A stuffy air lingered in the training grounds. I briefly set down the wooden sword I was holding and tied up my hair.

Just as I was considering opening a door, the training ground door swung open with a bang.

Is it Edwin?

“Lady Rosebelia, so this is where you were.”

The lips that were about to offer a greeting remained closed. The one who appeared was Renart.

“Deputy Commander? What brings you here…?”

“Isn’t it obvious why I’m visiting the training grounds?”

The training grounds were fundamentally a place to practice swordsmanship.

So the reason for coming here now is…

“Are you here to train?”

“Is there a problem with that?”

A gentle smile had already formed on Renart’s lips.

His expression is quite pleasant, but for some reason I feel uncomfortable.

“No, it’s not that…”

At the end of my gaze, slightly shifted away from Renart, was Conrad. Yesterday Conrad suddenly appeared at the training grounds, and today even Renart.

Has word spread among the Guardian Knights that the training grounds are a relatively quiet place?

I alternately looked at Conrad and Renart, who seemed to be conversing about something, then picked up the wooden sword again.

In any case, since we’ll be going on an expedition together, there’s no need for me to avoid them.

Ignoring the subtle gazes being cast, I focused on recreating Rosebelia’s swordsmanship.

If I could properly recreate her swordsmanship, not just imitate it, perhaps I could use Aura without side effects – that was the only thought in my mind.

Even in my previous life, nothing came easily. How much step training did I do to make my fencing steps more concise?

I was confident in persevering tenaciously. If I could just find a method, I was determined to try anything.

How much time had passed? I sat down, brushing aside the hair stuck to my cheek. As I lightly bowed my head and caught my breath, sweat dripped from my forehead down to my chin.

Just as I was about to smile at the refreshing feeling, the training ground door swung wide open.

“Senior, you’re still…”

Ian’s eyes widened as he discovered me sitting on the floor.

“Klein.”

I raised my hand towards Ian, who was striding towards me. I even gave him a small smile since he was a somewhat welcome face, but suddenly I couldn’t see anything.

No, my vision was all white. This seems to be a White Knights’ cloak?

“What are you doing now?”

“You’d better wipe off your sweat quickly.”

“What?”

Did I hear that right? He threw the cloak at me just because I was sweating a little?

After pretending to wipe roughly and pushing the cloak aside, I could see Ian’s profile. Ian was staring at Renart and Conrad with a rather expressionless face.

“Why are you here?”

“You said you’d practice today, didn’t you?”

Ah, that’s right.

“But isn’t it a bit early now? The sun is still high…”

I glanced out the window and closed my mouth. Outside, the evening twilight was already growing deep.

When did the sun set?

Ian bent down and picked up the wooden sword rolling beside me. After putting the wooden sword in the storage container and returning, he had my cloak in his arms.

“Let’s go now.”

Receiving the cloak, I opened my mouth as I followed behind Ian.

“By the way. Even if my face was a mess from sweating a little, wasn’t it a bit much to suddenly throw the cloak?”

“Whose face was a mess?”

When I pointed at myself with my finger, Ian furrowed his brow as if in disbelief.

“Then why did you do that?”

Instead of answering, Ian stared down at my face. Soon, he let out a small, hollow laugh and ran his hand through his hair. He looked like he had something to say to me, but his tightly closed lips wouldn’t open easily.

“…Let’s go.”

What’s this, how anticlimactic.

*

“Are you alright?”

Rosebelia, who had sheathed her sword, quickly covered her mouth.

“I’m fine.”

Ian, who had caught the staggering Rosebelia in his arms, pulled out a linen from his pocket. Seeing this, a faint smile appeared in Rosebelia’s eyes.

“…Are you laughing right now?”

“Can I close my eyes for a moment?”

“Are you perhaps in pain?”

Rose, who had roughly wiped her mouth with the linen, burst into laughter.

“No, I feel at ease because you’re here.”

“…”

Hearing those words, Ian couldn’t bring himself to be either happy or displeased. He contorted his face like someone who didn’t know what expression to make.

“Why are you making that face? I told you I’m not in pain. Rather, I’m glad I could practice to my heart’s content thanks to you.”

Her round, curled eyelashes trembled finely. Soon, the movement of her eyelids seemed to slow down, and at some point, both eyes closed firmly.

“I…”

Ian couldn’t continue his words and closed his mouth. Only a sigh escaped through his teeth.

As he quietly looked around, he moved his steps towards a large tree. He first leaned her back against the tree, then carefully sat down beside her.

Ian, who had rested Rosebelia’s head on his shoulder, exhaled a ragged breath. He couldn’t breathe properly the entire time Rosebelia was using Aura.

Even though she said she was fine, every time he saw her coughing up blood, his heart sank. Chewing on his lower lip, he recalled the conversation he had with Vincent Glaser a few days ago.

‘I’ve looked through all sorts of records, but I don’t remember seeing such a case. Using Aura means detecting a large amount of Aura, and if one has reached that level, they should already have stable Aura.’

‘I heard that at first, she used Aura without any side effects, but at some point, she started coughing up blood and experiencing dizziness after using Aura. She also feels lethargic and drowsy.’

‘It’s certainly a rare case. And this is just my guess, but coughing up blood likely indicates internal injury. Aura might have self-healing abilities, causing it to stop quickly. If such a condition persists long-term, it will strain the body. Perhaps…’

He seemed to understand what Vincent had left unsaid.

「If one cannot properly handle Aura, it could become an entity that erodes the swordsman’s life force instead.」

He had read the book he wrote quite impressively, after all.

‘We need to find a way to stabilize the Aura.’

‘I’ll research it. In return, please make sure I can meet that person just once. Meeting a Sword Master in person is my lifelong dream.’

‘Alright. We don’t have much time, so I’d like you to hurry.’

‘I understand. There might be records I haven’t looked at yet, so I’ll search through all the records about Aura to find a solution.’

There were irritating parts about internal injuries and life force, but nothing was certain. If there was just a way to stabilize the Aura again, everything would be solved.

Ian looked down at Rose, who was sleeping soundly while leaning on his shoulder.

If she were really in pain, she couldn’t smile so peacefully like this.

He looked at her face, then tried to turn his gaze away, only to helplessly lower his head again.

When I’m not looking, I want to see her, but when I’m looking, it feels like I can’t breathe.

“Mmm.”

For a moment, as Rosebelia mumbled something, Ian immediately checked her complexion.

‘She doesn’t seem uncomfortable, was it just sleep talking?’

Rosebelia pressed her head deeper into Ian’s shoulder as if seeking a deeper sleep. At that moment, her body seemed to tilt, and her hand fell onto his thigh.

Ian, startled, unknowingly held his breath. It was just her fingertips touching, but it felt as hot as if he had been burned. No, it felt like every cell in his body was jumping.

He clenched his teeth at the sensation of blood rushing. Only after carefully removing her hand could he breathe properly.

He leaned his back tightly against the tree and calmly caught his breath. It was then that Nathan’s question suddenly came to mind.

‘Your Highness, what kind of relationship do you want to have with Lady Rosebelia?’

He hadn’t thought about it specifically, so he couldn’t give any answer then.

Ian’s gaze fell on Rosebelia’s face once again. Just looking at her sleeping face made him feel like a corner of his heart was sinking.

‘What I wish for is just…’

For her straight gaze, her smile so beautiful it makes my eyes ache, to always be directed at me.

Someone she can lean on…

For a moment, the flow of thoughts stuttered.

It was because Rosebelia’s hand, which he had carefully removed, now fell on top of his hand.

Ian’s Adam’s apple moved greatly as he tilted his head back. His eyes, seemingly engraved with the endless night sky, turbulently wavered.

…For me to be the only one in this world who can reach her.