Chapter 9

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Late at night, the day before Adam and Emma were to depart from the capital.

The servants of the mansion had already retired, and everyone was getting ready for bed, relaxing in their rooms. Noah, holding a wine bottle and a glass, visited the guest room. When he knocked, the door opened slightly, and Adam peeked out.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

"Great. Excuse me."

Upon entering the room, Aunt Emma was sipping tea and nibbling on pastries.

"Oh, come in, Noah."

"Excuse me, Aunt."

Lily was already asleep in another room. She had been so exhausted from the continuous sightseeing in the capital that she returned to her room right after dinner.

"There's something I want to ask before you two leave for the eastern fortress."

"It's about Lily, isn't it? I was planning to explain to Noah anyway."

With that, Emma handed him a thick letter.

"I didn't think we'd have time to talk, so I wrote it all down. Of course, I'll explain it to you now as well."

It seemed they had the same idea.

"I've been trying to convince Lily to stay in the capital for a while, but I doubt she's truly convinced. She'll probably try to come to the eastern fortress somehow. However, that would be a bit of a problem."

While listening to Adam and Emma, Noah poured wine into his glass. Emma declined, saying she would have tea, and arranged pickles and cheese she had bought in the town during the day as snacks for the wine.

"I also want to know more about Lily's light magic. I know you two can't use magic, and Lily couldn't use it originally. I know there are methods to awaken it, but they are generally prohibited. Even if she awakens her magic, there's no environment for her to learn it. Now that Lily has passed the candidate test for the Holy Maiden with high scores, people around her are curious about her background."

"Of course. I don't intend to hide anything. I'll tell you everything."

Adam then explained to Noah as much as time allowed.

In the Holy Aurum Kingdom, there are two types of people: those born with magical power and those without.

The rare talent is said to have originated from the first Holy King and Holy Maiden of the Holy Aurum Kingdom. According to historical records, the Holy King wielded the four elemental magics, and the Holy Maiden wielded light magic. Their skills were overwhelming, and the Holy Aurum Kingdom flourished during their reign.

Over time, children with the power of the four elements began to be born more frequently among the nobility who supported the country.

Occasionally, children with light magic were also born, leading to the theory that magical power is inherited through blood.

Of course, some noble children are born without magical power. However, even if a person lacks magical power, it is believed that the next generation might inherit it, so they are not openly discriminated against.

Adam was originally the third son of a noble family, and Emma was the eldest daughter of a baron's family, but both were born without magical power.

Adam, being the third son and unable to inherit the family, joined the knight's order as soon as he came of age. He quickly understood that advancement was unlikely due to the discrimination based on his lack of a title and magical power.

While there was a class system, it was impossible for magical power, which was believed to be inherited through blood, not to be a target of discrimination. Officially, it was stated that it should not be done, but in reality, people were distinguished by whether they had magical power or not.

However, Adam himself thought that as long as he could make a living, it was not a problem, so he worked happily and casually as a low-ranking knight.

On the other hand, Emma faced discrimination due to her lack of magical power when it came to marriage proposals.

The proposals she received were either to become a second wife to a noble who already had a successor and had lost his wife, or from nobles with some issues. Even if the family status matched, she would be rejected for not having magical power.

Fortunately, the Tinam baron's family was to be inherited by her younger brother, so there was no need for a son-in-law. Emma's father decided to prioritize her wishes, thinking that it would be better not to make her feel uncomfortable in her new home.

Emma got a job in the castle's administrative office through her father's connections and began working with the knight's order. There, she met Adam. They later married, and Emma followed Adam when he was transferred to the western fortress. A few years later, Lily was born.

"Lily started using light magic when she was seven. There was an incident at the western fortress."

"Ah, I see. So her magic awakened in a crisis. I'm glad she's safe."

When magic awakens later in life, it usually happens when the person is in mortal danger and tries to protect themselves.

There are records of such cases, and the method is established, but it is prohibited in modern times.

The risk of death is extremely high.

During the era when magic was supreme, it was frequently used, resulting in many deaths and a significant decrease in the noble population. Therefore, laws were enacted to prohibit the awakening of magic later in life.

"Can you tell me more about the incident?"

"Sure. It's an embarrassing story, but at the time, a medium-sized band of thieves had settled around the western fortress, and we were struggling with them. One day, we confronted them as usual, but their movements were strange. They would wound us and retreat into the mountains, and when we stopped attacking, they would strike again. Before we knew it, we were lured deep into the mountains. I thought something was wrong and retreated. Since no one was seriously injured, I thought it might have been my imagination, but after we returned, everyone, including me, collapsed."

We realized that our weapons had been laced with a delayed-acting poison.

"I was so shocked that I went blank. I made antidote herbs and took care of the fallen. I also stationed soldiers to prepare for the bandits' surprise attacks, but we were short on manpower. Meanwhile, the poison spread, and everyone's condition worsened."

Shouts, screams, and groans filled the western fortress, causing chaos.

At the time, seven-year-old Lily was always with Emma, but Emma had no time to take care of her.

"I think it was very scary for her. Adam was near death, and her close friends were suffering, and I was in a panic. She had never seen anyone die before."

A piercing scream echoed, and a blinding flash of light filled the room, as if a lightning bolt had struck nearby.

Everyone who was there at the time had the same memory.

"Frightened, Lily awakened her light magic and instantly detoxified everyone and healed their old wounds. When I realized, she was curled up in a corner of the room, hugging her head. When I called out to her and shook her shoulder, she collapsed and lost consciousness."

Miracles don't just happen.

Adam and Emma were terrified when they understood what had happened to Lily.

"For about ten days, we thought she might not wake up. But the next morning, she woke up as if nothing had happened and said she was hungry and started eating."

Her first meal in ten days was too much for her stomach, and she vomited everything. We quickly made a light broth and gradually transitioned to solid food. Lily quickly recovered and returned to her normal life.

"After she recovered, she started using light magic to help. She learned magic from travelers and read books in the fortress, gradually mastering practical light magic. Her ability to absorb knowledge was amazing and always surprised us."

"I see. So that's how Lily awakened her light magic. This shouldn't be a reason for her to be blamed. There are records of magic awakening due to accidents or the death of a loved one. Also, it explains why Lily's magic is unconventional. If she could receive systematic training in the capital, it would be good for her future. What do you think?"

"Noah is right. Emma and I can't guide Lily's future."

They had already decided that the best option would be to entrust her to the Tinam family for quality education.

"I want to keep her in the capital and have her receive education. Can you help with that?"

"Lily has caught the attention of His Highness and Mr. Daniel, so the Tinam family will take full responsibility for her."

"That's great. Oh, don't tell her. She'll want to go with us to the eastern fortress."

"Understood. I'll talk to her after you two leave and she gets used to life in the capital."

Thus, Lily's future was decided without her knowledge.

"Also, there's a strange tendency for her to get involved in mysterious situations, which might be due to her light magic. It's written in the letter, so please be aware."

"Understood. I don't think you need to worry while she's in the capital, as there are protective barriers."

Noah put the letter in his pocket and drank some wine to soothe his dry throat. As the alcohol took effect and his mood lifted, the conversation between Adam and Noah shifted to political matters.

"Actually, I've been wondering. The western fortress has had zero casualties and zero illnesses for the past five years. Requests for reinforcements have been made every year, but they were not approved because they were not for replacements. It was quite a struggle to send new recruits there."

Noah brought up the discomfort he had felt since he became involved with the western fortress.

"There are constant small-scale raids from the western continent, which is made up of small countries. Is it because Lily heals everyone with her light magic?"

"Yes. Lily heals everyone with her light magic. Thanks to her, my unit has become a group of tough warriors over the past five years."

Injuries could be healed immediately, and the soldiers of the western fortress were trained in actual combat without any long-term absences. Regardless of their initial condition, they grew stronger and stronger, and it was impossible for them not to become excellent soldiers.

"The western fortress is where the underperformers who can't advance are sent. But that was before they were sent there. They have become excellent subordinates. Now, they can compete with anyone."

"No, based on the reports from the soldiers I recently sent there, they will definitely win. The capital and the eastern fortress are full of knights who have no practical combat experience. It wasn't a problem during the peace treaty, but it is now."

"So, the new recruits and the veterans were Noah's scouts?"

"That's how it can be interpreted. As a result, soldiers from the western fortress will be moved. In return, soldiers from the capital and the eastern fortress will be transferred to the western fortress."

Adam sobered up at the news.

"Wait a minute. The capital and the eastern fortress are the prime paths for advancement."

"Yes, they are all showy knights who only fight in tournaments. In a real battle, they would be the first to fall."

"That's a shame. It's a waste of talent."

Despite his words, Adam understood what Noah meant.

Regardless of their origin, those who have gained experience in actual combat and those who have learned it as a sport produce very different results.

"Adam, I have a favor to ask."

"What is it?"

Noah's cool smile did not show any signs of intoxication. The sharp air reminded him of the tension of noble negotiations he had not experienced in a long time.

"Can you achieve something significant at the eastern fortress for the future?"

It was a chance that had finally come to Adam, who had worked hard.

"Of course, I will do my best."