The Tightening Chains
"Yes... Erielle. Take care of yourself."
"....Yes, Uncle."
"Haha. If you're ever bored, come show your face around here."
After spending a day in the imperial palace, Erielle greeted the Emperor before leaving. Even Kaiser Sunrise, known as the ruler of all, broke into an uncle's smile at being called "Uncle" by Erielle and inquired after her well-being.
"Uncle Ride, please take care as well."
"Of course, of course! Make sure you keep that artifact with you at all times, and if you need anything, just say the word! I'll get you whatever you want!"
"Father, really. It feels like you care more about Erielle than me."
"How could that be, Fria! You're the one I cherish most in this world. More than anything!"
"...Hmph. Then give me that merchant guild we talked about last time."
"Aigoo... Alright, alright."
At Ride's reply, a playful frown crossed Fria's face before melting into a smile. Afterward, the pillars of the Empire promised future meetings and departed to return to their respective duties.
"Daughter. Are you heading straight to the Academy?"
"Yes, Father. I'm already quite late as it is."
The Frost family siblings had exchanged brief greetings the day before and hurried off to fulfill their responsibilities. Since Erielle had already missed many classes, she boarded the carriage bound for the Academy without delay.
"Oh my... So that's the artifact that can identify dark mages? Uncle Ride really does bring the most fascinating things every day."
"Could you sit a little farther away? I'm tired."
"There you go again, pretending to dislike it. I know you're secretly pleased!"
"....Haah. Do as you like."
"I was going to anyway! So, where did your little brother go?"
Erielle felt a headache coming on from the endless stream of questions and had no choice but to endure the barrage until they reached the Academy, caught between the two chatterboxes.
"Haah... I really didn't want to come."
"....I agree."
"We probably won't even get proper meals again... Especially now that my brother isn't here."
Inside the carriage, the girls had chatted freely without regard for status or rank, but the moment they arrived at the Academy, sighs escaped them uncontrollably.
"Still, what can we do? We have to go..."
"Sigh. Yeah. Let's go. We'll manage somehow..."
"I'm already starting to feel dizzy..."
No matter how much they dreaded returning to the Academy, they could no longer afford to skip classes. With heavy hearts, they trudged toward the school.
***
Before heading to her final evening class, Erielle sat on the edge of her bed, lost in thought.
"Hmm... Why does everything feel so empty?"
The reason was an inexplicable sense of emptiness and incomprehensible emotions wrapping around her entire body. After pondering it carefully, Erielle arrived at a single conclusion.
"Is it because Venice isn't here?"
Whether at Frost Castle or the Academy, she had always spent this time of day with Venice. Without those moments of light conversation and simple meals to start the day, she was feeling this way now.
What exactly was this emotion?
It was something she had desperately wanted to shake off since childhood. After meeting Venice, it had seemed to finally disappear...
"...Loneliness."
The true nature of the emotion she couldn't understand was loneliness. It was the feeling she had experienced endlessly during those years spent alone as a child, blaming herself, praying countless times that if some transcendent being was looking down on her, it would please take this away.
Now that Venice had gone on vacation, Erielle felt an intense loneliness. Even when she was with her father, mother, and brothers. Even when she met her friendly Uncle Kaiser and Uncle Ride after so long. And even when spending time with Kayle and Fria, her few remaining friends, the loneliness never faded.
It felt as though an unbreakable iron chain was tightening around her heart, binding her entire body. The crushing pressure was impossible to shake off no matter how much she struggled, and Erielle felt cold sweat running down her skin.
"....Ugh."
Suddenly... why was this happening? It had never been like this before. Her heart pounded wildly and throbbed with pain, and her mind felt like it was turning white. At the same time, it seemed as if something horrible, like insects, was slowly creeping up from her toes to consume her body.
"I have to... I have to go quickly."
Right now, she felt like she needed to see at least Kayle or Fria. Otherwise, she couldn't even begin to imagine what might happen.
Though Erielle usually arrived at the classroom on time to find Kayle and Fria already waiting, today she was the first to step outside her room.
-Lady Erielle... are you alright?
-Your complexion today... you look terribly unwell.
"I'm fine. I'm alright..."
In truth, she was anything but fine, yet Erielle forced herself to answer that she was okay and dragged her leaden feet—fettered as if by shackles—toward Kayle's dormitory.
Knock knock knock.
-Who is it?
-...Who is it?
At the small voices of Kayle and Fria coming from inside the room, the oppressive feeling seemed to ease just a little.
"It's me. Erielle. Open the door..."
"Erielle.... Hey! What's wrong with your face?!"
"I... I need... let me in."
Kayle and Fria were surprised that Erielle—who had never once come to them directly before—had suddenly appeared, but seeing how unwell she looked at a glance, they quickly supported her and brought her inside.
"Erielle! What on earth is going on...! Where does it hurt?!"
"I... I don't really know... My heart... it hurts so much."
"You... weren't you all better? Let me check your forehead..... Ugh! What heat...!"
Kayle, who already had pale skin, touched Erielle's forehead—now deathly pale today—and recoiled in shock at the lava-like boiling temperature.
"The infirmary... we need to go to the infirmary, quickly!"
"Erielle, get on my back!"
"I... my heart hurts too much..."
Kayle and Fria had never seen Erielle—who always maintained a blank expression and rarely showed her emotions—in such pain before. They hurriedly carried her on their backs toward the infirmary. Erielle entrusted her body to their support, unable to resist the crushing pressure that threatened to burst her heart.
"Hah.... hah...! Healer! Where's the healer!"
"Why isn't anyone here... Ah! Today's the day the healer is out on a trip! Oh no..."
"I.... I need... save me.."
"Just lie down for now, Erielle! I'll look for some medicine!"
"I'm right here, Erielle. Don't be too nervous and breathe slowly. In— haah."
Unfortunately, today was the day the Academy's resident healer was away on a trip. Kayle laid Erielle on an empty bed and searched the shelves piled with medicines, while Fria sat by Erielle's bedside and held her hand, which burned hotter than flames.
"Damn it... we're all out of medicine too. Why is nothing prepared?!"
"...Is something the matter."
"....Who are you?"
"I'm Caron, the dormitory supervisor. I heard a commotion in the infirmary and came to check, since today's the day the healer is away."
Having heard Kayle's shouting, the dormitory supervisor Caron opened the closed door and entered.
"My... my friend is in a lot of pain..."
"Hmm. Let me take a look."
"Can you... treat her?"
"To some extent, yes. I'll check her condition first."
Grasping at the sudden lifeline that had appeared in their helpless situation, Kayle and Fria could only pray. That this person named Caron would be able to help Erielle.
"My... my body, why is it like this... It hurts... my chest hurts so much..."
"Please wait a moment. I'll examine you."
As if possessing some relevant ability, Caron concentrated mana into his eyes. Erielle could only watch while breathing slowly and deeply, trying to endure the pain and incomprehensible emotions she was feeling for the first time in her life.
"....There doesn't seem to be any physical problem."
"Then why is Erielle in pain?!"
"If it's not a physical issue, then it must be a mental one."
"Hmm—" Caron gazed into the air as if pondering for a moment before continuing.
"Is there perhaps someone you're thinking of? Someone you miss, or want to see?"
"....Veni...ce."
"Hmm. That must be the person I saw in front of the dormitory back then. Does just thinking of him make your heart feel constricted and your head dizzy?"
"....Yes."
Surprised that Caron had accurately pinpointed her situation and physical state with only a brief observation, Erielle answered quietly.
"Then meeting that person would be the answer. Where is he now?"
"He said he was going to Snowfield Village."
"Then you should go. Friends? Please go with her."
"....Is that really all it takes? Such an absurd solution..."
"There's no other way right now. It's better to try something."
"Kayle, let's go quickly! Snowfield Village isn't far from here!"
"...Haah. Fine. Erielle, get on my back!"
Thus, Kayle once again carried Erielle on her back while Fria helped, and they hurried toward the carriage station.
"................"
Caron quietly watched them run off—especially Erielle, who was barely being dragged along while carried.
***
"It's... better than before. Thank you."
"I'm glad. Still, since we're here, let's at least see your brother's face before going back."
"Hey... do you know how shocked I was?! How can someone suddenly get sick and then get better like this!"
Whether Caron's words had been true or the pain had simply come and gone abruptly, Erielle felt her body recovering in an instant.
"....Hey. That over there... is that a fire?"
"It... looks like it."
"........Huh?"
Following Kayle's trembling voice, they looked toward Snowfield Village in the distance. The quiet, small village was engulfed in red flames, slowly burning. The fire was bright enough to be seen from several li away.