Chapter 58: Alea's Left Hand

A decade ago.

Inside the Garden of the Eilric Family, a young Alea Eilric took a deep breath and stared at the training dummy made of straws that had been fully equipped with metallic armor. On her left hand was a short black sword that she often used for practice. The length was perfect for a nine years old girl, so she didn't complain.

Raising her sword above her head, she took a step forward and swung her sword downward, slicing the dummy into two, including the armor.

"Huft."

Suddenly, a deep voice resounded in her ears, saying, "Oh, my little Alea is training."

She turned around and saw a middle-aged man with blonde hair. He wore a black suit as if he just got out of work. Despite his stern face, his smile would be able to melt one's heart.

"Papa!" The young Alea made a big smile as she dropped the sword and jumped toward him, hugging him tightly.

"Haha, come here. This is my little Alea." He laughed and hugged her back while stroking her hair. "How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. It's been a while since Papa is home, so can I show you the result of my training for the last two weeks?" She smiled and crossed her arms, looking very proud.

"Oh? Show me, show me." He became excited as he released her.

She then looked at the grass beneath his feet and sat down without shame. "Go, go. Papa wants to see Alea in action."

"Un." She repeatedly nodded her head before going to the right, grabbing another practice dummy and planting it on the ground.

"That's right. Since you have successfully cut the current armor, how about Papa giving you Elite Rank Armor that you can use to practice? This one won't be cut by your sword for a while." He smiled and walked toward the storage room in the garden.

"Really? Grandfather doesn't want to lend me the armor." She looked at her father with an expectant face.

"That's because you don't call him Grandpa. If you call him that, I'm sure he will give you one."

"Hmph. Grandfather is a bully. Alea won't call him Grandpa." She pouted and looked away.

"Haha, wait for me, alright? I will grab it for you." He waved his hand and started walking.

Alea nodded while humming, expressing the joy in her heart. Not long after, her father returned and brought a blue armor, putting it on the dummy.

"This is a good one. I'm sure you will like it." He smiled, sat on the ground and cheered for Alea.

She made a big smile before she picked up her sword.

Suddenly, her aura changed. The smile was replaced by a serious expression. Her warm eyes turned cold as if she was possessed by something.

Her father already realized it, knowing that she was a genius. However, it might be due to his love, his vision only contained Alea in it. He completely ignored the sword on her hand and miscalculated how much she had practiced during the time he was away.

The moment she struck the sword with the same blow as earlier, a cracking sound rang like a thunderclap in his ears.

The sword snapped into two, with the other part bounced back toward Alea.

Alea couldn't react at all as only a shocked expression remained on her face.

A shadow suddenly appeared from the left and completely blocked everything from touching her.

"Alea? Are you alright?"

Alea was shivering as she raised her head, terrified. Her mouth opened and closed again and again as if she was freezing. Using all her energy, she said, "Papa… Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." He made a gentle smile.

"But… But…" Tears started swelling up and flowing down her cheeks. Even Alea could understand with her eyes that the sword hit her father.

"Don't worry, Papa is fine. You did nothing wrong. In fact, Papa was in the wrong this time. How about you go back first and call your mother here?"

"Uhn." She broke free from her father and rushed toward the house. Her feet gave up several times, but she continued pushing herself to stand up and run while shouting. "Mother! Mother!"

Meanwhile, her father closed his eyes and sighed, trying to take out the sword with his Magic Power. Looking at Alea's terrified expression was more painful than the wound on his back.

Two months later, he met his father, Nart Eilric, in his study room. "Father."

Nart Eilric let out a long sigh and shook his head. "It's impossible. She still feels down and can't even use her left hand again. I have done everything I can, but it's useless. The thought of her killing her own beloved father… Alea is the one who suffered the most…"

"I'm sorry, Father. If only I used my Magic Po—"

"Stop!" Nart slammed the table with a serious expression. "It's not your fault. It's your instinct to protect your daughter. That's it. There's nothing wrong with that."

He looked down and clenched his fists.

"There is only one thing that can be done."

"What is it?"

"Abandon her left hand." Nart shook his head helplessly. "You should know that something will emerge the moment she wields a weapon with that hand. When I asked someone I trusted, he told me that Alea is the same as him.

"She is truly a genius. Even I am not confident to say I know everything about her. That's why I think of sealing that left hand even if it means sealing her talent."

"But…"

Nart waved his hand and stopped him, adding. "Of course. I am not saying that she will abandon it forever. I will just think of it as her in a slump. That's all. According to my friend, there will be a time where she meets a certain condition that she doesn't mind unsealing it again. After that, she will become stronger than ever."

He sighed. "I think we can only do it that way. I will be leaving everything to you, Father. I'm afraid that my existence will scare her more if I'm present. Hence, it's better to distance myself for a while and let her recover first."

"I understand. Well, just think of it as your own punishment, you idiotic doting father." Nart then sighed and rose from his seat, leaving the room.

He quickly made his way to the garden and found Alea sitting there with a sad look.

"Alea…" He gently called her name.

Turning around, she wanted to cry again. "Grandfather."

"I have a present for you." He smiled and presented a black sword again. "This is an Elite Rank Sword. This is the best Elite Rank Sword that Grandfather has ever made. I'm sure that it won't snap again. Grandfather will also tell you how to maintain its quality."

"But…" Alea looked at her shaking hands. Every time she held a sword, her hand felt weak. She was afraid that the sword would hurt her family again.

However, Nart Eilric made a gentle smile and opened her right hand. "Then, how about you use this hand? I'm sure you know that your right hand is weaker than your left hand. But… If it's weak, doesn't it mean you can't hurt anyone again?"

Alea sobbed as she looked at the sword, finding that she could hold it just fine. She cried again. "Grandpa… Is it alright for me to wield a sword again?"

"Of course. Alea is the best, so I'm sure that even without your main hand, you can still become the best." He smiled. "Grandpa will help you in getting used to the other hand."

"Grandpa."

He patted her head and asked, "But can you promise Grandpa something?"

"Promise?"

"Yes. Promise Grandpa that when there is a time that you think everything will go away from you, don't hesitate to use your left hand again. It may be ten years from now or it may never come, but Grandpa wants you to promise me this first. Is that alright?"

She sobbed and repeatedly nodded her head as she dropped the sword on the ground and hugged him tightly. "Grandpa… I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"It's fine, it's fine. You did nothing wrong." He smiled and stroked her hair.

After a while, she suddenly asked with a hesitant tone. "Can… Can Alea visit Papa? Alea wants to apologize for hurting him. More importantly, Alea wants to apologize for worrying him."

Thinking for a while, Nart agreed to her request with a smile. "Sure. Let's go to your Father. Grandpa will accompany you."

"Un."