Chapter 13
I sensed death in that split-second instant. As the end of my life drew near, old memories unspooled before my eyes one by one. My parents weeping tears of joy at my birth. My first wobbly steps. The joy of a happy birthday party, the time I fell and bawled my eyes out, the triumphant thrill of my social debut. Even forgotten moments flashed by, reminding me of my life thus far, as if the grim reaper were granting me one last chance to relive those beautiful memories before eternal sleep—
Paht!
Thud crash!
A flying impact from somewhere sent my body tumbling, yanking me back to reality in an instant.
"Huh? ...Wha?"
"Snap out of it, my lady!"
As my dazed mind cleared, I saw a man's worried face gazing down at me.
"Mars... Noctus..."
"That's me. Let's get out of here first. By now, the staff probably know something's wrong with us, so we'll run until they track us down and rescue us."
He must have saved me while I stood frozen in terror. A glance sideways showed the spot where the monster had attacked reduced to rubble, and far off, the beast was eyeing us again, poised for another strike. The wall, which had looked so sturdy, was now deeply caved in—a clear sign of the creature's immense power.
"That thing... it's not an illusion, is it?"
"No. It's real. The academy's illusions barely have any physical force."
The academy minimized illusion-inflicted pain for student safety. You felt a slight impact to register a hit, but nothing life-threatening. In other words, an attack that could demolish terrain like this was no illusion—anyone could see that.
"My lady. This doesn't seem like an illusion at all. It's a real place, though I can't pinpoint where. Someone must have deliberately sent us here, to this monster."
"What?"
"And that thing? It's not a monster. It's a chimera. Probably made with... humans as the base material."
"!!"
Chimera creation was strictly forbidden alongside immortality pursuits. While monster research existed even at the academy, madmen had tried grafting monster power onto humans. Unlike humans who grew strong through mana or aura training, monsters were born with innate might—and these lunatics were obsessed with bestowing it upon people. Their brutal vivisections led to a continent-wide purge, their studies burned to ash and consigned to history's shadows.
"Why would that be here...?"
"Not the time. Run first!"
"...No, wait. I'll handle it."
"Pardon?"
"You said my last spell wasn't full power? Just stand back and watch!"
Gathering her mana to its absolute limit, Celine unleashed her strongest spell.
"Watch closely. This'll reduce that thing to ashes."
Inferno!
With Celine's incantation, a colossal pillar of scorching flame erupted beneath the chimera. The stone floor melted and fused from the intense heat—even from afar, the blaze seared her skin.
"My fire control isn't perfect yet, so I didn't want to use it... But against a brute like that, who needs control?"
But contrary to her expectations, when the flames cleared, the chimera stood unscathed.
"H-how...?"
Singed marks dotted its body from the spell's ferocity, but that was it. The chimera curled its lip in a sneer, as if mocking her attack as a mere tickle.
Celine knew instinctively: she couldn't win. It was a monster. A calamity made flesh. As its eyes fixed on her and the man, she realized they were marked as prey. It wasn't charging because it was toying with them—killable playthings whenever it tired of the game.
"...Run."
"Like I said, sprint full speed back the way it came—"
"No. I'll buy time. You run."
This man was weak. At best, a run-of-the-mill knight. A novice who hadn't even awakened aura couldn't scratch that beast's hide. His movements were quick, though—if he bolted at top speed, he might just survive.
"What are you saying? You want me to run alone?"
"You're the only one here who can fight that thing. You know I have magic talent, right?"
A prodigy since childhood. Channeling her remaining mana, she couldn't kill it, but she could restrict its movements briefly. Forcing her trembling legs to stand, Celine steeled herself.
"What bullshit is that? Why go so far to save me? Weren't you in love with Polo or something?"
"...I was. I am."
Even now. With death looming, he was her first thought. The first man she'd truly liked. She'd fallen for his handsome face, dreamed of making him hers—but now, leaving without confessing, she felt pathetic and small. If only I'd told him how I felt... Regret clawed at her heart.
"But I'm a noble. Daughter of a proud ducal house, right? Nobles have a duty to protect the nation, the people, our families."
Her father's words to her and her sister. Proud of their founding duke lineage, he'd always stressed a noble's obligations. She might be arrogant and willful at times, but she'd never forgotten that pride.
"Looking at that monster's power, neither of us is making it out. Someone has to play bait for even a slim chance. And even if I used you as bait, Polo wouldn't be happy about it, would he?"
"...Just lie about it."
"I'm terrible at lying. It shows on my face."
"..."
No reply came, but it didn't matter. He'd flee soon enough, leaving her behind. Would her parents grieve? Why did she feel so sorry toward her bickering sister? What faces would her friends make? Would Polo mourn? Their bond was shallow—no deep talks, no lasting mark. But if he remembered her now and then, that would be enough.
"Hah, shit."
Thwack—
"...Huh?"
A curse, then a jolt to the back of her neck. Strength drained from her limbs as Celine's vision flickered.
Ma... rs?
The last thing she saw was Mars's face, twisted in annoyance.
The Helios family's knight training grounds.
"One more time!"
"Haat!!"
"Haat!!"
The house knights swung their swords in unison—a magnificent sight.
"That's training for today. Rest up, then back to personal duties. Dismissed!"
"Thank you, sir!!"
"Thank you, sir!!"
With the knights' booming cheers, the session ended. Newbie knight Polo happily stowed his training weapon.
"Hey, Polo. Coming along nicely?"
"Ah, Vice Commander! Sir!"
"Haha. Expert at your age? Masterclass isn't far off."
Startled by Vice Knight Commander Karun's arrival but eased by his beaming encouragement, Polo relaxed.
"You think? I still feel so far behind..."
"Where else is there talent like yours? Be proud!"
"The family head's right there."
"...He's a whole other league."
Beginner, Expert, Master—the standard aura user stages. Unlike magic, awakening aura was brutally hard for knights, but once achieved, it granted far greater power than ordinary swordsmanship. Most knew up to Master, but there was one step beyond.
"Aura Lord..."
Lord. The sword's sovereign. Those who reached it could topple kingdoms alone—and their liege, Count Helios, was one such being. Honoring a liege who'd attained a realm reached by only three in history was glorious... but burdensome at times.
"To someone like that, I'm just a kid. I've never heard the family head acknowledge anyone's swordsmanship."
"...He has."
"Pardon? Must've misheard."
"Ah, nothing. Means I need more training myself."
"Haha, right."
Polo didn't need the truth: Count Helios had acknowledged one person's sword. A monster who'd hit Aura Lord in his teens—the only one in history.
"Mars Noctus..."
Recalling the young master he'd served and the man sharing academy life with him, Karun worried briefly—then chuckled, figuring if it was him, no need for concern, and left the grounds.