Chapter 9
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: City of Heroes (2)
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Mother arrived in Prion with Erner about a week later.
I had been sleeping day and night, so I had no idea exactly how much time had passed.
But the moment I saw her face, I knew right away just how much she'd rushed to get here.
Mother hugged me tightly and wouldn't let go for a long time.
She must have heard the situation from Erner.
From the conversation I overheard later between her and Father, it seemed settling affairs in Meribel territory had taken some time.
In the midst of that, Erner had come and confirmed Mother was safe, then turned pale upon hearing what happened in Romela and raced straight to Prion without even a few days' rest.
The estate manager was left to wrap up the territory business, which meant Shuren's arrival in Prion would be a bit later.
With the Eldrian Family, who had been overseeing Meribel, suddenly relocating to Prion, there was a mountain of things to handle.
All I knew was that Father, the eldest son of the Eldrian Family, had defied his father's opposition to leave the Cernia Kingdom and devote himself to Prius.
It had been such a shocking move that it stirred up a lot of talk among the main family and relatives.
And now, they were completely leaving their hometown behind for Prion.
While I stayed at the medical center receiving treatment from Grain, the resident holy mage, Father and Mother had been bustling around Prion looking for a place to live.
A few more days passed like that.
"Lib!"
The estate manager's family and the servants had arrived in Prion.
The moment Shuren saw me, he burst into tears. Tears of relief.
He'd cried even when leaving home, but hearing about Romela must have worried him sick.
He cried so much that I ended up having to comfort him instead.
I told him over and over that he had nothing to feel sorry about, but Shuren still blamed himself.
Since he'd always been by my side, he must have felt a strong sense of responsibility.
Still, it was good news that he could finally attend the Prius Knight Academy, as he'd always dreamed.
Once he got over his worries about me, all Shuren talked about was that. Sitting on the edge of the bed, swinging his legs, his face flushed with excitement.
"But it's not gonna be easy at all. They say the entrance exam is insanely tough. There's a physical test, you need decent swordsmanship and horsemanship, and you have to study history and languages too."
Even as he said that, Shuren didn't seem too worried about the exam. If anything, he was brimming with confidence and anticipation.
"I'm fine on the physical stuff and swordsmanship, but I'm planning to study for the academic exam anyway.
Take the test next year, graduate in five years, and join the knights. They say the graduation exam is brutally hard too. People repeat years for several...
..."
Shuren suddenly stopped talking and stared at me intently.
I was sitting obediently on a chair in front of a large mirror.
This was our new home.
An elegant mansion on a gentle hill, surrounded by a beautiful garden.
Noble estates dotted the area here and there, and above them stretched the forest connecting to Prion's outskirts.
The environment felt remarkably similar to our hometown, except for the vast city sprawling below the hill.
A massive city where Denan, Luar, Arbat, and Loran lived intermingled—the center of the world, you could say.
Half of the servants from Merirose Mansion stayed behind, while the other half followed the estate manager to Prion.
Among those who remained in the hometown was Madam Amara.
She was suffering so much that Mother couldn't bring herself to ask her to come along.
Every time Madam Amara saw me, she was reminded of her deceased daughter and tormented herself endlessly over having let me get hurt.
So this place was smaller than Merirose Mansion, and with fewer familiar faces, it felt empty and chilly.
"...You'll be able to go to the knight academy when you turn twelve too. Since Father's a Blue Guard Knight and all. And become an outstanding knight like him. What do you think, Lib?"
"Mm..."
I nodded vaguely, not really listening to Shuren.
It was noisy outside. With so much work, maids from the neighbor's house had come to help out.
I sat still as they dressed me, putting on new socks and shoes.
Listening to Shuren chatter beside me as he finished preparing, I gazed out the window.
Today was the welcoming banquet for our move to Prion.
A feast to celebrate our new life in the new city, you could say.
Father and Mother wanted to pass quietly, but this city had no shortage of people pestering Father.
He had no choice but to invite a few and host a modest dinner at home.
But those "few" were big shots in Prius, so everyone working was tense and bustling about frantically.
"Lib, what's wrong? Not feeling well again?"
Shuren approached me with a worried look.
"No, my body's fine."
Until yesterday, I'd been at the medical center, and if symptoms returned, I'd have to go back anytime.
But that wasn't what concerned me.
The biggest problem was that I couldn't trust myself.
The demon in Romela had approached me in Mother's form, wearing her smile and speaking warm words.
If I hadn't noticed the Melgram turning black, I would've taken its hand and left the room without a second thought.
So in a place swarming with so many strangers, what could I trust? What should I believe?
I fiddled with the Melgram hanging around my neck.
In a situation where I couldn't even trust myself, the Melgram was the only thing I could rely on.
But...
A nagging voice in my head piped up.
Sure, the Melgram could detect demons, but by the time it did, wasn't it already too late?
Besides, the Melgram was just a mere magic tool.
As my magic power grew with age, it would overwhelm the Melgram's mana in an instant. When that happened, I wouldn't be able to trust it anymore...
Such thoughts kept surfacing, leaving me depressed.
While at the medical center, most of my wounds had healed, and I'd regained some stamina, but I still tired easily.
If I didn't watch it, coughs and chest pains would start up.
I'd told Father and Mother I wanted to attend today's banquet because I hated worrying them more.
But the mansion, filled with strangers, felt even more chaotic and unsettling than I'd imagined.
"Lib, all ready?"
The door burst open, and Father strode in, dressed in fine formal attire.
Shuren, who had been watching my face, jumped up and went to Father's side.
Through the mirror, I saw Shuren whispering something secretly to him.
All sorts of noises poured in from outside, so I couldn't hear their conversation.
"Oh dear, Lib. No need to be scared."
Father came around behind me and stood there. Shuren must have said I was frightened.
Well... it wasn't wrong.
"The guests are all fine people working in Prius. Luwen and Erner are here, and Grain from the medical center too."
Father placed a gentle hand on my shoulder, looking in high spirits.
"They all wanted to meet you. If you're not feeling up to it, we can put it off...
"
"No, I'm okay."
Father had finally gotten a chance to introduce me to his colleagues, and I didn't want to disappoint him.
"Good. Let's go."
Father grinned and ruffled my hair. So much for the neat styling.
I checked the mirror one more time, confirming the clear, transparent Melgram around my neck, then took Father and Shuren's hands and left the room.
The new house had a layout very similar to our old home.
A three-story building with various large and small rooms, a grand hall, dining room, parlor, and more. The standout difference from other mansions was the especially spacious garden.
Key areas like the kitchen, dining room, and parlor were on the ground floor, while my room, my parents' bedroom, study, dressing room, lounge, and other private spaces were upstairs.
The third floor wasn't very large; it had a library and attic, apparently.
I was dying to explore the library, but since we'd only moved in yesterday, I hadn't had the chance yet.
Nearby stood several similar mansions, home to people affiliated with Prius like us.
"My goodness, who is this?!"
The moment I stepped into the entrance hall, a booming voice rang out.
A woman with her red hair tied back in a single ponytail appeared suddenly.
She seemed to have run over from somewhere, but her movements were so quick I couldn't track them properly.
"His eyes are exactly like Jayden's! Did he get his hair from his mother? How does it sparkle like that?!"
The woman crouched down in front of me, beside herself as she tousled my hair wildly and pinched my cheeks, stretching them mercilessly.
I flinched reflexively and ducked behind Father.
A threat emanated from the red-haired woman. It was like the bloody scent I'd sensed the first time I met Father...
"Merian, you're scaring the kid."
A Luar man beside the woman approached with a gentle smile.
"Collin, should we have a boy too? Our Ilenia is pretty of course, but she's a girl, so that's expected. If I'd known Luar boys were this cute...
"
"That's because your blood is so strong."
The man called Collin chuckled mischievously. He didn't flinch even as the red-haired woman glared daggers at him.
Father burst out laughing, and only then did the two look at him.
"Merian, Collin. Let me introduce my son, Liberic Eldrian."
Father patted me reassuringly and nudged me forward.
I hesitated but stepped out a little and bowed to them.
"Liberic, these two are Red Guard Knight Merian Cortis and her deputy, Collin Cortis. They work in the knight order."
"Pleased to meet you...
"
I blinked up at them.
Cortis.
The same surname as Cowan Cortis, one of the heroes, the Arbat of fire.
Maybe that's why a strong aura of fire emanated from Merian.
With red hair and fire energy, there was no need to ask if she was Cowan Cortis's daughter.
"Ugh, Jayden, can I hold him? It'll be fine, right?"
Merian spread her arms wide enthusiastically and stepped toward me.
I backed away unsteadily.
No one had ever approached me this aggressively before. Better to dodge...
But there was no escaping.
I froze stiff as the unfamiliar woman swept me into a tight hug.
Merian was hot to the touch, her hair as vivid as transplanted flames.
And her scorching hands completely messed up my hair.
"Please handle him gently, since he's still recovering, Red Guard Knight."
I turned at the familiar voice. Grain, Erner, and Luwen were entering through the entrance together.