Chapter 54, I’m Alive (2)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

There were two good things that happened this morning.

 

One, Kalian had completed his Fourth Circle.

 

Two, there were oysters for breakfast, courtesy of the mayor of Sitren City!

 

Kalian had heard that people in this region, which was relatively close to Secritia and Liberen, enjoy seafood. As if proof of that, large raw oysters with the distinctive smell of the ocean was served. Upon seeing such a feast, Kalian had to make a great effort to suppress the corners of his mouth from rising too much.

 

If Allan knew that Kalian was more excited about the raw oysters than completing his Fourth Mana Circle, he would have had quite a lot to say.

 

Anyway, the first day in Siegfried Territory began pleasantly like this.

 

Ian, who always rode beside Kalian, was at the front of the party with Yuran. It was partly because he had to greet the many people who were going to welcome him after a long time, but more so because Arsene was now by Kalian’s side.

 

Arsene recalled Kalian’s aura from this morning and said.

 

“Your Highness, your aura was like a blade.”

 

To that, Kalian smiled slightly and replied, “There’s a reason for that.”

 

Arsene waited for an explanation, but no further words came. It seemed to mean that there was a reason, but it was difficult to explain here, so Arsene simply nodded.

 

After passing through several streets in silence, Kalian pointed at Arsene’s hand and said.

 

“Lord Hertz.”

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

“How strong is the ice you create?”

 

Arsene thought for a moment before asking. “I apologize, Your Highness. May I request clarification on what exactly you mean by ‘strong’?”

 

Arsene’s speeches were always lengthy. But why make it complicated when he could just ask for further clarification to give a better answer?

 

“How much force it takes to break your ice. And what can it pierce through…”

 

Thinking of Arsene’s ice spear that had penetrated the solid body of a Sword Master, Kalian spoke with a calm face.

 

Arsene pondered again.

 

He had not thought about such things before. He also did not understand why Kalian was specifically asking about the strength of his magic.

 

Soon, Arsene thought of something worth answering and spoke.

 

“I recently had a brief contest with Bern.”

 

Kalian stiffened his shoulders and looked at Arsene. Then, he barely recalled that Bern was now also Kyrie’s surname.

 

Realizing that Arsene was referring to Kyrie, not himself, Kalian calmed his surprised heart and asked.

 

“Yes. Please continue.”

 

“At that time, I sent an ice spear toward Bern.”

 

[Argh. You just had to use that name again!]

 

Kalian smiled awkwardly, and Arsene continued with a very regretful expression.

 

“But my ice spear broke against Bern’s sword.”

 

Kalian briefly turned his head to the opposite side to look at Kyrie. And Kyrie made a face that showed he did not understand why Kalian was suddenly looking at him with such a warm smile.

 

Unaware of the situation, Arsene continued.

 

“I have pierced a log with my ice spear before. Since you know how strong Bern’s sword is, would this explanation help you gauge it?”

 

“Yes. That’s sufficient.”

 

It was true that Kyrie’s swordsmanship was excellent. Kalian had taught him diligently, and Kyrie’s own talent and effort played no small part in his success. In Kalian’s view, he would not easily lose against any of the Siegfried Knights, except Yuran.

 

Of course, he was still far from what Kalian would consider ‘strong’. But if the ice spear broke against Kyrie’s sword, it meant the ice spear was not as strong as Kalian would like it to be.

 

“Hmm…” Arsene carefully asked again, “Your Majesty, may I inquire as to why you’re asking this?”

 

Hearing that, Kalian set aside his thoughts and smiled. It was because of that excessively polite manner of speech.

 

Kalian realised when he had first met Arsene, it was at the side of a river, where the dead were crossing over to the afterlife. To think the one who bestowed death and the one who had returned from the ‘river of death’ would meet again.

 

It was so amusing, Kalian giggled for quite a while at the thought of this.

 

Anyway, Arsene had been exceedingly polite even when he did not know who Kalian was. It was not unpleasant to see, but it did not quite suit the Commander of the Valkan Mage Order. Therefore, Kalian decided to suggest that he tone down his excessive politeness, which currently did not discriminate between time, place, or person.

 

Finishing that thought, he glanced to the side and found Arsene was still looking at him. Only then did Kalian remember that Arsene had just asked him a question, so he quickly answered.

 

“Ah. Since I can’t carry a sword, I was thinking of ways to substitute it with Magic.”

 

Especially now that he had power created with Aura.

 

“But, if even your Magic only achieves that level of strength, it would be difficult to use Magic to form a sword, so I’ll need to think more about it.”

 

Arsene could not readily answer Kalian’s words. While he could understand why Kalian was pondering such things, he also knew it would not be an easy task to create a sword out of Magic.

 

Kalian was not particularly expecting an answer from Arsene so he continued his thoughts while ruffling Raven’s mane.

 

* * *

 

The next evening.

 

Kalian once again halted Raven’s steps. It was because of the rocky mountain was visible in the distance.

 

Just then, the sunset came. The rocky mountain, mystically tinted crimson by the fading sunlight, was so grand and beautiful that it overshadowed the majesty of the castle below it.

 

Ian pointed to that rocky mountain, which had already become a part of history by its very existence within the inner fortress of Siegfried Territory, and said:

 

“That’s the place, Your Highness.”

 

It was a very plain statement without any further explanation. But that was enough to explain that Syspanian’s Lair was there. So, Kalian slowly nodded and moved forward again.

 

By the time the sunset had almost disappeared, and the sky began to darken, the party arrived at the inner fortress.

 

Inside the gate, numerous Knights could be seen standing in formation, waiting for Kalian. They wore the same black armour as the Knights who had escorted Kalian here.

 

Seeing this, Kalian straightened his posture.

 

Without showing any fear, he passed through their midst.

 

At the end of that path was a middle-aged Knight mounted on a white horse. Someone who did not need to dismount to greet the Prince even in his presence – the only Duke of the country, Cyries.

 

It was Sleiman Hone Siegfried.

 

“Welcome!”

 

Having recognised Kalian and Ian beside him, he said while spreading his arms wide. It was not suggesting a hug, but rather a grand gesture meaning that he welcomed them to this land.

 

Kalian approached him with a grin.

 

There was a similar smile on Sleiman’s face.

 

“It’s been a while, Duke Siegfried.”

 

This was their second meeting, and they had not exchanged any words the first time. Sleiman had merely sensed the ‘edge’ that Kalian was happily emanating toward the Nobles, and Kalian, aware that Sleiman would notice, did not bother to conceal it. That was the extent of their exchange.

 

Therefore, they were now speaking for the first time, but there was no awkwardness at all. They already knew a lot about each other anyway.

 

Sleiman examined Kalian briefly and showed quite an impressed look. He did not hide his surprise when he spoke.

 

“Wow! You’ve really changed.”

 

Whether it was in appearance or in terms of the power he held within. It was not clear what had changed, but Kalian smiled comfortably. Whatever it was, something had indeed changed.

 

“Yes. I’m a bit better than before.”

 

Hearing Kalian’s answer, Sleiman cheerfully laughed and turned his horse’s head. Then, he began walking side by side with Kalian.

 

The slender Kalian on the black horse, Raven, and the muscular Sleiman on a white horse walking side by side created a perfect contrast.

 

Yet, there was an atmosphere like that of close friends meeting after a long time. It made Ian, who was watching them from behind, smile with pleasure.

 

The conversation between Kalian and Sleiman continued.

 

“I heard you’ve kept that foul-mouthed Mage tightly by your side.”

 

Such was the consistent image of Allan Manasil…

 

Even Sleiman, who had known him for a very long time, evaluated him this way. So, Kalian just nodded with a smile.

 

“I’m grateful for that.”

 

“Since the Sixth Sword (Sixth Sword Master) also handles Magic, that Mage has at least trained one of his Disciple well.”

 

Sleiman said in a quiet voice.

 

Of course, Kalian was not surprised by this. He had already anticipated that while Marquis Beurisen, who had not been on the path of the sword for long, might not notice, Sleiman would immediately notice.

 

“As expected, you recognised it right away.”

 

“Despite my appearance, I haven’t lived carelessly, so how could I not see Your Highness’s layered Aura? You may not be able to see mine, but yours is clearly visible to my eyes.”

 

According to his words, Sleiman could see Kalian’s Aura. But Kalian could not see Sleiman’s Aura.

 

That was the difference in the Aura they possessed.

 

This was because Sleiman’s Aura was overwhelmingly greater than Kalian’s.

 

“Anyway, that Mage must be very excited. Since a Sword Master now also handles Magic.”

 

“I’m not sure if he’s excited, but he’s certainly working really hard.”

 

As Kalian continued the pleasant conversation, recalling his Master, they had already arrived at the entrance of the castle. Sleiman turned his horse’s head again and said.

 

“I’d like to talk more, but I can’t postpone the inspection of the western district. I’m sorry, but I’ll have to postpone the rest of our conversation until tomorrow.”

 

“No need to apologise. It’s because I arrived too early that your schedule was disrupted.”

 

Kalian, not showing any displeasure, looked at the rocky mountain visible in the distance and then said to Sleiman.

 

“Tomorrow, we can also add my meeting with the Will of Syspanian to our conversation.”

 

Sleiman nodded.

 

“Sure. Please be careful on your journey. When you return, I’m sure you’ll have many stories to tell.”

 

And then he cheerfully laughed.

 

* * *

 

Sigmund Khan Syspanian.

 

The extremely great, Syspanian.

 

The two titles preceding Syspanian’s name were voluntarily given by Dragons with high self-esteem. She was fully qualified to receive such treatment.

 

Once she terrorized the entire continent, once she sealed an Evil God to protect the continent, and once she fell in love with a Human.

 

And one day, she vanished without a trace.

 

Some said she returned to nature, unable to overcome the tedium of life; others said she became a Goddess in place of the sleeping Serenty.

 

Kalian, who had come a very long way to meet the Will left by Syspanian, looked at the huge cavern before him and spoke.

 

“Finally, I’ll finally get to meet you.”

 

A Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony was something that was conducted alone. This was also part of Syspanian’s Will.

 

The others remained at the foot of the mountain. So Kalian was currently alone.

 

After organising what he wanted to ask Syspanian in his mind, Kalian stepped into the cavern entrance without further delay. It was a bright morning, but as soon as he took a step into the cavern, he felt as if he had been left alone in complete darkness.

 

Kalian hesitated for a moment, then began walking forward again. The sound of his footsteps, *thump, thump…* echoed heavily in the cavern before fading away.

 

[How far have I already walked?]

 

Suddenly curious about how far he had walked, Kalian looked back.

 

At that moment, golden light burst forth from all directions, fiercely chasing away the silent darkness. Kalian instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes.

 

After some time had passed, when he felt accustomed to the brightness…

 

*Suuuuu…*

 

His hair fluttered in the wind that blew from somewhere. The scent of grass, carried by the wind, lingered at the tip of his nose. At this sensation, which should be difficult to experience inside a cavern. There, Kalian opened his eyes and held his breath.

 

Kalian had not reached the level of understanding the principles of Mana like Allan. But he could feel Mana itself. So, he knew. He was certain.

 

It was an immense Magic Power that was difficult to gauge its limits.

 

A feeling of terror that could stop one’s heart just by looking at it.

 

[This can’t be a Will.]

 

It was not a will.

 

It was nothing like a will.

 

Therefore, Kalian bowed.

 

Black hair.

 

Red eyes.

 

“Greetings, Syspanian.”

 

Syspanian was looking at Kalian.