Galad found several disordered manuscripts scattered across the table in Old Neil's bedroom. Among them was a folded note that recorded the honorific name of the Hidden Sage:
"Incarnation of Spirit and Numbers,The Source of All Knowledge,The Hidden Sage Above the Wilderness."
He didn't dare to whisper it aloud. Instead, he only repeated the lines silently in Loenese within his mind. Even so, a faint spiritual warning from the Secrets Supplicant told him that the honorific name was genuine.
The rest of the manuscripts were filled with strange rituals. Among them, one caught his eye a secret ceremony to petition the Hidden Sage for knowledge. But the most heavily emphasized was a ritual titled:
"Life Alchemy."
"Required materials: 100 ml of spring water from the Spring of Elves (golden spring water from Sonia Island), 50 grams of star crystal, half a pound of gold, 5 grams of phlogiston, 30 grams of hematite... and a large amount of fresh human blood."
Fresh human blood...
Galad's heart tightened. Reading further, he saw Old Neil's personal note scrawled beneath the line:
"I can consider drawing my own, little by little, preserving it with ritual magic."
Thankfully, he hadn't sunk into madness far enough to resort to living sacrifices.
Galad let out a silent breath, then carefully gathered the manuscripts, preparing to bring them downstairs for the others to see.
But when his hand brushed against the slip of paper bearing the Hidden Sage's name, he hesitated. After a pause, he laid it flat before him and read it carefully again.
Over these days of training, Galad had realized that one of the abilities of a Secrets Supplicant was the uncanny capacity to memorize rituals. As long as he read them attentively once, every step and every incantation would be etched into his mind, ready to be recalled with perfect clarity at any moment.
By reading it, he had already engraved the Hidden Sage's honorific name and several of the related rituals into his memory.
Why record the name of such a dangerous entity? Galad could not explain. He only had a vague, unsettling intuition: it might be useful one day.
Still... it was best if he never had to invoke it.
He collected the manuscripts, tucked the note away, and stepped downstairs slowly, returning to the living room.
——
The next afternoon.
"Hah..."
Galad yawned, his eyes misty with drowsiness.
Although he had caught some sleep that morning, he still felt weary and slouched listlessly among his colleagues gathered in the lounge.
Only Leonard, who was on duty at Charnes Gate, and Seeka, watching over the armory, were absent. The room was crowded, and everyone was waiting for him. Since the Captain and Ms. Daly were busy with the High-Ranking Cleric, all questions naturally fell to Galad .
So, suppressing another yawn, he recounted the events of the previous night. Of course, he carefully omitted the parts that could not be spoken of.
When he finished, a heavy silence settled. Several people sighed quietly.
Rosanne's eyes dimmed. After a long pause, she said softly,
"I once heard the Captain say that Old Neil had a deeply beloved lover when he was young. They were about to be engaged... but she fell gravely ill and passed away. He was devastated, nearly to the point of collapse."
So that was it. The Life Alchemy ritual had been for her. All of Old Neil's desperate actions had been to bring his lover back.
Galad 's chest tightened with emotion. His hand drifted unconsciously to the spot on his finger where he had cut himself yesterday. The wound had already healed, leaving no trace.
"How pitiful."
Cohenry White muttered, his brows furrowing. Short but spirited, he had always been lively. But now, hearing Old Neil's story, his face was shadowed with empathy. Galad remembered that Cohenry too had a fiancée, soon to be wed. No wonder he resonated so deeply.
"The passing of loved ones is always heartbreaking."
Seeka, the Author, spoke with a voice heavy with feeling. "I've decided to leave work early today. I want to spend more time with my family."
Well said. Galad silently agreed. After all this, he too wanted to return early, see Cecilia, talk with her, share a meal. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Klein lost in similar thought, likely thinking of his own family.
"Will Old Neil be alright?"
Frey's sudden question broke the quiet, voicing the doubt everyone had but didn't want to say aloud.
All eyes turned toward Galad .
...How should I know?
Galad grimaced and forced an answer: "To be honest, I'm not sure. But if he hasn't harmed anyone, at least his life should be spared."
As if his words had summoned fate itself, the lounge door opened, and Dunn Smith walked in.
"Captain!"
"Captain, how is Old Neil?"
Everyone rose in unison, voices filled with concern.
Dunn looked weary, but he forced a smile. "Old Neil passed Mr. Creste's review. He won't be sent to the Tribunal. But... as punishment, he will be transferred to a church in Backlund, where he'll spend the rest of his life in repentance before the Goddess. He will never be free again."
The room filled with sighs. Relief for his survival... but grief for his fate.
"So he's essentially imprisoned..." Rosanne said bitterly.
"To be spared from losing control, and to keep his life, is already more than most could hope for," Dunn replied calmly. Then his gaze shifted to Galad .
"Galad , come with me."
"Yes, Captain."
Though puzzled, Galad quickly rose and followed Dunn into the Captain's office.
"Old Neil is deeply grateful for what you did," Dunn said without preamble. "As thanks, he has given you his house in Tingen."
"Huh?" Galad froze, dumbstruck.
"It's in the suburbs," Dunn continued evenly. "Not in the city center, so it's cheaper. But since it's a detached house with a garden, the total value is over 900 pounds. He's already entrusted the matter to me. Once the transfer papers are processed, it will be yours."
"Wait, Captain how can that be appropriate?!!!!" Galad blurted.
His weekly pay was six pounds, considered high already. But to purchase such a house, he would have to save every penny for years, abandoning food, rent, and the responsibility of raising his sister. It had always been a distant dream.
And now, overnight, a house worth 900 pounds had simply... fallen into his lap.
"It would be inappropriate if you didn't accept it."
Dunn's voice was steady, resolute. "From now on, Old Neil can only live within the church in Backlund. Money and property are meaningless to him. You saved his life, and more than that you saved him from losing control. Without you, his soul would have been denied even the Goddess's embrace after death. That is a salvation beyond price. If you refuse this gift, his remaining days will never find peace."
Under Dunn's firm tone and recalling Old Neil's gratitude Galad finally relented. Even so, his mind reeled, dazed as though this were all unreal.
"One more thing," Dunn added, his voice quieter. "Mr. Creste has already departed."
He paused, then looked at Galad with unreadable eyes.
"In fact... he came here seeking you."