Chapter 58

The voice coming from outside the door.

Infinitely familiar, yet somehow starting to sound strange.

Leisha couldn’t bring herself to speak.

“How…?”

It was a moment of panic, but also pure curiosity.

The turret and the spirits strictly forbid outsiders from approaching, following Leisha’s orders.

It wasn’t that Leisha didn’t intend it, but she didn’t want anyone to disturb her until her trauma had settled.

‘I knew he was coming…’

Leisha had hoped Kyle would stay away from Roderick, but when Kyle actually tried to leave the academy, she couldn’t bear to face him and ran away after breaking the sync.

The doubt that had started to rise was because she didn’t want to see Kyle swallowed up by the trauma that was resurfacing.

Ultimately, if she wanted to be with Kyle again, she had to confirm it. She had to face him, hear his voice, and make sure he didn’t overlap with her uncle like before.

Yet, Leisha ran away.

Because the trauma, the nightmares, the delusions kept getting worse.

Even though she knew facing Kyle was the easiest and quickest solution.

She locked herself in the turret.

Why was that?

‘Did I want Kyle to help me?’

Like when they first met and became close through Spirit Poker.

Did she want him to save her from her trauma?

But if that was the case, didn’t Leisha herself refuse to approach him? Including Kyle.

A heart she couldn’t understand herself. Endless contradictions.

In the midst of her intensifying trauma, Leisha was confused.

So she couldn’t answer. No, she didn’t.

Even though Kyle Byron, whom she had longed for, was outside the door.

Without a word, she just tightly gripped the blanket she had pulled over herself.

“Princess, can you hear me?”

“……”

“I’ll take it as a yes.”

[Grrr…]

[Uuuu…]

[Kyaaaak!!]

The spirits reacted to Leisha’s confusion.

Not in their usual form, but in their battle-ready form.

As if proving Leisha’s emotions, they were pitch black with red eyes, twisted and menacing.

Such spirits filled the room. There were easily dozens of them.

Given the nature of spirits resonating with a Spirit Master’s emotions, with Leisha trapped in her trauma and refusing anyone’s approach, it was no exaggeration to say she was one of the strongest Spirit Masters on the continent.

Even though Leisha said nothing, the spirits moved.

The moment they were about to pounce on whoever was outside the door.

“I’ve heard everything.”

“……?”

“What you went through in the past. What trauma you’re suffering from.”

“……!!”

No way.

You’re lying, right?

The ugly past she didn’t want known, the unpleasant memories, the trauma she wanted to forget—he knew it all.

And it was Kyle Byron, of all people.

To that, Leisha said.

“…Then you must know. Go away.”

“………..”

“I don’t want to see your face……”

Pulling the blanket even tighter over herself.

Leisha had given up.

She had already been hurt so much. She had pushed away so many people. She had spent more than half her life in this turret.

Now, there was just one more person she had pushed away. Just one more person who had been her ‘friend.’

Just, again.

Inside this turret.

She could just keep living with the spirits.

That would be enough…

“If I leave now.”

“………..”

“When will I be able to see you again?”

See me again?

That’s impossible.

“Was it your fault, Princess, that you were tormented by that trauma? No. You were just a victim, too young.”

“…Stop.”

“Did you think I would hate you if I heard about your past? Don’t make me laugh.”

“Please, stop.”

“Princess.”

“Stop it!!!!”

“………….”

“Haa………haa………….”

“Your words.”

“Every single word you say.”

“Keeps, keeps reminding me of my uncle……stop talking………your voice, it’s overlapping with that disgusting voice.”

“Princess.”

“Let’s just, just end it here. Let’s part ways with the happy memory that I had a friend named Kyle. If I see your face and my uncle overlaps with it………I won’t be able to handle it.”

Even though she knew it was futile and false, Leisha tried to fall into the dream.

Facing Kyle again was a reality she kept postponing. For Leisha, who only stayed inside the turret, this tower was her only reality. That’s why she could keep delaying it.

A year, five years, ten years—it could go on forever.

There would be no improvement, and she might never see Kyle again.

But at least she could avoid the memories of Leisha and Kyle being overshadowed by her uncle.

“So……….”

“Princess, there’s a misunderstanding you have.”

“………?”

A misunderstanding? What misunderstanding?

What on earth is he talking about?

With all the spirits approaching the door.

Leisha slightly raised her head from under the blanket.

“We’re not just friends, we’re board game friends.”

“………What kind of misunderstanding is that?”

“It’s a very big misunderstanding.”

Is it about that board game again?

Leisha did like board games like Spirit Poker, but it was more of a means to get closer to Kyle.

Come to think of it, wasn’t it because of board games that Leisha avoided Kyle at the academy?

Just as Leisha lowered her head again at Kyle’s mention of board games in this situation.

“Just friends can drift apart. They can fight, have things that bother each other, or break off the friendship for various reasons. That’s because the bond between friends isn’t always solid.”

“………?”

“But board game friends are different. Because between them………there’s the medium of board games.”

……Something’s different.

At first glance, it might sound like his usual praise for board games.

But Kyle was saying something a bit different now.

“Board games can be a way to get closer to others, but they’re also a tool to maintain relationships. Like a boy from an orphanage once did.”

An orphanage?

Leisha flinched at the sudden word.

“Before being adopted, and after being adopted. Like someone who didn’t know how to get close to others and relied only on board games.”

“What on earth……?”

“I believe that board game friends can reconcile through board games. In fact, I have to believe that. Because board games are all I can do.”

It sounded more like self-deprecation than persuasion.

It felt like he was talking to himself rather than to Leisha.

Only then did Leisha recall the question she had thought of earlier.

‘……How did he get here?’

Outside the turret, spirit magic falls on anyone who approaches, and even inside the turret, countless spirits guard the path to the top floor.

That maid, or that magician, might be able to break through. Those two were protectors of her body and were comparable to Leisha in ability.

But Kyle Byron is different.

He loves board games, praises them, and has genius-level creation skills and abilities.

He can charm anyone with his eloquent and natural hospitality.

He has connections, including the Master of the Magic Tower and the Third Prince.

But in the end, he’s powerless on his own.

How could someone like that have come this far?

‘Did he get help from someone?’

No way. If that were the case, Leisha would’ve noticed by now.

The only person outside the door, inside the turret, is Kyle alone.

If someone had come with him, Leisha wouldn’t have even bothered to respond and would’ve sent the spirits away before retreating deeper.

It was only because Kyle came alone that Leisha even answered.

Then.

How……?

“So, Princess.”

Swoosh.

From under the tightly closed door.

A single card slid in, face down.

For the first time, Leisha poked her head out from under the blanket and looked at the card.

“I know how hard and painful trauma can be. I’ve indirectly experienced that pain through Sally.”

“………….”

“So, I don’t expect that one conversation will completely heal your trauma.”

Thud.

From outside the door.

The sound of Kyle getting up could be heard.

“I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“…………….”

“You don’t have to suppress the Spirit Techniques or the Spirits around the turret. Just……….”

──When I visit again tomorrow.

“I hope I can hear your answer about that card.”

“………….”

“Since I gave you the card, I’ll ask the first question.”

That card.

“Is it a Water Spirit?”

“………….”

According to the rules of Spirit Poker, when asked a question, you must answer whether it’s true or false.

But before Leisha could answer, Kyle’s footsteps grew distant.

It was only natural. There was no way Leisha could answer right now.

“……….”

Without flipping the card that had entered the room or even getting close to it.

Still wrapped in her blanket on the bed.

She just stared blankly at the face-down card.

*

Leisha had a dream. She didn’t even know when she had fallen asleep. At some point, she was just in the dream.

The reason she could be sure this was a dream was obvious.

Because right in front of her was her childhood self.

“………….”

──Dad! Let’s go together!

──Today, you’re the star of the ball, so come later. I’ll go ahead and wait.

──…Okay!

Back then, her father was a cold man.

He didn’t call her his daughter, nor did he give her extra love for being the youngest.

He acknowledged her as his child, threw her a birthday ball, but that was it.

He gave only the minimum amount of love, nothing more.

When did that father start to change?

──Happy birthday, young lady!

──You’re turning 7 today, right? This year, everyone from the Everts Duke’s House is coming!

──How do you feel, young lady?

──Excited! And thrilled! Today will definitely be the best day ever!

As the expressionless Leisha took a few steps, the young version of herself being attended to by maids disappeared, and the ballroom came into view.

As if to show that all of this was just a dream, a memory, countless people heading to the ballroom passed through Leisha as if she weren’t there.

In the crowded ballroom.

The young Leisha appeared, smiling brightly.

──My, even at such a young age, she’s already showing signs of becoming a beauty.

──She’s only 7, but I heard she’s already contracted with an intermediate spirit? She’s truly blessed by the spirits.

──Only good things seem to happen to the Everts Duke’s House.

The young Leisha was showered with praise.

Even looking at herself now, the young, well-dressed version of herself was quite adorable.

Back then, she was still small and cute, and with the spirits by her side, it was only natural that she received endless love and attention.

As the star of her 7th birthday ball, everyone who attended came up to her to say a word or two, offering their compliments.

She was the object of envy among her peers and the center of affection among the adults.

Then, someone approached her.

──So, you’re Leisha.

──Huh? Who are you……?

──Haha, I’m your father’s brother. So, to you……

Crack.

The man couldn’t finish his sentence as his face twisted. Despite being well-dressed and wearing a gentle expression, he looked eerily grotesque, like shattered glass.

Yet, the young Leisha didn’t notice anything strange. The man…

What was twisted wasn’t young Leisha, but the gaze of the current Leisha.

Even in her dreams, he appeared, shattered and distorted.

──”I’m your uncle.”

Saying that.

──”By the way, you’re really beautiful.”

──”Thank you!”

──”Yeah… really… beautiful.”

Why didn’t I realize the meaning behind those words back then?

Why didn’t I understand why he kept calling a seven-year-old girl, whom everyone else called cute, “beautiful”?

Even though it was trauma itself, Leisha was surprisingly calm during that first meeting.

It was the opposite of the reaction she had after deliberately dreaming about it before talking to Kyle.

Not that talking to him once healed or improved Leisha’s trauma.

“………Tomorrow.”

It’s just that a tiny bit of hope had sparked within Leisha.

Even after talking to Kyle, his voice never completely overlapped with her uncle’s.

It was faintly audible, but at least the worst was avoided.

Leisha quietly closed her eyes in a dream riddled with trauma and nightmares.

What card could she possibly be holding in her hand now?

Since it was a dream, flipping it over wouldn’t show the front. Both sides were the back.

To confirm it.

She’d have to move in reality───

And Leisha.

“………….”

Woke up from the dream again.

*

The next day.

Leisha was still on her bed, surrounded by darkened spirits, wrapped in a blanket.

Kyle came to the door, but Leisha couldn’t respond.

Because she hadn’t seen the card yet.

“I’ll come back tomorrow.”

But Kyle just smiled and left.

*

The day after that.

Leisha was still on her bed, surrounded by spirits turned into swords, wrapped in a blanket.

Again, Leisha couldn’t respond.

She had managed to get out of bed, but she couldn’t bring herself to touch the card.

“I’ll come again tomorrow.”

Kyle still smiled and left.

*

And on the third day.

Even until the moment Kyle arrived at the door, Leisha was still on her bed with the blanket.

But she spoke quietly.

“………This card.”

“………….”

“It’s not… the Water Spirit.”

“Good. Then, now.”

“……….”

“It’s your turn, Princess.”

At those words, Leisha saw the cards slipping through the door crack.

Very quietly, and slowly.

She asked the spirit to lift a card and sent it out the door.

“This is……….”

“Please speak.”

“……A friend’s card?”

A “friend’s card,” which shouldn’t exist in Spirit Poker.

But Kyle, without hesitation, answered softly.

“That’s correct, it’s a friend.”

“………….”

“Now it’s my turn. Is this… a Calm card?”

“………Yes. It’s a Calm card.”

“That’s a relief.”

After days of visits.

Finally, Leisha and Kyle started a board game.

A board game called “Friend,” so it was a conversation.

A board game named conversation.