Chapter 322: Into the Abyss, Guiding You (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 322: Into the Abyss, Guiding You (6)
Secritia had Teilan. It had Euria and Arsen. Above all, it had Calian. Even if an enemy attacked this very moment, they would not fall easily.
Repeating those words dozens of times in his mind, Alan fought the urge to rush straight back to Secritia. Steeling his resolve not to make the same mistake twice, he spoke.
“If not her, then who is it?”
“The one who disappeared this time is Dame Adelia.”
Elinne, forcing down the worry in her own eyes, continued.
“The mage you mentioned, Jina, is someone who vanished last year. She is not the one I’m referring to now. Adelia—her real name is Eisen Dinahan. A 7th Circle mage.”
Adelia. And Ruben.
Those were the names of the other two archmages Alan knew of, at least by their public reputations.
Because events had been moving so quickly, Euria's explanation had been brief. She had mentioned a female mage from Libern named Jina who used dual-attribute magic via a black pebble. In truth, that was the extent of Euria’s knowledge.
Furthermore, Alan had never asked Elinne what Circle the escaped mage belonged to. Since he had asked her to monitor the two 7th Circle mages and other high-Circle mages, he had simply assumed Jina was the one who had fled Libern this time.
“Adelia always stayed in the East Magic Tower, so the two of you have likely never met.”
“I have never crossed paths with either of the other two.”
Though human, mages who surpassed the 3rd Circle possessed superhuman power. Every high-Circle mage was a strategic asset that could vastly increase a nation's military strength.
Mages like Alan, whose ambitions went beyond simply raising their Circle, didn't necessarily shun recruitment offers from various nations. They lived public lives, their faces and names known. In contrast, mages who were solely focused on increasing their Circle and breaking through the legendary wall of the 9th Circle craved isolation. They wanted to shut themselves off from the world, research magic, and transcend that final barrier. The other two archmages were of this latter type.
For this reason, Libern concealed the identities of the two archmages residing within its borders. They erased as much of their past as possible, gave them new names, and provided private facilities where they could train to their hearts' content. Thanks to this policy, even after spending ten years in Libern, Alan had never been introduced to them, let alone learned their real names.
“It has been a while since we last met, but we must postpone any leisurely conversation.”
“Could Adelia be connected to that faction you mentioned, Zeon?”
“I hope not. And I hope even more… that she has nothing to do with that snake-like bastard in Secritia.”
Alan raised a hand and massaged his temples.
“I am sorry. Even after you gave me such a warning…”
“If a mage sets their mind to it, who couldn't they deceive? This is not the fault of Libern or Your Highness, so please do not blame yourself.”
“…Very well.”
“Tighten security. If that mage is connected to Zeon, Libern’s mages will have a difficult time handling it without casualties.”
“I will see to it.”
After speaking, Alan pondered for a moment before adding, “I would like to meet the other fellow holed up in the West Magic Tower. Is that possible?”
Ruben.
He was referring to the other archmage who, by all accounts, was now approaching seventy.
Perhaps finding the request unexpected, Elinne asked with a surprised look, “I thought you would want to return immediately.”
“Just because I’m worried doesn’t mean I can afford to neglect my duties. I’ll be contacted if an emergency arises, so I must meet this man first. If one of them has been harboring ulterior motives, the other is bound to be wavering as well.”
“I assume you mean to see him right now.”
“Does a mage care about day or night?”
After a moment of thought, Elinne nodded.
“Very well. I will guide you.”
Elinne turned and walked toward the carriage. The sound of grass brushing against the hem of her wide, white trousers gradually faded into the distance.
Alan turned his head to trace Ronil’s name with his eyes one last time, then followed her.
*
He had been told to rest comfortably.
“Meow! Meeeow!”
“Nyaaoong!”
And so, Franz rested comfortably.
It was a place the Franz of the past would never have set foot in. Which meant that, across two lifetimes, this was his first time here: the rear garden of the annex.
“Lucy. Anne.”
At his low call, the white cat and the dark cat took turns responding.
Lucy wore a red, cloak-like garment with white fur trim, while Anne wore a small, fluffy pink scarf. It seemed the mages of Valkan had been playing dress-up with them.
“Meow.”
“Nyaong, meow.”
Thankfully, they didn't turn their backs on him this time, blinking as they responded. It was a relief, though he felt a slight pang of regret that Anne had grown so much in his absence.
Anne, who seemed to have grown by a fist’s-width already, studied Franz with large, bright amber eyes. Lucy padded past her, stepped closer to the crystal plate, and stretched out a front paw, pressing it against the surface.
At the sight of the pink paw pad filling the screen, Franz finally let out a chuckle.
“I can’t see, Lucy.”
“Meow, meeeow.”
“…Alright. I’ll be there soon.”
Soon, Lucy pulled her paw away. More accurately, she yielded her spot to Anne, who had approached with the same intent. This time, a large, gray face filled the screen, making Franz laugh once more.
Feeling a sudden urge to return quickly and offer his lap to their warm, soft bellies, he watched the cats inside the crystal plate for a long while without saying anything else.
Step, step.
Then, he heard the sound of approaching footsteps. It wasn’t Calian, who had gone to the main palace gates with Chase. The sound came from inside the screen. Relic’s quiet voice followed, and after a moment…
Suddenly, a pair of large, round, blue-gray eyes popped into view behind Lucy and Anne. Rather than taking the crystal plate from the cats, the person had dropped to his knees and wedged his face into the frame.
“Crown Prince Franz, Your Royal Highness.”
It was Yan.
Franz couldn’t tell if Yan was addressing him by name or trying to curse him.
In any case, Franz knew just as well as Calian did that Yan would never treat him warmly, not in this lifetime.
“What is it?” Franz asked, his voice devoid of emotion.
“Is our prince alive?”
Yan’s question was truly impudent.
He’s definitely angry.
“If he were alive, there’s no way he’d forget about me and not check in like this. I wait and wait, but there’s absolutely no contact. So, is our prince really alive?”
Calian, lacking his usual finesse, truly hadn't contacted the palace even once. Then again, his little brother’s complexion had only just returned to normal. If he’d called any sooner, this baby elephant would have probably charged all the way here himself.
“He’s breathing.”
At the calm reply, the baby elephant’s face turned pale.
“Only breathing? Is he hurt again?”
It seemed he had caused a misunderstanding.
Or perhaps not.
“How badly is he hurt? What bas— who dared to hurt our flower-like—”
“He’s fully recovered.”
“Is he really alright?”
“He’s fine.”
Cutting off the ridiculous modifier, Franz answered quickly. He stared at the man who seemed to have completely abandoned the distinction between the servant Yan and the duke’s son Shiroian. What did I do to deserve this? Franz wondered. I just wanted to peacefully watch the cats.
“…Yes. It’s enough to know he’s alright. Please make sure to tell our prince that he must not forget about me.”
“Alright.”
Completely unaware that Calian had been looking for Yan all day, the two concluded their conversation in voices as dry and brittle as cookie crumbs left out for three years.
During their brief exchange, Anne had fallen asleep, and Lucy had curled up beside her. After watching the lovely sight for a bit longer, Franz bid farewell to Relic and turned off the crystal plate.
A long time had passed, and the sky was now pitch black.
Step, step.
As he stared up at the countless stars, he heard footsteps from somewhere again.
The crystal plate was off.
And very few people could approach the Crown Prince without a word. If he had to guess, it would be the Crown Prince’s brother, or another Crown Prince, or…
“Hina.”
Perhaps the Crown Prince’s fiancée, holding ice cream in one hand.
Knowing Kyrie wouldn’t leave Hina alone, Franz was certain he was watching from somewhere nearby. Even so, Franz did not hesitate to point to the empty seat beside him. Hina would never know just how much courage that simple gesture required of him.
—Aren’t you cold?
Instead of sitting down, Hina set the ice cream down first and asked in sign language.
“I’m not cold.”
He was wearing the blue cloak Alan had given him. Though it was the same cloak that had been drenched in blood that night, he wore it without a second thought. Calian had washed it, and besides, it was cold now.
Hina, wearing a sky-blue coat enchanted with the same warming magic, smiled and nodded. She nudged the ice cream slightly to the side and sat down next to him.
—I heard the cats, so I came.
“…If you want to see them.”
—It’s alright. It’s enough to know they are doing well.
Hina then pointed to the ice cream and signed.
—I’ve already eaten some of this. Shall I bring you a new one?
Strawberry ice cream.
Franz chuckled, just as he had when watching Lucy and Anne.
On Calian’s birthday, when he’d claimed to have a cold, Hina had offered him ice cream. Now, after asking if he was cold, she was offering it again. She must think of ice cream as something akin to warm black tea.
Staring down at the strawberry ice cream she had once told him she liked, Franz nodded quietly. He then stopped Hina, who was about to stand up to fetch some.
“Not now. Later.”
—Okay. I’ll bring some later. Let’s eat together.
“Alright.”
Neither Hina nor Franz was unaware that they could simply order a servant to do it, yet Hina spoke that way, and Franz answered in kind.
“Is there no price for that?” he asked.
He had learned that nothing in this world came for free.
Blinking as she pondered his meaning, Hina laughed, a sound like a gentle spring breeze. She was about to shake her head, but then, as if changing her mind, she nodded.
—In exchange, please teach me one thing.
“Alright.”
He agreed without even asking what it was.
I should advise him to negotiate more carefully in the future, Hina thought, before signing.
—I want to know how to send mana far away.
“Why mana?”
—The stones inside the body—they’re bad, right? I heard the Association President say something similar.
Along with Needlen's various slips of the tongue, the list of things to hide from Calian had grown. His little brother would not be very rational if he found out Hina had learned about the pebbles through Euria.
Watching Franz nod with forced composure, Hina continued.
—Our kind prince won’t let me go anywhere dangerous. I want to practice to see if I can detect and destroy the stones from a distance. It would be even better if I could heal from afar, too.
“So you mean to apply magic to perform healing from a distance.”
—Yes. That’s right.
Healing and destroying the stones without even getting close. Did Hina realize what a staggering concept that was?
Blinking slowly, Franz tried to calculate the feasibility of her idea before giving up and nodding. While he couldn't teach her how to cast magic, he did know how to manipulate and expand mana.
To put it simply…
Like, ‘Hup!’ and then ‘Whoosh!’
No. Not that.
“Alright.”
—Thank you. Kind Crown Prince.
“…Why do you…”
Should I ask why she calls me that?
Teaching her how to handle mana seemed like a rather unequal trade for a cup of ice cream.
Should I ask her for one more thing?
But in the end, Franz swallowed his words once again and shook his head.
“Never mind.”
Whether she sensed the unspoken words or not, Hina simply offered a bright smile.
*
—A 7th Circle mage, you say?
—So I am told.
—Understood. I will be on guard.
—Be careful. I will meet with an old man and head over immediately.
—Yes. You be careful too, Master.
—Do not worry.
Calian smiled slightly after finishing his conversation with Alan.
It wasn’t a smile to hide a stiff expression, but one of genuine anticipation.
Indeed. You are not the type to back down like this.
Although Alan had said it was difficult to confirm a connection between the vanished mage and Devlan, Calian knew. As always, he simply had a feeling they were connected.
Was it because his mother was an elf? It was said that elves could sometimes peer through the currents of time. Perhaps that was why he sometimes felt these moments of absolute certainty. This was one of them.
“Is something the matter?”
“No, Older Brother.”
Chase, who was beside him, asked, and Calian immediately shook his head. It didn’t mean nothing was wrong, but that he would tell him later. Right now, Chase had no room to worry about anything else.
“…Therefore, Marquis. Why not clear up all misunderstandings and return now?”
Devlan had appeared before the palace where Legian Lin stood. He had dragged his precious self outside, leading the very nobles he had been ‘protecting’ with his own two hands.
“Since you do not wish for my protection, I have personally come out to see you off.”
The plan had gone awry.
That night, Chase had intended to rescue the nobles detained by Devlan and smuggle them out of the palace. This was to prevent him from being perceived as a king enthroned by the power of the nobles, by taking the stance of helping them first.
However, Devlan had moved faster than Chase’s birds. Just before the birds could infiltrate the palace under the cover of darkness, Devlan released the nobles from the Main Palace. Then, appearing before Marquis Legian Lin, who had been demanding their release, he had summoned Chase.
At this moment, Calian was the only one who could perfectly protect Chase. If it were merely a matter of physical force, they had Teilan on Legian's side, so there was nothing to worry about. However, Chase needed a different kind of protection: someone who could act as a ‘perfectly objective observer.’ That was Calian’s role, and the reason he had accompanied him. Devlan hadn't barred Calian from attending… precisely because Calian, bound by his duty to remain objective, would be unable to directly intervene even if Chase were cornered.
“However, I see many unfamiliar faces. Having heard of them, I summoned the Crown Prince. I found myself wanting to see them in person and ask a few questions.”
Saying this, Devlan looked around.
He was looking not at Legian or her private soldiers, nor at the various onlookers who had gathered up the courage to witness this grand spectacle. He was looking at the birds.
Chase met Devlan’s gaze with calm eyes.
“Speak.”
“Are they forces secretly raised by the Crown Prince? Or are they another private army of the Marquis?”
They were the birds Devlan himself had made.
They were the birds who had been captured by Devlan's hands and locked in cages, but had now chosen to follow Chase.
And Devlan was turning a blind eye to it all.
“Their numbers are far too great to be called a private army. If they are another unauthorized private force, the Marquis must explain. If not, the Crown Prince must explain. Which is it, Chase?”
The Yellow Robin. Servain’s face contorted. The gathered spies clenched their fists. Calian’s fingertips moved very slowly, tracing a long, sweeping arc.
Ah.
Father.
How typical of you.
“They are…”
From the center of the forest of people that held countless ‘birds’ in its embrace, a voice as calm as the silence itself flowed out.
“They are the spies raised and employed by Your Highness.”
Chase did not deny them.
He did not sugarcoat their identity.
“Spies? What is the meaning of this?”
“And they are the people who will return as knights of the Secritia Royal Family.”
“…So you have raised an army. You.”
No one murmured.
Devlan’s voice was not loud, and Chase’s voice did not falter. To hear every word, the vast crowd—as if all the people of Secritia had gathered—maintained absolute silence.
Devlan’s final accusation would likely erase the fact that they were spies from everyone’s mind. Still, Calian did not intervene. He simply watched Chase.
“Your Highness. A person's life leaves traces.”
Chase looked at Devlan with serene eyes.
“You may have thought you erased many things, but not everything can be erased and forgotten. The traces of a person's life are not so easily wiped away. Even if Your Highness denies them, their lives cannot be forgotten.”
Devlan let out a long sigh.
His expression was that of a grief-stricken father facing a son who, even after committing treason, still blamed his parent.
“Furthermore, the countless lives you have snuffed out have also left traces. Rather than denying everything, why not look at them directly and seek forgiveness, even now?”
“You speak insolently. You, Chase.”
At being called by his name instead of his title, Chase let out a small smile. Then, he gestured with his chin toward Teilan.
Teilan moved.
The Royal Knights who had gathered around Devlan began to shield him.
However, Teilan did not walk toward Devlan. He did not draw his sword against him. Not yet.
Step, step.
The footsteps of the man whose feet should have been the heaviest in the world headed toward the crowd. He stopped before a certain spot among them. Before someone who was the smallest and youngest in the vast crowd.
The child reached out a hand.
Teilan gently took that hand. And led the child forward.
“…Ah.”
A sigh, or perhaps a gasp of relief, escaped Calian’s lips.
Devlan, who had been watching the child in silence, spoke.
“Who is that child?”
Teilan did not answer. Chase also remained silent.
The tiny, young child did not answer either.
The answer came from Calian’s side. Before anyone knew it, a small Silent barrier had been cast.
“This is a child who survived.”
This was a child he had once failed to save.
A child who was now alive.
The one who will guide you into the abyss.
A survivor of the pruning.