After that incident, love blossomed between the two.
Thus, they got married, and Elena was soon carrying the fruit of their love.
However, their happiness was short-lived.
"Elena..."
Robert took Elena's small hand in his.
Elena's hand, once warm, was now growing cold.
"Robert... I'm sorry. I... I..."
"No, don't say it. You don't have to..."
Suddenly, the door burst open!
Levian rushed in.
"What's happening here? The healing magic isn't working."
"Le... Levian."
"I don't understand. After giving birth, magic doesn't affect Elena. It's like pouring water into a bottomless pot..."
"Move."
Levian pushed aside the healer and manipulated mana.
"Lord Levian... Do you not understand what's happening here..."
Elena spoke, gasping for breath.
Levian shook his head.
"No, that can't be it."
This wasn't something that only happened to mothers.
It was a phenomenon seen in those gravely injured or dying.
Despite pouring in healing magic, the mana would drain away, indicating the person's self-healing capabilities were depleted.
Even with healing magic, it essentially aided the person, not directly saving them.
Without self-healing, pouring in healing magic was meaningless.
"Elena, just hold on a little longer. I..."
"No... I know both of you did your best."
"Elena!!"
With the last of her strength, Elena grasped the hands of Levian and Robert.
"Please take care of our child..."
"Elena... Elena..."
"Please... Robert. Promise me."
"Oh, no. Elena, I..."
Elena's grip weakened.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})Robert's eyes widened as he cried.
He couldn't even give her a proper response.
He only cried as she passed, unable to answer her.
That's how Robert had to let Elena go.
"Robert, are you feeling any better now?"
"What can I do? Elena is gone. All I have left is Richard. I have to get up for his sake."
Though the pain in his heart and the memories with Elena lingered, time cruelly moved on.
Robert couldn't stay in his sorrow forever.
He had his son, Richard, and had to live on for him.
Robert tried to act as if nothing was wrong, letting time pass.
It was then that Levian approached him.
"Robert. Why don't you take a break?"
"Huh?"
"I'll look after Richard for a bit. You go clear your head."
"With him...?"
Turning to where Levian pointed, there was Cromwell.
"It's been a while, Robert."
"Ah..."
"Take a short trip with Cromwell to the academy, see the world a bit. It'll help you clear your head."
After much thought, Robert nodded.
"I'll be back in a week. Please take care of Richard during this time. I'll write a letter to the nanny in case you're busy..."
"Don't worry about that. I wouldn't just leave a child I consider like my own grandson."
"Thank you."
Robert said his goodbyes and left with Cromwell.
They didn't speak as they boarded the carriage.
The carriage headed towards the academy.
During the ride, neither of them spoke; only silence filled the air.
"I was a terrible husband."
Robert broke the silence first.
"..."
"I couldn't even respond to Elena's last words, just cried. I should have said something, anything, as a proper farewell... I..."
Thump!
Cromwell slapped Robert's back as he vented.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})"Such responses don't matter. What matters is that you do as Elena wished, as she wanted."
"..."
"You're a father now. Not a student of the academy, not a royal wizard, but a father. Is that how a father behaves?"
Cromwell said this and opened the window.
Outside, the academy's lights were visible.
"Still, it's okay to be sad for now. For a moment, you don't have to be a father, just my dear friend."
"..."
Robert quietly nodded at Cromwell's words.
"Leaving already? Why not stay a bit longer?"
At Mcguire's words, Robert smiled.
"I'm worried about my son."
"Next time, bring your son along for a visit."
Cromwell said to Robert as he was about to leave.
Just then, a man approached them.
"What are you all doing here?"
He was dressed in very luxurious clothes.
Robert narrowed his eyes at the man.
"Who are you?"
"Ah, my apologies for the late introduction. I'm Ophillius."
"Ophillius?"
Cromwell nudged Robert.
"Jason Ophillius. The Chancellor of the Empire."
"...The Chancellor?"
Robert's eyes widened.
"I've heard a lot about you. Robert, wasn't it? Famous as Levian's disciple."
"Thank you. My name is Robert."
Robert extended his hand to Ophillius.
Cromwell looked at Ophillius shaking hands and asked.
"Are you heading back now?"
"Yes, I've finished my discussions with McDowell. Are you also returning to the capital?"
"Ah, yes."
Ophillius said with a friendly smile to Robert.
"Then let's go together. It'll be boring alone. I'll provide the carriage."
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})Robert found himself in a slightly awkward situation.
Still, hearing that the Chancellor of the Empire was well-acquainted with Levian and was reputed to be a good person, Robert put aside his doubts.
Since there was no carriage available, it seemed best to accept Ophillius's offer to share his.
"Alright, let's go together."
With Robert's acceptance, Ophillius smiled.
"Then, have a good trip."
"See you later."
Robert bid farewell to Cromwell and boarded the carriage with Ophillius.
"Shall we head to the capital then?"
"Yes, to the capital..."
"No, wait."
Ophillius interrupted Robert's agreement to head to the capital.
"Let's go to Ephomos instead."
The coachman, upon hearing this, made a subtle expression but nodded.
"Ephomos, you say? ...Alright."
Robert was puzzled by Ophillius's decision.
Before Robert could ask, Ophillius explained.
"I have some business to attend to in Ephomos. I'll get off there, and you can continue on to the capital."
Robert considered this for a moment.
He realized he hadn't been to Ephomos since he was a child.
"No, I'll also stop by Ephomos."
"In Ephomos? Do you have some business there?"
"Not exactly..."
"Hmm... Alright. It doesn't matter to me."
And so, the carriage drove on.
"Nothing's changed here."
They arrived in Ephomos.
"I'll go and attend to my business then. Beware of pickpockets here."
"Sure, go ahead."
Robert watched Ophillius leave and then looked around.
From the place he stayed...
"This is where I met Levian."
...to the place where he had met Levian.
Robert remembered the time he had stolen Levian's wallet.
The thought made him laugh.
Stealing the wallet of someone who was a royal wizard of all people.
It was a ridiculous situation.
As he aimlessly observed Ephomos,
Thump!
Someone hit Robert's pocket and ran.
He looked at the person who bumped into him with disbelief.
It was a scruffy-looking child.
"The technique hasn't changed, has it?"
Robert smiled and chased after the child.
"Aaaaah! Please, spare me!!!"
"I won't kill you. Just make you wish I had."
Robert chased the child and raided their hideout.
Ephomos hadn't changed.
Necromancers were gathering children and teaching them to pickpocket.
"Tsk..."
Robert clicked his tongue and looked down at the necromancer at his feet.
"I'll give you anything you want, just please..."
"What could you possibly offer me? You're just scum, aren't you?"
"No, no! If you look at this data..."
The necromancer pointed towards a desk.
Robert looked at the documents laid out there.
"...Resurrection magic?"
"Yes! We can resurrect people with necromancy! According to our research..."
The necromancer mumbled something, but Robert wasn't listening.
At the mention of resurrection magic, Elena's face came to Robert's mind.
"Can it be used right away?"
"What?"
"Can you use it right now?"
"We can't right away... because we lack the skills... Just give us some time."
"Hmm..."
Robert, after intently looking at the documents, lifted his foot off the necromancer.
"Th-thank you..."
"Pack up all those documents."
"What?"
"Hand over all the documents. I'll look into them."
"You're going to research..."
"Don't like that idea?"
"No, not at all!"
The necromancer quickly got up and stuffed all his documents into a bag.
Robert took the bag of magical documents and stood up.
"I'm leaving. Make sure to improve by the time I return. And know that if I come back and find you treating those kids like this, you're dead."
"Understood!"
With the documents in hand, Robert returned to his home in the capital.
"Dada!"
"Wow, do you already recognize your father?"
Upon returning home, Robert found Levian holding Richard.
Robert immediately took Richard into his arms.
"Your mood seems better."
"Yes, seeing a friend and the world has improved my spirits."
"That's good."
Levian smiled and moved to leave.
"Are you going? Stay for dinner..."
"No, you and your son need time together. I should be going."
As Levian was about to leave, something caught his eye.
"What's in that bag?"
Robert, who had left empty-handed, now had a bag with him.
"Oh, just a souvenir. I went to the academy after a long time..."
"A souvenir?"
Levian narrowed his eyes.
He looked at Robert suspiciously.
Robert slightly turned his head, avoiding Levian's gaze.
"Alright then. I'll be off."
"Yes, go ahead."
Levian felt something was off but decided there was no need to pry into something Robert wanted to keep hidden.
