Chapter 15
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Light (4)
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"...No, no time for that. Got a mountain of work to handle; just stepped out briefly."
A familiar voice echoed from the entrance. It was Luwen.
He was entering alongside Father. Both looked utterly exhausted.
"You really going to do it?"
"Can't let it slide this time. Gotta go grab him by the collar or something... Ah, Lib."
Luwen spotted me descending the stairs. The fierce look on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a warm, delighted smile.
I gave a slight bow in greeting.
"Hello, Teacher."
"Lib, I heard you were at the White Guard earlier? You okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
Luwen was worried about me.
I came down the stairs and stood beside Father. He gently stroked my hair, his face weary.
"From what Grain said, you looked pale as a ghost back there, scared out of your wits. Seems like you're better now, though..."
"My fault. Should've warned you class was canceled today. Been so swamped these past few days, it slipped my mind."
Luwen ran a hand through his hair and let out a sigh.
"Luwen, you're staying for dinner, right? It's being prepared now."
Mother emerged from the dining room as she spoke.
Inside, the maids and cooks were bustling about, readying a late dinner.
Luwen shook his head awkwardly.
"Sorry, Madam. I'd love to, but I just don't have the time. Only came by briefly to check on Lib since I heard he'd had a scare."
"Oh. I see..."
Mother glanced regretfully between Luwen and me.
"Priscilla, Luwen has to head out soon. Just prepare mine."
Father added his words, and Mother nodded before returning to the dining room.
"Let's relocate. Lib, you too. Got something to discuss."
I immediately realized it was about what happened at the White Guard. Feeling a bit tense, I followed Luwen and Father to the parlor.
Father entered last and quietly closed the parlor door.
I claimed one of the chairs, while Luwen, without even removing his coat, slumped into an armchair.
His body looked heavy with fatigue, but his gaze fixed on me was sharp as ever.
"Lib, what happened in the White Guard corridor? Tell us."
I hesitated and looked up at Father. He stood behind his chair and nodded at me encouragingly.
He'd asked me the same question on the way home, but I hadn't told him everything I'd seen and felt.
Sharing a consciousness with someone wielding that eerie power?
It would only make things horrifyingly worse.
Besides, I already carried the secret of my reincarnation from birth. One more wouldn't change a thing.
"The... man in the cell suddenly turned around and met my eyes. I got so scared I couldn't breathe, but Grain pulled me away. He said I couldn't stay there and took me somewhere else, and I was fine after that."
Luwen listened quietly to my words, rubbing the corner of his mouth as if deep in thought.
"Did he notice you were there, Lib?"
Father asked in an anxious tone. Luwen let out a small sigh.
"Could be. According to the Red Guard Knight, he hadn't budged an inch since transport from the ruined capital—like he was frozen solid. Then suddenly he starts trying to smash the bars, and everyone panicked..."
I'd probably do the same in their shoes.
I thought glumly.
Something you'd craved so desperately, right there within reach—how could you endure without stretching out for it?
"Lib, do you know what that man is?"
Luwen asked.
Not who, but what. I couldn't play dumb anymore.
"A Demon...?"
"Right on the mark."
"But Father said Demons can't enter the city..."
"That's true too."
Father replied. His tone was gentle, as if to soothe my growing unease.
"Prion's walls are fitted with barriers that block Demons from approaching. Normal Demons can't enter Prion, nor do they spawn inside.
But this case is different."
With that, Father paused to exchange a glance with Luwen. It was as if they were debating how much they could safely tell me.
Eventually, Father spoke up, a touch hesitant.
"Not long ago, in the fallen capital of Dileina... we managed to capture a Demon alive. It didn't attack us and suppressed its instincts to maintain its consciousness.
Cases like that are incredibly rare, so we decided to transport it to Prion for investigation."
"So it's not dangerous?"
"It is dangerous. That's why we mobilized so many knights to cross the city and had to temporarily disable the city's defense barriers. But from what I hear, it's been pretty cooperative with the investigation..."
Father turned to Luwen, who merely shrugged.
"No refusals or resistance so far, but we'll never truly know what a Demon is thinking.
Anyway, that's enough on that topic."
Luwen rose from his seat and approached me. He knelt down to meet my eye level and spoke softly.
"Lib, nothing to worry about. He's under the strictest watch and can't harm anyone anymore.
And this fact... that a Demon was brought into Prion—don't tell a soul. Got it?"
"...Not even Clemence, Weddin, or Brother Shuren?"
"Nope. If word spreads, people will panic. Festival's right around the corner; we can't ruin the mood. You promise not to tell anyone?"
"Yes, Teacher."
I nodded. Luwen smiled and ruffled my hair.
"Master, dinner is ready."
A maid knocked on the parlor door as she spoke. At the same time, Luwen stood up.
"Guess that's my cue."
"Luwen, you still need to tell him that."
Father reminded him. Luwen let out an "oh" and looked back down at me.
"Almost forgot again. Lib, no classes for a bit. I'm heading out of Prion temporarily."
"Where to?"
With a Demon lingering in Prion, it didn't make sense for Althur Tower's chief mage, Luwen, to leave town.
A wave of anxiety hit me, and I clutched at my clothes. Luwen gently took my hand.
"Got someone I need to track down. I'll introduce them to you when I get back. No classes in the meantime, and Airan's swamped too, so you'll have to study on your own for a while. Think you can manage?"
"Yes..."
"Good. By the time I return, read the three chapters from textbook volume two and one page from the compendium. That's your homework."
I gauged the length of his absence from the homework load he'd assigned.
Three whole chapters? That's a lot. He wouldn't be back before the festival.
I said okay, but couldn't help adding one more question.
"Um, Teacher... so you won't make it to my birthday either?"
"Ah."
"No helping it. We'd planned such a grand garden party."
Father said with a chuckle. Luwen narrowed his eyes.
"It's Lib's birthday anyway—no booze. Sorry I can't make it, but I've got your gift ready. Look forward to it."
With that, Luwen turned to leave, saying he had to be off.
I followed Father out to see him off at the entrance.
Luwen's carriage soon vanished toward the city center.
Father headed to the dining room for his late dinner.
Mother and I sat across from him, watching as he ate. It was Mother's way of ensuring he didn't dine alone.
I nibbled on a small strawberry while quietly listening to Father and Mother chat about their day.
"Must've been quite the sight."
Father was recounting the transport mission from earlier that day.
There was no mention of the Demon—just that they'd been escorting a knight who'd committed a crime in the order.
That seemed to be the public story.
Or so I'd heard; some had even joked it was prep for a knightly parade.
True to my promise with Luwen, I sat quietly without saying a word.
"Yeah. Pretty much every knight stationed in Prion got mobilized."
"You didn't take part?"
"Blue Guard business. Unless they'd specifically requested support from us, it wasn't my place to get involved.
Anyway, how's Lib's birthday party coming along?"
I perked up at that. Mother chuckled softly as she replied.
"Almost finished. Already lined up help for the food prep too. With the festival coming, figured we'd need extra hands early."
"Smart thinking. Should be able to swing a nice long vacation by then. Let's all go watch the festival performances together."
"Wonderful. There's this one show I've been dying to see."
Mother beamed like a child with excitement, rattling off all the festival acts she wanted to catch.
Father listened with a grin, agreeing to everything.
As a Blue Guard Knight, Father was always swamped with work, so family time was precious to him.
Whenever he could carve some out, he'd make up for lost time by indulging whatever Mother wanted.
Mother was overjoyed by it, and seeing her happy made me happy too.
Once Father finished eating and thanked everyone before rising, Mother summoned a maid to clear the table.
By the time I'd polished off my strawberry and climbed down from my chair, Father called out.
"Oh, right—got some medicine from Grain. Morning and evening doses. Be sure to take it before bed tonight."
"He prescribed medicine?"
Mother asked, her face full of surprise.
Come to think of it, I hadn't told her about the medical center visit...
With the White Guard ordeal, I'd completely forgotten to mention getting checked out there.
Never needed meds before, so her shock and concern were understandable.
"Is it bad? What's suddenly wrong?"
"No, nothing like that..."
Father started to reassure her, then glanced down at me.
"It's like a nutritional tonic to build stamina. Lib, head up to your room. I'll bring it shortly."
"Yess..."
I gave them both a quick bow and slipped quietly out of the dining room.
Father clearly had things to discuss without me around, and I could guess it wasn't anything fun.
A bit glum, I climbed the stairs and returned to my room.