"I don't care!"
—
Silence settled heavily over the room, Kael's words hanging in the air, cool and tense yet oddly amusing. For a moment, no one dared to breathe.
Then, a low chuckle broke the stillness.
"Hahahahaha… Hahahahaha!"
Zephiron's laughter erupted, loud and hearty, its echoes filling the space and infecting everyone around. The chill in the room mingled with a lightheartedness, stirring a blooming sense of mirth that soon spread to others.
Selene's face flushed red, caught between embarrassment and a struggle to hold back her own laughter.
She did not expect that.
Swallowing her anger and embarrassment, Selene glared at the others who were laughing, including Zephiron, before turning to Kael and locking eyes with him—a choice she immediately regretted.
His eyes were unlike anything she had ever seen: sparkling purple irises encased a dark blue pupil, their depth and brilliance so otherworldly they seemed capable of ensnaring her very soul. They were the very definition of a devil's eye, alluring and perilous in equal measure.
Yet it wasn't just his eyes. Now that she observed him closely, Kael's entire presence radiated a cold, unyielding aura that was inexplicably captivating. He was devilishly handsome, an almost ethereal beauty that stood out starkly, especially for someone so young. It unnerved her—a woman with over a century of life experience—to feel even a flicker of enchantment toward him.
The notion of teaching this lad a lesson dissolved instantly. Even imagining it felt inherently wrong, as if Kael's sheer presence commanded deference rather than defiance.
Selene shook her head, silently chastising herself for letting a ten-year-old charm her so easily. With a self-deprecating smile, she pushed aside her doubts and approached Kael.
"So, Kael," she began, her tone light but sincere, "before we dive into all the messy cramming and mentorship, how about we get to know each other first?" She paused, letting the suggestion settle before adding with a faint smile, "I'm certain it'll be worthwhile—maybe even more important than rushing into things right away, don't you think?"
'And there she did that,' Zephiron thought, his expression darkening as he observed Selene. 'This lass seems destined to head home charred black. Introduction before training? Sure, that's technically correct, but it won't work with the young master.'
Zephiron frowned, displeased by how things were unfolding. While Kael was not prone to sudden outbursts, his sharp tongue was something the boy wielded with precision at every opportunity.
Just as Zephiron prepared to intervene, Kael's response came.
"Yes, sure, let's do that," Kael said, his tone calm.
It was as if the air froze for a moment. Selene and Zephiron exchanged incredulous looks. They had been with Kael long enough to know one thing for certain: Kael Ceasarcrest did not waste time on things he deemed 'pointless.' And in his view, getting to know others fell squarely into that category.
Heck, Kael hardly even bothered to learn the names of the maids and guards who served him. By that standard, his agreement now felt almost supernatural—like the young master had been possessed by some devil forcing him to act against his nature.
And, in a way, they weren't entirely wrong.
---
Inside Kael's mind, his thoughts churned.
'Are you sure I have to do this, Diablo? Forget rushing into learning—do I really need to get close to these people at all?'
A calm, measured voice echoed in his consciousness, carrying the weight of experience.
'Master, I've told you before, the one thing you lack right now is time. Those culprits you seek aren't going anywhere. Besides, you're under Zephiron's tutelage now. Living life is just as important as learning from it.'
Kael sighed inwardly, his thoughts conflicted. For now, he would play along.
---
Hearing a positive response was all that mattered in the end. Despite the unexpected affirmation, Selene smiled warmly at Kael, exuding a sisterly aura that momentarily left him stunned.
It had been so long since anyone had smiled at him like that. Even someone as guarded as Kael couldn't help but let a faint smile tug at his lips, a rare softness breaking through his usual composure.
"How about we walk around the lawn while we talk?" Selene suggested, her tone cheerful. "Let me tell you, this used to be my favorite part of the training Master Zephiron put me through back in my day."
Kael nodded without hesitation and followed as Selene began to lead the way. Before leaving, she paused to bow politely to Zephiron,
Who observed the exchange with a subtle mix of amusement and curiosity. Without further delay, they headed toward the stone pavilion nestled within the lawn's serene greenery.
"Kael Seraphim von Ceasarcrest," Selene began thoughtfully. "Judging by your name, you must be an imperial. Though I've never heard of the Ceasarcrests, I have heard of the Seraphims. There seem to be about ten imperial clans with that name."
She paused, her gaze curious but cautious. "And I've also heard that Master Zephiron is the Oathkeeper of the Ceasarcrests.
That must mean your clan is one of the greatest—if not the greatest—imperial houses out there."
Her voice softened as she tilted her head slightly. "So why are you here? From what I know, someone like you would have access to even greater mentors back at your clan's headquarters, wouldn't you?"
The moment the question left her lips, Kael's expression darkened. A wave of nausea rose within him as fragmented memories clawed their way to the surface, dragging him back to that fateful day.
"No," he replied, his voice unnervingly calm, though his eyes betrayed the storm brewing within. "They're dead."
Selene's smile faltered, her breath catching in her throat.
Kael's gaze met hers, cold yet hollow. "My entire clan was massacred."
"I... I'm sorry," Selene stammered, her voice tinged with regret. "I didn't mean to make you relive all that."
She took a deep breath, quickly regaining her composure. With a bright smile, she continued, "Let's change the topic to something more interesting, shall we?"
Kael nodded, quietly impressed by her ability to shift the mood so effortlessly and her unwavering cheerfulness.
"So," Selene began with a playful tone, "which weapon do you think suits you best? Have you ever tried learning weapon arts before? Even if you haven't, don't worry! I was the same when I was your age."
Kael tilted his head slightly, considering her question. "That's good to know," he replied evenly. "But no, I've never tried learning weapon arts before. Mostly because..." He paused, a faint smirk forming on his lips.
"I'm more of a mage."
Hearing Kael's self-assessment, a small smile crept onto Selene's face. She tried to maintain the mighty demeanor befitting a Spirit Paragon Realm being like herself, but once again, she faltered.
It was common knowledge in the Myriad Realms of Aethyrias that while mages didn't necessarily need to wield weapons,
A bladesman had to be either aura- or fluxis-augmented to match the prowess of a mage.
By declaring himself a mage, Kael had inadvertently countered her earlier suggestion that his inexperience in weapon arts was typical or acceptable.
But Selene was undeterred. If she was to mentor him, she was determined to introduce him to the fundamentals of bladesmanship as well.
"It doesn't really matter if you're a mage or not," Selene said firmly, her tone carrying a gentle authority.
"First, I'm your mentor, and my specialty is weaponology. Second, only a mediocre person would be satisfied mastering just one aspect of their craft."
Kael nodded solemnly. Her words resonated deeply with him. This was why he had sought training in the first place—to master every facet of his class.
Selene continued, her voice steady and instructive. "A class bearer's path encompasses all aspects: basic and advanced magic, weapon arts, and martial disciplines."
Her gaze softened as she added,
"Even someone as remarkable as Master Zephiron began as just a dual swordsman. It was only after he mastered several branches of warlock magic that he became powerful enough to contend with other heroes of his time."
"But that's all talk for tomorrow,"
Selene said with a casual wave of her hand.
"As I've already mentioned, today is entirely dedicated to us getting to know each other. You might've had many teachers before me, but you are my first—and probably only—student I'll ever teach."
Kael couldn't help but smile at that. He also caught the subtle humor in her statement. Given her fiery temperament, it was clear why teaching others might not come naturally to her.
"Feel free to ask me anything," she continued, a hint of pride in her voice. "My past, how I got here, how I live, or what kind of person I am. Anything you're curious about."
Kael narrowed his eyes in thought, his gaze drifting toward the horizon beyond the towering castle walls.
The vast sea stretched endlessly, with a faint black dot in the distance—a mark of the lands beyond Grimhold, where people lived in obscurity.
After a moment, he spoke. "Tell me about the lives of the people on this world—or at least, the part of it you know best."
Faced with Kael's inquiry, Selene's smile faltered, replaced by a look of genuine puzzlement.
"Wait... you mean to say you've never been anywhere beyond your home? How is that even possible?" She tilted her head, disbelief evident in her voice. "For an imperial, no less, to have no knowledge of the world?"
Kael's gaze shifted back to the distant horizon, his expression unreadable. His silence, however, spoke volumes—a quiet acknowledgment of a past he wasn't ready to share.
The sea breeze carried with it a heavy stillness, and for a moment, neither spoke.
"Well," Selene broke the silence, her tone softening. "I guess that makes this journey all the more important. Let's see if we can change that, shall we?"
Kael gave a small nod, his thoughts already drifting to what lay ahead.