Ilene had never dared to imagine that Ryuu would be this promising.
After losing her first Blade to unforeseen circumstances, she had come to the conclusion that she wasn’t meant to take her father’s place in the future.
After all, who could possibly match what Michael had meant to her?
A boy who had managed to become an Advanced M’yin at fourteen years old with an incredible Elementalist Talent.
He was destined to become the greatest M’yin in the Northern Reaches, but such a destiny was put to an end.
Let’s just see how this goes.
Ryuu is promising, but even he can’t match up to the gap left by Michael.
Those are the type of thoughts Ilene had when first meeting her new partner.
She assumed she had gotten her hands on a one-in-a-thousand individual–maybe even one-in-ten thousand–but not enough to surpass the generational genius she had once worked with.
Unknowingly, she started to change her mind day by day, and by the time she had decided to tell Ryuu more about herself, she had forgotten her initial impression.
Ryuu will win and become my Blade.
He may be brash and ignorant, but he’s equally as gifted and clever.
I trust him; Ryuu is a man I can place my faith in.
Walking up to the Golden Temple with him, Ilene found herself feeling reassured.
When she watched him prepare himself and grin at her, she didn’t feel any doubt.
Even after seeing his arm get severed, she watched without blinking.
She owed that much to the man.
This is looking bad… Don’t die, Ryuu!
You’re not the type of man to die like this!
She couldn’t help but be worried for his life when he was stabbed through the torso, but then the strangest thing happened–Ryuu experienced his Awakening at the most convenient time possible.
An Awakening?!
I’ve never heard of someone awakening through force of will… Is he guarded by fate itself?
And so, after watching her partner kill his opponent and succeed in his exam, she felt a new revelation dawn upon her.
I see.
If fate is his ally, then perhaps I can begin to believe again.
I can live without worrying that he’ll be taken by something out of our control…
***Ryuu***
A room of beds and curtains greets Ryuu as his eyes flutter open.
He doesn’t remember anything after killing Alph, though everything up to that point is clear as day.
He turns his head, and much to his surprise, his left arm is attached to his shoulder.
“What the hell? My arm should’ve been in tatters after blocking his sword…”
“That’s a new arm. Your old one was too torn up to consider reattaching it, and your wound was already somewhat healed thanks to your aura technique.”
The source of the voice is nearby medical staff.
A doctor, to be specific.
“A new arm? I would say that’s impossible, but it’s probably thanks to some kind of magic. Did you do this, Doc?”
She walks across the room toward Ryuu, her open white coat and tied-up blonde hair giving her a mature appearance.
“Yes, I did. You should be grateful the Duke allowed you into his private infirmary. Nobody else in the capital could’ve created you a new arm as fast as I did.”
“Is that so? Thank you very much, then. Do you have some kind of healing Talent?”
She smiles and sits in a chair next to Ryuu’s bed.
“That’s correct. My preferred title is Doctor Corna, but I’m also known as Master Natalia, the Lifegiver.”
“Master? You look really young though, especially for a doctor.”
She puffs her cheeks out at him.
“Ah, sorry. I just meant it’s impressive that someone who only looks a little older than me could be so accomplished.”
“Heh, don’t worry about it. I was just teasing you a little. I am a bit young, but it’s not as if I’m inexperienced. My parents are doctors as well, so I sort of followed in their footsteps.”
She stands and runs her hand through the air above Ryuu.
Bright yellow mana coats her hand, giving him the feeling that he’s being scanned in some way.
After a couple minutes of that, Doctor Corna steps back and puts her hands in her coat pockets.
“You’re good to go! It’s been about a day and a half since your fight, so you have an hour until sunrise. Do you want to stay here?”
“No, I should probably get ready for my day. Can’t waste a moment around here.”
He steps out of the bed and hops on his toes a few times while rolling his shoulders.
He then tests the new arm by dropping down and pumping out a few one-handed push-ups.
“Wow, it’s like it never left! Your Talent must really be something, Doc!”
“Well, I won’t say you’re wrong. You know, it isn’t exactly normal for people to go running their mouths about what Talents they have. You should keep that in mind, dragon boy.”
At first, Ryuu thinks he must’ve been talking in his sleep, but then the obvious conclusion reaches him.
“So everyone that watched my test saw my Talent. Does that mean I screwed up?”
“Hahaha! No, silly. It just means they’re aware that you have spells that allow you to create some armor. It would take some kind of genius, or really impressive guesswork, to deduce somebody’s Talent from only a couple of spells. Though, whatever your Talent is, it’s definitely a unique one. Watch your back out there.”
He gives the doctor his thanks once more, then steps behind a curtain to get changed.
A guard soon arrives to lead him out of the infirmary, which he appreciates.
Ryuu is then guided through a long, spiraling hall that descends to the side of a massive chamber.
Even I can tell that’s the Grand Hall.
So this must be the Central Tower.
It’s the only tower I hadn’t seen yet, besides the one Ilene told me belonged to her brother.
The soldier opens a large door along the wall and motions Ryuu out, placing him in the middle of the outside courtyard.
He decides that looking for Ilene would be best, so he begins his way back toward the South-East Tower.
Although he’s won many fights before, Ryuu can’t help but feel a little more proud of his victory than usual.
He had never fought so hard in his life, but his efforts have paid off.
Now, he is a man clearly capable of becoming an Intermediate A’yang, and with a seemingly unique and powerful Talent to boot.
I won, just like I said I would.
I can’t wait to see the look on her face when I show up.
He eventually reaches the top of the South-East Tower and stops just short of Ilene’s hall.
He debates going down it without her permission, but as the doors at the end swing open, his worries immediately fade.
Ilene steps out with a focused expression, her eyes lighting up a degree as she notices Ryuu.
“You’re fine to be up and about? I was expecting you to be stuck in bed for another day or two.”
He grins and flexes his left arm.
“Doctor Corna made my arm as good as new. It wouldn’t do me any good to stay laid up if I can avoid it.”
“…Your vitality is impressive. I’m afraid I’m a bit lost now. I hadn’t planned on having you around today.”
“Is that a problem? I don’t mind just following you around for the day.”
She steps beside him and flips her hair over her shoulder.
“That would probably be for the best. Word of your success quickly spread across the land, so I’ve been in the middle of taking care of some procedures the whole time you’ve been out.”
“Like what?”
“Getting your paperwork done, for one. You can thank me for taking care of all the boring parts for you. Honestly, my eyes are still swimming from the past twenty-four hours.”
Ryuu smirks and replies, “Thank you very much” as they start down the stairs.
“By the way, Ilene, I’ve been waiting patiently to hear something from you.”
“…Is that right?”
After some moments of silence, she glances at Ryuu and is met by a smug look on his face.
“Ugh, you’re really going to make me say it?”
“…”
“Fine. I get it.”
She turns to fully face him at the foot of the stairs and gives him a genuine smile.
“Congratulations on your victory, Ryuu. You worked hard. I’m proud of you.”
******
The two of them spend the morning running around and completing mundane tasks after a quick breakfast.
Ilene meets with multiple officials and discusses matters that fly above Ryuu’s head, but he smiles and waves when necessary.
By the time the afternoon rolls around, they’ve completed most of the day’s work.
Ryuu wonders what’s next, and Ilene tells him before he can ask.
“It’s time for a break. I have some things I want to ask you, and now is as good a time as any.”
They make their way to an open area of the courtyard near one of the walls.
The sun shines perfectly overhead, making it the ideal spot to lounge.
Ilene crouches down and smooths out her skirt as she sits on her knees, while Ryuu lies back on the ground with his hands behind his head.
“Don’t you ever get tired of that outfit?” he teases.
“I would’ve thought somebody like you would be more comfortable in pants anyway.”
“Then you’ve clearly never worn a skirt before. They’re more freeing than any slacks I’ve ever worn, and mine are long enough that there’s not much risk of indecency.”
“I’ll take your word on that. So, what did you wanna ask me?”
She turns her gaze toward Ryuu and begins, “It’s about your Talent. I wanted to ask you how you managed to awaken when you did, and how you were able to successfully cast spells the moment after.”
“Hmm… I don’t really know how to answer either of those questions. I just didn’t want to lose, more than I’ve ever felt before, and that’s when that light enveloped me. Is that normal for Awakenings?”
“Yes, the Cocoon of Evolution is something that all M’yin experience upon awakening. Yours went by fairly fast, but some have been said to last for as long as a day. Perhaps I would know more if I knew what your Talent was…”
Ryuu closes his eyes, his mouth forming a wry grin.
“The doc told me that it’s common for people to hide their Talents.”
Ilene’s eyes narrow to slits.
“That doesn’t mean you should hide it from me. You’re my Blade!”
“Calm down, I’m just proposing a trade. After all, we’ve been hanging out for over a week now, and I don’t know what yours is.”
“…I suppose that’s fair, but the circumstances surrounding my Talent are complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
She sharply exhales and scoots a little closer to Ryuu.
“Everything I’m about to tell you stays between the two of us. Understood?”
“Obviously.”
“…The truth is, my Talent is Illusionist. It’s a power that allows me many options, but…”
“But a lot of its effectiveness relies on its identity being unknown.”
“…Yes, that’s the main issue. Everyone that thinks they know what my Talent is believes it to be pure hypnotism, but that’s just one aspect of it. In reality, I can warp the perception of hundreds on a whim, granted I’m given time.”
Ryuu sits up with a knowing look in his eyes.
“That’s how you were invisible back at the Golden Club. Yeah, hypnotism alone wouldn’t be able to pull that off. That’s a terrifying power.”
“Indeed. In the hands of an Outlaw it would be an undeniable threat to the welfare of our people. If the citizens were to learn of my power, they may find it hard to trust me, so I chose to hide it like this from the moment I awakened.”
“Won’t that make it worse when the truth eventually comes to light? Because it will, especially if you’re aiming for the title of duchess.”
“…Forget that for a moment. I believe it’s your turn to start spilling now.”
“Right. Well you know as well as I do that I’m new to all of this stuff, so I don’t fully understand all of the terminology yet. I’m sure I’ll hear all about it in Master Darius’s class tomorrow, so I’ll spare you the details. My Talent is called Draconic Armament. I believe the naming is pretty self-explanatory.”
Ilene leans closer to Ryuu with a hushed whisper.
“Armament suggests that you’re able to create weapons and armor. So, yes, I agree. Were the two spells you used the only ones you have?”
“Yeah, [Shredding Talons] and [Piercing Claws]. You asked me before how I was able to use them… Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think my spells take as much fine-tuning as some like yours would.”
“I would hope not. My stronger spells can take several hours to fully prepare, so they’re harder to utilize in combat.”
“Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for you. I’ll press Master Darius and Belynda for more answers tomorrow, but until then, I’ll be satisfied with blissful ignorance.”
Ilene’s eyes grow wide with astonishment, her shoulders straightening as Ryuu finishes.
“Did you say Belynda? I wasn’t aware that the two of you were acquainted.”
“Hm? Ah, I tried to bring it up once, but you were passed out drunk. Hahaha- Ow!”
He rubs the back of his head where Ilene smacked him, her face a few shades deeper than usual.
“Shut up about that… Just tell me something. Has Belynda talked to you about Michael, or anything to do with her family for that matter?”
“Michael… So he is related. No, she hasn’t mentioned him to me by name or anything. The most I’ve heard about her family is that they’re high-ranked and make their progeny start training at a considerably young age. A slightly above-average, run-of-the-mill noble family, right?”
“Sure. That’s all I wanted to know. It would be nice if you and Belynda could form a relationship similar to how you are with Leon. She was too young to join the rest of us when her brother was around, and now she’s stuck spending the prime of her life secluded. It’s not very fair for such a loving little sister.”
“Yeah yeah, I’ll be friendly. It’s not like I’m gonna scare her away or something.”
Ilene blankly stares at him, until he yells, “My face isn’t that scary! Is it?!”
She goes a few more moments before finally speaking.
“On to more pressing matters, my father is setting up an official gathering for the two of us. Nobles from all over the capital, and perhaps some from across the Northern Reaches, will be coming to congratulate me on acquiring a Blade. Of course, that means you’ll be sharing my spotlight.”
“Huh? No no no, I didn’t agree to get gawked at like an animal by a bunch of nobles and stuff.”
“Too bad. Now that you’re with me, you’ll have to get used to it. This will be nothing compared to the day of the election, when I am named as the ruler of Mahora.”
“Okay… When is this gathering?”
“In two days. It won’t be held here, but instead at a large hall on the other side of the Gold District. I expect you to be on your best behavior from now on. Remember, your actions are now tied to my image, and the honor of the Mahora family.”
“Kill me now…”
******
The rest of the day passes uneventfully, with Ryuu hanging out as Ilene explains a bunch of random concepts that mostly go ignored.
Night falls, and the two of them retire to the South-East Tower, but before he can go to his room, Ilene hands Ryuu a small book.
Its cover is worn, yet the title clearly reads “The Oath of the Blade”.
“Read that, and make sure you finish it before the gathering. Otherwise, I can’t help if you make a fool of yourself.”
Ryuu silently accepts his homework and shuffles into his own room, belly-flopping onto his bed with a loud sigh.
“Man, I really don’t wanna be around so many nobles. It’s so proper and boring, not to mention exhausting…”
He grumbles and complains as he gets undressed and quickly washes off.
Soon enough, he’s in bed with the book open, using a magic stone as a reading light.
This collection details the basics of what is expected/required of a noble’s Blade.
If one wishes to become a Blade worthy of respect, or perhaps teach another person to become one, then they’ll find success by committing these oaths to heart.
Ugh.
I guess I asked for this.
First Oath: A Blade must always act in the interest of their master.
–Direct insubordination leaves one vulnerable to loss of citizenship, imprisonment, and even death, in some cases.
Second Oath: A Blade can never turn on nor harm their master, for their master’s life is equal to one hundred of their own.
Third Oath: A Blade will act with honor at all times.
–In most cities, a Blade has status equal to that of a knight.
This is subject to change, especially in cases where the Blade already possesses a higher rank.
Fourth Oath: Barring extreme circumstances, a Blade can never be away from their Master for more than a week at a time.
Fifth Oath: A Blade will bend to nobody other than their master.
–Orders originating from a higher position than one’s master are to be respected, but the master’s wishes have absolute authority.
“Well… I’ve gotten too deep to back out now.
This is insane though, am I meant to be a glorified slave or something?
I’ll go on the run before anybody catches me calling Ilene “master”.”
Ryuu skims through most of the book, catching the information that seems the most useful.
Most of it is etiquette and other formalities–things he couldn’t care less about–but nothing sticks out to him as overly difficult.
He eventually sets it on the other side of the bed and rolls over, preparing himself for a future without rest.
******
Morning comes with a little more warmth than usual.
The frost that usually covers the courtyard is nowhere to be found as Ryuu makes his way to the Magic Tower.
Ilene had been gone in the morning once again, so he figured she was taking care of more boring work.
Once he makes it to the entrance, he feels a presence close behind him and turns to find Belynda.
“Woah. You’re a sneaky person, aren’t you?” he jokes.
She frowns.
“We don’t see each other for three days and that’s the first thing you say? I was just waiting until we got to our class to say hi.”
“Uh huh, if you say so. I think you’d have more friends if you spoke your mind.”
“Spoken like a true extrovert. Please don’t assume my brain works anything like yours.”
“…Yeah, alright.”
The two of them banter back and forth as they make their way to the emerald door on the second floor.
Dry sarcasm and the occasional laugh is how most of his talks with Belynda go, but Ryuu can’t help feeling uncomfortable around her.
Ever since the day she declared she would befriend him, he’s tried his best to keep that from happening.
I know Ilene has a soft spot for Belynda’s brother, but that doesn’t mean I have to be different around her.
She told me to be friendly, which I will, but this girl’s clearly putting on an act when she’s around me.
They find their seats in the class and wait a few minutes for Master Darius to arrive.
He soon opens the door, his obsidian cloak as imposing as ever.
Ryuu wasn’t able to notice until recently, but it’s clear now that Darius’s cloak is heavily enchanted.
Every day, he learns that there’s more to this world than meets the eye.
“Alright, students. I’m sure most of you have heard the news about your classmate. Congratulations on becoming Lady Ilene’s Blade, Sir Ryuu.”
Sir?
It must be because of the knightly status that book mentioned.
A light round of applause echoes through the room.
Ryuu can’t help but nervously smile, and the others around him seem genuinely impressed.
Darius waits for it to end before continuing.
“In light of his victory, and what he achieved in order to claim it, we’ll be discussing Talents today. It doesn’t matter if it’s the most basic detail, or something only a scant few are aware of, all information is worth knowing to a M’yin.”
He picks up a piece of chalk and begins writing out a list and some diagrams before he begins his lecture.
As soon as he finishes writing, a man behind Ryuu raises his hand.
“Yes, Mister Oliver?”
“Excuse me, Master Darius, but your diagram is confusing me a bit. What are magic types?”
Darius nods and slaps his palm on the chalkboard to draw attention.
“Good question. A magic type is a concept that mostly applies to Awakeners, those who’ve awakened their Talent. There are five types in total, and an individual’s type influences the kinds of spells they can learn with their Talent. Those five types are: Power, Control, Finesse, Protective, and Restorative.”
His hand traces over the lines on the board, explaining the relationships between them in an easily digestible fashion.
“Power, Control, and Finesse-types are the most commonly found, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less valuable. The general consensus is that Power trumps Control, Control trumps Finesse, and Finesse trumps Power. That said, there are infinitely more factors that go into a battle besides types alone, so don’t go thinking you’ve got an easy win due to match-ups.”
A woman beside Ryuu raises her hand and asks, “What about Protective and Restorative?”
“Ah, those two tend not to enter combat situations unless they have a dependable team. You see, protective magic usually takes the form of barriers, seals, and other forms of, well, protection. Restorative is similarly intuitive, with this magic commonly being used for healing, buffing, or even necromancy. Because of the broadness of magic, it’s very possible for some spells to overlap types. For example, the magic that Sir Ryuu displayed during his exam could be interpreted as either Power or Finesse-type.”
I don’t like that it’s so obvious, but at least he’s not totally sure that it’s Power-type.
Based on what I’ve heard so far, I would bet my meager savings that Ilene’s magic is Control-type.
Ryuu raises his hand this time, and Darius smirks as he motions for him to speak.
“Master Darius, how does one learn more spells? It’s not as if there’s a book out there for my specific Talent, right?”
“Hm, another good question. My answer to that is there are multiple ways people learn new spells, but none of them are guaranteed to work for any given person. Some throw themselves into battle and learn on the edge, others meditate and become more familiar with their Talent over time, while there are some people that simply let them come naturally. I don’t know how many spells you have to begin with, but I’ll tell you now that some people awaken with as many as ten spells ready for use. It all depends on the M’yin.”
The class erupts in murmurs and whispers for a few seconds, then Belynda raises her hand.
“Go ahead, Miss Serafall.”
“Adding on to Ryuu’s question, is it possible for multiple people to possess the same Talent?”
Darius lightly sighs and straightens his shoulders.
“This is another question I can’t give a concrete answer on.
There are no records of people having the same name for their Talents, but there’s also only so many different ways to do something.
For example, one person may have a Power-type Water Talent, and another could have a Finesse-type Water Talent.
The names of their spells won’t all overlap, and the titles of their Talents will be different, but it would be hard to distinguish between the two for most people.
The same could be true for any Talent, but there are undoubtedly Talents that could be called “unique”, in the sense that they come with…extra effects.”
“That makes sense. Thank you, Master.”
The class continues on for another half-hour, but Ryuu deems the rest of the information unworthy of his full attention.
Darius eventually dismisses them, and everyone spills out into the castle courtyard.
Belynda follows Ryuu out, as she does everyday, and asks him to eat with her.
“No thanks. I want to chill for a bit before my class at the Aura Tower.”
“You always have some kind of excuse. Are you really so ignorant when it comes to the heart of a maiden?”
It’s more like you need to catch a clue.
“Yeah, damn right I am. How’s a guy like me who’s never had a romantic relationship supposed to know anything about your heart?”
“…Stop it with the bad acting, Ryuu. We both know you’re a lot smarter than that.”
He stops and turns to face her, making the shorter woman meet his eyes.
“That’s ironic. I’ve been wanting to tell you the same thing. We both know you’re not as sweet and innocent as you’d like me to think.”
Belynda maintains her easygoing expression without breaking a sweat.
“What do you mean? If it’s about that time I showed off with my Barrier art, I’m sorry that–”
“Nah, that’s not all. You certainly let your mask slip at that time, but that was just the start of my suspicions. I don’t care how handsome and gifted I may be, no person with any self-respect throws themselves at the feet of someone they’re superior to without a hidden agenda.”
The tension thickens between the two of them.
For several long moments, neither of them make a sound, then Belynda’s face contorts into a frown of disgust.
“Ew, that was seriously gross. Do you get off on that kind of thing, bragging about your own appearance?”
“Bragging suggests that you agree with my description.”
“You– shut it! How the hell did you see through my act so easily?!”
“I already gave you my reasoning. I paired that with what little I learned about you from Ilene, and the rest spelled itself out for me.”
“Huh?! What’s that supposed to mean?!”
“I know about Michael.”
Belynda’s face tightens, her lips pressed hard together as veins begin to bulge on her forehead.
She grabs Ryuu’s arm and mutters, “Come with me. Now.”
******
After being dragged into an unfamiliar building inside of the courtyard, Ryuu finds himself sitting across from Belynda in a dusty, secluded meeting room.
His back aches from the rough, wooden chair, but he keeps his gaze on her from the other side of a small table.
“Nobody will disturb us here, so talk. What the hell do you know about Michael?!”
It looks like I won’t be making it to your class today, Master Nolan.
“All I know is that he’s your older brother, and that he was on his way to becoming someone super important. Around ten years ago, he inexplicably fell into a comatose state, and despite refusing outside help, your family keeps him alive with their deep pockets. How am I doing?”
“…Nothing wrong so far, but almost all of that is public knowledge. Is that everything Lady Ilene told you?”
“She also told me to be friendly with you, considering you were the youngest out of you, your brother, Ilene, and Lord Xander. She was afraid you’ve felt left behind all this time, which tells me you haven’t kept in touch with Ilene, even though you’re at the castle every day. Why is that?”
“…Because I have nothing to say to her. I bear no ill will toward Lady Ilene; it’s not like it’s her fault my brother ended up like this. If anything, I appreciate her for still holding Michael close to her heart. It simply comes down to the fact that there’s nothing she can do to help in her current position.”
“So…you’re not really looking for friends then?
Your thought process shouts “I need an equivalent exchange to be friends with someone.” To be clear, I think the same way you do, but I recently decided to try and change that part of me.”
Belynda leans over the table and gets in Ryuu’s face.
“If you agree with me, then why are you lecturing me?!”
“Because it brings me to my main reason for calling you out. Why have you spent the past week and a half trying so desperately to befriend me? I offer nothing of value to you, yet after every class we have, you chase me down and try to spend time with me. That clashes with what we just agreed on as your definition of friendship.”
“…”
“Really? It’s too late to try and ignore it now. You brought me here for this talk.”
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Fine, let me give you the conclusion I’ve come to then,” Ryuu huffs.
“The way you reacted to your brother’s name, and the passion it ignites in you, clearly shows that you deeply care for him. You hold no ill will toward Ilene, but you haven’t talked to her once since the incident, even though she was probably the person closest to Michael outside of family. You’re going out of your way to befriend me, despite that going against who you are as a person. All of that makes it extremely likely that you’re acting on the wishes of someone else. Am I right?”
“…”
“If I had to make a guess with everything I just laid out for you… It’s obviously Lord Xander.”
“!”
Belynda can’t stop her eyebrows from shooting up while her jaw lightly hangs.
“Wha– but how… HUH?!”
“Hmph, so I was right. Maybe I’m a little arrogant, but it didn’t take a genius to piece that together.”
Belynda doesn’t seem to hear his words.
Her head hangs, and her body begins swaying in the seat as she mutters under her breath.
“How could this have happened? If I’m exposed, Lord Xander will cut ties with me, then I’ll never get what I need. I can’t let him leave here, but now that he’s a Blade, killing him is out of the question…”
Woah woah, killing me?
I need to calm her down fast.
“Hold on a second, Belynda. I’m not going to do anything drastic without talking it out first, so just slow down and level with me. What is it that Lord Xander is holding over you for you to act like this?”
“…If I tell you, you must swear to speak of this to nobody. Not even your master.”
“Ilene is not my master. But yeah, I won’t tell her. For now.”
She heavily sighs while leaning back in her chair.
“Okay. To make a long, long story short, I’m working for Lord Xander under the table in order to help my brother. You already mentioned that my family wouldn’t accept the help of healers from outside of Mahora, despite there being several willing to help at the level of a Master.”
“Even Master Natalia couldn’t help?”
“She tried, but her powers weren’t strong enough. Admittedly, that was ten years ago, so who knows now, but that’s how it went. After years of waiting for my brother to get better, I got sick of it and went to ask the duke to convince my parents to change their minds. I must have been around eleven or twelve years old at the time, but anyway, Lord Xander found me before I could reach his father. Once I explained the situation, he told me he’d be willing to help, so long as I could keep it a secret. His reasoning was that he didn’t want to spark drama between our families for acting against their wishes.”
“I’m following you so far. What’s next?”
“At first, it was small jobs. Taking a delivery here, investigating something there–the kind of stuff you would expect. After each assignment, I would get some money to put toward hiring a Master-Tier healer. If I do it that way, I can get the healer to my brother without my family finding out. The problem is, I’ve been doing this for more than five years, and I’m still not close.”
She suddenly meets Ryuu’s eyes with a resolute expression.
“That is, until I was assigned to get close to you.”
“Go on.”
“I’m not entirely sure why, but Lord Xander instructed me to befriend you. Probably to find some weakness of yours before the Succession Election, not that I know what he would do with that information. That being the case, I initially thought it wasn’t worth the trouble, but he told me that if everything went smoothly until the election is over, then he would give me the rest of what I need.”
“And how much is that, exactly?”
“The total average cost to hire a master healer is five hundred gold, although rates vary for different situations. I need another two hundred to reach my goal, so he’s offering that much for me to succeed with you.”
Ryuu somehow manages to keep a straight face, but has a quick mental breakdown from the size of the number.
Two hundred gold, as in two thousand silver?!
I’m honored to be worth so much, but that’s still not even half of the total needed!
Are Masters truly such overwhelming forces?
“I-I see… So what you need is for Lord Xander to think you’re completing the mission, right? As long as your job is just hanging around me, I can play along for the time being.”
“Really?” Belynda mutters as she tilts her head.
“Sure, but if the time comes you’re told to hinder Ilene’s progress for the elections, I won’t hesitate to fight back.”
“…Why would you do this for me? We’ve made it clear by this point that we have no relationship, and that you can’t see me as a friend.”
He scratches the back of his head with an uneasy expression.
“That’s because I somehow knew the side of you I’ve been seeing wasn’t genuine. Now that you’ve loosened up and spoken your mind, I can better gauge what kind of person I’m getting involved with.”
“I don’t get you. This goes beyond adaptability, you’re accepting this far too easily.”
“Then it seems like you’d better stick around and complete your mission. Just try not to be as overbearing as before. I’m not certain on what a friend means to me yet, or what it should mean, but I’d like to make them when I can. I believe you’re someone that I could potentially befriend in the future.”
Belynda’s gaze drops, her head hanging again as she wraps her mind around all of this.
Her hands tremble in her lap, but she forces them to still as she meets Ryuu’s pale eyes once more.
“Okay. If you’re going to go that far, then I’ll play. We act as if nothing happened here to keep Lord Xander from becoming suspicious. I don’t think it’ll be too difficult; he barely stays in the castle grounds as it is.”
Ryuu holds out a hand, and she shakes it, sealing the deal between them.
They leave the building with a basic understanding of each other that allows a minute level of trust, though it could still be broken at any moment.
“Welp, I better get going. Ilene’s been on my ass to prepare for the upcoming gathering, and I’d rather not mess up this early in my career.”
“Right. You shouldn’t keep your master waiting too long.”
“Don’t start that shit with me.”
They bicker for a moment longer, then part ways for the day.
******
“…You certainly took your time getting here. I would ask if you decided to do some extra training, but I don’t see a drop of sweat on you. What’s your excuse?”
Ilene questions Ryuu while seated in a plush chair in the corner of his room.
He sits on his knees in front of her as he accepts the berating, trying to come up with something feasible.
“The thing is, Ilene, I actually didn’t make it to the Aura Tower today. I tried to follow what you said and be friendly with Belynda, which led to me returning late.”
“Is that true? If so, I must commend you on following your master’s wishes so passionately. I’m glad that you’re adjusting fast.”
“You’re not my master! I don’t care what that stupid book said, you and I had an initial agreement of equals!”
“Yes yes, whatever you need to tell yourself. The reality of the matter is, I’m a noble, and you’re a man with an almost untraceable background. The fact that you were even allowed within these walls before now is because everyone viewed you as my personal subordinate.”
“That doesn’t mean I’m gonna change how I act. You’re just Ilene. Not Lady Ilene, not master, just Ilene!”
She grins and rests her chin on one of her hands.
“Just Ilene, huh? I suppose it doesn’t hurt for somebody to think of me that way. You have yet to make any kind of move that I would have expected from a man, despite us spending ten days in close proximity.”
“Where’s that coming from? If you’re in my room just to talk about that kind of stuff, then please leave.”
“Humor me for a moment. There’s a point I’m working toward.”
Ryuu takes a deep breath and settles down, giving her the floor.
“The Ilene that you know is a capable M’yin that doesn’t seem to be surrounded by many people, on account of her status. The truth is, I’ve had to work hard to reach this level. With my older brother acting as the heir to the throne in our youth, I served a more traditional role as a noblewoman. The only things I was good for were being polite and looking pretty. There was no need for both of my father’s children to be prepared to take his place, after all.”
“What happened?”
“…My mother was who I spent most of my childhood with. When I was nineteen, she suddenly died, much like how Michael suddenly collapsed. Before she left, though, she gave me this sword.”
She pats the rapier on her hip, its ornate sheath and hilt as intimidating as the first time Ryuu saw it.
“She told me, “It doesn’t matter what path people lay out for you.
If you can acquire power of your own, you can forge the kind of future you want to see.” That pushed me to train my swordsmanship, and study magic twice as hard.
Five years ago, I was simply an icon, somebody that people would look at and say, “She’s so pretty” or “Damn!
I’d take her home in a heartbeat!” I get less of those comments now that I’ve made it clear where I stand, and that I intend on becoming the duchess of Mahora.”
Ryuu scratches the back of his head with slight confusion.
“I respect that you were able to find a purpose from your mother’s words like that, but I’m not seeing the big problem here.
Maybe it’s my ignorance, or because I’m a guy–or both–but wouldn’t comments like “She’s so pretty” be a good thing?”
“The comments themselves aren’t all bad, it’s the fact that they’re the only words I would hear.
To be reduced to my sexual appeal, or my status, it’s the most revolting sensation I’ve ever felt.
I shut out anyone that I thought may view me that way because I couldn’t bear the burden of such scrutiny any longer.
I feared that taking the chance and inviting you to live in my tower could shatter all that I’ve worked to defend myself from, but here you are saying I’m “just Ilene”.
I feel like an idiot for doubting you until now.”
“I wouldn’t say you’re an idiot. Trust me, where I grew up I heard all kinds of nasty things from the guys around me concerning women… I guess it kinda turned me off from all that stuff. I can appreciate a good-looking person, but a lot of other things come to mind before I jump straight into romance.”
He smirks and rises to his feet before continuing.
“Besides, I don’t know how distant you think you act, but I haven’t felt that from you at all. You’ve been in my face ordering me around since the moment you basically forced me to hop in your carriage. I know Leon mentioned that you’re generally seen as some unacquirable prize, but to me, you’re just my benefactor that also has an odd sense of style.”
Ilene’s face contorts between confusion and a smile, until it returns to its usual fixed neutrality.
“Putting some of those comments aside… I’m happy you think that way. It makes what I’m about to tell you that much easier.”
“What is it?”
“The gathering tomorrow will be swarming with members of noble families and others of similar standing, as I mentioned yesterday. Although I’ve managed to create a suitable image within the capital over the years, that image hasn’t yet reached all of the villages and cities outside of Mahora. I’m certain I’ll be approached by many men hoping to establish a connection to my family, as well as tie me down for my looks.”
“Ah, I get it. To the rest of the world you’re still Lady Ilene, the untouchable, cool beauty. That’s all that needs to be heard for a certain type of person to chase after you like there’s no tomorrow.”
“Correct. In order to combat that, I’ve decided to do something that will affect both of our reputations. I want you to pose as my lover for the foreseeable future.”
“Okay, no problem.”
“I knew I could count on you to see things logically.”
“Of course! Why would I make a fuss over declaring that I l-l-lov– Not happening!”
Ryuu leans in, inches away from Ilene’s face as he vehemently refuses.
“Why do I have to do something like that?!
You could just make an announcement to them all saying “I’m not interested in men,” or something!”
“I have my father’s image to worry about as well. Even though you’re not from a noble background, now that you’re my Blade, it isn’t completely far-fetched for the two of us to become intimately involved. I can use this to my advantage to keep any lecherous men far from my sight. Why are you so against it?”
“Because it’s obvious how this will turn out, even to me! The second a bunch of noblemen see that I’m their competition, they’ll switch their attention to me, which means dealing with a bunch of pompous bastards! Not to mention, we’ll have to at least act like lovers in public from now on to give your story any kind of credibility!”
“I see where you’re coming from, but I’ve recently come to the conclusion that that’s already how we appear to the citizens. An announcement of our coupling would just confirm the people’s suspicions.”
“What makes you say that? Your brother is the only person I’ve heard suggest anything of the sort.”
“…When you killed Alph the other day, you passed out immediately afterward. I didn’t think about what was happening, or what the effects of my actions would be, but I jumped into the arena as soon as your victory was announced and carried you to my father’s infirmary.”
Ryuu’s face gets hot as he feels blood rush up to his cheeks.
“Why the hell did you do that?! In front of the whole city?!”
“Well excuse me! I’m sorry that seeing the person who fought so hard for me lose a limb and bleed out was hard! Yes, I picked you up in front of everyone, and embarrassingly enough, I even shed a few tears! I had to spend all night scrubbing your damn blood out of my coat you know!”
Ryuu sighs and rubs his temples.
“Ughhh. Whatever, there’s nothing we can do about that now. If this is what we have to do, then so be it, but I don’t have the slightest clue on how to act in a relationship. What would we even call ourselves? Engaged? Experimenting?”
“No title is necessary. Simply say that you’re with me when asked, and I’ll do the same for you. This helps you too, you know, as many noblewomen will be throwing themselves at you.”
“Huh? Why would they?”
“You’re a Blade now, which gives you status equal to that of a knight. That’s the lowest acceptable level for most noble families, but you’re not just any Blade. You’re a Blade of the Mahora family, which means getting with you gives them ties to my father. Do you see now?”
Ryuu groans and flops onto his bed.
“What a pain in the ass. Why does noble life have to be so complicated?”
Ilene gives him a look of pity and moves to sit beside him on the bed.
“Matters where wealth is involved are always complicated.
However, this is also a chance for you to make some connections.
If you want a better chance of finding the person you’ve been worrying about, this will be your best opportunity to catch up on news outside of these walls.
He suddenly narrows his eyes.
“Yeah, I guess that makes sense. I was waiting until the time I got sent on assignments or something to learn more about the outside world, but talking with the people that oversee the region is even better. Heh, I’m actually looking forward to this gathering now. Just a bit.”
Ilene stands from the bed and moves toward the door, glancing over her shoulder as she opens it.
“Don’t forget, this is all for the sake of making me a duchess. Play nice, follow along until after the election, and no matter how it turns out, I will assist you on your mission.”
She leaves Ryuu with those parting words as he lies back in his bed.
He didn’t get the chance to train his body today, and after combining that with the news he was just given, nonstop energy flows through his system.
I can’t sit still now.
If I was in the Pit, I would find someone to beat the crap out of, but I can’t exactly do that here.
After some consideration, he gets up and makes a short journey to the North-East Tower.
******
The sun has about vanished, leaving a sea of stars above the illuminated path.
Nobody is out at this hour besides the guards, making Ryuu appreciate the sheer size of the area he’s found himself in once more.
He reaches the top floor of the tower within minutes, pushing open the imposing doors and stepping into the training room.
Although the room is usually dead after sunfall, Master Nolan sits silently in the middle of the room, much to Ryuu’s surprise.
“Master Nolan? I didn’t expect-!”
A sudden pressure washes over him, causing Ryuu to stop in his tracks as Nolan’s eyes slowly open.
Aura radiates from the Master like smoke from a fire, heavy and all-encompassing within the walls of the training room.
“Ryuu? What’re you doing here so late?”
Nolan stands as he talks, the pressure of his aura receding to a normal state.
“…”
“Hm? Are you okay?”
Ryuu’s hands shake for a moment longer, then he claps them together to calm down.
He takes a deep breath to reset himself, then exclaims “That was incredible, Master Nolan! Was that how it feels to face a real Master in a fight?!”
Nolan gives him a half-smile as he rubs his chin.
“Ah, I guess you got hit with some of that, eh? Sorry about that, I usually use these late hours to work on my aura refinement. You’re okay, right?”
“I’m fine! I’m more impressed with how much aura you were exuding! I guess I really do have a long way to go!”
The blond Master paces forward and puts a large hand on Ryuu’s shoulder.
The two of them exchange quick glances before Nolan continues past him to the door.
“Feel free to stay as long as you want. I’m retiring for the night, but do try to make sure you’re well-rested for the gathering tomorrow.”
“Geh! Don’t tell me you’re going too?”
“Haha, both Darius and I will be attending. As Master-Tier individuals, our social rankings are equal to that of an earl, at the very least.”
As he opens the training room door, Nolan stops and glances over his shoulder.
“Good night, Ryuu.”
He leaves before Ryuu can ask any more questions, shutting the door behind him with finality.
******
The dim lighting of the training room casts an eerie atmosphere over Ryuu as he sits where Nolan had before.
He’s spent at least an hour mirroring the exercise that he’d seen, pushing aura out and pulling it back in, akin to a building tide.
Sweat beads down his face from the intense focus, and soon enough, his aura gives out.
“Ahh, dammit.”
He lays back on the floor, his chest heaving as he recollects himself.
Just how many people are gonna be there tomorrow?
It’d be one thing if I could get by with a smile-and-wave approach, but it’s as much about me as it is Ilene.
On top of that, we’ll have to act like lovers from now on… What a pain.
He sits up after a few minutes, wiping his face with a nearby towel before moving on to more physical training.
As much as he’s aware that he should be in peak condition tomorrow morning, he can’t help but feel restless even as the night deepens.
{In-step}, {Charge Point}, and {Recovery} are still the only techniques he can practice, but that doesn’t stop him from repeating them until they’re second-nature.
“{In-step}! {In-step}!{ In-step}!”
While practicing, Ryuu has the idea to begin chaining his {In-steps} together.
He had somewhat pulled it off during his Blade exam, but that had been half-thanks to the adrenaline coursing through him.
With this, his goal was to reach a level of speed that would surpass what he’d used to match Alph.
Master Nolan mentioned in class once that the sign of a mastered technique is being able to pull it off silently, similar to chantless casting.
It’s impossible for me to do just yet, of course, but these are basic techniques.
If I can at least bring my In-step technique to that level soon, I can reach a new level of lethality.
At the same time, he draws in mana from the air around him.
This is an exercise he’s been working on since his first magic class: drawing in mana while using aura.
This way, preparing mana for use while fighting would become as natural as breathing over time, allowing Ryuu to always be at his best.
Interestingly enough, this idea had come from listening to Belynda’s teachings.
“Alright, let’s try this!”
Ryuu splays his palms in front of him, casting [Barrier] in the space above.
Instead of forming his usual dragon scale, he splits the scale into individual pieces and creates miniature surfaces in the air.
After practicing for a while, I’ve become able to create five barriers at once, the same as Belynda.
Granted, they’re not even a quarter of the size hers are… Now for the real test!
He springs into the air, using the surfaces as footholds as he chains {In-step} after {In-step}.
He messes up quite a bit at first: sometimes falling through a barrier due to lack of focus, and other times completely missing his target.
After ten tries, though, he has his first successful attempt.
The result is a makeshift form of aerial movement, only possible by maintaining his magic while activating his aura in short bursts.
Due to the clashing nature of aura and mana, it’s considered to be exceptionally difficult to continuously activate both in tandem.
With this approach, Ryuu is able to use aura in quick instants, allowing him to maintain his connection to his mana arts.
After going through the training a few dozen more times to get comfortable with the movements, he decides to open the steel shutters blocking the windows and check the time.
He presses a button on the wall, and the shutters groan shortly after as they begin rising.
“I finally managed to get all of that nervous energy out. It’s time for a nice long bath and-”
Ryuu freezes as he sees daylight pour through the large windows.
He had expected a warm glow in the horizon at the most, but this much light meant that the time for breakfast had already passed.
“Shit.”