Valen Elesa fell into deep thought when Rose Valen spoke of Arthur. Rose noticed her grandmother's strange demeanor and asked, "Grandma Elesa, what's wrong?" Valen Elesa shook her head, a smile touching her lips. "Rose, do you truly wish to be friends with Arthur?" Rose Valen nodded her little head vigorously. Valen Elesa's expression turned serious. "Arthur is correct, you know. Befriending him might bring you the scorn of many. Since you've made this choice, you must be prepared. Don't waver." She paused, then continued, "I believe Arthur isterribly lonely and yearns for friendship. He has no family in the Capital of the
Kingdom of Dawn and is universally disliked. His life is undoubtedly difficult. I
hope you can offer him your friendship, so neither of you need suffer such
solitude. Rose, are you truly prepared for this?"
Rose Valen seemed to ignite with a sudden burst of resolve. "Grandma Elesa,"
she declared, brimming with energy, "I am prepared!"
Valen Elesa smiled with relief.
Rose Valen, however, was confused. "But Grandma Elesa, why is Arthur so
disliked? Did he do something wrong? My first impression of him was quite
positive. He even mentioned he doesn't have a surname. I've never encountered
anyone without a surname before."
Valen Elesa sighed. "It's not that Arthur has done anything wrong. He is a victim,
caught between two feuding knight families. He is a poor, unfortunate child.
Arthur has no surname because neither family claims him. One family has
disowned him, and the other has relinquished their name. Thus, he bears only a
given name."
Young Rose Valen struggled to comprehend her grandmother's words. Confusion
clouded her face.
Valen Elesa patted Rose Valen's shoulder and smiled. "Enough for now. You
must be tired. Go and rest. You have the Academy tomorrow."
Rose Valen hopped down from Valen Elesa's lap. "Alright, Grandma Elesa. Good
night!"
Valen Elesa watched Rose Valen depart, her expression filled with kindness.
Once Rose was gone, Valen Elesa was alone. She sighed again, the weight of
loneliness pressing down on her. How well she understood that feeling...
The next day, Rose Valen arrived at the Knight Academy, her spirit high. She had
resolved to befriend Arthur that very day. Her clever little mind quickly devised a
plan: she would simply beat Arthur until he agreed to be her friend!
However, upon reaching the classroom, she was met with disappointment. Arthur
was absent. Rose Valen knew no one well enough to ask about his whereabouts.
Instead, the group of children she had bested the previous day sought revenge.
But when it came to fighting, Rose Valen was unmatched. With her long red hair
swirling around her, she used her fists to subdue them once more.
Three days passed. Each day, Rose Valen defeated the children who dared to
challenge her. Yet, her heart remained heavy. Arthur had not come to the
Academy, and her plan to befriend him was stalled.
Meanwhile, Arthur lay unconscious in the Knight Hospital.
In the King's study, Clerk Maxwell puffed on his pipe. "How is Arthur?" he asked."Has he awakened?" A Black Knight knelt behind him. "He remains in a coma, sir." Clerk Maxwell frowned. "Four days? And still unconscious? What do the healers say?" "His mana is severely depleted," the Black Knight reported, "and his meridians are damaged. His muscles, particularly in his hands and legs, are strained, likely from the Thunder Style sword skills." Clerk Maxwell took a long draw from his pipe, a glint in his eye. "So, he was responsible for the forest's destruction. It seems he has mastered those formidable Thunder Style techniques. When do they expect him to wake?" "Tomorrow, at the earliest." Clerk Maxwell set down his pipe. "Inform me the moment he regains consciousness." "Yes, sir!" The Black Knight vanished. At the Academy, Arthur's continued absence frustrated Rose Valen. As she prepared to return to Valen Elesa's mansion, she noticed a pair of eyes watching her. Thinking it was the same children again, she whirled around. But it was Roland, still seated, staring at her. Roland blushed and looked away. Rose Valen shook her fist. "If you try anything," she warned, "I'll give you another beating!" She then turned and left, dismissing him from her thoughts. She disliked Roland, finding him too effeminate. On her first day, she had boldly declared her ambition to be the first female queen. Roland had then announced his own aspirations to the throne, as if to say, "Don't even think about it. Even a sissy like me is more qualified than you." This had grated on Rose Valen. After she left, Roland pouted, hurt and confused by her animosity. Back at Valen Elesa's mansion, Rose Valen announced her arrival. Seeing her distraught expression, Valen Elesa chuckled. "Arthur didn't come to the Academy again today, did he?" She had seen that look every day for the past few days. Rose Valen slumped into a chair. "No. I finally worked up my courage, but he never showed. Now I feel like giving up." Valen Elesa shook her head. "Rose, once you've made a decision, you mustn't falter." "I know," Rose sighed, "but how can I befriend him if he's never there?" She scratched her head in frustration. Valen Elesa smiled. "I know where Arthur is."