Chapter Fourty-one: The End of the Dream 3 (Lyos’ POV)
Karen opened her mouth with a calm expression, her hair swaying in the night breeze.
“I should have claimed more credit for what I did. I shouldn’t have been so modest about what I was doing for you. If I wanted something in return, I should have demanded it right then. Instead of hoping that someday you’d return the favor.”
“I recovered on my own!”
“Yes, that’s fine. You never once asked for my help, after all. You don’t need to feel indebted for something I did of my own accord.”
Lyos held his breath. Although his claim had been affirmed, an inexplicable discomfort coiled in the pit of his stomach.
“…You don’t have the power to heal the Bloodline Blessing.”
“If that’s what you want to believe, then believe it. But I’m going to test my powers in the world.”
The words "stop it" rose to his throat, but he swallowed them back. If Karen had no ability, he could just leave her be. She would just self-destruct on her own. Yet if he told her to stop, that would mean his own defeat. But silence felt like defeat too. Lyos forced out the words.
“I… have always… hated it… being taken care of by you… by a girl my age… it was humiliating. Always, always…!”
“I’m sorry, Lyos.”
Usually, the one who apologizes is the one who loses. And yet, when Karen apologized, Lyos was the one who felt an overwhelming sense of defeat.
“Goodbye, Lyos. Take care.”
With those words, Karen returned inside from the terrace. As Lyos stood there abandoned, suddenly someone approached from behind.
“Ah, so that’s how it was.”
“Captain Gerluf?!”
“I heard everything, Lyos.”
As Lyos broke into a cold sweat wondering how much he had heard, Gerluf looked down at him with a smirk.
“To think that you were the one who abandoned his alchemist fiancée that Lord Sieg mentioned. I see, you’ve been boasting around the knights about recovering on your own.”
It seemed he had heard everything. Feeling his vision darken, Lyos asked with a trembling voice:
“Do you intend to spread this around the knight order?”
It was embarrassing how his voice carried a pleading tone, but he couldn’t afford to worry about appearances. He had to somehow get this man to keep quiet.
Fortunately, while Sieg seemed intent on keeping Lyos in check, he apparently had no intention of publicly announcing that Lyos had abandoned Karen. If he had intended to, he would have already announced it back there.
“Lyos, I had thought your Bloodline Blessing wasn’t anything special. That you had only inherited enough magical power to endure on your own.”
Though Lyos had asked whether he would spread the news, Gerluf started talking about something completely different. The words "answer me" rose to Lyos’ throat, but he couldn’t risk offending him now.
“However, if your Bloodline Blessing was being healed by a new type of potion, that changes things. You might possess far more magical power than I imagined.”
Lyos caught his breath. It felt like a ray of light piercing through darkness. The difference in magical power represents an insurmountable gap in talent. No matter how skilled with a sword or how nimble one might be, they can’t match someone with enormous magical power.
It was bitter to admit he had been healed by Karen’s power. But with talent, one could rise from rock bottom. However, Gerluf quickly crushed Lyos’ glimmer of hope.
“Use that power for me, Lyos.”
“That’s—”
“In exchange, I’ll keep quiet about your despicable conduct unbecoming of a knight—trying to raise your hand against the very woman who saved you.”
Gerluf placed his hand on Lyos’ shoulder while chuckling.
“Even though your Bloodline Blessing might not be much, you always looked at us with contemptuous eyes, didn’t you? Did you think we hadn’t noticed? I’ve known for ages that you’ve been eyeing my position.”
Lyos froze, his face pale. While slowly patting his shoulder, Gerluf continued:
“It’s natural for a young man to be ambitious. Having the spirit to aim for my position might even be reassuring on the battlefield. I’m not offended, so don’t worry. However, Lyos…”
Peering into Lyos’ face, Gerluf grinned, showing his teeth.
“I won’t hand my position over to an upstart like you. From now on, you’ll be my pawn. Don’t worry, I don’t intend to remain a commoner forever. Eventually, I’ll become a noble. When that day comes, I’ll give you your share.”
Gerluf threw back his head and laughed, showing his yellow teeth.
How did things end up like this?
As Lyos repeatedly asked himself this question, he stood there dazed, contemplating his future shrouded in darkness.
Yay, finally found how to make a profile here
ReplyDeleteWell, Lyos, pray to gods that your captain is not an evil man