5. (2)

Jaynie woke up drenched in cold sweat.

His pillow was soaked. Once again, he hadn’t been able to sleep deeply.

His head was heavy, his throat dry. His eyes were swollen and gritty, and his body had no strength.

Jaynie washed up and used ice to bring down the swelling in his eyes. He went about his routine as usual.

Berner still couldn’t use magic. But he could recite hundreds of magical formulas from memory without leaving his seat.

Not long ago, he even combined what he’d learned to create a new spell. After testing it, Mage Lorant declared, “This spell should be registered under Lord Berner’s name.” He seemed genuinely pleased that his student, even if not a magician by profession, might go down in history as a great magical scholar.

Jaynie told him to continue taking care of Berner.

“Of course. Teaching a brilliant student is a teacher’s greatest joy. I never used to understand that, but thanks to you, Lord Jaynie, I do now.”

Lorant replied warmly.

It didn’t look like he’d be returning to the mage tower anytime soon.

Berner still had to keep researching magical formulas — until he created a spell capable of slaying a dragon.

If only he could just sense and control his own mana, all the problems would be solved…

“Did you sleep badly?”

Berner, seated at the table, studied Jaynie’s complexion. Jaynie was rubbing his tired eyes.

“A little.”

“Should I eat separately today?”

“Do as you like.”

Jaynie heard Berner leave. He called off his meal and poured himself a glass of wine.

Berner awakening was still the ideal scenario — but Jaynie had to prepare alternatives.

It wasn’t about his attachment or pride.

He marked familiar names from the reserve mage list Hansen had given him.

“Tell them I’ll sponsor them. Offer ten times what they’re asking for. Intimidate them with it. So much that they don’t even think of refusing.”

“Yes, young master.”

Some of the names had only just begun learning magic, but that didn’t matter. Lorant, who had now discovered the joy of teaching, would surely take on a few more students if asked.

As far as magicians went, he was timid — the kind who would go quiet at a firm ‘yes.’ That made him useless as a battle mage, but—

Honestly, that was true of most magicians. Few had any interest in combat.

Berner was the exception. So were the magicians Jaynie was targeting now — all of them had started researching destructive magic under Berner’s influence. If he showed them the way, they would be drawn to the power of destruction. Just like they had been before.

But without Berner, it was Jaynie who had to lead the way. Magicians, once obsessed, tended to dive in with terrifying focus. It wouldn’t be too difficult. All they needed was a trigger.

* * *

Berner walked down the hallway. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off — Jaynie hadn’t looked well.

Whenever he saw Jaynie, his mother came to mind. It was an association he couldn’t control.

‘Lord Jaynie isn’t like Mother.’

He tried to think that, but it was no use. The two were similar in far too many ways — even down to the mood they gave off when they were unwell.

His mother had been a difficult person, but she had always been kind to Berner. On days when her expression turned vacant and she looked at him like a stranger, he would never approach her. He’d close the door, return to his room, and spend the entire day waiting for her mood to improve.

‘Will Mother leave me?’

He would wonder.

There was an incident he remembered — something from when he was very young. It was long before he’d ever been brought into the duke’s annex.

His mother had left him.

Berner never told anyone about that day. Not even his mother. He never let her know that he remembered.

She had eventually returned and embraced him, but Berner never forgot that day he was left alone.

Was it really just one day? That lonely, endless stretch of time — a single minute had felt like a year.

Compared to that, the solitude of the annex was nothing.

The annex at the duke’s estate, the capital residence, even the countryside ranch he had traveled to with Jaynie…

Berner was always ready to be abandoned.

After finishing his meal alone, Berner stepped into the study. Books were piled like mountains across the floor. These weren’t from the original collection — they looked freshly delivered.

Mage Lorant was busy sorting them.

“Shall I help?”

“Oh, Lord Berner. It’s all right. I’ve nearly finished!”

Lorant leaned back with a groan.

“What kind of books are they?”

“I noticed we didn’t have any treatises on elemental theory, so I mentioned to Lord Jaynie that it would be good to have some variety. I didn’t expect him to send this many, though.”

“Lord Jaynie is generous with his support.”

“Truly. Patrons who expect nothing in return are rare enough — but he’s generous in spirit too. I’m nothing but grateful. He even said he’d introduce a few talented novice magicians to me. Asked me to train them, if they had the aptitude.”

Lorant tapped the floor with his staff, and several books floated into the empty shelves.

Berner simply blinked.

“Seems he’s very interested in nurturing mages. Though I do worry he’s mistaken me for someone skilled in teaching. After all, it’s because you’re so exceptional, Lord Berner.”

Lorant tilted his head playfully.

Berner didn’t respond.

Exceptional?

No… Jaynie wouldn’t think that.

He had wanted Berner to enter the mage tower from the start.

‘Learn magic. I’ll send you to the tower.’

Berner had taken those words to mean he should acquire the basic refinement expected of a noble child. But that wasn’t what Jaynie had meant.

Berner now realized that Jaynie had let go of whatever strange hope he once held for him.

That hope had moved on — to the other novice magicians.

Once again, Berner had been left behind.

* * *

The training grounds buzzed with noise under the midday sun. It wasn’t unusual, so Leandro didn’t turn around and continued his training. The apprentice knights often shouted or fought among themselves. It likely had nothing to do with him.

But then someone called out, “Rian!”

Leandro lowered his wooden sword and turned around.

“Yes?”

“It’s a gift from the young master. Show proper respect and receive it.”

“…”

Leandro’s eyes widened as he looked at the gift.

It was a horse. A very familiar one — the large, striking black stallion that had stood out even among the others in the stables, where he had once been dragged by an apprentice knight.

Aron was holding the reins, trying to soothe the agitated horse with visible effort.

“Whoa, calm down, will you? You need to get used to your new owner, don’t you? Rian! What are you doing? Take it already!”

“Th… thank you.”

Leandro accepted the reins.

He remembered the way Jaynie had brushed the horse’s flank and pressed his pale cheek against its neck. Entranced, Leandro stroked the horse.

The stallion tossed its head for a moment, then quickly settled down.

“Whoaaa?”

Aron let out a noise of genuine surprise.

“Aron!”

Someone shouted from across the training grounds — a knight who had been overseeing his own squire.

Aron responded with an annoyed grunt.

“What?”

“Isn’t that the horse the young master treasured?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t tell me you asked for it? Asked him to give it to your squire?”

“Would he listen to me if I did? Who do you think I am?”

“Hah, he must be really favored.”

The knight stared at Leandro, letting his eyes sweep him in a way that made Leandro’s skin crawl.

“That’s not it,”

Leandro said, before even realizing it.

“What?”

“I said, Lord Jaynie isn’t that kind of person.”

“Well, well? Aron, your squire seems to know Lord Jaynie very well!”

“You were the one who first insulted him. Please take back your words.”

Even with the warning in the knight’s voice, Leandro didn’t back down.

The knight tapped his wooden sword against the ground and asked,

“What did you say your name was?”

“Cut it out. You’re picking fights with a servant now?”

Chase stepped in.

The other knights had mostly pretended Leandro didn’t exist — as if by some unspoken agreement.

‘Why pick a fight with the servant you all ignored before?’

The knight understood what Chase meant. He scowled and turned away.

Chase slung an arm around Leandro’s shoulders.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“Isn’t that man one of Lord Jaynie’s knights? Then why would he say something that insults his master?”

Leandro asked, unable to hold back his anger. He remembered the first time he’d seen Jaynie.

A noble had stopped his carriage. His knights had stood by his side, close and proud…

That was what a knight’s place was supposed to be.

“Man… you’re so earnest and noble-minded.”

Chase shook his head with a laugh. To think he picked a fight with a knight over a slight to his master?

Aron narrowed his eyes at the one who’d insulted him.

“Look at this one’s temper. Jealous over a gift he can’t even use?”

“Hey, don’t start anything either!” Chase yelled back at Aron.

Leandro lowered his gaze and continued to pet the horse. His blood boiled.

He hated that Jaynie was being talked about so crudely.

Why was he always misunderstood? Even Aron had initially mistaken Leandro for a bed servant.

But Jaynie was purer than anyone — a true benefactor.

‘“Defeat the other knights in two years, surpass your teacher in three.”’

When Leandro had bowed his head in response to those words, it hadn’t been because he thought they were ridiculous.

It was to hide his flushed face.

Jaynie was simply keeping his promise. The only one who had hardened his heart was Leandro himself.

Jaynie didn’t even know how Leandro looked at him.

Was there even any truth to the rumors? Had he really made anyone serve him in that way? Jaynie wasn’t that kind of person.

Leandro was ashamed.

Maybe the reason Jaynie had summoned him at night was actually because he wanted to spare Leandro from further gossip. Surely that was it. It wasn’t to demand a physical price.

“…”

Leandro told himself he shouldn’t feel disappointed.

Jaynie was giving for Leandro’s sake. He was investing hope in him — expecting a mere slave to rise and become a great knight.

And now Leandro understood. He was born with a knight’s body. Maybe Jaynie had sent him to school to test his ability to learn. And Leandro had passed that test — Jaynie had placed his trust in him.

Leandro wanted to meet those expectations.