Chapter 27: The Outcast Nobleman

Vito let his curiosity get the better of him, so he used Scan on Greye’s sword. “Greye Blade, an S-Rank greatsword. It empowers its true master during difficult battles,” he read the menu’s description. “I didn’t know Father was also a blacksmith. He must have been proud of his work to name the sword after himself.”

Holly shook her head. “He took his name from the sword, not the other way around.”

“He had the lightning element,” he stated. “I won’t ask further if you don’t want to explain, but I have been curious about that since I saw him use a skill called Phereus Step to save Galien.”

Their mother heaved a sigh and gave them a weary smile. “We were going to tell you eventually, we just couldn’t find the right time.” She took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Your father was born in the Althalos family. They’re high-ranking nobles who directly serve the royal family as advisors and knights.”

“I knew him as Lord Godfrey Althalos when we first met. I was a servant in their manor, and I kept my head down and did as I was told until I heard an argument,” she began. “Lord Godfrey and his friend Lord Ranulphus were investigating an S-Rank dark guild. The guild was too dangerous for a direct confrontation, and opinions were divided as to how the guild should be eliminated.”

“Lord Godfrey recommended they use subterfuge and status ailments to weaken the guild before capturing them, whereas Lord Ranulphus demanded open battle. He sought glory and prestige, and he was willing to risk the lives of not only his own men but also innocent civilians.”

“A butler delivered a message from one of their spies. They found the dark guild hiding at a tavern in the poor district. Lord Ranulphus couldn’t have been happier. He planned to set the tavern on fire to drive them outside, where his guards would cut them down in plain view of the public. Lord Godfrey was against this, and as he outranked Lord Ranulphus, his word was law.”

Holly wiped a nostalgic tear from her eye. “If that didn’t end their friendship, Lord Ranulphus’s treachery certainly did. He agreed to change his plans and offered Lord Gofrey a cup of tea.”

“Poison?” Vito assumed.

Holly nodded. “Lord Ranulphus needed a great meritorious victory in battle to win the hand of an influential noblewoman. He planned to blame Lord Godfrey’s death on them as well, adding to his legend.”

“I rushed into the study when I heard Lord Godfrey fall to the ground and struggle. I struck Lord Ranulphus in the back of the head with the tray of food I was carrying. It didn’t knock him unconscious, of course. He was stunned long enough for me to reach Lord Godfrey, not that I had any medicine with me. In the end, I provided a suitable distraction for Lord Godfrey to use his lightning magic and defeat Lord Ranulphus with one spell.”

“I helped Lord Godfrey to one of the healers, and he recovered right away. I thought that would have been the end of it. Well, I expected some reprimand for assaulting a noble when I’m nothing but a ‘worthless outcast.’ However, Lord Godfrey defended me from Lord Ranulphus’s family, and that was before he asked me to dinner.”

“A noble asked an outcast out for a meal?” Galien was surprised.

Holly nodded. “Unheard of, I know. I was only hired because the Althalos family wanted to look ‘magnanimous’ towards the dregs of society,” she shrugged. “Regardless, he sought me out to thank me for saving him.”

“What did you think of him?” Vito inquired.

Holly lightly giggled. “I was quite taken with him, actually,” she confessed.

“He was very popular with most women, I think,” Delwyn approached them with Iris at her side.

“Yes, he was a dashing knight. The topic of much idle gossip and chatter,” Holly affirmed. “It was a dream come true to be held in those strong and capable arms and ride on his gallant horse.”

Holly quickly ended her fantasy and resumed her tale. “We were together for quite a while before his family discovered our relationship. His father told him that he understood ‘casual dalliances with the help,’ but he was to end our relationship and wed another woman.”

“He was betrothed to a noblewoman?” Vito wondered.

Holly nodded. “Yes, to Lady Elsbeth Vandran.”

Delwyn scoffed. “Goddess, she is such a vain woman.” Even Iris nodded in agreement.

“Lord Godfrey insisted that we were in love. His father condemned his ‘foolishness’ for being with a common outcast. They had quite the argument. All of it ended when he suggested we flee. He was prepared to give up his name to be with me.”

“So it was that we left everything behind. He took the name of his favorite sword and registered as an adventurer. Delwyn and Parsifal scouted him because he was a new adventurer, and he wouldn’t ask for too much.” She cast an annoyed look at Delwyn.

The warrior shrugged. “We had so little money, and he had impressive stats.”

“Mother, did she look the same now as she did then?” Vito quickly asked while pointing at Delwyn.

“Yes. I think she’s immortal, too,” Holly agreed. Delwyn simply shrugged while Iris looked at her with suspicion. “Anyway, Lord Godfrey became Greye, another outcast. He felt sympathy for the outcasts and looked for a way to improve their standing in society. He did that, I believe, because a day came when a common outcast saved the life of a powerful nobleman.”

“How many people knew he was a former nobleman with an element?” Vito asked.

“Only those gathered here now, and Parsifal of course, know his true name. He kept his element hidden unless a dire situation had arisen. This restraint made him stronger than before. He was forced to train his body and his basic magic abilities to their fullest.”

Holly collected Galien’s bag and his former sword. “Well, I’ll be waiting at home if you need me. Make us proud, boys!” She waved at them as she departed.

“We will!” Vito and Galien called after her in unison.