Aelric had just closed the door when Mira emerged from the room, walking with her head down, cradling her empty bucket. The girl looked like a shadow, moving slowly and cautiously, as if afraid her own voice might upset someone.
And that made Aelric take a deep breath.
"A girl with S-rank potential lives like this…" he muttered. "The world sure does like to joke around."
He leaned back in the rickety chair in his "leak-free" room—which was still dripping slowly in the corner, right on top of the small bucket Geros had placed earlier. The ticking… ticking… ticking sound felt almost like a clock, reminding Aelric that he had only arrived here a few hours ago and had already discovered something that would change his life.
The panel reappeared in the corner of his vision, light and transparent.
[Skill Unlocked: Vowbound Link — Beginner Resonance Detected]
Aelric squinted.
"Huh? Just met Mira, and the skill unlocked right away?"
He focused on the panel. A brief description appeared.
[Vowbound Link (Lv 1)]
Forges a resonant bond between an Archevalier and an individual with high potential. Increases the chance of awakening, accelerates training, and unlocks locked class paths.
Aelric chuckled.
"So this is why this class was once considered dangerous. Archevaliers can make monsters out of ordinary people."
He looked up at the cracked ceiling.
"But if I want to survive, I need students. Not cool, experienced ones… but kids like them."
---
Heavy footsteps sounded from the hallway. Geros's voice, firm as always.
"Prince. A brief report on the city's condition."
Aelric simply waved. "Come in."
Geros opened the door and placed down several sheets of paper that looked like they had been soaked in rain three times. Somehow, the writing was still legible.
"Small monsters appear every night. Farmers can't work far from the city. Logistics are running low. And our soldiers—"
Aelric raised an eyebrow. "Let me guess. Insufficient. Tired. And their paychecks late?"
Geros stared at him for a few seconds. "I'm glad you understand."
Aelric smiled casually. "I'm an expert on living on the cheap, Commander."
"Excuse me?"
"It's okay. Continue."
Geros sighed, then lowered his head. "One more thing. The soldiers want to see you prove yourself."
Aelric rolled his eyes. "Of course."
"It's not a major test," Geros added quickly. "Just… a light exercise to assess your basic skills."
"That's euphemism for 'everyone thinks I'm trash.'"
Geros shrugged. "You said that yourself, not me."
Aelric wanted to laugh, but he didn't. He knew the people here didn't believe him. He wouldn't have believed himself if he were them, either.
"Okay," he said, getting up, "if they want to see, let them see."
As Geros was about to leave, Aelric stopped him. "Oh yes. Could you please get Mira?"
"The little water carrier girl?"
"Yes. Bring her after training."
Geros nodded, though his expression was confused. "Yes, Prince."
---
The training in the headquarters courtyard was… simple, if polite. It wasn't even a proper courtyard. A small field full of rocks, dry soil, and some of the surface was pockmarked from monster attacks.
The soldiers gathered, some leaning on spears, others standing skeptically. When Aelric stepped onto the field without a sword, without an aura, without anything… many smiled sarcastically.
"Finally, the banished prince has appeared."
"At least he had the courage to come. I thought he would faint first."
"Or run away."
Aelric heard it all. He simply raised his hand casually.
"Alright, who's my sparring partner?"
From behind, a large soldier stepped forward. He was almost twice Aelric's height, his arms brimming with muscle, his face slightly bruised—perhaps from yesterday's battle with a monster.
"My name is Rann. I will test you, Prince."
Aelric looked the man up and down. "What did you eat? Brick?"
Laughter erupted from the soldiers. Even Rann smiled slightly.
"The prince has a sense of humor, I see," he said, twirling his spear. "But I won't hold back."
Aelric sighed.
"Don't hit me too hard in the face. I still want to look handsome."
Rann struck first—fast, no joke. His spear struck the ground in front of Aelric's feet, sending dust flying. Aelric took two steps back, nearly tripping.
"Wow, that's serious," he muttered.
The soldiers cheered.
Aelric moved again, using his body's natural reflexes. As a modern Earthling—though not an athlete or a warrior—he knew how to dodge a little quicker than expected.
Rann kept up the pressure. The spear spun, striking the air, slashing through the dust.
Aelric was out of breath within two minutes.
"This… what kind of sport…" he grumbled.
Rann swung the spear horizontally. Aelric reflexively crouched down, then grabbed a handful of sand and threw it at the man's face.
"ARGH—!"
The crowd fell silent.
Aelric stood up, panting. "That… is a traditional technique of my ancestors. It's called… Never Want to Die."
The soldiers burst out laughing.
Rann, rubbing his eyes, laughed along. "The prince is cunning too!"
Aelric patted the large man on the shoulder. "I knew I wasn't strong. So I used what I had."
Rann nodded with a proud smile. "You surpass me. Not strong, but not afraid."
That comment… meant more than it seemed.
And for the first time, the soldiers looked at Aelric without utter disdain.
Not yet respectful, but they acknowledged: this prince was no pushover.
---
After training, Mira arrived slowly. Her clothes were still the same, her hair a little disheveled, but her eyes were as clear as ever.
"P-Prince summons?"
Aelric sat on the old wooden bench in the afternoon sun. "Yes. Sit."
Mira hesitated, then sat on the ground, feeling unworthy of sitting on the prince's bench. Aelric tapped the bench.
"Here. Here. You're my student, not a prisoner."
Mira was startled. "S-student?"
"I want to train you," Aelric said casually. "You have something that others don't."
Mira lowered her head. "But I… can't do anything. I just fetch water, clean houses, help people. I have no talent."
"You're wrong," Aelric replied quietly.
He opened the Appraise panel and showed it to Mira—it was only visible to her, but he read it in a low voice.
"You have the greatest potential I've ever seen. Time. Time Magic."
Mira paused. Her eyes widened.
"Me…? Impossible…"
Aelric smiled faintly, casually but sincerely.
"I can't have a class either. But we're the same. The world doesn't see us. So… we'll make the world see."
The afternoon breeze gently blew through Mira's hair.
The girl bit her lip, then nodded very slowly—almost as if afraid to be seen.
"…if the Prince believes, I'll try."
Aelric smiled with satisfaction.
"Good. From now on, you're not a water maiden. You're my apprentice."
And in that silence, the panel appeared again.
[Vowbound Link: Mira — Bond Level 1 Established]
[Potential Awakening: Pending]
Aelric smiled.
"Very well, Mira. Let's begin something no one will believe… until it's too late."