Chapter 12, A Pleasure To Meet You (6)

Translator: Hedge

Editor: Lizzz

 

Kalian was looking at Allan with calm eyes. Though he stood silent, his intentions were clear.

 

[He wants to talk.]

 

Despite being a Prince of a foreign land, Allan could not address him while mounted, so he had no choice but to dismount. Only then could Kalian properly see Allan’s face.

 

Thanks to this, Kalian was quite surprised, as Allan’s appearance differed greatly from what he knew of the supposedly 50-year-old man.

 

He looked to be at most in his mid-twenties.

 

Fortunately, his distinctive hair color, which grew increasingly red toward the ends, confirmed that this was indeed Allan Manasil.

 

[They say completing one’s Seventh Circle reverses one’s age once.]

 

Now he understood why the voice he had heard at the main gate sounded younger than expected.

 

[Indeed. I found the right person.] Kalian did not bother hiding his admiration as he faced Allan. Meeting that gaze, Allan’s eyes showed a peculiar light.

 

[He’s only fourteen. How does he observe people with such eyes?] Though Allan sized him up no differently than the Palace Guards had, his gaze was different. Somehow, it felt as though he was assessing his utility rather than his appearance.

 

Allan slightly bowed his head toward Kalian and greeted him.

 

“I am Allan Manasil.”

 

A simple greeting, with an attitude of notably confident. No one but royalty would dare greet a Prince this way upon first meeting.

 

Allan was not ignorant of who Kalian was, nor was this simple impudence. It was because he knew himself to be talented enough not to cower before royalty.

 

[He’s certainly someone I like.] Kalian believes this attitude would not change even before Rmain. So, Kalian sincerely smile.

 

“A pleasure to meet you.”

 

As he had told Ian earlier, since he was royalty, he did not mention his own name.

 

Soon after he said his greetings, Kalian observed Allan for a moment before asking.

 

“It’s late, why are you leaving just like that?”

 

“The threshold was too high for me to open a closed door.”

 

After studying Kalian briefly, Allan responded in a deliberately curt voice.

 

[So, he wants to speak in metaphors.] Kalian smiled at Allan’s response.

 

Allan was expressing how the Palace Guard had turned him away due to his modest attire.

 

Suppressing a sigh, Kalian maintained a casual expression as he carefully chose his next words.

 

“I am asking because you sought a closed entrance when the door was open.” In other words, ‘why focus on the closed entrance when you had an invitation?’

 

Allan looked at Kalian, feeling odd.

 

First that gaze when they met, and now this response – neither was typical of a fourteen-year-old boy.

 

Instead of apologizing, Kalian had first pointed out Allan’s attitude, then smiled.

 

“With so much wind blowing, dust gathers at the threshold. Being busy blocking the wind, we failed to properly clean.” He added words meaning, ‘we were too preoccupied keeping unwanted visitors out to notice the Palace Guard’s mistake.’

 

Whether that non-apology should be considered honest or brazen, the corners of Allan’s mouth rose a little.

 

[This child will be interesting to watch.]

 

Thinking this, Allan began to examine Kalian carefully.

 

Several things that were not visible at first glance came into view.

 

As he noticed them, the smile on Allan’s face gradually faded.

 

[Wait…?]

 

Allan’s gaze fell on the hem of Kalian’s red ceremonial clothes. Then he stared at Kalian’s hands before looking back at his eyes. Since it was difficult to know what Allan was thinking, Kalian simply silently endured his gaze.

 

Allan took one step toward Kalian. By this time, his expression had hardened, and wariness flickered across Kalian’s face.

 

“Excuse me for a moment.”

 

Allan suddenly reached out and grabbed Kalian’s wrist.

 

*Whoosh!*

 

Normally Kalian would have dodged this, but today had been an unusually taxing day for both his body and mind. He had spent the whole day on edge, being summoned here and there, literally one step away from collapse. His body would not move as he wished.

 

Moreover, in the Royal Palace, no one would dare lay hands on Kalian like this. Thanks to this, he had let his guard down in several ways and helplessly allowed his wrist to be caught.

 

Allan lowered his eyes as if trying to confirm something while holding Kalian’s wrist.

 

“What are you…!”

 

When Kalian opened his mouth to speak.

 

Allan flowed his Mana into Kalian’s body.

 

A sharp pain that was hard to get used to pierce his heart. Unable to finish his words, Kalian clutched his chest. His body staggered from the pain that felt several times worse than what he had experienced before.

 

*Clop!*

 

Sensing its master’s condition, Raven stepped forward and pressed his body against Kalian. Too startled to be surprised by this action, Kalian leaned against Raven’s body and gritted his teeth.

 

[To have my condition discovered before we could even have a proper conversation.]

 

Watching this scene, Allan nodded. As if knowing what effect his magic would have on Kalian, he spoke in an impassive voice.

 

“Even a closed door cannot block all the wind.”

 

[How dare you say that!]

 

Kalian glared at Allan with fierce eyes and pulled back his captured wrist. Allan released his grip, thinking the thin wrist might break if he resisted. Then, he stepped back one pace. It was a gesture indicating he would not touch him further.

 

“…Ha.” Kalian closed his eyes briefly to calm his anger. Soon, a resigned voice flowed from Kalian’s lips.

 

“It would have been better if you’d said you needed to check something beforehand.”

 

Before he could win over Allan’s heart, he had first revealed his illness, so there seemed little else to say. Of course, his voice at this moment was not exactly gentle.

 

“The wind can’t be completely blocked… Yes, that’s right. I couldn’t block it all. At some point, I became unable to use Mana.”

 

Allan nodded.

 

“So, you were aware that something is wrong with your Mana?”

 

[Yes, of course. But not being able to use my Mana is not the main problem here. Still, judging by how he’s only talking about Mana, he doesn’t seem to notice there’s actually a different problem here.]

 

Seeing how distance Allan seemed, Kalian could not help but criticize the treatment of Mages in this country, which was led by the descendants of a Dragon. They were about to let a precious Archmage, who came of his own accord, slip away right before their eyes.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Allan’s eyes suddenly fell on the statue of Syspanian standing in the middle of the fountain. The sounds he had heard all day throughout the streets echoed in his ears.

 

‘A Prince who resembles Syspanian.’

 

He realised this Prince would be interesting to watch over.

 

After looking at the statue of Syspanian and the Royal Palace each in turn, Allan looked back at Kalian and asked.

 

“How did you catch up to me so quickly?”

 

Strength entered Kalian’s fingertips.

 

A Prince who appeared desperately in need of Allan’s help, had opportunely followed him and now stood face to face with him. Was it too forced to call this a coincidence?

 

[I wanted to hide my illness until I could properly win his heart, fearing that very question…] Kalian briefly considered how to answer.

 

[I came from the future and knew you would come and go, so I’ve been waiting for a long time to win your favor – there is no way I could say that, But, I can’t lie either. Allan would surely be able to see through that much.]

 

“While riding nearby, I overheard your conversation with the Palace Guard. So I came immediately.”

 

By the name of the goddess Serenty, these words contained no falsehood. Though it was deception close to wordplay, he had answered honestly, nonetheless.

 

After staring at Kalian with an unreadable gaze for a moment, Allan asked again.

 

“Why did you come running?”

 

“Because you were leaving.”

 

Allan chuckled for a moment.

 

[Finally, an answer befitting his age, with a voice that still carries a trace of resentment. Must have hurt for him to do so.] Allan thought, then asked again.

 

“Then. Why were you looking for me?”

 

Kalian did not answer hastily.

 

[He must know it’s because I can’t use Mana, so why is he specifically asking this question?]

 

Allan watched Kalian, who was lost in thought. He did not rush him to answer.

 

After a while, Kalian opened his mouth.

 

“If you ask why.”

 

The reason he waited for Allan instead of seeking a healer.

 

The reason he left the Royal Palace knowing chaos would ensue when he returned.

 

There certainly was one.

 

Kalian straightened his body that had been leaning against Raven.

 

“Allan Manasil. I seek to get that name by my side.”

 

Words like a small sigh followed.

 

“…Because I think the real wind will blow soon.”

 

Though he meant that the day of his assassination was approaching, he could not specifically talk about it here. He thought it would be fine if it was just understood as a power struggle involving the Crown Prince’s position.

 

Allan lightly scratched his forehead with his index finger.

 

He was not ignorant of the Prince’s situation before him. He knew well the extent of Queen Sillike’s power, who held the sword hilt within the Royal Palace of Cyries. Thus, he had a fair idea of what this Third Prince, who said he needed the name ‘Allan Manasil’, was thinking.

 

“Your Highness, do you wish to block the wind, or do you wish to calm it?”

In other words, ‘Do you only plan to protect yourself from the other forces? Or do you intend to overcome them all and stand at the peak?’

 

Kalian silently looked at Allan.

 

[Is he truly someone who can be trusted?]

 

His eyes made one final confirmation of this. The same light appeared in Allan’s eyes as he met that gaze.

 

After a moment, Kalian answered in a composed voice.

 

“For now, I must block it. And what I want isn’t the throne. But if I need the throne for what I want, I intend to calm it.”

 

Arrogant words that treated the throne as merely an option.

 

[A Prince, who has nothing in his hands except a dying body, dares to speaks such words. How interesting. Oh, how much more interesting will this get.] Both corners of Allan’s mouth rose again.

 

He made his decision.

 

“In that case.”

 

He raised his finger to point at the Royal Palace of Cyries.

 

“Give me another invitation.”

 

Naturally, Allan was not asking for a mere three-day invitation to attend the King’s birthday celebration party, but a proper justification that would allow him to help Kalian.’

 

Kalian smiled. And soon erased his smile.

 

The sharp red eyes that had been gleaming moved away from Allan to look at the ground. His head bowed and knees bent.

 

*Rustle…*

 

The white cloak briefly flew up and lingered in the air before settling to the ground like a feather.

 

“I, Kalian Rain Cyries.”

 

Kalian’s voice spread out gently.

 

Allan looked down steadily at Kalian’s back as he knelt on one knee before him.

 

“greets my Master.”

 

Having eyes that did not match his age, and a small back that took on the weight of mountains. Seeing that, Allan opened his mouth. He answered toward the Disciple he met for the first time in his life.

 

“I accept your invitation.”

‘Yes, I will save you.’

 

I’ll translate the chapter while maintaining the structure and using the exact terms from the glossary.