The weather grew warm in the span of a few weeks. Sitting by the window in the common room, Hebaron heaved a troubled sigh as he gazed over the training grounds bathed in dazzling sunlight. Though the wind was still chilly, the sunlight was noticeably warmer. Aquarias had come around once again.

As the number of visitors swelled, Anatol had become more vibrant than ever. Merchants from the Southern Continent brought all manner of rare goods, attracting traders from the West. Yet, this feverish spell of prosperity seemed to bypass Calypse Castle. For the past few weeks, the atmosphere within its stone walls had remained heavy.

“Why aren’t you ready?”

Snapping out of his reverie, Hebaron looked up to see Ursuline Ricaydo descending the staircase in full armor. Hebaron surreptitiously swept his gaze over the knight’s immaculate navy surcoat. The fabric seemed crisp and new. His armor was impeccably polished, reflecting its wearer’s fastidious nature.

Hebaron still felt uneasy at Riftan’s unnatural calmness. The commander’s reactions when it came to Maximilian Calypse were always unpredictable.

“Damn it. As if worrying about it now will change anything…”

He clicked his tongue and threw on his navy surcoat emblazoned with the white dragon of their order. Now in full armor, he stepped out of the room and came face-to-face with Ursuline’s disapproving glare.

“Why are you dawdling?! Are you waiting for the sun to set?”

“Cease your nagging. What are you, my wife?”

Ursuline scowled in response. He looked as if he were about to unleash a barrage of further grumbling. Instead, he spun around as if he could not be bothered dealing with the other knight any longer.

Hebaron followed Ursuline as he set off. “More importantly… have you formally apologized to her ladyship?”

Ursuline stopped in his tracks. “No. I missed the right moment.”

With that, he resumed his quick strides.

Hebaron clasped his hands behind his head and taunted, “What a load of drivel. I had no idea you were so timid.”

It was unusual for Ursuline to not have a cutting retort ready, and this seemed to be one of those rare moments. He pursed his lips together.

Hebaron chuckled at Ursuline marching ahead with an indignant look on his face. It was amusing to see him acting so out of character, walking on eggshells around a woman as petite as her ladyship.

“Stop dithering and do it today, before she leaves. It’s going to haunt you if you keep putting it off.”

In a silent warning to stay out of his business, Ursuline shot daggers at Hebaron before swiveling his head away. They passed through the training grounds, Ursuline’s strides precise and controlled, while Hebaron trailed behind at his own languid pace. When they reached the castle entrance, they saw a throng of servants gathered in the great hall.

Hebaron easily picked out the woman with dark auburn hair. Maximilian Calypse was accepting something from the old mage who had joined their ranks last year. Hebaron assumed that it must be an herb pouch.

“This is a good remedy for the chill, and this aids mana restoration. The decoction in this vial helps ease seasickness. And this…”

Although it appeared that Maximilian was attentively listening to the old mage’s expounding without a hint of annoyance, Hebaron noticed her eyes occasionally flitting over the crowd. A heavy sigh escaped his lips.

“Our apologies for keeping you waiting, my lady.”

Ursuline walked over to her and respectfully bowed his head. Maximilian Calypse turned to look at him with a brilliant smile.

“I-It’s all right. I was… saying my farewells.”

Hebaron’s face betrayed his complicated emotions. Seeing her efforts to conceal her sadness made him feel as though he was doing something terrible.

She flicked a glance behind them and tentatively asked, “W-What about… Riftan?”

“The commander… is attending to urgent matters on the ramparts. He gave us strict instructions to safely escort you to the port.”

Her smile dissolved. Hebaron inwardly cursed the commander as a dark shadow passed over her ladyship’s round gray eyes.

“W-We should… get going,” she said, her voice unnaturally bright as if to disguise her disappointment. “The princess… is waiting for us at the port.”

She was about to climb into the carriage when a loud cry sounded in the distance.

“P-Please wait!”

Hebaron jerked his head up. Ulyseon and Garrow raced through the grounds in their training uniforms. The servants hurriedly parted to make way for them.

‘W-We wanted to say goodbye…” Ulyseon said, panting. He handed Maxi a fistful of wildflowers. “We searched the whole mountain… but there were only small bulbs like these due to the cold. I know it’s not much, but would you accept them, my lady?”

Maximilian had been blinking at the squire’s offering. As she carefully took the flowers from him, a smile lit Ulyseon’s face.

The lad had grown noticeably taller in the last few months. He now arranged his features into a mature expression befitting of a knight and said, “You must return in good health, my lady.”

“Th-Thank you. The same to you… Ulyseon.”

“Please be well, my lady,” said Garrow.

Maximilian smiled at the squire and climbed into the carriage. The twenty knights in the escort party, including Hebaron and Ursuline who were assigned as her personal guards, mounted their horses in unison.

Hebaron stationed himself next to the carriage while Ursuline took the lead. After passing a sharp eye over the knights’ formation, Ursuline signaled their departure. The castle gates opened wide, and the drawbridge began to lower.

Surrounding the carriage on all sides, the knights slowly crossed the bridge and descended the hill. Down in the village, people flocked to the main road to catch a glimpse of the Remdragon Knights.

As they silently rode through the crowd, Hebaron peeked into the carriage window. He could see Maximilian’s slender shoulder slumped over through the half-open curtain. Her long hair, tied in a single braid, seemed too heavy for her delicate neck. A feeling close to guilt grated at him. He had been the one to ask her to testify after revealing the commander’s plight.

Hebaron rubbed his throbbing temples as he recalled Riftan’s rage. He wished that the commander would just express his anger as he had back then. Now, Riftan seemed to be trying to repress all of his emotions. Hebaron had never seen him look so vulnerable.

Maximilian had somehow managed to convince Riftan, but it was clear that it had not been an amicable agreement. It was not unusual to overhear the servants in the great hall expressing their concerns for the lord and lady.

Still, I didn’t think he would refuse to see her off…

Hebaron felt regretful. Perhaps he should have dragged the commander with them. Then again, who in their right mind would dare to mention her name with the way he was now? He was nothing but a stone statue devoid of all emotions.

Ever since they had found out Maximilian was leaving for the Mage Tower, the knights had spoken as little as possible whenever they were in Riftan’s presence. Everyone knew what she meant to him.

“I hear singing…”

Hebaron turned his head toward the unexpected voice. Maximilian was staring out the window, into the distance.

They had passed the square and were now on the outskirts of the city. To the right of the wide road was a gentle hill. Sheep dotted the wide, grassy expanse that seemed to stretch on and on. A faint tune of a vielle carried over to them.

“They must be practicing for the Spring Festival,” Ruth chimed in. The sorcerer had ridden up to the carriage without Hebaron noticing. “They’re putting in significant effort now that there are more visitors than ever. There’s singing all over the village these days.”

“I see,” Maximilian replied after a pause.

Her smile looked bitter, and her eyes seemed to cloud over. After gazing at the hill, tinged green with new life, she looked down once more. They rode past the ramparts in heavy silence. Soon, the vast road that had caused them so much trouble throughout last year stretched before them.

They sped down for about an hour and a half before the sea appeared on the horizon, beyond a gentle slope. Massive ships lined the extensive pier, and several sizable merchant buildings stood tall along the dock.

Princess Agnes was on the pier. As soon as she spotted the Anatolian party, she cut through the bustling group of workers transporting cargo.

“You’re finally here! I was worried that you’d changed your mind.”

Ursuline jumped off his horse and bowed to the princess. “Apologies for keeping you waiting, Your Highness. The preparations took longer than we expected.”

“It’s fine. We were busy loading the cargo,” the princess said, pointing to one of the ships lining the pier.

The massive vessel bore the royal crest of Wedon. The royal knights and mages who had come as the princess’s escort were gathered on the boardwalk in front.

“We’ve just finished all the preparations. You can go ahead and board now.”

Hebaron dismounted and helped Maximilian out of the carriage. Her lucid gray eyes seemed to take in the ship’s huge hull.

Standing next to Maximilian, Princess Agnes said gently, “Only those with permission from Nornui may enter. Hence, the royal knights will escort you from here on. I will accompany you as well, of course. I’ve decided to stay on the island for about a month to help you settle in.”

A look of relief flashed across Maximilian’s face. Only then did Hebaron realize just how distressing it must be for her to be headed into the unknown.

“I-I would… appreciate that very much.”

“There’s no need to worry. The Mage Tower is the safest, most exciting place for a mage to be. You’ll fit right in,” the princess said cheerfully, then motioned to the crew.

While the deckhands loaded all the luggage in the carriage onto the ship, Maximilian said her farewells to the knights.

“I-I want to thank you… for everything. You must all look after yourselves.”

‘You must take care too, my lady,” Hebaron replied awkwardly, scratching his cheek. “We wish you a safe journey.”

The other knights followed suit and offered their parting words. After watching these proceedings in silence, Ursuline finally spoke.

“My lady, I wish to say that I am sorry… for my past actions.”

Maximilian looked flustered by the sudden apology, to which Ursuline bowed his head.

“I’ve been meaning to apologize to you for my discourteous behavior.”

She waved her hands, clearly taken aback. “Y-You don’t have to apologize. I… did not take it to heart.”

Ursuline gave her a rueful smile and said, “Please return to us as soon as possible. The commander needs you.”

The smile vanished from her face. Hebaron thought that she might burst into tears. However, her voice was surprisingly calm when she spoke.

“Please… look after him. You must keep him… from doing anything too reckless.”

Ruth had his hood pulled down to his nose, clearly uncomfortable being among the royal mages.

“Please don’t worry about Sir Riftan,” he cut in. “I will make sure to be in his ear constantly.” He stepped closer and practically tossed something at her.

“This is the most expensive magic stone in my possession. Please take good care of it. It will likely come in handy.”

“Th-Thank you. You’ve done… so much for me.”

“I’m grateful for the recognition,” Ruth quipped, then appeared hesitant as he awkwardly scratched the back of his head. He let out a deep sigh and blurted, “Please, come back in one piece.”

“Don’t worry. I will return… safely,” Maximilian replied, setting her shoulders straight.

Quite suddenly, Hebaron recalled the first time he had seen her.

The hunched shoulders, folded over in apprehension; the fearful, pale face; the vulnerable look in her eyes. It was all so clear. Was that fragile being really the same person as the woman standing before him?

Maximilian put on a brave smile and turned to board the ship. Her red hair glistened in the blazing sun. The thought that he would not be seeing this petite woman hovering around, healing people with magic, made a part of him feel empty.

He waved back at Maximilian, who now stood leaning over the railing. Soon, the ship slowly began to sail away from the dock. They remained rooted to the spot until the ship grew smaller and she was but a speck.

Thundering hooves sounded behind them. The knights all turned in unison, hands at the hilts of their swords. A cloaked figure jumped onto the pier and came rushing toward them at a frightening speed.

Realizing that it was Riftan, Hebaron instinctively flung himself in his path. Riftan shoved him away and tried to leap into the sea, as frantic as a madman. The rest of the knights snapped out of their stunned stillness and cried out in alarm. They rushed to restrain him.

Riftan howled like a chained beast. “Let go!”

“Goddammit, are you mad?!”

“1 said, get your cursed hands off me!” Riftan bellowed, thrashing his limbs.

He was so strong that even four men could not restrain him, Hebaron swore and forcibly pushed him to the ground.

“Stop it! It’s done. Even you can’t go after her now!”

Riftan ‘s chest heaved as he exhaled a ragged breath. He was completely disheveled, and his eyes quivered wildly as he gazed after the ship that was growing more and more distant by the second.

Hebaron held his breath. Like a crumbling dam, Riftan’s body tipped forward. His voice was barely audible.

“I lied.”

Droplets spattered the wooden planks. With his arms restraining Riftan, Hebaron blinked dazedly. He did not think the commander was even aware that he was crying.

Riftan appeared to be in a trance as he mumbled, “I lied… when I said I wouldn’t wait for you.”

No one dared to speak as they watched the commander’s shoulders give a violent shake. The tranquil swishing of the waves filled the air. Riftan gazed over the shifting sea, his face scrunching as if it blinded him. The ship faded as it sailed into the hazy horizon.

[The first season’s spin-off and the second season of “Under the Oak Tree” will resume in the first week of August. Thank you for your support and patience in the meanwhile.] .