The Moonlight Swordsman

As the silver moon illuminated Chestar Town, Aizel stirred from his slumber in the dead of night.

*arhg*

With a pained groan, he struggled to stand up from the couch, clutching his side.

He stepped out into the open air, hoping to clear his mind amidst the surrounding stillness.

"I wish we could leave quietly tomorrow without causing any commotion," he muttered under his breath, annoyance etched on his face.

With a heavy sigh, he settled himself near a nearby shop, ruminating on how Leah and her family were going to react after they have learned of his dual-core mage status.

He moved his gaze to his middle finger, which had a gleaming black ring. It was the same storage ring that David had given him as a reward.

"It has so many healing potions, 200–300 gold coins, and many weapons of different grades, which I have no use for now.

"But there is not a single mind potion. If even David didn't have it on him, then how did Larisa had the potion?" Aizel furrowed his brows, "Does she belong to some big noble family or from some big city or another kingdom?"

"What are you thinking so deeply about?" A voice echoed from behind, catching his attention. As he turned around, he spotted Daisy utilizing her mana sense to locate his spot.

She approached him and took a seat by his side.

"Nothing, I was just thinking, where are we gonna head next?' he answered.

"It depends on you, what you want to do after moving out from here." Gazing up at the moon with her piercing blue eyes, she spoke in response.

The moonlight cast a gentle glow on her face, accentuating her beauty, though she could not fully appreciate it due to her disability.

Aizel detected a subtle shift in her expression and spoke up, "I wanna learn more about magic and find a cure for your blindness."

Daisy's eyes sparkled as she looked up at him, and a warm smile spread across her lips. "Then Felgura City will be best for it," she said in a melodious voice.

"It is home to the best magic institute in the Felgura country, and it is ruled by the Felgura royal family."

"This Felgura family, are they the rulers of this kingdom?" Aizel asked.

"Yes, they have been the rulers of this kingdom as long as the magic was first recorded. Every kingdom is named after the royal family that has ruled over the years," Daisy explained.

"This Felgura city will definitely have more stuff and information about magic; there is also a chance to find the mind potion there." Aizel thought.

He turned towards Daisy, as he was finally a little relaxed enough to notice her clearly.

Her skin was pale but not with the pallor of sickness, and her blue sapphire eyes shone under the moonlight. She was wearing a simple strapless yellow gown with yellow tulip-shaped sleeves.

Her blonde hair was tied up in a bun, but a few strands were loose and dangling over the bun, framing the side of her face.

"Beautiful," he whispered under his breath, causing Daisy to turn and blush at his words.

Aizel, too, became acutely aware of his own reddening ears, feeling a wave of embarrassment wash over him.

"Uhh, I guess we should head to sleep. Tomorrow is gonna be a long day." He swiftly diverted the topic as they both rose to their feet and made their way indoors to rest for the night.

*****

At Rosewell Castle, in the dining hall...

The dining hall within the castle was nothing short of grandeur. The high-vaulted ceilings were adorned with intricate carvings, and a slew of gleaming chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the vast space.

Long wooden tables and benches were polished to a mirror shine, and large portraits depicting heroic battle scenes hung on the walls.

The enticing aroma of freshly prepared food floated through the air, making one's mouth water. Servants walked smoothly around the room, delicately setting platters of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and bowls of steaming vegetables on the tables.

A luscious roasted hog, glistening with juices and spices, ready to be cut by the family members, was the focus of the feast.

Yelena's father took a sip of his wine and asked, "So you are saying that brat is a dual-core and he killed Tommy?"

"Yes, father, he has lightning and a fire core," her daughter said as she sipped her wine.

"Ensure that he weds Leah and becomes a member of our family," he declared firmly. "We can't let a golden goose fly away from our hand."

"Don't worry, grandfather; he is already in my grasp," Leah replied.

Noticing an empty seat beside him, her grandfather inquired, "Please tell, where has David been? I haven't seen him in the past few days."

Leah gazed worriedly at her mother, her heart heavy with unease.

Ever since their return from the castle, she sensed that something was amiss. And then she stumbled upon a note in David's room.

The note revealed David's departure from his family, seeking a life free of society's obligations. He wished to be free of the harsh sting of failure and the humiliation of his own family.

"He has left the family for good," Yelena replied without showing any emotion on her face.

Yelena's father slammed his fist upon the wooden table, causing it to tremble and creak beneath the force of his anger. His face furrowed and distorted into a violent grimace as he locked his rageful gaze on his daughter.

"I advised you several times to let him live his life as he wishes, but you didn't listen.

"Now, who will be held accountable if something bad happens to him? And what will you say to the Gilles family now?"

"There is nothing to say; he is not part of the Rosewell family anymore.

"Our focus should not be him, it should be Aizel instead," Yelena replied while voicing her pitch to match her father.

Leah stood up, leaving her arguing grandfather and mother to their quarrel. Exhaustion weighed heavily on her, and she longed for the comfort of sleep.

Tomorrow promised to be a difficult and uncertain day, but she clung to the dream of meeting Aizel, her heart racing with excitement.