Chapter 27: Aftermath

After the duel between Aria and Kaelen, Princess Celestia and the royal family hosted a grand celebration to honor the festival's success and celebrate their Sword Saint.

The main hall was decorated with sweeping silk ribbons, vibrant drapes, and banners bearing Aria’s name. Guests from across the realm, alongside those who worked behind the scenes to orchestrate the tournament, filled the grand room with chatter and laughter.

As Celestia descended the marble staircase, her eyes scanned the crowd for her companions. She soon spotted Rikka frantically piling mountains of food onto a heavy silver tray before scurrying out toward the balcony.

Narrowing her eyes, Celestia set off after her. In her haste, she collided squarely with someone in the doorway.

“Hey! At least watch where you’re—” Celestia snapped, catching herself as she recognized the young man before her. His head and face were wrapped heavily in white bandages.

“Ah… I'm so sorry, Celestia-sama! I was just—” Panic-stricken, he bowed until his forehead nearly touched his knees.

“Hero…?” The word slipped past her lips.

“Well… haha. I don’t think that title really suits me anymore. What kind of hero gets beaten as thoroughly as I did?” He let out a self-deprecating laugh, scratching the back of his neck.

Celestia paused as Rikka darted past them again, carrying yet another tray loaded with roasted meat. Snatching Leo by the wrist, Celestia dragged him along behind her.

“Let’s go!”

Leo’s eyes widened in surprise as he was pulled toward the secluded balcony. “Wait…!”

Sweeping the heavy velvet drapes aside, both of them froze at the sight of a mountain of empty plates. Shawn finished off a final skewer and thrust the rim of the empty dish toward Rikka.

“Go grab another one!” he demanded.

“Yes!” Rikka gasped upon noticing Celestia and Leo. Bowing hurriedly, she darted back into the hall to fetch another serving.

“Umm… Shawn…” Celestia began, her tone unusually cautious.

He turned toward her, aggressively chewing a mouthful of meat, his eyes sharp with lingering irritation. “What!”

“Well… it’s just…” She lowered her voice, momentarily intimidated, before remembering her royal status. She cleared her throat loudly. “Don’t yell at me! And what on earth are you so angry about, anyway?!”

Shawn looked away, staring down at his boots as his shoulders slumped. “I… I couldn't even win the tournament. And above all, the final match…”

Celestia fell silent, searching for the right words. Sensing the heavy atmosphere, Leo took a step forward. “Forgive me, but Sir Shawn… in my eyes, you were the true champion of this tournament with the way you fought—”

“No matter how I performed, a loser is still a loser,” Shawn muttered bitterly, staring out over the moonlit city.

Leo went quiet, unable to argue further.

Hoping to shift the topic, Celestia looked around the quiet space. “Where is Aria, anyway? This whole feast was thrown for her, yet she’s nowhere to be seen.”

“How should I know where that blindfolded airhead is? And I don’t want to talk about her!” Shawn snapped, his voice rising again.

So… he holds a grudge against Aria over her withdrawing from the finals, Celestia thought, her brow furrowed with concern. Aria… I hope you can fix things with him. If you don't, he might actually walk away.

Meanwhile, far beneath the bustling ballroom, Aria walked down a damp stone corridor in the subterranean prison, guided by a royal guard. The cold scent of earth and iron filled the air.

“Aria-sama, we have arrived.”

“Ah… I see. Thank you for escorting me. Please give us a moment; I will call for you when I am finished.”

“As you command, Aria-sama.” The guard bowed deeply before retreating up the passage.

“So… you finally came to finish the job, Sword Saint?” A rough voice rasped from the gloom. Kaelen sat hunched against the back wall, his wrists bound in heavy anti-mana cuffs. He spat blood onto the stone floor.

“Why would I do that? I am only here to fulfill the deal we made during our match,” Aria replied softly, tilting her head.

“Deal? And you honestly thought… I’d go along with whatever nonsense you spouted out there?”

“I believe you will.” Aria slowly dropped to her knees, bowing her head until her forehead rested against the cold ground. “I… I deeply apologize for what occurred in the past. Back then, I did not understand the weight of my actions… I was simply executing the orders given to me.”

She paused for a long moment, her breath steady. “I know these words may sound like an empty gesture to you, but if there comes a day when you can find it in your heart to forgive me—”

“Tch. Lift your head, Sword Saint. I don't want an apology from the monster who slaughtered my family.” Kaelen picked at his ear, blowing dust from his fingertips. “Just ask your questions and get out. Looking at your face makes me sick.”

“I understand. I apologize again.” Aria rose smoothly to her feet. “What I need to ask concerns the relic you used… Where did you acquire it? A tool like that should not exist. It was meant to be destroyed by the Gods during the War.”

“The Crimson Orb?”

“Yes.”

“I bought it from a merchant in the Sandsreach Kingdom.”

“A merchant? Do you know who he was?”

“No idea. He kept his face hidden under a heavy cloak… but he had a voice so deep it made your skin crawl.”

“Did he say anything else to you?”

“Nothing… except as he handed it over, he muttered something under his breath. Something like, ‘Go get your revenge.’”

“I see…”

So there is someone else pulling strings behind the scenes, Aria thought, her mind racing. Someone who managed to resist the Divine Miracle. But how could a man like Kaelen, with ordinary mana capabilities, resist its effects as well?

“I will speak to the King regarding your release,” Aria said quietly, turning back toward the corridor.

“Don’t you dare pity me! HEY!” Kaelen slammed his cuffed hands against the iron bars, his screams echoing through the damp stone as her figure melted into the shadows.

“Here we are, Aria-sama. The main entrance to the grand hall.” The guard bowed as he delivered her back to the castle's upper floors.

“My blessings be with you,” she murmured as he stepped back to his post.

Aria raised her hand to push open the heavy double doors, but hesitated mid-air as the echoes of the crowd's doubts flashed through her mind. Taking a slow, steadying breath, she pushed the doors open.

The doors swung wide, and the murmur of conversation died instantly. Aria sensed hundreds of mana signatures focusing on her position. For a brief second, absolute silence fell over the room—before the guests surged forward as one.

“Aria-sama! That was a magnificent match! Even if we couldn't follow every movement, it was an honor to witness it!”

“Indeed! It was breathtaking! Though my heart almost stopped when your opponent pulled out that crimson relic!”

Praise washed over her from all sides, catching her off guard. She had fully expected a barrage of suspicious questions regarding Kaelen's accusations.

Ahem.

A strong cough cut through the commotion as the King stepped forward to draw the room's attention.

“Please, everyone—let Aria-sama rest and enjoy the evening,” the King requested warmly. “I know many of you have questions, but we must respect her request for time. Let us grant her that much.”

He turned to Aria, offering a respectful bow. “Aria-sama, please enjoy the celebration we have prepared in your honor. If there is anything you require, simply let the staff know.”

Aria gave a quiet nod, her eyes scanning the crowd until she picked up familiar signatures near the edge of the room.

“Golden…” she whispered, making her way toward the terrace.

Pushing back the heavy drapes, she stepped out onto the cool balcony, finding the entire group gathered together.

“Everyone…?” she murmured.

They turned as Rikka immediately launched herself across the stone floor, throwing her arms around the Sword Saint.

“Aria-sama! Thank goodness you’re safe! I was so worried about you!”

“Worried about me…?” Aria tilted her head, a faint trace of humor in her eye. “Did you think I would lose?”

“N-No! Of course not! That’s not what I meant at all!” Rikka stammered in panic, flustered as Celestia stepped up behind her.

“Rikka… she is clearly teasing you.”

“Eh…?”

Aria giggled softly, looking past them to where Leo stood in his bandages. “And how are you holding up, Hero?”

“Please, just call me Leo, Aria-sama! And congratulations on your victory!”

“Thank you. My blessings be with you. I only hope Freya hasn't been speaking ill of me in my absence…”

“Ah… well… haha…” Leo scratched the back of his head nervously as Aria brushed past him, her attention shifting entirely to the figure seated at the far railing.

Shawn sat with his back to the group, staring silently out into the night sky.

“If the rest of you wouldn't mind,” Aria said softly, “I need a moment to speak with my attendant about an important matter.”

“An important matter?” Rikka echoed.

“Yes. So if you please…”

Celestia narrowed her eyes, letting out a small sigh. “Fine. But you’d better fill us in later.”

“I will. Thank you, Celestia.”

“It’s Princess Celestia!” the royal yelled, turning on her heel to march back inside, with Rikka and Leo following close behind.

Once the drapes fell shut, Aria walked over to the edge of the balcony. “Are you still upset with me… for denying you the chance to become the Sword Saint?”

“Why would I care about a useless title?” Shawn grunted, not turning around. “I just wanted my match. I wanted to prove to everyone that I’m not just some lucky guy who got picked up by Marvin, and then handed everything by a divine being—”

“Aren’t you underestimating yourself?” Aria interrupted gently. “Why let their words affect you when you already know what you are capable of—”

“You will never understand,” Shawn cut in, his tone dropping into a dark, quiet register.

He stood up, brushing off his trousers as he finally turned to face her. The familiar warmth in his presence was gone, replaced by a cold, distant quiet.

“I’m still angry that you ruined my chance, but I know I can't blame you for making your own choice. I’m not going to hold a grudge over it… I just need to be left alone right now.”

He lightly tapped his fist against her knuckles as he brushed past her. “I’m exhausted. I probably still need time to recover anyway. Good night, Aria. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Aria stood motionless on the quiet balcony, watching his retreating shadow disappear through the drapes.

“If you never tell me…” she whispered to the empty air, “how am I supposed to understand?”