Sophia caught up to us and gently reminded me that Master had told me not to neglect my training, so I had no choice but to pick up the sword and swing it at the general. He blocked it without any trouble at all.
“Well, now. Setsuna’s strong, but it seems he’s not much of a teacher if this is all his pupil’s capable of!”
“Master is an amazing teacher!” I shouted. It was one thing to insult me, but I wouldn’t let anyone insult Master.
“Is that so? Well, I’m not so sure, judging by the way you swing that sword.”
I was furious. I brought the sword down with all the strength I had. But in a flash, he hooked my ankle and sent me falling to the floor.
“When you let anger cloud your mind, it’s easy for your opponents to take advantage of that. Come on, what are you waiting for? Get up and attack me again.”
I didn’t need him to tell me that. I scrambled to my feet and swung my sword over and over, but each time, he struck my shoulder, stomach, and back. Before I knew it, my arms and legs were numb.
“That’s enough for today.”
I could barely move a muscle. I gritted my teeth. I hadn’t managed to protect Master’s honor. The general had been right all along.
“How pitiful,” he said. “You must feel humiliated as Setsuna’s disciple and the grandson of the Hero of Sagana. I’ll train you myself for as long as you’re here in this castle, so you won’t bring shame to either one of them.”
His words made me think of when Gramps and Master had fought each other. That’s right. I promised Gramps I’d grow up to be just like him!
Tears spilled down my cheeks again.
“When things get tough, you should let yourself cry.”
I was lying on the floor with my head in Sophia’s lap, having been dropped back off at my room by the general.
“But some day, you have to be able to smile again for Ragi’s sake. Otherwise, I think he would be very sad.”
She’s right. He’d be worried about me if he saw me like this, so I should smile.
Yet despite that thought, I couldn’t stop crying.
Four days passed since I’d been left at the castle.
The queen and Sophia stayed by my side while I was there, and Norris and Elly brought me flowers. The four of them always chatted with me, so I wouldn’t feel lonely.
I kept training with the general, and occasionally, Georges and Fred also sparred with me. Once that was over, Eugene and Keith helped me with my studies. Eugene always got annoyed when Keith compared me to how he’d been as a child, though, so I kind of wished I could just study by myself.
It was warm and comfortable here at the castle, but I missed Master unbearably.
My place is with him. That’s where I belong.
So, one day before dawn, I quietly climbed out of bed and buckled on my sword. Someone would catch me if I went out into the hallway, so I snuck out the window into the courtyard and crept toward the gate.
That’s the place I stood with Master and Gramps when we looked up at the queen on the balcony.
That memory made my heart ache. Still, it hurt a little less than it had that day.
I stayed there staring until my eyes started to dry out, then I erased my presence again and climbed the wall separating the courtyard from the moat. I stood up at the top of the wall and looked down. The moat looked really deep.
There was no way I could leave through the main gate; the guards would never let me. So if I wanted to get out, I’d have to jump into the moat and swim. That said, I’d never swum before. Still, I’d made up my mind, so I unstrapped my sword and crouched down.
Just then, I heard a voice say my name.
“Alto. Just where do you think you’re going, sneaking out of the castle like this?”
“…”
Cyrus stood at the base of the wall. I hadn’t seen him even once these past four days.
“Didn’t Setsuna tell you to stay here until he came back for you?”
“B-but I just wanna see him…”
“And you’re going to ignore his instructions?”
“…”
“Do you not trust your master?”
“That’s not true! I do trust him!” I snapped back.
At first, I thought he was disappointed in me, and that was why he’d left me behind. But after staying here for a few days, I’d realized something.
“Then why can’t you wait patiently for him?”
All those horrible things I’d said to him that day were still weighing on my heart. And the kinder everyone here was to me, the more I pictured Master’s face.
“…”
“Are you really going to go?” Cyrus asked.
I nodded. Nothing he could say would change my mind.
“You know Setsuna’s going to be very angry.”
“I’m going anyway.”
Cyrus let out a sigh when he heard how determined I was. “Fine, but I’m coming with you. And if you won’t agree to that, I’ll drag you back to your room by force.” He looked me straight in the eyes, and I met his gaze without flinching.
“I’m under orders to keep you here in the castle. So if Setsuna gets mad, you better stick up for me, okay?” he said, flashing me a smile.
I strapped my sword on my back again and jumped down from the wall. Cyrus let me climb up onto his horse, and we rode to go see Master together. Even though it had only been a few days, a sense of nostalgia spread through my chest the closer we got to Gramps’s house.
Even though I knew he was gone, part of me still felt like maybe he’d be there when I walked through the door. That he would look up with a smile and say, “Welcome home, Alto.”
My heart felt heavier and heavier, and when we finally arrived at the house, I kept my gaze fixed on the ground.
I quickly searched for Master’s presence, but he wasn’t inside. Maybe he was out back. I began to feel frantic as I reached out, desperate to find him.