When we departed from the mansion, our path first led us through the Destenbres' main gates. There, we encountered three women clad in light grey, leather‑like armour. Their gear was slightly soiled, bearing the marks of training and the faint traces of polishing. From the pattern of wear, it was clear they were apprentice knights of the Destenbres. I recalled that the mansion housed a training ground for its knights, and their attire reflected it: leather‑like boots, leggings, and skirts fastened at the waist, with matching arm guards. Each of the three women also carried their own luggages with them.
As soon as we came into contact with them near the gate, the three women raised their right arms to the left side of their chests as they knelt. "Evening, Madam Cesline. We have been ordered to escort you and serve as your personal guards," they said with absolute discipline.
As my mother carried me, I glanced over her shoulder at the mansion behind us. More precisely, my eyes were drawn to one of the windows on the top floor. There, I saw my father watching the group — or rather, watching the guards — with a cold, indifferent expression. I had expected as much. Those three women were not merely our escorts or my mother's personal guards; they were observers. From what I could tell, the one in the middle seemed the model of discipline, acting as the best example for the others. The two standing on either side of her appeared close to her, moving in unison at her sides. I would need to watch them more closely.
"I see. Glad to be in your care," my mother replied calmly and warmly, suspecting nothing. The maid, Yukino, however, seemed to sense something amiss. Interesting… now that I think about it, I know very little about her. I glanced at the other maids; they appeared unaware of anything unusual. It seems that maid will be my first priority to observe. Who knows — maybe when I want to die, she might interfere in some way.
The woman in the middle of the three who knelt replied, "It is our honour," her voice both firm and calm. She had long, rich golden‑yellow hair and eyes the colour of amber. She was young and beautiful, carrying herself in a way that, to me, seemed like the perfect example of a proper knight.
After saying that, she rose to her feet, and the other two women followed suit. Once they were standing, they began to escort us. My mother carried me in her arms as the maids followed behind, bringing along some of the luggage. They also took charge of the three women's belongings, since our escorts should not be burdened with such things. For now, only a limited amount could be carried, with plans to return to the mansion later to fetch the rest and deliver it to the designated location.
As we walked, the woman with rich golden‑yellow hair and amber‑like eyes was focused, and her mind was also clearly occupied with something.
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Two hours earlier — within the Destenebres' mansion, inside the office of Lord Destenebres.
After Madam Cesline left the office, Lord Destenebres — Caedros Destenebres — rose from his chair and stepped out of his office room. Upon exiting, he came across his wife, Thalindra.
"Hello, dear. I have something to as—" Thalindra began in a lovely tone, though there was a hidden intention beneath her words.
"Sorry, dear. I'm in a rush to take care of something. I'll hear from you later — will that be all right?" he said calmly. Unlike the way he spoke to my mother, his tone was neither cold nor indifferent; it carried only warmth.
"It's all right — I can tell you later, anyway," Thalindra said calmly, a smug smile playing at her lips.
Caedros Destenebres continued towards his intended destination. As he walked, a butler approached him. "I saw some of the maids packing their luggage, and afterwards they went to Madam Cesline's room to pack hers," the butler said calmly, his voice low.
Caedros Destenebres nodded and dismissed the butler with a shooing gesture, never breaking his stride, signalling that he had done well. The butler, recognising the sign, gave a calm nod in return and walked away.
Caedros Destenebres exited the mansion and made his way towards one of the training grounds, where men were practising with wooden swords, each strike delivered with focus and precision, their movements perfectly in sync. At the head of the large group stood a lone knight, his bearing and presence speaking of countless battles fought and trials endured.
As Caedros approached, the knight noticed his lord's arrival and dismissed the trainees with a single command: "Everyone, stop. You may take a thirty‑minute break."
Immediately, the men halted their drills and dispersed in various directions. Yet none of them released their grip on their swords, nor returned them to the training rack.
After dismissing the men for their break, the knight greeted his lord by placing his right arm across his chest and kneeling before him.
"I greet you, my lord. How may I be of service?" the knight said as he knelt, remaining utterly still, like a stone statue.
"I wish to assign a knight to my mistress, Cesline. Preferably, the individual should be female, as the purpose of the transfer is to observe her. I do not recall whether we have any female knights, which is why I have come to ask you—and, of course, to seek your permission to transfer one to Cesline," Caedros said calmly, his tone cold and indifferent.
"My apologies, my Lord. We have no female knights among our ranks. However, there are three female knight-apprentices: Aurelia, Rina, and Sana. If I may offer a suggestion, I believe Aurelia would be the wisest choice. From what I have heard, she is the most diligent of the three." the knight said, his tone filled with respect and loyalty.
"I shall follow your suggestion. Sir Jagid, inform her that she is to prepare for transfer under Cesline. Make it clear that her duty will be to observe and monitor Cesline and the movements of the maids—particularly the light‑blue‑haired one, for she is a cautious sort. Instruct her also to pack her belongings, as she will be residing with them as their personal guard. They are leaving at once, so she must be ready to escort them immediately," Caedros ordered, his voice calm and indifferent as he turned and left the training ground.
"By your will," Jagid said calmly and with loyalty. Once Caedros had departed, Jagid straightened his posture and made his way towards the apprentice dormitory, which stood beside the great building that housed the knights. Upon entering the vicinity, he approached one of the apprentice knights and enquired after Aurelia's whereabouts. Having received his answer, he proceeded to one of the dormitory rooms, where he found Aurelia just stepping out of her room.
Aurelia, upon noticing Jagid, raised her right arm across to the left side of her chest. "I greet you, [The Endless Darkness Knight], Sir Jagid," she said with the utmost respect, her voice calm and steady.
"Hahaha! It has been quite some time since anyone last addressed me by that title. But let me get straight to the point, Aurelia. You are to pack your belongings at once, for you will be transferred under Madam Cesline," Jagid said, his voice at first coloured with joyful nostalgia but growing firm and serious as he delivered his command.
Aurelia was taken aback by his words, her lips parting as if to speak. Yet before she could utter a single syllable, Jagid's voice cut across her hesitation, firm and unyielding.
"It is by the Lord's will. I am sorry," Jagid said calmly, his voice carrying a note of apology from beneath his armour.
"I… I understand," Aurelia whispered, her voice frail and unsteady as the weight of the command pressed down upon her. To her, it felt less like a mark of honour and more as though she were being quietly cast aside.
"Good. Your mission is to observe Madam Cesline's actions and her maids, especially the light blue‑haired one. You will be residing with them, which is why you must bring your belongings. I have also heard they are departing now, so you are to escort them," Sir Jagid said calmly, recalling Lord Caedros' command.
"I understand. I will see to it at once," Aurelia replied softly, her voice faint and unsteady.
After completing his purpose, Jagid departed without hesitation, for he had to return to training the men who were currently on break. Once he was gone, Aurelia rose to her feet and made her way back into her room. Inside were two other women: Rina and Sana.
Rina had long, flowing purple hair and light grey eyes, her figure notably fuller than the others. Sana, by contrast, wore her short black hair neatly, her dark grey eyes bright and lively. Her build was modest, neither large nor small, but of the three women, hers was the smallest, while Rina's was the largest.
"Did something happen, Aurelia? You don't look well. Shall I fetch you a cup of water?" Sana asked, her voice filled with worry as she noticed Aurelia returning to the room.
"Eh? Aurelia, that was quick… But hey, where are the snacks you promised? And what's with that face? You look like you just got kicked out or something," Rina said with a playful smile, her voice light but tinged with genuine concern for her friend.
Aurelia, upon returning to her room, closed the door behind her and immediately sank down with a heavy sigh. "When I left, I met Sir Jagid," she said weakly, her voice burdened with sorrow. "He ordered me to pack my belongings and escort Madam Cesline's group and to remain with them at their designated quarters. It is even by the Lord's will."
"That's too harsh! If you move now, you won't even have the chance to be promoted to knight," Sana said, her voice laced with concern and a hint of defiance.
"That's going too far—even for the Lord's will," Rina added, voicing her complaint with a frown.
"Indeed… I'm sorry, girls. Could you please leave me alone? I need some time to myself," Aurelia said weakly, her body trembling. At her words, her friends exchanged a glance, then nodded in silent understanding. Without protest, they slipped out of the room, leaving Aurelia in solitude.
Aurelia's gaze drifted to a picture frame, within it a portrait of her younger self with her parents. Her mother bore long, rich golden hair, though her eyes were a warm brown. Her father, by contrast, had brown hair but shared with her the same amber‑like eyes. In the picture, the younger Aurelia smiled brightly—so different from the weary expression she carried now.
After a while, Aurelia rose to her feet and packed all her belongings. Since she was already wearing her armour, there was no need to change, allowing her to save time in preparing to meet Madam Cesline's group. Once she had finished, she carried her luggage out of the now‑empty room. Yet the moment she stepped into the corridor, she was met with an unusual sight before her.
Aurelia saw her friends, Rina and Sana. But that wasn't the issue—their luggage was stacked beside them. Aurelia opened her mouth to speak, but Rina beat her to it.
"Listen, Sana and I went to Sir Jagid. We asked if we could take your place, but he shot us down—said we're not 'diligent enough' to replace you." Rina rolled her eyes, then grinned. "So we told him fine, then let us transfer with you instead. I mean, come on, you're my best bud—I'm not about to let you go off alone."
She crossed her arms with a huff, her tone playful but firm. "And honestly? I'm sick of the guys around here staring at my chest with those gross, hungry eyes. Ugh. Better to stick with you than deal with that every day. Sana feels the same—we both want to go with you."
"Mmph… I just want to be with Aurelia," Sana said, her eyes shining with unshakable devotion, as if nothing could make her regret the choice.
"Thank you, everyone," Aurelia said, her voice warm yet tinged with embarrassment. She was deeply grateful to her friends, who were even willing to set aside their own path to knighthood in order to accompany her.
After Aurelia had finished, they decided to meet up with Madam Cesline's group at the mansion's main gate, before the preparations for departure were complete.
As they walked, Jagid spotted Aurelia and approached her, a letter in his hand. Without a word, he handed it to her.
"Do not read it now. Read it only when you are alone at the designated location. This is to ensure it does not leak to your friends or to anyone else. It is for your eyes alone—even I do not know its contents," Sir Jagid said calmly.
Aurelia nodded, slipped the letter into her luggage, and continued walking alongside her friends.
As soon as they reached the mansion's main gate, they waited for a short while before spotting Madam Cesline's group approaching, each of them carrying their own luggage.
Aurelia cast a glance back at the mansion and, by chance, caught sight of Caedros Destenebres at one of the windows, his gaze fixed intently upon them.
Aurelia swallowed hard, realising the weight of her mission and just how vital it truly was.
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Back to the present — after a long journey through the forest, at the designated location.
After a while, we finally reached our destination. How did we know it was the designated location? Towering buildings stood on the site. Compared to the grandeur of the mansion, their size seemed modest, yet they were still impressive—large enough to resemble a dormitory. From their scale, I suspected there might be various facilities housed within.
Judging by the sky, it should have been evening by now, and from what I observed, the time here matched my own exactly. Since we had reached our designated location, Yukino began giving instructions. She told the two maids who had come with us to sort through the luggage and clean the necessary facilities, as the buildings around us were quite old and had clearly gathered dust and pests over the years. She then ordered the other two maids, who were free, to take a twenty‑minute break before returning to the Destenebres mansion to fetch the remaining luggage and bring it here.
Yukino also instructed Rina and Sana to accompany them, and upon hearing that, the two gladly decided to take a short rest. As for Aurelia, she was assigned to remain on guard at the site, ready to respond should anything happen.
My mother, still carrying me in her arms, decided to tour the largest of the buildings. The reason was simple: Yukino had suggested it after my mother asked if there was anything she could do to help. At first, my mother had wanted to complain, but Yukino persuaded her otherwise, explaining that it was important to become familiar with the place and to see if there were any rooms suitable for her. After all, finding proper quarters for their master was no small matter. Reluctantly, my mother accepted.
As for me, being carried along, I couldn't help but respect Yukino's powers of persuasion—she was terrifying in her own way. What unsettled me even more was realising that she had deliberately sent my mother to the very building where she had already dispatched the two maids to clean. It was all carefully planned out, down to the smallest detail.
My mother, still carrying me, toured the massive building. As she walked, I carefully observed our surroundings. The place was overrun with cobwebs and thick layers of dust, with pests making it their habitat. I caught sight of the two maids already at work, cleaning some of the rooms, while Yukino herself was fearlessly driving away the pests as if they were nothing to her. At one point, I even spotted a rat‑like creature—so large it looked nearly the size of my head—yet she swept it aside without hesitation. Bold and unflinching, she dealt with them as though they posed no threat at all.
While my mother finally reached what seemed to be the best room after walking for so long, I had already taken in much of the building's layout. From what I observed, it was clearly designed as a multi‑purpose facility, housing a variety of rooms and functions. I came across a library—though it was thick with dust, cobwebs, and crawling pests. I also saw a surprisingly large kitchen, powered by magic, with several magic stone installations embedded into its structure. Beyond that, there was even a blacksmith's forge, a workshop, an alchemy chamber, and countless other facilities I could not easily list.
Of course, all of them were in disrepair, covered in webs, dust, and infested with pests. At one point, we even encountered a monster, which forced us to call for the women outside to deal with it. Yet Yukino swept it aside as if it were nothing. Who exactly is she? I wasn't surprised by her strength, but I found myself questioning her true profession more and more.
As we entered what seemed to be the best room, I quickly realised it was quite large—likely the master bedroom. Of course, it was still filled with pests, cobwebs, and layers of dust. Even so, its size surpassed the room my mother had once lived in back at the mansion. Soon after, the two maids followed us inside, immediately setting to work on cleaning the supposed master bedroom while my mother looked around.
She hugged me tightly, her expression caught between a nervous and a warm smile. "Son, from now on this will be where we live. It may not be as clean as our previous stay… but on the bright side, it's bigger than our old room too."
Indeed, it was bigger—and certainly dirtier. But I had my own opinion: there are many ways I could try to die, and this building seemed like a good place for it.
"Lord, is that really what you have to say? You're such a jerk…" Wraith's voice echoed in my mind.
"Agreed with him there," the other six chimed in, siding with Wraith.
Shut up. Unlike you all, I'm the one experiencing this discomfort, not you. Besides, the goal is to return to the main body—not to linger in this world.
"Let's live in our new home, son," my mother said with a warm smile as she cradled me in her arms.
I pray not…
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Outside of the building
Aurelia took the letter from her luggage and unfolded it. As her eyes scanned the message, the words struck her like a blow—what was written left her both surprised and deeply shaken.
[ Monitor Madam Cesline. Ensure she does not write any letters to anyone, nor allow the maids to do so—especially the light‑blue‑haired maid. If the opportunity arises, kill Ragnar Destenebres. Should you succeed, I will not only reward you handsomely, but I will also extend the reward to your companions who came with you. Furthermore, I will see to it that the three of you are promoted to knights.
As for your mother's illness, I will send the finest doctor to treat her—if you complete this task.
—Caedros Destenebres ]
Just seeing the sender's name was enough to confirm the letter's authenticity—and the weight of the promise it carried.