Chapter 707: A Changed Brother

"Are you sure, Kain?" asked Layla with a sad expression. "I know more than anyone how much this means to you. Even if I have to kidnap a civil servant to create a medal for me, I wouldn't want to take this."

"It belongs to you more than it does to me," said Kain as he threw the medal at her, and Layla snatched it. "You have been a great friend to her, but I'm nothing but the father who killed her."

"That's not what happened!"

"Please, take it and leave. If Zonas leaves prison, the empire will have a better chance of surviving the next ordeal. This is the right choice for all of us."

"I… thank you. I promise that you won't regret this."

After that, Layla squeezed Ai's shoulder, signaling the two to leave. The man who lost his earlier vigor slumped in his chair as he stared blankly at the desk.

After the two of them were outside, Ai turned toward her with confusion. "Who is the person he talked about?" asked Ai, but Layla was also quiet. The healer grabbed her to make her stop walking before asking again. "Are you okay?"

"I am; it's just an upsetting past," answered Layla as she took a deep breath. The scholars in the library were still looking at them with confusion, given their outfits. "Let us go and book the inn. We can talk there."

Ai nodded, and Layla led the way through the streets of Helios. Although the copper district looked lively on the surface, many homeless people were in the allies. Layla found a secluded spot before giving her the medal.

"Infuse your mana into this medal, and it will recognize you as the owner. I never thought that Kain could keep for so many years since it would be reclaimed after a person's death."

"It belonged to your friend?"

"A childhood friend and Kain's daughter." Layla turned around to look around the street. "Use it before someone notices us. Also, since you can't read, your name is Anne, and your birthdate is December 5th, 2026."

"I can tell that this medal means a lot to the two of you," said Ai as she pushed the medal back to Layla. "I will be fine on my own. I can find the man I told you about, and he will help me."

"Ai, this is not solely for your sake. If it had been, I wouldn't have taken this from Kain. That old man is trying to move on from the past, and so am I. Please, take this since I know Anne would be happy to help a friend."

Ai was quiet before she nodded and infused the medal with her mana. After that, the medal lit brightly before dimming, which was its end.

After the two booked a room in an inn, Layla left Ai alone and went toward the palace. It was time for her to join the Holy Knights since anyone with an Astral Blessing can do that.

***

"No entry to unauthorized citizens." The guard blocked her way, but Layla didn't say anything and revealed her tattoo. It was common for warriors to enter the Holy Grounds once they obtained an Astral Blessing.

"I'm here to join the Holy Knights," said Layla. The guard stared at her tattoo with surprise before pulling away his spear. "Is Lyle Mantra here?"

"Captain Lyle is in his office," nodded the guard as he allowed her entry. "A servant will guide you after taking your information."

Layla entered the Holy Ground, and she could feel the air vibrate with mana the moment she was inside. It was rich and overwhelming, with clean roads and fancy houses.

This was the Holy Ground, the land of the nobles. Her grandfather once lived here before he decided it was too much fanciness for him and rented a small house in the copper district. She still remembers how many noblemen visited with eyes full of questions.

The clear and empty streets were spotlessly clean, and the light radiated everywhere. But, even though she didn't want to admit it, Layla failed to understand why her father hated this place.

"I will take her from here," said a man in front of them as Layla followed a servant. It was Lyle in his shining armor and expressionless face. He threw a gold coin at the servant before nodding for them to leave. "You took your sweet time to get here. The sun is almost down."

"Is it past your bedtime, crybaby?" sneered Layla at him. "I want to join the Holy Knights and meet the emperor. So I will do what you failed to do."

"The emperor will refuse."

"And why is that?" frowned Layla. She knew that Lyle wasn't the person to lie. However, as she knew him to be, he ignored her and walked farther down the road toward the palace in the distance. "Hey, asshole! I'm talking to you!"shouted Layla after him, making the knights around look at them. "Dammit," she grumbled and followed after him.

The outermost part of the Holy Grounds was reserved for the knights. There were barracks, training grounds, entertainment, and watchtowers to protect the upper parts. Layla saw almost a hundred knights on their way to the knight's quarters.

"If, on the rare occasion that His Majesty accepts your request to join us, you will live in these quarters. However, you will answer directly to me."

"I want to join another platoon."

"That will not be possible because I'm being promoted," said Lyle, leaving her in shock. Then, as she was about to ask if it was true, the man entered a giant house on the edge of the upper district.

"Are you going to take his place, too?" asked Layla as she ran after him. Her expression was furious. "Grandpa took us in when everyone wanted us dead. Are you going to betray him like this?"

"I never betrayed him, but he betrayed the empire. This is what he deserves, according to the oath he made me take," Lyle said as he sat down in his chair. They were in a study filled with books and the smell of incense. "In any case, you better change your Life Trade's demands."

"I'm going to get him out of there!" said Layla as she banged her fist on the table. "And once I do, I will come back to kick your head so hard that you will stop this madness! What the hell are you thinking?"

"As I said, the emperor will refuse. The reason is that I have yet to make my wish. If the emperor values you enough and accepts to free Zonas Mantra, then I will be the one to stop him by using my wish."

"…that's a lie. You wouldn't want grandpa to die. As much as you have changed after Anne's death, there is no way that you would want to kill the one man who raised you!"

Tears were gathering in Layla's eyes as she saw the brother she once had trying to kill her grandfather. It didn't make sense why he would go to such lengths just to have him executed, but it broke her heart.

"Please, Lyle. This doesn't make sense to me. I don't understand any of this, and I know that you aren't this kind of person."

"You don't know anything, Night," said Lyle, with his expression dyed in wrath. "You've remained oblivious, wasting time on silly adventures with those scum. As for me, I worked every day to reach this place. You don't get to come here and tell me what I am and not. I know who I am and what I want."

Layla bit her lips with frustration. She knew that he would say that, and she knew she was guilty, as he said. However, what did she not know made him hate her grandfather so much?

"I don't care," said Layla as she wiped away the tears from her eyes. Then, she banged the table again with her foot. "I'm going to save grandpa, whether you like it. Try and stop me, bastard!"

"The emperor will refuse."

"Then, I will find another way! I will break him out of there if I have to, and you either stop me here or step out of my way!"

"I can have you arrested for saying that," said Lyle after he calmed down. "Leave Helios, Layla. Take that friend of yours and leave this city. I will handle it from here, and you can go on your merry way without looking back."

"You would like that," sneered Layle as she placed her foot down and walked toward him. Then, she grabbed his collar and pushed him against the chair. "I know what kind of person you are now. Prepare yourself!"

After her outburst, Layla left, leaving Lyle alone. The door slammed and made the study shake. Lyle tidied his collarbefore he turned toward the bookshelves.

"Are you fine with her hating you like this?" said a voice from the bookshelves before a man appeared out of thin air. He wore long black robes covering his white clothes. His eyes shone golden in the light of the setting sun. "She might be a good addition to our plan."

"She cannot be a part of this when things get messy," said Lyle as he stood up. "As long as we have you, we can start with our plan."

"I must say that this isn't what I imagined when I came to Helios. I came here to free my friend, not this empire. I certainly did not anticipate being a part of a rebellion."

"You have a responsibility, too, since this started because of you. I wonder what the emperor's face would be when he sees the man he fears the most has invaded his empire."

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