(23) Aiswelen and Heistel

The old man, Heistel, was a retired heretic inquisitor who silently stared at Nicokel, as he conversed with the saintess. 

"Please, you honor me with such a title, I am still nothing but a Saint candidate. Please call me by my given name, Aiswelen." Aiswelen talked with Nicokel maintaining a calm demeanor.

Looking at her, Heistel sighed internally: 'Her standing is higher than him, but she continues to lower herself like this. She has still not abandoned her commoner roots. Her kindness is what made me want to serve her, but I still worry about her future.' 

"Please call me as you please then. I was surprised to find such an esteemed person as you while taking a stroll around the city." 

Nicokel naturally began poking Aiswelen for information. 

Nicokel's glib tongue made Heistel speechless.

Though Aiswelen thought she was not worthy of such high praise, she still smiled being spoken so highly by Nicokel. 

"Every saint candidate has to go through strict training to understand the human heart. I have been deployed to the Desroth empire to experience the war." 

"Hoh. Please take care of me if I ever come to the battlefield." Nicokel smiled at Aiswelen for the first time. 

The knights standing nearby felt their eyes widen.

From the moment they met Nicokel, it was like they didn't even register in his eyes. He had maintained an indifferent attitude to the point, the knights wondered if he was a doll with no expression. 

But the moment the word 'war' left Aiswelen's mouth, Nicokel spoke in a friendly voice. 

The knights were surprised by their action of watching even the smallest of actions performed by Nicokel. They never realized they had been carefully watching him the whole time with interest. 

"Please excuse us, my knight was hurt while defending me, so I will have to get him treated soon." Nicokel glanced at Mesrath slowly, making Aiswelen follow his gaze. 

"Don't worry about him, I will treat him immediately," Aiswelen spoke confidently.

"Is that alright?" Nicokel continued to act hesitant, though he was taking advantage of Aiswelen's kindness. 

"Please, All I am confident about is my healing capability. Leave it to me." 

"Then...I am grateful for your help." Nicokel bowed his head slightly and moved aside to make way. 

Aiswelent walked before Mesrath and poured her mana, filled with natural holy elements into his body. 

Not visible, but the injury on Mesrath's face got healed in seconds. 

"Let's meet again someday in the future." Seeing Aiswelen done healing Mesrath, Heistel began guiding her toward the place where the purification was done. 

"Please watch the purification process, I am sure you will learn many things." 

"But, I have seen it more than a hundred times..." 

Heistel felt urgent just thinking how Nicokel might take advantage of his inexperienced disciple next.

"Let's go." Nicokel returned to his usually calm face. He continued looking at the salamander as he walked back to the carriage. 

Nicokel could already faintly implement the salamander's mana circulation. It made him satisfied with his current progress. 

'...My leg hurts faintly, did I hurt myself while getting blown to the house's wall?' 

It was faint for Nicokel but in reality, the pain he felt could make any youth roll around in the ground. 

The coach who was in a state of deep consideration and restlessness, felt relieved the moment he saw Nicokel returning. 

Though there was a faint blood mark on his lip, the coach could not see any grievous wound on Nicokel. 

"He is my new guest." Nicokel introduced the fainted Mesrath while sitting in the Coach's place. 

They arrived at the front gate of the mansion soon after.

"...Young master, Nicokel, why do you keep staring at the salamander the whole time? They feel uncomfortable...." The coach asked with a little hesitation. 

"Just because I want to." 

"I see..." 

Nicokel turned to the knights, "Keep what happened today to yourself and speak of it to no one. You too." He pointed at the coach. 

"I will speak with the head butler," Nicokel said before ordering some of the servants to carry Mesrath to the guest room. 

"Bring him to me once he wakes up." Instructing the maid, Nicokel moved to the main office room in the mansion. 

Not surprisingly, the head butler was shocked listening to Nicokel's story. 

"Young master Nicokel, it's better to get him investigated before anything else..." 

"No need, he will become my knight from today. I will inform you if I find any useful information from him." 

Seeing Nicokel's resolute answer, the head butler felt perplexed. He couldn't help but wonder whether he should force it using his authority. 

It wasn't just the knowledge that attracted Nicokel to Mesrath. He felt a sense of kinship with him. 

'I can tell without even asking. Eyes as sharp as the sword lashed with poison and hatred strong enough to burn others. He might hide it in the cover of humanity, But I can sense his feelings with a glance.' 

'From his reaction, it's apparent that he hates the barbarian kingdom too. He must have lost his family or something important, just like me. I want him to slaughter every last one of the barbarians, just like how I once tried killing every last one of my enemies back on Earth.' 

Nicokel wanted Mesrath to be consumed in the flames of war. And feel the same way as him. 

Nicokel could only chuckle at the twisted person he had become. 

'I hope he can take his revenge completely, unlike me.' 

The head butler spoke slowly: "If it's a personal knight, you have the right to choose him. But will you take responsibility if he turns out to be a traitor?" 

"Not a problem." Nicokel's answer was instantaneous. 

Nicokel had withheld the information of Mesrath being capable of performing demon summoning. He just talked a little about his talent.

"Sigh...Alright, I shall officially assign him as your knight within a day. Please inform him to live in the knight's residence later on." The head butler let this matter go but resolved to look into it in the dark. 

"I shall inform the lord duke once upon arrival too." 

"Okay." Nicokel got off the sofa and left the room, having taken care of all the business here. 

'It's almost evening now, I should get moving in a while to meet Jane.' Nicokel headed back to his room to clean himself and change his clothes.