Chapter 102
Born as the only son of Duke Bertrand, a central noble of Ortona, Gael was sensitive to the movement of aura from a young age.
Even before he formally learned aura cultivation, he already felt the aura flowing around him like air and used it to breathe. When he actually began training, he quickly created three layers of aura, surprising everyone around him.
For young Gael, it was not a big deal.
He had reached the stage where he could not only absorb and accumulate aura in his body but also sensitively feel the aura vibrations from people and living beings around him.
He noticed strong movements from young and healthy people and weak ones from the old and sick. Gael soon realized that these vibrations subtly changed when people spoke or felt strong emotions.
He was destined to become the youngest Sword Master and was praised as a genius comparable to the legendary swordsman Banahas.
This thieving cat! Where have you hidden my ladys earrings? Wont you confess properly?
When he was still a child, a theft occurred at the dukes mansion: the duchesss jewelry was stolen.
The main suspect was one of her personal maids, the youngest among them.
Its not true, Madame Gomez. I really dont know anything about it!
So, you didnt steal the earrings? You were the only one who could have touched them!
I swear Im innocent!
Young Gael felt anxious vibrations from the crying maid in front of the house steward.
Her denial seemed truthful, yet she simultaneously emitted strong vibrations of sincerity while claiming her innocence.
He was confused.
Why? If she stole the earrings, why did she believe she was innocent?
Soon, it was revealed through investigation that she had conspired with a mansion guard to steal the earrings and sell them secretly.
Please! Please forgive me just this once! My sick mother at home is taking care of my ailing younger sibling! If I am expelled, my sibling wont be able to receive treatment and might die!
Take her away, now!
Please! You cant do this to me! After all the hard work I have done for the ducal family! Madame Gomez!
Gael felt the piercing desperation in the vibrations from the maid as she was dragged away by the city guards. Her belief that the ducal familys treatment of her was unjust and overly harsh was genuine.
Gael felt melancholic, absorbing a part of her sorrowful emotions through her vibrations.
Soon after she was imprisoned, rumors spread that her mother and sibling had died of illness. Gael thought it was a tragic turn of events, but as a child, he soon forgot about her.
Months later, the woman, now released from prison, returned to the ducal mansion. She was emaciated, her hair roughly shorn, looking wretched.
She ran towards the mansion guards, eyes filled with resentment.
Its all your fault! You imprisoned me and ignored my family, you filthy Bertrands! I curse you! I swear, in hell, I will demand the lives of my mother and sibling from you! Aaaaaah!
Even as the city guards took her away again, she did not stop cursing them. Her eyes filled with venom were so fierce that even the guards momentarily flinched.
Gael sighed and left the meeting tent.
The Ortona Civil War.
The last remnants of the retreating republicans aimed to seize the Castilla Fortress, known as a natural stronghold, as a pivot for a counterattack.
However, Count Castilla, maintaining surface-level neutrality, didnt want his fertile territory trampled in the civil war. He provided a small amount of military supplies and food on the condition that the republican forces did not retreat from the remote Andres Plains, keeping his gates firmly shut.
It had been almost three months since the republicans set up their position on the Andres Plains.
Stuck between a rock and a hard place, the republican command had been divided into two opposing viewpoints ever since: invade Count Castillas territory and seize the fortress, or break through the front lines on the plains to escape the defensive position.
To Gael, neither option seemed particularly feasible.
As he walked, idly touching the hilt of Arjuna, a childs voice came from a corner of the mercenary camp.
So, brother, is Duke Dassiano on our side?
Gael stopped in his tracks.
The voice belonged to Prince Benicios young son, Kike. Why was he in the mercenary camp?
Soon, a quiet response followed.
Gael was startled for two reasons upon hearing the conversation.
First, it was rare for a foreign mercenary to speak Ortonan. Even strategic meetings were usually conducted in the imperial common language.
Second, the responses to the young child were remarkably blunt.
Brother, what about the Marquis of Laquila on the border?
As Gael listened to their conversation for a while longer, he eventually turned and walked away.
It seemed young Kike, still struggling with the imperial language, had managed to make a friend among the mercenaries. It was somewhat pitiful that their main activity was scrutinizing the list of supporters.
That evening, Gael visited Prince Benicios tent and asked Kike whom he had been with during the day. The boy responded with a bright smile, Bart from the Astros Mercenary Group. He knows Ortonan.
Proudly, Kike handed over a crumpled piece of paper, explaining, I asked him about these people, and he explained everything to me.
Gael unfolded the paper, which had a list of supporters written in a childs scrawled handwriting. It seemed Kike had remembered the conversations of adults and organized them in his own way. The boy, like his father Prince Benicio, was quite bright.
Regrettably, most of the names were crossed out.
The list seemed to reflect the dire situation of the republican remnants, leaving Gael feeling bitter.
Still, not everything he said is correct. At least Castilla is neutral, Kike.
Pointing to one crossed-out name, Kike tilted his head in confusion.
Huh? No, General Gael. Bart said it clearly.
Then Kike, looking straight at Gael, stated firmly, a vibration of undeniable truth emanating from him, Bart said that Castilla is definitely an enemy.