We got into the vehicle, and as it rose smoothly into the air, my gaze drifted toward the city below. Lumere unfolded beneath us in layers of light and motion—avenues stretching like veins, towers reflecting the morning sun, and streams of people moving with quiet purpose. Even from this height, the city felt alive.
Yet my thoughts remained elsewhere.
That battlefield.
That sky.
I turned slightly and looked at Leon.
He noticed at once. "Hm?"
I paused briefly before asking, "Do you know who that man was? The one you were fighting."
Leon leaned back, unconcerned. "Veylan. He serves under Retainer Nephius."
The answer came too easily.
"…He was that strong, and still not a retainer?" I asked.
A faint laugh escaped him. "The retainers are in a different league." His tone remained light, though there was quiet certainty beneath it. "Even I can't beat them."
A small pause followed.
"Not yet."
I considered that before speaking again. "And the Guild Master?"
"She would win," he said without hesitation. "Against any of them."
There was no arrogance in his voice, only conviction.
"I see."
For a while, neither of us spoke. The city continued to glide past, distant and precise. Still, one question remained unsettled in my mind.
"That technique you used," I said. "Just before I lost consciousness."
Leon glanced at me. "Sword Field."
The term lingered.
"What does it mean?"
He looked out the window before answering, as if choosing his words.
"It isn't a technique in the usual sense," he said. "It is closer to a domain."
I listened carefully.
"When someone reaches a certain level—S-rank, usually they stop merely using mana. They begin to impose it."
He lifted his hand slightly, as though shaping something unseen.
"A Sword Field is the manifestation of that. Your will, your understanding, your control—given form."
The explanation was simple, yet it carried weight.
"It creates a space," he continued, "where everything aligns with you. Within it, your strength is not just expressed—it is enforced."
I felt a quiet chill at that.
"Inside such a space," he added, a faint smile appearing, "you don't simply fight."
A brief pause.
"You dominate."
The memory of that pressure returned, sharp and unmistakable.
"…Can i learn it?"
Leon shook his head lightly. "Not in the way you think. When you reach that level, it comes to you."
"I understand."
The vehicle began its descent, slowing as it approached a residential district.
"We're here," Leon said.
We stepped out onto the pavement. Before us stood a large apartment complex, its design understated yet refined. It lacked the grandeur of the guild buildings, but it held its own quiet elegance. People moved in and out steadily—some clearly awakened, others entirely ordinary—yet there was no visible divide among them.
For a moment, I simply observed.
"…So this is how it is."
We entered without difficulty and completed a brief registration at the front desk. The process was efficient, almost effortless. From there, we took the elevator to the highest floor.
Leon opened the door.
I stepped inside—and paused.
The room was expansive, arranged with deliberate simplicity. Soft lighting settled naturally into the space, and a wide glass wall revealed the city stretching endlessly beyond. From here, Lumere seemed vast, almost without boundary.
The furnishings were minimal but precise. A central seating area, two neatly arranged beds, and clean architectural lines that gave the entire space a sense of quiet balance.
Nothing excessive.
Nothing lacking.
"Ah," Leon said as he walked in, already loosening up. "The Guild Master does have good taste."
He dropped onto one of the beds without ceremony, stretching out as though he had already decided the matter.
Within moments, his eyes were half closed.
I exhaled quietly.
"This is quite nice."
"Hey."
I turned slightly.
Leon had not even opened his eyes, yet there was a hint of amusement in his expression.
"Do you know why I'm here?"
"…No."
"To watch over you," he said, almost lazily. "Until the academy begins."
A brief pause.
"And for once, I don't have to deal with missions."
A faint smile formed.
"Quite convenient."
I shook my head slightly and moved toward the other bed. As I lay down, the fatigue I had been ignoring began to settle into my body.
Yet my thoughts did not rest.
Sword Field.
The idea lingered, distant yet clear, like something just beyond reach.
"…In time."
My eyes closed gradually, and the noise of the city faded into silence.
——
Far from Lumere, beyond its controlled brilliance, the landscape changed. Mountains rose sharply into the sky, their edges carved by time and wind. Waterfalls descended from great heights, their steady roar echoing through the valleys below. Mist gathered in the air, softening the world into pale hues.
At the highest point stood a woman.
Her presence was composed, almost effortless, yet it carried an undeniable gravity. Long hair, woven in shades of black and white, flowed behind her with the wind. She wore a kimono of deep tones, its patterns subtle and refined, shifting gently with each movement of light.
There was no excess in her appearance.
Only precision.
Her pale features remained calm, untouched by emotion. Her eyes—entirely white—reflected nothing, yet suggested an awareness that extended far beyond the visible.
A faint breath escaped her, a trace of smoke dissolving into the air.
Behind her, a figure appeared and knelt without a sound.
"Retainer Nephius," he said, head lowered. "Veylan has fallen in battle against Leon of the Saviant Guild."
She did not turn.
"And the Saintess?"
"We were unable to secure her."
A brief silence followed.
"So the operation failed."
The man remained still. "…Yes."
"Show me."
A projection formed before her, fragments of memory shaped into moving images. She watched without interruption as the battle unfolded—light and lightning colliding, space itself bending under the force.
"Celestial Law," she said softly.
There was a hint of interest now.
"…Interesting."
The image shifted.
The Saintess appeared.
Then another figure.
A boy.
Her gaze sharpened slightly.
"Who is he?"
"We have not confirmed his identity," the man replied. "However, we believe he is the hidden prodigy of the Saviant Guild. Reports suggest a high-tier mana core and dual elemental affinity."
She observed in silence as the scene continued—his movements, his control, the subtle instability beneath it.
"…I see."
Her voice remained even, though her attention had deepened.
"Learn everything about him," she said. "A variable like this should not be ignored."
"Yes."
The man prepared to withdraw.
"…Wait."
He stilled.
"I do not believe he is connected to the laboratory incident," she continued. "But verify it."
A faint shift in the air followed.
"If he is tied to Experiment 082…"
Her gaze remained fixed on the fading image.
"…then I want every detail."
The man bowed once more and vanished.
The wind resumed its quiet movement across the peak. The waterfalls continued their descent, unchanged.
And far away, within the quiet expanse of Lumere, a new thread had already begun to take form.