The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 64

“Now that reality has set in, you all know what needs to be done, right? From now on, aside from eating and sleeping, every moment will be devoted to training. We’ll need to compensate for our lost strength with skill.”

There was no one to voice any complaints against Kalph’s stern directive. Everyone nodded weakly. I was no exception and agreed to receive self-defense training. Since I currently lack any basic skills, I started with physical conditioning.

Talis took charge of my training (originally, Irei intended to, but he intervened with a bizarre logic that he couldn’t let me monopolize Irei). I later learned that, aside from the Knights, Talis was the finest warrior in Seoryeong. Even at the main territory, there were only a handful who could match his strength. His calm demeanor and the lack of a strong presence made this surprising. Of course, such thoughts vanished once training began.

“This is bad…”

After running a lap around the village, I was panting heavily, while Talis, observing me, murmured gravely.

“Sei, how can a youngster have such little stamina? At your age, I was practically flying through this forest. I used to consider running across two or three mountain ranges as a stroll and even chewed and digested metal.”

Talis, who had run alongside me, wasn’t even slightly out of breath. Even Camille would have been sweating by now after this much running. I couldn’t fathom how strong his endurance was. Considering this was supposedly his weakened state, it didn’t feel like exaggeration or bravado at all.

“It’s rare for a teenager to have such poor stamina. I heard you used to be in some official position, stuck at a desk all day?”

“Huff, huff. I’ve heard, similar comments, quite often…”

“Ah, if even humans said that, it’s pretty bad.”

Talis clicked his tongue again.

“Well, it’s good we discovered this now. Our race starts physical training from a young age, so this problem never crossed our minds. I guess we can credit the Demonic Beast for something helpful. Let’s build you up as much as possible before your coming-of-age ceremony. Time is tight, though.”

“Is there a specific reason to complete it before the ceremony?”

“You need immense stamina for the awakening. Summoning a Guardian also requires substantial energy. Without basic fitness, you’ll struggle greatly later.”

Just hearing about it was daunting. My decision to avoid outgoing activities in favor of a quiet life had come back to haunt me. As I sighed in resignation, Talis offered some encouraging words. However, the proposed training regimen was hardly comforting.

“Do we really have to do all this?”

“It’s quite a lot, isn’t it? Still, I’m being very kind; if Lord Kalph were training you, you wouldn’t be able to stand by the end.”

“Oh…”

“Do you know what it feels like to crawl back to your quarters? Honestly, I didn’t want to know either…”

“…I’ll do my best.”

At this point, I wasn’t sure if not growing up here was a blessing or a curse. As I accepted the training list with a sigh, Talis’s expression returned to its usual seriousness.

To be honest, Talis was half right and half wrong. While I didn’t end up crawling, standing was indeed a struggle. By the end of all my tasks, I found myself perched on a rock, barely gasping for breath. The only dignity I had left was not collapsing onto the ground.

“Hey, Sei. Tough day doing something new, huh?”

“Hang in there. You’ve got this.”

Passersby offered words of encouragement, but I didn’t have the energy to respond. The thought of doing this training daily was overwhelming.

“You done with today’s training? Wow, you’re completely wiped out.”

Among the passersby were Kalph and Aska. They, too, were drenched in sweat, having just finished their training. Kalph approached to check on me and then turned to Talis.

“How did Sei do?”

“He did well, considering this was his first time training like this. I was worried initially, but he kept up better than expected. He has a good natural build, and his basic posture isn’t bad. I think he’ll progress smoothly.”

“That’s good to hear. Please keep it up and don’t neglect your own training.”

“Of course, that goes without saying.”

While Kalph and Talis chatted, I felt a heavy gaze upon me. The chill and intensity of it gave away the source immediately. As expected, Aska was standing there, looking down at me with a blank expression. It seemed less like curiosity about a stranger and more like he had something specific to say.

“What is it, Aska? Do you have something to say to Sei?”

Sensing the same thing, Kalph turned to Aska. Aska, who had been staring at me intently, finally spoke slowly.

“Did your father die before you were born?”

“Yes, he did.”

“And your mother? Is she alive?”

“She also passed away when I was young.”

“…I see. Was your mother a noble?”

“Pardon?”

“I asked if your mother was of noble status.”

“Well, yes, she was…”

Aska’s face remained expressionless during the questioning. It was hard to tell whether this unexpected interrogation about my family background stemmed from interest or disdain. Moreover, it was unusual for someone to show interest in my mother instead of my father.

“Where are you from?”

“The Seranta County in the southern part of the Aslan Empire.”

“Seranta? Not the capital?”

“I moved to the capital when I was young, but Seranta is where I was born.”

“…I see.”

Was it my imagination? His quiet voice held a note of peculiar regret, as if he was disappointed by something yet still clinging to a faint hope.

“Was the name Sei chosen by your mother?”

“Yes, that’s what I know.”

“Your eyes are red.”

“…”

Was this a question as well? The conversation’s flow became increasingly difficult to follow. Unsure of how to respond, I remained silent. Sensing this, Kalph lightly nudged Aska’s waist.

“What are you doing, Aska? This isn’t an interrogation. What’s got you so curious?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“Seriously, quit making a fuss over nothing. You already have a naturally intimidating presence, and now you’re scaring people even more.”

“I wasn’t trying to scare anyone.”

“You bombard him with questions like that, and you’re not? Sei, I apologize. Don’t mind him. He’s always been a bit unconventional. He probably showed interest because it’s been a while since he’s seen an Aesang, but his approach was off.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m okay.”

“Still, I’m sorry. We’ll be off now. Go inside and rest. Your body must be in shock from the sudden exertion; make sure to stretch well. You might be fine today, but you’ll feel severe muscle pain starting tomorrow.”

“Yes, understood.”

After giving a few more pieces of advice, Kalph forcibly pushed Aska’s back. Reluctantly, Aska began to walk away, casting one last brief glance at me but saying nothing more. Any hope I had of hearing something important from him faded. As the two of them moved out of sight, Talis whistled lightly.

“It’s rare for Lord Aska to show interest in someone. He doesn’t usually initiate conversations.”

“Really?”

“He’s kind of like a shadow. Solely dedicated to assisting the King and doesn’t interact much with anyone outside of the Knights. Still, it seems he has some interest in you as an Aesang. By the way, you answered Lord Aska’s questions quite smoothly. Weren’t you scared?”

“He didn’t seem particularly frightening to me.”

The questions were sudden and perplexing, but it wasn’t an atmosphere where I felt unable to respond. Talis blinked in surprise and laughed as if amused.

“Wow, you’ve got guts. Most people can’t even look Lord Aska in the eye properly. At your age, I couldn’t even lift my head, let alone answer his questions.”

“Is that so?”

“Just standing in front of him feels overwhelming, doesn’t it? The Pine clan is strong and impressive, but their aura is sharp, like a blade. Many find it intimidating. Even Knight Syran avoids him whenever possible.”

So, the Pine clan it is. When they said his natural aura was like a blade, the chill I felt every time we made eye contact wasn’t just my imagination. Now I understood why Syran found him unsettling, but my mind was already occupied with other thoughts.

“Considering you can already withstand Lord Aska’s aura, could it be that you’re also from the Pine clan? His interest in your mother might indicate he has some guesses.”

Talis whispered, his voice low. He had hit on exactly what I was thinking. Was it possible Aska knew something about my mother?

However, if he truly knew my mother, he would have asked directly about her name or family, not just about her social status. At the very least, he would have given a more specific description. Moreover, his disappointment after hearing about my hometown suggested he was thinking of a noblewoman who never left the capital.

‘If it’s the Pine clan, their eyes wouldn’t be red, would they?’

I recalled Aska’s eyes. A vivid dark green, reminiscent of dense pine leaves. While there could be various eye colors within the same clan, it seemed more likely for someone from the Pine clan to have green eyes.

What did those questions mean? Was there any connection? I wanted to chase after him and ask for details immediately. Though, of course, I wouldn’t actually do so.

The tip of my tongue felt dry as I swallowed. Every time I couldn’t come to a conclusion, I felt disappointed, yet a part of me was relieved. As much as I wanted to know about myself, I actually didn’t want to know too much. I just wanted things to remain the same, to keep an unchanging daily life.