"Song of the Wind?"
Raon tilted his head as he looked at Rimmer.
'What is the Song of the Wind?'
He had heard a few times about feeling a scent in the wind, but this was the first time he heard about wind singing.
If he had to be specific, the name of the new Sword Domain Rimmer created was the Song of Wind and Lightning, but it didn't seem to have much to do with that.
"As I thought, you don't know."
Rimmer scratched the bridge of his nose as if he had expected this.
"What do you think is the most basic way for a swordsman to use wind?"
"Enveloping oneself with wind, right? Because it can enhance both speed and sharpness."
Raon answered while drawing out the wind from his energy center.
Although I rarely use it due to having the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation and Glacier, swordsmen with wind attributes would envelop their bodies and swords with wind to increase their power and speed.
"That's right."
Rimmer nodded calmly.
"When you envelop your body with wind, it becomes so light that you feel weightless, allowing for faster and sharper sword strikes. However, that's not all there is to it."
He wiggled his finger.
"Try creating fire and cold energy above your hand."
"Understood."
Raon nodded and created frost on his left hand and flames on his right.
"Wind is quite a unique attribute."
A blue-tinted wind rose above Rimmer's finger.
"It doesn't have an attribute that forms an extreme compatibility like fire and water. Rather..."
As the wind wrapped around his finger unraveled like a thread, the flames and frost burning above Raon's hands swelled to about twice their size.
"It enhances other attributes."
"Wasn't it in a compatibility relationship with the earth attribute?"
Raon tilted his head as he looked at the intensely burning flames and frost.
"No. Like flames and frost, wind can also enhance sword strikes with earth attributes."
Rimmer laughed, saying it was something people who like to create formulas would say.
-That statement is correct.
Wrath nodded.
-The wind can enhance fire, water, and earth alike. However, it's true that it's slightly less harmonious with the earth. It's more of a complex relationship.
He snorted, saying it was strange that the day had come when the pointy-ears' words were correct.
"Because wind can enhance fire, water, and earth, it's also easy to suppress all three attributes."
As the blue light flickered on Rimmer's finger, all the wind flowing around disappeared. When a windless zone without even air was created, the flames went out and the frost began to subside.
"Then this is the Song of the Wind..."
"No, this is just the basic stage."
When he snapped his fingers, the flickering embers that were about to go out burst into a massive flame that seemed to touch the sky.
"This is..."
"You've heard the Song of the Wind."
Rimmer pointed to his own pointy ears with his finger.
"Each wind sings its own unique song. Some winds can make flames grow larger, some can press cold energy deeper, and some can give sword blades a sharpness beyond Astral Energy."
He smiled, saying that each wind has different advantages and disadvantages.
"My Sword Domain 'Eye of the Typhoon' works by calling winds with a sharp nature and enveloping the sword blade with them."
Rimmer hinted that he replaced Astral Energy with that sharp wind.
"Ah..."
Raon licked his lips as he looked at the mountain of flames burning in his hands.
'Now I understand.'
Until now, he thought wind was just wind, but after hearing Rimmer's words, he realized.
It seemed that each wind had its own unique nature, and depending on that nature, it could enhance flames more or give swords a deeper sharpness, among other advantages.
"I understand what you're saying. However..."
Raon shook his head as he met Rimmer's calm gaze.
"I can't feel the difference between winds."
He could see the results, but he couldn't tell which wind had which advantage.
"That's only natural. You're human, and your affinity with wind isn't particularly high."
Rimmer shook his head, saying it was to be expected.
"Then why the Song of the Wind..."
"Because I can make you hear it."
He raised his long finger.
"I'll teach you my aura cultivation technique."
"Pardon?"
Raon widened his eyes as he looked at Rimmer.
'What is he saying right now?'
Rimmer's aura cultivation technique isn't from Zieghart, but from the Sepia Guardians.
He couldn't understand why he would teach a secret martial art.
"My cultivation technique doesn't just build aura, it also increases wind affinity to let you hear the Song of the Wind."
"That's not the issue. Is it okay to teach Sepia's cultivation technique?"
"Well, normally it's not allowed, but there's no one else here."
Rimmer grinned, saying there were no Guardians or protectors here. Raon couldn't understand how his thought process worked.
"My aura cultivation technique is called Garunua. It means 'Song of the Wind.' Let's begin."
"What? Wait a moment!"
"The cry painted by the wind is..."
Before Raon could stop him, he closed his eyes and began reciting the mantra of the cultivation technique.
'What is this!'
Raon blinked blankly before starting to cram the mantra Rimmer was reciting into his head.
* * *
After explaining all of Garunua's mantras and usage methods, Rimmer slowly opened his eyes.
Raon was in a state of enlightenment, reciting Garunua's mantra.
'He's gone into it again?'
He couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief. While others might experience enlightenment once in a lifetime, if at all, this guy went in and out of it as casually as using the bathroom. It couldn't even be called luck anymore.
Rimmer set up a protective barrier around Raon while wearing a faint smile.
'It's good that I memorized it in advance.'
Even if you understand something in your body and mind, speaking it out loud is a different matter. Thanks to practicing speaking in advance, he was able to draw out Raon's concentration to the end.
Rimmer waved his hand at the Light Wind division swordsmen who were watching the area while pausing their training. The swordsmen nodded and silently left the training ground.
He licked his lips as he looked at Raon again.
'Is it really okay to give Garunua to an outsider?'
If not to you, then who else would I give it to?
As Raon said, Garunua is a secret martial art that should only be passed down within Sepia.
It's a martial art given only to elves who will become the head of the Guardians, but he didn't mind giving it to Raon. Even if he told his grandfather, the current Guardian, he wouldn't be scolded.
Whoosh.
Raon's breathing alternated between becoming rough and stable. The surrounding wind pulsed with his breath.
By the time the sun had set and the moon was rising, the wind enveloping the fifth training ground surged as if being sucked into Raon.
"Huh?"
Rimmer widened his eyes as he felt the swirling wind.
'No way...'
It seemed that Raon was trying to master Garunua just from hearing the mantra and usage method. Rimmer could feel green wind condensing inside Raon's energy center.
'This crazy bastard!'
Even if he had fallen into enlightenment, Rimmer thought it would be impossible to master Garunua right away.
But Raon's insane talent was producing Garunua's refreshing wind in less than a day.
Kuuung!
The wind sucked into Raon's pores dug into his energy center, causing a massive explosion. Normally, this would have caused great damage, but the already established flames and cold energy seemed to have blocked the wind's aftermath.
"Sigh..."
Raon opened his eyes while exhaling a calm breath. Green wind flickered over his red eyes.
"Huh..."
Rimmer let out a breath as he looked at Raon.
"Did you master it?"
"Yes. Somehow."
Raon nodded calmly.
"You're crazy. Really."
"I didn't intend to master it from the start. As I was changing Garunua's structure to suit humans, I ended up concentrating..."
He scratched the back of his head, saying he had fallen into enlightenment without realizing it.
"You really sicken me. I'm disgusted."
Despite his words of disgust, Rimmer gave a refreshing laugh as he swept his hair back.
"So, do you feel it?"
"I can't hear the Song of the Wind yet. However..."
Raon stared blankly into the air while fiddling with his fingertips.
"I can feel that each wind has a slightly different color."
"Good. That's enough."
He nodded cheerfully. Feeling the color of the wind meant that his affinity had increased.
Although it was just the beginning, not even reaching the first stage, it seemed he had properly mastered Garunua.
"But is it really okay for me to learn Garunua?"
"Hmm..."
Rimmer blinked blankly before grinning.
"I don't know either."
"..."
* * *
Raon squeezed his eyes shut.
'I shouldn't have trusted that elf!'
Suddenly, a chilling sensation ran down his spine as regret began to wash over him.
"It's a joke. A joke. Even if grandfather finds out, he won't say much. Don't worry."
Rimmer waved his hand dismissively. Honestly, Raon didn't believe that either, but he felt a little relieved.
"And now's not the time to think about that. You've got some inspiration now, right?"
He smiled as if he was strangely reading my thoughts.
"That's true."
Raon nodded as he watched the wind swirling around Rimmer.
'I definitely got some inspiration.'
Perhaps because I saw a new world while mastering Garunua, I came up with ways to improve myself and inspiration for creating martial arts for the Light Wind division.
"Befitting the name 'Light Wind'. I'm going to try to summon a wind that's both fierce and brilliant."
"Hmm..."
Rimmer nodded while stroking his chin as if he understood what Raon meant.
"Sounds good. Give it a try. Even if you fail, you'll learn something."
"Vice Leader. Today. No, you've been a bit strange lately."
Raon narrowed his eyes as he looked at Rimmer, who was giving various pieces of advice.
"How so?"
"You're being too kind. Normally, you'd have gone to the gambling den and not shown your face for a while."
"The gambling den is closed today."
"The gambling den has days off?"
"They said it's for internal repairs."
"Sigh..."
Raon sighed and furrowed his brow. He had hoped, but it was as expected.
"But you know,"
Rimmer lightly rotated his shoulders before lying down on the platform as usual.
"There's another reason why you suddenly decided to create martial arts for the Light Wind division, right?"
"Huh? What do you..."
"Is it because of the deaths of Koman Knight Commander Kuzan and Lightning Decay Barfil, whom you met at the Sword Saint's Tomb?"
His green eyes flashed with a solemn light.
"..."
Raon's fingertips trembled without answering. Rimmer's words were not wrong at all.
The Koman Knight Commander and Lightning Decay died fighting for the same purpose as me. They sacrificed their lives to save me.
It was the first time in this life that I witnessed the death of someone who could be considered a comrade, so ominous thoughts arose.
The worst assumption that if things had gone slightly wrong, I or the Light Wind division would have died.
I didn't want to see anyone around me die.
I had decided to create new martial arts with the thought that even if I died, I wanted the others to live.
"Yes. I thought you'd be like this."
Rimmer nodded calmly as if he had read all my thoughts. A solemn light swirled in his eyes that had been twinkling with mischief.
"Raon. Everyone dies."
A chilling energy flowed along with his gesture.
"Me, you, the Light Wind division, none of us are exceptions. It would be nice if things stayed like this forever, but someday, someone will die."
"...I know."
Raon bit his lip as he lowered his gaze.
"It's good to try to postpone that day. But you shouldn't fear the approaching death. You're the Division Leader of the Light Wind division."
Rimmer patted his shoulder, saying he must accept it. His touch was heavy, but warmer than ever before.
It felt like his heart, which had been worried and tense, was gently relaxing.
"Why are you like this today? It's not like you."
Raon frowned as he looked at Rimmer.
"Sometimes I have to play the role of a teacher."
Rimmer grinned as he stood up.
"Do you know the saying that you shouldn't even step on your teacher's shadow?"
"Of course I know."
Raon nodded. He had even slapped Rimmer, let alone step on his shadow. Bringing up that saying suddenly made him feel sorry.
"I've stepped on it countless times. If you're bringing that up..."
"I don't really like that saying."
"Pardon?"
"The saying about not stepping on the shadow shows respect for the teacher, but it also means you're keeping a distance from the teacher."
Rimmer chuckled and shook his head.
"Not just you, but all of you can step on my shadow as much as you want, just don't drift away."
He stood up with a subtle smile.
"Oh, and."
Rimmer turned his back as he was about to step down from the platform.
"If someone comes and stays silent, just make up some helpful information or a good deed you haven't revealed before and tell them."
"What does that mean?"
He blinked, not understanding.
"Never mind! Just do it!"
Rimmer waved his hands frantically and left the darkened training ground.
"Why is he acting like that?"
Raon blinked as he watched Rimmer.
-I understand!
Wrath snapped his round fingers as if he had realized something.
-That pointy-ears must be hallucinating because he's already lost all his money!
'...Maybe?'
* * *
Raon left the training ground and headed towards the annex building.
'It's amazing.'
After mastering Garunua, he could feel the texture of the wind. He never knew that what he thought was just wind had so many faces.
'It's become much easier to envelop myself with wind too.'
Until now, the wind energy itself was too weak, so he only used it to enhance cold energy and flames.
But if he continued to master Garunua, it seemed he could fight with wind alone.
'The Sword Saint's martial arts plus Garunua. It should make for quite a good martial art.'
He smiled with satisfaction as he looked at the garden of the annex building.
Due to the late hour, the maids and Killian were nowhere to be seen, but the garden soil had been quite packed down.
'It should be fine in about a month.'
After checking the state of the garden, he was about to head to the infirmary where Sylvia was, when he noticed someone standing in front of the lake in the garden.
'That's... Ah!'
As he focused his gaze, he saw golden hair and a black robe fluttering in the wind. It was Glenn.
'Why is he here?'
Raon swallowed hard and approached Glenn.
"Greetings, Head of House."
"Hmm..."
Glenn nodded briefly without turning around.
"What brings you to the annex?"
"I heard it was badly damaged, so I decided to stop by while taking a walk."
"I see."
Raon nodded and then looked at Glenn's back.
'Hm? What's this?'
Why is he so quiet?
Glenn said nothing more and just stared at the lake. Raon couldn't understand why someone who came to check on the annex was only focusing on the lake.
-What's that old man doing?
Wrath frowned.
'I'm not sure either.'
-Then just leave him! Let's go see Mom and then get some food! I feel like my belly is sticking to my shoulders!
'You mean your back, right...'
Raon pushed aside Wrath's nonsense and looked at Glenn again.
'What could he be thinking... Ah!'
As Raon was furrowing his brow, thinking Glenn was acting strange, he remembered Rimmer's words.
[If someone comes and stays silent, just make up some helpful information or a good deed you haven't revealed before and tell them.]
However, even without that advice, he actually had something to tell Glenn.
"Head of House. There's something I'd like to tell you."
"Hmm."
Glenn nodded as if telling him to go ahead.
"It seems the Five Demons are currently in seclusion and gathering their forces. Needless to say, it's not with good intentions."
He relayed the information he had heard from Merlin today, slightly embellished.
"Where did you hear this information?"
"From an informant I have placed outside."
Raon lowered his gaze, remembering the cat that Merlin had possessed.
"Given that Eden and the South-North Union didn't even appear at the Sword Saint's Tomb, and the other three forces haven't posed any additional threats, I think this information is quite reliable. Perhaps we should strengthen the defenses across the entire Zieghart territory..."
"That's similar to the Shadow Agents' opinion."
Glenn nodded, saying that Chad, the Shadow Agents' Leader, had said the same thing.
"I came here without much thought, but I've gained some good information."
"It's nothing."
"Proper information deserves proper reward."
"Pardon?"
Glenn didn't answer the question and snapped his fingers. A long dimensional rift opened in the air, and several martial arts manuals fell out.
"These are for you."
"Uh..."
Raon blinked blankly as he looked at the pile of martial arts manuals in front of him.
'What's going on today, really?'