Chapter 48: Chapter 45 How long has it been since you last experienced battle, father?
At midnight, within the Pedro Family’s estate, a relentless series of explosions and roars could be heard from outside, yet Ivina, who was now leaning against the corner of the wall, appeared as if she heard nothing. The sharpened wooden spikes had severed the leather thong, which lay scattered beside her; her pale, jade-like fingers trembled ever so slightly as she flipped through the yellowed pages of the diary in her hands.
[Sacred Calendar 708, November, the Pedro Family has been blessed with a new addition that looks so small and tender. The na is… Ivina? Am I a brother now?]
[Another day of training. As the eldest son of the Pedro Family, I must work even harder. Are you watching practice my swordsmanship, Ivina? Then I need to perform even better… ]
[Sparring, ah, how I miss it… the way I first held a sword. This ti it’s my turn to be the teacher… ]
[Ten moves, I’ll give you so face… But there’s no need to cry if you lose, right? You’re really cute, Ivina… ]
[Thirty-seven moves, it’s only been four months, no, I definitely didn’t use my full strength. I should be more serious next ti… ]
[I lost, I actually lost, how is this possible? It’s so embarrassing in front of you. As your brother, I must try harder to win back… ]
[Ivina, why can you so effortlessly learn the techniques I can’t master? Is it because I’m not trying hard enough?]
[Sacred Calendar 722, July, the first Knight assessnt… If I pass, I could beco a Priest, right? The Pedro Family would surely see better days… ]
[Failure… failure… failure!]
[The second Knight selection, the third round, is this my limit?]
[From morning to night, nothing but training, it’s aningless. I fear I may never pass the Knight assessnt… ]
[Father, why do you look at with such expectations? Why won’t you give up on ?]
[That look again, do you hate , Ivina? I understand how you feel, a useless one stealing the chance that rightfully belongs to you… If it were you, you would surely make it, my sister… ]
[Maybe without , everything will get better… Ivina, I will give you everything you want, that’s the only way… ]
…
The girl with brown hair flipped through the pages of the diary one after another, through the cold words discerning her brother whom she envied so much, who received all of father’s expectations, yet who couldn’t do anything right…
She had once resented such injustice, her own efforts and the swordsmanship she took pride in were nothing but tools in her father’s eyes, ant to attract the attention of the Duke of Nordland’s son.
If she had had the chance, she could have definitely passed the Knight assessnt, definitely have revived the Pedro Family, and definitely have made her father realize her worth…
Therefore, for a brother who had access to all the family’s resources, could anyti receive formal Knight’s guidance, yet repeatedly failed, Ivina harbored an intense dislike, even hatred…
[You’re really cute, Ivina… ]
Her fingers traced over the pages that were tightly wrinkled, and as she observed the words, the girl’s body shuddered slightly, tears glistening as they rolled down her cheeks, falling continuously onto the pages…
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Ivina murmured to herself, her mind blank, tears uncontrollably streaming from her eyes, her heart filled with deep regret… Ivina had never hated herself so much.
She had thought she had forgotten how to cry, that surely was a privilege reserved for those in the spotlight…
Outside the estate, the flas surged continuously, but inside the room, a deadly silence reigned, only the suppressed, intermittent sobs echoing without ceasing.
It was not until the room’s door was violently flung open that the girl turned her head in confusion.
The Baron Pedro, who rushed through the door, surveyed the disarrayed room and, upon seeing Ivina who seed frightened and silently weeping in a corner, was suddenly overco with anger and asked irritably.
“Do you have any idea how much chaos is out in the world, Ivina? Why are you just sitting here alone like a fool? Where’s Loth? Where is he now?”
During the conversation, another blast sounded from outside the estate.
“Is sothing happening outside?” Ivina asked, holding the diary wet with tears close to her chest, her head bowed low.
“Those damn Wizards are running rampant in the port town, using a terrifying form of witchcraft to blow up the entire dock. Priest Adrian is dead, Priest Danny is dead, and so is Knight Sik, even Archbishop Anluoke… couldn’t escape,” Baron Pedro said in a terrified tone.
Previously, he had suggested joining this witch-hunt to gain experience in front of the Archbishop of Nordland Territory. Now he thought that if Anluoke had agreed, he would be dead at the port docks by now.
Hearing one venerable na after another being declared dead, the brown-haired girl was shaken. She couldn’t help but recall the words that echoed in her ears before Loth left.
“It’s all so insignificant, Ivina…”
To beco a Wizard, is this your choice, brother?
It was rumored that one could beco a Wizard with forbidden power by offering their soul to the devil, but as a price, that person often changed dramatically, and their soul would gradually sink into the abyss…
And all of it was for her.
“Where’s your brother? You haven’t answered , where is Loth? We need to leave here imdiately!” Baron Pedro said as he clenched the girl’s wrist fiercely, demanding loudly.
“He’s dead!” Ivina said softly, well aware that if the news of her brother becoming a Wizard got out, the entire Pedro Family would be destroyed instantly.
Baron Pedro paused, and a terrifying look crossed his face.
“You’d better not be playing tricks on , Ivina!”
“I’m telling you, even if your brother is really dead, the title of Baron will never be yours! Never dream of things you can’t have!” Baron Pedro said angrily. No matter the circumstances, he would never let an outsider take over the Pedro Family, not even if they were exceptional!
“In that case, I’m leaving…” Ivina broke free from the grip that held her, tucked her diary into her chest, and turned towards the door without hesitation.
“Stop! Explain yourself!” Baron Pedro had not anticipated that Ivina, who never dared to defy him on normal days, would dare to resist him so brazenly. A surge of intense anger flooded his heart, and he drew his sword with its scabbard from his waist and slashed fiercely towards Ivina.
Clang~
The sword in its scabbard flew out of his hand, spinning as it fell to the ground and emitted a low, deep thump.
Baron Pedro stood frozen in place, a three-finger-long, exceedingly sharp wooden spike already lying across his neck.
“How long has it been since you experienced battle, father?” Ivina asked Baron Pedro with a complex expression.
Baron Pedro broke out in a cold sweat and sat down suddenly on the ground, only then realizing that Ivina’s swordsmanship was far more expert than he knew, and had even surpassed his own completely.
Ivina dropped the wooden spike from her hand and stepped out the door without looking back.
“Where are you going, Ivina? And Loth? Tell where he is?” Baron Pedro finally ca to his senses and began to bellow loudly.
“My brother is already dead. You can think of it as if I killed him… father,” Ivina said softly. “And I am leaving the port town to see the world…”
(PS: This concludes the first volu; there has been quite a lot of groundwork laid, so I ask for everyone’s understanding. The plot of the second volu is coming up next. Also, this new book needs all your support!)
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