Conan looks around in fear. Even if it was a dream, everything felt real. Even the pain could be felt. At that moment, he realized that all of this had happened to Kaelhor. He calls out to Kaelhor:
"So this is how you were betrayed."
Even though Conan calls out to him, Kaelhor's voice does not come. It is as if he is in silence. Conan speaks again:
"I won't ask anything about this anymore. I just understood why you were expecting me to be betrayed as well."
At that moment, Kaelhor's calm voice is heard from within the silence:
"I didn't want you to be betrayed. I didn't want you to have a weakness. That's why I stayed silent all this time."
Conan was about to respond again when Victor's voice is heard from outside. He says nothing else. He simply gets ready, meets Victor, and then they head through the back alleys toward the city gates.
Celaria Royal Palace…
In the throne room, the king, seated on his throne, was receiving Adrian, the prince of the neighboring kingdom. Adrian respectfully greets the king and they begin their conversation. During that time, General Markus was observing them. Adrian looks around and asks the king:
"I did not see General Lorand, who is responsible for the city's defense, Your Majesty."
King Fernand looks at Adrian and says:
"General Markus is here. Lorand is occupied with the Hero's training. So there will be no problem."
At that moment Markus begins to speak:
"That is absolutely correct. I will convey everything important to Lorand. There is nothing to be concerned about here."
Adrian smiles and looks at them as he says:
"In fact, the one who should be here is General Lorand. Because in the future, your defense must be very strong."
Fernand speaks to Adrian seriously:
"What are you trying to say, Prince? Speak clearly."
Adrian straightens his posture completely.
"I am talking about the Hell Envoy, King. That is another reason why I am here."
Markus responds at that moment:
"We are aware of the Hell Envoy as well. That is why we have strengthened the Hero's training. That is why Lorand cannot be here."
Adrian begins to speak again seriously:
"General Markus, your kingdom is practically located at the border. After you, it will be our turn. So even if you are not concerned, we are very concerned!"
Fernand, angered, responds sharply to Adrian:
"Do you think we do not care about anything!? What gives you the right to speak like this!?"
Adrian calms down and looks at the king as he says:
"Your Majesty, I was very at ease. Until I saw the legendary Hero last night. But now, in my opinion, the most logical course of action would be for Lorand to focus on defense here instead of babysitting the Hero."
King Fernand restrains himself again and speaks:
"I understand you, Adrian. But the only way to stop the Hell Envoy is the Hero. There is no other such power."
For a moment, everyone in the room falls silent. Then Adrian begins speaking again:
"Your Majesty, the king already informed you by letter about the other purpose of my visit. However, since there is such a danger around us right now, we decided to postpone this matter for a while. I also wanted to personally inform you by coming here. At the same time, I brought my best warriors here as well. We will fight together in the battle against the Hell Envoy."
King Fernand nods in agreement and expresses his gratitude to the king of the other kingdom for the help.
Near the Celaria Castle Gates…
Conan and Victor were heading toward Ardin. When they reached the silent hill, they saw that Ardin was waiting for them. They were taking off their outerwear and preparing for training when Ardin tells them that today they will fight, and moreover, with swords. A light appears in Conan's eyes as he happily draws his sword from its sheath. Victor, on the other hand, swallows heavily in fear and great despair.
Ardin stands in front of them:
"I will only be on the defensive. So give me your best attacks. That means you can relax, Victor."
He says this while looking at Victor with a cunning smile. Victor, acting bravely and arrogantly, draws his sword and attacks. Conan and Victor, who have been undergoing intense training under Ardin for quite some time, begin to fight in a professional manner. The training had truly benefited them greatly. Legendary attacks, and even Victor brought out his full potential, knowing that Ardin would not attack.
From a short distance away, Rose and Miya were watching this magnificent battle scene. With her arms crossed, Miya looks at Rose and says:
"Rose, your boy doesn't have a profession, right?"
Rose narrows her eyes and looks at Miya seriously. Miya smiles.
"Alright, I was joking, don't get angry."
Rose turns her gaze back to their fight and speaks:
"What interests me is not their abilities. It's the fact that the man Lorand called 'master' is personally training them."
Miya speaks in confusion:
"I don't see what's strange here."
Rose looks at Miya:
"First, an ordinary person becoming a guard in the palace, then attracting the princess's attention, and now this old master."
Miya places her right hand on her chin.
"You're actually right. Strange things are happening here. What should we do, follow them?"
Rose straightens her posture and begins to speak:
"No. There's no need. Whatever it is, it will eventually come to light."
Miya nods in agreement, then they turn back and start heading toward their training grounds. After taking a few steps, Rose turns her head back, looks, and thinks:
"What are you thinking, Conan?"
Finally, after quite some time, the training ends. Ardin laughs loudly and praises them for their skills. Then he sits on a large rock and tells them to sit down. Conan and the exhausted Victor sit in front of him. Ardin asks them about last night. Conan tells everything exactly as it happened. Ardin strokes his beard with his right hand and says seriously:
"As I thought, that boy has the ability to recognize strong people."
Victor asks in confusion:
"What do you mean, master?"
Ardin looks at Victor:
"I mean Adrian. When I was young, I had been in that kingdom. Adrian was just a child back then. He kept saying he wanted to fight me."
Conan asks Ardin:
"Why specifically you?"
Ardin responds:
"He said I was the strongest fighter he had ever seen. If my suspicions are correct, he can also sense the auras of the people around him."
Victor excitedly says to Ardin:
"Master, you knew this and still allowed Conan to go there?"
Ardin looks at Victor:
"As I said, this is not something certain. But now we can say for sure that he has such an ability."
Conan looks at Ardin in confusion:
"Master, you said he was a child and had this ability? That means he had a profession since childhood."
Ardin looks at Conan and responds:
"Conan, he is from that royal family. Of course they train him from childhood. A king with a profession means the prosperity of the kingdom's future."
Conan nods to show he understands. Victor begins to speak:
"So that means Adrian could not sense the power inside Conan?"
Ardin thinks for a moment and answers:
"Actually, that makes sense. The day I fought Conan, there was a huge difference between his initial state and the state in which he fought me. Even if I couldn't see the auras, my vast experience told me they were not the same person."
Conan joins the conversation:
"So the aura he sensed in me was my own ability. Not Kaelhor's."
Victor asks again:
"But even though there was a legendary profession there, why did he focus on you first?"
Ardin looks at Victor and answers:
"The reason is very simple, Victor. Even in this state, Conan is stronger than Luis, who has a legendary profession. His only advantage is his profession. And even that has not fully awakened yet."
Victor indicates that he understands. Finally, their conversation ends and the three of them start heading to their homes. Conan says goodbye to Victor and enters house. He takes off his clothes and lies on his back. He sinks into deep thoughts. At that moment, Kaelhor's voice is heard:
"The ability to sense auras belongs to witches."
Conan pauses for a moment, then responds:
"What do you mean?"
Kaelhor speaks again:
"For centuries, unlike demons, witches have also existed. Long-lived women with different and powerful abilities."
Conan becomes confused:
"Witches are executed wherever they are seen. Are you now saying that the prince of the Elarion Kingdom, who is strict about this matter, is a witch?"
Kaelhor speaks again:
"Fool, witches are only women."
Conan speaks again:
"I don't fully understand. Then what does this have to do with Adrian?"
Kaelhor responds:
"Even though witches are only women, there are those who carry their blood. Moreover, if that person is a powerful profession holder and has the ability to sense auras, then it means that person truly carries witch blood."
Conan feels as if his brain clears:
"So that's why he hides his ability."
Kaelhor's laughter is heard:
"So you can use your brain after all."