I am Dimitrion, the current head of the Marquis House of Reynostia. I am a fortunate man with a peaceful, lively territory and a loving family.
However… there is something that has been bothering me recently. It concerns my second son, Crais. Ah, I think my eldest son, Lowen, might like Crais a bit too much, but… well, I’ll leave that aside for now.
What concerns me about Crais is twofold. One is his abnormal intelligence, and the other is his obsession with the sword and martial aura.
The first time I felt something was off was right after he was born. When I looked into the eyes of the infant Crais, I was struck by an indescribable sensation.
It was as if his eyes held intelligence… or perhaps self-awareness… It’s hard to put into words, but I distinctly remember how different he seemed compared to Lowen.
From there, the vague feeling I had gradually turned into certainty. At one, two, three years old… His appearance was appropriate for his age, but he seemed to be thinking and acting beyond it.
However, nothing particularly noteworthy happened, and he grew up just fine.
The issue arose when he turned five. That was when we discovered that Crais had a rare condition known as Magic Circuit Deficiency Syndrome… no, it’s more of a disability.
Feeling both sorry and pity, I told Crais that he wouldn’t be able to use magic.
I wondered if, being only five, he might not understand or become sad. No matter how intelligent Crais was, I thought he might become depressed.
My wife, Luceria, was likely more heartbroken than I was. She’s a kind and loving woman who puts family first.
So, I tried to comfort Crais by hugging him… but to my surprise, he wasn’t the least bit disheartened. And then, his next words astonished me.
“I want to wield a sword more than magic.”
It was an incomprehensible, impossible statement. I tried to dismiss it as a child’s fantasy, given that he was only five… but I simply couldn’t.
Because his eyes told me. It wasn’t a dream, a lie, or a joke. It was a serious statement.
I recalled with certainty that Crais had those intelligent eyes ever since he was born.
Crais was serious.
He didn’t prefer the universally respected power of magic; he preferred the sword, seen as lowly and dirty, and he wanted to use it.
No matter the age, a normal person wouldn’t actively choose the sword. A swordsman… is someone who fights, but only because they lack magical talent.
Luceria opposed it, naturally. I don’t look down on swordsmen just because they are swordsmen, but it’s true that their lives are full of danger. I didn’t want to send Crais into such danger.
However, the kind of swordsman Crais was talking about was different.
No shield, no armor, just a single sword to fight with. That’s the kind of swordsman he envisioned.
It was absurd, unrealistic. Especially for Crais, who couldn’t use any magic, fighting with just a single sword was nothing short of suicide.
And yet… for some reason, I couldn’t help but be convinced. For some reason, I couldn’t help but have expectations.
As I was searching for a reason, Crais said something to Luceria, who was still opposing the idea.
“If I win the Arcana Eclipse Martial Tournament of Mysteries and Miracles, will you accept my path?”
At that point, I made up my mind. With a strange sense of certainty, I made my decision. I’d let Crais do as he wished. I’d let him run as far as he could.
That was it.
The intelligence I felt in Crais’s eyes when I first saw him wasn’t just my imagination. Whether he was hiding it or not, I didn’t know, but I understood.
Even though Crais was only five, he was a person with a strong sense of self. Moreover, he already knew the path he wanted to take.
It was strange, incomprehensible… and yet, I was happy. I didn’t know what was happening to Crais, but I wouldn’t dare pursue the matter any further.
Whatever the case, Crais had a path.
Whether it was a thorny road or a steep one, I didn’t know. The path might not even exist yet, and it would be Crais who forges it. All I had to do was watch over him.
Or so I thought, but then Crais came to me for advice.
Apparently, when Crais opened his gate and learned how to use martial aura, his personal maid, Frill, witnessed it. He thought that perhaps her gate was slightly open as well.
“Isn’t that far too much to imagine?” I thought.
For starters, I had no idea how Crais even knew about martial aura, a power known to very few people. I also wondered how he managed to open his gate in just a day.
But I tried my best to keep my composure. Why, you ask? It’s obvious—I didn’t want to show weakness in front of Crais. I wanted to maintain my dignity as his father.
After hearing more, it seemed that Frill’s gate was indeed starting to open.
I asked her what she wanted to do… and Frill immediately decided to open her gate.
Both Crais and I were stunned by her quick decision. It might have been the first time that Crais and I shared the same feeling.
After that, Crais opened Frill’s gate and taught her the basics of how to control it. I don’t know why Crais understands it better than I do. If I ask, he’ll probably dodge the question.
Apparently, Crais and Frill have been training together recently. I was worried that they might be overdoing it, but from what I’ve heard, they’re keeping their training within reason.
“Excuse me. I’ve come to report.”
Oh, it’s already this late?
“Come in.”
“Excuse me.”
There was no mistaking that slightly relaxed tone—it had to be her. She had come to make her usual report.
“How was Crais today, Frill?”
“He was swinging his sword as usual. Then… he asked me if I’d like to try some sword training too.”
“Oh… and? Will you?”
So Crais had said that to Frill. Does that mean… she has some talent?
“Is that alright?”
“I don’t mind. You can do as you like, Frill.”
“Then I’d like to give sword training a try.”
“Alright. I’ll have your sword prepared.”
“Thank you very much.”
Her tone might be a bit too casual for a maid, but that’s fine. She never makes mistakes in formal settings.
However… I sometimes feel like she looks at Crais in a strange way.
Well, nothing’s happened, so… I suppose it’s fine.
