Limits and Longing
“Then we’ll head up now.”
“…Right. See you tomorrow.”
With that, the moment Rowell and I had spent accepting the fate that lay ahead passed, and Aegina half-dragged Rowell—still offering me comfort—up to their room. I would likely have to endure another hour of her explaining her cooking philosophy.
“Good night.”
Bagloros said the same and returned to his own room. After seeing them off, I made my way toward Kainaknus, Elena, and Geil.
Though the fate awaiting us upon our arrival at the Ayman royal palace still weighed heavily on my mind, and countless other thoughts swirled in my head, this was a rare gathering of the greatest summoners of the present age. I could not let such an opportunity slip away.
“Are the three of you not tired?”
I asked cautiously. Even though Kainaknus had said he had recovered to some extent, he had been held captive by the enemy, and the hour was already late. Moreover, they would never show displeasure toward me, so keeping them up simply because I wished to talk could be terribly rude.
“I cannot speak for these two young ones, but I am quite all right. Old age has robbed me of sleep.”
Of course, that was more likely an effect of his contract with a dragon than mere age.
“I am fine as well, Master.”
Geil’s eyes were somewhat drowsy, yet he showed no intention of retiring before his master. Elena nodded to indicate she was likewise fine.
“It feels a little presumptuous to say it aloud, but having all the summoners hailed as the greatest of this era gathered in one place is truly uncommon, regardless of the reasons or circumstances.”
Especially considering the summoners and Dark Priests we had encountered at El Nergavil and that cabin. In the past few weeks alone, I had met more summoners than most people would encounter in a lifetime.
“I had thought of seeking you out, but I never imagined we would meet like this. Nor did I expect the Dark Temple to have already amassed such influence.”
“Even as the Dragon’s Ally, how could Kainaknus have known Urshus himself would move?”
Of course, I had been equally unaware.
“By the way, does this mean the work of improving summoners’ image through my name is coming to an end?”
At my question, Geil’s expression stiffened slightly. It was probably because of what he had said to me last time, but I had meant nothing by it. I had simply been searching for a topic to keep the conversation going and had grown curious.
“It likely will. If the Dark Temple has already spread to that extent, such methods would lose their effectiveness. I must once again apologize for using your name without permission. If you desire compensation……”
“No, no, it is quite all right. I suffered no real harm, and my reputation has grown because of this incident, so it has not been bad for me.”
I had certainly felt the reach of my name when dealing with those bandits and when trying to imprison Cliven. Of course, it was probably limited to the regions where summoners had been active, but rumors would spread to some degree over time.
Or be buried by time.
“More than that, it is truly an honor to meet you in person like this, Kainaknus. Ever since my academy days, tales of the two of you have set my heart racing.”
A summoner contracted with a dragon—one of the Five Elder Dragons who served the Dragon Lord. While there had been mages, emperors, and summoners throughout history who formed various contracts with dragons, most involved young dragons or simple pacts made purely for mutual benefit. Kainaknus, however, was the only one granted an equal relationship as the Dragon’s Ally.
The stories of the “Dragon’s Trial” he had passed, along with his overwhelming combat style born from that power, had been objects of awe to all who heard them.
“How embarrassing, to hear such words from Anak. Moreover, it was you who saved this old man.”
“It was thanks to Granbipra’s help. I could never have done it alone.”
When I had faced Neiku at El Nergavil, things had nearly gone terribly wrong. Even accounting for the mistakes born of complacency, that speed and the way he dismantled barriers……
“Honestly, without Granbipra’s assistance, I would not even have been able to enter.”
I would have waited for Medrup or brought Rowell and Bagloros with me. Looking back, asking Granbipra for help right away had been the right decision. If I had gone with the others and encountered Urshus, I would have caused them unnecessary worry and spent a long time explaining—or enduring awkward silence—about the secrets I had kept until now.
“You are modest. I have already heard from Elena about your abilities. You summoned the Frost King Irshagas and made her nervous. Well, the real trouble came after the battle ended, of course.”
“Kainaknus!”
Elena’s face flushed slightly at Kainaknus’s mischievous remark. Calming her after she learned my true identity had indeed been quite the ordeal.
“I am well aware that Elena did not use her full strength at the time. After all, I never even saw the famous ‘Midnight March.’”
The Midnight March. That technique, which combined high elven magic, spirit spells, and summoning arts, was what had elevated the half-elf Elena to the same level as the Dragon’s Ally Kainaknus and the Sage of the Forest Neiku. It was her unique skill.
“You were probably preparing it, were you not?”
At my question, she smiled brightly. I had been right. Though I had not known it then, summoning Irshagas despite knowing he was inferior to Mahukuta Acap had likely been to buy time for the technique’s activation.
As Elena and I looked at each other, recalling the previous battle, Kainaknus suddenly reached out and lightly struck the back of Geil’s head as the young man stood there blankly.
“And I hear you also taught this immature disciple of mine a lesson?”
Geil froze, flustered by the sudden impact and his master’s scolding.
“M-Master, how did you……!”
“Duran told me while I was being healed. When I was separated from you, Duran repeatedly said he was your master, yet you never listened to a word he said. On top of that, you attacked Anak without thinking and spoke arrogantly, did you not?”
“T-That is, well……”
Though Kainaknus appeared to be gently admonishing him on the surface, the pressure and intensity carried through the air were anything but light. Geil was frozen stiff like a mouse before a cat, unable even to offer a proper excuse.
“…I thank you for teaching this immature disciple in place of his inadequate master.”
“M-Master!”
I could not help but be startled when he suddenly bowed deeply. Caught off guard, I bowed as well.
“No, it is quite all right. I understand his feelings as a fellow summoner to some extent. And thinking back, I was rather harsh myself.”
Looking back now, I had indeed been harsh. The final display, and those countless evil spirits…… Remembering Geil’s expression at the time, I felt a fresh pang of guilt.
“By the way, I heard from Elena and Duran that you overlay an equipped barrier to protect your body?”
“Yes. After all, I am neither as swift as Elena nor strong enough to fight directly like you, Kainaknus.”
“I see. Summoning while maintaining a solid defense. That is certainly an efficient tactic for a summoner. Moreover, Elena mentioned the barrier’s strength was considerable?”
“Yes. It was strong enough that even a unicorn’s horn could not break it.”
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she spoke. The fact that she could not wait and answered in his stead showed she had been curious as well.
“Even if it is an equipped barrier, it is not simply layering the same spell. It links with the barriers already in place, gradually increasing their strength. That way, while the inner barriers start at an ordinary level, the outer ones gain considerable power.”
“As expected! Your mastery as a mage runs deep. This old man could barely use spells before contracting with Belder. Of course, even now I cannot claim to wield great magic.”
“Not at all. In my case, it was simply the only method available to me. Being able to fight directly like you, Kainaknus, is what is truly remarkable.”
Summoners are weaker than their summons. While this does not hold true in every case, if one considers only raw surface strength, the statement is not wrong. A summoner’s own combat ability—and their body—is generally inferior to that of their summons.
Of course, for summoners, their summons are comrades, weapons, and spells. I have no intention of denying that. Yet even so, the fact remains that they borrow the power of beings separate from themselves to fight. It is the summons who fight directly, and it is they who lose their lives in battle.
“…Do you wish to fight directly?”
Kainaknus’s voice grew somewhat heavy, as if he had glimpsed my thoughts. Geil was also watching me quietly, his expression puzzled as to why I would adopt such an attitude after denying my own combat style.
I shook my head at them both.
“That is not it. I know my own limits. It is simply that, aside from strength or ability, direct combat does not suit me. I merely…… admire it.”
Yes. It was admiration. Longing for what I did not possess, and could never possess.
“Not everyone can be the same. In the end, ordinary people have no choice but to find the path that suits them. Even so, one must never forget to consider what is truly right.”