~Chapter 30~
Ahem, ahem! Sir Oberon, who had been clearing his throat for no reason, clapped his hands with a strict face.
“Alright! That’s it for today’s training!”
A fine deputy who knew how to cover for his superior’s faults.
I watched Oberon’s retreating back and headed toward the shade of a tree at the edge of the training yard.
“Uncle. Why are you sleeping here?”
Snore, snore. A dazzlingly handsome man asleep.
“Wake up!”
When I shook him, he half-opened his eyes. Nearby, scattered documents lay unfinished.
“Oh, I was working.”
“Liar. You were sleeping.”
No matter what I said, Uncle stretched lazily before sitting upright.
“All done playing?”
“I wasn’t playing!”
The training had been hard.
“Why are you doing work here instead of in your office?”
“Can’t see well there.”
“…?”
“Come on, let’s go get snacks.”
Uncle lifted me up with ease.
Thanks to eating well and training, I was heavier than before. My height had probably gone up too (though Boyd seemed unsure), but Uncle could still carry me without effort.
‘Guess the northern air suits me?’
I felt stronger every day.
“Oh, I’m going to see the castle wall tomorrow!”
“That’s so exciting to you?”
“Of course! I’ve always wanted to go!”
Uncle’s steady steps suddenly stopped. His violet eyes locked on mine.
“If you wanted to go, why didn’t you say so?”
“Huh?”
“When did you start wanting to? If you’d told me, I would’ve taken you.”
I blinked.
“Really?”
“Ruby, I told you.”
He sighed, brushing back my messy hair.
“If there’s something you want, don’t hesitate to tell me.”
“But I didn’t want to bother you…”
And I’d already thought of a way to do it myself.
“Why would your request bother me…”
He stopped speaking. His gaze lowered, fixed on me.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Back in Eosia…”
“….”
“Were you like that in Eosia too?”
I stayed silent. After a pause, he added:
“With your… parents, I mean.”
“Uh, no.”
I looked away awkwardly.
It was half true. I had never once asked the king—or my parents—for anything.
‘But back there, I didn’t want to do anything.’
And they’d never cared what I wanted, even when I was very small…
‘Wait.’
I frowned slightly. My body stiffened. When I was very small?
“Ruby?”
My memories didn’t feel smooth. I could recall moments, but the connections felt off, like someone had stitched them together artificially.
“Ruby-an!”
“Ah?!”
I looked up to see Uncle’s worried face filling my vision.
“Don’t think about it. I’m sorry.”
He hugged me tightly. I blinked over his shoulder.
“Huh?”
What had I been thinking about just now?
“I made you remember something bad. It’s my fault. I’m sorry.”
It wasn’t his fault… but I didn’t have the energy to say more. I just buried my head in his shoulder. His warm, big hand rubbed my back.
It felt oddly familiar… and comforting.
The next day, I went to see the castle wall as planned.
“Wow! Amazing.”
An endless gray stone wall—so thick that even a beast’s claws couldn’t scratch it.
“Don’t run around too much, it’s dangerous.”
A gust of wind blew my hood off, and Oberon pulled it back on for me.
‘Huh?’
As I looked up at him, a tower came into view. Several towers were built along the wall at even intervals.
“What’s that bell at the top of the tower for?”
“That? In the watchtower? If beasts attack or there’s trouble, they ring it.”
“Oh, like an emergency alarm!”
“Alarm? Well, yeah—only in emergencies.”
“Are they all along the wall?”
“Yes. You never know where something will happen.”
‘Found it.’
The perfect place to embed the barrier stone—and the perfect tool.
If I placed a magic stone in the watchtower’s bell, the barrier could spread along the wall.
‘And if someone triggered it, the bell would ring automatically!’
And if linked to my magic, I’d know first.
Just then, a hand suddenly grabbed behind my knee.
“Ha! You’re interested in all sorts of things!”
I was suddenly lifted into the air by the old duke—Grandpa. He’d been following me around all morning, and now he’d joined the tour.
“Wah!”
The sky felt closer from up high, and the wind was fresher.
“Grandpa, why did you come?”
“Hmph! I came to straighten out the wall’s discipline!”
“Oh, okay.”
“Tsk. Thought you’d gained some weight, but overnight you’ve turned back into a little bean.”
He glanced at me with dissatisfaction.
‘Uncle said that this morning too.’
Last night, Uncle and Boyd had both stayed in my room.
At this point, I couldn’t deny it—
‘I must have sleepwalking.’
Otherwise, why would they guard me all night?
Still, nothing had happened, so they hadn’t touched me.
‘Wait—what if I talk nonsense in my sleep?!’
A shiver ran down my back.
Then—
Ding ding ding! The watchtower bell rang wildly.
Its piercing sound made me cover my ears.
“Sir Oberon! It’s an attack! A horde of beasts!”
“Tsk. I thought it would be quiet for a while after we wiped them out a few days ago.”
A subordinate came running. Oberon’s expression sharpened.
“How many?”
“Thirty—no, forty grizzlies!”
“Tsk. Balok.”
“I know.”
Grandpa’s eyes flashed dangerously.
The air grew taut, making me shrink a little.
“Don’t be afraid. They’re just small fry.”
He tightened my cloak.
“I’m not afraid.” I knew Grandpa and the knights were strong.
The beasts’ presence was getting closer. I felt their magic, but kept it hidden.
“Send the defense knights. Has the main castle been informed?”
“A messenger is already on the way.”
“Good.”
Everyone moved quickly and without panic—it seemed routine here.
“This would be a good time to test the new arrowheads, Your Grace.”
Oberon suggested.
Grandpa, heading for the stairs down the wall, nodded.
“Test them and report back.”
“Yes, sir! Now, take Ruby-an somewhere safe.”
“Let’s go.”
“Prepare the archers. Make sure they don’t scatter…”
Oberon’s voice faded as Grandpa carried me down the stairs.
Then—
KWAANG!
A deafening boom shook the earth.
“No way!”
I jerked my head up. The beasts’ presence… was gone?
“Child! Don’t look up!”
Grandpa’s rough hand pushed my head down. I only caught a glimpse of gray smoke rising outside the wall.
Grandpa’s shout thundered.
“What happened?! An explosion—do they not know who’s here?!”
“Your Grace! Vice-captain!”
Someone ran up in a panic.
“What is going on?”
“T-the beasts… they’ve all been wiped out!”
“What?”
Just as I thought.
“Someone appeared suddenly and destroyed them all…”
“Who?”
“That… well…”
Grandpa’s aura turned ice-cold, the killing intent of a swordsman leaking out.
“An enemy? Was it… a mage?”
The hostility in his voice gave me chills.
“I don’t know. But…” The aide added hastily.
“It looked like… a boy!”
This time, I couldn’t stop myself from looking up.
