Narbeni was right. The Council members were more active in the meeting, unlike two days ago. The consensus was forming that preparing for the enemy should be the priority if an enemy was approaching. The mere attendance of four or five members of the Council was not enough to bring about such a change. There were still heated debates between the opposing and non-opposing members, but it only served to stimulate the progress.
Kassel was observing three members of the Council closely. One of them was familiar. It was the old man who had suddenly appeared and identified his place of origin when he was exploring near the Dragon Knights’ building.
‘So, he was a Council member. But how did he know where I was from?’
The name of that Council member was Romnor.
‘Could it be?’
The meeting was reaching its peak. They had now arrived at the stage of discussing who the enemy coming from the Sky Mountains was, why they were targeting Carnelock, and how to fight them, all centered around Captain Wolf.
“I have found out an interesting fact, Captain Wolf.”
Governor Ruenmus continued, as if pouring cold water on the discussion.
“Captain Wolf, you are not from Aranthia but from Camort, and your surname is ‘Noi.’ Is that true?”
The previously friendly Council members started murmuring at the probing tone. Even the elder Council member Romnor was taken aback. Kassel did not miss this reaction.
“My full name is Kassel Noi, and I am indeed from Camort. Is that a problem?”
Kassel asked back.
“It is important.”
Ruenmus stood up and scratched behind his ear.
Narbeni, watching from behind, gestured to Ruenmus and said,
“Now is not a good time and place to mention ‘that,’ Governor Ruenmus.”
“Where could be more appropriate than here and now?”
Neither Narbeni nor Nondolin could respond. They glanced anxiously at Kassel.
Ruenmus raised his voice gradually, addressing the Council members.
“Many of the members here may not know about it. It happened almost twenty-five years ago. Back when I was just a lowly Council member, there was a very humiliating incident in Carnelock. Captain Deradul, you were one of the key people involved in that incident, weren’t you?”
Deradul, who had been sitting with his arms crossed and observing silently, spoke in a worried tone similar to Narbeni’s.
“What does that have to do with this meeting?”
“It is highly relevant. The Council of Carnelock prides itself on fairness and not being bound by the past, and so we have always sought to clarify past events. Therefore, this matter must not be glossed over.”
“Stop it, Governor.”
Deradul said, but Ruenmus ignored him.
“Everyone has different standards for evaluating the past, but I want to call that incident a disgrace to the Dragon Knights and a humiliation to our Council. That incident spread to every country, and now even third-rate bards mention it lightly. I want to resolve it here and use it as a foundation for our Council’s political growth.”
Even the usually silent elder Council member Romnor raised his hand.
“Governor! Captain Deradul is right. This is not the place to bring it up.”
Kassel grew increasingly anxious, unable to intervene in their conversation. He felt a similar sensation to when the Black Lion Count exposed Captain Kassel as merely a farmer Kassel in the courtroom. Ruenmus eventually ignored even Romnor’s words and stared straight at Kassel.
“Twenty years ago, the Council of Carnelock and the Elder Council were shaken to their core by a single young man, and the Dragon Knights almost made that young man their Captain. That young man sullied the reputation of the Dragon Knights, who only accepted noble blood as knights, and even kidnapped the then-Governor’s daughter, fleeing the country. As a result, the Governor resigned, and the Captain of the Dragon Knights, Ensond, also resigned, causing Carnelock’s politics to be shaken from the ground up for a while.”
Several elderly Council members were already nodding in agreement to Ruenmus’s passionate speech. However, most looked puzzled as to why Ruenmus was bringing it up. Only the two Governors and Romnor and Deradul were distressed. Narbeni held his forehead and turned his head away from Ruenmus altogether.
Ruenmus continued.
“I remember ‘that man’s’ atrocities vividly from twenty years ago. I was there. Do you remember, elder Council members? And many of you senior members here! We realized that the two-person Governor system was insufficient and created a law to increase it to three.”
“That’s right, Governor. I remember that. Let me briefly explain to the younger members. The then-Governor’s daughter, Dalia, was seduced and practically forced into marriage by a man who came from nowhere, and the Dragon Knights almost gave up the Captain position because of a ridiculous bet that man proposed. Moreover, that man defiled the authority of the Elder Council with a long speech claiming his right to marry Lady Dalia.”
One of the Council members, whose name Kassel did not know, stood up and explained at length.
“That’s right. It was one of the most shameful events in Carnelock’s recent history. I, too, grieved along with other citizens of Carnelock. But why are you bringing it up now?”
Another Council member stood up to stop Ruenmus.
“That’s right. Aren’t we here to prepare for war with Captain Wolf?”
Ruenmus responded as if he had been waiting for such a question, smiling as he answered.
“The name of the man who shook the foundation of our politics and ran away with the most beautiful and noble woman in Carnelock was ‘Emil Noi.’ He was the son of a lowly farmer from Camort, a man with no status, wealth, lineage, or swordsmanship—nothing but lies. He was merely an armed con artist.”
Kassel’s arm, gripping the chair, trembled violently as if struck by a whip. He had been deeply agitated ever since Dalia’s name was mentioned.
“Hey, Kassel. Are you okay?”
Jay, who had been bored, listening to an old story, asked.
Tanya also grabbed Kassel’s wrist.
“Kassel?”
Kassel couldn’t hear either Jay’s or Tanya’s voices. Ruenmus pointed at Kassel with his finger and shouted.
“The real name of this man sitting here as Captain Wolf is Kassel Noi, and the swindler who attacked the Council of Carnelock twenty years ago is his father. We are here again, about to be deceived by the son of a swindler.”
Ruenmus probably had more to say, but it was unnecessary. The Council was already in an uproar. With a victorious smile hidden behind his cold face, he sat down.
Governor Narbeni shook her head, and Governor Nondolin, who rarely lost his smile, sighed with a frown. Kassel looked at elder Council member Romnor with tightly closed lips, and Romnor returned his gaze helplessly.
“Get out!”
One of the Council members threw a parchment scroll at Kassel and shouted.
“We don’t need the offspring of a swindler.”
Council members stood up, yelling and threatening with curses.
“Get out!”
“Guards, throw him out.”
Being thrown out of the hall was the most humiliating thing in Carnelock’s political world. There had even been cases where a Council member, unable to bear the humiliation, had taken their own life. Kassel lost his grip on the chair and stood up.
“You must be my grandfather.”
Kassel said to Romnor.
“Are you here to take revenge on the grandson for his father’s actions?”
Kassel walked out of the hall weakly.
Trash like ink bottles and paper bundles were thrown at him. Someone even threw a tomato they had brought for lunch. Whether by coincidence or skill, the tomato flew straight at Kassel’s head. But it stopped right in front of his face. The tomato floated in the air and then flew towards the ceiling, exploding with a loud bang and bursting into flames. The burnt tomato pieces fell all around.
The chaotic hall fell silent for a moment. Tanya’s hair fluttered in the air behind Kassel. She glared directly at the Council member who had thrown the tomato. The air in the Council turned cold instantly, and icicles began to form out of nowhere.
At first, the icicles were the size of a handspan, but they grew into enormous spears and multiplied into dozens. The sound of ice cracking echoed in the silence.
The council members were terrified, holding their breath, and the face of the council member who threw the tomato turned deathly pale.
“Stop it, Tanya.”
Kassel placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled.
Oblivious to the situation, Jay loudly said, trying to help,
“You should have let it be, Tanya! If the tomato hit him, I was planning to throw a knife.”
Tanya shot him a sharp glare, and Jay, realizing his mistake, turned his head away.
Tanya waved her hand, and the icicles disappeared as if they had never been there.
Kassel quietly left the meeting hall, and Tanya followed him out. The cold air stirred the surroundings as if a door had been left open on a winter’s day. The silence persisted from the moment the tomato was smashed until Tanya closed the door behind her.
“Well done, Governor Ruenmus. I’d like to ask what you plan to do now that you’ve made an enemy of Aranthia.”
Deradul broke the silence and asked.
Ruenmus interlocked his fingers and retorted from his seat.
“Aranthia stood aloof and unmoving during the war ten years ago. Now, they send one person claiming to lead us into war. Should we follow them obediently?”
“To your eyes, it may seem like just one person, but to me, he appears as Aranthia’s representative and a savior here to warn Carnelock of the crisis.”
Deradul shook his head, clearly not convinced, and spoke persuasively.
Ruenmus scoffed.
“Aranthia playing the savior is nothing new. It was Carnelock that ended the continental war in Lontamon. It was my army and your Dragon Knights. Not the Wolf Knights! How long must we act as if we are Aranthia’s subordinates?”
Ruenmus challenged Deradul and then addressed all the council members.
“Remember this, everyone! Carnelock has the strongest army on the continent. Are monsters invading from the Sky Mountains? Fine. Bless Captain Wolf for warning us! But his role ends there. Now it’s our job to stop the enemy.”
As Ruenmus finished his brief speech, some council members clapped, and others deeply agreed. While some were still dissatisfied, no one openly voiced it.
Governor Nondolin sighed once again and spoke.
“We will take a one-hour recess. Secretary, prepare the letters to the Carnelock defense forces and the local administrators.”
☆ ☆ ☆
In the evening, as planned, Tanya was invited to the Grand Rock by the mages’ assembly. Compared to the council members, the mages were much faster in their actions. Knowing who the approaching enemy was, they were as fearful as they were proactive in preparing.
Tanya, who had been silently keeping Kassel company all day, had no choice but to get up.
“Don’t worry about me. I had a rough idea, but it’s still surprising when it actually happens.”
Kassel spoke as if it was nothing, but his face said otherwise. Tanya knew he was lying but had to leave.
Jay was pacing in the hallway. Despite Kassel being the one hurt today, Jay seemed more troubled. But Tanya couldn’t afford to worry about his problems too.
“I’ll be back from the Grand Rock. Jaymer, take care of Kassel.”
Tanya said quietly to Jay.
“You just mean to keep an eye on him, right?”
Jay asked, a bit flustered.
“What else would you expect?”
Tanya retorted.
“Well, alright then. Don’t worry. I thought you were asking me to comfort him. As long as it’s not that, it’s fine.”
“Just staying by his side will be enough.”
Tanya left those words and followed the guide out of the knights’ building to the Grand Rock.
“Will I really be of any help?”
Jay muttered, brushing his hands off. He opened the door roughly and sat down in front of Kassel, who was alone on the sofa.
“I’m here to keep you company!”
“What?”
Kassel asked, surprised.
“Apparently, it helps if I stay by your side!”
“Who said that?”
“Tanya.”
“Tanya?”
“Does it help?”
“If you want to help…”
“If I want to help?”
“Just sit there…”
“Sit here?”
“And scowl like me.”
Kassel replied, and Jay frowned, but for a different reason than Kassel. Nevertheless, he complied and sat. Jay spent the time chewing on the dry biscuits on the reception table.
Kassel asked.
“Where’s Rai?”
“That guy disappearing isn’t a new thing. He’s probably perched somewhere high, preening his feathers.”
“How’s your relationship with him?”
“Not great. Why are you asking that?”
“You’re not fighting, right?”
“We’re not.”
“That’s all that matters. I just asked because there’s not much else to talk about. Don’t worry about it.”
“Was your mother really the Governor’s daughter here?”
Jay asked.
Kassel didn’t answer.
‘Did I mess up again? Tanya just told me to stay here without saying anything.’
Jay tried to make amends and opened his mouth.
“My mother was also a council member’s daughter here…”
Jay stopped talking when he saw Kassel’s surprised eyes.
“Your mother?”
Jay turned his head.
“It’s a lie.”
“If I were a woman, I might have fallen for you. How can you lie so poorly?”
“Shut up.”
Kassel laughed wearily.
“It’s true we didn’t have much time to share stories, but we should have talked about the important ones.”
“What’s important?”
“Small things.”
“Small things are important?”
Jay asked, organizing it in his own way.
Kassel shrugged.
“Yeah. Family stories, future plans, worries… We’ve always talked about big things.”
“You’ve talked about your father often.”
“Did I? My father… Was that really about my father?”
“You’re starting to wander off again.”
Kassel slowly started talking about his father.
“I’ve felt it since I was young, but I know almost nothing about my father. I just thought he traveled around, doing strange things. But my mother…”
Kassel pressed his temples painfully.
“I just found out today. Really. I don’t even know if what Governor Ruenmus said is true. My mother passed away when I was so young that I barely remember her. Like many who lose their mothers early, I just recall her as a beautiful woman.”
Kassel’s hand, which was pressing his head, didn’t move away from his face. He continued, pressing around his eyes.
“My father never spoke about my mother. He took pride in never showing weakness in front of others, so he probably didn’t want to talk about something that would make him cry.”
“When was it?”
Jay asked quietly.
“What?”
“When did your mother pass away?”
“When I was two, due to illness. I don’t remember well. But my father sometimes said this when he was drunk: ‘I gained a wife, and she gained freedom…’ I believe my mother didn’t suffer any disgraceful events as Governor Ruenmus claimed.”
“I can tell by looking at you.”
Jay said.
“What?”
“What kind of person your father was, I can tell by looking at you. I envy you for that.”
“You don’t need to envy me. My father…”
“I killed my father with my own hands.”
Kassel stopped, trying to stifle his sorrow with laughter.
“What do you mean? Your father? You mean like…”
“I’m not speaking metaphorically. With my own hands, my own sword, my own strength, I killed him.”
Jay showed his hands and continued.
“Kassel. You had a wonderful father…”
Jay always thought, whenever Kassel spoke ill of his father, ‘I wish I had a father like that!’
“You have wonderful friends…”
Jay felt jealous whenever the White Wolves talked about Kassel, and whenever Kassel talked about them. He felt left out of their bond.
“…and now you even have a wonderful lover! Stop complaining! It’s annoying.”
Jay clenched his fists tightly.
“Where’s the fervor you had when you confronted Black at the White Gate? If you believe in your father’s innocence, forget what those bastards said earlier today.”
Jay looked past Kassel, glaring at his own distant past with trembling fists.
“My father threw me against the floorboards. I’m still scared of high places. Would you laugh if I told you how terrified I was when I jumped off that cliff in Aranthia to save you? Will you mock me as a child if I say that I remember my mother every time I see a fire because I cremated her with my own hands?”
Jay cursed as he wiped away tears with the back of his hand.
“Damn it! Is this the kind of talk you wanted? Fine. My father was a Dragon Knight. This place is what I cursed. I can’t believe I just remembered now. For you and for me, this place was hell.”
“I’m sorry, Jaymer.”
“Forget it. Two grown men crying is ridiculous.”
“Uh…”
Kassel extended his hand, but Jay yelled sharply.
“Don’t!”
Kassel withdrew his hand.
Kassel leaned back in his chair, and Jay stared out the window.
For a long time, they sat facing each other without looking at one another.
“Thank you. For telling me.”
Kassel spoke quietly.
“Me too.”
Jay said. And they continued to say nothing. Neither comforted the other.
‘Damn it, this is embarrassing. This is the most embarrassing moment of my life.’
Jay felt a part of his heart that had been empty all day now felt filled.
‘I should have talked sooner. I feel strangely relieved.’
Jay smiled contentedly, making sure Kassel couldn’t see.
“Huh?”
Jay thought he saw something white pass by the window and leaned his head out. Kassel followed Jay’s action and looked outside. Just when he thought he was mistaken, something white appeared in front of the window.
A robed figure was staring directly at them!
‘Should I handle it?’
Jay signaled to Kassel with his eyes.
Kassel quickly shook his head.
‘Don’t go out.’
Jay obeyed. If that robed figure was ‘that person,’ there was nothing he could do alone. He didn’t want to fight a sorcerer without Tanya. If the enemy attacked first, they would try to hold out, but provoking them first was risky.
The figure seemed to stare at them for a moment before disappearing into the darkness.
“What was that?”
Kassel asked.
Knock, knock.
Kassel clutched his chest, startled by the soft knock. Jay was a bit surprised too.
“Who is it?”
Kassel asked.
“A guest for you, Captain Wolf.”
It was the voice of the knights’ clerk. Kassel hurriedly turned to Jay and asked.
“Do I look like I’ve been crying?”
Tear tracks were visible. Jay responded.
“Yeah.”
Kassel shouted loudly.
“Tell them to wait a moment.”
Kassel washed his face and checked himself in the mirror. His eyes were still red, but he could pass them off as sleepy.
Kassel, accompanied by Jay, followed the clerk to meet a stranger standing in front of the building. The man, dressed in a neat suit, had a luxurious carriage ready and bowed his head.
“Good evening. I am a butler serving Councilor Romnor. My master requests the presence of Captain Wolf. Please accompany me.”
“Councilor Romnor?”
“Yes. He emphasized that he hopes you will not refuse. He never says such things.”
The old butler’s eyes were filled with disdain for the young Kassel.
“Then I will bring my friend along.”
“He asked for you to come alone.”
“If I go alone, my friend will be bored. I’ll bring him along. Also, I can’t move alone, so please understand.”
The butler eventually agreed, and Kassel brought Jay along.
“It doesn’t feel right, Kassel. That… thing earlier and all.”
Jay said, using ambiguous words.
“I feel the same. Something’s ominous about this night. So we need to move. Be ready, Jaymer.”
Jay tapped the two swords at his waist.
“Always ready.”
☆ ☆ ☆
From the rooftop, Rai watched Kassel board the carriage.
‘Kassel…’
Rai repeated his name, puzzled.
‘Why does it feel familiar?’
Rai had been having this thought since descending the Sky Mountains. Yet, he still didn’t know why.
Rai briefly thought of the man he had called ‘Ugeh.’ That man, nearing forty in human years, always had a pleasant smile.
‘Ugeh’ prided himself on having tried everything. He preferred quick-turnaround jobs like trading over long-term endeavors like farming, and he preferred gambling to earning money steadily. He was good at losing it too.
He had dabbled in politics in Irophis, worked as a knight’s squire in Lontamon, had relationships with twenty women, killed people, nearly died, and now, after meeting the Lemifs in the Sky Mountains, he said he had no regrets.
‘So, will you die now, Ugeh?’
Rai had asked.
Ugeh talked a lot. It was thanks to him that Rai learned to stammer human words. He never stopped talking, even if Rai didn’t understand. But unlike Kassel now, he wasn’t someone others feared, revered, or listened to. People gave him strange looks whenever he spoke, and it often led to fights.
‘I’m not dying, not dying. Why would I die? Want more beer? This place has the best beer in Camort.’
‘More beer.’
‘Hey, innkeeper! Another barrel of beer here. My friend here drinks like a fish!’
Ugeh laughed loudly, ordered, and stood up.
‘Where are you going?’
Rai asked.
‘Just stepping out for a bit.’
‘Beer costs a lot.’
‘Oh, Remi, you’re finally getting the hang of human finances. Good, good. But don’t worry. Buying you drinks won’t bankrupt me. Besides, you know me. I’m an expert at handling big money!’
He patted Rai on the shoulder with a smile that reached his ears.
‘Stay here. I’ll be right back.’
Ugeh left and didn’t return. Another man entered and sat in front of Rai.
‘It’s you.’
A bearded, fat man. Rai didn’t like the way he looked at him.
‘Who are you?’
‘Questions are for the boss. Just answer.’
Two men with muscles matching Rai’s strength grabbed his shoulders. Other patrons paid their tabs and slipped away. The innkeeper also left through the back without collecting the bills.
Only one man remained in the corner, watching Rai and the newcomers with a blank look. But he was so ordinary and frightened that no one paid attention to him.
‘Your master sold you to me. Know that I paid good money for you.’
The boss said.
‘Master? Money?’
‘Yes, money. You’re worth it.’
Rai’s mind felt chaotic.
Money.
Sell an item, buy an item.
Buy with money, buy people with money.
Betray love for money, break friendships for money, sell a country for money…
The many fairy tales and stories Ugeh told Rai to teach him about money came to mind.
‘Come quietly. You can speak human, can’t you?’
The fat man stood up and coldly touched Rai’s wing under the robe like a merchant checking goods.
‘Hmm, real. This will fetch a good price.’
Money.
Betrayal.
Ugeh.
…Stay here. I’ll be right back.
A lie?
Was that a lie?
…Don’t worry, Remi. I’ll never lie to you.
‘Come on. Be a good boy. Wasn’t your name Remi?’
Betrayal!
Lies!
Rai stood up slowly.
The two men tried to hold him down but couldn’t match his strength.
‘Where is Ugeh?’
Rai asked.
‘Ugeh? Oh, was that his name?’
The boss laughed.
‘By now, he must have left the village with the money I gave him. Sit down and stop acting tough just because you’re big. Do you think I’m afraid of someone like you when I can train lions?’
The commander raised the whip at his waist.
‘Where is Ugeh?’
Rai asked once more.
‘I told you, I’m the one asking the questions!’
The commander swung his whip.
Rai couldn’t remember much after that. It was the first time he had ever been so enraged. It was the first time he had killed a human rather than a Lemif.
He still remembered fragments of that day, including the voice of the man who sat stupidly in the corner of the tavern even after everything had ended.
‘Are you alright? My God, you really are a fairy from the Sky Mountains.’
Rai did not respond. No, he couldn’t. He just drank the beer Ugeh had ordered before leaving, waiting for him all night on the off chance that he would return. But Ugeh never came back.
Just as Rai emerged from his reverie, a human voice came from behind him.
“It’s you.”
The man appeared behind Rai like a ghost, his robe fluttering in the wind. He was clearly not an ordinary person.
“You’re the Lemif with Captain Wolf, right?”
The man used the precise term “Lemif” instead of the more common “fairy,” indicating his knowledge. He also wore a robe that concealed his face.
Rai, having been briefed by Kassel, warily asked,
“Who are you?”
The man revealed his face from within the robe and said,
“I know Kassel. I have something to say to you.”
Rai subtly assessed the man’s strength.
‘This man is strong. Even with my sword, he wouldn’t be an easy opponent.’
For the first time since descending from the Sky Mountains, Rai felt he might need his sword. His blood surged with the desire to fight, but he restrained himself because the man claimed to know Kassel.
“Speak.”
☆ ☆ ☆
Councilor Romnor’s house was relatively modest. The security consisted of only three poorly armed soldiers. Jay indicated they were not worth worrying about, but Kassel remained cautious.
“Welcome, Captain Wolf.”
To Kassel’s surprise, it wasn’t just Romnor who was present but also other council members, including Governor Nondolin.
‘Only three guards for such important figures? This must be a secret meeting. They don’t want to attract attention by posting guards outside.’
Nondolin led the conversation.
“We deeply regret what happened earlier today.”
Kassel kept his focus on Romnor, who also seemed to be paying close attention to Kassel.
“In fact, after you left, the council finalized discussions on war preparations. While detailed plans will require several more meetings, the army is already mobilizing. The council is divided between those who support and those who oppose you, but no one can deny that you prompted the war preparations.”
Kassel nodded, keeping his words to a minimum.
This was exactly what Kassel had hoped for. He hadn’t entered the council to lead but to ensure they took the warning seriously and prepared for war. Now that they were doing so, his mission was nearly complete.
Everything had gone according to plan, yet his heart felt heavy and uneasy.
“It’s true that Councilor Ruenmus resents your presence. However, he was already sensitive to recent bad omens. Disappearances, bodies found in the sewers, ghost sightings around the castle…”
Nondolin shuddered with disgust as he spoke. The other council members shared their own horrific accounts.
Nondolin summarized the collective opinions and continued.
“Captain Wolf, Ruenmus is fundamentally concerned about Carnelock. He simply dislikes the idea of Aranthia being involved in solving these issues. He fears the council’s power might weaken…”
Nondolin’s usual smile returned as he spoke again.
“Let me tell you, Ruenmus was actually the most convinced that you are Captain Wolf. Even when I had my doubts, he was adamant that you were Quain’s successor. That’s why he was so wary of you.”
“Of me?”
Kassel asked, unable to understand why.
“Ruenmus has a talent for recognizing and placing people in the right roles. After seeing your actions on the first day, he called me aside and said, ‘If that young man is a fraud, I’ll pretend to imprison him and later train him as my successor!’ That’s the kind of person he is.”
Nondolin’s smile seemed to hide some ulterior motive, but Kassel wanted to believe him.
“Don’t be too upset about today. We don’t want to make an enemy of Aranthia.”
“Aranthia does not view anyone as an enemy. My distress today was purely personal. There’s no need for concern.”
“That’s a relief.”
Nondolin said. One council member even sighed in relief. Nondolin nodded several times before turning his gaze to Romnor.
“Most importantly, Councilor Romnor has something to say about today’s events. He persuaded many council members and calmed the excited Ruenmus after you left. He did it all for you, so I hope any misunderstandings about him are cleared.”
“If anyone here knows about me, it would be Councilor Romnor. Isn’t that right, Grandfather?”
Kassel narrowed his eyes and stared at Romnor.
Romnor straightened his posture and spoke.
“I can’t deny it. Yes, I told Ruenmus the truth. Boy.”
Romnor tried to smile but swallowed it under Kassel’s piercing gaze.
“But I didn’t intend for things to turn out this way. I wanted to help you.”
“Since it wasn’t intentional, I have nothing more to say.”
Kassel wanted to ask about his father’s supposed ‘fraud,’ why the council was so agitated, and the claims about forcibly taking his mother!
‘If you’re truly my mother’s father, why did you allow the council’s anger to go unchecked?’
Kassel wanted to ask, but he remained silent.
‘I have to hold back. The fate of the world will be decided in this war. Here and now, Kassel must not be Emil Noi’s son but the Captain of the Wolf Knights.’
Nondolin smoothly continued the conversation.
“I don’t intend to interfere with your reunion. However, we have much to discuss. First, we must coordinate preparations for the battles ahead and discuss the enemy forces from the Sky Mountains. There is a lot we need to talk about.”
Kassel drank the tea the butler served and began to recount the facts. The Lord of the Undying, the war from ten years ago, the First Knight Division of Excelon, the dragons, Lemifs, Mozes, and the fall of Lutia. The council members reacted strongly, especially to the mention of the First Knight Division of Excelon.
“Are you saying Lontamon is starting another war?”
One member asked.
“No, this is separate from Lontamon. The First Knight Division were dragon hunters in the Sky Mountains and will now serve as commanders in the demon army coming down. Remember, only a tenth of their Mozes forces were enough to bring down Lutia.”
Kassel calmly explained. They were deeply disappointed that the wizards of Lutia could not come to their aid.
“Actually…”
After Kassel’s explanation, Nondolin looked around nervously and spoke.
“There is another reason we called you here.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Be wary of Captain Deradul.”
Kassel paused mid-sip and set down his cup.
“The warning letter I received a while ago, was that from you…”
Nondolin’s cautionary tone hung in the air, creating an atmosphere of tension.
“Yes, it was me. I didn’t want you to join the Dragon Knights. I thought it would be better for you to ally yourself with one of our governors. But you approached Captain Deradul first, so I was a bit late. That’s why I sent the note.”
Kassel, just as when he first received the note, felt a wave of suspicion toward Nondolin. However, suspecting him would also mean suspecting Romnor, who was allied with him. Kassel wanted to avoid doubting his grandfather. He prayed that his grandfather wasn’t involved with the Lord of the Undying.
“A foreign knight can’t easily judge the captain of another knight order. But I’ve heard that Deradul is someone who would go to any lengths to protect Carnelock. Why should we be cautious of him?”
Ruskin, who had tried to protect Lutia at all costs, had ultimately betrayed them. Kassel knew past reputations couldn’t be trusted entirely, but he started the conversation with this.
Nondolin, his face devoid of a smile, spoke seriously.
“Who could question his patriotism? But things aren’t the same now. Recently, he’s been harboring a mysterious figure in his house, and together they’ve been investigating other council members. I saw a robed figure lurking near my estate a few days ago. I had my guards chase him, but he vanished like a ghost. There have been numerous reports of sightings near the Dragon Knights’ headquarters. They’re undoubtedly connected.”
Kassel recalled the shadow he had seen beyond the window.
“Couldn’t this mysterious figure be spying on Captain Deradul just as you are?”
“Absolutely not. Many knights have seen them together. Some clerks have testified about it. The figure never shows his face or speaks. Isn’t that suspicious? Moreover, reports say black-armored knights have been appearing not just in Carnelock but in nearby towns too. It may be premature, but who’s to say those knights aren’t someone from the Dragon Knights in black armor?”
“No.”
Kassel said firmly.
“How can you be so sure?”
Nondolin tilted his head, puzzled.
“I know from experience. Merely painting armor black can’t mimic the ghost knights. If the black knights appearing in Carnelock are who I think they are, then there’s someone controlling them. Is there a councilor with a substantial private army?”
Kassel asked, recalling the Red Rose Count.
“Almost every councilor has private soldiers. I myself have around thirty…”
Nondolin replied with a hint of irritation at the insinuation.
“Not those kinds of soldiers. I mean knights skilled enough to be considered elite.”
Kassel clarified his question.
Romnor interjected.
“Governor Narbeni and Governor Ruenmus. Both have ten specially trained knights. They are skilled enough to join the Dragon Knights but were accepted as private soldiers due to their non-noble lineage.”
‘Start with these two, then move on to Deradul and Romnor.’
Kassel decided not to exclude anyone, even his grandfather.
From his experience in Camort, the traitor in Carnelock was likely someone who had recently gained significant power. The Lord of the Undying wouldn’t bother turning a weak powerholder into an ally. If they had, they would have elevated that person to a position of great power. Either way, it would be someone capable of shaking all of Carnelock.
Ultimately, the suspects were the three governors who could move the council, Captain Deradul who could control the Dragon Knights, and Romnor at the center of the Elder Council.
Kassel didn’t voice these thoughts. They were speculative and he didn’t want to cause internal strife prematurely.
He inquired if there were any cults currently popular in Carnelock, if there were any nobles, councilors, or lords who had recently gained power suddenly. He pretended to remember each name mentioned, but he remained convinced it was one of the five he had in mind.
By the time they finished discussing the incoming troops, the hot tea had gone cold. The butler came to refill their cups.
Romnor didn’t participate in the discussion, just watched Kassel with sad eyes.
Kassel felt a surge of anger at that gaze. Romnor hadn’t defended him with that look when Ruenmus had slandered his father.
‘Why?’
Kassel finally let his suppressed words spill out.
“Stop just staring and say what you want, Councilor Romnor. Are you so dissatisfied with my parents’ relationship? Is my very existence unappealing to you? Am I a mirror reflecting your shameful past? Speak up. If my father has any fault, I will take responsibility for it.”
By the end, his voice had risen significantly. The govenor was taken aback by Kassel’s sudden outburst. Romnor, however, nodded calmly.
“You are…, just like your father.”
Kassel clenched his fingers, trying not to appear overly arrogant.
“Is it because you’re the captain of the Wolf Knights? No, you would have said the same even if you came before me with nothing. Even the governors fear me, Romnor. Isn’t that right, Kassel?”
Romnor finally allowed himself a comfortable smile as he spoke.
“Everything is my fault. Yes, it was shameful. I was ashamed of my incompetence and my inability to handle the responsibilities of being a governor. So, I buried the truth and lived on. But now it’s time to speak. Kassel, my daughter Dalia’s son, give me a moment to tell you the truth.”
Romnor extended his wrinkled hand to grasp Kassel’s.
Kassel couldn’t reject that trembling hand.
“The known story and the actual story are different. People say your father, Emil, suddenly appeared and took Dalia forcibly, but Dalia chose Emil willingly. She did so despite my opposition and everyone else’s. Do you think the rigid minds of the people could believe that the daughter of the most powerful man in Carnelock chose a man of unknown origin? Even I, who witnessed everything, couldn’t believe it. But it’s the truth. Emil demanded her hand in marriage in front of twenty suitors, practically a threat.”
Romnor smiled nostalgically, recalling the past.
“I can still see his face clearly when he challenged the nobles and council members’ children, asking what they had other than what their parents left them. If Deradul hadn’t been present and if I hadn’t intervened, his head would have rolled right there. But Emil didn’t back down.”
Kassel swallowed hard and asked.
“How did my father meet my mother?”
Kassel couldn’t hold back and pressed for more details about his mother. He even forgot his previous anger momentarily.
“Dalia had… an incurable disease.”
Now, it was Kassel holding Romnor’s hand.
“Incurable? I heard she was frail, but…”
“She was indeed frail. And she deteriorated rapidly after she turned twenty. I used my authority as a governor to plead with Dragon Buharol to treat my daughter.”
Romnor continued with a sense of guilt.
“It was a serious breach of protocol. Dragons aren’t supposed to grant such requests from insignificant humans like me. It would cause chaos, with everyone demanding treatment. But Buharol risked this and personally examined Dalia. But even he couldn’t do anything; her body was already beyond repair.”
“Mother was so weak she couldn’t even bear a child, or so I was told. The midwife insisted that either the baby or the mother would die and demanded that a choice be made. My father, in his panic, supposedly told the midwife, ‘What if I die instead? Could you save them both?'”
Kassel spoke with a hollow laugh, but no one found it funny. In fact, no one could laugh.
“Your very existence is a miracle to me. The dragon predicted Dalia wouldn’t live more than two years. Coming from a dragon, it was more like a curse or a prophecy. We kept it a secret, but somehow, most of the nobles in Carnelock found out. Can you imagine what happened next? Countless high-ranking officials and nobles proposed to Dalia.”
Even Nondolin’s voice grew slightly excited.
“That’s cruel.”
“The only daughter of a governor, and the most beautiful girl in Carnelock, doomed to die soon. It wasn’t just them who overlooked Dalia’s sorrow. Even I, her father, shamefully thought she might be happiest dying in the arms of some man. I was a terrible father.”
Romnor patted Kassel’s hand and continued.
“Then Emil appeared. For the first time since receiving that death sentence, Dalia smiled. Do you understand the miracle of a child who had given up on life smiling? I accepted their love early on, but my position meant their love couldn’t be easily accepted. Emil tried to persuade the council himself, and the Elder Council had such heated debates that one member was taken away with high blood pressure.”
Nondolin and the other council members laughed or shrugged, thinking Romnor exaggerated. Kassel, however, knowing his father’s usual stubbornness, found it plausible and awaited more details.
“The final proposal was a desperate attempt to force Emil to give up. The council members and Dalia’s suitors suggested that to protect the governor’s only daughter, Emil had to demonstrate power. If Dalia was special enough to have her fate marked by a dragon, her suitor should at least be able to defeat one.”
Everyone listening groaned softly. Romnor smiled slightly.
“What knight in the world could defeat a dragon? It wasn’t Emil who was cheating, but the council trying to trick him. I tried to stop it, but Emil accepted the challenge… and did it.”
“Wait, Councilor Romnor. Are you saying he actually defeated a dragon?”
Nondolin, shocked by the confirmation of rumors, asked.
“Councilor Nondolin, you weren’t there, so you wouldn’t know. Many were shocked by the sight. That young man knocked out the green dragon Buharol with his bare fists. It was a spectacle.”
“How could any human defeat a dragon with bare fists? Wasn’t it a trick?”
An obvious dragon enthusiast among the council members asked.
“Trick or not, the dragon formally accepted the challenge and acknowledged defeat. What controversy could there be? But the problem didn’t end there. According to knightly regulations, any knight acknowledged by a dragon must be appointed captain of the Dragon Knights.”
“Is that a regulation?”
Nondolin explained in response to the councilor’s question.
“I know because I trained with the Dragon Knights for a year. It’s their first rule. Anyone acknowledged by the dragon protecting Carnelock becomes the captain of the Dragon Knights. It’s simple but strictly adhered to.”
Nondolin seemed to reflect on Romnor’s story as he explained.
“It must be strictly followed. The Dragon Knights exist because of the dragon. This rule surpasses even smaller regulations like ‘only those of noble lineage for three generations can train as knights.’ If a dragon acknowledges it, who can dispute it? However, it was unprecedented for a dragon to recognize someone outside the knight order. Is that correct, Councilor Romnor?”
“Correct. Captain Ensond, who followed the dragon’s words and principles rigidly, was about to retire. ‘Captain Emil’ was almost born. Ensond, knowing the council would oppose, retired early to enforce his will.”
“That’s why the council was in an uproar.”
Kassel said.
“You saw it today, didn’t you? ‘Uproar’ doesn’t even begin to describe it. And then Buharol, the dragon involved, suddenly left for Aranthia, leaving the matter unresolved. No one knows why Buharol went to Aranthia.”
“To Aranthia?”
Kassel exclaimed in surprise.
Romnor asked,
“Do you know something about it?”
“No, please continue.”
Kassel fumbled, and Romnor continued.
“Amidst the confusion, investigations, and uproar over how to handle this mess, Emil and Dalia disappeared one rainy night. Both of them, together!”
Even Kassel found this incredible.
‘What were you thinking, Father? Was it an elopement for love?’
Romnor continued.
“The council, preparing to counter the young man, was humiliated. Ensond had retired, leaving speculation rampant. Of course, rumors about Emil ran wild.”
“How did you know my father was in Lurun?”
Kassel asked, his anger toward Romnor dissipating.
“Emil mentioned it, and Dalia occasionally sent me letters. She wrote about their life, the comfort they found, and how they were coping with hardships. She even wrote to me when she was expecting you, asking for prayers for a safe birth.”
Romnor left the room and returned, limping, with a small jewelry box. He took out well-worn letters.
“These are your mother’s letters. I want you to have them.”
Kassel couldn’t imagine how precious these were to his grandfather. Even as a keepsake of his mother, Kassel couldn’t take them away.
“I can’t accept this.”
Kassel shook his head.
“I thought a lot about what to give you from Dalia’s keepsakes, but this seems best. There’s no point in me holding onto them with little time left. Read them. Feel the joy your mother had when she had you.”
Romnor almost forcibly handed over the letters, his voice trembling.
“Can you understand? The joy of a girl who had given up on life, marrying the man she loved and having you, the joy of that moment.”
Holding the letters, Kassel felt a lump in his throat.
“My mother passed away when I was two.”
“Her joy in having you extended her life, I believe.”
For the first time since meeting Kassel, Romnor smiled genuinely.
“Now, understand my joy in seeing you, Dalia’s son. Know how full of happiness my heart is.”
Romnor let his tears flow freely.
Kassel gripped his grandfather’s old hands tightly with both of his.
“Grandfather…”
–TL Notes–
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