After Story: A Certain Season (1)
Time flowed swiftly.
The love that overcame hardships and adversity, and the dream which took a lifetime to reach.
And the happiness they finally achieved after enduring it all.
As time passed, these experiences settled into their lives, becoming familiar and cherished.
About seven years had passed since the white-haired woman and black-haired man had children who looked just like them. Throughout this time, they embraced the happiness they fought so hard to achieve.
Today as well, the northern cabin of Elia was bathed in the light of their happiness.
“Mother!”
A young voice echoed.
The bouncing footsteps were full of cheerfulness.
It was Lennon, Vera and Renee’s child who turned seven this year.
He rushed into his mother’s arms as his white hair fluttered, his ashen eyes filled with love.
“Lennon, you’re back?”
The beautiful woman, who looked so much like the child that anyone could tell they were mother and son, smiled.
The boy grinned widely, wrapped his arms around his mother’s neck and said,
“Yes! Today’s lessons were fulfilling, too!”
“Well done. Where’s your sister?”
“She went for sword training!”
Lennon continued, chattering away like a bird about what had happened today.
How the twins he met at the wall were, and where the Pirate King had cried alone again.
How nice it was when Vargo patted his head, and how funny it was when Trevor crawled on all fours.
…Wait.
Renee’s expression gradually became strange as she listened to the story.
“And Sir Rohan got rejected by a woman! He thought he had a chance because she was a widow, but she said she didn’t like priests!”
Lennon’s cheeks turned red as he giggled, and Renee forced her stiff cheeks into an awkward smile.
These people…?
Just… what the hell are they teaching my child?
I repeatedly told them to be careful with their words and actions in front of the children, but it seems they’ve forgotten that and caused trouble again.
It seems I might need to ‘educate’ them soon.
As Renee was trying to calm her boiling insides with such thoughts, Lennon called out to her.
“Mother?”
“Ah, I was just thinking about something else. Shall we go in and eat quickly?”
“Yes!”
Renee picked up Lennon and headed inside the cabin.
Lennon’s face lit up with happiness at the fragrant smell wafting through the air, and he exclaimed again.
“It’s Mother’s cooking!”
“Yes, I made it myself today.”
Lennon stomped his feet excitedly at her words, accompanied by a soft chuckle.
“Hurry…!”
It would be a lie to say she didn’t feel satisfied after seeing him already swallowing his saliva in anticipation.
Renee felt her shoulders unconsciously straighten as she sat Lennon at the table and headed to the kitchen.
She ladled a generous portion of the dark brown stew from the pot into a bowl and brought it to the table.
“Thank you for the meal!”
He exclaimed joyfully.
Lennon scooped up a large spoonful of stew and shoved it into his mouth.
His body shuddered, and his face lit up.
“It’s delicious!”
A bitter and salty taste filled his mouth, followed by a stale and greasy flavor, and finally, a spicy kick to top it off.
Lennon felt like he might lose his mind from the barrage of flavors warring in his mouth.
The laughter of mother and son began to fill the space.
It was a scene that would have made Vera and Leni shudder if they had been present.
…That’s right.
Only Lennon had inherited Renee’s bizarre tastebuds.
Vera and their daughter Leni were going about their daily routines, unaware of what was happening at home.
“Why do Father and Sister dislike such delicious food?”
“They just don’t understand the taste. Your dad and sister need to study fine cuisine a bit.”
Renee, her spirits lifted, nodded as she spoke.
Thinking his mother was so cool, Lennon let out an “Ooh!” of admiration.
“C-Can I… become a great gourmet too?!”
“Of course, whose son are you after all?”
A warm atmosphere.
As Lennon was giggling and eating in this atmosphere, he suddenly raised his head.
“Ah! I met Lady Jenny today, too!”
He was about to talk about what he hadn’t managed to say in front of the cabin earlier.
Renee smiled.
“With Jenny? She must be back from her dispatch.”
“Yes! I talked with Lady Jenny, and I think I should marry an older sister too!”
Clunk—
It was a shocking declaration.
Renee was so stunned that her mind went blank for a moment, and she stuttered in response.
“O-Oh…?”
What in the world does he mean?
Why is the conversation suddenly heading in that direction?
I-Is it puberty?
Did the time come for him to be interested in the opposite sex?
No, isn’t he only seven?!
Is this what they call growing up too fast?
Are kids these days trying to become adults so quickly?
Renee’s body trembled.
She couldn’t figure out what to say to her son who declared he wanted to marry a woman 20 years older than him.
Meanwhile, Lennon continued speaking with his hands on his hips and his head held high.
He spoke in a boastful manner.
“Kids my age are too childish. They cry at the slightest thing and their thoughts are so shallow! To have a proper conversation, I need to meet and marry an older woman! I’m a person of high standards after all!”
Who the hell is putting this nonsense into my son’s head?
Renee swallowed her surprise and asked.
“J-Just who…”
“Lady Annalise!”
…The culprit had been caught.
Renee’s fists clenched tightly.
Veins popped out on her forehead.
That damned old hag…!
It seems she has a death wish.
Renee suppressed her rising anger, etching yet another person’s karmic debt into her mind.
In recent years, a captivating sight had become a regular occurrence in the Grand Temple’s Paladin barracks.
It was the sword dance of a young, black-haired girl.
This otherworldly display made onlookers doubt their eyes from the moment they saw it.
Indeed, it would be strange not to have one’s soul captivated by the sight of her wielding a greatsword as tall as herself, filling the space with golden hues.
Hela, who had risen to the position of captain in the Paladin Order over the years, stared in awe at the girl, Leni.
…She’s good. It’s an unbelievable talent.
Not simply swinging a sword, but freely wielding it while imbuing it with divinity — anyone will say it’s the skill of a sword master, yet the one performing this feat is a mere seven-year-old girl. It’s nothing short of astonishing.
As expected, isn’t this Vera’s daughter?
As Hela continued her thoughts, she chuckled.
Well, her teachers…
Her sword instructors are Vera and Vargo.
The one teaching her divine arts is Theresa.
With such unparalleled teachers and innate talent that transcended mortal bounds, it was understandable that she would turn out this way.
As these thoughts continued, Leni stopped her sword dance.
Her hair was wet with sweat, and her slightly opened eyes emitted a chilling silver light.
“Well done.”
Hela approached her and said that.
Leni nodded and accepted the towel she was handed, wiping her forehead.
Her actions were natural, as if being served was only to be expected.
Seeing this, Hela thought.
She really takes after His Holiness more.
No matter how I look at it, this young girl seems to be the spitting image of her father.
From her distant expression to her unexcitable personality, and even her competitive spirit and desire for achievement.
Her disposition was the complete opposite of Lennon, who always chattered away with a smiling face.
Leni opened her mouth.
Though her voice was young, her demeanor was that of someone in a position of authority.
“The time?”
“There is about two hours left until sunset.”
“Any guests?”
“None. Everyone seems to have commitments today.”
“Then I’ll practice a bit more before leaving.”
Thud—
Leni tossed the towel.
Hela caught it and scratched her cheek.
“Will you not return home? I heard earlier that the Saint was preparing dinner herself today…”
“That’s why I’m not going.”
A shadow fell over Leni’s face. Her body was trembling slightly.
“…Just so you know.”
The fear was evident in her expression as she blushed slightly and turned her head away.
Even for Leni, hailed as a prodigy blessed by heaven, her mother’s cooking was something to be feared.
Hela chuckled.
She found it endearing how Leni acted like a child only at times like these.
“Anyhow…!”
“I see. Then shall I prepare your meal here before you leave?”
“Do that.”
As Leni swung her arms, her body was enveloped in golden divinity.
She seemed about to start training again.
When Hela took a step back, a new voice entered.
“Working hard, I see.”
Freeze—
Leni’s body halted.
Hela’s eyes widened as she turned her head.
There was a man entering from the entrance.
He had sharp features, black hair, and ashen eyes.
The prominent muscles visible under his priestly robes showed that he was a knight who didn’t neglect his training.
“Greetings, Your Holiness.”
Hela bowed her head upon seeing Vera.
Leni’s lips twitched nervously, and Vera smiled at this sight.
“Leni, aren’t you going to greet me?”
“It’s good to see you, Father.”
She replied with flushed cheeks.
Leni then slowly walked towards Vera.
“Aren’t you busy?”
“I have enough time to watch my daughter’s training.”
“Aren’t you here to avoid Mother?”
Thump—
Vera flinched. His eyes narrowed.
However, his mental state wasn’t low enough to be defeated by his daughter, so Vera immediately counterattacked.
“You seem to be training longer than usual today.”
“I’m just trying to work hard.”
“Skipping meals? You know how important meals are for training.”
Leni giggled.
Vera also smiled and patted her head.
“Why don’t you stop now and come with your father? I hear some good meat just arrived from Oben.”
“We’ll eat secretly from Mother and Lennon. Right?”
“I’m so glad to have such a perceptive daughter.”
The father and daughter’s whispers filled the room.
Hela, who was listening to all this right beside them, looked off into the distance and thought.
…Two children.
Two kids fussing over food.
Renee must have it tough.
That’s what she thought.
…But Hela didn’t know how Renee’s cooking was evolving.
In the office of the Grand Temple.
Vera looked at his daughter while slicing well-grilled meat on the table.
Her posture was straight as she used her knife, presenting a truly refined image, but the grinning face amid all this clearly showed that she was still a young girl.
“How is your training going?”
It was a question asked while giving her the adult-like treatment she seemed to crave, finding her attempts to act grown-up adorable.
Leni’s head snapped up at this.
Then, startled, she coughed a few times before speaking.
“It’s progressing smoothly. I can now freely manipulate sword aura.”
Though she spoke as if it wasn’t a big deal, her tone was full of pride.
She seemed quite satisfied with her own achievements.
“Is that so? Let’s have a sparring match soon, then.”
Leni’s face brightened.
“Really?!”
She exclaimed, jumping to her feet.
At the mention of sparring, Leni’s face flushed, all pretense of adulthood gone.
It was pure excitement.
“Yes. If you meet your father’s standards in this sparring match, I will give you a real sword.”
Leni’s eyes sparkled like stars.
“Hey, you promised…!”
She was a daughter with exceptional ambition and competitiveness.
As such, she was easily hooked by competitions and rewards.
Vera nodded with a pleased expression.
“Yes, I promise. You know your father’s promises are absolute, don’t you?”
How could she resemble him so much?
Vera felt a pleasant sensation as he put a piece of meat in his mouth.
As he did so, he thought.
As for Lennon…
He had no talent for swordsmanship.
Not just lacking talent, he was terribly uncoordinated.
…He takes after Renee completely.
Really, they could have shared traits more evenly.
The twins, as if disliking resembling each other, showed such different aspects.
“When will we spar? Tomorrow? No, we could do it right after eating!”
“Slowly, let’s take it slowly. If we go back too late, your mother will be angry.”
“Ugh…!”
Leni’s expression scrunched up in dissatisfaction, and Vera burst out laughing as he tried to calm his eager daughter.
On a spring evening in Elia, the united family was spending such sweet moments together.