Subtitle: Suspicion Born from Ashes
I half-opened my eyes and tried to look around. My body felt inexplicably heavy. Every part of me ached, my eyes burned, and I was exhausted. At last, I sat on the edge of the bed, trying to get up—but suddenly collapsed to the floor. My legs wouldn't hold me. Odasaku must have heard the sound, because he rushed into the room. His eyes were shadowed with sleeplessness, dark circles beneath them, and his messy hair made him look almost like a vagabond.
Odasaku: "You alright, kid?"
Even though he looked worn out, he still couldn't resist his annoying jokes. I tried to open my mouth to reply, but no sound came out. My throat burned. After a few coughs, I looked at Odasaku, who shook his head as if he understood me. No… as if he were refusing something. But what? He placed into my hand the small trinket I had given to my sister the day before—a hairpin. Why give this to me now? Then, out of nowhere, I heard a faint voice whisper: "It hurts… it hurts so much…"
Memories and visions overwhelmed my mind. Nausea rose within me, and before long, I vomited and blacked out. When I came to, I lay silently, staring at the ceiling. Odasaku sat by my side, peeling an apple for me—just like my sister used to do when I was sick. He handed me a slice. I sat up in bed to eat it, though the pain in my throat still lingered. The silence around us was suffocating.
In a tired voice, Odasaku finally said:"I'll go clean the house. Ask the nurses to peel your apples while I'm gone."
I reached for his hand to stop him, but he pulled away and turned abruptly.
With sudden resolve, I said:"I'll come too."
Odasaku: "Are you sure? You might not like what you see."
I nodded firmly. Taking my patched-up jacket from the nightstand, I struggled to my feet, and together we headed back to my home.
The house was nearly destroyed. The only thing left was my sister's corpse. Hoping to find anything untouched by the flames, I stepped inside. Odasaku laid his coat over my sister's body, but every time I looked at her I felt sick, as if I would vomit again. Odasaku had already begun digging a grave in front of the house. All I could do was watch. Soon we buried her and offered a prayer. I gathered what little belongings remained and packed them into my bag. Before leaving, I looked up at the sky—it was so breathtaking that I stood frozen.
Odasaku looked at me, sighed, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Odasaku: "Would you like to be my apprentice?"
I turned toward him, stunned. If I accepted, I could leave this city, escape poverty… and maybe avenge my sister.
With an emotionless voice, I replied:"Why would I say no? I have no ties to this place anymore. Got a match on you?"
Odasaku: "Why?"
I sighed irritably."What's it to you?"
He didn't press further, simply handed me a matchbox from his pocket. Without a word, I lit one, dropped it, and watched the flames consume the house. Beneath the beautiful sky, the place that once held my memories vanished. I never looked back.
Odasaku: "You won't tell anyone you're leaving?"
I turned my head aside."No."
After a long journey, we arrived at a house deep in the forest. Though far from any settlement, it was luxurious and well-kept.
Odasaku: "I'll save you the trouble, kid. Yes, this is my home."
I wasn't surprised. A knight as strong as him couldn't possibly live anywhere worse. But wait—if he was so powerful, why had the state abandoned him? Why was he helping me? Suddenly, pieces fell into place: during my sister's tragedy, right before I fainted, Odasaku had been running toward her. Why then…? Suspicion crept into my heart.
He pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the door. The interior was just as I expected: a grandiose mansion, lavish yet awe-inspiring.
Odasaku: "Pick any room you like. Just don't forget which one."
Annoyed by his casual tone, I shot him a glare.
Odasaku: "What are you staring at, brat? …Well, at least you've got enough strength to glare."
Despite my doubts, something told me I could trust him.
Odasaku: "Alright, I'm off."
He climbed upstairs and disappeared. Though I wanted to explore, exhaustion overwhelmed me. I chose a distant room, collapsed onto the bed, and drifted into the most comfortable sleep I'd ever known.
The Zero Voice:"Everything begins with the first. Destroy the first, and you return to zero. We must erase it."
I jolted awake, drenched in sweat. That voice in my dream—whose was it? My door knocked.
"Come in."
An elderly man entered: gray-haired, mustached, dressed in a butler's attire.
Butler: "Young master, are you alright? You didn't seem to sleep well last night."
"I'm fine. But may I ask you something?"
Butler: "Of course, young master."
"Why do you call me that?"
Butler: "Because you are young, and in my homeland, it is how we address our guests."
"…I see."
After a moment of silence, he added:"My name is Edmund. If you're bored, I could show you the library."
I accepted his offer. With nothing better to do, I followed him. Once inside, Edmund excused himself to attend to chores. My hands drifted along the spines of books until a peculiar fairytale caught my attention. Sitting at a table, I opened it—it was handwritten.
"After the Great Massacre, the twelve survivors gained extraordinary powers. The first heirloom was 'Desire.' The second was 'Within Time.' Mine is 'No Longer.' The rest I do not know, though the twelfth was said to be an 'Empty Shell.'"
I closed the book. It had been written in the first person. Without thinking, I slipped it into my bag. On my way out, I bumped into Edmund.
Edmund: "Are you alright, young master?"
"Yes."
Edmund: "By the way, Odasaku requests your presence in his office."
"…His office?"
Edmund: "Yes, young master."
"Very well."
We ascended the stairs, turned left, and entered a room at the corridor's end. Behind a desk piled with papers sat Odasaku.
Odasaku: "Do you remember what I told you yesterday?"
"Yes."
Odasaku: "Then why weren't you in the training hall—or looking for me?"
"Are you talking about the apprenticeship?"
Odasaku: "What do you think, kid? Head to the hall. I'll join you soon."
As he left, my eyes caught a red-sealed letter on his desk. I picked it up—it was unfinished, freshly written. My hands trembled. The handwriting matched that of the fairytale I had just read. Footsteps echoed. I hastily put the letter back and stepped away, colliding with someone.
Odasaku: "Hey kid, why's your face so pale?"
Feigning calm, I replied:"Maybe good living standards just don't agree with me."
He chuckled faintly and tossed me a wooden practice sword. His face, however, seemed oddly menacing.
Odasaku: "You seem to have talent for magic, but you chose a knight for a teacher. That means—swordsmanship is your only path."
"So I've no choice but to learn the blade."
Odasaku: "Exactly. That's the performance I wanted to see. But are you really alright? You're shaking."
I tried to suppress my fear, gripping my leg tightly."No, I'm fine."
He raised an eyebrow, glanced at the letter, then looked back at me.
Odasaku: "Very well. If you say so."
Hours passed in the training hall.
That evening, I swung the wooden blade until my body gave out. Stumbling back to my room, I collapsed into bed. Sometime past midnight, I awoke and, unable to rest, lit the candle on my nightstand. I pulled out the stolen book and kept reading.
"The names of each heirloom hint at the power it holds. Mine as well… My heirloom's nature is…"
Suddenly, the floorboards creaked. My entire body froze. At the end of the corridor, there were no other rooms but mine. In such a well-kept mansion… was it normal for the floor to creak?
Author's note: I know I haven't posted a chapter in a while. I apologize for that. From now on, I'll post more regularly (once a week).