Children of the Rune – Winterer - Chapter 248

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 18.
Not All Children Are Angels (18)
The two embraced lightly. Theo spoke.
“Did you wait long? Let me apologize on behalf of everyone.”
“It’s fine. Everyone was busy.”
“Well, more than that, it was the old woman with nothing but spite left in her aged bones who caused the trouble. She never takes her eyes off the back of my head, afraid I might steal even a single coin from this house.”
Anistan merely laughed without reply. Having known Theo since childhood, he understood his friend’s nature well. With such a companion, his habit was neither to agree nor to disagree.
When the servant returned and hesitated, Theo spoke.
“Since I’m here, you can go.”
Once the servant left, Theo led Anistan to the room he had just been in. He carelessly tossed his jacket onto a chair, then gestured for his friend to sit as he moved toward the terrace. Two wicker chairs were positioned on either side of a low table.
“Impressive, isn’t it? Living in a betrothal for a full twelve years and finally actually getting married. Even I was surprised.”
Theo’s tone was sardonic, but Anistan shook his head.
“Don’t say that. Both of you are at just the right age. Now there’s only happiness ahead.”
“I appreciate the blessing. That’s actually why I called you—to hear words like that. Who else would say such things to me?”
Toward the self-deprecating groom-to-be, Anistan offered only a smile, thinking that such habits would gradually fade away as he lived happily.
The two, who had been friends since childhood, were both handsome, but their demeanor was entirely opposite. Theo had pale golden hair, a strong jaw, and perfectly aligned teeth—a young man as strikingly handsome as a stallion. Anistan, by contrast, had a more delicate appearance, yet his forehead was smooth beneath hair the color of pale reeds, and his eyes with their long outer corners possessed an elegant quality.
They were childhood friends from their homeland while also being in a patronage relationship, and at times they were like brothers. Anistan had graduated from the prestigious Magic School Nenyaple earlier this year. Recently, he had become a temporary assistant to a certain mage, resolving his room and board through that arrangement. He had applied for a position as an auxiliary teacher at the school he attended, and if it worked out, he planned to return and devote himself to further study.
Locusfare in the central region was the homeland where the two had grown up together. Theo was the nephew of Lord Moro, who owned that land, but he had received none of those benefits. Theo’s father, who shared his name, had been driven out of the family by his grandfather’s hatred.
After that, his father wandered the continent, cycling through various occupations—mercenary, fake mage, genealogy forger, charlatan medicine peddler—before eventually returning to his homeland with a young Theo he had fathered somewhere. However, Lord Moro, his father’s older brother, regarded his youngest sibling as a disgrace and pretended not to know him.
Undeterred, his father forged a false will, insisting that an old house in a corner of the territory and part of a hillside were his. As the dispute between brothers dragged on, their mother, who was still alive at the time, persuaded Lord Moro to simply give his younger brother that much, since he had received no inheritance. Thus, Theo’s father came to possess the house and land. In return, Lord Moro severed all ties with his brother and declared that neither his brother nor his nephew could set foot on his land.
As a result, as Theo grew up, he could not use anything in Locusfare. He could not buy from the shops, draw from the wells, or even afford a crumb of bread. There were no friends to play with, no tutors to be found. Anything he needed had to be purchased from another territory half a day’s journey away.
His father left the child alone and traveled to distant cities seeking ways to earn money. Young Theo became accustomed to wandering alone, gradually venturing deeper into the forest until one day he lost his way. After wandering and collapsing from exhaustion, a man found Theo and brought him to his village. That man’s son was Anistan.
The village where Anistan lived was a kind of clan commune consisting of several dozen households. Though it lay within Locusfare’s territory, it was deep in the mountains and had no contact with the territorial people, so the lord was unaware of their existence. The name they called themselves was “Belvedere.” They were accustomed to self-sufficiency and produced nearly everything they needed.
Theo stayed there for several days before returning home. His father still had not returned by then.
After that, whenever his father left home, Theo naturally sought out that village. There was bread, cloth, water—everything in abundance—and most of all, there was a friend.
Theo befriended other children in the village, but Anistan was special. Anistan, having grown up in an unstable environment, was unusually possessive of what was his, irritable, and never at ease—yet he was the only friend who accepted Theo as he was. Even his father, in name, could not do that.
When Theo was with Anistan’s father, mother, aunt, and others in Anistan’s home, it felt far more like family than family itself, far more like home than home. They even taught Theo to read and lent him books. It was thanks to them that Theo learned to conduct himself like a properly raised young gentleman.
Soon after, Theo’s father learned that Theo frequented that village, but he neither interfered nor joined them, fearing that he might one day be obligated to pay these kind people who watched his child for free. Thus, he never came to know the true identity of these people who, despite living in an isolated mountain village, lacked for nothing and possessed everything.
When Theo turned ten, his father, who had spent his entire life seeking great deals, finally sold something of real value. His own son.
Theo would become the betrothed and son-in-law of Ivnoa von Arnim, the only daughter of House of Arnim. Upon hearing this, Theo neither opposed nor approved. It was regrettable to part with the people of Belvedere, whom he had come to regard as family, but the promise of a future drew his heart more strongly. Until then, he had heard only that Ivnoa was somewhat sickly; he knew nothing of what kind of girl she was.
After entering the Arnim Mansion, Theo lost contact with Anistan for a time. A ten-year-old boy living as a guest in the home of a great noble family, constantly watching his every move, could never have imagined making a request like “I want to see my friend.”
Years passed, and several years ago, Anistan came to Keltika, saying he had come to look into schools, and they were reunited. In the meantime, both of Anistan’s parents had passed away, and an aunt who was serving as his guardian came with him.
Theo only then learned that the aunt who had often played with him in his younger days was a mage. The school Anistan was seeking was also a place to study magic.
Theo, having heard rumors, recommended Nenyaple, said to be the greatest Magic School on the continent. He had heard the entrance examination was extremely difficult and wondered if Anistan would actually attempt it, but Anistan confidently passed and became a student of Nenyaple. However, Nenyaple’s tuition was extremely expensive.
Around that time, as Theo grew older and began receiving generous allowances under various pretexts, he readily offered to sponsor part of his friend’s tuition. Anistan accepted gratefully and was delighted. By then, their mutual willingness to help each other was no less than that of brothers bound by blood.
Through this process, they also learned facts they had not known before. Anistan’s family had been naturally talented in magic for generations. Not only his aunt but his parents as well.
Among them, Anistan had shown promise early on, and it was the consensus of the village that he should receive proper education, which led to him studying abroad. The fact that everyone in the village took an interest in Anistan’s future was also somewhat curious. At such times, it seemed as though the entire village was one extended family.
This year, having graduated even the research program, Anistan’s grades ranked third overall. Having earned a reputation as a prodigy throughout his schooling, he could have easily achieved first place in magic alone, but several other subjects were so poor that it was unavoidable.
In particular, even when he used ordinary spells, the results were far stronger than those of other students. However, the school’s professors did not necessarily view such talent favorably. Whether for that reason or due to lack of connections, despite such grades, Anistan was not selected as an auxiliary teacher after graduating from the research program.
Of course, a third-place graduate from Nenyaple could have chosen any noble seeking a mage. Then he could have put aside concerns about livelihood and repaid his debt to Theo, but Anistan wanted to study further. As he spoke of this, Anistan smiled with a hint of apology.
“My graduation grades weren’t terrible, so once my predecessor leaves in a few months, I shouldn’t have much trouble securing a position as an assistant instructor. Three years should be manageable, right? After that, I’ll repay you with interest.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, do as you wish. Don’t worry about the money. You’ve received scholarships multiple times anyway. What’s the big deal about me covering your meals? It’s a minor investment in a friend I’ll be collaborating with in the future.”
Theo’s eyes held a hint of arrogance as he spoke, but Anistan didn’t mind. The debt he owed Theo was far too great to concern himself with his attitude. And Theo had always been this way since childhood. Who else would overlook such flaws if not him?
Since childhood, Anistan found himself unable to easily look away from Theo, who had his rough edges. He’d always worried about how Theo adapted to this enormous household and managed to live through each day. Lost in these thoughts, he spoke without thinking.
“You said you’d move out after the wedding, right? I could visit often.”
“Of course. Come whenever you want. I can even set up an experimental table for you at home.”
“That’s probably not a good idea. I’m incredibly loud.”
“Why, do you blow things up?”
“If there’s a sound like the house is collapsing at 1 AM, I’ll think my experiment is ruined and bang my head against the wall.”
Anistan demonstrated by clutching his head, and Theo chuckled before speaking.
“By the way, what about Aunt Anelli? I thought you’d bring her.”
“I mentioned it to her, but she said these kinds of gatherings make her uncomfortable. She said she’d visit separately later.”
Theo smiled cynically, then interlaced his fingers and placed his hands behind his head.
“She thinks the same way I do.”
Anistan laughed awkwardly.
“Theo. This is your wedding.”
“Ah, well, if you examine the underlying circumstances carefully, I suppose it is. Though I wonder if the guests who came to see Ivnoa von Arnim’s wedding even know my name.”
“Don’t say such things. I came to see Theostid da Moro’s wedding.”
“Right. You’re the only person here to congratulate me. I’m truly grateful you’re here.”
They exchanged smiles. A maid arrived late with refreshments. Anistan thanked her politely, but she disappeared with a blank expression.
“Anyway, what was that thing you mentioned in your letter? You said there was something you wanted to receive.”
Children of Rune – Winterer
Author: Jeon Min-hee
Publisher: 14 Months Books
The copyright to this book belongs to the author and 14 Months Books.
To reuse all or part of the contents of this book, written consent from both parties is required.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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