Turning Chapter 901

Chapter 901

As the fused power completely enveloped Kishiar's vessel, the other minor powers, which had been anxiously huddled, began to flow more smoothly. The force, focusing solely on the vessel, lent its energy, making it seem effortless to maintain the balance.

Yuder finally retracted his power only after fully confirming that Kishiar's body, power, and vessel were all unharmed.

An exhaustion, hitherto unfelt, suddenly surged over him, threatening to topple his body at any moment. Yet, he concealed it, considering the even more exhausted Kishiar.

"...Is it over now?"

"Yes. You've endured well. How do you feel?"

"Of course, I'm fine. I feel much more comfortable than before."

Nodding, Kishiar released a weak laugh along with a sigh, letting go of the medium he had been clutching. Instead, he grasped and pulled Yuder's hand, which had been touching him all along.

Over the pale hand, still marred with dark red veins, the man pressed his warm lips firmly. Closing his eyes and holding the kiss for a long time, he inhaled deeply, as if savoring a fragrance, before opening his eyes again.

Yuder couldn't tear his gaze away from the vivid red light flickering within.

"Once again, you've saved me."

"..."

"Words of thanks alone can't fully express my gratitude. But still... thank you. For releasing me early from this endless slumber and the prison called a bed."

Prison.

In that brief word, Yuder felt he caught a glimpse of the man's true feelings, which he had quietly endured, seemingly accepting without issue.

Indeed. How could it not feel that way? Even if a person chooses a place for their own stability, spending most of their time alone in bed, sleeping without meeting anyone, could never be enjoyable.

Even for a strong man with broad shoulders and a sturdy back, it was the same.

Yuder bit his lip briefly, then shook his head.

"There's no need for that. It wasn't just my doing; it was possible because of the Commander's permission and help."

"Right. I knew you'd say that. You'd probably say that success alone is enough, and no reward or gift is necessary, right?"

"Were you planning to offer something? That's not necessary. You know it wasn't done for such reasons."

"But His Majesty might not think the same."

"Please, stop His Majesty. If you really want to do something for me, that would be enough."

"Oh, instigating a fight between close brothers like that."

Kishiar's lips curled into a smile, a cool beauty returning as usual, but with a deeper smile than normal. He then rested his cheek on Yuder's hand.

"...We're both tired. Shall we sleep a bit more here before getting up?"

Yuder, who would have refused any other offer or embarrassing words, couldn't bring himself to reject this. He was indeed so tired that even keeping his eyes open was difficult.

Yuder did not refuse the guiding hand and lay his head beside the man. Only then did the beautiful threads fluttering around them slowly start to disappear.

Seeing this, a thought he had earlier suddenly slipped out without passing through his mind.

"…Being connected, it seems, might be less about being tied together and more about being engraved into each other."

“Why did you think that? Was it because of the sharing of emotions earlier?”

Kishiar, gazing at the blurred thread, softly questioned. Yuder shook his head.

“No. It’s just... Every time I felt the Commander’s presence without seeing it through this, I had similar thoughts.”

“Indeed... An engraving can be felt and recognized without sight. Its nature and to whom it belongs as well. Is that what you mean?”

“It does sound a bit like treating someone as an object... but it seems similar.”

Kishiar then wrapped Yuder in his arms and let out a low chuckle.

“I’ve felt the same. Engraving, that’s a good metaphor. I had thought of a slightly different word.”

“What word do you mean?”

“It’s more fitting for an object, as you said earlier. It’s...”

The man, pausing in his speech, leaned in close, forehead against forehead, and whispered softly to Yuder, who was looking up at him.

“Imprint.”

At the unexpected word, Yuder slowly closed and then opened his eyes.

“The first time I became aware of its existence, I felt as if your presence was carved into me with a blade, deeply imprinted.”

“...”

“It was like carving the owner’s name on a solid blade, over and over with deep, burning heat, so it could never be erased… That’s how it felt. The thread-like appearance is more like a thin trace left by such a carving.”

Though it looked thin and delicate like a thread, and beautiful, the sensation of being connected was not as gentle. The feeling of one's existence dominating and deeply embedding inside, never to be removed, was closer to Kishiar’s metaphor of being carved with a blade.

“Maybe it's a somewhat emotionless word.”

“No... On second thought, ‘imprint’ seems more fitting than just a simple connection.”

Imprint. Yuder murmured the word, recontemplating the nature of the connection that had now found its true name.

He felt as if several faint holes within him were being filled once again.

—

“Commander!”

“Commander, you’ve finally arrived!”

The next day, Kishiar, after a long absence, appeared before his members. Seeing Yuder’s usual expressionless face following him, the members were moved. It was clear from Yuder Aile’s typical demeanor that the Commander’s condition was now truly nothing to worry about.

“Oh. Such a grand welcome. Did you miss me that much?”

“Of course. Isn’t it obvious?”

Hinn and Finn, adhering to the disciplinary actions they had set for themselves, had not left the training grounds except for assigned missions during this period. They even refrained from conversing with others, leading many members to genuinely worry about the Eldore siblings' mental states.

Yuder, respecting the discipline the siblings had imposed on themselves, had not initiated any personal conversation with them since their reunion.

Instead, he delivered written hellish training menus to them, only checking to ensure they completed them to the end.

Physical exertion doesn’t suddenly make a person mature. However, such primal suffering undoubtedly helps in alleviating inner turmoil and realizing what is important.

The Eldore siblings had been overly confident in their abilities and enjoyed flaunting their natural talents. They were good kids but often didn’t heed others' warnings or advice, still lacking understanding of what should be prioritized in crucial moments.

In their previous life, due to such personalities, the Eldore siblings had failed to forge close bonds with others in the Cavalry, often finding themselves isolated and only keeping to each other.

Kishiar believed that the difficult and strenuous tasks they had set for themselves and diligently carried out every day would undoubtedly aid them in adulthood.

With a healthy complexion and a smile, Kishiar greeted each member by name as they approached him, effortlessly showing his awareness of all their recent activities and engaging in conversations.

Among them was Steiber, who had just arrived from the capital the day before, and the Eldore siblings, Hinn and Finn, who, due to their punishment, couldn't approach as usual and looked dejected from a distance.

In fact, having spent time in silent training and deep thought, the siblings' expressions seemed much calmer than before as they finally conversed with Kishiar.

“Commander....... I’m glad to see you healthy again.”

“It’s a relief to see you’ve recovered.”

Kishiar didn’t add unnecessary words to alleviate their guilt. Instead, he skillfully conversed about the restoration missions and training they had been involved in.

“Yuder told me. You’ve been sleeping in the training ground every day? He had turned off the lanterns there several times when you forgot.”

“Ah..."

“I’m not scolding you. Just don’t overexert yourself to the point of sleeping without turning off the lights. Remember, what you truly need in a crucial moment is not in your hands but in your head. Can you promise me that?”

“...Yes. Understood!”

Reflecting on Kishiar's words, the siblings brightened up and ran back to the training ground. Steiber clicked his tongue as he watched them.

“Those kids used to fool around in the training ground. Seems like they’ve really been straightened out this time. I was so surprised when I went to greet them yesterday. It made me think a lot.”

“You haven’t changed a bit, Steiber, and that’s good.”

“Haha. That’s the charm of being the oldest member of the Cavalry, isn’t it?”

Sunz, the Captain of the Special Forces, and the successful candidates from the Southern Branch also hurried over upon hearing of Kishiar's arrival, greeting him cheerfully before departing.

And as if to add to the good news, that afternoon, the long-awaited arrivals finally reached them.

“I’m here! Jimmy Ocker, representative of the Eastern Branch!”

Jimmy, representing the Eastern Branch, energetically waved his hand in greeting, followed by Emun from the Western Branch, who also smiled broadly.

“It’s good that our Western Branch isn’t the last to arrive. Emun Philang and eight others have arrived.”

After the representatives finished their greetings, the successful candidates, one by one, shyly offered their own. Yuder’s gaze lingered particularly on Gloe, who had neatly tied up her long hair, making her look less gloomy, and Marin, who no longer appeared exhausted.

“...Hello. The successful candidate... Gloe......”

“It’s nice to meet you again. I’m Marin. It seems like you somehow knew this would happen?”

He observed their faces, so different from their past lives, and slowly nodded.

It was time for him to greet them differently from his past life.

“Nice to meet you. I’m Yuder Aile, Assistant to the Cavalry Commander.”