“Oh?”
Sisou raised his hand, pointing to the back of the training grounds.
“The eccentric old man is with His Highness the Prince?”
At the name Anya, Evernight’s brow furrowed. Turning in the indicated direction, he saw Sabelli Nox circling around his companion with a sly smile.
“What scheme is that annoying old man up to now?”
Sisou whistled, his eyes gleaming. Sabelli Nox’s behavior had caught everyone’s attention. Given how unpredictable the old man was, his sudden appearance wasn’t that surprising.
“I thought I was crazy when I started teaching magic to a blockhead like you.”
Riario clicked his tongue, a plump leather pouch now secured at his waist.
“Anyway, that big oaf—you take responsibility and bring him to the healer.”
“No, Magic Master! Why me?”
“Chivalry. Ever heard of it?”
Start considering such things. Riario left Sisou behind, who was protesting his innocence, and addressed the dark-clad knights gathered together. Hey, I’ll calculate and distribute the betting money soon. Most of them looked dejected at his words. Damn it, there goes this month’s salary.
Evernight still hadn’t taken his eyes off Sabelli Nox and his companion. Eccentric Sabelli Nox. It was a title that always preceded the old man’s name. The aged man had once been his teacher.
“Riario, keep an eye on them.”
Riario grimaced and waved his hands in refusal. Though they were both magic users, the old man was closer to an unwelcome eccentric researcher.
“Commander. I’m quite busy, you know? I’m currently crafting magical tools to rebuild the Wall.”
Riario offered a plausible excuse.
“Why are you looking at me, Commander? I’m helping him too.”
Karen chimed in from the side, shaking his head with a tense expression. Karen was the only man among these dark knights with quick and deft hands.
Since Sabelli Nox kept Riario busy whenever they met, being fellow magic users, the old geezer was definitely someone to avoid. Otherwise, one might find oneself locked in the basement all night, transferring magic circles onto parchment.
Even so…
“That’s an unexpected combination. His Highness the Prince and Sabelli Nox.”
Evernight’s index finger rhythmically tapped on his knee.
“That old man has a pathological attraction to bizarre things.”
‘What fierce, tenacious eyes. Good eyes. What’s your name, boy?’
A younger Sabelli Nox stood in the back alleys of Red Coast, where murder, arson, and rape occurred daily. At his feet, a dirty, ragged boy glared up at him with raised eyes.
That memory evaporated in an instant.
Evernight sneered as he averted his gaze. It was necessary to make it clear who now owned this domain.
* * *
“E-Ever, Evernight Lord w-was your a-apprentice?”
The peculiar walk with Sabelli Nox was strange in the literal sense. On the first day, the old man took the hesitant Anya through the Nameless Forest of the North, teaching him the names of trees and short vegetation. On the second day, meeting at the same time, the two sat on a low tree stump at the forest entrance, eating fig tarts and drinking goat’s milk with honey that a servant had packed for them, while discussing forest legends. Surprisingly, the Nameless Forest truly had no name. Nevertheless, folk tales about this forest were abundant.
“When that fellow was very young, briefly.”
On the third day, the old man brought up Evernight. He had even been Evernight’s teacher. Anya was so shocked he almost dropped the cookie he was holding, but fortunately managed not to. Desserts were labor-intensive and rare. He couldn’t carelessly drop them on the ground.
“But you always seem to address him by his surname.”
Anya carefully closed the cap of the warmed goat’s milk to prevent spillage and answered in a shrinking voice.
“E-Evernight, Lord… I-I don’t know his n-name yet.”
Expecting a scolding, Anya was surprised when Sabelli just smiled.
“He’s always like that. Don’t worry too much. The fellow has quite a complex about his name.”
Hearing about Evernight through the old man was immensely interesting. Learning that even a man who seemed so perfect had complexes was a new discovery that made his heart race. Even though Evernight despised and scorned him, he was still Anya’s husband, and he needed to make a good impression.
“Would you like to see the lake? There’s a lake at the eastern end of this forest.”
When thinking of Evernight, Anya always felt like suffocating under the weight of guilt and responsibility. But at the mention of a lake, his eyes filled with pure curiosity. The boy wasn’t yet skilled at hiding his emotions.
‘There’s a mountain of things to teach you.’
Sabelli quickly noticed this. Still smiling broadly, he packed the leftover food back into the basket.
“Come, let’s go.”
* * *
The forest of Tildyen felt like a different dimension. There were no such ancient, dense forests in Maneregia. There were always fertile plains, vast green fields, and low hills. A bright land with good air circulation. Maneregia, true to its name, was called the land of light and morning, blessed by the goddess.
In contrast, Tildyen’s forest was ancient and dark. The air was filled with thick and thin branches tangled together to form a high roof, and the ground was wet with accumulated snow. The forest lacked any notable signs of life. That’s why the people of Tildyen rarely visited the winter forest.
Anya recalled his first time entering this forest a few days ago. The trees, which had all seemed the same, could now be distinguished by type thanks to Sabelli. Over the long years, following the laws of nature, each place where a tree had been cut down now had an eye. The countless eyes engraved on the trees seemed to watch Sabelli and Anya along their path. That’s why Sabelli called these trees ‘Watchers’.
Anya had the frightening thought that the eyes seemed to move, but tried his best to shake off the idea.
After walking diligently, they reached what seemed to be the middle of the forest, where the ‘Tree of Beginning’ stood. Sabelli said that the name of that grotesque ancient tree was the ‘Tree of Beginning’. While all the trees in the forest had their eyes open, only this tree had its eyes quietly closed. This massive tree, if Sabelli’s words were true, had witnessed the raising of Tildyen’s walls and had seen the Dark Lions heading beyond the Wall.
“Are you tired?”
The deeper they went into the forest, the more snow had accumulated. Their shoes sank into the snow, slowing their pace. Cold wind whispered between the trees. Anya hunched his neck deep into his robe and hastened his steps. Was it a mistake to have come along? He could feel his body becoming increasingly damp and heavy.
“A protection spell.”
Sabelli approached and placed his hand on Anya’s crown. A white light flickered under the old man’s palm, and soon a warm breeze circulated throughout his body.
“It will only last an hour or two at most, but it’s very effective.”
Anya involuntarily let out a pure exclamation of amazement at the power of this great magic. Sabelli burst into a somewhat frivolous laughter. His laughter was so loud that it echoed through the enclosed forest.
“Even beginner apprentices can do this much.”
This was Anya’s first experience with magic since coming to Tildyen. Was magic actually common, considering both Riario and Sabelli could use it? It had always felt distant, something he had only read about in books.
“I-I heard th-that there are m-many types of m-magic.”
Anya rarely initiated conversations. Sabelli brightened and enthusiastically provided answers while they continued walking.
“Broadly, magic is divided into attack and defense. Going into more detail, attributes are determined according to the mage’s disposition and abilities.”
Two sets of footprints were etched side by side on the white snow. Birds, startled by visitors who had entered the deep forest after a long time, fluttered up with rustling wings.
“Death, illusion, healing, iron wall, melody, spirit—magic attributes are diverse.”
“I-I didn’t kn-know they were s-so varied. Wh-what is your m-magic, S-Sabelli-nim?”
Anya watched cautiously, wondering if he had asked an inappropriate question. Sabelli, however, seemed pleased.
“Healing.”
It was a magical attribute that suited the warm and kind old man well, despite his strange way of speaking. Anya wanted to ask about Riario’s magical attribute too but hesitated to speak up, fearing he might seem too familiar.
“Aren’t you curious about Riario, boy?”
“What? Yes! I-I am curious.”
Anya nodded his head eagerly.
“That Riario is ‘Death’.”
Somehow, Sabelli’s expression showed disapproval.
“Boy, that fellow does all sorts of suspicious things behind your back with a smiling face, so be careful.”
It seemed unlikely of Riario, who had given him the ring. Somehow, Sabelli and Riario didn’t appear to be on good terms.
“Regrettably, there are only two mages in Tildyen. With humans possessing magical power being so rare, the empire’s lands are gradually being depleted of magical energy since the elves crossed the strait and disappeared long ago.”
So magic wasn’t common after all. Sabelli had made concrete what Anya had only seen superficially in books. Anya liked this kind and warm old man. He was the only person in the harsh and cold Tildyen who spoke to him.
