Chapter 9

After the royal decree fell, the Aster manor was swept by a strange atmosphere of bustle, regret, and anticipation. The parents’ hearts were complicated at having to send their two sons off to the distant capital.

The night before their departure, Viscount Aaron called Kaion to the family’s oath room. There, the swords used by the successive heads of the Aster family were reverently kept.

“This is the sword passed down through generations of our Aster family, ‘The Guardian’s Will.’”

Viscount Aaron took the sword from the wall and handed it to Kaion. It was not flashy, but it bore a stern and steadfast dignity.

“When you go to the capital, always be humble, but do not lose the pride of the Aster family. Wherever your sword points will become our family’s honor.”

“I will remember, Father!”

Kaion took the sword with a resolute expression. Its weight felt heavy, as if bearing the family’s history and future.

At the same time, Rian was giving his final instructions to Kael in his room.

“While I’m gone, I entrust the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ of the estate lands to you. Use the cipher system I taught you to report regularly.”

Rian handed over a small bundle of parchment to Kael. It contained the capital’s geography and the locations of several merchant companies and back-alley informants Rian had identified from books.

“Once you arrive at the capital, you’ll establish a new foothold. Until then, don’t act rashly, and protect Father, Mother, and… Lily. That is your highest priority.”

“By my lord’s command, I will accomplish it even at the cost of my life.”

Kael tucked the parchments carefully into his chest and silently disappeared into the darkness.

The next morning, a carriage bound for the capital was prepared in front of the manor. The whole family and the manor’s servants came out to see the two young masters off. Mother Serena’s eyes reddened as she smoothed her sons’ collars repeatedly, and Lily, now seven, clung to her two brothers and wouldn’t let go.

“Brothers, this…”

Lily clumsily placed small lucky charms she had made into each of their hands.

“Keep them with you. I’ll pray for you every day.”

“Thank you, Lily. I’ll be back soon.”

Kaion stroked Lily’s head, and Rian silently held his younger sister’s small hand tightly.

At last the carriage began to move. Watching their family’s figures recede, the two brothers sank into different moods. Kaion’s eyes were full of expectation and excitement for the knight academy, while Rian’s eyes flashed with cold analysis and plans for the vast city—the capital.

The road from the estate lands to the capital was a long journey of several days. As the vast monster forest near the Aster estate lands faded from view, well-maintained royal roads and prosperous villages began to appear.

On the third day of the journey, as the carriage passed along a forest path, masked men sprang out from the roadside bushes with the sharp sound of metal. They were bandits.

“Stop the carriage! Hand over everything you have and we’ll spare your lives!”

“Brother, I’ll handle this!”

Just as Kaion was about to draw ‘The Guardian’s Will’ and leap from the carriage, Rian grabbed his arm.

“Wait, brother. Those people don’t seem like real bandits.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look at their stance. Their hands holding swords are practiced, but their feet are unstable. They’re fighters used to fighting on open ground, not in forests. And there— the sole of the second man from the right has red soil on it. That’s soil not found around here. They’re probably mercenaries hired with money. Their target was likely another carriage coming behind us, and we got in the way first.”

At Rian’s whisper, Kaion looked at the bandits again in surprise. Indeed, their movements were clumsy, just as his brother had said.

Taking Rian’s advice, Kaion stepped out of the carriage, drew his sword, and shouted.

“I know your target is not us! If you withdraw now, I’ll pretend I saw nothing, but if you continue to block the road, I will execute you in the name of the Aster family, who will enter the Empire’s Knight Academy!”

The words ‘academy’ and ‘Aster family’ wavered the bandits’ gazes. They had assumed they were dealing with insignificant country nobles, but things had become complicated. After a brief exchange of glances, they spat curses and vanished into the forest.

Kaion returned to the carriage and looked at his brother with admiring eyes.

“Rian, you’re really… amazing.”

After several more days of travel, at last a massive wall appeared in the distance. It was Kailus, the capital—the heart of the Kairos Empire. A city of unimaginable scale unfolded before them, and the two brothers were momentarily speechless.

The carriage that passed through the city gates headed toward a small house the Aster family had prepared in the capital.

Looking at the capital’s scenery outside the window, Kaion’s heart began to beat with fiery ambition, and Rian’s with cold calculation.