Kays Translations

Chapter 2: A Little While After That Incident

That spring, Clausel territory faced a crisis unlike any in its history.

Viscount Given, who governed the neighboring territory in the emperor’s name, targeted Baron Clausel in a factional struggle. The frontier village governed by House Ashton suffered particularly severe damage. Licia, Lessard Clausel’s only daughter and a saint, happened to be staying there.

Given’s conspiracy led to her abduction. Her illness worsened until she stood close to death.

She survived only because Ren Ashton protected her.

Ren used his judgment and the powers he had developed since childhood to keep Licia alive, but he paid for it with serious injuries of his own. In gratitude, Lessard promised that Ren could recover at the Clausel mansion for as long as necessary.

A little over two months later, Ren was finally convinced that he had healed.

“Yes. I think I’m fine now.”

He rose from the guest-room bed and smiled. Through the window, he could see Licia performing her morning training in the courtyard below.

(I still have a promise to keep.)

He had told her they would spar after returning safely. He would not go home until they had crossed swords several times. June had already passed, and his birthday had gone by while he recovered, but he refused to become a liar merely because time had slipped away.

Potions, magic tools, Licia’s Sacred Magic, and careful treatment had limited the loss of muscle. He had been walking through the mansion as rehabilitation and had toured the gardens with Licia.

After dressing, Ren left the room.

The Clausel mansion’s thick carpets were gentle beneath feet that had been injured only weeks before. As he walked the familiar corridor, a voice called from behind.

“Boy?”

Weiss approached from the opposite direction. Despite his duties as Knight Commander, he had assisted Ren’s rehabilitation almost every day.

“Good morning, Weiss.”

“Good morning. Are you truly feeling well enough to walk alone?”

“The physician said I was close to full recovery, and my body feels as light as it did before.”

Relief softened Weiss’s face.

He still blamed himself for leaving the village on the day of the attack and had requested severe punishment even after Ren and Licia returned alive. Licia had stopped it. She had personally ordered Weiss and the knights to leave her side and help House Ashton, and she stated plainly that punishing them for obeying her was unthinkable.

“Have you eaten breakfast?”

“Yes. I had it in my room. I was about to exercise outside.”

“Exercise?”

“I would rather not embarrass myself by remaining completely out of practice.”

Weiss followed Ren’s gaze toward the courtyard and understood.

“Your spar with the young lady. Do not overdo it. The baron has said the same.”

“I won’t. But I do not want to keep Licia waiting any longer.”

Ren had watched her train from the window every morning. Their eyes often met, and they would wave to each other.

“I promised her that if we returned together, we would spar again.”

Below, Licia noticed him and raised a hand after finishing a drill.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

When Ren reached the training courtyard, Licia hurried toward him with light steps. The skirt of her white training outfit moved in the breeze.

That outfit alone had miraculously survived the fire at the Ashton manor. Roy and Mireille had recently brought it back to Clausel. It was a keepsake from Licia’s late mother, and recovering it had made her deeply happy.

Licia stopped several paces from Ren. She abruptly turned to a bench, picked up a towel, and wiped away her sweat before approaching him.

The knights who had trained with her exchanged amused looks.

“That is a new side of the young lady,” Weiss said with a fond smile.

Ren thought she did not need to worry about her appearance, but he kept the thought to himself.

“Ren!”

Her silver hair, threaded with an amethyst sheen, had regained its smooth luster since their escape. The ordeal had left a trace of maturity in her expression, but her smile beneath the morning sun was bright.

“Are you really well? You are not forcing yourself?”

“I’m fine. I can walk without help, and I have recovered enough to run.”

“I know, but I was worried. Why did you come outside? For a walk?”

“Not a walk. I wanted to move my body. If I am going to spar with you, I should hold a sword again first.”

Licia stared at him.

“You truly mean to spar with me? You were not joking?”

“I made a promise. I need to regain my feel for the sword before we begin, or you may defeat me immediately.”

“You are already strong enough.”

“You are not trying to hurry me, are you?”

“Of course not. I was only commenting on the difference between our abilities.”

Her lack of resentment astonished the nearby knights. They had heard rumors of Ren’s strength and now watched eagerly.

Ren selected a training sword of suitable length from a rack. Its grip felt unfamiliar compared with the Wooden and Iron Magic Swords, but he could tolerate the difference.

He rolled up his sleeve, exposing the bracelet linked to Magic Sword Summoning.

“Why do you still have the same bracelet?” Licia asked.

“My parents found a similar one for me. It is only an imitation.”

The explanation was a lie, but he needed some way to justify continuing to wear it.

The dagger Licia had once promised him had not been found among the manor’s stored possessions. She had already declared that she would order another gift.

Ren moved away from the others and tested a few swings. The borrowed sword felt strange, but his body responded normally.

(I’m all right. I really have recovered.)

He imagined a Thief Wolfen before him and added footwork to his strikes. The sword cut through the air with a sharp sound. Wind from the pressure stirred the grass.

“Impressive,” Weiss murmured.

The knights fell silent. Licia watched with her hands behind her back, plainly pleased.

Ren increased his speed. His movements sharpened until the pressure of each swing could be felt against the skin.

“Ren,” Licia called when he lowered the sword. “How do you feel?”

“Better than I expected. I am not completely back to normal, but I can move well enough.”

“Good. Perhaps my Sacred Magic helped a little.”

During his recovery, she had visited the guest room repeatedly and used Sacred Magic on him. Combined with potions and the effects of his own Physical Ability Boost (Minor), it had hastened his healing.

“Then, if you agree, perhaps we could have one light spar.”

“What?”

“Only as rehabilitation. I still cannot move exactly as I did before.”

Weiss objected at once.

“Boy, it is too soon!”

“I can manage a very light match. I will not take risks.”

Licia looked both delighted and concerned.

“Are you certain?”

Ren nodded.

“Then today is only rehabilitation. It is not a real match—just exercise. Understood?”

Being cautioned by the person who had wanted the duel most made Ren scratch his cheek.

They took their positions with wooden training swords. Just before Weiss gave the signal, Ren smiled.

“Please go easy on me.”

Licia felt the pressure surrounding him and realized it was as strong as before—perhaps stronger. The battle against Yelquq had made him grow again.

Her grip tightened.

“I think that is supposed to be my line.”

The strength that had protected her had not faded at all.

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