Star-Embracing Swordmaster (Full)

"Now, are we done?"

Oksana poured oil onto her hands and rubbed them vigorously, then gestured for the boy to come closer.

"You should come closer."

"…Yes."

Oksana's living room is quiet, but everyone is busy.

The maids were busy polishing the boy's armor and ironing his clothes and cloaks, but only Oksana and Vlad remained in silence.

"I thought this day would come someday. However, it's faster than expected."

Oksana smiled warmly as she looked at him and carefully brushed Vlad's hair.

Hair falling between oily fingers.

The blond hair shining in the sunlight looked quite good in Oksana's eyes.

"It must have been hard."

"…"

Instead of responding to Oksana's words, Vlad closed his eyes silently as he felt her hand pass through his hair.

Oksana, with a deep look that seemed to understand everything, made him feel uncomfortable, but he wanted to focus on the sensation he had felt for the first time in a long time.

Although he said he couldn't remember in front of Zemina, contrary to what he said, Vlad treasured the few memories he had with his mother.

Among them, the memory he valued the most was that of his mother combing his hair with a fine-toothed comb.

"You look great with blond hair. You should be grateful to your parents for passing this on to you."

'Even so, I'm glad I inherited their blond hair instead of my own dull color.'

When Oksana's words brought back old memories with his mother, Vlad unconsciously put his hand on the handle of the sword he was carrying.

"Ah."

The place where the sword that always comforted him should have been.

However, there was only a strange and unfamiliar sword there.

The beings I would have liked to be with right now were no longer in this world.

The boy couldn't help but regret.

It would have been great if we could see it together here.

"It's done."

Vlad opened his closed eyes at Oksana's words.

The afternoon sunlight streaming in through the window was as dazzling as her green eyes.

"At this level, I think you can go anywhere."

Oksana seems proud of her work.

Only then did Vlad smile when he saw her smiling.

"Thank you."

With those words, Vlad silently looked around and saw Oksana's room through her eyes.

Vlad, who had remembered everything in Oksana's living room, including the sounds, the smells, and even the sensation of the flowing air, closed his eyes again.

As the boy moves forward, following the star, the things he left behind will fade away.

But there's no need to regret.

Sometimes, when you miss them, you just have to reveal the memories that were buried in your head.

Like a memory engraved in this moment.

***

"Are you nervous?"

"Not exactly."

Jager simply lifted the corner of his mouth at Vlad's response, who tried to pretend to be calm.

"Act tough only in front of enemies, kid."

"...True."

With those words, Vlad glanced towards the door behind Jager.

A huge door.

This was the scene he saw when he brought the death worm's body, but the boy from that day wasn't worthy to proceed.

"You can enter now."

"Alright."

When the attendant by his side signaled, Jager stood before the door leading to the Knights' Hall.

A door that today would only open for Vlad.

The only person allowed to open it was Jager, the knight who taught and stood by the boy.

"Vlad, squire of Bayezid! He stands at the knights' door, following the Count's orders!"

Jager shouted louder than ever for his squire.

"Please let me in!"

Jager's shout was strong because he had more confidence than anyone and trembled because he was prouder than anyone.

As his words echoed loudly, a response came from within the tightly closed door.

"Come in."

The aura subtly emanating from the voice.

The world of the knights granted permission for the boy to enter.

Creeeek!

As soon as the permission was granted, the tightly closed door began to open with Jager's fingertips.

As the door that had blocked the boy's path due to qualifications opened, the cut red carpet began to show the boy's path.

"..."

Vlad couldn't take his eyes off the scene unfolding before him.

It was a space where everything gleamed.

Knights lined up on both sides.

The sunlight streaming through the window shone brightly on the armor worn by the knights.

"..."

Briefly, Vlad shifted his gaze away from the bright sight and looked back.

Standing there was a man who always watched the boy's back and pushed him forward.

A person who couldn't even stand in front of the door because he couldn't lift a sword.

Behind the boy, a man with dark eyes smiled with his arms crossed.

"Let's go."

I thought it was a line I could never cross for the rest of my life.

But today, Joseph managed to stake one of his swords, even if it wasn't him.

The boy who never gave up deserves to smile more than anyone.

"Congratulations."

Jager's voice reached softly behind Vlad as he advanced towards the Knights' Hall.

Hearing Jager's voice, which was different from usual, made Vlad feel something welling up from the depths of his heart, but he tried to suppress it.

"Vlad, squire of Bayezid, please come forward."

Vlad lifted his head and followed the direction from where the voice came.

The world of the knights, which had finally opened its doors, was calling the boy to come here.

With the same look in his eyes as that day when he was watching the boy under the moonlight.

"Yes."

The red path is the path of honor.

The boy began to move forward, passing by the knights who lined the path.

One step at a time.

Leave the dirt of the alleys and head towards the place you dreamed of.

"You've worked hard to get here."

The boy always dreamed of the stars.

Even though his feet sank into the abyss of reality, his eyes always looked at the stars floating in the sky.

And now you've reached the star.

"Receive in your left hand the discipline of the Sword Master, which will never change."

Golden parchment.

Vlad carefully accepted the parchment containing the Sword Master's oath.

Finally holding in his hand the shining star he had always dreamed of, Vlad gritted his teeth unconsciously.

"Kneel and swear. Squire of Bayezid."

Peter's cold sword landed on the boy's shoulder as he knelt.

The coldness and sharpness of the sword that fell clearly awakened Vlad's mind.

"A knight must always accept possibilities. That is the first discipline of a sword master."

Vlad of Soara.

There were knights who gave him that name.

Although they had met as enemies, they had decided to protect the potential the boy had.

Because that was the duty a knight had to fulfill.

"A knight must always be able to hear his own conscience. That is the second discipline of a sword master."

In a fog-filled village, Knight Gregory risked everything and burned with everything in mind.

If you're where you should be, if you're standing at the moment you should be, don't hesitate.

The only standard that will decide that is your own conscience.

"A knight must always follow an honorable path. That is the final rule set by the Sword Master."

A knight must always be honorable, and to be honorable, he must always look up and move forward.

Without shame, only for a fair reward.

"Swear before my sword and the discipline of a knight. Vlad of Soara."

The boy had always contemplated the possibility of a sword.

The red-haired girl standing in the mud next to him would testify to that.

Although it was a life in the dirt of the alleys, the boy had protected the things he had to protect so as not to be dragged down by it.

The knight of the prostitutes who protected the smile of the rose would testify to the boy's conscience, who always tried to preserve what was good.

"I swear."

And as the boy was looking at the star, he lifted his gaze and moved forward to take it in his hand.

Without stopping, even if you crawl.

It was a rule he didn't know, but the boy did his best to follow it.

"I swear to defend the rules of the Sword Master with all my might."

And the sword he had been fighting with would bear witness to the boy's final discipline of the Sword Master that he had been following without even knowing it.

"I, Peter Bayezid, the Lord of Bayezid, declare."

Along with the boy's oath, he declared loudly the rightful owner of this place.

"The boy in front of me was Vlad; he was a humble squire when he kneeled, but when he rises again..."

A new star was born under his sword.

"He will rise as the proud knight Vlad of Soara."

The knight of Lady Alicia.

The one who protected the children blessed by Saint Rogino.

The Dragon Slayer shouted for Lindworm's blue blood.

And now Vlad of Soara, a knight recognized by Bayezid.

He stood with confident steps.

[You've done a great job.]

The voice that had been watching the boy closely, closer than anyone, acknowledged that.

With the Sword Master's Oath held by the boy in his left hand.

Today the rootless boy had created his own roots with his own will.

Under the name of Vlad of Soara, not as someone's son or descendant of someone.

All the stars here would testify to those roots.

***

The candlelight flickered in some office somewhere.

The middle-aged man, the owner of the place, frowned as if something displeased him.

"These dwarfs in the back are really annoying."

A large body.

Although he seemed slow at first glance, anyone who knew the man even a little would know that he hid strong muscles under his thick skin.

"So this time I decided to act more meticulously, like the other nobles."

The man holding the nuts in the dish cracked them effortlessly and continued speaking.

"They say Baron Alicia, Of Hainal, still doesn't have a husband."

"That's right."

Although he was a noble noble, he was a man who spoke bluntly without hesitation.

A pioneer and conqueror who cared for nothing.

"Is that why I'll use him? It would be difficult for a woman to survive alone in this harsh world."

Always hungry no matter how much he ate, and another prey had just caught his attention.

"So, this time you need to use some force."

"Please, tell me, Count."

Count Sigmund Gaidar.

The man who became the loser of the new west.

The man standing outside the candlelight bowed his head at the order given.

"Go to Deirmar with my son. Get a just cause there."

When Sigmund said he would expand through a cause rather than violence and war, the knight nodded as if understanding.

Along with his son, who is of Gaidar blood, he could secure at least a small cause.

"I believe you won't disappoint me as always, Godin."

The knight lifted his head at Sigmund's words.

"I'll do my best."

Godin, the knight of Gaidar.

The blue moonlight shining outside the window fell upon his head.