“Her Majesty visited?”
Sheyden asked while they were riding in the carriage.
Kassel, who had been staring blankly, replied in surprise after a delayed reaction.
“Uh? Oh, yes.”
Observing Kassel’s odd response, Sheyden inquired.
“Didn’t sleep well last night, did you?”
Sheyden then glanced back at Jay and Tanya.
“The other two as well.”
As if rehearsed, Jay and Tanya simultaneously turned to look at each other, then quickly turned their faces away. Sandwiched in between, Kassel spoke awkwardly.
“I guess I was just a bit excited after suddenly seeing Her Majesty.”
“It’s rare for her to leave Nadium. And to see you, Kassel?”
Kassel detailed the events of the previous day and asked.
“Doesn’t she occasionally go out or something?”
“Not that I know of. She’s never left Nadium before.”
Sheyden spoke and opened the small side door facing the coachman to ask how much longer, to which the coachman crisply replied, “Soon.”
“Anyway, that’s what happened, and I have a favor to ask. The other two as well. Especially Jaymer.”
Kassel said while yawning.
“What do I have to do?”
Jay seemed well-versed in storing or delaying sleep. Unlike Kassel, who kept yawning endlessly, Jay showed no signs of sleepiness except occasionally leaning against the window.
“I won’t act as the captain from the moment we arrive in Nadium.”
“You’re going to lie?”
“No, I mean I won’t say anything at all. I told the Queen too. I won’t introduce myself as the captain to the Wolf Knights.”
Sheyden frowned.
“We’re in Aranthia. And you are Captain Wolf! There’s absolutely no need to lie like you did in Camort.”
“I have something in mind. Follow my lead, Sheyden. Master Tanya, please do the same.”
Unexpectedly, Tanya also inquired.
“Is this a continuation of yesterday’s conversation? But I’m not sure if we can afford to scheme such things right now. Are you considering the enemies outside the Gold Gate?”
“Yes. Especially because of the situation. Very few know it’s a national crisis for Aranthia, it’s basically just us four here. The Wolf Knights should focus more on facing that danger than being confused about such matters.”
Sheyden leaned back deeply in his seat.
“If you’ve calculated something, I’ll follow. Just like in Camort, let me know if you need help.”
“Is there a roster or something for the Wolf Knights?”, Kassel asked.
“I’ll give it to you at the knights’ quarters. Anything else?”
“That’s all for now.”
Jay asked competitively.
“Don’t I have anything to do?”
“It’s better for you to hide your identity as well. Not that you have to do anything, just don’t say anything.”
“Not saying anything is easy, but why?”
“Some in Nadium might have heard of Captain Wolf. But they won’t know the face. If an outsider appears, it’s obvious. But if there are two outsiders, it broadens the options.”
“If this is about the Captain’s qualifications and all that, I’m not too keen on it. What I mean is, I don’t like that idea.”
Instead of persuading him, Kassel proposed a negotiation.
“Don’t you want to compete with the Wolf Knights?”
Jay glared at Sheyden briefly, and Sheyden did not avoid his gaze. Jay retorted as if picking a fight.
“I do want to compete!”
“Then do as I say. Don’t say anything. Then you can compete with the Wolf Knights as much as you want.”
Jay scratched his cheek and looked quietly at Kassel.
“Kassel, you seem… different somehow.”
Sheyden said, clasping his hands behind his head.
“Is that the Kassel I know? You must be familiar with a different Kassel.”
Jay glared at Sheyden with a stern expression. He had often shown a strong sense of rivalry towards Sheyden, but Sheyden had never reciprocated.
‘I’m suffocating every time those two act like this. It’s already cramped in this carriage.’
Before boarding the carriage, Kassel had asked Jay not to fight with Sheyden. After serious consideration, Jay had agreed. If Kassel hadn’t made that request, Jay might have drawn his sword right there in the carriage, proclaiming, ‘There’s no need to go to Nadium to compete with a Wolf Knight. The strongest among the Wolf Knights is right here!’
Sheyden never suspected Jaymer’s identity. When Jay had stepped away for a moment, Sheyden had even asked Kassel out of curiosity.
“I thought you would interrogate Jaymer. His arrival to save me was just too timely.”
After pondering for a while with his arms crossed, Sheyden spoke.
“I too find it strange that I didn’t question him. Initially, I let it slide because he saved you. But later, it occurred to me he could be a spy using the excuse of saving you to pass through the Gold Gate. A disciple of Master Irine? Strictly speaking, I don’t know anyone named Irine. Yet, I never doubted Jaymer.”
Sheyden concluded as he had when he handed the precious sword to Kassel.
“Even now, it’s odd. Doesn’t he seem natural, almost as if he’s meant to be by your side?”
“You’re right. I feel the same.”
Regardless, Jay was in the carriage with three complete strangers, showing no signs of discomfort.
“Look, Kassel.”
Sheyden tapped the window with his finger.
“There’s the White Gate.”
Kassel leaned out of the window. The carriage had been traveling on a white-painted stone road for a while. At the end of the straight path were large houses, and small ones were neatly embedded along the uphill slope. Unlike other gates they had seen, which obstructed the view and blocked the road with massive walls and gates, there was none here.
Instead, two immensely tall pillars stood on either side of the road. Kassel’s eyes followed the pillars upward, and his neck bent back the closer they got. The large doors attached to the pillars were wide open. However, these were almost like wooden doors. The structure was less sturdy than the Blue, Grey, Red, and especially the Gold Gates. Kassel had expected the White to be a more majestic fortification than Gold, but it was merely a fence surrounding what could be called the city of Nadium.
“This wooden door is the White Gate?”
Kassel asked, puzzled.
“No, these pillars are the White Gate. The door is just a formality.”
“So, the White Gate isn’t built for defense against invasion.”
At the top of the white pillars, there were windows barely visible from below. Was there a room at the top? A princess imprisoned for 17 years? There was no entrance at the base of the pillars. Even if there were stairs, they seemed high enough to exhaust someone halfway up.
“Why do you think they fought a desperate battle at the Gold Gate against Lontamon’s army?”
Sheyden said. After a brief conversation between the gate guards and the coachman, the carriage, which had paused momentarily, started moving again. Kassel kept his gaze on the two white pillars as they entered the Queen’s city of Nadium.
Kassel spoke.
“Nothing in the history books I’ve read mentioned why the White Gate was constructed or why the battle took place at the Gold Gate instead of in front of the White Gate.”
“The authors of the history books you read probably weren’t from Aranthia.”
Sheyden explained briefly. Even after entering Nadium, Kassel kept looking towards the White Gate and then, with a hint of disappointment, pulled his head back into the carriage.
“I need to visit the library in Nadium. They must have such books there, right?”
Kassel asked.
“You have a lot to do, don’t you?”
“That’s why I need to look at the books even more.”
“The library is the building with a domed roof below the Queen’s castle. Even if you read only one book a day, it would take a thousand years to read them all, such is their number. You can visit anytime.”
“I’m already feeling happy about it.”
Kassel said while gazing at the scenery of Nadium.
Every building along the main road was painted white. The spots where the paint had faded or chipped off only added to their antique charm.
The road that stubbornly continued from the Blue Gate to the White Gate ran through the middle of Nadium, serving as its central artery. The houses off the main road, unlike those along it, were not uniformly white and varied in shape, but none were made of wood.
Wolf statues were easily spotted along the streets, each one splendid enough to merit a stop and admire. Sheyden mentioned that some of these statues had been there since the founding of Aranthia.
It was only after passing through the gate that they realized this city, resembling a countryside town, was Nadium. They also belatedly realized that the Sky Mountains touched Nadium.
Carnelock, too, was adjacent to the Sky Mountains, but only hermits and scholars lived in the mountains there. In contrast, Nadium was so close to the southern Sky Mountains that a mere hour’s journey on foot would take you there. One of the mountains even stretched into Nadium, making it seem as if the city were built on the foothills of the Sky Mountains.
The carriage stopped where the western edge of Nadium met a mountain connected to the Sky Mountains. The Queen’s castle, facing away from the Sky Mountains, was located there.
“That’s Mount Aynacast.”
Sheyden pointed to the mountain behind them and explained.
“It’s also known as the entrance to Lutia, and the Sky Mountains’ deity officially permitted humans to enter through it. In the ancient language, it’s called something, but roughly translated, it’s like ‘Sky Gate’.”
Kassel asked in astonishment.
“Then, do all of Aranthia’s gates originate from here?”
“You could think of it that way. The sixth gate, after passing through the five gates, leads into the Sky Mountains… that’s Mount Aynacast. Poets sometimes say so, but the truth? I don’t know either. Not sure if records from a thousand years ago are still intact.”
Tanya, whom Kassel had hoped might know something, remained silent. She just looked out the window, the awkwardness from yesterday still lingering. Kassel wanted to apologize but wasn’t sure what to apologize for or how to go about it.
‘It’s okay. She’s a sorceress, so she won’t bother with such trivial concerns. I can talk to her later.’
Kassel tried to focus more on the upcoming encounter with the Wolf Knights. But that didn’t happen. His mind kept replaying the events of the previous day when he had parted ways with Tanya.
☆ ☆ ☆
From the outside, the Queen’s castle appeared as if the tall towers of the White Gate had been uprooted and planted haphazardly. Each tower soared to a daunting height, yet standing against the backdrop of Mount Aynacast, covered in white snow, they seemed almost quaint. The castle was twice the size of the royal palace in Normant, but nestled in the embrace of the mountain, it didn’t feel overwhelming.
The white exterior walls harmonized with the mountain backdrop, becoming one with it. Interestingly, the sharp pillars of the castle aligned with the jagged directions of the mountain rocks, resembling the mountain itself. One side of the castle clung to a cliff descending from the mountain, where a waterfall cascaded into the castle’s garden.
The water from the garden flowed across the castle’s interior and out towards the outskirts of Nadium.
‘Does this water join the Molbi River flowing to the western sea? Did the architect consider that?’
Kassel shivered with an inexplicable thrill. If this had been planned a thousand years ago, Kassel would rather salute the architect than the Queen.
Everything about the castle harmonized with the mountain, its grandeur masked by the mountain’s own, not intimidating to the stranger standing before it. While other nations changed names and borders multiple times, Aranthia had remained here, untouched by invasion.
Which king of any country could possibly dethrone the Queen who had ruled Aranthia for a thousand years from such a castle? Even if they conquered Aranthia, they would end up worshipping it. Would the Excelon Knights, even if they breached the Wolf Knights and crossed the Gold Gate, dare to point their swords and spears at the Queen?
Aranthia never invaded other countries. Was it because they were content with their land, seeing no need to venture elsewhere or possess more? Kassel felt he had encountered the secret of its thousand-year history in this single architectural marvel.
The carriage paused briefly in front of the castle gate. The coachman spoke to the four guards at the gate, then turned the horses towards another building beside the castle.
“Aren’t we going into the castle? Why this way?”
Jay asked.
“We’re heading to the quarters of the Wolf Knights.”
Sheyden replied curtly.
The building, although magnificent in its own right, seemed merely like a cicada clinging to a tree next to the grandeur of Nadium’s castle. It was not harmonious at all. The name of the building, ‘Wolves’ Rest,’ was crudely etched into a marble slab near the main entrance.
‘A rather plain name. Still, better than just calling it a residence.’
They were already a mystic and powerful order of knights, so unlike the Dragon Knights or the Royal Knights of Irophis, they seemed not to bother creating complicated, hard-to-pronounce names for everything they owned.
‘Still, a residence or a rest doesn’t quite fit the name Wolf.’
Kassel’s thoughts were interrupted by a man rushing in front of the carriage. The carriage stopped.
The man, wearing only pants and revealing a muscular, chiseled chest, was drenched in sweat but still smiling.
“Hey there!”
He rushed to the carriage, flung open the door, coincidentally by Kassel’s seat. Kassel stared at him, eyes wide, but the man ignored him and spoke only to Sheyden.
“Hey, why is it just you? Where are the others?”
Sheyden looked at him and reprimanded sharply.
“What are you doing in front of a lady? Back off now!”
“Oops, my apologies.”
The man quickly shut the carriage door after seeing Tanya’s stern face. Then, moving briskly, he followed the slowly moving carriage to Sheyden’s window and said,
“The White Wolves have returned, and everyone is preparing a celebration party. So come out to the training ground.”
Sheyden replied nonchalantly.
“The others aren’t here.”
“Eh? Why?”
“I’m tired, so save the explanations and the party for later!”
“But everyone is waiting.”
“Good. Let them wait.”
“Till when?”
“Till tomorrow.”
Sheyden snapped back, and the man, shrugging his shoulders, gave up following the carriage.
Kassel asked Sheyden,
“Who’s that?”
“That’s Vunataidol Wolf. He’s always enthusiastic and sociable, likes to take the lead. Whenever there’s something to celebrate, he’s involved. He once confessed his love to Azwin, saying he’d propose when he got stronger. Ended up with a broken shinbone. Never spoke of it again after that.”
The carriage stopped. The sound of a waterfall nearby filled the air.
“For now, it’s best for you and Jaymer to stay here. There might be a few things scheduled for today, but nothing important. I need to report back to the Master.”
Sheyden said, unloading their luggage from the carriage.
Hearing the word ‘master,’ Kassel cautiously asked,
“Shouldn’t I go too?”
“That’s a good idea, but first, I need to find out where he is. It won’t be long before you can meet him. Both of you go to your rooms. I’m in room 34 on the second floor, so you two take rooms 35 and 36.”
“It feels like we’re being assigned hotel rooms.”
Jay remarked, a bit argumentatively.
“I’ll send someone when everything’s ready. Rest until then. If you want something to eat, just ask the chef in the dining hall.”
Sheyden looked as if he wanted to add something more, then said,
“As promised, I’ll try to keep quiet. I’ll just report to the master. He knows already, right?”
“Yeah. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Kassel tried to reassure a worried Sheyden with a smile. Sheyden hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“What about Master Tanya?”
As if waiting for this, Tanya spoke.
“I should see the Queen first. I have reports to deliver. Also, I need to contact Lutia.”
“Do you know where Her Majesty is?”
“I visited here once when I was young with the Grand Master.”
“The Grand Master, Tailed?”
“He was my teacher. You know of him?”
“I’ve only heard. He disappeared years ago.”
“Yes.”
Tanya replied emotionlessly, then turned to Kassel,
“I’ll follow your lead, Kassel. I’ll also try to find out what happened to the other White Wolves who left for Lutia.”
“I would appreciate that.”
Kassel bowed his head slightly. Tanya bowed in return and walked towards the royal quarters. Sheyden, about to leave, turned to Jaymer.
“I won’t say much since you’ve been protecting Kassel, but I’d prefer if there were no clashes with the Wolves.”
Jay tilted his head and replied,
“Can’t promise that.”
Kassel stepped between them.
“Don’t worry. There won’t be any trouble.”
Sheyden walked along the long line of quarters.
Kassel grabbed Jay’s shoulder and said,
“If Sheyden thought you were bad news, he wouldn’t have left me alone with you. He trusts you but just says things like that.”
“What do I care if he trusts me or not?”
“That’s a point. Anyway, I said you’d have lots of ‘matches,’ not ‘fights’. Remember that.”
“Well, I’m not smart enough to follow such nuances. So what I’m saying is…”
“It’s your head telling your body that. Got it.”
Kassel said with a laugh. Once again, Kassel and Jay were left alone.
‘This is where the Aranthia Wolf Knights reside.’
Kassel touched the thick wooden main gate and took a deep breath. The door handle was shaped like a wolf with its mouth firmly closed.
Kassel opened the door and stepped inside. There he met the third Wolf Knight after Barel and Vunataidol.
☆ ☆ ☆
Seeing a young girl blocking the doorway, Kassel didn’t immediately think of a Wolf Knight. Although she had a mature air about her, she seemed to be only around fifteen or sixteen years old.
‘Could it be?’
He recalled Meylumil mentioning young knights in the Wolf Knight Order. Kassel had dismissed this as an exaggeration, half-believing that if such a young knight existed, it would surely be a boy – a youth who had grown quickly and was bigger than Kassel despite his young age.
Assuming she was sixteen, the girl was quite tall for her age, nearly matching Kassel in height. Her biceps, evident in her rolled-up sleeves, were as muscular as any man’s. However, her waist was incredibly slender. Even in baggy pants, her legs looked thin and long, and her sun-tanned nape was also elongated.
She had the appearance of a typical girl’s physique stretched vertically. With her slightly damp brown hair, not long and almost hiding her nearly non-existent chest, she could easily be mistaken for a pretty boy.
They looked at each other – she with a blank stare, and he pondering. Finally, Jay spoke first.
“What are you doing here, kid?”
The girl, with eyes large even when half-closed, looked up at Jay.
“And what about you?”
Her voice was surprisingly deep.
‘Maybe a young female knight?’
Kassel belatedly introduced themselves.
“We are guests staying here, invited by Sheyden and Her Majesty the Queen. Are you a Wolf Knight, miss?”
“Miss?”
The girl scratched her neck and forearm.
“I’m no lady. But yes, I’m a Wolf Knight.”
“I’m Kassel, and this is Jaymer.”
“I’m Sildire Wolf. Since you’re Sheyden’s guests, I’ll show you around. But where is Sheyden? Has he arrived?”
“Didn’t you hear he was coming today?”
“I heard. Was washing my hair and on my way to the training ground. Vunataidol said he’d bring him there.”
The girl, with her damp hair, swung a wooden sword she was holding.
“Anyway, where’s Sheyden? I’d like him to check my training while he’s not tired.”
“I heard there was a party?”
Kassel asked, though he had a hunch.
“We call our training ‘parties.’ Whenever we gather, we almost always end up sparring.”
She spoke as if heading to a battle right now.
‘She has that blunt way of speaking, just like Sheyden.’
Kassel said with a smile.
“I see. But Sheyden has gone to find Master Quain. I heard he pushed the party to tomorrow.”
The girl lowered the tip of her wooden sword and looked up slightly, asking,
“I heard Sheyden brought a captain this time, is that true?”
“Ah, about that…”
Just as Kassel was about to reply, Jay slapped the girl’s face with his palm. Kassel was startled, but the girl had already blocked Jay’s hand and jumped back a couple of steps.
Sildire landed in a crouched position, holding her wooden sword upside down, glaring at Jay. Her narrowed eyes and expressionless face were intimidating despite her young age.
Kassel shouted.
“What are you doing?”
Jay growled.
“She was going to attack you. And me, at the same time.”
“What? That’s not possible…”
“Move.”
Jay stepped in front of Kassel, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, which was taken from Bily during a fight. The scabbard, made for a previously broken sword, didn’t fit well and rattled.
Jay demanded.
“What were you going to do, kid?”
“Anything I want.”
“Anything? Then do something.”
“Here?”
“Anywhere.”
“Fine. Want to borrow a wooden sword?”
Sildire asked, unblinkingly.
“I don’t fight in battles that aren’t life-threatening.”
Jay looked down at the girl and retorted.
“Do you realize you’re facing a Wolf Knight?”
He was genuinely curious.
Jay, still gripping the sword hilt, said.
“What do I care who you are, little one?”
Kassel couldn’t hold back any longer and yelled.
“Jaymer! Show some respect as a guest.”
Jay just turned his head and said.
“You do realize she was disrespecting you, right?”
“That’s a separate issue from courtesy.”
“Courtesy my a…”
Jay started to shout but then continued in a lower tone.
“…is important.”
Jay stepped back a few paces.
‘Odd concession to make at this point?’
Kassel was a bit surprised. He then apologized to Sildire.
“We’ve been rude. We were just on our way to the room next to Sheyden’s. Can you show us?”
Sildire seemed annoyed by the interruption.
“Why did you stop it? I’m fine with fighting.”
“I’m not.”
Sildire gave Kassel a disdainful look, then turned and said.
“Follow me.”
Now Kassel noticed she was barefoot. Vunataidol, the man who had followed the carriage, had also been barefoot.
Her footsteps on the stone floor were almost inaudible as she walked lightly. Kassel and Jay’s shoes were dirtying the clean white floor.
“Should have taken off our shoes before entering.”
Kassel whispered.
“I’m dirtier without them.”
Jay confessed.
“Didn’t wash yesterday?”
“Not my feet.”
“Why?”
“They’ll get dirty anyway.”
“You filthy beast!”
“So what?”
Portraits of notable knights from the past lined the corridor. A few old paintings had faded colors. Thinking of these people guarding this place throughout its thousand-year history filled Kassel with awe. Among the portraits on the stairs to the second floor, there was a familiar face.
“Saw that person yesterday.”
Jay commented.
Sildire, leading them, stopped at the top of the stairs.
“You saw the Master yesterday?”
“Yeah. Was intimidated by his presence, but I’ll challenge him again if we meet.”
Jay added threateningly.
“Tell him that if you see him.”
Sildire scoffed.
“You wouldn’t even beat the Master’s nose hair.”
“Then I’ll fight with his leg hair!”
“You lowlife!”
“It’s you who started it!”
Kassel nudged Jay’s shoulder.
“Enough, will you?”
Jay pointed at Sildire ahead of them.
“Didn’t you see her starting it?”
“I did.”
As Jay resumed walking up the stairs, he murmured almost inaudibly.
“Damn, should’ve said armpit hair, not leg hair.”
Kassel was taken aback.
‘Was Jaymer really a deadly hunter?’
Perhaps those who live by taking human lives don’t know how to interact with people. The White Wolves were like that. Among themselves, they bickered and played, but in dealing with others, they turned fierce.
‘Even if it’s human hunting, Jay did it strictly as a job. That’s why he’s so inexperienced in non-work interactions.’
Kassel found some relief in this thought.
‘That’s why he can still be innocent.’
On the second floor, the corridor was adorned with statues in the regular armor of the White Wolves. The parts with plate armor were painted white, and the cape on the armor, slightly faded, was just like the one Barel wore. To see the armor of a knightly order he had idolized and thought of as legendary displayed so casually was another reminder that he was in Nadium.
Sildire stopped midway down the corridor and opened one of the doors.
“Here it is. Need anything else?”
She was blunt but ensured they had what they needed.
“No, thanks. If it’s not too rude to ask, and you don’t have to answer, but how old are you, Sildire?”
“Fiftee… no, sixteen? I don’t mind you asking so earnestly, but why?”
‘Is she doing this on purpose? Or is this just how she talks? Well, does it matter? She’s a Wolf Knight!’
Kassel replied with a smile.
“I heard there was a young prodigy in the Wolf Knights, so I was curious.”
Sildire didn’t smile. Her expression hardened.
“That’s what they say about the White Wolves. Until you join them, you’re just one of the Wolf Knights. Don’t call me a prodigy. It’s annoying. It’s not a joke…”
She turned and walked back the way she came, still holding the wooden sword, her footsteps silent.
“She’s intimidating.”
Kassel muttered after she left.
“What is?”
“Being a Wolf Knight at fifteen! Isn’t that scary?”
“I did as much at fifteen.”
Jay asserted confidently.
“Sure, Master Jaymer.”
Kassel entered his room, and Jay went into the neighboring one. The room had a single bed with a white cover, a small wardrobe that could barely hold ten outfits, and a bookshelf that could fit about twenty books – all the furniture it had. It felt less like a modest room and more like a room missing something.
Kassel curiously entered Sheyden’s room, which was unlocked. It was almost identical, except for a small table with a candle holder and a bookshelf crammed with books.
“That’s Sheyden’s room.”
Startled as if caught stealing, Kassel turned around to find Sildire holding a tray with two cups of water.
“Oh, sorry.”
Sildire extended the tray.
“Drink. It’s an apology for my behavior earlier.”
“Thank you, Knight Sildire.”
“And drop the formalities. We don’t care about such things here. Don’t call me ‘lady’ or ‘knight.’ It’s uncomfortable.”
Kassel took a cup and smiled.
“Okay, thanks, Sildire.”
Sildire asked.
“Are you from Camort?”
“How did you know?”
“Sheyden must have visited Camort, and your name sounds like it’s from there.”
“Right guess.”
Kassel took a sip of water.
Sildire was quietly observing him, making it impossible to shake the feeling of being watched.
“Was your earlier test because of the rumors about the Wolf Knights’ captain?”
Kassel asked.
“You realized you were being tested?”
Sildire looked tensed, asking in return.
“Jaymer’s reaction gave it away. He always knows when someone’s about to attack, from any direction.”
Kassel finished his water and took her tray.
“So, he’s the captain?”
Sildire spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.
Kassel asked casually.
“Why, don’t you like that?”
“No, if he’s stronger than the White Wolves, I have no objections.”
“Not objecting and liking are completely different. No need to force acceptance.”
“If I object, it won’t change anything. My opinion…”
“Even if ninety-nine agree, if the one who disagrees is right, the ninety-nine will follow.”
Sildire looked at him with narrowed eyes.
“You don’t understand anything, do you?”
Her gaze was intimidating, so Kassel pretended to drink more water.
“We often decide by vote. In such cases, the majority opinion is considered the best.”
“That’s sometimes true.”
Kassel said awkwardly, smiling.
“But the Wolf Knights will soon face a more critical issue than welcoming a new captain. So you don’t need to worry about that yet.”
Kassel took the tray and went to his room. Sildire stood by the door and said.
“No, at least for me, the most important issue right now is the captain. I wish Sheyden would become captain. But if the person who takes that position is inferior to Sheyden, I’ll find it hard to accept. If it’s as you say, then I’ll be the one against the ninety-nine.”
Kassel felt a twinge in his heart upon hearing this directly from her.
“I’ll accept it if it’s an order.”
Sildire continued, glancing towards the room where Jay was staying. She must have gone through a lot that typical girls her age haven’t experienced. She must have passed tests even Suvel couldn’t, and might have a broader range of life experiences than him, who had only read about life in books.
“I’ve never heard that Wolf Knights prioritize commands. I thought ‘do as you please’ was their motto.”
Kassel remarked.
Sildire watched him with clear, unwavering eyes and asked,
“Kassel, was it? I get Jaymer, but who are you?”
“I’m a friend of the White Wolves.”
“Are you strong?”
“Not at all.”
Sildire didn’t understand.
“So, you’re weak?”
“By your standards, you could say I’m utterly useless with a sword.”
“How can you be friends then?”
“Uh? Can’t you be friends if you’re not good with a sword?”
“That’s not it, but…”
Sildire stuttered, then frowned and shook her head. The rare sight of her grimacing face somehow looked cute.
“I’m leaving.”
Sildire turned to go. Kassel, feeling a bit disappointed, said,
“Leaving already? I wanted to talk more…”
“About what?”
Her challenging question left Kassel speechless.
‘Why do all these skilled sword users hate talking? Jaymer, Barel, and now this girl too?’
Kassel raised his hands in surrender.
“Never mind. I shouldn’t have held you up. You’re busy.”
Sildire gave him a weird look and walked away. Kassel, arms crossed, watched her thin, stick-like figure disappear down the hallway. Jay came out of his room.
“She was testing your combat skills. Although she was unarmed, she showed killing intent towards you several times. But you didn’t respond.”
Kassel wasn’t surprised, having guessed as much.
“She saw you as the captain.”
Kassel said.
“I don’t care. Is this what you wanted? To be ignored?”
Kassel handed the tray with the water cup to Jay.
“Knight Sildire gave this as an apology. Just drink it.”
Jay gulped it down in one go.
☆ ☆ ☆
Kassel, lying on the bed, took a book titled ‘Aranthia, the Queen’s Founding’ from Sheyden’s bookshelf and began reading. Written by an unknown author, it was a tedious enumeration of events. Just as he was starting the prologue about the Queen discovering the land with wolves, someone tapped on the window.
His room was on the second floor. Seeing someone clinging to the window and peering in, Kassel was startled but not enough to faint.
“Kassel?”
It was a face he didn’t recognize.
“Yes?”
“Good, I’m at the right place. Could you open this?”
After Kassel opened the window, the man jumped in, rolled on the floor, and stood up with ease.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Eryl. Sheyden sent me to bring the honored guest in this room. The other one?”
“In the next room. But, Eryl… a Wolf?”
Kassel asked for confirmation.
“Who else would be jumping through windows in this lodging?”
Eryl chuckled mischievously, laughing a bit frivolously. He looked young, though not as young as Sildire, and had a slender build. His long blond hair swayed over his shoulders, and his arms and legs were lengthy. His nose was slightly crooked, his eyes small and narrow, and his face was pimply like a teenager’s, but his voice was mature.
“Let’s get the other one. Where are we going?”
“To the annex. It’s both the Master’s office and living quarters. Hmm, but he didn’t say why he wanted you. What brings you here? They don’t just give this lodging to any guest. Oh, don’t misunderstand. I’m not challenging your right to stay here.”
Eryl laughed again. Kassel awkwardly smiled back and went to get Jay from the next room. Jay was sweating, doing push-ups.
“Doing this with a hurt shoulder?”
Kassel scolded.
“It doesn’t hurt much now.”
“You’ll suffer when you’re older.”
“Being a hunter is not a job where you worry about getting old.”
Jay massaged his injured shoulder.
“Seeing that kid earlier, couldn’t keep still.”
Kassel gave up and said.
“Let’s go. We’re called.”
“Who? Sheyden?”
“Master Quain.”
“Ah, to exact my revenge from yesterday?”
Kassel was alarmed.
“You’re not planning to fight, are you?”
“Just joking. Even I wouldn’t really do that.”
Jay said seriously.
“Announce when you’re joking from now on.”
Kassel said in disbelief.
“It’s quite hurtful when you say things like that.”
“Announce when you’re getting hurt too. Anyway, follow me.”
Kassel abruptly dragged him out.
Eryl was waiting at the end of the corridor.
“If either of you is interested in sword training, you should visit the training ground. About twenty knights are gathered there now.”
As he led them, Eryl suggested.
“No, thank you.”
“That sounds good.”
Kassel and Jay answered simultaneously. They looked at each other, then Kassel clarified.
“First, we’ll meet Master Quain. The rest can wait.”
“Fine by me.”
Eryl led the way, smiling.
Two bulky guards were playing chess at the entrance to the annex, deeply engrossed in their game. Kassel wanted to greet them, but they barely acknowledged Eryl’s greeting, so focused on their match.
“Do you know how to play chess? Among fifty of them, only those two know how to play, so they’re always at it like that. If they spent that time sharpening their swords, they could have been White Wolves by now, but they find chess more interesting than swords. Isn’t that funny? Why would they bother spending time on such a headache-inducing thing?”
Eryl talked to himself, laughing alone as he led them further into the annex.
“Even the guards here are Wolf Knights.”
Kassel whispered to Jay. Jay just made a face as if to say, ‘So what?’
The corridors of the annex were clean and quiet. The floors were covered with thick, soft, dark red carpets that muffled footsteps. Portraits of knights bearing the Wolf’s crest also adorned the walls of this corridor. The long hallway had windows that let in sharp sunlight in a row, and at the very end, there was a door with a giant axe hanging on either side. Eryl kindly opened the door and called inside.
“I’ve brought the two of them, Master.”
“Come in.”
Eryl opened the door wide and let Jay and Kassel inside.
Inside, Master Quain, the swordsmanship expert they had briefly met yesterday, was waiting.
The man sitting quietly in front of a large table, just as he had been standing beside the Queen yesterday, was busy writing with a pen, his dark brown hair shimmering in the sunlight.
“You may go, Eryl. Oh, and tell the gathered Wolves not to hurt themselves in needless training.”
Quain said. Eryl shrugged his shoulders.
“If they were the type to listen to that, I wouldn’t need to relay it as the Master’s message. I would just ask them myself.”
“Think they would rush to put on their armor if I told them to save their strength because there might be real combat soon?”
Eryl’s eyes widened.
“I would rush to put on my armor right now!”
“Then that won’t do. Pretend you didn’t hear it. Just tell them to take it easy, and if they ask why, just run away.”
“That will make it look even more suspicious.”
“You always look suspicious, so it’s fine. Go on.”
Eryl scratched the back of his head and left. Now, only three remained in the room.
Quain put his pen in the inkwell and crossed his legs as he leaned back in his chair.
“I’ve seen you both briefly yesterday, so let’s skip the introductions. I’ve heard a brief explanation from Sheyden, Captain Kassel.”
Quain gestured towards a chair at the end of the room. Kassel carefully pulled a chair and sat in front of him, while Jay dragged his chair with a noise and plopped down.
Quain looked at them and smiled faintly.
“You’d prefer me not to use the title ‘Captain’?”
Quain asked first.
“Yes, Master Quain.”
Kassel replied, hoping to sound as respectful as possible.
“You want to earn the recognition of the Wolves directly?”
“Yes. It’s not that I mean to defy the Master or Her Majesty the Queen.”
“I heard the Queen mentioned a similar conversation yesterday.”
“Is that okay?”
“I don’t mind. I’ll stay out of that issue.”
Quain slightly bowed his head to meet Kassel’s eyes. His father also used to dominate with his gaze during conversations, and Quain’s eyes resembled his father’s.
“I’ll give you one piece of advice since this might be our only chance to talk. The Wolves do not follow a leader without skill, nor trust a speaker without action.”
Quain’s conversation had been long anticipated by Kassel. He had prepared for every possible scenario in his mind – if Quain shouted, threatened, refused, or acknowledged… He had practiced and refined his responses to all these hypothetical situations during the walk with Eryl.
It was a conversation with the Master of the White Wolves, the Queen of Aranthia’s guardian knight, a knight whom everyone in the world unhesitatingly hails as the strongest. This conversation had to be entirely different from those with the nobles and knights of Camort.
Kassel took a deep breath and began to speak.
“I understand…”
But he could not continue with his prepared speech.
“Then why did you, Captain Wolf, end up as the enemy’s hostage without swinging your sword even once, despite Barel’s injury?”
There was another person in the room. A woman, sitting in a corner behind the curtains, unnoticed by Kassel. Judging by Jay, who knocked over his chair in surprise, he hadn’t noticed her either.
“Master!”
“Hello, Jaymer. I’m glad you kept your promise. I actually wanted to visit you yesterday, but Master Quain had me tied to the bed, saying this poor body was injured.”
Kassel knew who she was before she even mentioned his name.
‘It’s Irine!’
One of the retired White Wolves that Azwin was so eager to meet. With neat short hair, she wore loose pants and a baggy shirt with two buttons undone, as casually dressed as the Queen they had met yesterday.
“I thought you were somewhere in Nadium… You’ve been here all this time, Master?”
Jay spoke hesitantly. Irine gestured with her hand.
“Let’s save our stories for later, Jaymer. Pull up a chair and sit here. It’s not your time right now. I have some questions for Captain Wolf.”
Her tone was unmistakably mocking. Jay did as told and sat beside Irine, leaving Kassel feeling like a criminal in the middle of the large room. Despite trying not to think about it, the thought that these two were knights of unparalleled caliber on the continent kept tensing his muscles.
“Did I ask a question that I shouldn’t have, Kassel?”
Irine’s piercing voice made Kassel shrink. It was strange. Her pressing tone reminded him of someone.
‘Give up the title of Captain, Kassel.’
Black.
‘You are not worthy!’
Kassel remembered the dizzying moment from that time, feeling his body hair stand on end. He turned his gaze from Irine to Quain.
He just watched Irine’s intervention. It seemed unlikely that Irine would interject without Quain’s consent, no matter how close they were.
‘Then this must be a planned action.’
“Why can’t you answer, Captain?”
Irine pressed again.
‘What will you do, Kassel?’
Black’s voice, challenging him at the Red Gate, and Irine’s voice overlapped in his mind. If Irine’s current question was intended like Black’s, he couldn’t back down even more.
‘Don’t panic. This is actually what I wanted! A chance to fight again, a battle I once lost.’
Finally, Kassel spoke.
“I have one question for you, Master Irine.”
“Answer my question first.”
Irine replied in a firm tone.
“My question is the answer to your question.”
“Oh? Let’s see about that. Ask.”
“Do you know the identity of the Black Knight?”
“I do.”
“Then why didn’t you come to rescue me yourself and sent Jaymer instead?”
“How presumptuous!”
Irine’s voice thundered.
“Do I have an obligation to rescue you? Ungrateful that I even sent Jaymer, how dare you speak so out of turn?”
Jaymer, too, was startled by her voice. Kassel did not miss that. Through Jay, who could not hide his feelings, Kassel analyzed Irine.
‘Jaymer doesn’t understand why Irine is angry right now. Then, she must be doing it on purpose, like the first test of the Wolf Knights, where they draw their swords and show their killing intent without intending to fight.’
Kassel looked back at Irine again.
‘Master Quain’s test is being carried out by Master Irine instead.’
Kassel sensed it. Trying to make his tensely clenched hands look natural, he waved them smoothly and said.
“It’s not like that. It’s a matter of choice. How did you, Master Irine, recognize the identity of the Black Knight?”
“A being arisen from death. It’s something you quickly understand if you live constantly encountering such events. But how did you come to know his identity?”
“I didn’t. Not until the very last moment. It took me a long time to know his identity. The tales of those who held me hostage, direct conversations with Black, and circumstantial evidence. It took days. But Master, if you figured out Black’s identity without ever facing him, why didn’t you come to save me?”
Kassel deliberately didn’t give Irine a chance to retort.
“He’s a being that can directly harm Aranthia. Then, Master Irine, you should have come yourself. Why did you order Jaymer to save me and avoid Black? Why didn’t you come with Jaymer and defeat Black?”
Irine crossed her arms and laughed scornfully.
“I’m not sure if this answers my question about ‘why you left Barol behind,’ but the Black Knight, as you call him, is someone who harbors an untouchable devil. If it were just the Black Knight, I would have risked everything to defeat him. But another entity supporting him was too much for me alone.”
Irine pointed to Jay sitting beside her and continued.
“That’s why I ordered Jaymer not to confront the Black Knight, but just to save you, and I came here early to prepare for that.”
“I saw that preparation at the Gold Gate. Being taken hostage was also my choice.”
Kassel didn’t shy away from Irine’s glaring eyes.
‘Azwin respects her. She doesn’t dislike me or intend to harm me. If she truly cares for Aranthia and loves the Wolf Knights, then I must show her my sincerity.’
Kassel had come prepared.
‘If I give my all and she still doesn’t acknowledge me, then I’m not worthy. It’ll be a bit sad, but I can accept it. A better captain will take my place in the Wolf Knights.’
Kassel followed the same method of conversation he had with the Queen yesterday.
“I already faced the Black Knights once with the White Wolves in Camort. So, the moment I saw him, I was terrified. High Lord Talrund would be in danger, and Barol, who stepped forward to protect me, would be at risk, as well as the guards who would recklessly rush to save me. I decided that they would live if I didn’t fight. Surrendering my weapon and becoming a hostage was the best I could do.”
“Is a guy who can’t wield a sword justifying his action of dumping his burden on a subordinate as the best he could do?”
“I didn’t dump it! I entrusted it. Barol will protect Lord Talrund and surely return to Nadium with Aranthia’s treasured sword.”
“Entrusting Aranthia’s treasured sword to an injured subordinate is an overwhelming burden. Did you do that knowingly?”
“In that moment, who else can I trust if not the Wolf Knight? To me, the Wolf Knights are the strongest sword and shield in the world. And Barol is not my subordinate!”
“Then what is he?”
“A Wolf Knight.”
“What, what does that mean?”
Irine’s eyebrows furrowed. Kassel flustered, waving his hands.
“I’m sorry. I got too excited.”
Quain coughed a few times and said with a serious face, but it seemed he was holding back a laugh.
“Irine, you’re done for too. Getting caught up in such nonsense.”
“I didn’t get caught up!”
Irine grumbled, crossing her arms. Quain spoke with a pleased expression.
“Not calling a Wolf Knight a subordinate might also be the first virtue that Captain Wolf should possess. Good posture, Kassel.”
Irine also uncrossed her arms and said.
“Not a bad character. Much better than the little kids bowing their heads in front of a scolding dad. Jaymer, you should learn from this too.”
“I can’t learn it!”
Jaymer was firm.
Quain adjusted his posture and changed the subject.
“There seems to be a beginning part of this story that I don’t know. How about it, Kassel?”
“I would like to start with what happened in Camort. It will take a long time.”
Quain looked out the window at the sun and then stood up.
“There’s a simple party tonight gathering all the Wolf Knights and the royal ministers. We have time until then. Have you eaten?”
“Not yet.”
“It would be good if we could finish talking by sunset. Follow me.”
Everyone in the room stood up. Jaymer, following last, asked.
“Master, are you okay?”
Irine ruffled Jay’s hair in response.
“Worried about me! Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
Quain, walking ahead, laughed.
“You’ve picked up an interesting kid, Irine. Is he your ‘apprentice’?”
“That’s right. How does he look?”
Quain turned his head and scanned Jay from his legs to the top of his head, then shook his head.
“He doesn’t seem fit enough to for you to win the bet.”
“That’s something we’ll see.”
Irine spoke confidently. Kassel was curious about what they were talking about but felt it was a conversation between the two of them and couldn’t interject.
Fortunately, the oblivious Jay asked instead.
“What’s the bet?”
“You don’t need to know.”
Irine cut him off sharply. Kassel had hoped Jay would ask more persistently, but as expected, Jay soon gave up.
Kassel only felt disappointed.
‘What was the bet?’
–TL Notes–
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