July 3, 1437
Shining Palace. 17 days until the Tournament.
Aurora Earhart
I leaned back in my chair, letting my gaze wander around my quarters in Sybris. Despite being an Honored Knight of the family, I'd been summoned here to ensure the peace during the upcoming Tournament. But if I were being honest with myself, I hadn't insisted on being here just for that mundane mission.
Soon, Raphael would make his debut in the Initiation Tournament —seventeen days from now, to be exact. And no matter how much I tried to push away my concerns, they lingered, a constant gnawing at my thoughts. I knew all too well who would be competing and what dangers awaited him. Among the opponents was my sister Selena, who had already earned the rank of Guardian and could wield the family's techniques, even if imperfectly. There was also my bodyguard, Kiall, and Cedric, the guard who served under Lucius.
Though Raphael had shown promise, especially with the basics of the "Stellar Radiance" technique, he was still trailing behind them. These three were seasoned fighters, each with their own distinctive skills. Kiall wielded wind magic and was a master swordsman, while Cedric's reflexes were so fast he could dodge most attacks before his opponents even realized they'd missed.
It's not that Raphael wasn't talented, but his youth and lack of experience… my thoughts kept circling back to it. But Kiall's actions irritated me the most. He'd initially refused to compete, dismissing it as a "waste of time," but as soon as he learned Raphael would participate, he suddenly agreed, saying, "I suppose it's my duty to see if this young master can truly make my lady so anxious."
— Seriously, who does he think he is?
I didn't have the right to interfere—it would only reflect poorly on Raphael. But it was infuriating that Kiall decided to participate under the pretense of "testing" him. It was as if he saw himself as some kind of guardian, judging Raphael's worth. And of course, there was another reason I felt helpless.
My eyes fell on a piece of paper on my desk. I'd specifically requested this report, and Kazimir had delivered it to me yesterday. Since then, it had sat there, unopened, like a weight too heavy to lift without first reading. But I hadn't found the courage to pick it up because I already suspected what was inside.
Raphael had always been peculiar—I'd noticed this long ago. In battles, and sometimes even during ordinary conversations, he seemed to change, as if some hidden pain gnawed at him from within. That ever-present bandage on his left arm had become a part of his image, though it still unsettled me. As a member of the Earhart family, his body should have healed from even the slightest wound. Yet his injury would heal, only to reopen again, which defied all logic.
Whenever I tried to question him about it, he'd evade my inquiries, and his bodyguard Erin would only shake her head, assuring me she knew nothing. It was only after Harumi became his contracted spirit that the bandage finally disappeared. But this still explained nothing.
At first, I'd thought it was a serious injury, but Kazimir, who examined him, assured me his physical health was fine. That was the problem: if his body was in perfect condition, what about his mind?
So, I secretly asked Kazimir to prepare a report on Raphael's mental state, hoping to understand him a little better. And now, that report lay before me—a thin sheet covered in text and symbols, even accompanied by a diagram, a rough sketch of the brain meticulously detailed. I hadn't opened it yet, but I sensed it wouldn't hold anything good.
If I truly wanted to help Raphael, I'd have to force myself to read this damned report. Reluctant to delay any longer, I stood up and went to the cabinet in the corner of my room. Opening the door, I took out a bottle of my favorite whiskey—aged, nearly half a century old, with a deep, rich color—and poured myself a glass.
Seated again, I took the report in one hand, took a long sip of whiskey, and finally opened it.
The pages were filled with medical and scientific jargon, forcing me to consult an encyclopedia multiple times to understand the terminology. There were diagrams of the brain with various annotations, and passages that detailed Raphael's behavior in different moments. It was more than a report—it resembled a clinical assessment written in painstakingly formal terms.
Though much of it remained incomprehensible, I finally came to a line that summed it all up in simple words, leaving a dreadful chill.
"After thorough analysis, I've concluded that Lord Raphael Earhart exhibits signs consistent with paranoid schizophrenia…"
My mind went blank, the words turned meaningless. The report continued, explaining that his condition could be managed with medication, but as his cousin, it was impossible for me to read this objectively.
A boy who had already endured so much pain, striving so desperately to step out from the shadows of elders and siblings, now faced yet another cruel twist when it seemed like his life was just beginning to take shape.
— Schizophrenia, huh…?
I felt as if it were some cruel joke. As I sat there, stunned and hollow, someone knocked at the door.
— Milady, Lords Theo, Mia, Erik, and Alice have arrived at the residence. The Patriarch requests your presence to greet them.
— Understood... I'll be there shortly.
The servant's voice faded, leaving me alone in my room once more. I slowly folded the report and tucked it into the desk drawer. Then, pulling myself together, I stood and approached the mirror to make sure I looked composed.
A stranger stared back at me. My skin was pale, as though drained of life, and my usually vibrant blue eyes had lost their sparkle. And then... I noticed a solitary tear sliding down my left cheek.
When had I started crying?
I couldn't remember the last time I cried. Ah, perhaps it was back when I decided to dedicate my life to Raphael… how ironic.
After collecting myself, I draped a dark cloak with the family's golden crest over my shoulders, marking me as an Honored Knight, and left the room, heading toward the hall. As I approached, I saw that the rest of my siblings had already gathered, including Alice, who, despite refusing to participate in the tournament, had still come to support Raphael, likely hoping to gain experience along the way. Alongside them were their bodyguards.
It was obvious everyone had been waiting for me, though it seemed I wasn't the only one they were expecting.
— Brother, it's great to see you! — Theo shouted excitedly when another figure entered the hall.
— Mm, likewise, — came Lucius's indifferent reply as he barely spared the younger ones a glance.
Ignoring the others, he made his way directly to me.
— Sister, how goes the tournament preparation?
— Everything's on track.
— Understood. Then no further questions.
Was he truly curious or merely going through the motions? I doubted he had much interest in such trivialities, so I was almost certain he had come for a different reason. But if not me or the others, then who had drawn his attention?
— Oh, look who's here! The white crow! — Theo called out with a smirk.
The reply wasn't long in coming. Emerging from one of the hall's doors was Raphael, with Harumi perched on his shoulder and Erin walking close by. Judging by their expressions, they'd come for a reunion with Alice.
It all made sense now. Of the entire family, apart from the Circle Knights, Lucius only had his eye on three individuals: Adrian, Liliana, and, recently, Raphael, who'd begun to show his true potential.
— Good to see you, brother, — Raphael greeted him calmly, ignoring Theo's sneering grin.
— Oh, really? — Theo smirked. — You know, I've been waiting for this day so I could finally get back at you for the humiliation you caused me last year.
Clearly, he hadn't forgotten how Raphael had beaten him to the ground last year, just before Theo left for the academy. Even though he knew how much Raphael had changed since then, he couldn't resist provoking him, oblivious to the consequences.
— Incorrigible idiot, — Lucius muttered quietly.
I couldn't help but agree. The entire family seemed resigned to Theo's hopelessness. He'd given up on anything worthwhile long ago and made no effort to hide his indifference. Even Lucius, who once tried to cover for his actions, seemed to have stopped trying to reform him.
Ignoring his brother, Raphael approached Alice.
— Good to see you, sister.
— And you as well, brother, — she replied warmly, pulling him into a firm hug.
Warmth spread through me. Despite the hardships Raphael had endured and his recent diagnosis, I felt relieved, knowing he could rely on those closest to him. At the very least, he had four people by his side. And, of course, I'd be there, too.
As soon as he released Alice, Theo's voice cut through the room again, clearly irritated at being ignored.
— Seriously? Do you think you can just stroll around my home like you own the place?
Raphael turned slightly towards Theo.
— What are you talking about?
— What do you mean, "What?" — Theo snarled. — Not only do you strut around the Earhart estate as if you belong here, but you drag along that… — he pointed disdainfully at Erin, — servant.
I noticed the change in Raphael's face—his calm demeanor had hardened, and his gaze was now piercing. I knew this conversation was veering into dangerous territory.
Someone had to stop Theo before it was too late…
I took a step forward, prepared to intervene, but Lucius placed a firm hand on my shoulder.
— Lucius, what are you doing? Someone could get hurt.
— So what? Injuries can heal. Let's watch.
His gaze was riveted to the scene with undisguised interest, and though I wanted to intervene, it was already too late. Theo's words had just crossed an unspoken boundary:
— This "marked" one dares to stick her nose where it doesn't belong, — he sneered, eyes fixed contemptuously on Erin. — She walks around like she belongs here, flaunting those ugly marks. It's nothing short of…
Theo didn't finish. In one swift motion, Raphael stepped toward him, seized him by the head, and hurled him against the hall wall with such force that cracks splintered outward, blood trickling down Theo's forehead.
The hall filled with a collective gasp. Even Lucius's mouth quirked in the faintest hint of a smile.
Are you enjoying this, Lucius?
I tried to gauge what was going through his mind, but my thoughts found no answers.
— M-Medics! Quickly! — a servant cried, rushing to summon aid.
Theo's bodyguard, a blond young man, had just managed to draw his sword when Erin, with a lightning-quick strike, disarmed him, knocking him to the ground and pressing her blade to his throat.
Raphael walked slowly toward Theo, who, though conscious, looked dazed and confused.
— Theo, — he said calmly, staring down at his brother, — in the tournament, it's acceptable to kill your opponent. Pray you don't end up facing me.
Finished, Raphael turned his gaze in my direction, but his eyes weren't on me.
— I'll make sure Father doesn't punish you for this, Raphael, — Lucius said, nodding with a faint smile. — But in return, I expect an impressive performance at the tournament.
Lucius, protecting him? What is going through his head? And what is Raphael thinking, acting so boldly here in the estate?
— Let's go, Erin, Alice, — Raphael commanded calmly.
At his word, Erin sheathed her sword, released Theo's bodyguard, and lowered her blade. Alice quickly followed him towards the exit.
Raphael paused for a moment, casting a look at Erik and Mia, who stood rooted in shock, before adding, his voice brimming with cold certainty:
— It's good to see you both again, Erik, Mia.
Their faces, frozen in fear and confusion, stayed with me for a long time.