Chapter 306 : Chapter 306

Chapter 306. Memories of the Past

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍study was deathly silent. Only the dry firewood in the Fireplace occasionally cracked as it was devoured by the flames.

A ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍few seconds later, Logaris suddenly let out an extremely soft laugh, breaking the stagnant silence.

“So, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍what are you struggling over?”

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍leaned lazily against the sofa with his legs crossed.

“Are ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you thinking about how to wrap up your ‘not inherently bad’ elder brother with dignity and send him to the countryside for retirement without triggering a civil war that leaves rivers of blood? Or are you calculating which old duke’s skull would make the most effective wine cup after you ascend the throne, so you can intimidate those old things most efficiently?”

His ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍tone was light, carrying his usual meticulous mockery.

Sylvia subconsciously frowned and wanted to retort, but the thoughts pressing down on her had left her without even the strength to speak.

Seeing that even her rebuttal seemed tinged with exhaustion, the habitual curve at the corner of Logaris’s mouth faded slightly.

The lenses of his glasses reflected the firelight from the Fireplace, making it impossible to see the emotions in his eyes.

He changed the subject, and his voice slowed as well, as if he were afraid of disturbing something.

“Speaking of which, I suddenly remembered something.”

“More than seven years ago, when you were fifteen.”

Sylvia was startled.

“At that time, we had just advanced to the third year. The Valeria Empire’s delegation came to the Royal Capital once again, arrogant as ever.”

“On the border, their army was gathering, while our supply lines were being delayed by several great nobles on the grounds that ‘the winter roads were difficult to travel.’ In the Royal Capital’s council, the arguing was endless.”

Logaris’s narration was calm, but it was like a key that accurately unlocked the door to memory.

Sylvia’s thoughts were pulled back to that cold autumn.

Yes, she remembered.

Astrelia at that time had been far less forceful than it was now. Under the military pressure of the Valeria Empire, it had been like an old wolf forced into a corner, yet still afraid to bare its fangs.

In the council, the “Peace Faction” led by the Minister of Finance held the absolute upper hand.

They did not dare to fight, did not want to fight, and were even less willing to sacrifice their own interests.

So they proposed what they considered a brilliant, “ancient and effective” solution—

A marriage alliance.

They wanted to package the king’s only daughter, Princess Sylvia Van Astrelia, who was only fifteen years old, like a fine piece of merchandise, and marry her to Valeria’s Third Prince, who was notorious throughout the world for his brutality, stupidity, and perverse tastes, in exchange for an illusory “peace.”

This proposal had actually received the support of most people in the noble council.

“I remember that day. Your grandfather, Grand Duke Fenrir, smashed the crystal wine cup bestowed by the king on the spot. Shards scattered all over the floor.” Logaris’s voice continued.

“He pointed at the Minister of Finance’s nose and cursed him as a traitor to the kingdom, a man who wanted to sell Astrelia’s last glory to the enemy who offered the highest price.”

“But it was useless. Too few people supported him.”

Sylvia’s fingertips grew faintly cold beyond her control, as if she had returned once more to that magnificent yet icy council hall.

Of course she remembered. That day, her grandfather had trembled with fury, and his longsword had already been drawn. Blood had almost been spilled on the spot.

But in that hall, his anger had seemed so isolated and helpless. Her Father-King had merely sat high upon the throne, silent and wordless, his face blurred, like a lifeless statue.

So at that time, she had chosen to step forward herself.

“I said back then,” Sylvia softly took over, her voice a little unfocused, as if she were speaking to herself,

“that if I could lead my team to win the championship in the academy’s ‘Flying Star Tournament,’ it would prove that there were no cowards in Astrelia’s royal bloodline, and that there was no need to use a woman’s marriage to exchange for so-called peace.”

Back then, she had been far from as steady and dignified as she was now. She had only been a stubborn young girl forced to the edge of a cliff with nowhere left to retreat.

She used the only things she could offer—her innate talent and her dignity that would not tolerate being trampled upon—to make a great wager that gambled away the rest of her life.

“A pledge under military law.” Logaris nodded, and no emotion could be heard in his voice. “The stake was the rest of your life.”

From that moment on, Sylvia had truly begun to think about how to grip the reins of fate tightly in her own hands.

For the first time, she realized so clearly that placing her hopes on Father-King’s mercy, her brother’s kindness, or her grandfather’s protection was not enough.

Power was most reliable only when held in her own hands.

Sylvia looked at Logaris, somewhat dazed.

The firelight from the Fireplace danced across the lenses of his rimless glasses, preventing her from seeing his expression at that moment.

“I did not expect you to remember it so clearly.”

“Of course I remember.” Logaris’s tone returned to that infuriating teasing. “After all, it was the most important competition in the entire academy, and the prize money was generous enough for me to buy a whole year’s worth of the newest alchemical materials.”

He paused, then continued.

“In the finals, I was the mage, you were the knight, Aurora was the priest, and Phoenix was the rookie archer. The four of us formed a team and fought a group of sixth-year graduating seniors.”

“I still remember it even now. The opposing heavy knight who led them came down with an ‘Earthshaking Slam,’ and my Mana Shield almost shattered into pieces on the spot. I was shaken so badly that everything spun, my stomach churned, and I nearly vomited up the strawberry mousse I had eaten the day before.”

Sylvia could not help the faint tug at the corner of her mouth at his ridiculous description.

She remembered it as well. That final had been extremely brutal. Their opponents were the strongest team in the graduating class, with seamless cooperation and overwhelming strength.

As the only mage on their team, Logaris had been their priority target and had practically taken a beating from beginning to end.

As for Sylvia herself, she had used her twin swords to pin down the opposing captain, trading injury for injury.

In the end, when everyone thought Logaris had already lost his ability to fight, he had used a method no one could understand to release a “Chain Silence Spellwork,” forcibly interrupting the enemy’s healing and defensive chain.

She seized that fleeting gap

and drove 【Moonfall】 into the seam of the opposing captain’s thick armor.

At that moment, the sound of the blade entering flesh was the most beautiful music in the world.

That day, her entire body had been covered in wounds, yet she felt no pain. When she raised the championship trophy, the entire arena was shouting their names.

At that moment, she tasted the feeling of controlling her own fate for the first time.

“Although we were beaten terribly, fortunately, we still won in the end,” Logaris concluded.

Those distant yet vivid memories were like a warm current, washing away the gloom and exhaustion that had accumulated in her heart over the past several days. Sylvia’s tense nerves finally relaxed.

The study fell quiet once more.

This time, it was no longer oppressive dead silence, but a rare and gentle tranquility.