Sword Saint's Reincarnation

Book 3 Chapter 32: Last Days in Ceotha (3)

Rylan stared into Gael’s calm eyes for a couple of seconds, trying to restrain his killing intent. However, it was still as if the world around them had suddenly become dimmer and colder. Nathan took a step back, his expression a mix of fear and surprise. The dim world folded upon itself, almost collapsing into Rylan as he successfully contained his emotions.

For a few more seconds, nobody said anything.

“Thank you, Gael,” Rylan started, completely serious. “I was wondering for how long I would have to postpone my revenge.”

Gael gulped, looking Rylan up and down with the eyes of a man trying to understand a wonder of nature.

“Don’t worry about it,” Gael replied after a moment, his voice still steady. “An enemy of my grandson is an enemy of mine. But, as we both know, I’m not doing this only because of our family ties.”

Rylan nodded with a furrowed brow. It was obvious. Gael wasn’t such a sentimental man, to begin with. Everything he did was for the good of the Astassier house.

I don’t know what it was like in the past, but I’m certain that the house has only risen so far because of him.

However, from another perspective, that only made this situation incomprehensible. Why wasn’t Gael siding with the Empire?

“Do you believe in my potential more than you believe in the continent’s greatest nation, Gael? Why do you want to side with me and not follow in the footsteps of so many other noble houses?”

Gael tilted his head and rubbed his chin. For the first time, Rylan saw clear hesitation in the man’s expression. He glanced at Nathan. The man was staring at Gael’s back with piercing eyes, as if he also wanted to know the answer.

Nathan doesn’t know, either.

Rylan frowned. What was going on?

“My daughter is many things,” Gael started, dragging Rylan out of his thoughts. “But she was never what I expected of her.”

Rylan’s frown deepened. Was the man really going to speak badly of Elizabeth right in front of him?

“That does not mean, however,” Gael continued before Rylan could reply. “That she was worthless, nor that I learned nothing from her. She treasures her family above everything else, including the Astassier house. As far as she’s concerned, no amount of prestige or status would make up for the Flameheart family. It never did, back when you were in the mire of your addiction.”

Gael looked into Rylan’s eyes as he took a breath.

“I do not believe investing in you is the wrong decision. Your fighting abilities transcend your age, and you have created an unprecedented way of using mana, as far as we know. But you’re right to assume that choosing the Empire would be the safer bet.” Gael continued.

Rylan raised his eyebrows in surprise. He could now see where Gael’s words were going, and it shocked him.

“So, why?” he asked nonetheless, trying to confirm it.

“I just…” Gael stopped himself and sighed lightly. “I wanted to believe in my own family, for once.”

Rylan stared deep into his grandfather’s eyes. Among the myriad emotions he could perceive, he saw no falsehood. At least part of Gael truly believed in what he’d just said.

I haven’t seen him like this before.

It was even a bit off-putting. Had something changed? Had Rylan’s strength and potential reawakened the man’s desire not to go to the Empire? Rylan didn’t know, but he was dissatisfied with the current development.

He extended his hand forward for a handshake.

“Thank you,” Rylan replied after a second as Gael looked at the outstretched hand. “It is not my place to accept you into our family or not, but at least you’re trying, this once. I think you should start by talking to Mom, however.”

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Gael furrowed his brow. Rylan carefully observed him. The calculating edge to his gaze was still there, but it was tempered by emotions that Rylan hadn’t yet seen the man show.

“So, where is he?” he asked. “Where are Jason and the rest of the Cousteau house?”

Gael shook his hand firmly and met his gaze.

“Solva. It’s a small city near the western outskirts of the Empire, a good distance away from the capital. But due to his situation, Jason is being more closely guarded by imperial Mages. It won’t be easy, but he’s near the center of Solva. That’s what we know.”

Rylan smiled at his grandfather and tightened his grip. Finally, he at least knew where to find his enemy. For now, that much was enough. As soon as he could, he would reap Jason’s life.

“Thanks again. I really appreciate it.”

Gael tilted his head as he let go of Rylan’s hand, the look in his eyes having returned to the one Rylan was used to.

“I don’t doubt you’ll fulfill your promise. It makes me wonder why you kill so easily. It isn’t the kind of thing that you should have learned, given the life you led.”

Rylan shrugged, pulling his hand back.

“Just how it is.”

Gael grinned.

“In a world like this, I can appreciate that.”

Rylan smiled at him.

“Go talk to Mom. That’ll determine if I’ll make an alliance with the Astassier house.”

Gael nodded,

“Then, goodbye, for now. I’ve said my piece.”

The man promptly turned around and started walking toward the exit with firm steps. After throwing one last, long look at Rylan, Nathan followed him. Rylan watched the two’s backs with narrowed eyes.

Is he planning something?

His intuition was telling him that Gael’s emotions had been sincere, but he also knew that the man was a strategist who moved for the sake of the house he’d built. It was likely that he also believed in Rylan’s potential as it was, and had chosen to bet on him as a calculated decision.

Well, both things can be true at the same time. His sincerity is enough for now.

Elizabeth would feel happier if she managed to patch things up with Gael and Nathan. That was the main reason why Rylan had accepted their olive branch. That was all that mattered. He would deal with the consequences as they came.

Rylan turned around and started climbing the stairways back to the Flameheart room. Once he arrived, he opened the door and entered, shutting it behind him. He looked around. Everyone was still there. Elizabeth almost jumped out of her seat and started anxiously walking toward him.

“So?” she asked.

Rylan approached her and placed one hand on her shoulder.

“They found Jason,” he replied. “Gael wants to join our side by using this information, but it’s deeper than that. Let’s sit down for a bit.”

Elizabeth furrowed her brow, but she ended up nodding. Rylan sat down on his bed and looked around. Everyone was staring at him. Taking a breath, he started telling them about what he’d talked about with Gael, and most importantly, the emotions he’d perceived in the man.

The reactions varied. Regis looked more shocked the more Rylan spoke, but Lillia’s eyes burned with hope. Gerard raised an eyebrow, while Sarah frowned, and Aelfric tilted his head. Finally, Elizabeth’s frown deepened by the second. After some time, Rylan finished his explanation.

The room remained silent for a few seconds.

“That’s bullshit,” Elizabeth suddenly said. “He’s lying. Gael isn’t that kind of person.”

Rylan slowly shook his head.

“I could tell he was being truthful. I’m good at that sort of stuff. I think he meant it, or at least, part of it.”

Elizabeth gritted her teeth, clenching her trembling fists. Rylan didn’t say anything else. He didn’t know much about what she had gone through under Gael and Nathan, as she had never talked about it at length, and he’d never wanted to pressure her about it. Nevertheless, that didn’t change the fact that he thought Gael wasn’t lying back there.

A few seconds of silence went by.

“If you’re not happy about it, I’ll never become his ally, not in a million years,” Rylan stated. “I’ll just take the information he gave me, confirm it, and then keep my distance.”

Elizabeth sighed deeply and looked at him.

“…I’ll talk to him,” she replied.

Gerard approached her and hugged her from the side.

“All of us are on your side, my love,” he said. “Don’t force yourself to do anything.”

Rylan and his siblings nodded almost at the same time. She smiled at them, then at Gerard.

“It’s fine. It’s just going to be a talk.”

Rylan went forward to the edge of the bed and grabbed her hand gently.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “Father is right.”

She smiled at him.

For some time, they only reveled in the atmosphere. Nobody else said anything.

It was Elizabeth’s decision to make.

***

The following days went by quickly. Every day, Rylan tried to follow the same schedule. At sunrise, he would train with the soldiers, helping them hone their bodies and answering their questions about Mana Cultivation. Once they were done, he would head to the classroom and teach the Academy’s students for the rest of the morning and the early afternoon. After that, he would head to the student council’s building and teach the council members and the faculty. Finally, after sunset, he would go to Damian’s study and help his master, family, and friends, alongside the soldiers and Calan once more. Late in the evening, it was his time for personal training and honing his skills.

In such a fashion, time passed, day after day. In the first and second weeks since the arrival of Mar’s delegation, Rylan dedicated himself to taking advantage of his Profession to teach as much as he could to as many people as possible. He answered questions and imparted as much knowledge as he could. Slowly, he watched everyone improve.

During the third and fourth weeks, after having shared Mana Cultivation’s basic concepts, Rylan slowed down the lectures and focused on answering questions, letting everyone advance at their own pace.

And now, at the start of the second month, Rylan readied himself to depart from the Ceotha Kingdom.