June 25, 1437.
Raphael Earhart
Yellow light filtered through my eyelids, refusing to let me sleep any longer. Reluctantly, I opened my eyes. The first thing I saw was the snow-white ceiling, resembling a blanket of clouds. Still half-asleep, I turned my head to the left, then to the right. Clinging to me with her entire body was Harumi, as if afraid I might disappear.
The gesture touched me, perhaps because no one in my previous life had ever held on to me like this, or maybe because deep down, I craved being needed. A warmth spread through my body, filling me with a comforting sense of belonging.
Sure, there was Erin, with whom I shared a close relationship, but there was always a certain distance between us. We never allowed ourselves to cross that line—more than just friends, but less than lovers.
There was no physical closeness, except for the times we saved each other. Honestly, even now, it's hard to define what our relationship was back then. She definitely cared for me, and I for her, but was it love? I doubt it. It felt more like a sibling bond.
In her eyes, I was probably just the reckless older brother she had to keep an eye on.
Remembering our relationship, I let out a heavy sigh. Yes, Erin was alive now, but the memories of my past life still left a cold shadow in my heart.
No, I was never "pure and innocent." I had experienced intimacy, but it was nothing like the true love between a man and a woman. That's something I had never found.
And now, seeing the beautiful Harumi—who looked like she was about twenty-five—clinging to me, hugging me at every chance, my heart began to race.
Gazing at her with warmth and tenderness, I gently stroked her hair, careful not to wake her.
Shaking off my stray thoughts, I sat up and rubbed my eyes, trying to wake up faster.
I got out of bed and began preparing for my morning training with mana stones, mentally planning out what I needed to do before the Initiation Tournament.
While I retrieved the necessary items from my spatial ring, Harumi woke up and sat beside me, watching intently. Of course, she didn't miss the chance to insult me for waking her from her "magnificent slumber" before pulling on my cheeks in mock irritation.
Honestly, sometimes I feel like she sees me as something between a hamster and a person. But does she even think of me as a person at all? Who knows.
As I laid out the mana stone and opened the window to let in some fresh air, Harumi broke the silence:
— The Tournament's in about a month, right?
— Yeah, — I answered curtly.
— Will you be ready? — her voice was calm, but there was an underlying note of concern.
Harumi lay on the floor, leaning against the chair. Even in such a casual pose, she looked effortlessly attractive. But then again, that wasn't surprising—Harumi was naturally beautiful, and almost any position suited her.
Well, not every position.
A memory immediately came to mind of the time she convinced Kazimir to give her wine, and after drinking too much, passed out on my bed like a drunken slob.
Bringing my focus back to the conversation, I pondered her question.
In reality, the Initiation Tournament wasn't that extraordinary in terms of organization. It was a standard 64-participant tournament bracket where contestants fought duels using both magic and aura.
However, there were strict rules for knights about using mana. Only those who could wield aura were permitted to use it. Aura proficiency tests were mandatory before submitting an application to compete.
Family cadets had to fight in preliminary rounds before the main tournament to prove their skills. These matches tested the ability to use aura. If it was found that the cadet could only wield mana without aura, they were disqualified.
It sounded harsh, but overall the system was fairly lenient to those who lacked aura. You just had to declare it before the first match, and the cadet would be given a bracelet that restricted mana flow, preventing its use.
Thinking about it now, it was surprisingly fair—they at least gave participants a chance. Although, I had never heard of anyone winning the tournament without aura swordsmanship.
In any case, as an Earhart, I didn't have to go through that humiliating pre-tournament process. We were allowed straight into the main bracket, although even there, the rules were tough.
The biggest limitation was the age restriction. Cadets could participate regardless of age, but Earharts couldn't compete after the age of fifteen. This placed significant pressure on the younger family members, as you could be a cadet even at eighteen.
It wouldn't be surprising if, at ten years old, I ended up fighting a seventeen-year-old opponent with far superior mana and aura levels.
And, of course, aside from the cadets, I wouldn't be the only Earhart in the tournament. At the very least, Theo, Mia, Eric, and possibly even Selena would be competing.
Since the Initiation Tournament was a major event on the continent, all four of them would be allowed to leave the Academy to participate.
As for Theo, I couldn't care less. I didn't think he'd be able to do anything against me. Mia and Eric were more serious opponents, but I still doubted they could beat me. However, the biggest wildcard was Selena.
Even in my past life, I never saw her fight or knew the extent of her power. But I remember how she was often praised at Guardian gatherings. Especially by Theo—he seemed to be afraid of her.
Selena was likely to be the toughest challenge... Oh yeah, and Erin would be there too.
I remembered how she recently told me she would be competing as well, wanting to gain experience fighting against other people, and maybe even face me in battle.
I couldn't help but recall the fiery determination in her eyes.
Considering Harumi's question about my readiness for the tournament, I finally answered:
— I think I'll be fine. After all, it's just sparring—albeit with higher stakes and tougher opponents.
— You think so? — Harumi raised an eyebrow. — Sure, you have the advantage of your past life experience, and you're definitely stronger now than you were at ten... But you're still a child. No matter how much the Earharts try to hype you up.
Her last words sent a chill through me, and I once again cursed everyone involved in the ridiculous publicity campaign they'd been running about me.
— Well... I'm being realistic about my abilities. Of course, there are pitfalls, and if I don't show everything I'm capable of, I won't make it past the semifinals...
— But? — Harumi squinted with interest.
— Ahem, but even so, I don't think anyone besides Selena will be able to stand up to me.
— If you say so... — Harumi nodded, drifting into her own thoughts.
Silence fell between us again. I sat cross-legged on the carpet, facing the open window, and began my daily meditation and mana training.
***
Our blades clashed once more under the scorching summer sun. Erin and I were in the middle of another intense sparring session, and her strikes were becoming more confident with each passing minute.
It wasn't just me who had been training hard for the last five years. Erin, who was now officially my bodyguard, had also been pushing herself to the limit.
Watching her now, fiercely pressing me with a relentless barrage of attacks, I couldn't help but smile.
She's already becoming a worthy opponent. Sure, she still lacks experience—something I have in abundance—and her lack of affinity for magic has hindered her growth.
Even so, seeing how dedicated she is to improving her skills... I find myself envying her. I might be talented as a knight and mage, but I've never really cared about that.
What's sadder: being talented at something you don't care about, or being untalented at something you love?
Though I'm probably not in a position to judge.
As if I ever had a choice.
I glanced at Erin, who was once again attacking, and we continued our sparring session until evening.
When we finally sat down to rest after training, my thoughts drifted back to the tournament. The tournament where Erin and I would become opponents instead of allies. That thought lingered.
— Erin, why do you want to participate in the tournament? — I asked suddenly, genuinely curious about her motivation.
Erin turned to me with a puzzled expression, as if confused by my question. Now that she had grown, her dark hair was longer, cascading down to her shoulder blades. She wore a simple athletic outfit: maroon shorts, a white shirt, and sneakers. Though she was still a child, her beauty was already beginning to show.
— What do you mean, sir? — she asked, her tone filled with surprise. — Obviously, I want to become stronger...
She looked up at the sky, watching the clouds drift by like soft cotton. I watched her, realizing just how remarkable she had become. The sky reflected in her eyes, and in that moment, she seemed like more than just my bodyguard.
— ...I need to become stronger so that you can rely on me. Otherwise, I'll just be useless.
For some reason, those words filled me with sadness.
Erin had always been like this. She never let obstacles stand in the way of her self-improvement. She pushed herself to the limit—always for my sake. It seemed like her entire life was dedicated to me, as if she lived solely to serve and protect me.
Of course, for a bodyguard, it was natural to devote oneself entirely to their master.
But suddenly, a thought struck me:
Is this really the kind of life I want for her? And does she truly want to live her life this way?
Naturally, she had already committed to being my bodyguard, and that wouldn't change, even if it wasn't what she wanted. But the thought of it left me feeling uneasy.
I lowered my head, staring at the wooden floor of the stands. The patterns in the grain seemed like mazes for my wandering thoughts.
I felt a pang of guilt. But despite that, I still wanted her by my side.
— I understand... But don't expect me to go easy on you when we face each other in the tournament, — I said quietly, trying to keep my tone serious.
In the next moment, I felt the warmth of her hand on my cheek. A soft, comforting wave spread through me, easing my tension. Turning my head, I met her gaze—her eyes were full of incredible warmth and joy. Her hand still rested gently on my cheek.
— Don't overthink it, Raphael, — she said softly, her voice filled with care.
— Five years ago, I dedicated my life to you, so don't worry about me. I will be your strength. I'll stand by your side—on any battlefield. Whether it's within the family or in the outside world.
Erin's words touched me deeply, making my heart beat faster. I placed my hand over hers, holding it gently.
— Alright... — I whispered, feeling the warmth of her touch.
Now, there was only one thing left to do—give it my all so that I'd have no regrets in the future.