Clunk.
As the door opened and he stepped inside, the mixed scent of antiseptic and decayed bandages filled the air.
Overwhelming it all was the lingering, sticky scent of blood, a testament to the urgency that filled this place every single day.
The Infirmary of Malidan.
Although there were separate medical tents outside, this place was reserved for soldiers in critical condition.
It was said that a mage dispatched from the Magic Tower was stationed here specifically to assist.
The room echoed with groans from various corners.
Among the many medical beds, a man sat blankly, wide-eyed.
It was Jonathan.
"How's your body holding up?"
As Isaac approached, Jonathan sprang to his feet and shouted.
"I'm perfectly fine!"
"Really?"
"Yes! I can return to duty immediately!"
Yet, Jonathan didn't say anything about wanting to leave or disliking being here.
Knowing his personality, he would find it uncomfortable to take up space in this infirmary.
But he was well aware of his position—he couldn't recklessly leave.
It wasn't a prison, but the fact that he was allowed to stay in the infirmary at all was due to the Margrave's mercy.
"Let's step outside for a moment."
"Is that alright?"
"We can't have this conversation in front of everyone, can we?"
The mage in charge of the infirmary glanced at them but didn't say anything.
The hallway, dimly lit by lanterns, cast long shadows.
Through the windows, the outside was growing darker by the minute.
Jonathan followed him out.
His skin, which had been tainted last time, his sharp, protruding teeth, and his blackened eyes had all returned to normal.
"I didn't know."
Perhaps embarrassed, Jonathan began explaining even before Isaac said a word.
"I didn't know about the Transcendents. I didn't even know I was one of them. I just thought I had a different sensitivity from others."
Jonathan's expression darkened as he confessed honestly.
"If only… If only it had been a twisted sensitivity. At least then I would've still been human, wouldn't I?"
Under the flickering lantern light, his confession spilled out. The wavering shadows seemed to reflect his turbulent emotions.
"Something's been wrong ever since Nortemus touched me. There's something writhing inside my chest. It feels like it's going to devour me at any moment."
Jonathan, who had instinctively reached out as if asking for help, hesitated and withdrew his hand.
The thought that he might harm Isaac crossed his mind.
"Why did you choose Helmut?"
"…What?"
Surprised by the sudden question, Jonathan stared at Isaac with a blank expression.
"Helmut is… different from other knights."
What was it that made him admire Arandel Helmut?
What was it that made him cling so desperately to Helmut?
"You know as well as I do, Sir Isaac. The knights of Helmut and the direct line of Helmut are entirely different beings."
The knights of Helmut were, quite literally, the remnants of humanity under Helmut's banner.
In essence, they were mere nameplates for Helmut.
"The direct lineage, however… They're monsters solely devoted to the sword."
"I know that all too well."
Except for the young Sharen and the youngest brother, Edel Helmut.
The rest lived their lives completely engrossed in the sword, day and night.
The norms of the Helmut estate differed greatly from those outside.
To them, only the sword and strength mattered—it was the ultimate definition of justice.
"And that's why everyone praises Helmut as great."
Isaac smirked bitterly.
From up close, Helmut seemed more like a den of madmen.
But from afar?
It was the kingdom's largest, most dependable sword.
In times of crisis, its knights were the first to charge forward.
Its very presence served as a deterrent to war.
To the royal family and the common people alike, was there a more reliable noble family than Helmut?
The immense power of Helmut.
Ironically, it was what ensured the kingdom's peace.
No one dared to cross swords with Arandel Helmut.
"That's what… That's what I admired."
A bright smile spread across Jonathan's lips as he spoke.
Unconsciously, he must have been picturing Arandel Helmut.
"The Lord Gave Up Everything"
"The lord abandoned everything—for the sword. Do you understand how incredible that is?"
"..."
"I wanted to become like that. To cast away my vile desires and devote myself entirely to the sword, leading an ascetic life."
The person who had changed Jonathan's life was none other than Arandel Helmut.
That fact was undeniable.
Because he admired him, Jonathan was able to overcome his own wicked nature and become a knight.
"Do you know what happened when I told the nun who raised me that I'd become Helmut's knight?"
Jonathan smiled faintly as if recalling the memory.
"She cried so much. She'd always been worried that I had a flawed nature, but when she saw that I had become a proper knight… she cried—really cried her heart out."
"..."
"Sir Isaac, I know I'm making a difficult request."
Jonathan slowly dropped to his knees, bowing his head deeply.
"Please. Let me remain as Helmut's knight."
"Jonathan."
"I swear to hide my Transcendent blood for the rest of my life until the day I die. Lady Sharen saw it, but if you could just explain it somehow—"
"My teacher was also a mixed-blood Transcendent."
Jonathan's desperate voice abruptly cut off. He slowly lifted his head.
Isaac looked him in the eye and added,
"To be precise, They were a Transcendent with human blood. They were closer to a Transcendent than a human."
Long, black hair.
Wolf-like ears that perked upward.
Eyes that resembled the moonlight.
A greatsword as if holding the crescent moon in their hands.
"That's why I have no particular prejudice against mixed-bloods. I'm not going to tell you to quit your duty as my guard. I came here today to say just that."
"Sir Isaac!"
Tears welled in Jonathan's eyes as he grabbed Isaac's feet, his voice trembling with gratitude.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Isaac subtly pulled his leg back and continued.
"I'll talk to Sharen about it. So don't worry and start participating in your duties again tomorrow."
"Sniff!"
Jonathan sprang to his feet, quickly wiping away his tears before saluting.
"Jonathan, knight of Helmut! I swear my life to serving Sir Isaac!"
"Enough. Go to bed."
"Yes, sir! I'll see you tomorrow!"
Jonathan grinned boisterously as he made his exit. Isaac walked down the corridor, leaving the commotion behind, a complicated expression on his face.
'What a foolish guy.'
Isaac had no intention of telling Jonathan about the divorce.
He just hoped Jonathan would stay in Helmut without any unnecessary worries.
Isaac stepped outside.
The night had grown completely dark, with the round moon rising high in the sky.
'I have to admit, the lord's sword is unmatched.'
Because, quite literally, nothing mattered to Arandel apart from the sword.
There was a time—
[Hm?]
Isaac had once asked his master,
[What do you think the outcome of the war would have been if Arandel hadn't died?]
Arandel had passed away due to illness.
Isaac had stumbled upon his autobiography and final will by chance, which had prompted the question.
[Haha, what a foolish question.]
His master had said with a chuckle, sipping their drink.
[What do you think? Silent Sword Isaac, what's your take?]
As if amused, his master teased him, seemingly testing their disciple.
"No matter how exceptional he was, it would've been difficult to overturn the tide of war singlehandedly."
Isaac had answered while leaning on his cane. His master burst out laughing, clapping their hands in delight.
Just as Isaac started feeling a bit annoyed, his master spoke decisively,
[I didn't want to say it since I thought you wouldn't like it, but—]
The master declared bluntly,
[The war wouldn't have even happened.]
"...What?"
[The Transcendents would've slinked back, biding their time.]
Waiting, whispering among themselves about when Arandel might die.
The great sword—
No one could deny its existence.
"Ha."
Walking down the night path, Isaac murmured as if clutching at a bitter wound.
"Ridiculous."
A man who abandoned everything for the sword, Arandel Helmuth.
"To those who were abandoned, it's absurd."
Among the things Arandel had cast aside, Isaac himself had been included.
***
Early Dawn.
Standing in front of Isaac, who had come to the training grounds for practice, was Liana Helmut.
The two stood facing each other in silence.
It wasn't a planned meeting. Isaac had simply come to train as usual, only to find Liana squatting there.
"What are you doing here?"
When Isaac finally spoke, Liana unsheathed the greatsword she had brought and replied,
"You said you wanted me to teach you about aura."
"I didn't think we'd start this quickly."
"We need to get it done while I'm here."
"…Fair enough."
When she returned to Helmut, sword training would be out of the question.
The moment they saw the slender sword at his waist, someone would probably cleave it in half, berating him.
"How could a Helmut wield such a flimsy blade?"
"Draw your sword."
Isaac unsheathed his sword. Even in this simple act, there was an elegance that marked him as a proper swordsman.
It was almost comical that Liana, who appeared much smaller and frailer, wielded a sword as large as a person, while Isaac held a thin blade.
"Aura is about channeling the personal mana within your body. Have you ever measured your mana capacity?"
"No, I haven't."
"That's fine. Even if you don't know your total capacity, you'll get a sense as you learn."
A faint yet steady crimson energy began to flow from the greatsword, like a quiet flame.
"Once you master aura, you'll need to find a direction that suits you."
"Isaac!"
At that moment, a woman's voice echoed from afar.
Silver hair fluttered as a figure waved and ran toward them.
It was Silverna, carrying a spear slung over her shoulder.
It seemed she intended to join the training session.
"I thought I'd start training with you today. Am I interrupting?"
Glancing between the two, Silverna smiled and interjected herself into the scene.
"You don't mind, do you?"
She's like a bull, Isaac thought. Once she set her sights on something, she charged straight ahead without stopping.
Liana pressed her lips together, waiting for Isaac to decide.
"Do as you like."
Thus, a strange situation unfolded where a Helmut was teaching a Caldias how to use Aura.
***
About 30 minutes later, Liana lowered her greatsword slowly and spoke with a blank expression.
"Isaac, I don't think you have any talent for aura."
"…"
[Pfft.]
For some reason…
[See? I told you, you fool.]
Isaac could almost hear his master's mocking laughter ringing in his ears.