Chapter 6
Don't worry, Eldern. I'll protect you from this bastard, Ryudien whispered to himself.
"Why?" Elyra asked softly.
"Why?" Damnern echoed, raising an eyebrow.
"Why doeth Eden have to twain when he'th thtill so young? Eden is thtill a baby!" Elyra protested, placing her tiny hands on her hips. Inside the toddler's body, Ryudien's soul was practically screaming at the perceived injustice.
Damnern stared at her for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.
"Oh? It seems dear Elyra really loves Eldern, huh? Can't bear to be apart for even a second," Damnern teased, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Alright then… Eldern, Papa will cancel training today. But…"
Elyra's body instantly tensed. What is this ugly man up to now?
"But what?"
A mysterious grin spread across Damnern's face as he pointed at his own chest. "Papa wants to play too. Is that okay?"
"No!"
The answer shot out like a bullet—instant, unhesitating, and entirely unfiltered.
Damnern froze dramatically. A second later, his shoulders slumped as if his entire world had just crumbled to pieces. He turned around and began to trudge away, projecting an aura of utter heartbreak.
Elyra blinked.
He's really just walking away…? she thought in disbelief.
But a second later, she looked proudly at Eldern.
At least I saved Eldern.
Eldern only looked at her in confusion.
"Why Elyra doesn't want Eldern to train?"
"Becauth…" Elyra bit her lip. It was incredibly difficult to translate Ryudien's adult logic into the vocabulary of a two-year-old. "Eyya doesn't want Eden to get huwt again…" Her voice trailed off at the end—half-sincere, half-tactic to garner sympathy.
The yard fell quiet for a moment. Eldern gazed at Elyra, and then, a remarkably pure smile graced his face.
"Hehe… so Elyra was worried about Eldern?"
Eldern reached out, gently patting Elyra's bright blonde hair. The touch was so warm that it made her freeze.
"But Eldern is okay. Besides…" Eldern's eyes suddenly sparked, reflecting the afternoon sun with absolute resolve. "Eldern wants to become the strongest warrior someday. Cool like Papa."
Thump.
An strange tightness gripped Elyra's chest. It felt heavy, suffocating, and entirely unwelcome.
Why…? Elyra questioned herself. She should have been happy to hear a child's innocent dream. But why did hearing the name 'Damnern' cited as an idol make her feel so utterly sick and uncomfortable?
Eldern smiled again, this time looking a little apologetic.
"I'm sorry, Elyra. Eldern can't play with you this afternoon…" He placed a small hand on her shoulder. "But tonight, Eldern promises he'll read a storybook to Elyra. Okay?"
Elyra stayed quiet, weighing her options. Finally, she gave in. "…Okay."
"Then Eldern will go first, alright?"
The moment Eldern turned to leave, Elyra's tiny hand darted out, gripping the edge of his sleeve.
"I'm coming too!"
Eldern's eyes widened in surprise.
Inside her mind, Elyra (Ryudien) was already cursing up a storm. Damn you, Damnern Solv. You've brainwashed this kid so badly that he's terrified of skipping training… Yeah, it has to be that! She refused to believe Eldern was doing this willingly.
"Hm…"
Eldern let out a small sigh, clearly conflicted. But when he saw Elyra's pleading eyes, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
In the end, he gave in.
"…Alright. Let's go find Papa first. He's probably in the backyard."
The two of them walked toward the backyard, where the sound of wood cutting through the air echoed repeatedly.
A Swing of the Sword That Alters Perception
The sharp sound of wind being sliced echoed repeatedly as they approached the open clearing behind the house.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Under the blazing sun, Damnern stood firm. His well-built frame moved with perfect rhythm, swinging a wooden sword with unwavering focus.
"Papa," Eldern called out.
Damnern's swing stopped instantly. He glanced over his shoulder, sweat glistening on his forehead. "Oh? I thought you were playing with Elyra."
His gaze then shifted to the little blonde girl standing rigidly next to Eldern with her arms crossed.
"Oh?" Damnern offered a teasing smile, walking closer. "Did Elyra come to watch Papa train?"
Elyra's face immediately soured. "Eyya came to watch Eden!"
I came to make sure you aren't abusing this kid, Elyra glared in her mind.
Damnern only laughed heartily, completely unfazed by her cold reception. He patted Eldern's shoulder. "Alright, Eldern. Get ready."
Eldern nodded seriously. He walked over to the weapon rack and picked up a wooden sword that was almost as tall as he was.
Then, the training began.
Swish.
Swish.
Swish.
Just that. Nothing extraordinary. Just swing after swing into empty air.
Minutes melted into one another, yet Eldern's routine remained unchanged. Sweat began to soak the boy's clothes, but his focus never wavered.
Elyra blinked in disbelief. Are you serious…?
Ryudien's expectations of a 'brutal training regimen' shattered entirely. In her head, she had imagined Eldern being thrown into the wilderness, forced to fight off wolves, or at least facing some sort of life-or-death scenario.
Is it really just swinging a sword like this?
Noticing Elyra's unblinking stare, Eldern grinned proudly, baring his teeth. "You're staring so hard at my training, Elyra. Kikiki," he giggled.
Elyra was utterly speechless. Isn't sword training supposed to be dangerous? Fighting strong enemies, dodging fatal attacks, surviving on the brink of death… Isn't training basically gambling with your life?! her mind screamed in confusion.
"Oh, no wonder it's so quiet out front. Mama's little girl is here," a voice she deeply cherished broke Elyra's train of thought.
Elina approached them, carrying a tray with glasses of cold, sweet water. Her presence instantly brought a profound sense of peace to Ryudien's perpetually turbulent soul.
"Mama alwaysth (always) come here?" Elyra asked, looking up.
"Yes, sweetheart. Mama always brings cold drinks for Papa and Eldern," Elina replied softly. She set the tray down before lifting Elyra into her lap.
"Papa only has time to teach Eldern on his days off. That's why Eldern trains so seriously—so serious that he even refused to play with Elyra earlier. You must have felt lonely, right? Hehe," Elina continued, gently pinching Elyra's nose.
Resting in Elina's lap, Elyra looked back at the father and son. This time, she saw it from a different perspective. She noticed the beads of sweat on Eldern, the slight tremor in his small muscles from holding the heavy wooden sword, and… the sheer look of satisfaction on her brother's face every time Damnern gave an approving nod.
"Ith(is) twaining… weally (really) that fun, Mama?" Elyra asked quietly, her eyes fixed on the warm interaction between the two. The deep-seated suspicion within her began to waver.
"Mama doesn't know either, sweetheart," Elina replied simply, gently stroking Elyra's hair.
A Messenger From the Palace
The afternoon peace shattered when a servant entered the backyard, followed by an unfamiliar man clad in official attire.
"Lord Damnern, this is a messenger from the royal palace. He brings an official letter from the King himself," said the servant, Gabnor (25 years old), the only male servant and also the Solv family's guard.
The atmosphere, which had been warm and light just moments ago, turned icy in an instant.
Damnern lowered his wooden sword. Instantly, the playful, relaxed aura of a father vanished without a trace. His eyes turned sharp, cold, and heavy with authority—the gaze of a feared war general.
In Elina's lap, Elyra's (Ryudien's) body went rigid. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
That gaze… This aura…
Elyra's breath caught in her throat. Flashes of her past memory as Ryudien rushed back with a stinging vengeance.
That gaze… this is the Damnern I know, Elyra said to herself in panic.
End of Chapter 6