Chapter 36
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Crossroads (2)
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A few days passed peacefully.
After wrapping up my remaining tasks, I officially dove into vacation mode, and Wedin decided to join the Lesion delegation. It wasn't much of a surprise.
Shuren savored the long-awaited peace to his heart's content.
In the mornings, he trained with me in physical conditioning and swordsmanship, then spent his afternoons leisurely wandering the streets.
After lunch, I headed to Claus's cabin and holed up in the lab for the rest of the day.
It was a cloudy day with heavy overcast skies.
I'd finally completed the magic I'd been wrestling with for days and was testing it on Ash.
In the small clearing in front of the cabin.
Ash fidgeted restlessly the whole time I was fastening the necklace around his neck, clearly uneasy.
I was trying to make sure it wasn't too tight, but he wasn't cooperating.
"Hold still, Ash. It'll only get more uncomfortable if you don't."
'I don't need something like this......'
"You'll need it someday, trust me."
Ash pulled back with obvious displeasure, but I chased after him until the necklace was securely fastened.
It was made with a stretchy, sturdy cord, and in the center sat a green acronium stone the size of a fingernail.
I'd scavenged discarded acronium to make it, so the key was whether it would react well to Ash's mana.
"Alright, let's give it a try......"
I stepped back, watching Ash with eager anticipation.
Ash spun in a circle, then shook his neck and body vigorously.
"Come on, Ash. It'll work, I know it."
Only after I urged him a few more times did Ash let out a deep sigh, crouch down, and begin emitting his mana.
Silver mana intertwined with the conversion magic embedded in the acronium...... and in an instant, his form changed.
Into a lean young man with gray hair.
His sharp-featured face was pale, and his dark red eyes were coldly sunken. His rough gray hair covered the nape of his neck.
He wore a thin black shirt and a hooded coat, along with dark brown leather pants and sturdy boots.
All new clothes I'd prepared for him.
"It worked!"
I clapped in delight, but Ash immediately shifted back to wolf form with a flick.
I was crushed.
"Why?! Why?!"
'Use your magic for something more helpful than this.'
Ash stretched out lazily as if annoyed. I felt a deep pang of disappointment.
"This is supposed to help you."
Being in human form would make life in Prion so much more convenient, but for some reason, Ash preferred his wolf shape by far.
As a wolf, he could only talk to me and had to hide from others to avoid startling them—plenty of hassles.
That's why I'd created mana-woven clothes and stored them in the acronium, so Ash could switch to human form without worry.
Thankfully, it fit his body and formed properly, proving the magic worked......
"You'll find a use for it eventually."
Deflated, I flopped down onto the clearing where weeds were starting to sprout.
With spring fully arrived, a warm energy rose from the earth.
If it weren't so overcast, it would've been perfect for a nap.
'Liberic.'
"What? Gonna try transforming again?"
'No. We have a visitor.'
My drowsy mind snapped awake. I sat up.
Turning in the direction Ash was looking, I spotted someone approaching along the only path to the cabin.
A silver-haired man in knight's attire. His face was fair, but his eyes were dark and intense. His jawline was sharp, and his blue eyes looked cold.
Around my father's age, his knight's uniform bore an unfamiliar crest on the chest.
He strode straight toward the cabin without glancing around, so he clearly wasn't lost.
The silver-haired knight spotted me.
He gave us a puzzled look—more precisely, at the massive wolf beside me.
"......Ash?"
I blinked wide-eyed, glancing between Ash and the knight.
"You know Ash?"
"Yes. But who are you? Isn't this Claus's cabin?"
"It is......"
'Liberic. This is Silver Guard Knight Hunter Stanis.'
Ash whispered in my mind.
Silver Guard Knight!
The fifth color guard knight I'd ever met.
I straightened up in surprise.
"I'm Liberic Eldrian. Master Claus Sage's disciple."
"Ah."
The man stared down at me piercingly, his gaze sharp enough to bore holes.
Only when he drew closer did I realize he was a Loran.
A snake Loran, at that.
Silver and blue scales shimmered on his nape and the backs of his hands.
His calm blue eyes held thin, slit pupils.
Prion was a melting pot of races, but I'd never seen a snake Loran before. They were a mysterious tribe about which almost nothing was known.
He seemed equally intrigued by me, Claus's 'disciple.'
"I'm Silver Guard Knight Hunter Stanis. I came to see Claus. Is he inside?"
"Yes. Let me show you in."
I led him into the cabin.
The moment I opened the door and stepped inside, tension flooded the air.
The cabin was utterly unsuitable for entertaining a distinguished guest like a Silver Guard Knight.
I shoved Claus's scattered clothes off the sofa, opened the windows to reduce the dust as best I could.
I pushed aside empty plates and bottles to clear some floor space, barely propping up a teetering stack of books against the wall.
I'd definitely cleaned yesterday!
The Silver Guard Knight seemed mildly impressed by my quick thinking and paused at the entrance.
"Pl-Please wait here a moment. I'll fetch Master."
"No need. If he's upstairs, I'll go up."
To Claus's room? That was in even worse shape.
But I couldn't refuse, so I hurriedly followed as he calmly ascended the stairs.
Dust puffed with each step, and the stairs creaked ominously, but his expression never changed.
He reached the second floor and locked eyes with Claus, who was sprawled in the middle of his room, feet propped on the bed, reading.
"Well, if it isn't you."
Claus slowly sat up.
The Silver Guard Knight swept the scattered books aside with his foot and sat, creating space as if he'd done this many times before.
"Claus. Long time no see."
"Hunter. Your visit means...... it's that, doesn't it."
"Yes. We can't put it off any longer."
Claus sighed deeply, scratched his head, and turned to me.
"Liberic, fetch us something to drink. This'll take a while."
"Yes, Master."
I quietly closed the door and headed downstairs.
Something to drink. Something......
I rummaged through the cupboard and pulled out some mysterious tea leaves Claus often brewed.
Never gotten sick from these, so should be fine.
While boiling water on the small brazier, I barely managed to find two clean teacups.
'A Silver Guard Knight visiting? That's something.'
Ash padded into the living room and sat on the sofa amid Claus's clothes.
"How does the Silver Guard Knight know you, Ash?"
'We were with Claus on the Ruins Isle. He's a knight who guards the seal sites. Always traveling between seals around the world.'
"I see......"
A knight who guards seal sites.
No wonder he knew Ash. Ash had been the knight guarding the seal on the Ruins Isle.
I filled the teacups with hot tea, placed them on a tray, and headed upstairs.
I paused at the door to listen, but heard nothing.
What were they talking about?
"Excuse me, I brought tea."
I knocked lightly, waited, then opened the door carefully.
They'd just finished speaking.
The two silently accepted the cups and sipped.
The mood wasn't right for asking what they'd been discussing.
I picked up the empty plates and stood.
"Then I'll be downstairs......"
"Wait, Liberic."
Claus stopped me.
"Go to the tower and fetch Luwen. Tell him the Silver Guard Knight is here—he'll come without question."
"Yes, Master."
I left the room under their gazes.
Hmm, hope Teacher Luwen isn't too busy.
Even after starting knight school, I'd kept up lessons with Luwen.
But as his tower duties piled up, our sessions dwindled. Lately, we met once every couple weeks.
Luwen tried his best to make time, but as the tower's top administrator and with his mage responsibilities, it wasn't easy.
'Another errand, huh.'
As I descended, Ash stood. I set the tray down and donned my coat.
"Need to bring Teacher Luwen."
'Mm.'
Ash took the lead.
I locked the cabin door and headed for Althur Tower, where Luwen was.
I noticed every time, but Althur Tower felt noticeably quieter than before.
Fewer people bustling about, voices barely audible.
The already sparse mages were mostly out on dispatch or locked in their labs with work.
I greeted the guards and went straight to the top floor.
Fortunately, Luwen was in his office—but unfortunately, he had a visitor.
Voices conversing inside.
Seemed I was the intruder today.
I knocked lightly on the office door.
"Excuse me, Teacher. It's Liberic."
Luwen opened the door promptly.
"Lib? What's up?"
"Master called for you. The Silver Guard Knight is at the cabin right now......"
"Ah. Got it."
As if he'd anticipated it, Luwen grasped the situation the moment 'Silver Guard Knight' was mentioned.
I wanted to know too.
Crammed with curiosity, but I held back politely.
Luwen pondered with a troubled look, then finally spoke.
"Can you wait here a sec?"
"Yes......"
He went back inside, grabbed his coat, and put it on.
Then he addressed the visitor standing at the desk—a young mage of Althur Tower.
"Can't do it now. Have to go to Master's cabin first."
"But, Luwen......!"
The mage frowned. Probably needed Luwen's help urgently.
"Try the detour like I said. Switch to semi-form, might work. If not, pull out spare acronium."
"Y-You mean that's okay?"
"No choice. I'll approve later—just focus on plugging the leak for now. I'll head over right after."
"Understood."
The mage bowed and left the office first.
I stepped aside. He hurried down the hall.
Luwen emerged, locked the door.
"Let's go, Lib."
He descended the stairs briskly; I followed.
His pace was so fast, chasing him left me breathless—no chance for chit-chat.
Once out of the tower, I caught my breath.
"Didn't you have other urgent business?"
"Ah...... yeah, always do. Don't worry about it."
Luwen finally eased up, taking a deep breath of the forest air.
"Still, thanks to you, I got some fresh air for once. When did the Silver Guard Knight arrive?"
"Not long ago. About an hour?"
"I see. Would've been nice if he'd come to me first."
Luwen crossed the forest swiftly toward the cabin, face grim.
I didn't dare speak.
He told me to wait outside and went in.
His back looked tenser than usual.