Chapter 134, Foundation of Understanding (4)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

  

A silent room.

 

In one way, it was surprising, and in another way, it was understandable.

 

While the garden bloomed with splendid flowers, not even a single common flower vase was placed inside the room. What thoughts did he have as he always sat alone in this place that lacked even a clock?

 

Only after Kalian’s blood stained his hands, after seeing Plants’ deficiency with his own eyes, after stepping foot into this room that contained nothing, did he realize it. He keenly felt that the situation had gone far too off course.

 

Rmain, who had to be a father before being a King, had to be a King before being a father. He looked at Randel with regret that he could not voice aloud.

 

“I heard you caught a severe cold. Are you alright?”

 

He naturally knew it was an excuse made to avoid him. Knowing this, he still came.

 

“You need not worry.”

 

He had last seen him during the birthday festival and had punished him to prevent him from leaving Chermil Palace. After that, time had passed. Some might consider it short, while others long. Randel had merely calmly answered with an unchanged expression.

 

It was a face that remained unchanged, containing nothing as always.

 

“I see.”

 

[I was clumsy. Foolish to turn my eyes away like that. Once I turned my eyes away, I couldn’t see, and when I couldn’t see, I lived on forgetting. Living in forgetfulness, time merely passed, and as time passed, only then did I come to know of the many things I had done wrong.]

 

“…I see.”

 

Rmain could not bring himself to voice his inner thoughts and only repeated the same words. He could not offer words of apology right here and now. He knew that would merely be an excuse, a violent demand of understanding of himself.

 

Even though he knew this all so well, a sigh containing tens of thousands of words finally leaked out, forcing its way through his tightly shut lips.

 

“When you’re in pain, don’t endure it alone… If I happen to be unaware again, please tell me.”

 

After offering only such words, Rmain reluctantly drank the tea placed before him. Randel, who had been sitting across from him, silently watched this before answering in a quiet voice.

 

“I understand.”

 

Even to those words, that came out after a long while, Randel’s answer was brief. That was the extent of the gap between them.

 

Worried that staying there any longer would make it silent coercion, Rmain finally rose from his seat. Looking into the eyes of the eldest son, who had risen with him, Rmain hesitated for a long while before opening his mouth.

 

“I’ll come again.”

 

Randel did not answer.

 

* * *

 

There could be no more welcome invitation in the world than this.

 

“Prince Kalian has requested that you come for a moment.”

 

At the word that his lovely Disciple was looking for him, Allan immediately flipped over the documents he was reading and rose from his seat. As always, Kalian’s request was more important than anything else.

 

Following Ian into Chermil Palace, Ian opened his mouth again.

 

“You should head to the training ground.”

 

Hearing this, Allan smiled with a thoughtful expression.

 

“For Allan Manasil, who is supposedly Prince Kalian’s Master, the idea of meeting in the training ground rather than the Prince’s room is quite unfamiliar.”

 

“His Highness does very well on his own.”

 

Because Kalian had always trained very well by himself, he had rarely had the chance to play the role of Master. Embarrassed by this, Allan quickly headed to the training ground.

 

Entering the Magic training ground attached right next to the sword training ground, he saw Kalian sitting in the middle of the spacious area with his eyes closed. He was now practicing Mana accumulation, which he usually did every morning. He was merely delayed today due to his breakfast with Rmain. Allan stood quietly watching so as not to disturb him, a smile forming on his lips.

 

[Truly vast.]

 

Whether this was due to Syspanian’s Blessing or because the old Kalian had exceptionally outstanding talent was unknown. The only certain thing was that the amount of refined Mana being accumulated was incomparably greater than that of other Mages.

 

That was why he could maintain the Spell that hides his Aura at all times while using sword and Magic as needed.

 

[At this rate. he’ll reach the peak of the Fourth-Circle faster than me.]

 

After all, Kalian was someone who had already mastered the Third-Circle at a younger age than Allan. Therefore, Allan was trying to remember when he himself had reached the Fourth-Circle.

 

“Master!”

 

Just then, a voice full of unchanged joy called out to Allan. Allan immediately emerged from his memories, smiling and nodding his head. Then he opened his mouth with an expression that suggested he knew why Kalian had called him.

 

“Since you called me to the training ground, there must be something you’re stuck on. What should I teach you?”

 

Without changing his smiling expression, Kalian pointed to a chair placed on one side of the training ground.

 

“Yes. There’s something I want to learn, but first there’s something I need to tell you.”

 

Allan nodded and went to sit in the chair, and Kalian, sitting across from him, opened his mouth.

 

“How is Deputy Commander Hertz doing?”

 

“I don’t know how all those Magic-wielding folks can be like that.”

 

As soon as the question ended, an answer mixed with a deep sigh came from Allan’s mouth.

 

After saying this to the Prince who had gathered those folks’ leader and tried to put those folks to use, he continued.

 

“He’s become quite the hero now.”

 

The bamboo-like faith, to immediately carry out Kalian’s single word without a moment’s hesitation, the blade-like calculation that set up targets in appropriate positions to guide the destruction of Heisia Palace in one blow. Even the coolness of shouting to deduct the building cost from his own salary.

 

Arsene had now become Valkan’s idol.

 

“At this rate, we’ll end up erecting a statue in Wilhelm Hall.”

 

[Isn’t this truly a Mage-like reaction?]

 

Kalian laughed aloud as if amused.

 

“Since he handles work so reliably, I have no choice but to trust Deputy Commander Hertz.”

 

“Don’t work him too hard. I can’t even guess what might disappear next time.”

 

“Ah. True, I don’t know what I’ll destroy next either.”

 

Kalian, who had been chuckling, quickly brought up the main topic before Allan could scold him.

 

“Please create one more position in Valkan, Master.”

 

“Is it for you, Your Highness? Have you finally decided to take hold of something?”

 

He asked with delight, but regrettably, Kalian shook his head.

 

“Not for me, but for Hina. I’m thinking of placing her in Valkan now, so I’d like you to prepare in advance.”

 

Kalian said this, recalling Hina who had spoken with a determined face the night before, saying she had made up her mind after Plants left the training ground.

 

“I was going to tell Lord Hertz, but he seems to be enthusiastically engaged in debris removal.”

 

“Very well. What difficulty could there be?”

 

“Thank you, Master.”

 

Where could there be another supporter as reliable as Allan, who readily went along with whatever the Prince said?

 

“Also, Lord Hertz only caused trouble because I ordered him to, so please don’t scold him too much.”

 

[Scold him?] Allan responded with an expression asking where such nonsense he was talking about came from.

 

“Right now, he’s clearing debris with a face that looks like it would burst into song and laughter if pressed. This is the first time I’ve seen him so excited since I’ve known him, so don’t worry.”

 

It was not a lie.

 

Thinking of Arsene, Allan shook his head and opened his mouth again.

 

“Since you’re calling for healing arts, it would be good to call Veronica in the afternoon to help.”

 

Kalian made an expression suggesting he did not quite understand Allan’s words due to the unexpected name that came up.

 

“Veronica is your granddaughter, isn’t she, Master? I believe she’s currently attending the Magic Academy.”

 

“That’s right. But while her talent in Magic is mediocre, she’s very interested in medicine. So how about having her run errands for that child, Hina?”

 

“Would it be alright to do that?”

 

He was a Count, who was an Archmage, and the Prince’s Master.

 

Allan, who uniquely had an office in Arpia Palace, was saying he would have his granddaughter help with Hina’s work, who had been a maid.

 

“I merely believe it wouldn’t be bad to let her do work she’d like.”

 

An answer that seemed to not even consider the question asked due to class differences. Both Ian and Allan held such little distinctions of the matter.

 

Kalian too was concerned about it, not asking due to making class distinctions himself. Therefore, he did not ask anything else and nodded his head.

 

“If Veronica is fine with it, I’m good with it. Apart from helping with work, it would be welcome if she could at least be someone for Hina to talk to.”

 

“Then please lend us your baby elephant for a while too. Those Valkan folks really love learning, so it won’t take them long to learn sign language either.”

 

Kalian, who had been thinking the same thing, answered with a smile.

 

“Yes. I’ll do that.”

 

Having roughly conveyed matters about Hina like this, Kalian briefly closed his mouth. Now it was time to bring up what he would learn.

 

Soon Kalian extended his palm and created something.

 

It was a lump of red Mana.

 

Looking at it, which showed unstable movement because Kalian did not usually use it much, he said.

 

“Since I mainly use nothing or the Wind Element, I’m not familiar with handling fire. I came to ask if you could help me.”

 

Seeing the shape of what was placed on his hand and knowing what Kalian was trying to learn, Allan’s expression briefly darkened.

 

“I had forgotten what day today was.”

 

“I actually found out late too. I had hastily practiced it earlier.”

 

“I understand. I’ll teach you. It’s not difficult, so you’ll be able to do it quickly.”

 

Allan nodded and answered, deciding it would be better to postpone the story about the black pebble and Tansyll’s carriage.

 

* * *

 

*Splash.*

 

[The morning lake sparkled prettily, but why does the lake that colors with the sunset look so mournfully red? Or because it’s red, does it look mournful?]

 

He sent Ian along with Allan when he returned. Ian had started teaching sign language right away and had not returned even as half a day passed and evening approached. It would take quite a while to divide the personnel cleaning the palace debris from those who would learn sign language and teach them in turns.

 

When Plants, who had met Marquis Evan Beurisen, was said to have arrived at Chermil, he sent Kyrie. The two would still be in the training ground.

 

He had stopped Merlin from coming out together and came alone. The two Escort Knights standing far away were there, but he decided to just treat them as non-existent entities.

 

*Splash…!*

 

Thus left alone, Kalian was now forming finger-sized lumps of Mana and throwing them into the water. He liked the sound they made, like throwing small stones into the water.

 

He sat by the lakeside like this without saying anything, waiting alone for night to come.

 

It did not take very long for night to arrive. Darkness gradually approached and settled thickly, and the red lake just rippled blackly.

 

Soon, red light appeared in Kalian’s hands.

 

After extinguishing it twice while trying to operate what he had hastily learned from Allan that morning, he finally created a proper shape.

 

“I didn’t really know how to do it that day. I only heard about it through words.”

 

Kalian’s mouth opened like this alone.

 

*Splash.*

 

A small wave caused by the blowing wind touched Kalian’s toes. Kalian briefly raised his body and placed the red light in his hands by the water’s edge.

 

“There are no flowers today either.”

 

Along with quiet words, another red light was placed on the water.

 

A single word given to the deceased, a single flower and candle floated with it. So many lights were given like this, so many words, so they could accompany the deceased’s final steps.

 

“I can’t go to the river, but it’s similar, so please understand.”

 

A third red light, no. It was a flame imitating Arunesia floating on the lake.

 

Today was.

 

Kalian’s death anniversary.

 

In Cyries, they do not observe the death anniversaries of the deceased. Still, the reason he was deliberately recalling the old Kalian once more like this was to send him off.

 

“Sorry.”

 

He thought that he should now put down the sense of debt toward the old Kalian.

 

Though it might be called selfish.

 

“I want to live too.”

 

Though he does not know what will happen later.

 

So, for now.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

The flames placed on the water glowed red, as many as the words of apology were offered like this.

 

*Splash.*

 

As he was quietly staring at dozens of flames placed on the water, he heard the quiet sound of someone stepping on the ground behind him.

 

Kalian opened his mouth without even turning his head.

 

“Have you come?”

 

There was no answer in return, but there was only one person who would bother to come seek Kalian at this hour.

 

Plants, who sat down beside him with a *thud*, looked at the lake. He did not ask what the large and small flames glowing red were.

 

Kalian, who had briefly turned his head to look at Plants, opened his mouth with a chuckle. It was because he felt the aura of alien Mana that had not been there even until breakfast.

 

“…You said you wanted to live.”

 

The guy who said he wanted to live had come with a binding placed on his own heart. There surely had not been a moment’s hesitation when he agreed to it.

 

Kalian also knew the contradiction that to open a path to live, one would not blink even when risking one’s own life.

 

“My little brother would naturally keep me alive.”

 

A languid voice answered.

 

Kalian turned his head back to the lake and opened his mouth.

 

“You know too well.”

 

Anyway, Kalian would not let Plants die. So neither Kalian nor Plants had anything to worry about.

 

Soon, Kalian rose from his seat.

 

Worries about the heart’s binding could come later. He had said everything he needed to say to the old Kalian, and Plants had obtained what he needed to obtain from Evan. There was no reason to stay here any longer.

 

Plants, who had been brushing back the hair that had fallen in the wind, quietly opened his mouth.

 

“Just one.”

 

Kalian, who had been about to move his feet, quietly stopped. And without other words, he created one more flame and handed it to Plants. Plants quietly received it, and Kalian walked step by step toward Chermil Palace.

 

After sitting wordlessly for a while, the flame placed in Plants’ hands was placed on the lake. Kalian, who had entered his room and was watching this through the open window. He moved his hand.

 

Since he had conveyed everything he had to say, he had to send him off.

 

The countless apologies that had been placed on the lake with nowhere to go rose up one by one. Like stars rising backwards, they flew high and high as if brightening the night sky.

 

Kalian knew that while this might be a beautiful sight to someone else, to him, it was atonement.

 

The last flame, which had contained unusually many words and rose unusually slowly, gradually disappeared.