One Step at a Time

However clearly Lux understood all these problems, she was still left with a splitting headache by all the overly eager men.

Noble banquets had a set time limit.

Those bastards just wouldn't quit!

Fortunately, clever Lux soon found a solution. She deliberately brought Sona out as a shield, and then, without needing any instructions, the hot-tempered Kahina started challenging the men one by one.

Although Kahina still envied Lux for being able to stay by her sister's side, Lux had "stood up for her," so she accepted that Lux was her sister's friend.

But just because Lux could be close to her sister didn't mean some toad from any random family could be!

Harassing Sona?

Had you eaten yet?

If not... Have a taste of my sword!

The annoying men who crowded around were usually no match for Kahina, and she often sent them packing in such a humiliating state that they never dared show their faces again.

What, you ask, if someone proved too much for Kahina?

Well, that's what Garen was for!

When Kahina had Garen's little secret to hold over him, she didn't hesitate for a second to call him over...

And to avoid social ruin, as well as protect his sister, Garen always came running!

If a girl couldn't beat a boy one-on-one, and the boy couldn't be beaten one-on-one, then they'd make it a mixed doubles match!

And so, Lux and Sona finally found some peace.

But even as the commotion gradually died down, Ogesha, who had always kept a close eye on her children as they grew, realized something was amiss. She didn't know that Lux had a wily old fox like Karya as her mentor. As far as she was concerned, her daughter was nothing but a little cabbage!

Now all sorts of pigs had their eyes on her little cabbage. How could she allow that?

After much deliberation, Ogesha, unable to sleep, decided to send Lux to the family's old home in Silvermine City for a while. That way, Lux could avoid the current turmoil in Demacia City, and she could also gain some hands-on experience with the family's affairs.

After all, socializing within the bounds of etiquette wasn't all there was to being a noble. Governing an estate and coordinating its administration were also essential lessons for a noble!

Lux had already done well enough at socializing and observing etiquette. Now it was time for her to begin her second lesson!

Besides, things in Silvermine City had indeed seemed a little off these past two years. According to the family's stewards, the whole city had suffered frost for three consecutive years, and they hadn't been able to collect any taxes at all.

Three years of frost?

Who did they think they were fooling?

Although the people there kept assuring her that the taxes were merely overdue and would eventually be paid in full, Ogesha was certain the truth was nothing of the sort!

Frost, was it?

Fine.

Then she'd send Lux to see for herself what the frost in Silvermine City was really like!

And while she was at it, she'd give Lux her second lesson in nobility and let her see what managing things in practice really looked like!

But before sending Lux to Silvermine City, Ogesha had a lot to prepare. Sending Lux there was meant to teach her a lesson, not put her in danger, so she needed to take additional precautions for her safety.

Hmm... that little rascal Garen was almost fifteen, too.

According to Mr. Xin Zhao, Garen was already a true man. And a true man ought to get some experience in the army!

With that in mind, Ogesha found the family map of the area around Silvermine City and spread it out on the table before her.

After searching for a while, she soon found the nearby military garrison.

If Garen was already a true man, then a true man should protect his sister!

At the thought, Ogesha quickly took out some paper and a pen and began writing by candlelight.

One letter was for her sister-in-law, Tiana. She was patrolling near Rivendell at the moment, and if possible, Ogesha wanted her to keep an eye on Garen and Lux.

Another letter was for the Silvermine City garrison. One of its captains was a relative of Ogesha's family, and she hoped he'd give Lux some necessary support.

The last letter was for the commander-in-chief of the Fearless Vanguard. It seemed to have nothing to do with either Garen or Lux. It merely praised the commander's heroic deeds during his tenure, then subtly mentioned that his esteemed son had an equally bright future in the Rangers, adding that a worthy father would surely have a worthy son, and so on.

The letter was written in Peter's voice. Its words read like the polite small talk nobles used to grow closer, but Ogesha was sure the recipient would understand her meaning.

Taking out the Crown Guard family seal, she sealed the letters with wax, then held all three in her hands and sat quietly in her chair.

Before she knew it, it was already late at night.

The matriarch of the Crown Guard family lifted her head and looked at a family portrait hanging on the wall.

The painting had been made seven years earlier, at New Year.

Back then, her brother-in-law was still alive, a Ranger captain with an open smile. Her sister-in-law was still single, a frost-faced tomboy in the Fearless Vanguard. Peter sat in the center, holding her hand, while Garen held a toy greatsword sideways, as if protecting his little sister.

Now, seven years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Of the six people in the painting, one had already given his life for his country and now rested in the Hall of Valor. Even as he was laid to rest, he'd held a poro in his arms and worn a smile, as if he'd just finished telling an amusing story.

Tiana, who had disguised herself as a man to enlist, had now become deputy commander of the Fearless Vanguard and was striving to reach the rank of marshal.

Peter, who'd sat upright in the painting, was now covered in old injuries. They always pained him terribly when it rained, yet he'd still lived and eaten alongside the soldiers while the fortress at the Gate of Sorrows was being built.

Ogesha herself had put the unease of her girlhood behind her and could finally proudly declare that she'd become a good mother.

Lux, who'd been losing her baby teeth back then, had grown into a Noble Exemplar, praised by the noble families throughout Demacia City. She'd blossomed into an increasingly graceful young woman.

Garen, who'd once been all bluster, had finally begun to settle down, becoming more and more like a true man.

And now, Lux and Garen would be leaving Demacia City to begin the next stage of their journey in Silvermine City.

They would truly see the people and soldiers they would manage in the future.

Like birds leaving the nest, they would spread their still-tender wings.

At that moment, Ogesha felt an emptiness in her heart.

Before long, the vast Crown Guard Manor would be left with only its lonely mistress.

Ogesha wanted to go to Silvermine City too, to take a vacation.

But... better not.

Lux's Art Support Association still needed someone to keep an eye on it. And even though the Crown Guard family enjoyed the King's deep trust, someone with influence still needed to remain in Demacia City.

On the bright side, did this mean she no longer had to put on a mother's stern airs, and could give up those tasteless salads for a while?

In the dead of night,

Ogesha sat alone for a long while. When she returned to her room, she took a delicate flute from a small compartment in her dressing table.

In the empty garden, Lady Crownguard, usually so solemn and serious, sat in the gazebo. She gently raised the flute to her lips, then took a deep breath.

The flute's melody rang out, soon drifting through the silent night over Demacia City.

Ogesha's fingers were no longer nimble, and her breathing was no longer steady.

But as the melody of Song of Triumph began, she seemed to return to twenty years ago, to the first time she'd met Peter.

Back then, he'd been dressed in fine clothes and mounted on a fine horse. He'd joined His Majesty the King in driving back the Noxians and returned in triumph.

Back then, she'd come to Demacia City from Silvermine City for the first time, cheering excitedly in the crowd—though she hadn't known why she was cheering.

Perhaps realizing that playing the flute in the middle of the night might disturb people's sleep, Ogesha chose Night of Silvermine Mountains as her second piece when the first ended.

Unfortunately, she could no longer play the lovely melody smoothly. The flute's broken, wavering notes were just like Peter's clumsy playing eighteen years earlier, when she'd tried to teach him. His mangled tune and silly smile had annoyed the earnest young woman teaching him, and she'd gritted her teeth and demanded to know why he insisted on learning from her when he knew he had no musical talent.

Peter had set down the flute and lain on a sunny hillside, laughing as he said, "Because... then I can play the flute you've played!"

Even now, remembering those words made Ogesha's heart race.

Perhaps because her heart was beating too fast, Ogesha didn't manage to play the last few trills cleanly. She pursed her lips and lowered the slightly off-key flute from them.

Then she stood, gently shook her head, and wiped her face.

When she lifted her head again, her elegance and composure had returned.

With a spare key in one hand and a candlestick in the other, she quietly kissed her son and daughter on the forehead, then whispered good night in a voice only she could hear.

At last, Ogesha returned to her room, blew out the candle, and lay down on the soft double bed.

That night, Ogesha slept especially well.

Karya had sensed what happened in the latter half of the night, but he didn't tell Lux.

By then, Lux had reached the final step in carving the Magic Circuit.

Her daily training had made her hand steadier than that of many experienced stonemasons, while her solid theoretical knowledge had made constructing Magic Circuits second nature to her. After three years of studying magic, Lux finally managed to carve a complete magic-absorption and amplification circuit in her family's carving room!

Once it was set into the prepared groove, Karya felt the magic flowing in from the Nullstone and almost had the urge to throw his head back and howl.

How many years had it been!

He finally had magic of his own again!

But before he could enjoy it for long, the magic drained away as quickly as water poured through a sieve.

"..."

Karya had been incredibly excited just a moment earlier, but now he was speechless. His silence made Lux, who'd been just as excited, fall silent too.

"What's wrong, Karya?" Lux asked cautiously. "Is something wrong with the circuit?"

"The circuit's fine." Karya sounded so calm he seemed about to cry. "I'm the problem."

"???"

Lux had never heard Karya speak in that tone before. She stared blankly at her sword, as if seeing Karya for the first time.

"But it's all right." Karya quickly composed himself. "At least now I can use the magic in the Nullstone to train you and Sona for the next stage."

"What kind of training?" Hearing him say that, Lux finally relaxed. "Practical training? Are we going to start casting spells?"

"The last step before practical training," Karya said, each word measured. "Combat simulation training!"

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