"Did you not say there is a mysterious power in the Red Stone? I am certain that Duke Peletta will find a way to make it serve your cause."
"…"
"The court mages and the priests of the Sun God are working tirelessly, day and night, for you, Your Majesty. And I too..."
Her voice trailed off, and she forced a smile onto her face, though it barely masked her unease.
"Please, continue to take the herbs I've prepared for you. Replenish your energy, and you will surely find a solution. Everything will be fine."
"Hmm." The Emperor swallowed the bitter thoughts that stirred within him, too heavy to voice to his Empress. Even if he could mend what had already been broken, how long could it last?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
On an unusually sunny afternoon, three figures stood in a deserted training field behind the Cavalry's barracks—Yuder, Kanna, and Gakane.
"Before we start, how are you both feeling?" Yuder asked, his eyes sharp as he watched them.
Kanna and Gakane closed their eyes momentarily, as if internally assessing themselves before responding.
"I'm... fine,"
"Me too,"
"Commander, shouldn't you step back a little?" Kanna suggested, glancing toward Kishiar.
With a languid smile, Kishiar, who had seated himself elegantly at a table some distance away, waved a hand dismissively.
"I'm perfectly fine. Don't worry about me. Proceed," he said with a casual air.
At that moment, Nathan emerged from the barracks, carrying a tray. He placed a teacup in front of Kishiar with careful precision. The teapot, much too small in his large hands, seemed almost delicate as he poured the tea, releasing a fragrant aroma that drifted through the dusty training field.
"Such a wonderful fragrance," Kishiar remarked.
"It's tea made from the leaves of a medicinal herb the Empress has recently cultivated. She sent it while you were away on your mission," Nathan explained.
"The Empress? She is always so thoughtful. I suppose I'll have to write her a letter of thanks," Kishiar mused, lifting the cup to his lips.
While tranquility reigned on Kishiar's side, the atmosphere around Yuder was markedly different—tense and charged with anticipation. Today marked the beginning of Kanna and Gakane's training under Yuder's guidance. Though it might seem unusual for them to receive instruction from a fellow soldier, even if he was the commander's assistant, neither Kanna nor Gakane had any objections. After all, they had witnessed Yuder's skills firsthand.
Normally, the training field would have been bustling with people engaged in their routines. However, today, the space was eerily quiet, with only Yuder, Kanna, and Gakane present. The reason was simple: the entire Cavalry had been granted a holiday by Kishiar the day before.
When the eyes of the noble factions had turned toward the Cavalry following the incident with Count Gallon, Kishiar seemed to have anticipated the attention. He had announced a week-long holiday at the perfect moment.
Officially, the holiday was to celebrate the successful completion of the Cavalry's first mission. But in truth, only a select few knew the real reason—it was a tactic to prevent unnecessary scrutiny toward the Red Stone, which was now hidden within the Cavalry.
Most soldiers were unaware that the secret mission, which had brought rewards and recognition, had been to recover the Red Stone. Nonetheless, they were more than happy to accept the holiday that had come as a result.
Many in the Cavalry, like Yuder, had not fully adjusted to their new lives and used the break to return to their hometowns. Some went to proudly show their families how far they'd come since joining the Cavalry. As soon as the holiday was announced, most of the soldiers had quickly vacated the barracks.
The idea for the holiday had first come up during a conversation between Yuder and Kishiar while retrieving the Red Stone. However, Yuder himself chose not to take part in it. With only a short window of time available to locate the Red Stone, he couldn't afford to lose an entire week to leisure.
There were, however, a few members like Yuder who opted to stay behind. Some had no homes to return to, while others lived too far to make a short visit worthwhile. Kanna, of course, was one of them.
Initially, Yuder had planned to spend the week training Kanna alone to help her develop her abilities. After the holiday, he intended to focus on enhancing the skills of the entire Cavalry and had already requested Kishiar's approval for the necessary measures.
However, Gakane's unplanned involvement changed those plans. He happened to overhear Yuder inviting Kanna to train during the holiday.
"Training with Kanna? For a whole week? I want in too. Let me join," Gakane had said eagerly.
At first, Yuder refused. Training two people with entirely different abilities would divide his attention and lessen the effectiveness. But Gakane had been persistent, so persistent that he canceled his plans to visit his hometown and continued to pester Yuder about joining.
Since he had received permission from Kishiar to participate in the training plan, Yuder pointed out that the enhanced training he planned for everyone after the holiday would also include Gakane. But Gakane wouldn't relent, his determination to grow stronger surprising Yuder.
"You're training with Kanna because the leader asked you to look into the Red Stone, right? You think her current abilities aren't enough, so you want to help her improve. Well, my shadow ability can help too!" Gakane insisted.
It was a natural assumption. He had seen Kishiar retrieve the Red Stone, which they had initially believed would be presented to the Emperor. But what Gakane didn't know was that the order for this training had come not from Kishiar, but from Yuder himself.
Until that moment, Yuder had considered Gakane simply a good-natured, hardworking person. But after seeing Gakane's tenacity—following him persistently, even to the point of barely leaving his side (even to the bathroom)—Yuder's opinion shifted.
Gakane Volunwald, it turned out, was a relentless, stubborn man hiding behind a friendly demeanor.
"Yuder, please. I know how amazing your skills are. How could I pass up this chance? I want to be as strong as you. If I get to train with you, I'll do whatever you ask. I swear it," Gakane pleaded, eyes earnest.
"..."
After enduring Gakane's relentless requests all day, Yuder finally sighed, long and deep.
"It's just one week. You might gain nothing, and it could end up being nothing but suffering. Even knowing that, you're still willing to follow my lead?"
"Of course! If I don't get stronger, that's on me. I won't blame you," Gakane promised.
In his previous life, Yuder might have refused Gakane's request without hesitation. But this time, he gave a small nod. If someone was willing to embrace hardship, even at the risk of regret, then so be it—it wouldn't be Yuder's loss.
"Alright," Yuder agreed.
"Thank you, Yuder!" Gakane exclaimed, his face lighting up with emotion as he rushed forward and hugged Yuder tightly.
When Kanna learned that Gakane would be training alongside her, she felt an immense sense of relief. She had been anxious about the idea of training one-on-one with Yuder, despite him being a comrade she deeply respected and considered a lifesaver. Yuder, to her, was even more inscrutable than Kishiar at times. The thought of spending an entire week alone with him in intense training had quietly weighed on her.
And so, two members became the first to undergo Yuder's ability enhancement training. Kishiar, intrigued by the plan, had declared that he would personally observe the session, leading to the situation they found themselves in today.
The training ground was located in a secluded area behind their barracks, hidden from view. It was the perfect location for a session like this, ensuring complete privacy despite its proximity to their lodgings.
"Yuder, do you think... can I really do it?" Kanna asked, her voice laced with doubt as she turned to Yuder. "Even with training, can I actually develop my ability enough to read an object's information without touching it within a month?"
Her expression was filled with concern. She knew Yuder's abilities were extraordinary, but she was the one receiving the training, and the pressure of performing in front of Kishiar only deepened her anxiety. She feared disappointing them again, like she had during the Red Stone mission when she felt her abilities had fallen short.
"You can do it," Yuder replied, his voice calm but full of conviction. He then pulled out an object he had brought with him—a book. Kanna and Gakane both turned their attention to it.
"A book?"
"What are you going to do with that?"
"Kanna, I want you to start by reading the information of this book using your ability," Yuder instructed, turning the book so that the title was hidden from Kanna's view. She hesitated for a moment before stepping forward and placing her hand on it. As her fingers made contact, a faint ripple of transparent energy began to flow from her hand.
"Hmm... it's a book that has been handled by many people. Most of them found it difficult to understand... It seems to be about 20 years old... and it brought comfort to someone at some point..."
Her words became increasingly vague, eventually trailing off entirely. Yuder watched her intently.
"I can't read any more than this. That's as far as I can go,"
"Kanna, when you use your ability, what are you usually thinking about?" Yuder asked suddenly, his tone curious.
Startled by the question, Kanna blinked. "Huh? I don't think about much... just that I need to read quickly."
"I see," Yuder nodded thoughtfully. "This time, I want you to try something different. When you use your ability, focus specifically on discovering the title or content of the book. Can you do that?"
"I've never tried that before... but I'll give it a shot," Kanna said, taking a deep breath. She closed her eyes and placed her hand on the book once more. This time, the ripple of energy was stronger, more pronounced. Even Gakane, standing nearby, noticed the difference. He held his breath, eyes wide with surprise.
"...In the beginning, there was a land without light. One day, God took pity on those wandering in darkness and cast down light. The first light was small and hard, clustered like a pebble... 'Remember the first sentence well, as it's the most important'... The first of 14 chapters, with a total of 99...? This is..." Kanna's voice trailed off again, but her eyes flew open, filled with astonishment.
"This is the Scripture of the Sun God, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's correct," Yuder confirmed as he turned the book over. It was indeed an old, worn copy of the Scripture of the Sun God. Despite its age and wear from many hands, the book's cover had been preserved carefully, still appearing clean after all those years.