Almark – Northern Sword, Southern Wand

In the infirmary, Wendy, drank from the medicated water Celia had made, slept in her bed without waking up.

Ilumis whispered something with a serious expression to Celia and walked out with them for a long time before returning to the infirmary.

Almark didn't leave Wendy after drinking the medicated water he was given just in case.

Medicinal water does not have immediate effect.

Wendy's face was still pure white and the redness didn't come back.

Almark looked at his long eyelashes and repeated what he was supposed to say to Wendy today.

"Wendy"

Knowing that he wouldn't wake up, Almark whispered to the good news that he wouldn't be asked.

"Will you follow me?"

After putting it in your mouth, you shake your neck with embarrassment.

I can't say much.

Where are you taking me anyway? This season.

Torque. When you think about it, the sea and mountains are cold.

It's a good place to go.

I'm glad you didn't tell me.

I think it's good that Rhinel got in the way.

Almark stared at Wendy's sleeping face again after she became red and drowsy by herself.

When I look at that face, it makes me feel tingling and warm.

Thank you, Wendy.

Nothing, it was nothing to be ashamed of, it was a word that was always spoken every time, but Almark said to chew slowly as he looked at his closed eyes.

"Always help me."

After a long journey, Almark slowly remembered what had happened since he joined the academy.

The lamp with the magic light made a low sound.

From the first encounter until today, Wendy was always trying to help Almark.

What about me? [M]

I wonder how much I could have paid for that.

I haven't returned anything yet.

I haven't done anything to Wendy yet.

There is too much black clutter in your heart from the bottom.

Almark stopped breathing for a moment.

Rhinel's words revived.

Almark. Keeper of keys.

A name worthy of a poor doll who was born with only destiny and role.

The feeling of despair that would turn that heart to ashes when Rhinel told me to face it will not come again.

I now know that perhaps that sense of despair and emptiness was created by the dark magic of Rhinel.

When I calmed down in a quiet place and remembered it carefully, I didn't feel any clear pain, but I still had a slight chest pain.

Almark never asked what his parents meant by his name.

I had no doubt that my name was Almark from the beginning.

There was no point in Almark being Almark, Garba being Garba, and Mary being Mary. I thought that's what the world was all about.

But to be sure, Father Raise and Mother Shetina named their children Almark.

I wonder if there were any wishes, hopes, or such meanings there.

Keeper of keys.

How should I swallow the meaning?

Rhinel called Wendy the gate.

And Mars said that his staff was the key, Arus.

The key that opens the gate, and the one that protects it.

Wendy's cramps when Mars' wand shines.

Will that happen to Wendy again in the future?

I wonder if I can be by Wendy's side.

The infirmary door opened and Illmis and Celia returned.

Celia was swelling her beautiful sliced eyes bright red.

Almark soon realized that he cried.

Rhinell named Celia in her interactions with Illmis.

There must have been something between the three of them.

Celia looked at Wendy and saw that her breath was stable, and said calmly to Almark, "Rest in your room now."

"No"

Almark shook his head.

"Still there."

"I don't think I'm gonna wake up today."

Celia stabs the nail quietly.

"The condition is stable and there is no need to worry. If you're here, there's nothing you can do."

"Still here."

Almark shook his head stubbornly.

"Let me be."

Celia raised her eyebrows in trouble and saw Ilumis.

Illmis nodded bitterly.

Celia, you can do whatever you want.

"If you're here, it'll be cold at night."

Celia said that she had given up.

I'll get the blanket.

That's what I'm saying, I'm leaving the room again.

Illmis dropped it off and sat next to Almark.

After a while of silence, Almark looked up at Illmis and asked.

"He's called Rhinel."

For a moment, I look for words to ask.

Did you get along well with the teacher?

Illmis looks unexpected.

"Why do you think so?"

"He hurt Wendy and manipulated the darkness. Probably the bad guy, I think."

Almark was distracted.

"I've been traveling alone since I got here, so I kind of know. There are bad people and bad people. But I didn't feel that way from that guy. Until darkness, of course."

I see.

Ilmis nodded.

"Bad guy. I don't know."

That's how you think.

"What kind of person are you?"

In response to Almark's question, Illmis answered with a difficult face.

"Rhinel was a classmate of Celia and I at the academy. A talented man. Magic and martial arts have always been the best from elementary school to high school."

Eh?

Almark speaks loudly.

"Was it higher than Dr. Ilmis?"

"Of course."

Illmis nodded.

"No matter how hard I tried or devised, I couldn't beat him."

"Oh, no."

Almark remembers what Rhinel looked like earlier.

I can't believe you were above Miss Ilmis.

It certainly seemed like it still had an unknown power, but I didn't think it was that far.

"And yet he wasn't as great as he was."

Ilmis said.

That's why people gathered around him.

"But he's also a teacher."

"I am what you know."

Illmis laughs thinly.

"It was far from popular people like him. I didn't have many friends."

"Then why?"

Almark asked.

"Why did he become a dark magician?"

Ilmis looked like he had bitten something bitter.

"Rhinel suddenly left the academy one day, two years into high school."

Eh?

"I don't know exactly why I left the academy. Maybe that's why he ran into darkness."

"... is that so?"

Almark lay down.

Play Mars' wand with your hands.

"He wanted this wand. Very much."

Illmis glanced at Mars' wand.

"I managed to get Mars's wand out of me."

I see.

Ilumis nodded

"Well, I didn't let go. There were only two ways Rhinel could get it, as long as you were the owner of the wand."

"Two"

Almark sees Illmis.

"I gave him my wand."

And I'm gonna kill you.

Ilmis said.

"There were only two ways Rhinell could get Mars's wand."

"Why didn't he try to kill me?"

Almark said it was slippery.

"I'm sure you had the power."

"When I killed you and got it, Rhinell wasn't recognized as the owner by the staff."

Ilmis answers.

"There must have been some confusion, but I don't know for sure."

Really?

Almark lifts Mars' wand and illuminates it with lamp lights.

"Ars"

Mumble like that.

"In ancient language, they say it's the key. That's what he said."

I see.

Illmis nodded.

"Did he say anything else?"

"This wand is the key, Wendy is the gate. And then..."

My name is the one who protects the key.

I couldn't put it in my mouth.

I didn't want Wendy in this state to be bothered by her name.

"What is a gate?"

Instead, Almark asked.

"When this wand glowed, a great magic came to Wendy, and he said that the gate was open."

"Gate."

Ilmis looked bitter.

"It would be unfair to just tell you that."

Say that and watch Wendy sleep on.

"Come with me when Wendy's well. Let's talk about it then."

"I understand."

When Almark nodded, the door opened and Celia came in with a blanket.

Gently hanging it from Almark's shoulders, Celia asks gently.

"How long do you think you'll be here?"

Almark leaned his neck silently.

"There's nothing you can do. Don't push yourself, rest."

"Yes"

Almark nodded.

"But what if Wendy wakes up without anyone?"

Just imagine how Wendy felt at the time, and Almark's chest tightened.

"I'm sure you'll miss me."

Ilumis stood up with a gentle tap on his shoulder.

"Tomorrow will be your show."

"Yes"

"I don't mind my own feelings, but don't bother my classmates."

As Illmis and Celia left the infirmary, Almark put a blanket on his head.

He grew up in the north and had nothing to do with the cold of the south winter, but nevertheless wore a blanket and held his knees on the chair.

While staring at Wendy's sleeping face, Almark thought.

My destiny.

Meaning of name.

Mars' wand.

Keys and gates.

Mercenaries of the North.

I was chosen to be the owner of Mars' wand, which puts Wendy's life at risk. Is it really okay for me to be by Wendy's side?

In the quiet infirmary, Almark just kept thinking about it.