章節 33: Preparation (5)
July 1st, 1437
Raphael Earhart
Through the window of the carriage, where I sat with Erin, the picturesque landscape stretched out before us. Forest animals darted between the bushes, accompanying us along the road, while hills rose in the distance, their forms standing here and there. My gaze drifted across the scenery as my thoughts wandered toward the upcoming tournament.
There were about three weeks left until the start of the Initiation Tournament, and we were heading toward the capital of our domain—Sybris. It was there that the duels were set to take place. The tournament, which would last for two weeks, was already drawing cadets and spectators from all corners of the continent.
—As far as I know, the preliminary stages for the cadets have already begun,— Erin quietly broke the silence.
—Yes, most likely,— I replied, smiling slightly.
Erin, though she had only recently been a cadet herself, now spoke about them as if she had already outgrown those ranks. That made me smile involuntarily.
I suppose her thoughts aren't far off—she really isn't just a cadet anymore.
As my personal bodyguard, she had been spared from the qualifying rounds and was granted direct entry into the main tournament alongside the Earharts.
Leaning my head back against the carriage seat, I tried to process everything that had happened over the past week.
Aurora had recently returned, covered in blood, and reported her discovery of gruesome experiments with red crystals in the forest. This caused a storm back at the estate. The Earhart family, renowned for its power and influence, was deeply insulted. Conducting such experiments on our knights, turning them into monsters, and doing so in the forest just a few kilometers from the castle was a brazen act of disrespect and provocation.
An emergency meeting of the Guardians and the Circle Council was immediately called, attended by the elders, the patriarch and matriarch, as well as the Circle knights. The decision was clear—to conduct a thorough investigation involving the family's elite forces, including the Third Knight of the Circle, which only emphasized the gravity of the situation.
Aurora had told me all of this herself, which I hadn't expected at all. Though she knew I had an interest in the red crystals, she had never shared such details with me before. The only information I had came through the loyal knights and servants I had gained over the past five years. But now, she trusted me, asking for my opinion.
I was stunned by her honesty, but even despite that trust, I couldn't reveal everything to her.
It wasn't like I could just tell her that this was my second life and I already knew the outcomes.
In the end, my knowledge of the red crystals didn't go beyond what Aurora already knew. In my previous life, these experiments had indeed been somewhat successful—they managed to implant the crystals into humans, but the results were incomplete, and the process was one-time use since those who participated sacrificed their lives.
Together, we discussed possible motives, trying to figure out who was behind it all, and came to the obvious conclusion—there was a traitor in the family. But who? That remained a mystery.
Aurora assured me that she would handle the matter and told me not to worry. However, I couldn't just brush it off. The traitor had been directly involved in the deaths of Erin and myself in my past life. But I knew that Theo wasn't the founder of the "Black Lotus," the mysterious organization whose emblem—a lotus—was found on the wrist of the woman Aurora had encountered.
Theo was too young and, to be honest, too stupid for such intricate schemes.
Sighing heavily, I decided to leave these thoughts aside. As Aurora had said, there was nothing I could do about it right now. Betrayal, red crystals, the Black Lotus organization—these were all issues for others to solve while I focused on more immediate matters. Namely, the Initiation Tournament and preparing for it.
With those thoughts, I closed my eyes, trying to relax and clear my mind of worry. Gradually, the thoughts faded, drifting into the haze of forgetfulness. Before I knew it, I slowly began to fall into sleep.
Drowsiness enveloped me like a soft blanket, carrying away all the heavy thoughts and everything that had been weighing on my mind for the past few weeks. In sleep, at least for a moment, I could escape the reality filled with intrigue and worries.
***
A gentle nudge on my shoulder woke me. Through the fog of sleep, I saw Erin, who seemed to be trying to wake me, saying something.
—My...lord...
Her words were still unclear as I hadn't fully woken up. I shook my head to clear the drowsiness and sat up straight in my seat.
—Sorry, what were you saying?— I asked.
Erin puffed out her cheeks in mild irritation, her annoyance obvious. I felt a strong urge to pinch those cheeks but restrained myself.
—Could you repeat that, please?—
—We've arrived in Sybris, my lord,— she replied, her tone calmer now.
I turned my head toward the window, taking in the scene outside. Indeed, we had entered the city. On either side of the road were brick buildings, ranging from two to fifteen stories tall. Some of them had chimneys with smoke billowing out, and in the distance, I could make out the mechanisms with gears, the clattering of which mixed with the hum of people's voices in the streets.
Just as I remembered it.
Sybris was the heart of our domain—a large, industrial city with strict architecture, which created a striking contrast with its beauty. Its streets were paved with cobblestones, and the air was filled with the scent of factories and the iron railway. It was a place where industrial might intertwined with the more refined areas, where towering residential buildings stood tall.
The streets were crowded with people of all social classes, from those dressed in expensive, branded clothing to the poor, wearing patched and worn-out attire. But there was one common feature among them all—discipline. Everywhere I looked, there were patrols with blue patches and the Earhart family crest, maintaining order. The crime rate in Sybris was minimal, second only to the capital of the Atria Federation—Consolia.
As we traveled through the city, people on the streets kept turning their heads, trying to catch a glimpse of who was riding in the carriage, accompanied by the family's knights. But thanks to the tinted windows, they couldn't see anything—or at least, I hoped they couldn't.
The carriage turned onto the central square, and before us stood the statue of the first Earhart patriarch, made of black metal. A raven perched on his shoulder, giving the figure an air of grim majesty. The statue was the pride of the city, a symbol of the family's strength and unyielding nature. Behind it rose the Shining Palace—an enormous mansion made of white marble, with columns supporting its massive doors. This was the Earhart family's central residence, not only a home for family members but also an important diplomatic hub where distinguished guests often arrived.
As we drove through the gates of the estate, which opened for us, I glanced around. Numerous knights patrolled the inner courtyards, keeping a watchful eye on everything. Outside the gates, behind the fence, people gathered, trying to catch a glimpse of the life they would never be part of. Their eyes burned with a desire to touch this world, but they were separated from us by high walls and the stark contrast between the manicured lawns and the ordinary city life beyond.
The carriage smoothly came to a halt at the main entrance, and soon the door was opened.
—Good afternoon, Eleventh Son of the Earharts. Raphael Earhart,— greeted the butler, inviting me to step out.
I popped a candy into my mouth, nodded in acknowledgment, and stepped out of the carriage. As soon as my feet touched the ground, the bright sunlight momentarily blinded me, causing me to squint. But as my eyes adjusted, I noticed my elder siblings standing on either side of the path leading up to the Palace—Gabriel, Aurora, Lucius, and Adrian—all waiting for me. At the very top of the steps stood Alonzo, our patriarch, with an expectant look on his face.
—They really seem to value you,— Erin quietly commented from beside me.
—It seems so,— I responded, hiding my slight confusion behind a smile.
I hadn't expected such a grand reception. Aurora had mentioned that she'd be attending the tournament, but I didn't think Lucius and Adrian would be here—they were supposed to be in Solaris.
Could my participation in the tournament really be that important to the family?
I started moving forward, doing my best to ignore the pompous display. As I passed by my brothers and sisters and began ascending the steps toward Alonzo, I felt a light weight land on my shoulder. It was Harumi, in her fox form, who had taken the opportunity to jump onto me. I gently scratched behind her ear, all the while observing the patriarch's reaction.
Alonzo didn't show any overt surprise, but I sensed a subtle shift in the atmosphere. He was clearly a bit thrown off by seeing my pet in person. Harumi stood out from the other contract beasts of the family.
I continued my ascent, savoring the moment. When I reached within a meter of the patriarch, I knelt on one knee, offering a gesture of respect.
—Raphael Earhart has arrived to participate in the Initiation Tournament.
I could feel the tense gazes of everyone present—my brothers, Aurora, and Alonzo himself.
—Glad to see you, son,— the patriarch said approvingly. —Rise.
—Thank you,— I responded, standing up to meet his gaze.
I couldn't hold back my curiosity and asked:
—Patriarch, may I ask why the grand reception?
Alonzo's smile twisted into something sly, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
—How else should we greet the 'Young Prodigy of the Earharts'?
My insides twisted with irritation. That damned title again.
God, you guys came up with it yourselves. Why the face now?
—I... see,— I answered, keeping my tone composed.
—Ahaha, relax, I'm just messing with you,— he laughed, the sound genuine, clearly enjoying the situation at my expense.
Well, at least one of us is having fun.
—So,— he continued, glancing at Harumi, —is this the curious little creature Aurora spoke of?
I shot a quick glance at my sister, but she simply nodded silently.
—Yes, Patriarch, this is Harumi, my fox. We've formed a contract.
Alonzo studied Harumi intently, and she, noticing his sharp gaze, instinctively clung tighter to my cloak.
Hey, don't ruin my clothes!
—I see,— he murmured thoughtfully. —Will she be joining you in the tournament?
—No, I plan to participate alone.
—Good. And I assume this is your bodyguard, Erin Starlance?
He shifted his gaze to Erin, who stood behind me. She bowed her head respectfully.
—Yes, Patriarch. It's an honor to meet you in person,— she responded calmly.
A proud smile flickered across my face. She had truly matured. Her confidence and poise were impressive.
—I see,— Alonzo said, turning his attention back to me. —I imagine you're tired from the journey. The maids will escort you to your rooms.
—Thank you,— I responded politely with a nod.
The same butler who had opened the carriage door collected our belongings and led us into the residence. We followed in silence, but my attention was suddenly drawn to a silhouette in one of the mansion's windows. It was a girl with long hair peeking out from behind the curtains. Her hair had a greenish tint, a shade often seen among elves.
Who is that?
I kept my gaze fixed on the window, but she quickly disappeared, leaving only questions swirling in my mind.
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