We got down from the carriage and looked toward the door, where the steward of the house was already waiting for us.
"Good day. The Flame Sage, Duke Alaris is expecting you. My name is Gustav, I am the steward of this estate."
"Hello. Has the Duke not come to greet us himself?"
"Please forgive him—he was unable to come personally. Our master's health is currently not well."
"Then take us to the Duke."
"Please, follow me."
Gustav gave a respectful bow to Master, then turned and led us into the house.
I followed behind Master as we stepped inside. As we entered, I took a good look around. The first thing anyone would notice was the finely crafted staircase leading up to the second floor, directly in front of the entrance. Above the stairs hung a large portrait.
The painting showed a man, likely in his forties or fifties, dressed in a ceremonial military uniform. His hair was pitch black, and his posture regal.
[This must be Duke Alaris… He looks quite young for a noble.]
We turned down a hallway to the right, following Gustav. As I marveled at the home's beauty, Master and Gustav chatted politely, maintaining a respectful and formal tone.
"If I may, Sage of Flame, I have a question," Gustav asked softly.
"Go ahead, what is it you'd like to know?"
"The boy with you—who is he?"
"My student."
"Forgive me for asking, but… is he blind?"
"No."
"Then why is he wearing a blindfold?"
"Some things are better left as they are."
"Apologies for my inappropriate question."
"No harm done."
[How much must this place have cost to build? Just one of these paintings might be worth more than I'll earn in a lifetime.]
As I became absorbed in the grandeur, I started to fall behind. Master called out to me without turning around.
"Don't lag behind."
"Okay, Master!"
Gustav led us into a spacious room. Inside, luxurious couches surrounded a large table, all upholstered in fine hides from hunted beasts. The windows across from the door poured sunlight into the room, enhancing its already opulent appearance.
"Please wait here," Gustav said, turning to Master. "With your permission, I will inform my lord that you've arrived."
"Go ahead," Master replied.
After Gustav left, Master sat down on one of the couches. I followed and sat next to him. He glanced around the room, as if expecting someone to appear.
Not long after, Gustav returned and addressed Master.
"Lord Valorant, the Duke is ready to receive you."
"Attu, stay here and don't touch anything," Master instructed.
"Understood, Master."
Valorant left with Gustav, and I remained seated.
"Right this way," Gustav said, leading him up to the second floor, where the Duke's bedroom was located.
He opened the door for Valorant. Inside, the room was dimly lit. A single man lay on the bed. A weak voice came from him.
"Old friend Valorant, is that you?"
"Yes, it's me."
"Forgive me for not greeting you at the door… and for receiving you in this condition."
"It's alright. I can see how serious your condition is. I understand."
"I hear you're doing well."
"Better than you, clearly."
"There's no need to say it—my state isn't exactly heartwarming, except maybe to my enemies. The cold weather must've made your journey difficult."
"Not at all."
"Gustav told me you've taken on a student. What's his name?"
"Attu."
"For someone to convince you to be their teacher, he must have some special talent."
"You could say that."
"It's young ones like him that will secure peace for our nation."
"You're not wrong. Why have you summoned me?"
"As you can see, my condition is worsening," the Duke said, coughing hard mid-sentence. "My time is nearly up. You must have already figured that out."
"Let me guess—one month at most?"
"As always, you see more than others with a single glance. Yes… I'm dying. I've already arranged my estate and successor in my will."
"You want me to protect him, don't you?"
"More or less. I won't ask you to guard him forever—just escort him to a certain place."
"Who is it you want me to escort?"
Meanwhile, after Master and Gustav had left the room, I sat quietly on one of the expensive couches, enjoying the peace and silence. But then—I sensed someone watching me. From the doorway, a figure stood, staring in my direction.
I could feel someone watching me from behind—not only that, I could hear their breathing too. I quickly turned my head to see who was watching me.
At that moment, I saw a girl standing at the door. She had long, shiny hair, beautiful eyes, and wore a long black robe. She looked to be about my age.
[Who is this girl? Judging by her expensive clothing, she must be related to the Duke—maybe his daughter?]
When I looked at her, she immediately hid behind the door.
I knew she hadn't left and was still standing there, so I tried not to look in her direction.
[She's still behind the door… Why is she hiding there? Did something happen? No, it doesn't seem like that. If she needed something, she would've said something. But then, why did she hide the moment I looked at her? And if I look away, she starts watching again… Maybe I should just ask her directly.]
I stood up and began walking toward the girl.
"Hi!"
As soon as she saw me approaching, the girl quickly turned and ran down the hallway. I stepped out after her, but by the time I reached the doorway, she was gone. Still, I could sense someone else had been standing there for a while.
"Mr. Gustav!"
"Impressive. You noticed me behind the door, even though I stood completely still and made no sound. Not everyone can manage that."
"You've been standing there since you returned after taking Master to the Duke."
"You're proving that you really are Master Valorant's student. Did you have a question?"
"Who was that girl?"
"She is the granddaughter of our lord, Duke Alaris—Anna."
"She seemed… different."
"Perhaps because she saw someone her own age for the first time."
"How old is she?"
"Twelve."
"Huh, we're the same age."
"Told you so."
"What happened to Anna's parents?"
"They died several years ago. Anna is the only thing left of Duke Alaris's son. Normally, she never talks to anyone. But today, she seems more active than usual."
"You think it's because she saw someone her own age?"
"Yes, you've understood correctly. Perhaps you should talk to her a little."
[Talk to her? What would I even say? We're from completely different worlds. I doubt we'd even find a topic to talk about.]
"No thanks," I said and returned to the room.
As I walked back in, I could feel Gustav watching me. It was like he hadn't expected that answer.
Still, I ignored it and went to sit back on the couch, waiting for Master Valorant to return.
[When is Master coming back? They must be having a long conversation. Maybe they haven't seen each other in ten years.]
While I was deep in thought, I heard something hit the window.
Thud.
"What was that?" I stood up and walked over to the window.
Looking outside, I saw a snowy courtyard with two girls playing. They were throwing snowballs at each other and laughing.
As I watched them, I realized one of the girls was Anna.
[How did she get over there so fast? Just a minute ago, she was running down the hallway.]
Next to her was another girl, a bit older and taller, dressed in a maid's uniform. Her long hair was braided and pulled over her shoulders.
I silently watched them, observing their joy. Truth be told, part of me wanted to join them—but I quickly remembered why I was here.
[Playing? What kind of playing? I'm not here to play. I'm here to make sure my mother's sacrifice wasn't in vain. I can't waste the life she gave me.]
As I stood by the window, lost in thought, the maid noticed me watching and stopped. She whispered something to Anna. When Anna saw me at the window, she quickly hid behind the maid, as if trying not to be seen.
[Great. I ruined their fun. I'd better just go sit quietly.]
Feeling like I had disturbed them, I moved away from the window and sat down again. Not long after, Master came back into the room. Curious, I asked what the Duke had said.
"Master, what did the Duke say?"
"Nothing definitive. He just asked us to stay here for a while."
"Why? Did he give us a mission?"
"Yes, he did. But it's a complicated one. I told him I'd complete it in two parts. The first part is just staying here for some time."
"And the second?"
"I'll tell you when the time comes. Until then, we'll stay here for a while."
"How long?"
"Not too long," he said, sounding a bit down.
Master Valorant recalled his earlier conversation with Duke Alaris:
"Who am I escorting?"
"I have only one loved one left—my granddaughter Anna. She lives here with me. I'm nearing death, that much is certain. I want you to take her somewhere safe—to the Elven Forest. Keep her in trusted hands. I know the elves respect you deeply. You're like a hero to them. They will never turn you away. Please—don't refuse this request. When I die, there will be those ready to seize everything I've left behind. They will come after Anna too."
"Because you're leaving everything to her."
"Yes, she's my heir. That's why…" he coughed violently, unable to finish.
Valorant opened the door and called Gustav.
"Gustav, come here!"
Gustav hurried into the room carrying a tray with a towel and a bowl of medicine. He placed the tray on a small bedside table, took the towel, helped the Duke sit up, and pressed the towel to his mouth.
Valorant stood aside, silently watching Alaris. With each cough, the white towel in Gustav's hands turned red from blood.
Once the coughing subsided, Gustav gave Alaris the medicine, which immediately eased his breathing. Afterward, the Duke continued his conversation with Valorant.
"Don't deny the dying wish of an old friend," he pleaded.
"…Very well. I'll fulfill your request."
There was something in Master's expression—a deep sadness. I didn't know exactly what they'd discussed, but I could feel the weight of it on his face.
After a moment, Gustav entered the room again.
"They're preparing your rooms now. Suna, come here."
"Yes, Master Gustav," replied the girl I had seen earlier through the window—she was the maid I'd noticed playing outside with Anna.
[So her name is Suna.]
"Please take this young man to his room. Master Valorant and I have a few things to discuss."
"Of course. Come, young master, I'll escort you to your room," she said gently.
I picked up the few belongings I had brought on the journey and began to follow her out of the room. As we exited, I overheard Gustav speak to Master.
"Thank you—for agreeing to fulfill my master's final wish."
[Final wish? What does he mean by that? Doesn't the Duke have anyone else to talk to besides Master? I should've listened longer—I might've learned more. Oh well, I'll follow the maid for now.]
Meanwhile, the conversation between Valorant and Gustav continued.
"Even a man sentenced to execution is granted final words."
"My lord insisted I not let you leave empty-handed. Here." Gustav handed him a small chest.
"Alaris still can't stop tying money to everything," Valorant muttered, taking the chest.
"There's one more thing the Duke asked me to tell you."
"What is it?"
"The moment he dies, you must take Anna away from here."
"What about everything else?"
"I'll handle everything that remains. I'll use everything I have to prevent problems—even at the cost of my life."
—
I followed Suna through another part of the mansion. The house continued to surprise me.
[How many rooms are in this place? The hallways alone go on forever! Where is Suna even taking me?]
As I walked behind her, I quietly observed her. She carried herself gracefully and politely—at least, that's how it seemed to me.
Eventually, we stopped in front of a room. Suna opened the door.
"Here you go, young master."
"You can call me Attu. 'Young master' makes me feel a little awkward."
"Alright, Attu. This room is yours." She stepped inside, and I followed.
The room wasn't bad. It had a single bed, a desk with a chair, and a large wardrobe off to the side. I looked around, taking it all in, until Suna cleared her throat like she wanted to say something.
"Is there anything else I can help with?"
"I have a question."
"Of course, ask anything you like."
"What's for dinner?"
"I'll come get you when it's time for meals. Any other questions?"
[Maybe I should ask about Anna… Gustav said she doesn't talk to anyone, but I saw her playing with this maid. I can't help but be curious.]
"Yes, the girl you were playing with…"
"She's Duke Alaris's granddaughter—Anna."
"I heard she doesn't talk to anyone."
"That's usually true. But when it's just the two of us, she opens up. She feels close to me."
"Any more questions?"
"No, that's all."
"If you'd like… I could introduce you to Anna," she added with a smile.
[Wait, what? Did she say she'd introduce me to Anna? I don't want that! But now she probably thinks I'm interested in her just because I asked… How do I explain that's not the case? Better just politely refuse.]
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary," I replied, my face a little flushed.
"In that case, I'll take my leave," she said with a smile and exited the room.
After she left, I began unpacking my things and placing them around the room. Just as I sat down on the bed, Master Valorant walked in.
"Master, what happened?"
"There's something we need to do. Look at this," he said, showing me a small chest and opening it.
"What is this..." I leaned over, peering inside the chest—and froze in awe. It was full of gold coins. My mouth fell open. I had never seen so many gold coins in my life.
"I think this should be enough to buy your sword."
"Amazing!" I exclaimed. But as I was celebrating, something struck me.
[Where did Master get all these coins? No ordinary person could earn this much gold even in a lifetime. I should ask him.]
"Where did you get this money?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm just curious. Where could you have gotten so much gold so suddenly?"
"Gustav gave it to me, as advance payment for the task they mentioned."
"Why did they pay in advance? Usually, payment comes after the job is done."
"There are reasons. Don't worry—this gold will be enough to buy your sword and cover what lies ahead."
[Master told me not to worry. Still, something about this bothers me. I feel like we're about to make a mistake.]
"Tomorrow we'll go get you a sword."
"Why not today?"
"We've just arrived. It wouldn't be polite to leave right away. Let's rest a bit."
"Understood. We'll go tomorrow, then."
After our conversation, Master left the room. I lay down on the bed for a while, and without realizing it, fell fast asleep. The long journey had worn me out completely.
When I opened my eyes, someone was calling me.
[Who's calling me? From the voice, it sounds like Suna. I should get up and open the door.]
I dragged myself up and opened the door. Just as I thought, Suna was standing there. She had woken me from my sweet nap.
"Attu, can you hear me?" she knocked.
"Yes, I'm up. What's going on?" I asked, opening the door.
"It's dinner time. Come down and eat something."
"I'll be right down."
Just as she said, I went down for dinner. It took me a bit to find the dining hall, but I eventually did. When I entered, the first thing I noticed was that the table was set for three people.
Two seats were side by side, and Master Valorant was already sitting in one. Across from him, there was one empty seat.
I went and sat next to Master, but as soon as I did, he stood up and left.
[Looks like Master has already eaten. But then, whose seat is this? Who's the third person supposed to be? There aren't many people in this house. The servants definitely don't dine here. That leaves the Duke and his granddaughter. But the Duke is ill and can't come down, so… this must be Anna's seat. Is she running late?]
I glanced around the room—there was no one else, only Suna standing quietly near the wall. I waved to her to come over.
"Is Anna not coming to dinner?"
"She's a little scared of you."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"There must be a reason."
"Why don't you ask her yourself when you see her?" she said and returned to her spot.
So, I ended up eating dinner alone. Even while I ate, I kept thinking—
[Why didn't Anna come? Is she mad at me for interrupting her play earlier? Or maybe I scared her somehow? That's possible too—it's not the first time. Well, if I see her again, I'll ask.]
After dinner, I returned to my room to sleep, but for some reason, I couldn't.
[It's the middle of the night, and I'm still awake. I'm probably too used to sleeping on hard forest ground. This soft bed and fluffy pillow might be what's keeping me up.]
I tossed and turned, trying to sleep, but it didn't help. Then I thought—
[Maybe some fresh air will help me relax.]
I got up and stepped out into the hallway, heading down toward the first floor. As I walked, I noticed light coming from one of the rooms.
[There's light coming from this room? Who could be awake at this hour?]
Curious, I crept closer. The door was slightly ajar, and I peeked inside—it was a library.
I carefully opened the door without making a sound and stepped in. I was immediately surrounded by books. Everywhere I looked—shelves upon shelves, save for the narrow paths left for walking between them.
[There are so many books here. I've never seen this many in one place.]
As I examined the shelves, a soft light from the center of the room touched my face. It came from a lantern placed on a table.
I walked toward the table in the center, where special chairs and lamps were clearly set up for reading. As I approached, I saw someone sitting there—Anna.
She was deeply engrossed in a book, completely unaware of my presence. When I got close enough, she finally noticed me and startled. She tried to back away, but since she was sitting at the table, she couldn't get up fast enough and fell back into the bookshelf.
At that moment, I saw the books on the shelf start to wobble and fall—straight toward her. I didn't hesitate. I threw myself between her and the books, shielding her with my body.
Just as I thought, the books toppled, but because I was covering her, they all landed on me instead.
Anna, frightened, had shut her eyes tightly and clutched her book to her chest. Once the books had stopped falling onto me, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at me. We were very close to each other. When she saw me, her face suddenly turned as red as a tomato.
"Are you hurt at all?"
"No… nothing happened."
"Good," I said softly, lifting myself off her and turning away.
Anna also stood up. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a voice behind me.
"Wait!" It was Anna's voice.
She spoke very quietly, like someone lacking confidence. I didn't catch what she said clearly, so I turned around.
"What did you say? I couldn't hear."
Anna took a deep breath and spoke louder.
"I said wait."
"Alright, I'm listening. What is it?"
"You're bleeding from your head."
"Where?"
After hearing that, I touched my head with my hand, trying to find where the blood was.
"From the top."
I moved my hand to the top of my head and felt it—there really was blood.
[My hair must have made it easier to spot the blood. Maybe one of the books hit me hard.]
"Whoa, you're right… it's bleeding. Do you have something I can use to stop it?"
Anna pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and handed it to me.
"Here, use this… and thank you."
"Thank you. By the way, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
"I was reading."
"What kind of book?"
Anna hid the book behind her back and didn't respond.
"If you don't want to say, that's fine. I just like books too. But I don't get much time to read, since I spend most of it training."
Anna still didn't say anything, and the silence made me feel a bit awkward.
"Well then, I'll go get some sleep. You should rest too. Good night," I said and left the library.
Anna looked at the book in her hand. On the cover, it said "Curing Magical Diseases."
I returned to my room from the library and finally fell asleep. The journey up to this point had truly exhausted me.
When morning came, I woke up and began my usual training. I ran around the Duke's estate using flame mana, and practiced sword strikes.
While I was training, Master stood by and watched, correcting me whenever I made a mistake. After finishing my exercises, he called me over.
"Attu, bring your sword."
[Master's asking for my sword—does that mean we're going to spar?]
"Get ready to fight."
"Alright, Master!"
I took up my sword and began preparing to strike. Master also drew his weapon and waited for me to make the first move.
[From his stance, it seems he wants me to attack first. Alright then, I'll start with an overhead strike.]
I raised my sword and attacked. As usual, I struck from above. Master easily deflected the blow with his own sword, shifting it to the left.
I spun with the momentum, and just as I turned, Master attacked from my right. I was able to react in time and block his blow with my sword.
[His strike is so heavy! If I wasn't using flame mana, I definitely wouldn't have stopped it.]
My hands were shaking from the force, barely able to hold the sword. Suddenly, Master kicked me hard in the stomach.
The kick was so strong it sent me flying backward. While we trained, I noticed Anna standing by a nearby window, watching us. I had spotted her at the beginning of practice—she was looking straight at me.
Our morning training came to an end.
"That's enough for today. You can rest now."
"Master, when will you teach me the flame strikes you use with your sword?"
"To perform them, you need strong control over mana, and you have to reach at least level 2 of the 'Flaming Wrath' technique."
"Can't I do it at my current level?"
"You might, but it wouldn't be like mine. You'd need more experience and better control."
"When are we going to buy my sword?"
"That's what I wanted to tell you—we're not going today."
"Why not?"
"Yesterday Gustav told me he'd place a special order for your sword. The Duke's condition is worsening, so they don't want us leaving the estate."
"I've been meaning to ask you something. I'm really curious."
"What is it?"
"Is someone trying to kill the Duke?"
"You're catching on quickly."
"Yeah, I noticed there are very few servants around. I've only seen five, and this doesn't feel like a Duke's household. I didn't imagine such a big estate being run with so few staff."
"You're thinking wisely."
"Thanks to your guidance."
"I have a task for you. I want you to do it well."
"Of course."
"Get closer to Anna. Stay near her, if possible, all the time. I'll try to protect the estate from the outside."
"Understood, Master."
After our training ended, I returned to the library. I thought Anna might be there again, since she was reading the previous night—and I was right. She was indeed sitting there again.
[Since she's here, I need to get closer to her, just as Master said.]
"Hi. How are you?" I greeted her.
"Hello," she replied quietly, saying nothing more.
"Mind if I sit here and read too?"
Anna peeked out from behind her book.
"I'll take that as a yes." I picked a book from a nearby shelf and sat down to read. We sat together silently for a long time.
But after a few hours, I started getting bored. Honestly, at this rate, I'd never get closer to her.
So, to spark a conversation, I asked a question.
"Anna, what kind of book are you reading?"
As always, she didn't respond. Still, I didn't want to give up. I got up and walked over to see the book she was reading.
But Anna didn't let me—she quickly closed the book and hid its cover and pages. Still, I managed to catch a glimpse of it. Inside were pictures of different plants, and information on how to use magical creatures for healing.
"Are you interested in healing people?"
"No," she replied after thinking for a moment.
"Then why are you reading medical books? Are you trying to heal someone?"
"Yes."
"You're trying to heal the Duke, aren't you?"
[Judging by her expression, I could tell I was right. She was trying to heal her grandfather.]
"Yes, I want to save my grandfather."
"I understand you. Like you, I also have no parents. Now I understand why you've been studying so much. You want to do everything you can for the last person you hold dear. Isn't that right?"
"Yes. My grandfather is the last close person I have. I don't want to lose him. That's why I'm trying to do whatever I can."
"I understand. But there are some things we simply can't change. In front of those, we are powerless."
"So you're saying I should give up?" she said, sounding upset.
"Quite the opposite. I'm saying don't hold back—do everything in your power to save the one you love. I don't know why, but these words just came to me. What I do know is this: you're a good person. I like girls like you."
After hearing my words, Anna's face turned bright red. Seeing her sudden blush, I thought she might be sick and reached out to feel her forehead.
"Are you alright? Your face is really red. Do you have a fever?"
Just then, Suna entered the library. She overheard us but pretended like she hadn't.
"Attu, it's time for dinner."
"Suna, I think Anna might have a fever. You should give her some medicine," I said as I left the library.
"I'll give her something right away," she said, running over to Anna.
Anna had lowered her head onto the book.
"So… how was your first kiss among the books?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Didn't Attu kiss you?"
"No! Nothing like that happened! Where'd you get that idea?"
"Then why were you blushing?"
"I… I just…," she trailed off.
"Did he kiss you? Hug you? Hold your waist?"
"Nooo! He just touched my forehead to see if I had a fever."
"Aww, I thought something juicy had happened."
"None of the things you're thinking happened. Don't even hope for it!"
"Alright, alright. Everything happens slowly… Today, he 'accidentally' touches your forehead. Tomorrow, maybe your hand. Step by step, that's how closeness grows," Suna said with a mischievous grin.
"No way! I won't let him touch me like that."
"You'll see. Oh, and let's go eat. You haven't even had breakfast yet. Strong girls attract boys. Attu likes you, that's why you need to start eating better."
Anna closed the book and rested her head on the table, thinking.
[Does he really like me?] she thought, her cheeks flushing again.
The day came to an end, and night fell. I returned to the library again, and sure enough, Anna was still there reading a book.
I quietly approached a nearby shelf and began looking for an interesting book to read. I examined the titles and covers, but nothing caught my interest.
[What kind of books are these? Miguel de Cervantes: Don Quixote — definitely a foreign author. The Adventures of Robin Hood — no author listed.]
"Are there any books about fighting or magic here?"
"I don't know. Maybe if you look closely, you'll find some. I've never been too interested in combat or battle magic."
I started searching between the shelves for books that could help me improve my magic or fighting skills. That's when a certain title caught my eye. It said "The History of Mankind" on the cover. I pulled the book from the shelf, placed it on the table, and began to read.
"What book did you pick?"
"It's called The History of Mankind."
"Oh, I know that one. It talks about ancient kings and the most powerful mages and Elestars of their time."
"Sounds interesting just by the title."
I opened it and began reading from the first page. Right from the beginning, the book talked about the first emperor.
[So it starts off with the story of the first emperor...
------------------------------------------------------
Name: Unknown
Lifespan: Unknown
Title: Emperor (Famous as the First Emperor)
Place of Birth and Death: Unknown
Magic Affinity: Elestar
------------------------------------------------------
Very little is known about this person, but according to some preserved accounts, he is said to be the first man to unite humanity and build a great empire. That's not the only thing that made him special—he is also credited with founding the modern Elestar school of magic. Some sources suggest he lived approximately 10,000 years ago.]
[But wait… Master once told me it was a hundred thousand years ago. Is this a mistake in the book, or was my master wrong?]
Maybe I should ask Anna.
"Anna."
"Yes?"
"How long ago did the First Emperor live?"
"In the books I've read, it said around ten thousand years ago."
"Got it." – she replied and continued reading.
Even though I could read the book, I didn't understand all of it—some parts were simply too complex. Still, I managed to grasp a few important things.
I learned that there were great sorcerers and Elestars in history who once defeated a Demon King. Not only the First Emperor, but three other legendary mages were also mentioned.
The book turned out to be fascinating—rich with historical knowledge and full of intriguing stories. When I finally finished it, I closed the book and glanced at Anna.
Somehow, while I was completely immersed in reading, I hadn't noticed that Anna had fallen asleep beside me, her head resting gently on a book.
She was sleeping so peacefully that I didn't want her to get cold. I quietly took off my outer cloak and laid it over her like a blanket. Then, without making a sound, I left the library and returned to my room.
The next morning, I rose and began my training as usual. Seeing how I wielded the sword, Master said I needed more focus on technique and had me practice strictly with the blade.
"...Eight hundred ninety-eight, eight hundred ninety-nine... and nine hundred."
As always, Master sat nearby, observing every movement I made.
"Do a hundred more sword strikes."
"Yes, sir!" I shouted and continued swinging.
After completing the extra hundred strikes, I sparred with my master—just like every other day—and, as always, ended up flat on my back after a beating.
While I lay on the cold ground, worn out and aching, Gustav appeared before us.
"Here it is, Master Valorant. The sword you requested," he said, handing the weapon to my master before taking his leave.
"Thank you! Attu, catch!" Master said, tossing me the sheathed blade.
I caught the sword and slowly drew it from its scabbard. As it came into the light, I was stunned by its gleam—shining like sunlight. I gave it a couple of test swings and felt the balance.
"This sword feels incredible."
"Well, of course! It cost fifty gold coins! It'd better be good."
Hearing that, I nearly lost my grip—the sword suddenly felt like fifty pieces of pure gold in my hands. I held it as delicately as I could and carefully sheathed it again.
"Why'd you put it away?" Master asked. "You're not done training with your new blade."
"I'm doing fine with my old one… I don't think I can handle this sword yet."
"Take it out again!" he shouted, throwing a stick at me.
"Where do you even keep finding these sticks?" I grumbled, unsheathing the new sword once more.
"Now channel your mana into it."
I did as he asked and focused my mana into the blade—until something strange happened.
"It absorbed my mana...? Wait, what? I can feel energy flowing from the sword itself."
"Yes, that's how it works. This blade consumes your mana and helps you perform the techniques I use. It's not customized for your personal flame, though—just for wielding Eternal Flame magic."
"How does that work?"
"As I told you before, every Elestar who can use a unique-colored flame can also use Eternal Flame magic. But those who only wield Eternal Flame can't use any other type."
"Right… I remember now."
"That's why many conceal their true flame and mislead their enemies by using Eternal Flame techniques instead. Once you master the Eternal Flame, your own flame will become much easier to control."
"So using Eternal Flame helps build skill for when I use my true magic?"
"Exactly. I'm giving you this sword so you can get used to it early."
"I understand."
"Then this concludes today's training."
Suddenly, Master ended the session.
"Wait—why?"
"Someone's watching you."
I looked toward the windows, trying to see who it was—and sure enough, Anna stood at the library window, watching us. The moment I noticed her, she turned and quickly disappeared.
"Attu, come here," Master called, waving me over.
"Yes, Master?" I asked, approaching him.
He placed his left hand on my shoulder and leaned close to whisper in my ear.
"Do you remember what I told you when we were coming here?"
"Which part?" I blinked, unsure.
"About girls…"
"Oh. Yeah, I remember now—you said you'd help."
"Well, the time has come. As a master guiding his disciple, here is my first piece of advice about girls:
If a girl is shy, you have to be the one who gets closer. Sit near her. Tell her she can trust you. Be the one to make the first move. That's important in your current situation. Understand?"
"I understand, Master."
"Then go. I believe in you. You're dismissed."
Gathering my two swords and belongings, I headed back inside. Master stayed outside, chuckling to himself.
[Let's see what happens next. This'll be fun...]
After training, I went straight to the library to talk with Anna again. As always, she was sitting in her usual spot, reading a book.
"Hi there!" I greeted her.
"Hello."
From the moment I stepped into the room, I began trying to follow the advice Master had given me. Instead of sitting across from her like I usually did, today I decided to sit beside her.
"Do you mind if I sit here?"
"Why would you want to sit there? There are other spots, you know."
[My plan failed before it even started. I thought she'd say yes without hesitation… Guess I'll have to change my approach.]
"In that case, never mind," I said, sitting across from her as usual.
Anna glanced at me, thinking to herself, [Attu feels... a little different today.]
[The important thing is not to give up. If I wait a bit longer—or make another move—I'll get another chance.]
"So, what are you busy with today?"
"Can't you see? I'm reading."
"Right…" I laughed awkwardly.
Again, Anna watched me silently, her thoughts murmuring, [He's definitely acting strange today.]
[What else can I do? At this rate, I'll never get closer to her.]
"By the way, thank you for this."
"For what?"
"For this." I handed her the coat.
"Oh—it's nothing. Be careful! It's winter. You'll catch a cold without it," she said, folding the coat carefully.
[I completely forgot. Last night I left this on her as a blanket.]
"Thanks for caring about me," she murmured, her face turning red.
[She looks… really cute when she blushes like that.]
After she thanked me, every plan I had in my head vanished. It felt like we were already closer than I had ever planned for.
"I've got a question."
"What is it?"
"Have you gotten used to talking with me?"
"What do you mean?"
"The first time we met, you were hiding behind Suna and staring at me. Now you talk to me like it's nothing."
"I didn't know you back then. So I avoided you as much as I could."
"Makes sense. I guess that's why you didn't eat with us either."
"My grandfather said I shouldn't be afraid of you. He also said I should try to get to know you."
"Why?"
"Because I spend most of my time in here. I barely leave the library. They think I've turned it into my bedroom."
"I mean… I kind of agree. You were sleeping in here just the other night."
"That was different. I didn't even realize I'd fallen asleep." She blushed again.
"And... do you not have any friends?"
"I guess not. Most people are scared to be friends with me because of my family."
"What family?"
"The Blackwood family. We rule the Flame Kingdom. My grandfather… he's the late king's brother."
"Wait—what?"
"Yes. I'm royalty."
"I don't… I don't think I understand what you mean."
"Forget I said anything." She turned away and buried herself in her book.
"If no one else wants to be your friend, I will. I'll be your first."
"You say that like you just want my family's wealth and status."
"What?"
"That's why people usually try to befriend me."
"Then I'll be the first who wants to be your friend for real." I held out my hand to her.
"In that case… I accept." She smiled slightly and reached out, gently shaking my hand.
Later, I left the library—but something gnawed at me.
[Was what I did right? Should I have said all that to someone from a royal family? I acted without thinking. Maybe it was her smile in that moment. Yeah… that smile threw me off. I won't make that mistake again.]
As I walked down the hallway, I had to pass by the duke's room. Just then, I suddenly felt something—something so powerful and terrifying it stopped me in my tracks.
It wasn't just a presence—it was an overwhelming, suffocating aura of bloodlust. I couldn't move. It felt like it was crushing my chest, slowly squeezing the air from my lungs.
Then the pressure grew even worse. I couldn't breathe—not through my nose or mouth. I clawed at my chest, desperate for air.
Haa—haa—
[What… is this? I'm going to pass out…]
I reached for the wall to steady myself, my chest heaving, my legs barely holding me up. It felt like someone—or something—was trying to crush me from the inside.
And then… it stopped.
I gasped for air and stood upright again, my breath finally returning to me.
[I don't know what that was… but it was dangerous. Terrifying. Master must have sensed it too—he's probably with the Duke right now. I need to find out what just happened.]
I rushed to the Duke's room just in time to see Master stepping out like nothing had happened.
"Where are you headed, Attu?"
"What was that just now? You felt it too, didn't you? That aura… it was overwhelming!" I spoke breathlessly.
"First of all, calm yourself. Second—are you okay?"
"I'm fine. But—"
"All your questions—including this one—will be answered once the second part of your mission begins. But now is not the time."
"When is the time?"
"You won't have to wait long."
After hearing that, I said nothing more and quietly returned to my room. There, I sat alone, still shaken.
[What was that aura? It wasn't just mana… there was magic in it too. Something ancient. Something dark. Master said the answers would come soon. I guess… I'll just have to wait.]
The next morning, as usual, I began my training with Master. Though he had told me we'd speak about yesterday's incident later, I couldn't stop thinking about it. And despite his earlier warning, I decided to bring it up again.
"Master… I wanted to ask about what happened yesterday."
"I told you, didn't I? You'll learn everything when the time is right."
"I'm not asking about why it happened. I just want to understand what it was that I felt. It was like the bloodlust aura you showed me once… but different somehow."
"…Fine. I'll explain. Listen carefully."
"When an Elestar warrior reaches a certain level of combat mastery, they begin to awaken something within them: an aura. This aura keeps them from retreating or panicking, even in the worst of battles. But what happens when an Elestar faces magical creatures? Unlike wild beasts, magical beings are much stronger and harder to intimidate."
"That's when the Elestar adapts. Their body channels mana into their aura, reshaping it—refining it—into something overwhelming. At its peak, this aura can paralyze an enemy… or even kill them with a mere glance."
"What you felt yesterday was an Elestar Aura. You could say it's a much stronger form of the standard warrior's aura."
[I see… So what I felt yesterday was an Elestar's aura. That means if I ever face one in combat, I'll be powerless against them. I have to learn how to use it myself—fast.]
"Master, please teach me how to awaken my Elestar Aura!"
"You haven't even fully awakened a normal combat aura yet."
"I don't care. I don't want to stand there helpless like a scared child the next time something like that happens. Please… teach me."
Master's face softened, a rare smile touching his lips.
"In that case, we'll need to make your training even tougher."
And so, we began a new phase of my training: unlocking my aura. Of course, the Elestar Aura was still far off—I would need to start with the basics.
Days passed. My training intensified. And on the other side of my life, something else grew as well: my bond with Anna. We talked every day now—about books, the weather, history, and whatever else came to mind. The awkward tension between us had long since faded.
One week later, Anna began eating meals with Master and me. I was genuinely happy about it. We were no longer strangers to her. Over time, I saw more sides of her—her humor, her playful nature. She would try to scare me by popping out of nowhere or teasing me during meals. I realized then—she was just a normal girl.
And Suna… Suna wasn't quite the polite, well-mannered maid I thought she was. You'll come to understand her true nature yourself soon enough.
It had been twenty-three days since I first arrived at the Duke's estate. In that time, my swordsmanship had improved, and I'd managed to awaken a faint aura. It wasn't perfect, but it was something. I had also grown more comfortable with my new sword and trained with it constantly.
That day, Master and I were still in the middle of sparring when Suna arrived.
"Sir Valorant, Attu, dinner is ready."
"We'll be right there," Master replied, glancing at me.
After a while, we gathered at the table for dinner—Anna, Master, and I. As we began eating, Anna gave me a mischievous look and spoke up.
"So, you got beat up again today?"
"Not exactly…"
"Oh please. You're covered in bruises."
"It's just part of training."
"Liar."
As Anna teased me, Gustav walked up to Master and whispered something in his ear. When he finished, Master's face turned grave, and he looked at me with seriousness.
"This doesn't concern you," I said to Anna, trying to keep her from noticing the shift.
"Attu," Master called.
"Yes, Master?"
"Do you remember what I told you—that I'd explain everything when the second part of your mission begins?"
"Yes."
"Well… that time has come. Gather your things. We need to leave—immediately."
"What happened?"
"…The Duke. Alaris is dead."