When Ryn arrived, Richard, who had been waiting, immediately noticed the young disciple's somber expression.
"What's wrong?"
Richard asked.
Ryn fell silent. Something heavy still lingered in his chest, yet he had no idea how to put it into words.
Richard softened his tone.
"If you're not ready, you can tell me later. I'll lie down here and wait."
He was about to recline when—
"Master…"
Ryn's voice stopped him in his tracks, forcing Richard to return to a seated position.
Ryn took a deep breath and began recounting the mission he had been assigned.
He spoke of the journey, the troop deployment, and the battle against the Calami. He described how they had entered the cave… and then he stopped.
The words lingered on the tip of his tongue, yet refused to emerge.
Richard remained silent, offering no pressure, no urging.
After a moment, Ryn finally spoke in a faint voice.
"Master… what exactly does it mean to release a vessel?"
Richard's expression sharpened as he caught the tremor in his disciple's voice.
"Why? Did something happen?"
he asked.
Ryn then recounted everything that had taken place inside the cave—speaking openly of Seraph's method of release.
When he finished, Richard understood at once why Ryn was so deeply shaken.
Calmly, he said,
"The release of a vessel is a personal method. There is no fixed formula."
"As long as the vessel is rendered incapable of giving birth again, that is sufficient."
Richard studied the sorrow etched across Ryn's face before continuing,
"And because only two people are present at such moments, the process becomes a closed system—passed down from one person to another."
He paused briefly, then explained,
"After fierce battles, the hearts of men are often consumed by stress and anger. When they finally reach the source of it all, blood rushes to their heads, and they vent every ounce of their fury upon vessels that cannot fight back—whatever form that may take."
Richard looked Ryn straight in the eyes.
"Do you understand?"
Ryn nodded. He understood all too well—the rage, the hatred, the bitterness, especially of those who had lost their families or loved ones to the Calami.
He asked again,
"And if one day I must descend there as an assistant… do I have to follow their method?"
Richard gave a faint smile.
"No. As I told you, only two people will be present there—no more, no less."
"And once you leave that place, the next time, the method will be your own."
Ryn nodded in acceptance.
Even if, when his time came, he chose to follow the path Richard had taught him…
deep within his heart, he still could not help but feel pity for those vessels.