. When I grumbled slightly in disappointment, the Holy Sword softly disputed my claim. I let out a quiet laugh. I supposed I would have to polish her more often.
I quietly polished the Holy Sword while gazing out the window. Golden sunlight streamed into the room, and through the glass, I could see people walking along the streets.
"No. Nothing's wrong. Really." The Holy Sword had read my mood perfectly, but there wasn't actually anything wrong in the present. What I was worried about lay in the future. I was anxious about this fortress, which would soon have to stand against the Calamity. I wondered if I could truly fight and protect it, and if I would be able to face the entity I had glimpsed within the Crown of Thorns.
"Yeah. I should." As I spoke, I narrowed my eyes, watching Grand Duke Kuenor and his family walking in the distance. I wasn't sure if it was my place to worry about him, but...
In the original story, Kuenor Strofe dies in battle against the Giant.
Watching the Grand Duke smile warmly at his youngest daughter, I quietly bit my lip.