The Knight’s Dilemma

Morning sunlight streamed through the S-class floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating every speck of dust dancing in the air. As I stepped into the classroom, I sensed a subtly oppressive atmosphere today.

My deskmate, Ella Smith, had arrived exceptionally early today. Instead of her usual vibrant pre-study routine, she lay slumped on her desk, her cheek resting on ‘Orlando’s Ancestral Travelogue,’ her breathing noticeably heavy.

Her complexion appeared somewhat pale. Her cherry-pink hair was unkempt, and she seemed as wilted and droopy as a plant starved of water.

‘As I suspected, something is amiss.’ A slight weight settled in my chest.

‘Last night, she had remained in my Chaos Domain for a full two hours. While Light and Dark attributes could theoretically neutralize each other, a high concentration of divergent mana still posed an immense burden for an immature mage.’

‘Currently, she was likely in a state of mana intoxication, her circulation completely disrupted.’

I walked to my seat and gently placed my schoolbag down.

Hearing the slight disturbance, Ella slowly lifted her head. As my reflection appeared in her somewhat unfocused emerald eyes, it was as if a switch had been flipped.

“Lilliana… my lady?”

Instead of excitedly rushing towards me as she had yesterday, she weakly straightened up, a soft, almost painful smile gracing her lips.

“Good morning…” Her voice was faint, tinged with a slight hoarseness.

With her movement, a faint scent, yet one incredibly familiar to me, drifted closer.

It was my Chaos aura. It clung to Ella’s pure Light attribute mana like an invisible veil.

This wasn’t an invasion, but a peculiar coexistence. It was like the lingering chill of night interwoven with the twilight of day.

“You look terrible.” I frowned, stating my assessment dispassionately.

“Do I…?” Ella touched her slightly flushed cheek, a hint of embarrassment in her gesture. “Actually… my body feels a bit heavy. But, just seeing you, that heaviness seems to… lighten.”

As she spoke, she unconsciously leaned towards me.

‘This wasn’t her conscious will, but the instinct of her mana. Her Light elements, agitated and restless from last night’s experience, instinctively sought the source that could calm them…’

‘Namely, the Dark attribute within me.’

“Don’t lean too close.” I extended a finger, pressing against her shoulder to prevent her from drawing nearer.

“If your mana is disrupted, being close to me will only make you dizzier. Sit properly, breathe deeply, and try to circulate your mana.”

“…Yes.” Ella obediently ceased her movement, but her moist eyes remained fixed on me, as if drawing comfort from my gaze.

Just then, a rhythmic, firm set of footsteps echoed from the classroom entrance. Beatrix Eisen walked in.

Her complexion today was excellent; one might even say she radiated vitality. Clearly, the sword technique manuscript had greatly benefited her, and she had also learned the importance of moderate rest.

Dressed in her immaculate disciplinary committee uniform, her back was ramrod straight, like a sharp sword returned to its sheath.

She walked straight towards her seat without glancing aside, but as she passed our area, her steps abruptly halted. A knight’s intuition, honed by years of battling magical beasts, allowed her to detect a discordant note.

She turned her head, her golden eyes narrowing slightly, her gaze sweeping past me to land on the weakened Ella.

As a wielder of the Light attribute, Ella should have possessed the purest aura. Yet, at this moment, Beatrix sensed an unsettlingly profound impurity emanating from her.

The aura was deep and cold, completely at odds with Ella’s nature, yet intimately intertwined with her.

Beatrix’s brow furrowed. “Smith.” She spoke, her voice sharp and cold.

“You… have traces of dark magic on you.”

Ella flinched, drawing her neck back like a startled rabbit. “Huh? D-dark magic?”

“This aura is potent, and… very dangerous.” Beatrix’s hand instinctively went to her waist, though no sword rested there.

Her gaze turned serious. “What did you come into contact with last night? Or… did you go somewhere you shouldn’t have?”

‘In her view, the innocent Ella had likely been entangled by some malevolent creature or had stumbled into a cursed trap.’

‘The aura instinctively repulsed her, yet inexplicably… it felt somewhat familiar?’

Seeing that this knight, brimming with a sense of justice, was about to launch an investigation, I had no choice but to interrupt.

“It was me.” Those two calm words instantly brought Beatrix’s imposing aura to a halt.

She turned to look at me, the wariness in her eyes instantly morphing into astonishment.

“…Lilliana, my lady?”

“The aura on her belongs to me.” I rested my chin on one hand, my tone unruffled, as if discussing a trivial matter.

“Last night, she accompanied me while I read in the library. As you know, when I read… I don’t particularly care for disturbances, so I released some mana pressure.”

“This child is simply too frail; she absorbed some of it, and it hasn’t dissipated yet.”

Beatrix stood frozen after hearing my explanation. She glanced at Ella, who looked frail but whose eyes were filled with dependence, then at my expressionless face.

‘So… that’s what happened? It wasn’t some evil curse, but… Lady Lilliana’s mana.’

The wariness in Beatrix’s heart dissipated, replaced by a profoundly complex emotion.

‘She wasn’t jealous that Ella could be by Lilliana’s side… For she knew how terrifying that mana pressure was; for ordinary people, it was torture, not enjoyment.’

‘What puzzled her was… why? Why would Lady Lilliana permit this commoner to enter her domain?’

‘In her understanding, Lady Lilliana was aloof and unapproachable. The sword manual she had bestowed upon Beatrix was a grace and guidance from a superior to a subordinate.’

‘But for Ella, the act of allowing her to be permeated by her aura seemed to carry… a degree of tolerance Beatrix couldn’t comprehend.’

“…I see.” Beatrix took a deep breath, retracting her aggressive posture.

She walked up to Ella, observing the girl who, despite her weakness, still clutched her book tightly; the severity in Beatrix’s eyes softened slightly.

“Since it’s Lady Lilliana’s mana pressure… your current state is mana overload.”

She pulled a mint candy from her pocket. It was one she usually kept for alertness, and she placed it on Ella’s desk.

“Eat this; it will help stabilize your mind. If your body can’t handle it, don’t force yourself into such places next time.”

This was not merely concern, but also a lecture from a superior.

“And…” Beatrix turned her head, casting a deep glance at me, her eyes holding both respect and a subtle thread of worry.

“Lady Lilliana, your power… it might be too overwhelming for ordinary people. Please… be mindful.”

Having spoken, she performed a standard knight’s salute to me, then returned to her seat.

I watched her retreating back, a little surprised. I had expected her to feel discontent over my favoritism.

But she hadn’t. Her primary concern was Ella’s physical condition and whether my power might cause accidental harm, despite her firm demeanor.

‘Is this… the Rose Knight?’

‘Even if her stance had shifted, the integrity and magnanimity etched into her very being remained unchanged.’

‘This child is actually quite endearing.’ I mentally awarded her a “good person” card.

Beside me, Ella looked at the mint candy on her desk, then at Beatrix, who had already settled down to review her lessons, her small face filled with surprise.

“Um… Eisen, is she actually a good person?” Ella whispered.

“Perhaps.” I casually opened my book.

“Her way of expressing goodwill is just a little clumsy.”

I was speaking of others. Yet, I was entirely unaware that the statement seemed to apply perfectly to myself as well.

In the front row of the classroom, Alexis silently listened to everything unfolding behind him. He didn’t turn around.

But the hand holding his pen trembled slightly.

He had heard Beatrix’s address to me… “Lady Lilliana.”

That disciplinary committee member, who once loathed villains and championed justice above all else, was now addressing that woman with such reverence.

Even after discovering the dark aura clinging to Ella, she hadn’t drawn her sword to exorcise it. Instead, she had chosen… acceptance and counsel?

‘What in the world is happening?’

‘Why was everyone turning a blind eye to such dangerous power, even… relishing it?’

Alexis felt a solitude unlike any he had experienced. He felt like the only one awake, standing on a slowly sinking ship, watching everyone else laugh and rush towards the abyss.

“…Incomprehensible.” He muttered softly, his pen point tearing through the paper.

“I must… awaken you all.”