45 - Leave

At midnight, inside the Pedrol estate, the continuous explosions and thunderous sounds from outside went unnoticed by Ivana, who was leaning against the wall. The severed cowhide ropes, cut by sharp wooden spikes, lay scattered around her, and her fair fingers trembled as she turned the yellowed diary's pages.

[In the year 708 of the Holy Calendar, in November, another child was born in Pedrol. She looks so tiny and delicate. Her name is... Ivana? Am I a big brother now?]

[It's another day of training. As the eldest son of Pedrol, I must work even harder. Are you watching me practice swordplay, Ivana? I need to show better performance...]

[Sparring, how I miss it. The way I held a sword back then. Now, it's my turn to be the teacher...]

[Ten moves, I'll give you a bit of face... but you won't cry if you lose, will you? You're so adorable, Ivana...]

[Thirty-seven moves, and it's only been four months. Wait, maybe I didn't put in my full effort. I'll be more serious next time...]

[I lost. I actually lost. How is this possible? It's so embarrassing in front of you. As your brother, I must work harder to win next time...]

[Ivana, why can you effortlessly learn techniques that I can't grasp? Am I not trying hard enough?]

[In the year 722 of the Holy Calendar, in July, the first knight's assessment... If I pass, I can become a priest, right? The Pedrol family can finally have a chance...]

[Failure... Failure... Failure.]

[The second knight's assessment, the third round. Is this my limit?]

[From morning till night, it's nothing but training. It's pointless. I fear I'll never pass the knight's assessment...]

[Father, why do you look at me with those hopeful eyes? Why won't you give up on me?]

[It's that look again. Do you hate me, Ivana? I understand your feelings. An inept person stole your opportunity... If it were you, you would surely succeed, my sister...]

[Maybe without me, everything will turn out better... Ivana, I will give you everything you desire. It's the only way...]

The brown-haired girl flipped through the diary, page after page, and through the cold words, she gained insight into her brother, who she had envied and who bore their father's high expectations but couldn't excel at anything.

She used to resent this unfairness, feeling that all her efforts and her prided sword skills were merely tools to capture the attention of the Duke of Nordland's son in her father's eyes.

If she had the chance, she was sure she could pass the knight's assessment, revive the Pedrol family, and make her father see her clearly.

So, her brother, who had all the family's resources and the privilege of receiving formal knight training, repeatedly failed... Ivana detested him, even hated him.

"You're so adorable, Ivana..." Her finger traced the crumpled pages, and as she looked at the words, her body trembled, tears streaming down her cheeks onto the pages.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." Ivana muttered to herself, her mind blank, her eyes filling with uncontrollable regret. She had never hated herself this much.

She thought she had forgotten how to cry, a privilege reserved for those in the spotlight...

Outside the estate, flames leapt into the sky, but the room remained eerily quiet. The only sound was the stifled, intermittent sobs echoing through the room.

It was only when the estate's grand door was forcefully pushed open that the girl turned her head, confused.

Baron Pedrol rushed into the room, surveyed the chaotic scene, and, upon seeing Ivana, who had been frightened into silently crying in the corner, he was instantly furious. He spoke in frustration.

"Do you have any idea what's happening outside, Ivana? Why are you sitting here all alone? Where's Lotte?"

As he spoke, another explosion resonated from outside.

"What's happening outside?" Ivana held the tear-stained diary to her chest and asked, keeping her head down.

"Those damned wizards are wreaking havoc in Harbor Town. They used terrifying magic to destroy the entire harbour. Priest Aydan is dead, Priest Danny is also dead, and even Sir Zeke, not to mention Archbishop Anluke, couldn't escape..." Baron Pedrol said in fear and uncertainty.

Previously, in order to enhance his credentials, he had even proposed to participate in the witch-hunting operation before the Archbishop of Nordland. Now, he realized that if Archbishop Anluke had agreed, he would have already perished at the Harbor Town docks.

Listening to one lofty name after another being sentenced to death in her ears, the brown-haired girl was deeply shaken. She couldn't help but recall the words Lotte had whispered to her before he left.

"You're too insignificant, Ivana."

Becoming a wizard, is that your choice, brother?

Rumors had it that one could become a wizard with forbidden powers by sacrificing their soul to a demon. However, as a price, the person would often undergo a drastic change in personality and gradually fall into the abyss...

And all of this was for her sake.

"Where's your brother? You haven't answered me. Where is Lotte? We need to leave immediately." Baron Pedrol firmly gripped the girl's wrist and shouted.

"He's dead." Ivana whispered. She was well aware that if the information about her brother becoming a wizard was to be revealed, the entire Pedrol family would be doomed.

Baron Pedrol paused for a moment, a terrifying expression on his face.

"Don't play tricks with me, Ivana."

"Let me tell you, even if your brother is truly dead, the title of Baron will never fall into your hands. Don't ever dream of getting what you can't have." Baron Pedrol said, furious. Under no circumstances would he allow an outsider to take over the Pedrol family, no matter how capable they were.

"In that case, I'm leaving..." Ivana broke free from the large hand restraining her, placed the diary in her bosom, and without hesitation, walked toward the door.

"Stop. Explain yourself to me." Baron Pedrol hadn't expected that Ivana, who had never dared to defy him, would act so defiantly. He was overwhelmed by anger and drew his longsword from his waist, swinging it aggressively at Ivana.

Clang.

The unsheathed sword slipped from his hand, spinning and landing on the ground, emitting a dull thud.

Baron Pedrol froze in place. A three-finger-long, extremely sharp wooden spike was now horizontally positioned at his neck.

"How long has it been since you last experienced a battle, Father?" Ivana gazed at Baron Pedrol with a complex expression and asked.

Baron Pedrol's forehead was covered in cold sweat, and he sat down on the ground. It was only now that he realized Ivana's swordsmanship was far more advanced than he had known, and she had completely surpassed him.

Ivana discarded the wooden spike in her hand and walked out of the room without looking back.

"Where are you going, Ivana? What about Lotte? Tell me where he is." Baron Pedrol finally regained his composure, shouting loudly.

"My brother is already dead. You can consider it as if I killed him... Father," Ivana said softly. "And I'm leaving Harbor Town to explore the world."