Twilight Initiator, Zed, Son of Shadows, Shadow
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 1
North of the Imperial Territory
-Will your daughter attend the Northern Academy?
The nobleman opened his eyes, surprised by my question, and pondered for a few seconds.
-In fact, my daughter has always wanted to attend the Northern Academy. When she fell ill, she always told me she wanted to go. She wanted to study at one of the two best academies. Back then, she had lost hope; there was no cure for her illness, and she knew it, so she stopped mentioning the academy. But now there is an opportunity, so she will surely regain her spirit. If she wants it so much, I would be more than happy to send her.
Since I gave him the plant, the nobleman's attitude has changed significantly. He no longer treats me with hostility or looks at me with fear. Instead, there's always that grateful look in his eyes, which makes me a bit uncomfortable, but I suppose it's better than the previous hostility. Even as night falls, I can see how he grips the jar containing the plant tightly.
I know nothing of this world. The academy is a great opportunity for me, but it could also be my own grave. Yet, I still want to go. Without risks, there are no rewards. It's a complex phrase when viewed from different perspectives, but it stands complete on its own. I'm thinking of a way to have him send me to the academy as well. From what I understand, only nobles can enter the Northern Academy. There are other lower-ranked academies, but they are of no use to me. The privileged places hold more information.
Noble... You can't just become one out of nowhere. If a commoner wants to obtain a noble title, even a low-ranking one like Baron, they need war merits in the case of the God of War, something I can't achieve. The easiest way I have now is through a political marriage, but I don't think it will be that easy. I don't know the nobleman's daughter, and she certainly doesn't know me either. Looking at the nobleman, I don't think he would give his daughter to an orphan like me. Besides, I'm a commoner, a nobody. The chances are slim.
The other way for a commoner to enter the Northern Academy is through a recommendation from a high-ranking noble, from Marquis upwards—two ranks above the nobleman. Out of the question.
Looking at the nobleman...
-I plan to enter the Northern Academy.
He looks at me, surprised, and slowly nods, thinking.
-I remember you said you had no parents, no surname. How do you plan to enter?
I'm still thinking about it. The only valuable thing I can sell right now is the soul fragment. I have nothing else, along with the 10 gold coins. I'm alone, frowning... it's a complicated situation.
The nobleman watched me attentively, without saying a word.
******
Noble of Valenwood, Adrian Karzak, Viscount
Imperial Calendar: Year 1596, Month 4, Day 1
Riverland Mountains, North of the Imperial Territory
This boy is not normal; that's clear to me. There's something in him that is dark and deep, like the abyss itself. He returned alone from that hell without a scratch on his body, wearing the same calm and serene expression as always, but there was a change. His eyes were much deeper and darker, an undoubtedly different air. It's strange. Where did this young man come from? I don't know.
When he said he wanted to join the academy, I was stunned. The Northern Academy doesn't accept anyone who doesn't have noble blood. There are exceptions for recommendations, but I don't have the authority for that. So how will he do it?
Watching him stay silent while he thinks... I see, he also has no idea how to achieve it. It's a pity; this boy has a great future ahead of him. I can feel it. He will be extremely strong. Ever since he activated his ability, I knew. I couldn't even detect him. He came out alive from that terrible place, and the monster is dead.
A great catch, so to speak. The only problem is his low birth...
I reflect for a few seconds...
Wait... a great future, very strong, stronger than myself. In fact, my daughter is also very talented. She's different from me. Since she was young, she had an affinity for the sword, a magical swordsman. My daughter can be said to be a prodigy in the art of the sword. She will be better than me, and this boy will also be better than me... Besides, he doesn't have a bad face... Damn...
Thinking carefully... he doesn't seem to be a bad person. Let's say we have more or less the same mentality about survival. That's good. Being too kind can lead to death. He's smarter than me. He's young...
As a noble and father, I always seek the best for my daughter. In fact, they both have almost the same attitude: calm and serene. They are made for each other, right? Occasionally, my daughter acts like her mother.
If I hadn't met this boy, my daughter would surely be dead... you could say he's her savior. Thanks to him, I now have the plant in my hands. He could have left and taken the flower to sell somewhere, but he didn't. He kept his word, a man of honor.
But even so, I can't decide on this matter without informing my daughter first. She is at the age where she is supposed to be married. It was canceled. She was supposed to have a husband, a noble of the empire... that bastard only wanted my daughter for her beauty. He even mentioned that he had no intention of making her his wife, only a concubine. My face burned with rage, but his father was a marquis. I had no choice but to accept or destroy my house. Besides, my daughter also agreed. She knew the difficulty of the situation and sacrificed herself.
My beautiful daughter.
Once she fell ill and they knew she wouldn't be saved, that boy lost interest in my daughter. He has surely forgotten about her now. Besides, I learned that he is already married...
Looking again at the black-eyed boy...
-How about if...