Chapter 237

Chapter 237: The Nameless Man

A ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍week had already passed since Calix took up residence in Pentan Viscounty.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that time, a lantern came to life at the same hour each night in the annex window. During the day, he mingled with the Mountain Rabbits, and as the sun tilted westward, he always made his way to that same spot.

Mother ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and son spent their time like that.

Elnora ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ashapel did not rush her words. Calix, likewise, did not ask first. Like two people browsing an old study's shelves, they carefully traced the gaps between them. They probed certain points of the past, chipping away at the hollow time little by little.

"You ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍always used to sleep with your window open when night came."

Elnora ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍said, turning her teacup in her hands. The trembling at her fingertips was gone now. Within her calm, only her characteristic steadiness seeped through.

"You loved listening to the sound of the wind. I'd tell you to close it in case you got cold, but you'd always put up a fight."

"Did I really?"

"Yes. You did."

Calix could not easily recall those memories. Instead, he quietly layered what Elnora told him over the void. He listened, nodded, and sometimes asked short questions in return. Thanks to that, lost fragments of the past occasionally surfaced.

And all the while, the world outside the annex grew gradually noisier.

"They say the Marchioness has been meeting some strange man every night."

"Taking advantage of the Viscount being away on campaign—"

"Good heavens! Do you know what kind of person Lady Elnora is! Watch your tongue!"

What began as baseless speculation eventually took on flesh and found its way to the ears of the guards. Had the relationship between Viscount Pentan and Elnora Ashapel not been so well-regarded, it would have spread in an instant.

And so, before those reckless rumors could cross a certain line, Volga stepped over the threshold of the annex. He stood with a sheepish expression and bowed his head to Elnora.

"……Madam, I am meeting you for the first time. Would it be all right if I stayed as well?"

Elnora made room for him with a faint smile.

Even after hearing the idle gossip circulating among the people, she neither vented her anger nor asked unnecessary questions. It was entirely like Elnora Ashapel.

From that day on, Volga joined them in his capacity as leader of the Mountain Rabbits, and as administrators began trickling in as well, the rumors gradually faded. Now, what spread through the viscounty was word that the Mountain Rabbits had decided to take part in the war.

At first, Volga simply listened.

Then, at some point, he began tossing in lighter remarks. The atmosphere felt too stiff to him, and Calix was far too quiet as well.

"Was he always this quiet, even as a child?"

"……Volga."

"No, I'm genuinely curious. I never realized he was this taciturn. Back then he was at least decent company, but lately……there's no telling him apart from a cleric. He practices the art of silence, I tell you."

The subject of discussion showed some sign of discomfort, but Elnora answered with a small laugh. Volga's shamelessness warmed the air around the table.

"That's true. Calix was always a child who kept much stored inside. I taught him to be that way. He had to be careful about what he let out of his mouth."

From that night on, the nature of their conversations changed.

The things Calix could not remember, Elnora and Volga recalled together, one by one. From his early childhood, to his first encounter as a conscript, through his days as a mercenary and the war against the monsters. The woman smiled at Volga's exaggerated accounts and grew solemn at the hardships her son had endured.

Of course, they occasionally exchanged news from the outside world as well.

"I hear the north has been growing restless."

"Duke Akron is leading the nobles southward. A clash is inevitable."

"Inevitable, is it……"

"Wars begin when there is a prospect of victory."

Calix read the exhaustion that surfaced on Elnora's face. The steadiness of her younger years remained, yet layers of time had accumulated over it.

Then, once again, Volga changed the mood with a handful of words.

"It would be nice if we could help. But he turned down my request."

"A request, you say……"

"I asked him to lead the Mountain Rabbits again, like before."

The grumbling was casual. But tucked beneath those words was a sincerity that could not be hidden. It was Volga's selfishness, and it was his desperate wish at the same time.

The world needed a hero.

But Elnora saw it from the opposite direction.

"He is searching for a path."

Volga blinked.

"A path?"

"That's right."

Elnora kept her gaze fixed on Calix as she spoke, slowly.

"Those who wander move because they can go anywhere. Those who are isolated stop because they need to find out where they must go."

"……"

"You are doing well, my son."

Calix did not let her words pass through him. They were only a handful of words, and yet they felt as though they had returned him to where he belonged. All this time, he had believed himself to be empty. He had no memories, his emotions responded sluggishly, and he could not close the distance between himself and others.

Perhaps, without knowing it, he had thought he was running away.

But his mother called it something else.

‘Searching for a path.’

Calix drew in a breath and spoke in a low voice.

"I……am not afraid of seeing blood."

Elnora gave a nod. She did not say she understood. That would have been too easy a comfort. Instead, she simply waited, giving her son the space to bring out his next words.

After a stretch of silence—

Calix organized his thoughts and continued.

"As you say, where I must go……I have not decided yet."

"So that is why you came all this way. Sometimes, one must also know how to look back at the time that has passed."

Elnora's answer was simple. Yet it was precisely that simplicity that lifted Calix back to his feet.

He was not wandering. He was not turning a blind eye to the world's chaos, nor was he hiding out of fear. He was searching for where to place his next step, and how.

That night, as he left the annex, Calix looked up at the sky.

The sky over Pentan Viscounty was unusually clear. Countless stars shone. The wind was cold, and from atop the castle walls came the faint sound of armor clattering.

The world still reeked of blood.

Even so, something like a small lantern had been lit within one corner of Calix's chest. The further his journey carried him, the more the fragments of his heart were gathering together, one by one.

And that fact quietly pushed Calix forward.

* * *

The forewarning of war arrived in silence.

It began with the torches of the Empire's southern fortress dwindling one by one. No one noticed. A fortress defended by no more than a hundred soldiers vanishing was nothing strange given the current situation.

And then, at dawn the next day, an entire supply convoy disappeared without a trace.

The knights of House Pentan paid it little mind. As winter drew closer, bandits and deserters were bound to multiply. The problem was what came after. No word arrived bearing news of the situation, and smoke began rising from the outlying villages.

That smoke soon became firelight illuminating the night.

"It's coming from the northeast!"

Scouts were dispatched belatedly. The flames were not the remnants of simple plunder. Only houses, storehouses, and stables had been burned with precision. Almost no one had been killed. Instead, every survivor had been swept into the viscounty's central area.

Refugees.

Women clutching children. Elders gripping what little they could carry. Men whose expressions had gone blank. From their lips came the same words, uniform and hollow.

"There were……so many soldiers."

"They were not bandits."

"They surrounded the village before we had any chance to flee."

Only then did the knights' faces stiffen. It was the coalition of nobles who opposed Marquis Ashapel's rule. They had occupied the villages and advanced no further. Instead, they blockaded the roads leading to the castle and severed its supply routes.

The interior of the castle stirred at once.

Elnora Ashapel issued the order to hold. She said to defend the walls, that Marquis Ashapel's forces would arrive soon. But there was no one who believed those words.

Viscount Pentan had gone to the front lines. His liege, Marquis Ashapel, was the same. There was no one nearby to extend a helping hand.

The Mountain Rabbits were stationed inside the castle gate, on the left flank. Volga scanned beyond the walls, reading the state of the battlefield. The enemy was in no hurry. When night came, they concealed themselves in the dark and crept forward slowly. Rather than launching a night assault, they merely made noise, gnawing away at the defenders' nerves.

"Captain."

Romance spoke in a low voice.

"This is……a battle we cannot hold out in. They've punched through one axis of the front line. Marquis Ashapel won't be able to return in time."

Volga gave a nod. He knew it well enough himself. The disparity in numbers was stark, and the difference in morale was even greater. From the enemy's perspective, all they had to do was starve them out, shake them, and wait for the inside to crumble.

Before long, cracks began forming within the castle.

The nobles' attendants spoke up first. Was there a way to slip out? Was negotiation possible? The mercenaries exchanged glances, and with each passing day, the number of guards dwindled.

Then, a shout erupted from beyond the castle gate.

It was not a cheer. It was short, and sharp—a signal.

The enemy's formation moved at the break of dawn. It was not a full assault, but the siege had begun. Ladders were thrown against the walls, and after roughly two hours of attack, they withdrew. They were testing the viscounty's defensive posture.

In that moment, hope disappeared from the faces of the knights.

"……We have to buy time."

Someone murmured.

"At the very least, Lady Elnora must get out."

But no one could say how they would carve open a path.

In the midst of it all, Calix stood alone deep within the castle. It was the quietest corridor, a passage where no one walked. From somewhere far off, the noise of the walls and the drumbeats of the enemy rang out together.

He felt a sense of déjà vu.

In Calix's childhood, on the night the current Marquis Ashapel had bared his ambitions, the same scene had unfolded. A burning city, screams boiling with murderous intent, blades drenched in blood. It was as though he had returned to that time.

And yet, something had changed.

He was no longer a powerless being.

The moment his mother was threatened, an unpleasant feeling filled his heart to the brim. Following that emotion, mana surged and roiled.

Rumble.

Thunder rolled through the arid night sky.

Calix had not yet moved. He had not taken up his sword, nor had he seen blood. Only the unpleasantness had preceded him in changing the world.

‘Am I making the right decision?’

A single question pierced through his mind in succession. It was, in the end—the final question Calix put to himself.

Dark clouds gathered, blanketing the surrounding area in black. The sky was clouding over.

"C—Calix, Sir."

"……My mother?"

"She is in the inner quarters."

The attendant Gajit watched him with an expression shrunk in on itself. Oddly enough, that very fact softened his feelings just a little.

There was no need to be emotional.

Calix looked at one fact alone.

He could not remain by his mother's side forever. But he had to let those people know who it was they were trying to harm.

He moved his feet toward the outer walls.

And then, a man with an iron rod in one hand appeared on the battlefield.