That night, Marley told Axel about what had happened during the day.
"Really? I didn't know that sword could shine," Axel said in surprise.
"Back then, when you received this sword from an old man who was a traveling merchant, he told you that the sword once belonged to a knight who held the title of the first Holy Knight. According to the story, whoever is able to wield this sword will one day become the next Holy Knight.
I didn't really believe that story. But who could refuse a free sword? So you accepted it," Marley said, smiling as she recounted the long story of the sword's origin.
"So… was what that old man said true? Will he become a Holy Knight?" Marley asked hesitantly.
"Of course not. It's just a fairy tale from people who claim to believe in a false god who supposedly sent this holy knight. None of that is real. Besides, there are weapons that can emit light. Clusius also has the light element. So it's not impossible that the sword shone because of Clusius's carelessness."
"But…"
"That's enough, don't think too much about it. It's just an ordinary sword. Nothing will happen," Axel said, trying to calm his worried wife.
Meanwhile, Clusius, who had fallen asleep with an open book resting on his chest, could not forget the figure of the knight he saw when he touched the sword he found in the storage shed.
—–—
August 17, Year 47
Clusius felt bored staying at home all the time. Moreover, his younger sister was sick that day, so he could not play as usual.
Filled with curiosity, Clusius asked his father about his work as an adventurer. He then gathered the courage to ask for permission.
"Father, may I come with you to complete a quest? I want to know what the world of adventure is like."
"No. You're still too young. It's too dangerous for you to come along. I don't want anything to happen to you," Axel answered firmly.
"Just this once, Father. Please… I promise I won't cause trouble," Clusius pleaded sincerely.
Axel fell silent for a moment, thinking. Then he nodded.
"Very well. But I will look for the easiest quest available. You are not allowed to come if only dangerous quests remain."
They then set off toward the adventurer guild to look for a quest.
Clusius wore a mask because he was afraid of being recognized by others. He also carried the sword given to him by his father, the one that had once been obtained from the old man. He brought it along just in case something unexpected happened.
Since the sword did not yet have a name, Clusius named it "Golden Star Sword." Axel merely smiled and approved of the name his son had given it.
Upon arriving at the guild, almost everyone stared at them. Some showed fearful expressions, some looked angry, and others immediately moved away as soon as they saw Clusius enter.
It seemed that everyone already knew about the curse Clusius possessed. However, Axel remained calm and patted his son's shoulder.
"Don't mind them," he said briefly.
They then went to the quest board and searched for the lightest task available. Eventually, they found a suitable one and immediately approached the receptionist's desk.
The quest was to search for a rare plant in the forest near the village, a mission Axel considered the safest for Clusius to undertake.
They soon made their way toward a forest called Bold Forest. It was called Bold Forest because most of the monsters living there were Bold monsters, creatures shaped like walnuts, with two arms and two legs, and leaves covering the tops of their heads.
After arriving at Bold Forest, Axel and Clusius immediately entered the area of dense trees to search for the evening rose plant. Before going any deeper, Axel warned his son to remain alert for monsters such as bold and goblins, the two types of savage creatures most commonly roaming this forest.
The forest was vast and filled with many paths that could easily lead one astray. Axel told Clusius to always walk behind him so they would not get separated.
"Father, what does the plant we're looking for look like?"
"It's called the evening rose. The flower is yellowish-orange, very striking when it catches the light of dusk. But be careful, its stem is full of sharp thorns. So don't touch it carelessly."
"Alright, I'll remember that."
After walking for several minutes, Clusius's eyes caught sight of something behind a cluster of bushes.
"Hmm… Father, is that the flower we're looking for?"
"Where?" Axel immediately turned, following the direction his son pointed.
"There, beside the large rock."
Axel narrowed his eyes, then smiled.
"Let's take a closer look."
They walked slowly toward the flower.
"Good heavens, it really is! This is the evening rose. I didn't expect we'd find it this quickly. You really do have sharp eyes… even though one of them has been blind since birth."
"Father, is that a compliment or an insult?" Clusius scoffed, though his tone sounded amused.
"Heh, I would never mock my own child's appearance. Come on, let's find two more."
However, suddenly the bushes behind them shook violently. A large bold monster leapt out with a fierce cry, charging straight toward Clusius.
"DOWN!" Axel shouted.
Clusius instinctively lowered himself. In an instant, Axel swing his sword at the monster. The sound of metal clashing against a hard shell echoed among the trees. The monster fell, but it was still alive. Without wasting time, Axel delivered repeated strikes until its shell cracked and dark red blood slowly flowed out.
"Clusius! Are you alright?"
Clusius nodded, though his face was pale. It was the first time he had seen a monster killed from such a close distance. The dark red blood seeping from the shattered shell made his stomach churn.
"You'll get used to it…," Axel said gently as he patted his shoulder.
They carefully picked the evening rose and stored it inside a basket . Their journey continued.
"How many more flowers do we need?" Clusius asked, trying to sound calm.
"Three. We've gotten one. Two more, then we'll return to the guild and receive our payment tomorrow, after the quest giver pays for our services as adventurers."
Throughout the search, several more bold monsters blocked their path. However, Axel faced them calmly. Clusius could only watch from behind, both in awe and fearful of his father's abilities. Even though fear still lingered within him, Clusius steadied himself; he wanted to become strong like Axel one day.
Finally, as the sun began to sink behind the trees, they managed to gather three evening roses. With relieved breaths, they left the forest and walked back to the deme.
When they arrived at the guild, the atmosphere was already quiet. The other adventurers seemed to have completed their tasks earlier. Axel and Clusius handed the flowers to an elderly receptionist, who welcomed them with a warm smile.
"Good, your task has been completed well. As for the payment, please wait until tomorrow. The quest giver will pay soon," said the receptionist.
After leaving the guild, Clusius smiled with satisfaction. Although the journey had been tense, he felt that today was very enjoyable, unlike his usual days spent simply sitting at home.
"Clusius, how about you buy the drink you like?" Axel offered.
Clusius looked at his father with sparkling eyes.
"Really? Is that alright?"
"Of course. Consider it a reward for helping Father today."
"Thank you, Father!"
Full of excitement, Clusius ran toward a banana juice shop, a drink he had always wanted to try but had never tasted before. Coincidentally, the shop was quiet. He bought a glass of cold juice, then sat on a bench outside with his father.
As Clusius sipped the sweet drink, his face lit up.
"It tastes so good…"
Axel chuckled softly at the sight of his son's satisfied expression.
"Enjoy it. Our adventure has only just begun."