Parting Gifts and Homecoming
The delegation's stay passed in a flash. By day, they wandered the markets or gardens, and in the evenings, they joined us for a banquet here and there. The delegates had grown far more at ease than when they'd first arrived. The three beast contractors still stiffened up every time I walked by, but even that had become a familiar sight.
Ever since the Life Water incident, Kaelion had been holding diplomatic meetings more often than usual. Kaiel shadowed me like a ghost the whole time.
Diplomatic matters must be getting a bit noisy.
It was a certain afternoon a few days later. A servant entered my room and bowed deeply.
"Lord Nox. His Majesty requests the pleasure of your company for tea. Her Majesty the Queen will be joining as well."
"Yeah, sure. I'll go."
I followed the servant to a small garden deep inside the Elf Kingdom Royal Palace. In the center stood a low table, neatly set with a tea service. Kaelion and Rianndrea were already seated.
Oh, nice atmosphere.
Kaelion rose lightly and gestured to a seat. "Lord Nox, thank you for coming."
The servant poured my tea once I sat—a pale golden brew. The first sip filled my mouth with a soft, pleasant aroma.
Mm, nice scent.
Rianndrea spoke first. "This isn't a formal occasion. We simply wished to share a cup of tea."
"Yeah. Sounds good."
Kaelion swirled his cup once, then set it down slowly. "…Lord Nox, I asked you here briefly regarding the Life Water trade from a few days ago."
Ah, that.
"As analyzed that day, the Life Water's mana concentration has indeed increased by about 1.5 times."
"I heard."
"Diplomatically, however, it's no small matter."
Kaelion took a sip and continued. "An abrupt rise in the concentration of a resource condensed from the World Tree's mana will stir things up in other diplomatic channels for a while. We can explain to the Empire that it was an unintended effect from the Divine Beast, but other nations may not take it that way."
I sipped my tea and looked at Kaelion. "…Is it really that big a deal?"
Kaelion paused, choosing his words, then glanced at Rianndrea beside him. She smiled faintly and answered instead.
"To a Transcendent like you, Lord Nox, it may seem trivial, but in human diplomacy, even a slight change in concentration is a significant issue. Rest assured, we'll handle it on our end, so you needn't worry."
"…Okay?"
Kaelion let out a short sigh and bowed his head politely. "In the end, it was a great boon to our kingdom. That said, we would be grateful if you could exercise a bit more caution in the future."
"Sorry. It sparkled, so my hand just went for it without thinking."
The corner of Kaelion's mouth twitched—maybe a smile, maybe a sigh. Rianndrea chuckled softly beside him.
"…That's so you, Lord Nox."
My cup was refilled. The conversation drifted on for a good while longer. No more diplomacy—just chit-chat about the delegation's departure schedule, things they'd seen at the market over the past few days, that sort of thing.
…Not a bad setup.
It was the evening before the delegation's departure. I was sipping tea in my room when a servant entered.
"Lord Nox. Duke Valter requests a farewell audience."
"Yeah, send him in."
Valter entered shortly after, holding two small wooden boxes in one hand. He straightened up and bowed briefly.
"We depart at dawn tomorrow, so I come to bid farewell in advance."
"Oh, safe travels."
Valter's mouth quirked slightly. "This is the spice I promised. The most common blend in the Empire."
He set one box on the table and cracked the lid, releasing a familiar aroma—the same spice from that banquet meat.
Whoa, he really brought it.
"You brought a lot."
"You didn't ask for much."
"Yeah, that's why I like it."
Valter placed the second box down. "This is something extra I prepared. Dried fruit from the eastern Empire—it pairs well with spiced meat."
"Oh, this too?"
The box was filled with dark red fruit pieces. I popped one in my mouth; it was tart yet richly sweet.
Surprisingly good.
"Tasty. Thanks."
"I'm glad it pleases you."
Valter paused, choosing his words. "…The matter with Graiphe caused you much trouble."
"No trouble. It's 'cause I ate some of his kind before."
Valter's expression froze for a split second, then relaxed. "…Thank you for saying so."
"But it'll take time to call Graiphe back, right?"
"It will be difficult for a while."
"Yeah. Tell him I'm sorry, then."
Valter bowed briefly. "I will."
He rose to leave, then paused. "Lord Nox."
"Yeah?"
"I believe we'll meet again in the Empire someday."
"Sure. Bring more spices next time."
Valter's mouth quirked up, then down. "Understood."
Valter left the room. The door clicked softly shut behind him, leaving the two boxes on the table.
More stuff to pack now.
The next morning, the delegation was lined up at the palace entrance. Valter stood by the lead carriage. Kaelion, Rianndrea, and Kaiel had come out too.
Valter stepped forward and bowed deeply to Kaelion. "Your Majesty, we are deeply grateful for your hospitality. Upon our return to the Empire, I shall faithfully convey your goodwill."
"Safe travels on the long road."
Kaelion replied curtly. Valter stepped aside and looked my way.
"Lord Nox. Until we meet again."
"Yeah. Safe travels."
Valter bowed once more and headed to his carriage. The delegates boarded theirs one by one. The carriages rolled out in line, wheels clattering steadily over the stone pavement as the procession passed through the palace gates.
Lukart von Rosenberg straightened the lining of his coat inside his carriage. He waited until the wheels rumbled over the stone and out the gates. Only once they hit the dirt road did he retrieve a small glass vial from an inner pocket.
Two drops of liquid shimmered inside. Held to the light, faint golden particles floated and sank within.
Life Water infused with the Divine Beast's mana.
Lukart tucked the vial back into his inner pocket and pressed a hand to his chest. It felt secure.
…Safely acquired.
The carriage jostled along the dirt road. Through the window, the outskirts of the Elf Kingdom receded into the distance. Lukart's gaze flicked to the carriage ceiling.
The Valdenfelts carriage would be leading the procession.
Once we reach the Empire, contact the main house first.
Lukart's expression remained unchanged—a mere delegate on a long journey.
After seeing off the delegation, I gave Kaelion a quick goodbye and headed for the nest. Releasing my polymorph, I took to the air in my true form—wings spreading familiarly. After days in human shape, it felt liberating.
It didn't take long to reach the World Tree's summit. I wove through the branches and landed in the nest, talons touching the familiar wooden floor.
…Been a while.
Verat was inside, standing in the center and adjusting his coat hem. Not his usual slouchy posture.
I recast polymorph. "Hey, you're here."
Verat looked up. His usual laid-back face held a hint of haste. "Yeah. Heading out."
"To the Demon Realm? Got called just now."
"…Demon Realm?"
"Yeah. Something urgent came up."
"Ah."
Verat fiddled with his coat lining again. Strands of demonic energy were slowly gathering—he was prepping for spatial transfer.
"Wanted to stick around longer, but oh well."
"Yeah. Come again."
"Next time, double the Tarsia."
"Oh, really? Double?"
"Yeah."
"Sweet."
Verat chuckled shortly. "…So like you."
"What?"
"Nothing."
Verat waved once. The demonic energy rippled in the nest's center, and his form scattered into it, vanishing. Sunlight filtering through the leaves filled the space again.
Then, a familiar chill seeped in from the nest entrance.
[You're back.]
Prostia entered in human form, footsteps as quiet as ever.
"Hey, Prostia."
[I sensed Verat's energy fade, so I came.]
"Yeah, he just left. Got called to the Demon Realm."
[I see.]
Prostia sat in her usual spot. I pulled the two boxes from Valter out of my subspace.
"Check these out. Gifts from Valter."
I opened the spice box first. Small glass vials lined up neatly inside; uncorking one released that familiar aroma through the nest.
I set the dried fruit box beside it.
[Valter?]
"Human from the delegation. The spiced meat at the banquet was killer, so I asked him to hook me up, and he actually did."
[Hm.]
"Threw in dried fruit too. Goes surprisingly well with spiced meat."
[……]
"Oh, and Valter's a beast contractor. Has a griffon—Graiphe."
[Graiphe?]
"Went to see it once, and the thing freaked out at the sight of me and bolted."
[……What did you do this time?]
"Just looked at it. Guess it remembered I ate some of its kind way back."
Prostia froze for a moment.
[……]
"Turned out pretty tasty, surprisingly."
Prostia stared at me blankly for a long stretch.
[……You never change.]
"What're you talking about?"
[Nothing.]
I picked up a spice vial and shook it—dry grains rattled lightly inside. "This stuff's killer. Gotta use it next time I grill meat."
[……Human spices?]
"Yeah. The Empire's most popular blend."
I offered Prostia a piece of dried fruit. "Wanna try?"
She eyed it, then took it and chewed slowly.
[……Sweet.]
"Good, right?"
[……Not bad.]
I popped another piece in my mouth. The tangy sweetness spread over my tongue again.
Prostia stayed until sunset. Before heading to her domain, she pocketed a few fruit pieces.
[I'll come again.]
"Yeah. Do that."
Alone once more in the nest. Evening light leaked through the leaves, stretching long shadows across the floor. Gems scattered about caught the glow and reflected it faintly.
I settled by the water pool—my usual spot.
…Home sweet home.
The two boxes sat nearby. Spices, dried fruit. More to pack.
Kar should be heading back soon.
Once Kar returned from the Ignar Territory, I'd tell him about Graiphe too.
The pool's surface rippled gently. Light filtering through the leaves grew dimmer. My eyelids grew heavy.