the one who remembers

Cale leaned against a tree and watched the other swordmasters go about their usual training. However, his attention was focused on Julius Venlan, who had appeared on the training ground for the first time in weeks. He was currently engaged in combat with a soldier whom Cale himself recognized.

Adjust Insing.

In his last life, he had been one of the swordmasters who had come to the rescue during the attack on Kutam and had been assigned to the 1st Company. Just like An Penedran, who was currently just a young girl. He had never seen the man fight properly, but his movements were precise and strong, which caused Julius problems. Julius dodged every blow, no matter how close, as if he were a feather following the movements of the wind, but he couldn't manage to attack himself. Sir Insing clearly had the upper hand, and Julius seemed to be aware of this.

"So you heard what happened yesterday during the patrols", said Loys von Freigoud, who was crouching in front of him on the ledge, also watching his colleague.

Julius Venlan had asked him to watch him fight so he could assess what he needed to work on. Cale had joined in without being asked because he wanted to get an idea of Julius Venlan's abilities. After all, he was William's teacher and would have a significant influence on his future.

"All I know is that my supervisor, Mamoru Meyrl, was involved, but he didn't explain to me what really happened."

"And you didn't ask?"

"Of course I asked, but he didn't tell me. Now that you mention it, I regret it a little. I should have been more persistent. Will you tell me what happened, or is this one of those topics that ordinary soldiers aren't supposed to know about?"

"Sometimes I forget that you're actually new here", Loys replied, inhaling loudly as Julius narrowly dodged the heavy spear with his head. "Is he doing that on purpose?"

"His eyes can see what his attacker is doing, but his body reacts to slow. He's a little out of practice, if I may say so."

"Indeed."

Julius Venlan did a backflip and pushed himself into the air with his hand, so that he rose face down into the sky. Sir Insing followed him with his blade ahead. Julius struck his opponent aside with his sword, so that a few moments later both of them fell to the ground 6 meters apart.

"We don't know exactly what happened yet, but it looks like someone set fire to one of the apartment blocks in the west of the city during the night."

"Arson?", Cale whispered as he looked around cautiously. "What's going on in the capital lately? First the child abduction and now arson?"

"People are going crazy."

"I'm starting to wonder if Groka should have been overrun after all", Cale muttered, folding his arms across his chest, while Duke Loys von Freigoud turned to him in surprise.

"Pardon?"

"Nothing, nothing. Just thoughts I voiced aloud, forget it."

"Don't scare me like that", Loys replied, breathing a sigh of relief. Cale looked down at the man sprawled before him and examined him curiously.

"So you don't know what's going on?"

"Not at the moment, no."

"By the gods..."

"We're working on it."

"You don't have to justify yourself to me. I understand how difficult it is to ensure people's safety and bear all the responsibility at the same time. You probably have a lot to do."

"The event shouldn't really have anything to do with work."

"Are you talking about the concert?", Cale asked, surprised by the change of subject.

"King Leonhardt invited you, if I remember correctly."

"I received the invitation a few days ago, yes. Although I must admit that I neither...", Cale began, watching out of the corner of his eye as Julius lost his footing and fell to the side while his opponent lunged at him with his sword.

Without thinking, Cale shot toward the scene and wrapped his Igrikum around his hand before arriving next to Julius Venlan and grabbing the sword in midair with his hand. A dull thud was heard, followed by a shockwave that bent the surrounding trees and grass to the side. Cale had stretched out one arm and intercepted the sword, while with the other he had thrown Julius to the ground so that she was at a safe distance. Only moments later did Cale realize that he had instinctively used his Igrikum instead of his sword. Sir Insing looked at him in shock and lowered his weapon so that Cale could pick it up and stand up.

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His body had reacted faster than his mind.

"I'm sorry, my instincts took over. I wasn't sure if you could dodge it, Sir Venlan", Cale said, putting away his Igrikum as he offered his hand to the man lying on the ground.

"It would most likely have hit me, yes", Julius Venlan confirmed calmly and gratefully took the hand, so Cale could feel that the man was trembling slightly.

He must have been just as frightened as the people around him. Loys appeared at his side within seconds and also asked if anyone was hurt. Since he had turned away from the fight, he hadn't seen how dangerous the situation had become.

"Forgive me, Sir Venlan, I should have been more careful."

"It wasn't your fault, Sir Insing. I wasn't paying attention."

Without a word, Cale handed his weapon back to the adjutant Insing and apologized for his intervention before glancing briefly at Loys and nodding to him to indicate that they should return to their places. Julius apologized again to Sir Insing and followed his colleague back to the tree from which they had been watching the events unfold. He sheathed his sword and then noticed how much his hands were shaking. Cale touched the man's back solicitously, causing Julius to look up at him. Without saying a word, Cale rubbed his back, not knowing what to say. His heart was racing too, even though he didn't show it. Julius could have been seriously injured if he hadn't intervened.

"You look pale, Julius. Are you all right?", asked the king's right-hand man, offering him the step on which he had been sitting until just now.

"I was just a little startled, that's all. Everything happened so fast, and suddenly Sir Adenia was standing in front of me. I couldn't react at all."

"You were distracted by the fact that you lost your footing. Please be more careful in the future", Cale said, reaching into his bag before using his zero magic to conjure up some water. He then handed it to Julius, who gratefully accepted it and immediately took a few sips.

"Good thing someone was paying attention. You disappeared so quickly, I didn't even see you leave", Loys interjected, taking a seat one step below his colleague.

"Perhaps it would be wiser for you to train with us until you're fully back in shape. It's not that I doubt the other men's ability to fight - far from it. But there's a big difference between fighting someone and training with them."

"That would probably be best, Julius", Loys agreed with Cale's statement, watching his colleague empty the container completely and then stare at the bottle.

"That wouldn't be a bad idea. I'm a little rusty, more than I'd like to admit."

When he looked back at Cale, he already had the next bottle in his hand and exchanged it for his empty bottle without comment. Gratefully, he took the water and began to drink it too.

"Slow down", Cale said calmly, crouching down in front of him so that Julius could put the bottle down for a moment and catch his breath.

"Thanks for stepping in."

"You're welcome", Cale replied with a smile. For a moment, he reminded Cale of Aaron when he was a little overwhelmed by the situation and needed a moment to collect his thoughts. He turned away and looked over at Loys. "Where were we?"

"The concert."

"Ah, right. You have your estate in the city, if I remember correctly."

"Exactly. Have you ever been to Oriann?"

"Once, a long time ago, yes", Cale replied, sitting down on the steps as well, so his legs wouldn't fall asleep. He held his bag and the empty bottle between his feet while his attention was focused on Loy.

"You've been around a lot. Is there any place you haven't seen yet?"

"Some. I don't know Winstest very well, for example, and Tsuke as well. But when it comes to Sylve... no, not anymore. I've been to pretty much every region and major city", Cale explained, remembering how he had flown across the country with Fengari some time ago in search of Thormods who were in hiding. He had visited every important city at least once, so he now knew Sylve quite well. But even in his previous lives, he had traveled extensively in Sylve, especially in his fourth life. "I wanted to ask something, if I may. Why did I receive this invitation?"

"King Leonhardt wanted to meet you personally."

"Meet me?"

"It's not every day that a swordmaster who possesses one of the three legendary swords shows up in Bellator and wants to work in the palace", Loys completed his sentence with a serious expression. "Besides, I have often told His Majesty about you, so he probably became interested."

"I hope only good things", Cale replied.

"Who knows."

"King Leonhardt just wants to get an idea of what kind of person you are. He won't be hostile towards you, don't worry", Julius interjected, leaning forward. He braced himself with both arms on his feet and held the bottle between them as he tried to calm his breathing and follow the conversation.

"Well, that reassures me", Cale replied with a smile on his face, looking up at Julius. "Will you be coming too?"

"Events like that aren't for me", the man explained, shaking his head.

"I see", Cale replied with a regretful voice. "That's a shame. I've been told the orchestra is excellent."

"Absolutely. Are you taking your daughter with you?", Julius asked, taking another sip.

"Am I even allowed to? Will your family be there, Sir Freigoud?"

"Yes, Gloria and Benjamin will also be there, but separately. I, on the other hand, will be accompanying the king."

"I see, that's why you said you had to work."

"Correct, that's what I was getting at. Your daughter is welcome to come along, provided she behaves appropriately. You'll be quite the topic of conversation once you're seen with King Leonhardt or me."

"Aren't we already?", Cale replied, nodding toward the soldiers behind him who had been staring at the group for several minutes.

Loys usually only traveled with his own people and was reluctant to mix with other soldiers, mainly because of his position. The fact that a blond-haired stranger from Altona had made it into his group had been the topic of conversation for several days now. The new Kama-Sword that Cale now wore openly on his belt had had no less influence.

"Forgive us if we have put you in an uncomfortable position. All this attention must be strange for you."

"I'm really not used to it, that's true. But it doesn't bother me as much as you think. It's just Ahri I worry about from time to time."

"Understandable", the two men said simultaneously and exchanged surprised glances, while Cale cleared his throat, amused by their reaction.

"Let's drop the subject, I can't really change it anyway. Apart from the last few seconds, how was the fight for you, Sir Venlan?"