RODH Chapter 52

52.

Anonymity guaranteed?

That caught my interest.

“Can I just think it in my head?”

When I asked, Alvis nodded.

“Of course.”

“…Then give me a moment to think.”

“Take as much time as you need.”

After some deliberation, I placed both hands on the crystal orb.

The orb shifted from red to yellow to blue, and then at some point turned entirely green and began trembling violently.

Then, with a loud crack!, it shattered.

Instinctively, I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for shards to hit me.

But instead of pain, I heard Alvis’s calm voice.

“Lord Ian, you may open your eyes.”

As I slowly lifted my eyelids, I couldn’t help but gasp.

“Wow.”

The shards, broken into rhombus shapes, were suspended midair.

“Uncasting.”

At Alvis’s word, the spell seemed to lift, and the fragments clattered to the floor.

Looking back and forth between the shattered orb and Alvis, I gave a sheepish expression.

“I guess my worries were too much for it.”

“This happens sometimes. Enhanced orbs can be defective. I apologize on its behalf.”

Alvis bowed deeply, both his waist and head lowered in courtesy.

I shook my hands.

“It’s fine. I’m not hurt.”

“Shall we leave, then?”

“Yes.”

Alvis gave one last glance at the broken orb before following after me.

To lighten the mood, he led me to a display of glowing jellyfish and anglerfish, like something from the deep sea.

“All of them are made with mana.”

The school of fish swam through the dark space, emitting soft light.

Soon they formed shapes—ribbons, crowns, lions—bringing smiles to onlookers’ faces.

“Did you prepare this in advance too?”

“Yes. Look, the mages back there are still busy casting.”

How far can human imagination stretch?

As I stood still, admiring the dazzling sights, I suddenly remembered I’d left Bain behind.

“Ah, I should go find Bain.”

Just as I moved to leave, Alvis gently caught my sleeve.

“Didn’t you say you’d be my partner tonight?”

“Well, yes, but…”

“Please stay by my side.”

There’s an old saying that refusing a mage’s request brings a curse.

But it wasn’t just that—Alvis’s expression resembled that of a dejected, oversized puppy. I couldn’t bring myself to say no.

As we walked past the glowing jellyfish together, the space gradually brightened, and light fairies appeared.

They were giggling and playing atop a vine-covered shelter that looked like a resting area.

Then, one fairy began to circle around me.

I glanced at Alvis, a bit overwhelmed, and he smiled gently.

“Looks like a light fairy has taken a liking to you.”

“What should I do?”

“Just feel it. Trust in the power of nature and the fairies here—it’s even better if you do.”

Following Alvis’s advice, I relaxed my body.

A large cluster of light enveloped me, and soon both my feet lifted off the ground.

It wasn’t like flying with Lucian, soaring at terrifying heights—this was gentle and not frightening at all.

—How is it? Is it fun?

The voice floated directly into my mind. I answered that it was.

—Then let me show you around. Just for you two.

Looking behind me, I saw that Alvis, too, was now wrapped in the same glowing mass.

Like dolphins, the light clusters sped through the garden, showing us everything.

At first, sky and ground blended together—I had no idea what I was looking at.

But the moment we entered the rose tunnel, a thrill of exhilaration ran through me.

“Yahoo!”

As I shouted, the fairy let out a gleeful giggle, and I heard Alvis laughing heartily behind me.

After we passed through the rose tunnel, we returned to where we’d started.

The cluster of light slowly faded, and the fairy waved a tiny hand.

—Goodbye, child of spring.

Could the spirit know about the one who brings spring?

Alvis must’ve heard it too, but he showed no particular reaction.

More accurately, he seemed to be pretending he hadn’t heard.

Back at the original spot, Bain came running toward me.

“Waaah, young lord! Where were you? I was really worried!”

“Why worry when Alvis was with me? And I didn’t drink anything.”

Alcohol was still poison to me.

With all the noise and chaos around us, I wasn’t sure Bain would hear me clearly, but he understood perfectly.

While Alvis was momentarily distracted, Bain whispered into my ear.

“They all have alcohol in them. Don’t drink anything.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

It was nearing the final moments of Samhain.

Even more people had gathered in the center than before.

“Ah—”

I nearly tripped from the push of the crowd.

But just as I was about to fall, it was as if an invisible support had caught my knees—I didn’t topple over.

It was Alvis’s magic.

“Are you all right?”

His blue hair shimmered softly in the mana wind, and his sapphire-like eyes were filled with warmth.

We silently studied each other for a moment.

I didn’t avoid his gaze. I met his blue eyes head-on.

And Alvis did the same.

“Ian…”

Just as Alvis was about to say something, a voice from the raised platform at the center shouted,

“Everyone, look up to the sky!”

At those words, everyone tilted their heads upward.

Blue mana flowers, shaped like violets, were gently drifting down.

Gasps of wonder rose from all directions.

Some couples used the romantic scene as a backdrop for bold kisses.

And we…

“Alvis?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Alvis was crying.

Was he thinking of Tian?

Without a word, I led the weeping Alvis to a quiet corner and stayed by his side.

Even as cheerful and joyful music played, Alvis cried as if in pain.

He must have remembered his promise never to cry in front of me again—he kept apologizing over and over.

But I was truly fine, so I simply waited for Alvis to finish crying.

And I made sure not to embarrass him.

“Bain, bring us some water.”

“Yes, young lord!”

I handed Alvis a handkerchief, seeing his sleeve was soaked.

“Wipe with this. Your sleeve’s getting dirty.”

“Ian…”

“You can think of it as a substitute. I agreed to be your partner for today, after all.”

I don’t know how Alvis interpreted those words, heavy with a sense of duty, but he firmly shook his head.

“No… I just recalled old memories, that’s all. And…”

“Please go on. The more you speak, the lighter your heart will feel—like a feather.”

Before returning in time, I had been someone who preferred talking to listening.

But after repeating life again and again, and struggling to survive each time, I realized it was better to listen.

And I also came to understand how freeing it could be to share a secret with someone—especially one you couldn’t tell anyone else.

“I’ve long since lost the ability to laugh. And I no longer feel joy. But just now, when you stood among the mana flowers… all those emotions came rushing back.”

Alvis, mumbling words that didn’t quite line up, continued his thoughts.

“I’m a mana master, but I never thought I could become a grand mage. A mage without emotions is no better than a machine. But now… I think I can become one.”

Alvis looked at me, hesitated, then reached out and took my hand.

“Will you allow me to make an imprint?”

“…What?”

“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to…”

Alvis trailed off.

He must’ve known that an Alpha’s imprint meant nothing.

I asked the now-crestfallen Alvis,

“An Alpha’s imprint doesn’t mean anything, does it?”

“Perhaps not, but it does to me. Lord Lucian has already left his mark on your lips, but… I don’t do something so barbaric.”

Alvis was clearly overattaching meaning to it, so I let him do as he wished.

It felt like the nearby Alphas were slowly closing in, but maybe I was imagining it.

“Then, excuse me.”

Alvis gently lifted my hand as if he were holding a flower petal, and placed a kiss on the back.

A tingling sensation spread as a small imprint formed on my skin.

Normally, an Alpha’s imprint doesn’t leave a visible mark—only faint pheromones that disappear after a few weeks.

But Alvis was different.

“It’s a mana-made amulet. It will protect you from harm.”

“Thank you.”

There’s nothing wrong with receiving the goodwill of a mana master.

Thinking it was no big deal, I ended the night at Samhain and returned to the duke’s estate, with Alvis seeing me off.

The next day.

I had stayed up all night trying to write a letter, but ended up falling asleep without finishing it.

Nevan’s hawk cried out with a sharp screech! and woke me up.

“Bain, could you give it some meat? I need to finish writing.”

“Understood, young lord.”

I wondered if Nevan had been waiting anxiously since my reply never arrived yesterday.

I wrote the letter as quickly as I could.

I detailed everything that had happened at Samhain, not leaving out a single word, and only then did I feel at ease.

After having a light breakfast, I was about to go over the Hollow Knight matter when the door burst open.

It was Peter.

“Young Lord Ian Pearl Ruben of House Ruben, you are hereby summoned by imperial order.”

I immediately knelt on one knee before him.

“By this decree, you are to enter the palace at once in relation to the forging of the demonic sword Hollow Knight, which is to prevent the resurrection of the Demon Lord.”

“I understand.”

“You may rise.”

Taking Peter’s hand, I stood up easily.

Aside from looking slightly thinner, Peter hadn’t changed.

“I heard you were injured by monsters in the North.”

He nodded casually as if it were nothing.

“The northern antidote herbs worked quite well.”

“Is that so.”

“I’ll e6scort you to the palace.”

“Yes.”

I quickly dressed in a formal green robe and entered the imperial palace.

Seated atop a throne larger and higher than I had expected was someone who resembled Seor—but with a gentler expression.