The Sword Sanctum.
Outside, snow was falling heavily, but today we welcomed two unexpected guests.
An old man and a young boy stood out conspicuously in the wind and snow.
The leader was a petite elderly woman with a full head of short, silver-white hair, an upright posture, and sharp, intimidating eyes.
She wore the traditional black robes of the Water God Style, adorned with gold beads at the lapels, and a golden short blade at her waist; the design was simple yet dignified.
The girl following behind her was about thirteen or fourteen years old, with shoulder-length blue hair and slightly narrowed eyes. Although she tried to remain calm, her eyes could not hide her excitement and curiosity.
"Master, is this the Sword Sanctum?"
Isolte lowered her voice, glancing around furtively, "I'm so nervous... It's my first time in a place like this."
"That's right."
Without turning her head, Reida replied, "This is the 'Beast's Den' you've been clamoring to see."
As the two walked to the main gate of the dojo headquarters, they bumped into a blue-haired girl sweeping the floor.
Nina, dressed in a thin white swordsman's uniform, was holding a broom and was bending down to clear the snow in front of the door.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up and curiously examined the old man and the young man. "May I ask what brings you two here?"
Reida looked her up and down, a smile suddenly appearing on her lips, "Oh~ you must be Nina? You've grown so much! The last time I saw you, you were only this big."
Nina was taken aback, not expecting the other person to recognize her. However, she didn't let her pass immediately. Instead, she politely cupped her hands and asked, "Excuse me, may I ask your honorable name, senior?"
Reida smiled slightly, her tone calm yet carrying an undeniable air of authority. "I am Reida Lya. I believe I don't need to introduce myself, do I?"
Nina's heart skipped a beat.
Reida, this name is renowned among swordsmen.
Each Water God changes their name to Reida after taking the throne. The one before us is the current Water God. Although she is not Seven Great Powers, she is a legendary figure who is on par with the Sword God Gal.
Even though the Sword Sanctum was located in the harsh northwest, Nina had long heard of the Water God Reida.
She took a deep breath, not doubting the other party's identity, after all, no one would be bold enough to impersonate the Water God in the Sword Sanctum.
Please follow me, this way.
Nina's tone immediately became much more polite, and she respectfully stepped aside to make way.
Throughout the entire process Reida remained silent and calmly walked forward.
It was Isolte was following behind, who couldn't hold back any longer. She opened her mouth several times, as if she wanted to ask something, but hesitated to speak because her master was present.
Nina stopped at the doorway of the main seating area, then turned to leave.
At that moment, Isolte suddenly leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Um... are you the Sword God's disciple?"
"No."
Nina shook her head.
Isolte on, "Well... if I may be so bold, have you heard of someone? I'd like to ask you about them."
"Who?"
"Does your Sword Sanctum have an apprentice named Rudeus?"
" Rudeus?"
Nina tilted her head, thought for a moment, and then shook her head firmly. "No, in all my years in the Sanctum, I've never heard of anyone with that name."
Isolte, a hint of urgency flashing in her eyes. "Are you sure? This person is very important to me... Please think carefully."
Seeing how serious she was, and after thinking it over again, Nina finally shook her head. "I'm very sure."
"I grew up in the Sanctum, and I know every disciple here. There is indeed no one named Rudeus."
Isolte immediately deflated, her shoulders slumping.
She remembered the boy she had met once before.
After being severely hurt by him, she heard that he would come to the Sword Sanctum to learn from a master, and she had been longing to see him again.
But when they arrived, they found nothing.
Nina looked at her disappointed expression with curiosity. "Hey, is that person named Rudeus... important to you?"
"Yeah... he's the goal I've always wanted to pursue," Isolte said softly, her tone carrying a hint of obsession that she herself was unaware of.
The object of pursuit...
Nina murmured the words repeatedly, another figure unconsciously appearing in her mind.
Oh, by the way.
As if remembering something, Isolte quickly gestured, "His full Rudeus Rudius Greyrat, he's about this tall, blond with a few tufts of white hair on his forehead, he always squints, and he speaks slowly and deliberately."
"If we calculate the timeline, he should have arrived at the Sword Sanctum more than a year ago..."
Blonde hair.
Squinting.
More than a year ago...
These characteristics kept overlapping, and he felt that the person Isolte was looking for was becoming more and more like that person's characteristics.
Nina's expression gradually became subtle, as if something had suddenly struck her heart.
She listened to Isolte's description.
The image of that person involuntarily surfaced in my mind: blond hair, slightly narrowed eyes, a calm and unhurried tone, and the Phoenix Elegant Dragon Sword that was always hanging at his waist.
A year ago, he joined the Sword Sanctum, swept through all the Sword Saint in three days, and was personally awarded the title of Sword King by the Sword God.
The entire timeline perfectly matched the description of Rudeus given by the person in front of her.
Could Luo Ge's real name be Rudeus? Perhaps Luo Ge is an alias.
His real name is Rudeus Greyrat.
Once Nina had this absurd guess, the doubt lingered in her mind.
"There is no one named Rudeus Greyrat in our Sanctum."
Nina spoke slowly, her tone carrying a complexity she herself didn't realize, "But... there's a boy named Luo Ge Greyrat. When he gets out, I'll take you to meet him... Perhaps, he's the one you're looking for."
"Really?!"
Isolte, and a joyful smile instantly bloomed on her face. "Thank you so much!"
Seeing the other person's excited expression, Nina quickly waved her hand, "No need to be so polite, it was nothing."
However, her inner world was far from as calm as it appeared.
If... if the person Isolte is looking for really is Luo Ge, then what does it mean by the object of her pursuit?
What exactly happened between them?
Nina was filled with curiosity about the relationship between Luo Ge and Isolte, though she herself didn't know why.
Just then...
From within the tightly closed doors between the seats came the signature gruff voice of the Sword God Gal.
" Reida... you've finally arrived, much faster than I expected."
"Speak, what brings you this old woman all this way?"
"I would like to ask you to teach me the techniques of the Water God Style." Gal's voice rarely carried a hint of seriousness.
"Oh? Is it Nina outside? She's definitely suited to the Water God Style technique."
No, it wasn't her.
"Who is that?" The Water God Reida asked with a hint of curiosity. "It seems this disciple holds a high place in your heart—you, who always hate to trouble others, have actually written to ask me to come over."
Gal paused for a moment, then chuckled softly, "Old woman, I think you'd be interested too if you met him."
"That guy... he's a monster."
Isolte and Nina outside the door fell silent at the same time, exchanging bewildered glances.
Snowflakes drifted in from outside the eaves and landed on their shoulders.
Just then, they saw a young man dressed in a white swordsman's uniform slowly approaching from the opposite corridor.
His arrival seemed to freeze the surrounding air, and when Isolte saw him, her pupils contracted sharply.
Is it him?
P. S.: Thanks to the amazing verification from you, I can finally go out for hot pot! I'm so touched.