Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Crossroads (9)
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Suddenly, I felt a pull on my body, and the world in front of me warped.
The next moment, I was behind Shuren's back. He was thrusting his wooden sword into empty air.
"What...?!"
Shuren gasped in shock as the me standing right in front of him vanished without a trace.
Now.
I seized the perfect opening and swung my wooden sword at his back.
Crack!
The sound of wooden swords clashing echoed across the training grounds.
Shuren blocked the strike from that impossible direction with unbelievable reflexes.
"What the hell was that? How are you behind me?"
Shuren withdrew his sword and stared at me in bewilderment.
"That's what I want to know..."
He blocked an attack from behind? Is that even possible?
My strength gave out, and I collapsed right there. My hand gripping the wooden sword was numb; I couldn't muster any more power.
'You drew on my power, Liberic.'
Ash, who had been watching from afar, approached quietly.
"What do you mean? You didn't do that, Ash?"
'It wasn't me.'
I looked at Ash in confusion.
That brief sensation had definitely felt different from usual.
The connection with Ash felt stronger. It was like our senses aligned for an instant beyond the link...
"Lib? You okay?"
Shuren reached out a hand toward me as I sat slumped on the ground.
"Yeah... fine..."
I grabbed his hand and pulled myself up.
My mind was racing, furiously pondering the principle behind me using Ash's leaping ability.
Was it because Ash draws mana from me, making our connection easier? And a strong moment of will intervened?
Neither Ash nor I fully understood the mechanics of Ash's ability.
It's one of those special powers certain demons possess, and even studying it is no easy task.
And I somehow drew on that power?
"Shuren? Lib? What are you two doing out here?"
A low voice suddenly boomed across the training grounds, snapping me back to reality.
Father, dressed in his knight's uniform, was walking in from the dark corridor. He must have just returned home.
"Uh, well..."
Shuren panicked and tried to hide his wooden sword behind his back, but it was too late.
Father frowned at the sight of it.
"Sparring until this late in such a dark place?"
"S-Sorry, sir."
"It was just evening training that ran a bit long, Father."
I jumped in quickly.
Father always stressed doing training at set times and places, regularly.
Because overdoing it often led to injuries.
He seemed like he had something to say to us, but exhaustion won out, and he just let out a small sigh.
"...It's late. Clean up and head to your rooms."
"Yes, sir."
"Got it."
Shuren and I answered in unison and began tidying the training grounds.
Father watched us for a moment, then left down the corridor with weary steps.
"Hm, not bad."
Shuren muttered as he stowed the wooden swords in the rack. I turned to him mid-sip of water.
"What?"
"Your skills. Of course, I went ridiculously easy on you, but in a pinch, you could hold your own long enough to save your skin."
"Thanks for the praise."
I chuckled at the backhanded compliment. Still, it was praise, and it gave me a spark of confidence.
"I'm going to talk to Father."
"Oh? Made up your mind?"
Shuren looked up in surprise.
"I decided ages ago. Just lacked the courage to act on it."
I climbed over the railing onto the corridor.
Moving my body had definitely cleared my head. The tangled mess of worries felt much simpler now.
"Whatever happens, good or bad, I'll accept it. I'll do what I can."
"...Yeah."
Shuren stepped closer and placed a hand on my head.
"You'll do fine. Don't forget I'll always have your back."
"Yeah. Thanks, bro."
Shuren grinned, ruffled my hair, and patted my back.
"Go on. Convincing Father will be your first hurdle."
"Gotta face it head-on."
I steeled my resolve and gazed down the dark hallway where Father had trudged away.
The mansion slept in silence.
Even though it was late and all the maids and servants had retired to their quarters, light still shone from Father's study.
The door was slightly ajar, and the rustle of turning papers drifted out.
I paused before the beam of light spilling into the dark corridor.
Why not drop all these decisions and just spend the break leisurely researching imperial magic with Claus?
A small voice whispered in my head.
Staying here in safe, secure Prion is the best choice.
The moment you step beyond the barrier, outside Prion, demons or magical beasts will attack. It could end horribly...
I know. I get it.
I took a deep breath and pushed the thoughts down.
I'd imagined that scenario dozens, hundreds of times.
Yet I'd decided to move forward.
Standing still here in safe Prion changes nothing.
This journey will let me see the state of the seal stones and seal spheres with my own eyes, and find better ways.
It's the golden opportunity Claus gave me...
"Lib?"
Just as I raised my hand to knock, Father's voice came from inside.
I must have lingered outside the door longer than I thought.
The door slid open smoothly, revealing Father standing by the window.
"Father..."
"Come in."
I walked in casually and sat in the armchair by the window.
That's when I noticed he had been drinking.
The bottle was half-empty, and a small glass held a bit of golden, translucent liquor.
"Here for you."
Father poured water from the kettle and brewed some lukewarm tea.
It was the scented tea from the Kingdom of Cernia that he always enjoyed.
The room quickly filled with a soft floral fragrance.
I gratefully accepted the cup with red petals floating on top.
Sipping my tea, I looked up at Father tilting his glass.
He'd nearly finished a whole bottle, yet there was no smell of alcohol or sign of intoxication.
"Didn't expect you to be drinking."
"It was a long day."
Father smiled faintly, as if trying not to show his fatigue.
"Yours seemed pretty long too. Skipping breakfast and wandering all day, from what your mother said."
He must have heard it from Mother. She always shared the day's events with him.
"And sparring with Shuren this late. You never cared much for sword training. Quite the surprise."
He thought it was odd, huh. I gave a wry smile.
I couldn't dodge it anymore.
"I wanted to see what I could do. In case I have to fight demons or magical beasts someday."
I spoke honestly.
"I spent the day researching combat magic. Found my aptitude and ways to improve it."
Father set his empty glass by the window with a complicated expression.
"Isn't practical combat magic from third year?"
"Yeah, but I can't wait that long. Not if I'm leaving Prion..."
I watched Father's face carefully as I said it.
Surprisingly, he didn't seem shocked.
"...I was dreading you'd say that."
"You knew...?"
My eyes widened.
Father sighed audibly and stepped over to the armchair beside me.
"The Silver Guard Knight visited this afternoon. What a mess. His business... no, his duties aren't related to the Blue Guard."
When referring to Hunter Stanis of the Silver Guard, Father wore a fierce expression I'd never seen before.
"But he talked about you. Said he wants to take you on as a mage with the Silver Moon Knights."
"Ah..."
So he knew everything. That explained his long, chaotic day.
Enough to need a drink.
"Lib, do you know what it means to be a mage with the Silver Moon Knights?"
"Yes, Father. Teacher Luwen told me."
Father's face twisted with worry.
"That you might not return to Prion for years? That the Silver Moon Knights are more dangerous than any Prius order, with the highest death toll?"
"...I heard. And that a mage is desperately needed to protect the seal stones."
I continued calmly.
"Teacher Claus recommended me as the perfect fit. I understand barriers and seals well, and I can handle imperial magic too."
"...Yeah, Luwen told me the same."
Father's voice sank mournfully.
He said after talking with the Silver Guard Knight, he went straight to see Luwen.
He'd slammed open Luwen's office door in a rage, convinced something absurd was afoot.
"What did Teacher Luwen say...?"
"We talked at length, but it boiled down to one thing. It's up to you, Liberic Eldrian."
Father slowly rubbed his shadowed face, swallowing a deep, pained sigh.
"I had nothing to say. That's what I always tell my students."
I didn't know how to ease his worry, his despair.
Before I could speak, Father ran a large hand through my hair.
"This is what I feared, Lib."
His voice was warm, but it sounded so sad.
"When you chose to learn magic, when you wanted to join knight school. I knew this moment would come someday. Sending you into danger."
I swallowed hard.
As a Blue Guard Knight who had trained countless students into knights, Father had seen this coming.
And here I was, not even graduated from knight school yet... facing it too soon.
"I'll... be okay, Father."
My trembling voice could only manage that.
Convince Father? No way.
A novice mage just finding his aptitude, with stamina and strength that couldn't even hold a sword long... okay?
I had no proof I would be.
"I know. I do."
Yet astonishingly, Father believed in me.
"You'll pull through. You've done it so far; you'll keep doing it."
Father's hand touched my face. His fingertips were cold.
Deeply grateful for that immense trust that nearly choked me, I gripped his hand tightly.
"But you're only just fifteen. So much to learn, so little experience... I'm not sure sending you out like this is truly best."
"...Will you oppose it?"
"I want to."
Father gave a wry smile at my wide-eyed stare.
"But that's no solution. I'll respect your decision, Lib. Just give me some time? It won't take long."
"Yes, of course."
I stood and hugged Father. It was in place of words left unsaid.
Father quietly embraced my shoulders in return.