Reincarnation Of The Legendary Sword Saint-Chapter 50: Deep Scars

Elian listened silently.

"But when you launched your ice arrows," Rowan continued, "I noticed something. Your mana was flowing through them. I couldn’t control your spell directly, but I thought, what if I mixed my mana with yours?"

He paused.

"So I did. I forced my mana into the ice and burned through the flow controlling it. That’s why I was able to stop it."

Elian’s eyes widened.

"...That shouldn’t be possible," she whispered.

Rowan shook his head lightly. "I didn’t even know if it would work. I just tried."

She exhaled slowly, clearly shaken.

"I still don’t fully understand it, but forgive me for losing control earlier."

She bowed her head slightly.

Rowan quickly waved his hands. "No, no. I should be the one apologizing. I pushed you too far. If I hadn’t done that, none of this would’ve happened."

He hesitated, then added, "But thank you. If you hadn’t trained me, I wouldn’t have been able to do any of this."

Elian looked at him carefully, her expression softening.

"You truly are extraordinary," she said quietly.

Aldwin, who had been watching silently, finally spoke.

"Rowan, what you showed today is not normal. Even among mages, what you did shouldn’t be possible."

He folded his arms.

"Your mana level is abnormally high. That much is certain. And your control, your instinct, is far beyond your age."

Rowan remained silent.

Aldwin continued, "Your mother possessed an unusually high mana capacity as well. She was gifted in healing and spiritual arts. Perhaps that is where this comes from."

He exhaled slowly.

"But even then, what you displayed today surpasses reason."

Rowan looked away, his thoughts unreadable.

Even if Father knows I’m strong, it doesn’t matter, he thought. I can’t let anyone know how far it truly goes.

Aldwin glanced toward the house, where Elian had already gone inside.

"Don’t blame her," he said quietly. "She’s been through a lot."

He paused.

"She was once a warrior of a noble house. A battlefield mage. During the war, almost everyone she fought beside died. She survived, but barely. Since then, she hasn’t been the same."

Rowan listened in silence. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"That day left scars that never healed," Aldwin continued. "What you showed today probably reminded her of that battlefield."

He placed a hand on Rowan’s shoulder.

"She’s doing better now, but wounds like that never truly disappear."

"But Father, what are you trying to say?" Rowan asked.

"And what do you mean she fought beside the dead?"

Aldwin exhaled slowly.

"To be precise," he said, "all of her friends were killed in that battle. Every single one."

Rowan’s expression stiffened.

"She was very young," Aldwin continued. "Because of her talent, she was sent to the battlefield at the age of fourteen. Most of the people she fought alongside died there. That loss, it broke her."

He paused.

"That’s what caused her depression. She was deeply hurt. Truly, deeply sad. But like I said, she’s doing better now."

Aldwin glanced toward the house.

"It’s been about seven years since she started staying with us. She’s twenty-one now."

Rowan frowned slightly.

"And let me tell you something," Aldwin added. "One of the reasons your mother decided we should live here, it wasn’t just because she wanted to be away from people."

Rowan looked up. "Then why?"

Aldwin smiled faintly.

"The main reason was Elian."

Rowan’s eyes widened. "Why?"

Aldwin’s expression turned serious.

"There are still people after our lives," he said. "Because of Elian’s talent, the same people who killed her friends are still hunting her."

Rowan went silent.

"That’s why we live deep inside this forest," Aldwin continued. "She hasn’t used her power openly for years. She’s stayed hidden here with us."

He clenched his fist slightly.

"They want something from her. They want to observe her. Her knowledge. Her power. Her soul."

Rowan thought for a moment, then spoke.

"But don’t you think there are two sides to this?" he said.

"She used her magic today. Don’t you think someone might recognize it, even if we’re deep in the forest?"

Aldwin paused.

"That kind of power," Rowan continued, "can be sensed from hundreds of miles away by those who know what they’re looking for."

Aldwin stared at him for a long moment, then smiled.

"You’re sharp," he said quietly. "Very sharp."

He nodded once.

"You’re right. But I don’t believe they sensed it today. Not yet."

He hesitated.

"There’s another reason Elian struggles," Aldwin said. "Another reason she lost control."

Rowan looked at him. "What is it?"

Aldwin’s voice lowered.

"Revenge."

Rowan stiffened.

"She wants justice," Aldwin said. "She wants to kill the ones responsible with her own hands."

Rowan swallowed.

"But Father, are these people really that strong?" he asked.

"Can’t you defeat them yourself?"

Aldwin was silent for a moment.

"To be honest," he said, "some of them, yes. I could."

Then his expression darkened.

"But there is one among them, someone I cannot defeat."

Rowan’s eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"Moonbeam," Aldwin said.

Rowan felt a chill.

"He isn’t normal," Aldwin continued. "Not in any way. He’s one of the most notorious serial killers alive. He has the highest bounty on his head. He has killed Sword Gods as if they were nothing."

Aldwin clenched his hand.

"I’ve crossed swords with him once. I couldn’t even cut his skin."

Rowan was silent.

"I won’t lose to him," Aldwin said firmly. "But I know I cannot defeat him."

Rowan finally spoke. "...I see."

Aldwin placed a hand on his head.

"That’s enough questions for today," he said gently.

"You shouldn’t be worrying about things like this yet."

Rowan remained quiet, worry still in his eyes.

Aldwin gave his head a light pat and stepped inside the house.

Rowan stood outside alone.

Now he understood the bigger picture.

For a long time, he had wondered why Elian had lived for years as a maid. Her father had claimed it was to repay a debt to Aldwin, that after Aldwin saved his life, he had offered his daughter in service.