The wizard is reincarnated last Time - [chapter 14] Light (3)

Chapter 14

 

A large box, draped in black cloth, was being hauled with a rumble into the ground floor entrance hall of the White Guard’s headquarters.  It was under the escort and watchful eyes of numerous knights.

 

“Oh dear,” Grain sighed in a troubled voice, but he couldn’t stop the curious children clinging to the second-floor railing, peering down at the scene below.

 

The second-floor corridor was crowded with many onlookers besides us.  We took advantage of our small stature, squeezing between people’s legs to get a closer look at the railing.

 

“What is that?”

 

“A box?”

 

“No, look closely. It’s a prison,” Whedin said.  My eyes widened at his words.

 

The covering cloth shifted with each movement of the box, revealing its contents fully by the time it reached the center of the entrance hall.  It was a sturdy prison made of thick iron bars, designed to be transported like a carriage, attachable to a horse or wagon.

 

“I think there’s a prisoner inside…,” Clement whispered anxiously. The people around us also held their breath, tension filling the air as they looked at the prison.

 

I immediately recognized the two people leading the procession, pulling the prison at the front.

 

Merian Cortis and Colin Cortis.

 

Commonly known as the Red Guard Captain couple, they were knights primarily stationed and carrying out missions in other regions.  It was rare for them to return to Prion.

 

Just what was inside that prison to warrant such a presence?

 

No matter how I craned my neck, I couldn’t catch a glimpse of the prisoner inside.  I could only sense an unsettling energy emanating from within.  The entire prison was enveloped in a dense magical force, as if sealed with some kind of security spell.

 

The Red Guard Captain couple as escorts, a robust prison, and powerful magic. I grew increasingly curious about its contents.

 

Merian, her red hair tied up, raised her hand slightly, and the prison, along with the surrounding knights, came to a halt.  They had stopped just past the center of the entrance hall, seemingly to secure more space to proceed.

 

As the procession of knights shifted and widened the path, someone approached the prison from the opposite direction with hurried steps.

 

“Liv, that person…,” Whedin, who had his face pressed between the railings, noticed first.

 

It was Luwen.

 

He wore his usual loose black robe, but his expression was unusually grave.  And behind him came Eilan.

 

Eilan was a mage affiliated with the tower, like Luwen, a Loran with red hair, the fox.  She was a bright and cheerful mage who had often helped me when I was learning magic from Luwen.

 

Contrary to their usual cheerful demeanor, Luwen and Eilan began conversing with an unfamiliar seriousness. I strained my ears, but the surrounding commotion drowned out their conversation.

 

Then, Clement tugged at my sleeve.

 

“Liv, Whedy. This way.”

 

Clement had found a spot with fewer onlookers. The angle was different, and it seemed like we might be able to see inside the prison.

 

Whedin and I slipped through the crowd and moved to the spot Clement indicated.  Grain sounded exasperated from behind us.

 

“Kids, we should go now…”

 

“Just a moment!”

 

“Ah, I can see inside from here!”

 

Whedin clung tightly to the railing.  I positioned myself beside him, gripping the handrail.  Before we knew it, onlookers had gathered here as well, murmuring amongst themselves as they observed the situation below.

 

Whedin was right.  From here, we could see inside the iron cage.

 

In the dark space enclosed by thick iron bars, a man dressed in black sat motionless.  His hair was a slightly lighter shade of gray, long and unkempt.  He had his back to us, so I couldn’t discern any other features.

 

As if mesmerized, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him. A dark aura emanated from him, ominous and chilling.  Only I, who could see magical energy, could witness this sight.  A dark, damp, sinister magic.  I knew that power well…

 

The man’s shoulders twitched slightly, as if he sensed something. This small movement caused the knights surrounding the prison to react instantly, their vigilance heightened.

 

The man remained unfazed.  He blinked slowly, seemingly recognizing a connection to something.

 

As he slowly raised his head, the knights stirred in surprise, some brandishing their weapons threateningly.

 

He turned completely.

 

At first, I thought it was a beam of light filtering through the bars in the dim prison.  But it extended further, higher, shining brightly amidst the meaningless fragments of the world…like the sun.

 

“Liv!”

 

I gasped, clutching Grain’s arm.  My whole body trembled uncontrollably.  I broke out in a cold sweat, a chilling coldness gripping me from the inside.

 

Grain embraced me, turning my face towards him.

 

“Are you alright? What’s wrong all of a sudden…?”

 

Clement and Whedin stared at me with worried faces.

 

What just happened? It was as if…

 

*Bang!*

 

The sound of something slamming against the iron bars followed by screams erupted.  I instinctively tried to look down, but Grain held me tightly, preventing me from doing so.  His firm voice resonated in my ears.

 

“Liv, you can’t stay here.”

 

Before I could respond, Grain carried me away. I clung to his robe, squeezing my eyes shut. The trembling subsided gradually, but confusion still swirled within my mind.

 

“Stay here. Clement, Whedy, you must stay in this room, too. Don’t move.”

 

Grain set me down in an unfamiliar room.  Clement and Whedin nodded anxiously on either side of me.

 

“What about the Holy Mage?”

 

“I’ll get someone to take you home. Understand?  Absolutely do not leave.”

 

Grain reiterated his instructions several times before leaving the room.  It was an unfamiliar room, similar to a reception room’s living area. I knew it was somewhere within the White Guard headquarters.

 

I curled up on the sofa, hugging my knees.  It felt like I had swallowed a chunk of ice, and it refused to melt, continuously lowering my body temperature.  I took slow, deep breaths to suppress the urge to cough.

 

“Liv, you look pale…,” Clement said worriedly, sitting beside me.

 

“Here, cover yourself with this.”

 

A thin, white cloth draped over my shoulders.  Whedin had brought a tablecloth from somewhere.  I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.  I pulled the white tablecloth Whedin offered around me.

 

“What in the world just happened?  That man, didn’t he suddenly glare at us?” Whedin asked, sitting on the opposite sofa. Clement nodded in agreement.

 

“It was scary…. I think he was trying to escape.”

 

Clement and Whedin thought the man imprisoned was simply a criminal.  I knew otherwise, but there was no need to upset them.  They had probably never seen a demon in their lives.

 

The door opened, and Grain returned. Two knights he’d brought with him stood guard in the hallway, a precaution against any unforeseen circumstances.  Grain came straight to me, checking my condition.  He placed his warm hand on my forehead, studying my face.

 

“Did that man escape?” Clement asked anxiously. Grain shook his head.

 

“No, that’s impossible. He just made some threats. He’s being transferred elsewhere now.”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

“Liv, I just saw Luwen. He said he’s too busy to hold class today. He’ll contact you later.”

 

“Oh… Okay.”

 

With such a prisoner arriving, it was understandable that Luwen would be busy. I accepted his explanation.

 

“Clement, Whedy.  It’s best for you two to go straight home,” Grain advised, and the two curious children readily agreed.

 

It wasn’t long before my father and Erner entered the room with worried expressions.

 

“…Well, in my case, I’m not too worried about the practical and field evaluations, but the written exam is my weak point,” Schuren said, moving his blue-flagged cavalryman one space towards the castle gate. Three turns remained until the reinforcements represented by the blue flag would arrive on the battlefield at Redberry Hill.

 

I remained motionless, maintaining my prone position.  I calmly continued the current offensive, placing another small, red-armored knight piece on Redberry Hill, leading a large war chariot.

 

“Didn’t you struggle with the academic test when you entered the academy? You practically took the entrance exam twice.”

 

“I have a uselessly good memory… Forget about it.  Nobody excels at everything,” Schuren grumbled, shifting his position. I chuckled.

 

Schuren, a graduating student at the Knight Academy, had had a growth spurt since arriving in Prion.  With the constant physical training and swordsmanship practice at the academy, his physique had improved, and he had gained considerable muscle.  He was only seventeen, but after a few field training sessions as part of his curriculum, he acted like a full-grown adult.

 

Especially at home, and especially in front of me.

 

“You should have applied to the Knight Academy. You would have heard about how famous your brother Schuren is until your ears fell off.”

 

“Hmm…”

 

I pushed two of Schuren’s infantry pieces off the board with my war chariot and knight.  Schuren let out a groan.

 

“I’ll ask Whedy when he enters the Knight Academy. But I won.”

 

The war chariot and knights were so powerful that Schuren couldn’t win, no matter what strategy he employed.  They had retaken Redberry Castle, and I, their king, carefully placed the red flag atop the castle.

 

Schuren sighed and removed his blue pieces from the battlefield.

 

“I lost again.”

 

“Brother, you need to study hard for your written exams,” I teased, and Schuren reacted defensively, pouncing on me and pinching my cheeks.

 

“You cheeky little brat. Just because you’re learning a bit of magic, you think you’re smart, huh?”

 

“Ow, ow, ow…”

 

I feigned pain, and Schuren reluctantly let go.  Despite all this, he wouldn’t dream of actually hurting me.  After what happened when we were younger, Schuren always tried to protect me.  Even though Prion was a very safe city where we didn’t have to worry about demons.

 

“Young Master, the Master has arrived,” a maid announced, bowing slightly as she appeared in the open doorway.

 

“Ah,” I sat up.  “Yes, I’ll be down soon.”

 

“I’ll clean up, so you go. The loser cleans up, that’s the rule,” Schuren said, folding up the game board.

 

I left the tidying up to him and headed to the entrance.  I had completely forgotten about the incident at the White Guard headquarters while playing games with Schuren after returning home.

 

My father had sent Erner to escort Clement and Whedin home, and then returned with me. He then went back to work, seemingly unable to leave his unfinished tasks, and only returned long after dinner time.