Trey stared at his delicate pale skin through the mirror.
There was not a single blemish upon him. No scar, no imperfection, no sign of the violence he had committed throughout his life.
He wore elegant white garments fitting for a groom awaiting his wedding ceremony.
Yet despite the pristine image before him, his mouth twitched slightly as his teeth pressed into his lower lip. Goosebumps spread across his pale arms like tiny mountains rising from the flesh.
Keeping his gaze fixed upon himself, he let out a slow breath.
"Disgusting..."
A moment later, Oriel entered the room.
He looks so gallant... So this is the stature of a true knight.
Her thoughts sharply contrasted his own.
"Come, Oriel. We wouldn't want to be late to our own ceremony—would we?"
"Yes!"
But immediately after answering, her cheerful expression dimmed slightly, sadness surfacing in her eyes.
Trey noticed at once and rested a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Let us at least try to enjoy ourselves. Your father would not want to see you looking so downcast today... would he?"
"Y-Yeah... I'm sorry. I know you probably still haven't recovered from what happened to your family either, Trey... and I'm being selfish by making you comfort me."
She forced out a smile and linked arms with him.
"I'll do my best to stay happy today."
Her eyes drifted toward the doorway.
Hah... I'm comforting a girl over her father's tragic death while gaining sympathy for the deaths of my own parents.
I wonder how she would react if she learned the noble knight she is marrying is nothing more than a vicious murderer?
As Oriel continued rambling about small, unimportant things, Trey's thoughts drifted elsewhere.
But does it even matter?
I have no regrets... I merely protected what I value most in this world... my own life.
Every human fears death at their core.
Damn...
I need to stop dwelling on the past.
I'm getting married today.
Why should I concern myself with matters that threaten my life anymore?
From this day onward, I'll live quietly. Peacefully. It's not as though my strength can rival the greatest powers in the world.
I've already witnessed what those monsters at the top are capable of...
His thoughts drifted back to his childhood.
Back then, when he first learned the sword, he had dreamed of becoming the strongest. It was hardly an original ambition. Nearly every young boy he knew shared the same dream.
Yet one after another, those children disappeared from the path.
Their dreams died before they could truly wield a blade.
Some inherited responsibilities. Others managed businesses or carried the burdens of their households. As they matured, ambition faded beneath the weight of practicality.
Even among the few who continued pursuing the sword, most eventually vanished into obscurity.
Trey watched them all lose their resolve.
And the farther he advanced, the more clearly he understood the vast gulf separating him from the truly strongest.
Every opponent he defeated only deepened that realization.
For every swordsman he crushed, for every warrior whose confidence he shattered, Trey came to understand just how mediocre the world truly was.
His master had been considered strong within their homeland, yet never once was he regarded as the greatest.
Trey understood from the very beginning that if he wished to fulfill his childish dream, he would need to surpass his master before adulthood.
Yet his master had been a cripple... a man long past his prime.
And still, even by the end of his life, Trey had never felt close to reaching his level.
So as the years passed and accomplishment after accomplishment piled up, Trey slowly realized the truth.
Even as a knight of the council...
Even as one of the finest swordsmen alive...
There would always be someone greater.
But what does it matter?
Why cling to such childish ambition?
The happiest people in this world are those who seek stability... not greatness.
His eyes shifted toward Oriel beside him.
The two had entered the banquet hall where the ceremony was being held.
A priest in pale blue robes stood waiting at the altar.
On the Ascended Continent, weddings were often centered more around celebration than formal procedure, but noble families possessed enough wealth to hire priests and hold elaborate ceremonies.
Guests applauded as the bride and groom approached opposite sides of the altar.
Edric sat at the foremost quartz table, appearing thoroughly content while the priest recited several lines of scripture.
Eventually, the vows began.
"I stand today as witness beneath the divine," the priest announced warmly, "as we gather to celebrate this joyous union."
He turned toward Oriel first.
"Do you, Oriel, sister of Lord Edric, accept Trey Forwhilst as your husband?"
"I do!"
The priest nodded approvingly before turning to Trey.
"And do you, Trey, knight of the council and heir to the Forwhilst family, accept Oriel Curteis as your wife?"
Trey's eyes wandered across the audience.
Edric stared directly at him.
If this proceeds... I'll gain a brother-in-law.
...A loving wife.
Perhaps children someday.
An image suddenly surfaced in his mind.
A burning manor.
His student, still a child, trembling in fear beside his younger sister.
Then his parents... lying dead upon the floor.
Those events no longer matter...
But attachments themselves are meaningless compared to survival.
Trey hesitated.
The priest leaned slightly closer.
"Sir Trey? Did you lose focus?" he asked quietly enough to avoid disturbing the audience.
Why...?
Why can't I simply let go?
Why must these thoughts continue to return?
WHY CAN'T I JUST LIVE...?
Like a normal person...
Is that truly so impossible?
Why must someone who trained as hard as I did still fear losing everything?
Why must I always be prepared to abandon those close to me just to survive?
Why won't these thoughts disappear?
Stop.
Stop thinking.
Just say it.
Say "I do."
I have no regrets... don't I?
My legs still walk. My voice still speaks. My hands still hold a sword.
Those simple privileges exist only because of the choices I made.
I must...
No...!
I cannot falter now!
"I do."
Trey finally spoke, his voice firm and unwavering.
Edric slowly sipped from his glass while the lively celebration continued around him.
Trey and Oriel sat nearby, conversing quietly while eating.
Finally... Trey is officially family.
There had been no urgent need for this marriage, but the confirmation itself felt reassuring.
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman approached their table. Her face looked pale and distressed.
She leaned close and whispered something into Trey's ear.
His eyes widened slightly.
"Very well, miss. I'll help you sort this out."
Trey rose immediately, and the woman motioned for him to follow.
Before he could leave, Edric stopped him.
"What happened?"
"Oh, nothing serious. This woman claims her purse was stolen by some thieving scoundrel. I'm simply going to help locate the culprit."
"You're the groom. Why involve yourself in something so trivial? We can hire someone else to handle it."
Edric frowned slightly.
"I'll have my butler summon an investigative mage. They'll locate the thief instantly."
Trey blinked.
"Pardon... what are you talking about?"
Edric raised a brow.
Why does he look confused?
There existed numerous magic types specifically suited for investigative work. Why would Trey need to personally search for the culprit?
"What part confused you?" Edric asked.
"I may simply be forgetting something," Trey replied slowly, "but I'm fairly certain there's no such thing as an investigative mage."
"What?"
"Yes... Brother, I've never heard of such a mage either," Oriel added. "And I'd say I'm rather knowledgeable regarding magic."
Edric froze.
That makes no sense.
Investigative mages used to be everywhere...
Wait... when was the last time I actually saw one?
He searched through his memories.
Blankness.
Far too many blank spaces.
No... I haven't encountered one in centuries... perhaps millennia.
I've likely realized this before... and forgotten it again.
Why haven't my memories returned yet?
The last memory he could clearly recall involving investigative magic was...
Before the continent ascended.
Did those magic types simply vanish?
How could multiple investigative magic branches disappear entirely from existence? Is such a thing even possible?
"Very well then, Trey. Go assist her."
Edric waved him away absentmindedly as his thoughts deepened.
I need to regain my memories somehow.
There are too many important things slipping away from me.
But where do I even begin...?
Perhaps if I approach different subjects... associations might trigger forgotten memories.
The wedding celebration continued deep into the night.
Eventually, Edric excused himself and returned to his room.
A pen rested in his hand as he sorted through financial matters left behind after his father's death.
About an hour into his work, a knock interrupted him.
Opening the door carefully to avoid the noisy hinge, Edric found his butler standing outside.
He motioned the man inside before returning to his seat.
"What is it, Mr. Vanthe?"
"You have received a letter, Master Curteis... It is from Valter Ascension."
Edric's eyes widened slightly.
Valter? What interest could he possibly have in me?
I've done nothing to attract his attention...
Breaking the seal carefully, Edric unfolded the letter.
"Greetings, Head of House Curteis, Edric Curteis."
"As you are likely aware, I have been occupied dealing with the remnants of the opposing faction. However, I have realized that what I truly lack is the finest knight who has ever served beneath me... Trey Forwhilst."
Ah... so this concerns Trey.
Valter merely wishes to recruit him again without provoking hostility from me.
"However, I have not forgotten my acceptance of Trey's retirement from the sword. Thus, I shall allow him to choose whether he wishes to participate in this final expedition."
"We have discovered the location of the final surviving group who have been protecting the sanctuaries."
Edric narrowed his eyes.
So they finally found Thalen's group...
Valter had spent years systematically eliminating every potential rival claimant to the throne. The sanctuaries existed solely to protect the final surviving heir.
"If you wish, you may also accompany me during the battle. I would enjoy meeting the new head of House Curteis personally... and perhaps you may appreciate the excellent view I have arranged for the occasion."
"An excellent view"...
That's certainly one way to describe a massacre.
"Trey may hesitate initially, but I believe he shall gladly return to service for one final mission once he learns the details."
"We have confirmed that among the individuals protecting Thalen is none other than Sir Trey's half-sister... Marina Grey."
"I believe granting him the opportunity to personally bring about a fitting conclusion for his sister will provide ample motivation."
Edric's expression darkened slightly.
"But lastly, I believe I have not yet provided sufficient incentive for your own participation."
He fears I may side against him.
Valter must have realized I'm far less obedient than my father was.
"This battle is not merely an assault upon unworthy claimants to the throne."
"There exists a far greater reason behind this expedition."
"The leader of the opposing faction is none other than the witch Lira."
"While that alone may not interest you... Lira possesses something no human in history has ever achieved."
"She has discovered a method to extend one's lifespan."
Edric's eyes sharpened.
"So this expedition is not merely the extermination of insignificant insects."
"It is the pursuit of life itself."