“Some people consider me just an eccentric old man of Tildyen, others call me a mad wizard, and some good-for-nothings mistake me for a beggar coming to beg.”
The old man burst into laughter. His laughter was so loud that it echoed along the ridge of the mountain. All the self-deprecating remarks he made as jokes weren’t funny at all, but Anya gave an awkward smile, feeling increasingly anxious.
“So what did you mistake me for?”
The old man threw the same question at him. People who asked for opinions were rare. Most of Anya’s conversations with people consisted of forceful commands. Unaccustomed to this situation, Anya hesitated whether to answer honestly or tell a well-intentioned lie.
“For-forest… keeper. A tr-truly ma-magnificent forest keeper.”
Anya decided to mix some falsehood with the truth. Sabelli burst into laughter once more. His voice was so loud that birds in the forest took flight with a flutter.
“Forest keeper… that’s fine. Even better than scholar. I love the forest. When an ancient forest accumulates eternal time, it can even become a god.”
Deep wrinkles formed around Sabelli’s eyes. He made Anya uncomfortable for no reason, as if poking him with a skewer. Why does he keep talking to me?
“I, I should…”
If he stayed with the old man any longer, he might discover his secret meeting with the flames or send him to the Galley Monastery. As Anya tried to quickly leave, the old man blocked his path. The movement was so nimble that Anya quickly drew in his breath.
“Will you come again tomorrow, boy?”
Anya chewed his lip hesitantly. He couldn’t readily lie and say he wouldn’t. If caught in a lie, it would be troublesome. Besides, Anya wanted to keep coming to this forest.
“The forest is dangerous, boy. This forest has eyes. Allow me to assist your walks with my humble swordsmanship.”
“Th-there’s re-really no n-need for that.”
Despite Anya’s severely stuttered words from embarrassment, the old man listened patiently in silence.
“Do you not trust my swordsmanship, child?”
The old man was capricious. Sometimes he would address Anya with the high title of “mistress,” then lower it to “boy.” Sometimes he would even call him “child” with parental familiarity.
“N-no, not at all!”
Anya hastily waved his hands in denial. Who was he to disparage a scholar? After all, he was the scholar of Tildyen Rock!
“Then we’ll meet at this time tomorrow.”
The old man nodded and stepped back. Anya was too timid to run after the departing old man and strongly express his refusal. Back at the imperial palace, dozens of scholars took turns teaching the imperial princes. They mercilessly punished mistakes.
Anya had no choice but to meekly accept the old man. As always, there was nothing he could change.
And so, a companion was added to this peculiar walk.
* * *
Evernight was a warrior to the bone. Because of his extraordinary intellect and handsome appearance, many mistook him for a well-bred civil official who had never held a sword, but his instincts were far from that. Anyone who had crossed blades with him would never speak such words again.
“Sisou! Handle him gently!”
Tildyen’s winter temperatures remained below freezing even during the day, yet most of the knights gathered at the training ground had their upper bodies bare. They sat carelessly on the dirt floor, shouting.
Two men stood in the center of their circle. One was a young man with golden hair thoroughly disheveled by the winter wind, the other a large man who seemed easily over 2 meters tall.
Sisou readjusted his grip on his longsword and lowered his stance. The large man was holding a battle axe as big as his own body.
“Now, who will you bet on?”
Riario walked around in front of them with a leather pouch. Everyone eagerly pulled out silver coins from the pouch.
“The Falcon’s Sword, Sir Sisou.”
“No matter how skilled Sir Sisou is, just look at that enormous axe!”
Riario shook the cloth pouch urging them on. The silver coins inside clinked together with a jingle.
Soon the two men charged toward each other as snow sprayed from beneath their feet. Sisou fearlessly rushed toward the man who seemed at least 3-4 times his size. The young man’s nickname was “Falcon’s Sword” because he attacked like a falcon.
Sisou was the youngest of the Dark Lions, and as he was known for always grinning broadly and fiercely enjoying his food, not many besides those above the rank of middle-grade knight had directly witnessed his swordsmanship. To put it unkindly, Sisou Kurel was famous for being an empty-headed youth, so apprentices shouted excitedly at his unusually serious expression.
The training ground quickly became noisy. Even servants who had been diligently working paused to take a peek.
“Who do you think will win?”
Evernight was leisurely eating an apple, sitting with one knee bent against a tree stump. At Lorea’s question, several apprentice knights nearby looked up at him with sparkling eyes. They had just placed bets on the warrior wielding the giant axe.
“Sisou.”
The apprentices made bewildered expressions at his monotonous voice. No matter how you looked at it, Sisou seemed outmatched in strength… after all, the man was so enormous he was called a descendant of vanished giants.
“Really? I suppose so?”
But with the legendary lions so confident, the betting scene became chaotic. Gradually, more people started placing bets on Sisou.
“They say that axe brother ranked third in the Imperial Swordsmanship Tournament,” someone timidly voiced.
Evernight bit into his apple with an indifferent face, appearing to barely listen.
“With that skill, he could definitely defeat Sir Sisou and become a senior knight…”
“Only if he’s prepared to sacrifice his life.”
The Dark Lions, who had guarded the Wall, became knights who protected Tildyen when Evernight was awarded the title of Duke. But their identity remained the same. To become a senior knight, one had to follow a vicious custom – directly cross swords with a senior knight, force them to kneel, and take their life. Because of this custom, such confrontations happened only once or twice a year, but recently they had become more frequent.
Becoming a senior knight meant receiving a much higher salary than a guard or a wandering knight, and the ability to participate in battles as a commander. This created many opportunities to make a fortune. When news spread that Evernight’s group had claimed territory beyond the Wall, numerous wandering knights gathered in Tildyen. The ominous name “Dark Lions” became a thing of the past. The name now became a curious nickname for the Tildyen Knights.
The large man was the same. He swung his massive axe in the air. A gust of wind blew. Sisou’s golden bangs fluttered in the wind as he quickly stepped back. The cold gust was strong enough to be felt even by the knights sitting at the edges.
“It’s physique rather than technique. That fellow is definitely a descendant of giants. The senior knight position might change!”
As the intimidating axe swings continued, bets shifted back to the large man. Tsk, tsk, spineless fellows. Riario inwardly clicked his tongue while busily collecting silver coins.
The ground dented every time the large man swung his axe. But despite the passing time, that intimidating axe blade never touched Sisou’s body to spill red blood.
Sisou, true to his nickname “Falcon’s Sword,” dodged the man’s axe swings with quick movements. While evading, he didn’t forget to taunt the large man.
“Challenging me with such skills hurts my pride. Oh, how it pains my heart.”
“You… you bastard!”
Finally, the giant began to spin with his axe, face flushed bright red. A terrifying rotational acceleration built up, like a massive spinning top. The apprentices at the edges quickly backed away, fearing they might be killed by the spinning axe.
Everyone swallowed hard, watching Sisou and wondering what would happen. Among them were some with malicious intentions, hoping the cocky young knight would die.
“Die! I’m now the senior knight of Tildyen!”
The giant axe top charged toward Sisou with a thunderous shout. The chest of the young knight with disheveled golden hair heaved greatly. Sisou quietly regulated his breathing and closed his eyes.
“Huh? Why is he closing his eyes? Is he crazy to die?”
Evernight snorted at the low-quality curses from the apprentices.
When the terrifying axe blade came dangerously close, Sisou’s eyes snapped open. Veins bulged over the back of his hands gripping the sword handle. Sisou lightly jumped up and then used the momentum to lower his body, instantly sliding down the snowy ground. When his lithe body, half-folded, finally reached the blade of the giant axe, Sisou readjusted his grip to hold the sword vertically.
“Kuk, kuk!”
From beneath the spinning axe, Sisou raised his sword and cut the man’s leg. The man’s leg spurted blood, instantly turning the white ground red. Thud! The axe fell with a thunderous noise, and the man fell to his knees. With a nimble movement, Sisou rose and thrust his sword down behind him.
“Enough.”
When the tip of the sword barely touched the man’s nape, Evernight raised his hand. The audience was enveloped in heavy silence. Sisou turned to look at Evernight with eyes full of heat.
“Slaughter is only for those who challenge the knighthood. You must display chivalry.”
Evernight spoke as he threw to the ground an apple that now had only the core left. Tch. Sisou withdrew his sword and sheathed it at his waist. He casually arranged his disheveled golden hair with his hand, the intensity in his eyes completely gone as if it had never been there.
