Chapter 135 - Spirit of the Guardian Tree (14)

Damian returned to his place leisurely.

Fenril unfolded her arms as if having seen something interesting.

Seeing this, Gerald asked, "Is there something special?"

She made a troubled expression before explaining.

"Though he didn't properly show everything, I can't really evaluate. Throwing a sword that accurately... it's taboo everywhere."

While laying down weapons might be wise in human combat depending on circumstances, it was different with magic beasts.

Dropping one’s sword before a magic beast was essentially asking for death.

Unless one had two swords, throwing your only weapon was considered the worst possible action by knights.

While they conversed, the next student came out and finished preparing. The eye-pierced Kiraclo returned to its cage and a new beast emerged.

Perhaps inspired by Damian's fighting style, the next student held a bow.

Once combat began, the student shot arrows diligently, but the Kiraclo deflected them all with its front legs, none finding their mark.

Seeing this, Gerald asked puzzledly, "Strange. Arrows are overwhelmingly faster than thrown swords, so why aren't they working?"

It was odd that Damian's sword hit properly while the much faster arrows proved ineffective.

"The face is mostly covered in armor. Unless you hit the eyes or mouth, it's useless. And its reaction speed is incomparably faster than humans."

"Then why did that boy Damian's attack hit properly?"

"...Because he had the sun at his back."

"What do you mean?"

"Kiraclos live in sunless forests, caves, or valleys. Thus, they're extremely sensitive to light. His few steps of positioning adjustment seemed intended to make it face the sunlight directly."

"Impressive. Is the Kiraclo's nature widely known? Did he plan this in advance?"

Fenril shook her head.

"It's a species found only in the north, and even northerners don't know much about it. Kiraclos have many subspecies with varied habits, making them hard to distinguish. Unless you've memorized the entire magic beast encyclopedia, it would be difficult to know its characteristics beforehand."

Gerald checked Damian's personal information. He was from peaceful Wiesel, far removed from magic beasts.

It meant Damian had understood its weakness and delivered a precise strike just from brief observation.

"He certainly didn't enter Eternia just by luck."

"Indeed. Above all, there's a high possibility he's hiding his abilities. Though I don't know why."

Though he'd come merely following orders, Gerald too was becoming increasingly interested in Damian.

He raised his arm and wiggled his fingers to signal.

Soon after, a servant approached Gerald's side.

"Deliver an invitation to the Duchess' monthly social gathering to the boy called Damian."

"I will obey."

"And... please convey that I personally wish to meet him."

As soon as I left the Combat Department class arena, someone shouted my name, “Damian!"

"...?"

Turning my head, I saw Trisha waving from under a tree's shade.

Upon seeing me, she ran over, her black skirt fluttering. Then, catching her breath, she asked.

"Is it over?"

"What is?"

"Combat practice! I wanted to watch."

"Today's done. And students from other departments probably can't watch."

"Why? In the Magic Department, all duels are public."

"Well, maybe Combat Department classes are less interesting than Magic Department ones."

I could somewhat understand why they didn't show the Kiraclo battles to other department students.

Today, first-year Combat Department students faced many trials in this practice. There was no reason to publicly humiliate them in front of everyone. It would only disrupt school life.

Trisha rolled her eyes, thinking for a moment before continuing.

"Hmm... really? I heard Magic Department duels are definitely popular. Magical dueling is an old Eternia tradition. Lots of spectators too."

"Sounds fun just hearing about it."

Magic Department duels... Luna probably completely dominates the first years. She even made the fearsome Sion helpless.

"Right? They're having duels right now!"

"But why are you here?"

I thought Trisha belonged to the Magic Department. Shouldn't classes still be ongoing?

"Me? I'm excluded from duel classes because I'm in the bottom ranks!"

She said this proudly with an innocent face.

"Haa, I see. So why did you come looking—"

Mid-sentence, something flew down with a buzzing sound of wings.

A Stitch with cracks and initials visible. Finally, Silveryn's awaited reply had arrived.

As the Stitch descended toward Trisha's crown, I quickly snatched it and put it in my pocket.

Trisha belatedly looked up, then down.

"What was that?"

"Just a letter."

I absolutely didn't want Trisha to see the initials engraved on the Stitch.

"...Who's it from?"

"Teacher."

Trisha said with a curious expression, "I'm curious about your teacher. Let me see too!"

"Does it make sense to share private letters? If you get permission from Teacher directly, I'll show you."

Talk sense. How dare you.

"They seem like they'd have a kind image. Wouldn't they forgive us looking together?"

"Not at all."

"What's your teacher like? An elderly person, right?"

I shook my head in disgust.

"Completely wrong."

"What do they look like? Being an Archmage, rich, and an Eternia professor, they must be old!"

"You've seen them. Don't you remember?"

"What?"

"My painting."

"...Huh?"

When finishing the “Drawing a Friend” class in the Art Club, Trisha had looked at my painting in the greenhouse.

Hadn't I mentioned it was of Teacher?

Trisha's eyes gradually widened in shock.

"T-that redhead...?"

I nodded.

It was the most shocked expression I'd seen from her recently. I couldn't understand with my common sense which part was so shocking.

"What did you think I was painting?"

"I just thought it was someone you knew!"

***

Trisha had come looking for me to finish the painting.

Though she didn't show it, she must have been looking forward to it internally.

We stayed in the empty greenhouse.

While I gathered paints and washed brushes, Trisha looked at the paintings.

Until I finished preparations and returned to my seat, Trisha kept looking at one painting.

Specifically, Silveryn's painting.

She kept pounding her chest as if troubled while looking at it, then returned with a dejected face.

"What's wrong?"

"...Nothing."

Her shoulders drooped and she wore a pitiful expression, as if greatly disappointed by something.

"Fix your expression. I can't paint that face."

"But I feel bad..."

Having no good solution, I just started brushing.

After about an hour of painting, Trisha started nodding off.

"Want to take a break?"

"Yaaawn, just ten minutes..."

Unable to fight sleepiness, Trisha immediately climbed onto a nearby table, curled up her legs, and took a shrimp nap. I covered her with my coat and took out Silveryn's letter during the quiet moment.

I was dying of curiosity about its contents.

I checked the contents with a tense heart.

"...?"

It contained shocking information I never expected.

[Silveryn is detained in Polygrax Prison, which holds the Holy City's Level 1 dangerous individuals.]

What nonsense is this?

But reading the following content, my surprise gradually subsided.

[If you want to meet Silveryn, come to the Holy City soon and request a visit.]

After calming my confused mind briefly, I carefully examined the handwriting.

Though the writing was slightly stiffer, fitting for an official document, it was definitely Silveryn's. The letter paper carried the scent of perfume Silveryn often used, just like always.

Except for the content, it was definitely Silveryn's.

So Silveryn was pretending to be a prison official while telling me she was imprisoned.

The only explanation was that Silveryn was lying to me.

Why is suddenly trying to deceive me like this? Did she have some change of heart?

I carefully took out paper and wrote a reply.

[Student Damian is in a coma after being caught in a dormitory explosion accident. For this reason, we inform you that direct contact with student Damian is impossible.]

Will this work...?

***

Silveryn sat at a tea table, looking at the Holy City's scenery outside the window with a dissatisfied expression.

Next to her propped elbow lied an unsent letter with a brush pen.

The letter containing detailed answers to her disciple's questions never flew. Instead, a fabricated document written in anger headed toward her disciple.

The reason for Silveryn's behavior was simple.

"Said you'd write every day..."

Though he said he was busy with circulatory system practice, letters should have been sent regularly even during practice, as he had declared.

From her perspective, it was enough to warrant punishment, and she had already organized plans for disciplinary action in her mind.

"…needs to be taught a lesson."

While spending time alone like this, someone knocked on her room's door.

The person who opened and entered was Eternia's Vice Principal, Erzsebet.

She wore a simple dress, but a mysterious aura flowed from her face and body.

Silveryn briefly set aside thoughts of her disciple to welcome the guest.

Erzsebet walked silently to the potted plant by the window.

She slowly caressed the plant. When her touch reached it, partially opened flower buds bloomed fully. One of her unique abilities.

Erzsebet spoke first, "I hear Kenyon Grandis arrived yesterday. Now all members summoned for the joint conference have gathered in the Holy City. The conference will be held soon."

"..."

The joint conference would be attended by two magic scholars, seven Sword Masters, and four Archmages. Such simultaneous gathering of influential figures was unprecedented.

Erzsebet continued, "I hear they plan to introduce the boy who will become the new owner of the Holy Sword at that meeting."

"...The Order is too hasty indeed."

Erzsebet smiled slightly and nodded. She agreed with Silveryn's words.

The Order's purpose was obvious. They wanted to recreate the relationship between Saint Flenche and Sword God Zeldan Hart.

They intended to raise the Holy Sword's new owner as Zeldan Hart's successor and match them with the apostle who would succeed Flenche as Holy Maiden.