A month had passed since the encounter with the Shadow Dragon. Alice remained unconscious, leaving us in a continuous state of unease.

The atmosphere in the mansion was somber. Father, Mother, and the attendants all seemed drained of energy, melancholy, and absent-minded. Everyone was awaiting her awakening with bated breath. The days passed flavorless, filled with silent pClayers. Even so, I had my own course of action to follow.

"217, 218, 219..."

Grand Uncle, still swamped with the aftermath of recent events, was always away and had no time to oversee my training. Nevertheless, my path remained unchanged.

—I will become strong enough to slay dragons.

I had begun waking earlier, with my day starting in the calm of dawn for training. I reduced the time spent on academic studies. Most of the knowledge I needed was already ingrained from the first pass, and the general common sense being taught didn’t add much. Rather than idling away time in classes that repeated familiar material, I petitioned for more time to train and grow stronger.

—Passing the exam worked in my favor.

Training without Grand Uncle or Alice was eerily quiet. I swung my sword ceaselessly, pushing my blood to circulate faster, consuming mana, and immersing myself in the rhythm. The exertion provided brief relief from my growing anxiety and was oddly comforting. I often wished to continue training until I lost consciousness, but a watchful guardian never allowed me such freedom.

"Master Clay, it's time for breakfast."

It was Kanna, the maid. Recently, she had been accompanying me in place of Grand Uncle, always present during my training sessions. Her role was simple yet firm: to ensure I didn’t push myself too far.

"…Alright."

At about the five-thousandth swing, Kanna interrupted, and I halted. I would’ve preferred to keep going, but I knew she wouldn’t permit it.

Sweat poured from every inch of my body, pooling beneath me. While my injuries had healed completely, I was still recovering. Kanna, knowing my tendencies, understood within days that stopping me altogether was impossible. The current arrangement was a compromise we had reached.

"A towel, sir."

"Thanks."

I wiped the sweat hastily with the neatly folded towel she handed me, which quickly became soaked. Draping it around my neck, I headed toward the dining hall, only for Kanna to stop me.

"I'll take care of the towel."

"No, it's fine. It's soaked in sweat. I'll handle it—"

"I'll take care of it."

"...Alright."

Her unyielding tone left no room for argument. I handed over the towel and made my way to the dining hall.

"Good morning, Clay."

"Morning, Clay dear."

Father and Mother greeted me warmly as I entered. I returned their greetings while taking my seat.

"Good morning, Father, Mother."

Since Alice and Grand Uncle had been absent from the dining table, breakfast had become a quiet affair, shared by just the three of us. The once lively atmosphere felt sparse and lonely. Their absence drastically altered the air of the room, gnawing at my spirit and urging me to act.

"Thank you for the meal."

"Already finished, Clay dear?"

"Why not take it slow for a bit?"

As I finished my meal and rose from my seat, Father and Mother called out to me with concern. To them, I must have seemed like I was overexerting myself. While I hated causing them worry, I forced a smile to feign composure.

"I have things to do. Please, don’t worry about me and enjoy your meal. Well then—"

"Oh…"

Mother’s sorrowful expression lingered in my mind as I left the dining hall, but I shook it off and pressed forward. Kanna, of course, followed closely behind. Her presence wasn’t just for assistance but to ensure I didn’t do anything reckless.

—It’s only natural.

I was aware of how I must appear. I was consumed by an obsession with growing stronger, something even I couldn’t deny.

"Master Clay, what are your plans for today?"

"It’s a rest day, so I thought I’d join the knights at the garrison for training."

"—It’s a rest day. Perhaps you should take it easy?"

"I’ve rested enough these past weeks. I need to move my body."

"…Understood."

"Sorry for making you worry. But don’t worry—I’m not planning on dying anytime soon."

"…!"

I meant it as a joke, but Kanna took it seriously. It only underscored how precarious I seemed to her.

"If only Master Feid were here…"

"—"

Pretending not to hear her murmured wish, I prepared to head out.

The battle against the subordinate dragon had laid bare my insufficiencies: physique, blood volume, mana control—fundamentals that could only be built step by step. It was frustrating. Since I couldn’t gain them instantly, I resolved to compensate with skill. And the foundation of skill lay in the basics. My course was clear.

"Have a safe trip."

Kanna saw me off at the gate as I hastened toward the knights’ garrison. But a familiar figure appeared in the distance, walking toward me.

"Hey, Clay. Where’re you off to in the middle of the day?"

"Grand Uncle…"

It was my master, whom I hadn’t seen in weeks due to his constant work handling the aftermath. He looked utterly exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes betraying his lack of sleep.

"…Has Alice woken up?"

"No, not yet."

"I see…"

Grand Uncle never failed to visit Alice, even if only briefly. To the outside world, he bore sole responsibility for her current condition. While I couldn’t accept that, I understood why others blamed him.

I had been there too. As her brother, I had failed to protect her. I was just as guilty. Yet, only Grand Uncle was chastised. It felt unfair that I alone was spared. I couldn’t reconcile that contradiction.

Ultimately, it came down to the fact that I was still a child, shielded and unequal to him. That stark disparity fueled my frustration. I couldn’t bear being powerless again.

So, I needed to ask Grand Uncle something.

"I—"

Before I could finish, we were interrupted.

"Master Clay! Master Feid!"

A maid came rushing toward us, her expression frantic as she delivered her message.

"Lady Alice has awakened!"

"!"

The announcement left Grand Uncle and me momentarily stunned. But soon, we moved in unison, instinctively heading not outward, but back toward the mansion—to Alice’s side.