The Rift

The fierce battle just now had completely awakened the Archmond family's warlike instincts, and Aurelian's fighting spirit had been roused to its fullest. In that moment, all he wanted was to win.

Now, his heart was filled with regret. He and Jeanne had only been sparring, not fighting to the death.

Driven by unease, Aurelian had wanted to hurry over and check on her.

But the dust had already settled, revealing the beautiful maid's figure.

Her face was now very pale, though, and her hands trembled slightly as she gripped Atonement.

Her blue eyes quietly regarded Aurelian across from her, their expression complicated.

She spoke softly, still as composed as ever.

"Looks like you've learned more than just Ethereal Meditation. You really do live up to the Archmond name. What a shame they haven't given you everything you deserve."

But the flustered Aurelian didn't care about any of that. He didn't care about being an Archmond. He hurriedly tossed aside the longsword in his hand and caught the beautiful maid as she was about to fall, his voice thick with apology.

"Are you all right?!"

"No need. I was prepared for what it would be like to fight someone with the Star-Forging Bloodline," Jeanne refused, her face somewhat pale.

She gently pushed Aurelian away, then walked toward the edge of the arena.

Aurelian stood rooted to the spot inside the training ground.

What did she mean, she'd been prepared? Had she wanted me to fight with all my strength?

But what was it all for? What was the point?

One question after another flooded his mind, and for a long time, he couldn't come to his senses.

"Right, she said I'd learned more than just that."

Aurelian recalled Jeanne's words and turned to look at her as she slowly walked away.

Suddenly, he felt a sense of estrangement. It turned out he still didn't understand her. Who was she, really, and what was she after?

"My lord, you're a true genius!"

The excited Master had already reached Aurelian. His eyes were wide as he stared at him like he was some kind of freak.

No, like a monster.

"Thomas, I won. Give me ten Moon Silver Coins."

Though Russell's face was covered in dust, nothing could hide his delight.

"Damn it, you actually guessed right by pure luck. Here!"

Thomas looked thoroughly pained as he reluctantly took out ten Moon Silver Coins and tossed them to Russell.

"Hahahaha, thanks!" Russell threw his head back and laughed.

Aurelian simply shook his head and gazed calmly at Master, speaking softly.

"You can do it, too."

With that, Aurelian turned and walked out of the arena as well, leaving a bewildered Master standing there, dumbfounded.

"Can I do it, too?"

Darkness once again blanketed the earth, and the cold wind outside howled like a vengeful spirit.

Inside the main keep of Winter City, Aurelian sat quietly at the dining table, watching the servants set one exquisite dish after another before him.

A golden-brown leg of lamb, a large bowl of fragrant mushroom and beef stew, delicious cream bread, and a huge platter of vegetable salad.

Across from Aurelian, Roundball had already begun to gobble down its food. To make things easier for it, Aurelian had specially told the servants to prepare a cushion.

Aurelian hadn't started his dinner. Out of habit, he glanced to the side.

Unfortunately, there was no one there. The maid wasn't around.

His red eyes dimmed. That sense of estrangement made him feel uncomfortable, so he refused to go looking for Jeanne.

He picked up his knife and fork. He had no appetite, but he couldn't skip a meal—he hadn't consumed any life-sustaining nutrients in seven days.

In Frost Town, Charles braved the bitter wind and opened the door to his home.

The warm fire in the stove comforted him. He hurried inside, shutting out the cold.

The clang of a blacksmith's hammer rang incessantly from within. Charles knew his father hadn't gone to bed yet.

With a mixture of nervousness and excitement, he hurried farther inside.

"Father, I'm back."

He greeted old Rune, who was busy smithing.

Old Rune didn't turn around. Wearing a suit of shiny black protective gear, he held tongs and a hammer, repeatedly striking a glowing-hot piece of iron. Yet he spoke without looking back.

"You're home early today. I figured you must have something to ask me. Let me make this clear first: I don't approve of you becoming a knight."

"But, Father, I really want to be a knight!" Charles's face was full of stubborn determination.

"You don't have the guts or the talent for it. Just be a blacksmith."

Old Rune dropped the hammered piece of iron into the cold water beside him, raising a cloud of steam.

Seeing his father put him down like that, Charles stepped forward and shouted angrily, "What do you know? I'm not going to be some lousy blacksmith. I want to be a knight, and Lord Aurelian already said I have the talent!"

"Who did you just mention?"

Old Rune finally turned around. He was tall, with gray hair and a dark face from years of smithing. Fine lines were barely visible at the corners of his eyes, but his black eyes held a strange perceptiveness.

"L-Lord Aurelian."

Charles suddenly lost the confidence he'd shown a moment earlier. He took a step back and stammered.

"Nonsense! Why would Lord Aurelian talk to you?" Old Rune had already picked up a hammer, his eyes fixed on Charles.

"It was Lord Aurelian! He came to the town's warehouse today!"

Charles's face changed dramatically at the sight of the terrifyingly black hammer.

"Really?"

Old Rune slowly lowered the menacing hammer, his tone becoming calmer.

Charles let out a breath and wiped the sweat from his face. He knew he'd made it past the hardest part.

"I talked to him. He was very kind—well, like an angel."

Charles had never been to school. He could only reach into his limited vocabulary for this pitiful word.

"Hmph. If Lord Aurelian weren't blind, he wouldn't say something like that. Talent? I think you're a fool! You can't even learn to smith!"

Old Rune scoffed, turned around, and resumed hammering at the iron.

"Father, Lord Aurelian said it himself! Hard work can make up for a lack of talent. I can become a great knight!"

Charles hurried over to Old Rune and shouted with all his might.

"Hard work can make up for a lack of talent? Lord Aurelian told you that, too?"

Old Rune furrowed his brow. There was no way that boy Charles could have come up with a saying like that!