Shhhiiiing—
"Woooow…"
Along with Sylvia's astonished and fascinated reaction—
"How is it? Getting used to it a little?" Ruin asked, watching her with a faint smile.
"Mhm, I think so. Wow! I still can't believe it. This is a wind spirit?"
"That's right. The wind spirit, Sylph."
A faintly translucent little orb of energy hovered around Sylvia.
It was, of course, nothing more than the lowest-class spirit, unable to even communicate properly.
But the fact that Sylvia—who until now had been a complete novice, with no connection whatsoever to spirits—had managed to summon even a lowest-class wind spirit carried immense significance.
"Hahaha, it's so cute!"
Sylvia laughed brightly at the little spirit that drifted toward her.
Ruin, however, only looked at her with eyes that had sunk deep in thought.
This… doesn't make sense.
He didn't show it, but inside, Ruin was utterly shocked.
Even a person with no talent, or with only average affinity, would normally need at least half a year—if not a full year—to learn and grasp spirit arts to the point of summoning.
And yet Sylvia…
What, barely three months? No… maybe two and a half, at most.
In such a short time, she had not only understood spirit arts but had reached the level of summoning a lowest-class spirit entirely on her own.
Which meant…
Just as I thought.
As Ruin had suspected, what was labeled as "latent ability" represented a person's potential and future.
In other words, given the right external conditions or special circumstances, one could acquire or master abilities far faster than others—that was the realm of "talent."
And so, under Ruin's basic instruction, Sylvia had absorbed everything like a sponge soaking up water, developing her gift at a pace several times faster than others, and blooming into spirit arts.
That means she might even excel at cooking, cleaning, and household tasks too.
At first glance, it seemed like the perfect kind of talent for becoming an ideal wife and mother.
But now—
Name: Sylvia Felton
True Name: None
Title: (Unable to interpret)
Race: Human
Traits: (Unable to interpret)
Current Abilities: (Unable to interpret), Spirit Affinity, Spirit Arts
Latent Abilities: Cooking, Laundry, Cleaning, Spatial Awareness, (Unable to interpret), (Unable to interpret)
Current Emotions: Anxiety, Embarrassment, Unease, Shyness
Due to the limits of Insight, further interpretation is not possible.
With "Spirit Affinity" and "Spirit Arts" now marked as her active abilities, it was clear that before she could become the perfect homemaker, Sylvia's future as a spiritist was far more promising.
Just then—
"Um, Ruin!"
"Hm?"
At the sudden call of his name, Ruin turned. Sylvia, who had been happily watching the Sylph fluttering around, now wore a slightly clouded expression.
"What's wrong, Sylvia?"
"Oh, it's just… there's something I wanted to ask."
"Something you wanted to ask?"
"Mm-hm. It's nothing big."
Her evasive tone, her hesitant manner—like she wanted to say something but wasn't sure—made Ruin tilt his head in confusion.
At that, Sword Soul spoke in a sharp tone.
[Boy, did you do something wrong to that adorable girl?!]
I didn't do anything, though… Ruin answered in a slightly aggrieved tone.
Then Sylvia spoke again.
"Ruin. Remember that girl who came from the Magic Tower to visit you once?"
"…Huh?"
At the sudden mention of Cabella, Ruin was caught off guard.
"The girl who came looking for you, said she was Master Renovan's disciple—are you close with her?"
"Uh, well, that's… um…"
Sylvia asked with wide, innocent eyes, her cheeks faintly flushed pink.
[Kuhuhuhu! Ah, youth!]
Amused, Sword Soul burst into loud laughter.
Ruin shook his head quickly and explained, "I think you've misunderstood. Cabella and I aren't involved in any way."
Cabella of the Serion Magic Tower had simply shown up on her own, calling his house "her residence" without permission, and wandered around as she pleased.
It was true she was the granddaughter of the Tower Master Adorno, and—
Well, she did have some interesting trinkets…
But that was about it. Thanks to Master Renovan's stern attitude, Ruin had always considered his ties with Cabella to end there.
However—
"Oh, so her name was Cabella." Sylvia murmured with a subtle tone before speaking again.
"Aunt Daisy was really scary about it, you know. She said some sharp-tongued stray cat, from who knows where, was after you."
"…What?"
Ruin had known his mother didn't think much of Cabella, but he hadn't imagined she would put it so harshly.
Then again—
Well, it's true Cabella isn't exactly the type to win affection with her sweet personality. You never know which way that girl will jump next.
As he recalled her image, Sylvia's voice drifted back to his ears.
"But it's a relief, since you said you're not involved with her."
Though she said it with a bright smile, Ruin felt a sudden chill run down his spine.
What is this feeling…?
[Heh, what else could it be? Just youth, that's all.]
Sword Soul cackled, teasing him.
Shut up.
Ruin snapped back curtly, then turned to Sylvia and replied with all the politeness he could muster, "Haha, right. I'm glad we cleared up that misunderstanding. Now, why don't we practice handling the spirit some more, okay?"
"Mm-hm!"
Sylvia nodded brightly again, and only then did Ruin finally relax, secretly exhaling the breath he had been holding.
Phew…
And again, Sword Soul grumbled.
[You always tell me to shut up when you've got nothing else to say.]
Keep that up, and I'll stop learning swordsmanship from you.
[Hah! And that's supposed to be a threat? Go ahead, do as you please. Between the student and the teacher, who do you think will lose more?]
Sword Soul, unusually firm this time, began pouring out his pent-up frustrations.
[I've told you countless times, haven't I? Training only inside your mental world has its limits! Swordsmanship must be imprinted into the body and muscles so that even when will and mind falter, the sword remains true. I've said this over and over, but you never listen!]
As Sword Soul vented like a dam breaking, Ruin nodded and asked casually, Really? So that means my sword training is over, then?
[Wha—of course not! Do you think I was spouting nonsense?!]
Hmm, that's too bad. I thought I'd finally found a proper sword master, but if that's your decision, I suppose our master-disciple relationship ends here…
[What?! Wait! What did you just say?!]
Startled, Sword Soul's voice rang out urgently, while Ruin smiled inwardly.
Why, Master? Or should I call you Mr. Sword Soul now, since you're no longer my master? Or perhaps Mr. Black Shadow?
[W-Wait a moment!]
Back when Ruin had decided to formally learn swordsmanship from him—
He really let loose on the founder Belion, didn't he.
He had ranted endlessly about how Belion, the first head of the Linegrime family, had stolen his teachings and later pretended not to know him. That Belion had never once called him "Master" or acknowledged him properly.
He had gone on with long sermons about the duty of humans to honor their teachers.
Thanks to that, Ruin knew exactly what Sword Soul was lacking.
A being who's dying to be called "Master" won't let go of a disciple so easily, not when he's finally found one after all this time.
Perhaps Sword Soul wasn't human, strictly speaking—but Ruin, with the memories of Subject 1872, knew people's hearts well enough.
[Hrmm, well, what I said earlier… that was just, uh, a strong figure of speech. Don't take it the wrong way. As your master, I just felt the need to discipline you a bit more firmly, that's all…]
Hmm, I'm pretty sure that's not what you said before.
[Ruin!]
Calling his name in panic, Sword Soul quickly lowered his tone.
[I—I apologize. I must have spoken rashly in anger just now. But still, to sever our master-disciple bond so lightly would be a grave mistake. So…]
Watching the flustered Sword Soul, Ruin nodded.
Alright, alright. I'll just learn the sword a bit more slowly, step by step, then.
[What? No, that's not—]
Hm?
[No, I mean—that's a very stable approach! Yes, taking it slow and steady is indeed a fine choice. Hahaha, you truly are a gifted disciple, one worth teaching.]
Sword Soul forced an awkward laugh, while Ruin quietly smiled to himself where it couldn't be seen.
Time once again flowed swiftly by, and before long, Ruin turned twelve.
"Happy birthday, son!"
"Happy twelfth birthday, Ruin!"
As always, his birthday was spent quietly with only his family, sharing a warm dinner together.
"Thank you, Mom, Dad."
Smiling brightly, Ruin bowed his head.
For someone who still carried all the memories of living as Subject 1872, this simple happiness between family was something indescribably precious.
And then—
About a year left, isn't it?
The Linegrime summons.
At age thirteen, all direct descendants of the Linegrime family were called to the main estate's training hall, where they underwent harsh training and trials to earn the right to be acknowledged as swordsmen.
There they learned Linegrime's orthodox swordsmanship, as well as the proper mindset of a swordsman.
Only those who endured and passed all trials were recognized as true swordsmen of Linegrime.
But—
I've already learned all of Linegrime's orthodox swordsmanship through Sword Soul.
Knowledge, experience, skill—the training hall had little left to offer him, things he couldn't already acquire on his own.
Moreover—
[What are you brooding about? Hurry up and get to training. You're supposed to complete the Seven Star Sword Forms by the end of this year, aren't you?]
Over the past two years, Ruin had already mastered Linegrime's basic seven sword forms, as well as the Seven Refinements.
That level was more than enough to qualify as a Linegrime swordsman.
So technically, he had no need to respond to the summons just for recognition.
And yet—
Becoming a Linegrime swordsman means…
Ruin's gaze drifted off into the distance, where someone was approaching.
"Ruin, we're going hunting together again today, right?"
His father, Kavel, waved to him with a bright smile.
Kavel—once stripped of his position and completely cast out of the Linegrime succession.
But—
North Sword Duke has drawn a perfect line between Father and me.
Looking at his father, who now seemed nothing more than a rustic villager, a humble hunter, Ruin thought—
It's not entirely fair to say it was just for me, but…
Though it had been his father's choice, he had abandoned everything to pursue his love with Ruin's mother, ending up here.
And the result of that is me.
If Ruin answered the Linegrime summons, passed the training, and was acknowledged as a swordsman, then "Ruin Linegrime" would officially gain the right to inherit the headship.
To become master of the northern skies…
If he wished to reach his ultimate goal faster, that recognition might prove indispensable.
Then his father's voice called out again.
"Brion said he spotted a herd of red deer near the northern woods. How about we head there today?"
Ruin gave him a faint smile and nodded.
"Yes, Father. Let's go together."
And in a voice too quiet for anyone to hear, he whispered to himself—
I'll take it all back for you, Father.
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T/N:
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