I Became A Playwright In Medieval Fantasy

"I heard the news that you returned to the capital. If that's the case, this is the only place you'd come."@@novelbin@@

"......"

"Did you do that too? You completely split it in two."

Gabi glanced at the rock, split diagonally in an X shape, a result of Maya's sword aura cleaving through it in a single strike.

"Impressive. Tomorrow, you’ll officially come of age, and you’ve already reached this level of mastery. I couldn't even dream of such things at your age."

When she was younger, Maya had been brought to the capital by her master, Gabi, who had saved her life. The first place she ever trained with her sword, which had been a gift from her master, was this very clearing. From the moment she embarked on rigorous training, she always kept her eyes on that rock.

It was as if reaching the level where she could slice through that rock would solve all her worries and pain. Every day, without fail, she aimed her sword at that boulder, staring it down. And now, she had finally cut through it.

But despite achieving what she had pursued since childhood, Maya’s face showed no joy or sense of accomplishment.

"How do you remember my birthday...?"

Her voice was emotionless, cold. Gabi, looking down at her long-time disciple, smiled gently.

"You've gotten wittier since I last saw you. Does any teacher ever forget their student’s birthday?"

"It’s been years since we last saw each other. How could you still remember? If someone isn’t by your side, it’s natural to forget them."

To Maya, whose mind was broken, this was a perfectly reasonable question.

Once the thread of a relationship is severed, there’s no reason to look back. After leaving her nest and becoming a Hero candidate, Maya hadn’t clung to the past. She had only retained the lessons that were useful for her survival. Everything else, she had erased from her mind without hesitation.

...But apparently, Gabi saw things differently.

"Even when you’re not by my side, a precious bond doesn’t break, Maya."

Gazing beyond the clearing at the stream trickling along, Gabi fixed her eyes on the shade of a weeping willow near the water’s edge. It was the spot where master and disciple used to sit together, enjoying peaceful moments after their grueling training sessions.