Chapter 11: Departure form the NightBane territory
The next morning arrived far too quickly.
Outside the massive castle windows, the Nightbane capital was only just beginning to wake beneath the pale morning sunlight. Servants moved throughout the halls preparing for another busy day while knights changed shifts along the castle walls.
Meanwhile—
I was preparing to leave.
My luggage had already been loaded into the carriage waiting outside, and several Nightbane servants stood near the entrance making final preparations for the journey back to the Aldric Territory.
Honestly, part of me felt relieved.
The Nightbane Duchy was incredible, but spending time there was mentally exhausting. Every hallway seemed filled with powerful nobles and terrifyingly strong knights.
Not to mention Lilith’s awakening ceremony still lingered heavily in my thoughts.
An A-rank.
No—
Something even beyond that.
I still could not forget the look she gave me.
It felt like she knew something I didn’t.
"Leo."
I turned toward the voice.
Lilith stood near the staircase watching me quietly.
Unlike her energetic mood from yesterday, she seemed noticeably quieter this morning.
Her long black hair draped over her shoulders while her deep purple eyes remained fixed on me.
"You’re really leaving already..." she muttered softly.
"Well, I can’t exactly live here forever."
"You could."
"...That somehow sounds threatening."
Lilith ignored my comment and slowly walked toward me.
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she suddenly reached forward and adjusted the collar of my coat.
"You’re terrible at dressing yourself," she said quietly.
"I dressed perfectly fine."
"It was crooked."
"...I hate that you’re probably right."
A faint smile appeared on Lilith’s face.
But despite that smile, something about her expression still seemed slightly downcast.
"You could come with me," I suggested jokingly.
Lilith immediately shook her head.
"Father wants me to stay here for a while."
That made sense.
After awakening with such monstrous talent, the duke would probably begin personally overseeing her training from now on.
The thought made me pause slightly.
This was probably the beginning.
The point where Lilith truly started becoming someone beyond ordinary logic.
"Don’t overwork yourself," I said casually.
Lilith blinked before smiling faintly.
"...You sound like an old man sometimes."
"I’m spiritually exhausted."
"You’re twelve."
"Exactly."
Lilith let out a quiet laugh.
For a brief moment, the atmosphere between us felt normal again.
Then one of the servants respectfully approached.
"The carriage is prepared, Lord Leon."
Right.
It was time to go.
I let out a small sigh before turning back toward Lilith.
"Well... I’ll see you again soon."
Lilith stared at me silently for several seconds.
Then unexpectedly—
She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around me tightly.
I froze slightly before awkwardly patting her back.
"You’re acting like I’m leaving forever."
"...Still," she mumbled quietly.
For some reason, her grip tightened slightly for a brief moment before she finally stepped away.
Her deep purple eyes met mine once more.
"Don’t forget about me while you’re gone," she said softly.
I chuckled lightly.
"I don’t think that’s physically possible."
Lilith seemed oddly satisfied with that answer.
A few minutes later, I finally climbed into the carriage.
As it slowly began departing from the Nightbane castle grounds, I looked back through the window.
Lilith still stood at the entrance watching silently.
Her dark figure gradually grew smaller as the carriage rolled farther away from the duchy.
Even after the castle disappeared into the distance—
I could not shake the strange feeling lingering in my chest.
————
Several months passed quickly after returning to the Aldric Territory.
Life gradually returned to normal.
Well...
As normal as life could be when your own awakening ceremony was rapidly approaching.
Only a few days remained until my thirteenth birthday.
And honestly?
The closer it got, the more nervous everyone around me seemed to become.
Mother had practically become incapable of relaxing.
"You need to rest properly before the ceremony."
"Don’t overexert yourself."
"Are you eating enough?"
At this point, I was fairly certain she was more stressed than I was.
Father was not much better.
Although he tried hiding it behind his usual calm expression, I often caught him staring at me thoughtfully during meals.
Even Alex seemed unusually interested.
"So," he said one afternoon while leaning against the training yard fence, "what rank are you hoping for?"
I shrugged.
"Anything decent."
"That’s boring."
"What do you want me to say? ’Oh yes, I’m secretly an ancient legendary mage destined to shake the continent.’"
Alex grinned.
"I mean... after seeing Lady Lilith awaken, anything feels possible now."
Fair point.
News of Lilith’s awakening had spread throughout the entire kingdom at terrifying speed.
An A-rank at thirteen years old.
People were already calling her the greatest talent the Nightbane family had ever produced.
Though thankfully—
No one besides me seemed aware that her true power was likely even higher.
As for me...
I honestly had no idea what would happen during my own awakening.
Originally, I expected maybe C-rank.
Possibly B-rank if I got lucky.
But after everything that had happened recently, uncertainty gnawed constantly at the back of my mind.
Especially after that strange moment on the balcony with Lilith.
For some reason, ever since returning from the Nightbane Duchy, my body occasionally felt... off.
Not weak.
Just strange.
Like something inside me had subtly changed.
I could not explain it properly.
Maybe it was simply stress from the upcoming ceremony.
Hopefully.
Because tomorrow—
Everything would finally be revealed.
