Chapter 017
After checking on Adele, Ronschka, and Leon, Lucas turned his gaze to the charred corpse of the black magician. Then, he looked into the dark forest.
“It’s the same as always.”
“Since it’s a filthy black magician, it’s best to burn it clean.”
A man walked out from the forest. He wore long, flowing robes like a magician and had red hair tied back in a ponytail.
Heirin. The Empire’s Chief Spirit Mage.
Born as the only son of the Weatherfield family, known for producing exceptional spirit mages, Heirin summoned a spirit for the first time when he was just five years old—making history as the youngest to do so.
Before even reaching adulthood, he entered the royal palace, breaking all previous records and climbing the ranks effortlessly.
The spirits Heirin commanded were larger, more beautiful, and more powerful than any other spirits. Because of this, many admired him, but Lucas did not.
They were of similar age and had interacted before, but they never became friends. Their personalities didn’t match.
“Let’s move somewhere else.”
Lucas spoke while carefully lifting Adele. Ronschka followed behind him with a stiff expression.
A small, frail boy with fiery red hair.
And yet… Heirin couldn’t take his eyes off the child.
‘He doesn’t look older than Rosalyn. But he summoned that kind of spirit?’
It was impossible for children of that age. Even Heirin himself couldn’t have done it at that age.
Heirin swallowed hard.
‘I want him.’
A child with such an extraordinary gift.
His talent far surpassed Rosalyn’s. With this boy’s abilities, his family could maintain their wealth and status for generations.
Perhaps that was why Heirin acted differently than usual. Instead of going his own way, he followed behind Lucas.
Lucas, focused on Adele, walked carefully. But he soon realized that there was an extra person following them. He turned around and was surprised.
“Heirin, why are you following us?”
Heirin hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“My purpose is you, Lucas.”
“My purpose?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t know what you’re up to.”
“I haven’t done anything yet.”
Heirin answered with a calm smile, but his eyes remained fixed on Ronschka.
Seeing this, Lucas instinctively stepped in front of Ronschka, blocking Heirin’s view.
“Why?”
Heirin licked his lips and asked.
Why? Even Lucas couldn’t explain it. He just had a bad feeling and didn’t want Heirin to see Ronschka any more than he already had.
As the two stood off, the bushes suddenly rustled, and a small child ran out.
A cute little girl with long pink hair.
The child looked around, then ran straight to Heirin.
“Father.”
She called Heirin her father.
“Father?”
Lucas looked at Heirin in shock. He knew Heirin was married, but he didn’t expect him to have a child.
So, even this cold-hearted man brings his child around?
Then Lucas noticed the girl’s condition.
Her skin, exposed through her torn clothes, had scratches all over. She looked exhausted.
Yet, Heirin didn’t seem to care at all.
‘Of course.’
This was why Lucas disliked Heirin.
“Alright. Since our destination is my estate, let’s head there.”
Lucas didn’t like the idea of bringing Heirin to his home. But he couldn’t just ignore the injured child, either.
And so, an unusual group continued through the forest—Lucas, Adele, Ronschka, Leon, and the strange father-daughter pair.
After leaving the forest, they soon met a group of guards. Lucas explained the situation, and a carriage was quickly arranged to take them to his estate.
***
As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the estate, Lucas carried Adele in his arms and shouted,
“Doctor!”
“Y-Yes!”
A maid, who had been cleaning near the entrance, was startled and quickly ran off to fetch the doctor.
Lucas laid Adele on the bed and loosened her clothing slightly, just as Madeleine had done before, to help her breathe more easily. Then, he stepped aside, leaving her in the hands of Madeleine and the doctor.
This was the second time Adele had collapsed. Because of that, Ronschka seemed calmer. But Lucas had no idea how he was really feeling inside.
“She’ll be okay.”
It was a weak reassurance, but it was all Lucas could offer.
“She has to be.”
Ronschka’s voice was firm. Despite being so young, he carried a weight far beyond his years.
How would this child grow up?
Lucas wondered as he watched Ronschka.
Was the atmosphere too heavy?
Leon, who had joined them late, couldn’t bring himself to speak. Instead, he simply stood beside Ronschka in silence.
And then there was the unwelcome guest—Heirin. He was still staring at Ronschka.
“Stop looking at him. You said your business was with me. Let’s talk somewhere else.”
Lucas tried to turn Heirin’s attention away again, but Heirin shook his head.
“There’s no rush. I don’t have a deadline. Besides, there’s something more important right now.”
“Heirin!”
“You don’t have to remind me of my own name. I already know it.”
“Ronschka is off-limits.”
“Oh, so the kid’s name is Ronschka?”
“Yeah. And I’m the one teaching him right now, so forget it.”
“A knight teaching a spirit mage?”
Heirin smirked mockingly.
“What’s next? A fox teaching a wolf how to hunt?”
“Stop being sarcastic.”
“A spirit mage should learn from another spirit mage. This child has incredible talent! And you, a mere knight, are ruining it!”
Hearing that, Lucas was momentarily at a loss for words.
He had been doing his best to teach Ronschka with what little he knew. But he knew that real training from a true spirit mage would be much more effective.
Even so, he couldn’t just agree.
If he handed Ronschka over to Heirin, the boy would suffer. He had seen how Adele ended up unconscious. He wasn’t about to let Ronschka meet the same fate.
As if reading Lucas’s thoughts, Heirin spoke again.
“Then why don’t we ask Ronschka himself?”
Heirin stepped closer to Ronschka. Leon, standing nearby, grew wary of him. But Heirin ignored him.
The only one he cared about was Ronschka.
“Ronschka.”
Heirin called his name, but Ronschka didn’t answer. He simply stared at the closed door.
Right now, nothing mattered to him except his mother. He didn’t even hear Heirin’s voice.
“Ronschka.”
Heirin tried again, this time in a gentler voice.
But Ronschka still didn’t react.
“Stop it. His mother is injured. He won’t hear a word you say.”
“Oh, the woman you were carrying earlier?”
“Yeah. I’ll show you to a guest room, so go rest for now.”
“I don’t need to rest.”
“But your daughter might.”
Lucas glanced at Rosalyn, who stood behind Heirin.
At that, Heirin spoke to Rosalyn in a surprisingly gentle tone.
“Rosalyn, are you tired?”
Rosalyn shook her head firmly.
“No, I’m fine.”
“See? She said she’s fine.”
“She’s a child! Check her condition before forcing her to stay up.”
“Fine, I will.”
Despite his earlier obsession with Ronschka, Heirin easily let it go and stood up.
“If my dear old friend insists, I guess I’ll take care of Rosalyn first.”
“Who’s your friend?” Lucas muttered under his breath, holding back a sigh.
With that, Heirin followed a maid out of the room.
Only then did Lucas start feeling the pain in his injured back.
‘But it’s not too bad.’
The real problem was Adele.
Her body had barely recovered, and yet this happened again.
A bear, then a black magician. It was as if she was cursed with bad luck.
The door to Adele’s room remained shut. Occasionally, Madeleine would step out but say nothing before going back inside.
Ronschka didn’t move from his spot. He stood there like a statue, waiting.
Leon was the same.
“You both need to rest,” Lucas told them.
But the children refused.
Lucas watched them in silence before giving up.
Their determination struck him deeply.
“A little longer should be fine.”
They could eat, bathe, and sleep after seeing the doctor. They needed treatment too—Lucas included.
So, he sat beside them and waited for the door to open.
