Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 242 (Part 2):
It was late at night. Helmut was swinging his sword.
He never neglected his training, knowing that everything depended on his own strength.
The thought of becoming stronger hadn’t diminished even after coming to the land of his birth.
As long as the temple existed, he had to be a sharpened sword, but even if the temple didn’t exist, Helmut would live as he always had.
To become stronger. He was a swordsman, and the sword was his life. Letting go of it would never happen.
Recently, Helmut had been training with a real sword instead of a wooden one.
He had become comfortable handling the sword he bought in Ratona.
Though it wasn’t as good as Darien’s sword, he liked it quite a bit. This disguise too.
‘I wonder if Michael has noticed something.’
It bothers him that Michael suddenly changed his attitude.
Although Michael seemed to say he would bother him, it wasn’t something that would happen immediately.
The personal training ground was quiet. It was connected only by a staircase and room, with no other entrances.
The door leading outside was locked. Renosa favored swordsmen.
That’s why they specially prepared quarters with these private training grounds for swordsmen.
‘Should I head in now?’
He felt uneasy. Even though he tried to focus consciously, it seemed there wouldn’t be much progress.
Recently, even Alea had declared silence, leaving him with little to do.
However, just as he was about to move, he sensed a presence outside the door.
It was a small footstep. But Helmut paused.
Although he had only heard those footsteps a few times, they were familiar to his ears. They sounded as loud as thunder.
Helmut’s gaze was drawn to it as if captured.
Creak. The lock opened, and the door moved. The hem of a long skirt entered first.
The blonde hair shining in the light was dazzling. An elegant noble lady soon revealed herself.
Not in her usual flamboyant dress, but in something close to casual wear, as if she had briefly stepped out.
The door closed behind her.
Helmut, who had been frozen, gave a brief greeting.
“I greet Your Grace, the Duchess.”
To come looking for him at such an hour. It was uncharacteristic of her cautious nature. There must have been something she wanted to confirm.
His heart pounded faster.
But just like Helmut, who maintained his outward composure, her expression remained serene.
Margret spoke calmly.
“I heard you train at this hour every day.”
Helmut’s room was frequently visited by attendants. Perhaps they were also there to monitor him.
Helmut usually informed the attendant when he came down to train with his sword.
“Yes.”
“I don’t have much time… I have something to ask. Will you answer me?”
Margret didn’t hesitate and got straight to the point.
The Grand Duchess of Renosa didn’t have much time to move without being noticed.
To avoid anyone noticing, she had carefully come here.
Helmut nodded.
“Please ask.”
“Show me the mark you mentioned earlier.”
“Yes.”
Margret didn’t explain the reason, and Helmut didn’t ask. He simply moved.
He approached the cloak placed in one corner of the training ground and searched the pockets. From his hand, a golden object was drawn.
Seeing the dented surface of the pendant, Margret’s eyes trembled like the surface of water.
As if something had caught in the net of memory.
“This is it.”
Margret snatched the pendant with trembling hands.
The lid opened, and she saw her own image drawn inside. As her mind recognized it, strength left her hands.
Clang! The pendant fell to the floor, heavily reverberating through the air.
Margret was now trembling all over. Her gaze, which had been fixed on the pendant, lifted.
A voice overflowing with all sorts of emotions escaped her lips.
“Helmut.”
Her two hands, which had uttered his name like a groan, stretched out towards the void.
Helmut embraced his mother who was coming to hug him. The embrace was very warm.
No, it wasn’t her that was warm. It felt like his insides were burning.
“Helmut.”
His mother called again with a voice mixed with sobs. Calling her returned child.
She was crying. Her shoulder, wet with tears, was warm.
It felt like dawn breaking. Helmut felt as if he had lived for this moment.
Alea’s warning was forgotten, and Helmut realized that this was inevitable for him.
It was decided from the moment he chose to come to Renosa, no, from the moment he saw his mother.
If he had to pay a price for this moment, he would gladly pay it.
That was his resolution and determination.