Chapter 60: Chapter 60
"If he can fight so well simply by wielding fire and water through his sword, imagine the kind of monster he'd become if he mastered any more techniques."
"Is that how you see it?"
Upon hearing Nathan's murmured observation, Kishiar replied softly.
"Do you see it differently, sir?"
Kishiar took a slow sip of his tea, his red eyes never leaving Yuder's form. He tracked Yuder's every movement with an unwavering gaze.
"In my eyes, I see a powerful beast trying to make itself small."
"You're saying... he's holding back?"
Kishiar's lips curved in a faint smile. "Liars recognize other liars. For some reason, that captivating beast is hiding his true strength."
Nathan was the kind of man who would trust his lord if he said the sun rose in the west, but this time he couldn't help but question him.
Yuder Aile's exceptional abilities were plain to see, and he was hardly a man who seemed the type to downplay his talents. The idea that this audacious figure, who wore his superiority like a second skin, could be concealing even more power was hard to believe.
"He's hiding it," Kishiar repeated, eyes gleaming. "A lot of it."
Nathan frowned. "So, he's suspicious after all."
"Yet your investigation turned up nothing?" Kishiar inquired, his tone knowing.
"..."
"You need to trust your instincts over your suspicions, Nathan. I've decided Yuder is essential to the Cavalry unit I'm planning. For reasons unknown to me, that charming beast isn't holding back when it comes to me and the unit. Isn't he showing off his skills and teaching two people at the same time, in an environment where others might doubt him?"
Nathan nearly blurted, "What exactly is charming about him?" but managed to swallow his words. A charming beast? Was Kishiar really talking about the fearsome man standing before them? If Yuder himself heard such a nickname, even he might doubt his ears.
But as Kishiar's eyes remained fixed on Yuder, there was a brightness and joy in them. He always wore a cheerful façade, but Nathan, who had served him for many years, knew how to distinguish between his lord's genuine smiles and the ones that were merely for show. To his surprise, Kishiar was truly smiling now.
"If it weren't for him, I might have been gravely injured while retrieving the Red Stone," Kishiar continued. "Or worse, using an unexpected amount of power could have disrupted the delicate balance I've barely been holding onto."
"That's speculative,"
"Yes. But you also know it's possible," Kishiar replied, his voice lowering. "There's never a guarantee that it won't happen."
Nathan fell silent, knowing Kishiar was right. His lord always walked a fine line between control and collapse.
Over the past few years, that line had become even thinner, the edge more precarious. Despite the blessings he seemed to receive from heaven itself, the more Kishiar achieved, the more dangerous his position became. He was never left alone, not by friend nor by foe.
Such was his fate.
"Regardless, it's true that he risked his life for me that day. If he were a spy sent by the dukes, he certainly wouldn't have left me in such a dangerous situation."
"..."
"I wonder where someone like him came from. It's truly fascinating."
"Too much attention can be dangerous..." Nathan managed to say, his voice low with concern.
Kishiar didn't reply verbally. Instead, he offered a soft smile, his gaze unwavering as he continued to watch Yuder, who was relentlessly swinging his sword, a picture of controlled brutality. Kishiar remained still, as if entranced.
"Well... it might be a bit late to worry about that now," Kishiar murmured, so softly that even Nathan, a seasoned Swordmaster, could barely catch the words.
Nathan silently refilled his lord's empty teacup, noticing the delight that lingered in Kishiar's demeanor. As he did, something caught his eye—a small, neatly folded note peeking out from under the saucer.
"What's this?" Kishiar asked, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he noticed it as well.
"While I was preparing the tea, a courier arrived from the Rik Mountains. You've seen enough of the training, so please take a look at this."
Nathan's suggestion to shift Kishiar's focus from Yuder wasn't lost on his lord, though Kishiar gave no indication of acknowledging it. With a small smile, he unfolded the note and scanned its contents. Brief flickers of emotion crossed his otherwise impassive face.
"Place this inside my quarters' desk later," Kishiar instructed, handing the note back without hesitation.
"Yes."
Nathan took the note, holding it discreetly in his palm as if it were an extension of his own skin, keeping it hidden from any prying eyes.
Meanwhile, Yuder, Gakane, and Kanna continued their grueling training, oblivious to the quiet exchange. As Kishiar observed them, his expression remained unchanged, but he broke the silence once more.
"It seems they've discovered a location near the base that shows signs of beast habitation. However, no clear evidence points to who or what is behind this."
Nathan wasn't surprised. "If they're that thorough, they won't give up just because of one failure."
"Indeed," Kishiar sighed, the weight of inevitability settling in his voice. "The thought of those who dared not act for the past two years now gathering like vultures is already exhausting."
"And yet, despite all this, you still brought the stone for His Majesty."
Kishiar did not respond immediately. Instead, a different conversation, one that had taken place only a few days ago in the imperial palace, replayed in his mind.
'Kishiar. So, is your vessel still intact?' the emperor had asked.
'Thanks to your concern, brother, it's perfectly fine,' Kishiar had replied smoothly.
In private, Kishiar addressed the emperor as 'brother,' a breach of etiquette they both tolerated. In return, the emperor called him by his given name, a reflection of the intimacy only they shared.
'What a pity,' the emperor had mused, his cold, red eyes gleaming behind his glasses. 'If the late empress could see you now—alive and well without a single outburst—she would surely be furious. She'd probably rise from her grave just to see her most crucial decision proven wrong. Such a shame I can't show her.'
The emperor's mocking smile was not aimed at Kishiar but at the long-deceased empress, his words dripping with contempt for her memory. Kishiar, sensing the direction of his brother's thoughts, had only smiled softly in return, the familiar dance of veiled insults and silent understanding continuing between them.
'Well, it's all in the past now.'
'Yes, all in the past. Her forcing you into the position of duke, and the fact that because of that, I had to hand over the throne to my enemies in the court—it's all in the past.'
The emperor's voice was cold as he muttered, his gaze shifting toward the box in Kishiar's hands. From a distance, Kishiar was carefully opening the box to show the Red Stone, as per the emperor's request.
'That worthless little stone is truly the Red Stone. Even as I look at it, I find it hard to believe.'
'Many people share that sentiment.'
'If that tiny thing really had the power to protect your vessel two years ago, I can only hope it will be of some use to me this time...'
A bitter smile flickered across the emperor's pale face.
'After all that anticipation, seeing it in person doesn't inspire much confidence. Perhaps it's best to let go of any expectations.'
'Such discouraging words, especially after I went through all the trouble to bring it here. Would I have fetched this for anyone else but you?'
Kishiar's tone was light, but both of them knew the depth of the stone's incomprehensible power. Yet, Kishiar had never sought power or admired it, and the emperor understood that better than anyone.
'You always have a way with words. Is this why the benevolent man I knew put me through such hardship by creating the Cavalry?'
'If I hadn't formed the Cavalry, we wouldn't have been able to retrieve the Red Stone safely, So it was a necessary step. Holding onto resentment for so long is bad for your health.'
'Health?' The emperor gave a hollow chuckle. 'What's health to a man already on his deathbed?'
There was no need for elaboration; the slow tightening of the noose, the inescapable end, was written in the emperor's eyes.
'Oh dear. What happened to the tyrant who rushed me every day to fetch the stone? Did you really give such an order just to torment your only brother? How disappointing. When did you stop believing in miracles…'
'Enough. Stop talking.'
The emperor waved a weary hand, his face etched with fatigue. He motioned for Kishiar to close the box and gestured for him to come closer.
Obliging, Kishiar set the box down at his feet and knelt before the emperor. The two brothers, faces both alike and unalike, locked eyes. In the emperor's gaze, emotions surged—bitterness, worry, relief—only to recede like waves against the shore.
'Kishiar.'
'Yes.'
'I didn't order the stone's retrieval just out of some vain desire for power. I believe you still have a chance, unlike me. If, after your investigation with the mages, it turns out the stone's power can truly aid your vessel, I will command that you use it first—even if it's just for a moment sooner.'
'Your wife would have been heartbroken to hear that,' Kishiar responded calmly, though the emperor's astonishing declaration could have shaken anyone else.
For a fleeting moment, the emperor's hardened expression softened. A profound longing surfaced, quickly replaced by steely determination.
'I'm not joking. Listen carefully.' His voice grew grave as he coughed, fighting the weakness in his body. 'But if it turns out the stone's power is of no use to us, I'll leave the next steps to you. Whether you keep it, destroy it, that choice will be yours. But whatever happens, the stone must never fall into the hands of the Dukes... or the Crown Prince.'
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
-- Power
stone