I Can See the Sword’s Memories

Chapter 19: The West

A single sword plunged down onto the vast plains like a bolt of lightning.

This was the first memory I glimpsed through the sword’s recollection.

It wasn’t a memory of swordsmanship but an image etched in the mind over countless years—a foundational approach to utilizing mana refinement techniques more effectively.

Crackle—

Mana, breaking free from control, rampaged through my body. Due to the image imprinted on my mind, the nature of the mana abruptly changed.

It began to resemble the lightning of nature. I hurriedly reined it in as the rampaging mana persistently emitted blue sparks of light.

Crack—!

The blue light flickered briefly in my hand, which gripped the sword, before vanishing.

“Ah…”

I gaped absentmindedly. The sudden rush of memories and the lightning coursing through my body left me in shock.

“So that’s it…”

A dam of blocked understanding crumbled under the flood of newfound recollections. In a cascading reaction, previously disjointed fragments of memory linked together seamlessly.

I realized why the mana responded to the techniques of the White Frost Tribe.

I also understood why Theo’s mana carried the traits of lightning.

A long exhale followed. The realization, as sudden as a thunderbolt, shook the foundation of my psyche.

The next moment, a white wind swirled from the tip of the sword in my hand. The wind was faint but carried a piercing chill.

I swung the sword, shaking off the mana clinging to its edge. The icy wind and faint streaks of lightning scattered into the air.

At that moment, Flora was sent flying from the training platform.

“Ahhh!”

Flora let out a yell but quickly got to her feet with a roar. She was unscathed, which meant Raynard had held back and merely tossed her out of the arena.

I blinked in confusion, realizing I’d spent too much time immersed in the memories. Worried, I glanced at Kanok, but he seemed uninterested in me.

Clap, clap, clap—

“Well done, everyone!”

Raynard clapped as he stepped down from the training platform, his face glowing with satisfaction.

After the training ended, I returned straight to my room, leaving the unconscious Theo in front of the men’s quarters. Theo, being naturally robust, would surely make his way in once he woke.

Although I hadn’t watched Flora’s fight, I didn’t feel regret. I had more urgent matters to handle.

Scattered knowledge about mana, which had been disjointed until now, was finally connecting into a cohesive whole. I knew that if I let this moment pass, the opportunity might never return.

At that moment, I felt capable of anything. I seized the inspiration that had struck me.

***

Time passed quickly, and soon, the date for our second mission approached.

The items to prepare weren’t significantly different from our first mission. I donned my uniform and adjusted it in front of the mirror.

“Beautiful…”

I nodded at my reflection, admiring my sister’s face. There wasn’t a person alive who could deny its beauty.

I tied back my now fairly long hair. While it had been a nuisance during sword training, I couldn’t bring myself to cut my sister’s beautiful locks carelessly.

Once I finished fixing my hair, my gaze fell on the table. It held a set of basic cosmetics Flora had given me not long ago, claiming they were good for skincare.

“Hm…”

There was nothing I wouldn’t do to enhance my sister’s appearance. However, I didn’t know how to apply makeup.

‘I’ll have to learn later.’

I tossed the cosmetic set into a drawer and opened the door. Standing outside was Flora.

“All ready?” she asked.

“Yes.”

“You didn’t put on any makeup?”

“I don’t know how.”

“Oh… Should I teach you later?”

I examined Flora’s face closely. She hadn’t worn makeup during training, but now, her face was lightly adorned. The subtle addition of color made her look healthier and more beautiful.

Indeed, it seemed necessary to learn how to apply makeup. I nodded to myself.

“After the mission.”

“Okay!”

Flora and I left the living quarters together. Raynard and Theo were already waiting between the men’s and women’s dormitories.

I waved at them. Now I knew—the relaxed expression Raynard always wore wasn’t because his eyes were closed. It was simply because they were naturally small.

Ordinarily, we would have needed to file paperwork at the main office before departing on a mission, but that wasn’t required for us. 

Raynard, as our supervisor, had taken care of the documents for us, just as he had for our first mission.

Raynard led us out of the Azure Wings headquarters.

“It’s been a while since we’ve gone out!”

Raynard didn’t head straight to the relay station. Instead, he guided us toward a nearby shopping district.

“Where are we going now?” I asked.

“Oh, there’s a place I always have to stop by before heading out on a mission. Don’t worry; it won’t take long.”

Their destination turned out to be a small bakery.

Sniff, sniff—

I took in the aroma. A sweet yet rich fragrance wafted from the bakery, tantalizing my senses.

“Wait here for a bit.”

Raynard left us outside and entered the bakery. Shortly afterward, he emerged holding four large pies in his arms.

“Take one each.”

“Oh, yes!”

“Wow, thank you!”

“Huh…”

I gingerly accepted a pie roughly the size of my head. Its round, flat shape reminded me of the bread occasionally baked back in my tribe, though it was different. This pie was topped with vivid red, jewel-like toppings.

It was a type of pastry I had never seen before.

Sniff, sniff—

I sniffed it again. The strong, tangy sweetness mingled with the savory aroma was unlike anything I had encountered. It was shocking—fruit mixed with bread.

I was cautious with unfamiliar foods, but Theo and Flora were already happily devouring their pies.

Raynard chuckled. “How is it? Delicious, right? I take on missions just so I can buy these pies. You know, the Order covers all expenses during missions.”

“Why don’t you just come out on weekends to buy them?” Theo asked.

“Well, once you’ve tasted this, weekends won’t feel like enough. You’ll see—you’ll end up like me.”

Raynard turned his gaze to me, the only one among the trio yet to take a bite.

I opened my mouth wide and bit into the pie.

Crunch—

My eyes widened. Beneath the crispy exterior lay a moist interior. 

The savory richness melded seamlessly with the tangy sweetness of the fruit, filling my mouth with an overwhelming symphony of flavor.

It was a culinary shock. My taste buds danced wildly in delight.

Watching my reaction, Raynard gestured lightly and turned around, signaling it was time to leave.

Theo and Flora followed him closely, but I remained rooted in place.

“Saeorin?”

My gaze lingered on the bakery for a long time. I only began to move after Raynard called my name twice more.

I made a silent resolution: after completing the mission, I would return and buy pies. Not just one, but five.

I’d give one each to Theo and Flora and keep the remaining three for myself.

A greedy smile spread across my face, and drool pooled at the corners of my mouth.

Our destination was a bustling city nestled against a golden grain belt.

Raynard leapt off his horse in front of the massive city gates and announced, “West! This region’s famous for its amazing drinks!”

Following him, Theo, Flora, and I dismounted.

Theo asked, “You’ve been here before, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, around this time last year, I think. The beer and wine here are incredible…”

At that moment, I felt a faint gaze from above. I turned my head toward it, only to see a towering wall looming in the distance.

“Hmm…”

“What are you standing around for? Let’s get moving,” Raynard called out.

In the brief time it had taken me to look around, Raynard had already shown his knight insignia and secured permission to enter the city. We followed him through the gates.

The city was teeming with life. A cacophony of shouts from merchants trying to attract customers filled the air, and the throngs of people created a dizzying scene.

West was one of the major trading hubs within the Karma Empire, a crossroads for countless merchants. The diversity of its bustling crowd was a testament to its cosmopolitan nature.

Among the crowd, I spotted people who felt oddly familiar.

Though they were dressed in the garb of the civilized world, their physiques, skin tones, and facial features betrayed their origin. 

They were Astin, people whose homeland lay beyond the frigid mountain ranges.

“Astin…”

My expression darkened as memories of my massacred tribe surfaced.

Just then, Raynard lightly patted my shoulder, a small smile on his face.

“Well, shall we start with a little investigation?”

I nodded in response.

Raynard led us through various parts of the city as we began tracking the whereabouts of our mission target: a man named Rover.