Selna Lysandra
My life began in the depths of despair. I was born the daughter of traders who traveled all over the world. Whenever we reached a big city, I was always left staring at the backs of my restless parents. It was a hectic childhood.
We never stayed in one place, so I never had anything like a friend—I wasn’t particularly good at speaking with others to begin with. Each time we settled down in an inn, I felt the days lazily slip by, and my spirit did nothing but wane.
“You’re such a good and obedient girl, Selna.”
That was what my parents told me. I felt their love, but they were extremely busy with work to put food on the table. I probably spent far less time with my parents than any normal child should. Faintly, I even believed that I shouldn’t get in my parents’ way. It would’ve been nice if they’d ever seen my docility as a form of love.
During that period of my youth, we carried many goods from city to city and country to country, always accompanied by as few guards as necessary. However, those days met a sudden end.
“We’re under attack! It’s huge!”
I don’t really remember what happened. I do recall the carriage suddenly shaking violently. People around me started moving in a hurry. A while later, roars and screams resounded in the air.
“Selna! Run!”
The last words I heard from my mother were steeped in grief and sorrow. She pushed me out of the partially destroyed carriage, practically flinging me away. Something big and terrifying loomed behind her. I didn’t have the chance to get a good look at it, but its form was seared into my mind. Instinctive fear took over, and I ran away without any real destination in mind.
“Hey! Are you all right?!”
I had no idea how far I’d gone. Thinking back on it, I was surprised by the amount of stamina contained within my tiny body. Somehow, I reached the outer edge of a village in the countryside, far away from any trade routes. There, I was discovered by a villager.
I passed out after that, so I don’t know what manner of discussion anyone had about me suddenly showing up. When I came to, I found myself in someone’s house, looking up at an unfamiliar ceiling. My wounded body had been treated.
“Hey, you awake now?”
Don’t follow strangers. That was what my mother had once told me. I could even picture the sour look on her face when she said it. Though I hadn’t chosen my circumstances, I was now breaking this rule and bothering a complete stranger. Even my immature mind felt guilty about this. However, the most I could do as a child was keep my silence.
“What’s your name?”
“Selna...”
The one who’d taken me in was very patient. I thoroughly ignored him, and the only thing he was able to pry out of me was my name. This was fairly rude, considering that he’d saved my life, but I couldn’t bring myself to answer him when he asked me about what happened or what I was doing in the village. I didn’t want to remember.
Thinking back on it now, I’m endlessly ashamed of my brazen refusal...but I was only a child.
After that, time passed idly by within the confines of that house. My parents never came to get me. Despite being so young, I somehow or other knew what had happened to them. The thing that had attacked my parents... It was so terrifying that even I knew how dangerous it was.
“What’s this...?”
“A wooden sword. How about trying it out for a change of pace?”
How much time passed like that? One day, the man who was sheltering me came to invite me outside. He held a wooden sword in his hand. That was when I first learned that this place was a swordsmanship dojo.
“Yeah, that’s the way! Ha ha ha, you’ve got a knack for this, Selna.”
I didn’t really have anything else to do, and I had calmed down somewhat. So, I did as he recommended and swung a wooden sword in the dojo. I didn’t particularly like this practice, nor did I hate it. Moving my body simply distracted me from doing nothing in an absentminded daze. Only now, as an adult, do I understand how much he’d worried about me; only now do I understand that swinging a sword was my childish way of trying to repay his consideration.
“You’re pretty nimble, Selna. Dual swords might suit you.”
During my three years in the dojo, I never had the chance to wield two swords, but strangely, his words stuck in my head. That must’ve been the first time in my life I actively devoted myself to something. I hadn’t had the time to do anything when I was with my parents, and I hadn’t wanted to trouble them with my selfish whims. But somehow or other—really, just somehow or other—I started to think that swordsmanship was pretty nice. Perhaps the sentiment was fueled by revenge, or escapism, or maybe even longing. What I felt back then faded away with time, but there was no mistaking that my teacher had opened up a path to the future.
“Selna, take care.”
Time passed, and I was entrusted to my adoptive parents. This exchange happened on a day like any other, and the somewhat old couple gazed at me affably.
From today onward, I wasn’t just Selna. I was going to be Selna Lysandra.
“Master.”
“Hm?”
He’d taught me how to use a sword, so I’d ended up calling him Master. Everyone else referred to him like that, so it didn’t feel out of place. For some reason, he gave me a weird look.
“Thank you...very much.”
“You’re welcome.”
In all likelihood, that was the first time I’d thanked him. How outlandish that it had taken me three years...but I shoved all my emotions into those few words.
My new parents were good people. They didn’t spoil me, but they weren’t strict. They simply let me grow. When I told them I wanted to be an adventurer, they were surprised but didn’t oppose it. The way they prayed for my safety made me feel so warm inside.
I wanted to become an adventurer for several reasons. My biological parents had traveled all over the world, so I also wanted to see the land with my own eyes. And, even if I’d only trained under my master for a short three years, I wanted to make use of my sword skills. I felt vaguely like I wanted to get stronger. If possible, I also wanted to save as many people as I could. No one should have to go through what I did.
All of these reasons might’ve been laughed off as childish dreams, but my parents didn’t object. That was how I became an adventurer for the sake of my own ego.
Time went on. I trained to become an adventurer and completed requests for the guild. During those days, I somehow or other figured out how amazing my master was. It bolstered my confidence to know that such a man had taught me—I was pushed to even greater heights.
◇
“Huh? Um... Master...Beryl...?”
It was a shock—a tremendous shock. I’d become an adventurer, steadily working while tasting setbacks and facing them with unswerving determination. Before I knew it, I’d climbed my way to the top of the guild and earned the highest, strongest rank: black. I made it. I had my parents to thank for giving birth to a strong child, and my own humble efforts certainly couldn’t be discounted. However, I never forgot about the man who’d placed me at the starting line.
After about twenty years, he’d aged quite a bit. However, his virtues were as strong as ever, so I could still recognize him at a glance.
“I wanted to visit Beaden and report back to you, but once I started working as an adventurer, I was never blessed with the opportunity... I never thought we’d be reunited like this.”
When Master Beryl finally managed to remember me, I told him a half-truth. If I’d wanted to go see him, I could have. I had been busy with requests, but around platinum rank, I’d started earning plenty of income, more than enough to spare. Taking a carriage to Beaden would’ve been no big deal.
I was just too embarrassed. That had to be it.
Seeing him with Sitrus of all people was beyond unexpected, though. My master, a special instructor for the knights? It was so unfair. I wanted him to instruct me too. Yet because I was already a black rank, I wasn’t in a position to ask others to teach me anymore. On the contrary, there was an overwhelming number of people that I had to train. Lately, there were also named monsters making strange moves, and then I had to consider the newcomers...
Right. Training newcomers. That would naturally require supervisors—extremely skilled ones.
“As a matter of fact, the adventurer’s guild would like to borrow Master Beryl. I’m here to get permission. I have a letter from the guildmaster too.”
I had twisted Nidus’s arm and heavily endorsed Master Beryl. With this request, I would be able to adventure with Master Beryl and witness his strength with my own eyes. Take that, Sitrus. I didn’t really hate her or anything—she was a good person. However, I distrusted knights as a whole because of my childhood experience. The monster that’d attacked my parents had been rampaging on a trade route within national boundaries, which fell under the jurisdiction of the knightly order. Their responsibility was to ensure public safety—whether in urban areas or on trade routes—and they had failed.
“Just die already, you son of a bitch!”
“Gaaaaaah!”
Master Beryl’s sword pierced Zeno Grable’s mouth. His skill certainly lives up to the image I have of him. How many adventurers could truly keep up with his speed? Zeno Grable moved unbelievably fast for its large frame, but Master Beryl had a perfect read on it. I never thought we’d meet a named monster out here, but Zeno Grable had horrible luck. It’d chosen to appear before me, and of all people, Master Beryl.
“You sure have made a mess, you bastard.”
But you have my gratitude, Zeno Grable. You’ve allowed me to fight by Master Beryl’s side. As thanks, I’ll kill you in an instant. Rest in peace.
“Are you interested in becoming an adventurer?”
“No thank you.”
After everything was over, we returned to the adventurer’s guild. It took everything I had not to burst into laughter at the conversation between Nidus and Master Beryl. There was no way a man of Master Beryl’s caliber could settle for being a mere adventurer. I thought it was ridiculous that he was considered a paltry “special instructor” or some such by the order. Couldn’t you prepare a better post for him, Sitrus?
As Master Beryl staunchly refused the guildmaster, I glanced his way casually.
Just as always, my master had an affable and kind face. If he continued playing an active role like this, then one day, everyone in the country—nay, the whole world—who aspired to master the sword would know his face...and his glorious title as swordmaster.
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login