Closer than family

Zhao Si had suddenly become terribly proud.

His ordinary life had finally begun to make waves.

Whether it was winning the Gloam-Eyed Queen's favor, fighting Blaidd? to a draw, winning the battle to defend Castle Morne, or establishing a partnership with two masters of the Academy, every success had gone to his head.

Pride devoured his heart like a deadly poison, blinding him and leaving him unable to tolerate even the slightest criticism. And that had given the lingering poison of the "Frenzied Flame" something to feed on, allowing it to strike back.

Everyone really had been concerned about him, afraid he would get the short end of the stick in his dealings with the Academy. But he had refused to listen, instead imagining that they simply couldn't stand to see him doing well.

A swordsman's heart ought to remain calm, centered, and upright.

It was like those teachers of sword theory or swordsmanship who explained, "Why does a sword have two edges? One faces your enemy, and the other faces yourself."

The old man couldn't cut down the Frenzied Flame, but he could make Zhao Si hurt. That killing intent had jolted Zhao Si back to his senses and exposed the lingering poison, allowing Ghostflame to eradicate it.

His pride and agitation vanished without a trace, and his muddled mind became clear again. He gripped his wrist and touched the Ghostflame mark, waves of belated fear washing over him.

"Thops, I'm sorry."

On the way back, Zhao Si apologized to Thops, full of remorse. He didn't say anything about it being "all the Frenzied Flame's fault," afraid of causing unnecessary panic. Besides, he felt that going from perfectly normal to suddenly losing his mind had as much to do with his attitude as with the Frenzied Flame's influence.

Perhaps this was part of growing up, too.

Thops hurriedly waved his hands. "I'm fine. But Miss Helena was hurt much more deeply. She really cares about you, the way someone cares about family. I could tell from spending these past few days with you both."

"I..." Zhao Si felt his throat tighten. "I took her kindness for granted."

He tapped his head, trying to shake out his distracting thoughts. His memories and understanding of the game from his previous life couldn't be applied wholesale to the reality before him.

Helena's feelings were genuine. They had nothing to do with the Greater Will or the Fingers.

He only needed to think of his two predecessors, Vyke and Bernahl. Vyke had embraced the Frenzied Flame for his Witch. Bernahl had joined Volcano Manor after losing his Witch, determined to bring down the Erdtree.

Thops reassured Zhao Si. "Come on, everyone makes mistakes. As long as you recognize them, make things right in time, and don't repeat them, that's enough."

"How do you maintain such a positive outlook?" Zhao Si realized there really was something to learn from everyone.

Thops paused, then thought it over before answering. "Respect for knowledge. If you always hold the unknown in reverence and hunger for knowledge, then all the hardships you endure are merely passing clouds."

"From the day we became apprentices, we swore to spend our lives exploring Glintstone, exploring the amber of the stars." The light returned to Thops's eyes. "I follow in the footsteps of the sages as though pursuing an ascetic discipline."

Zhao Si nodded repeatedly. He realized he had entertained quite a few delusions lately. The idea of "beating the Academy into submission" alone was unrealistic, and Thops had even reminded him that the Graveyard Zombies were part of its security.

This was the Academy at its full strength, with Azur, Lusat, and Sellen. What could he possibly fight it with?

"I'm not some protagonist." Zhao Si laughed. "Right. I'm not the protagonist."

"Huh?" Thops didn't understand. "But don't people say everyone is the protagonist of their own life?"

"But I'm not the protagonist of other people's lives. Nobody has to revolve around me. Haha." Zhao Si had finally figured it out.

The difficulties he had faced at the Academy should have been expected. With such a vast gulf in status between them, those two masters had no reason to greet Zhao Si with smiles and immediately agree to his requests.

Things had turned out this way because he hadn't prepared thoroughly enough.

"If someone more powerful could help me, they could keep those two masters in check, couldn't they?" Zhao Si said. "Actually, I originally thought Sellen would make a good guarantor."

Thops spoke earnestly. "While I don't think my senior is a bad person, she would certainly favor those two masters. That's only human nature. Who can claim they're completely impartial? Not even the goddess Marika could, surely."

"She certainly couldn't." Zhao Si smiled.

The two returned to the cabin. Zhao Si took several deep breaths, feeling more nervous than he would before a battle.

Because the person inside wasn't an enemy or an opponent with a drawn blade, but a friend-someone he could even call family here in the Lands Between.

Hurting a loved one's heart was more painful than stabbing them hundreds of times.

Zhao Si pounded his chest twice, hard, and finally gathered enough courage to push open the door.

Helena was still sitting there, unmoving, her blank face turned toward the doorway.

Zhao Si didn't know just how miserable Helena felt. Because of her blindfold, he didn't even know whether she could cry.

Why don't I know anything? What nonsense have I been filling my head with all day?

Zhao Si opened his mouth, but before he could make a sound, Helena said, "You're hurt again? Let me heal you."

That simple sentence made Zhao Si certain he had to make it up to the girl before him.

"I'm sorry," he said loudly.

"Huh?" Instead, it was Helena who froze for a moment.

Thinking Helena hadn't heard him clearly, Zhao Si said loudly again, "Helena, I'm sorry. I was wrong earlier. I let myself get carried away."

"It's all right. I forgive you." Helena smiled. "People get like that sometimes, throwing tantrums for no reason and shouting at the people closest to them. But we all know we're family, and we love one another, don't we?"

"Yes!" Zhao Si nodded firmly. "We're family."

Helena's expression suddenly changed. She stood up and pinched Zhao Si's ear. "Honestly, you! Could you stop acting like a child? What's with all these mood swings, huh? Do you think that makes you special?"

"Ow, ow, ow..." Zhao Si could have broken free, but deliberately let Helena vent her anger. "I won't do it again."

The Frenzied Flame has been eradicated. I won't lose my mind again.

As his fighting skills grew, his mind had to mature alongside them. Only then could he truly be well-rounded.

Sometimes anger faded as quickly as it came. The knots in one's heart could be tied, but they could also be undone.

Watching this "heartwarming" scene from the side, Thops smiled and said, "How lovely."

Once Helena had completely calmed down, Zhao Si rubbed his ear and refused treatment. He wanted to keep the wound on his chin as a constant reminder not to let minor achievements go to his head.

The blood had already clotted, and the wound no longer dripped. The old man had been very precise; it was only a superficial injury.

Presumably, the scar this wound left behind would symbolize the mended relationship between Zhao Si and Helena.

"I have a new idea. I want to visit the Shaded Castle." Zhao Si looked at Helena. "

Would you come with me?"

"I could, but what is there to visit at the Shaded Castle? That's House Marais's territory. They've been executioners for generations. Ordinary people don't go there," Helena said.

"My senior is there," Zhao Si said with a smile.

"You have a senior?" Helena touched her chin with a finger. "How come I didn't know?"

"You'll find out when we get there." Zhao Si laughed it off without explaining.

"Wait, what do you want with your senior?" Helena was a little worried, afraid Zhao Si would do something reckless.

"To help me find Ranni." Zhao Si voiced what was on his mind.

"Then you should go to Caria..." Helena suddenly caught on. "Oh, you can't get into Caria Manor. And the Lunar Princess doesn't readily receive outsiders."

"Right, so I need to think of another way," Zhao Si said. "If she could back me up, I wouldn't have to worry about those two masters cheating me, would I?"

Helena nodded. "You wouldn't. As the Full Moon Queen's daughter, she holds considerable standing at the Academy. But why would she help you?"

"I'll discuss it with my senior first." Zhao Si was worried about that, too.

A risky move, an unconventional approach. It might produce surprising results.

If there was anything Ranni hated most, it was undoubtedly Marika and the children Marika had with Radagon.

She was a dutiful daughter. For Rennala's sake, she wouldn't let them off easily.

Marika and Radagon had two children: the elder brother, Miquella, and the younger sister, Malenia.

Both had originally been far away at the Haligtree in the Mountaintops of the Giants. As luck would have it, Malenia had gone traveling and was temporarily staying at House Marais's Shaded Castle.

Zhao Si did have a plan for drawing this conveniently acquired senior to him. It was common knowledge that the Scarlet Rot was a source of anguish for both Miquella and Malenia. Miquella was also researching how to eradicate it, and the Unalloyed Gold Needle embedded in Malenia's body to suppress the rot was his creation.

But what outsiders didn't know was that Rennala's Great Rune could grant rebirth.