The Young Lady of House Valentine (2)
"Ahhh… that feels wonderful…"
High above the land, so high that the entire territory stretched out beneath them at a glance, Milia had let go of the reins fastened to Schwarz’s back. She spread both arms wide, savoring the sunlight pouring down and the wind rushing past.
"Grrn."
Schwarz let out a low rumble toward her. The sight of her hands free of the reins filled him with unease.
"I know, I know."
Catching his meaning, Milia offered a faint smile, took hold of the reins again, and gently stroked the nape of his neck.
"Grrung…"
Honestly—how could she be so fearless? Just two days ago she had nearly fallen after losing her grip on the reins, and yet here she was, brimming with confidence. Schwarz simply could not understand it.
"All right… shall we give it another try today?"
"Grrung?"
At the sound of her voice and the tug on the reins, Schwarz came to a halt midair. Already this far? he thought, glancing downward.
What met his eyes was a lake of staggering size. Its deep-blue surface mirrored the sky above like a vast looking glass.
Lake Lagdrian.
It was one of the five largest lakes in the entire kingdom—let alone within the Valentine Countship.
"Ready?"
"Grrrrung."
Schwarz nodded toward Milia as she gazed at the view and asked the question.
"Great! Then let’s fly again today!"
"Kyaaaaauuuu—!!"
With her shout, Schwarz loosed a roaring cry and stilled the beat of his wings. Gravity seized them at once, and the two of them plummeted toward the lake at a near-vertical angle, streaking downward like a falling star.
"Kyahahahahaha!!"
Most people would have screamed at the dizzying rush. Milia only laughed, loud and delighted.
She’s really something else…
Courage like that in a ten-year-old girl was hard to believe. Where did it even come from? Schwarz gave a short shake of his head and fixed his gaze forward again. Letting his attention wander now would be as good as suicide.
The blue surface of Lake Lagdrian rushed up to meet them—
"Now!!"
"Kyaauu—!!"
At Milia’s cry he spun once, flaring both wings wide. With a heavy whoosh their speed bled away in an instant. The force of the dive crushed down on them, but the sensation was long familiar. Tilting his body, Schwarz skimmed low across the water, beating his wings in time with the wind that skimmed the surface. The tip of his tail brushed the lake, sending up a spray that blossomed into a fine mist.
"Yahoo—!!"
In a heartbeat they reached the far shore. Schwarz beat his wings again and soared skyward; Milia flung her arms wide with a cheer.
"Kyaaaaauuu—!!"
As if answering her, Schwarz loosed another thunderous roar.
"That was another magnificent flight!"
"Grrn."
Looking down at the countship spread beneath her feet, Milia called out, her face still flushed with excitement. Schwarz answered with a soft rumble—You too, My Lady—though whether she understood was anyone’s guess.
"Still… my hair’s a complete mess. Mother’s going to scold me again…"
Once they had climbed high enough, Milia began combing her tangled locks with a grumble. Afraid she might slip, Schwarz stopped beating his wings and glided on the high winds alone.
"You’re the only one I can count on, you know."
"Kkuung."
Finished with her hair, Milia gave his neck a light stroke. Schwarz answered with a pleased little sound and flew on.
Perhaps ten minutes passed.
"Hmm…"
"Kkuuung?"
Milia turned her head toward something in the distance and let out a low hum. Schwarz answered with a puzzled rumble. An inexplicable sense of foreboding brushed through his mind.
"Schwarz. Could we go that way for a bit?"
"Kkwong?"
He turned in the direction she pointed. A dense forest blanketed the northern reaches of the territory.
"Kkuung! Kkuuung!!"
Schwarz shook his head hard.
The Black Forest.
That was what the people of the countship called it—so thickly grown that the trees blotted out the sun, leaving even midday as dark as night.
"I’m not saying we go into the forest!! Just near the edge so I can pick a few wild strawberries! Please? Can’t we?"
"Kkuung…"
For her safety Schwarz wanted nothing to do with that place, yet Milia tugged on the reins with a face that looked ready to burst into tears at any moment.
Does she really love strawberries that much…?
He let out a low sound. If it was only a quick landing to gather a handful of berries, the danger should be slight. And if he refused and they simply went home, there was every chance she would sneak out of the manor in the dead of night. She had done it more than once already; he could not ignore that history.
"Krrrrung…"
In the end he gave a reluctant nod and turned toward the Black Forest.
"You’re the best!"
"Grrn…"
Milia beamed and stroked his neck. Schwarz narrowed his eyes, thoroughly unenthusiastic, but it was too late to turn back now.
Just a little while should be fine.
With that thought he flew on toward the Black Forest.
In a meadow not far from the Black Forest stood a young girl and a dragon.
"Hmm~ ♬ Hmm-hmm~ ♩ Hmm-hmm-hmm~ ♪"
Milia hummed a cheerful little tune as she gathered the red berries growing all around her. She had collected so many that strawberries were already spilling from her pockets.
Schwarz watched from beneath a nearby tree.
The weather’s turning…
The once-clear sky had filled with dark clouds. The air grew heavy with moisture, and the formless, spreading mass of cloud looked ready to empty itself at any moment.
"Kkuung…"
Even if they left right now, they would never outrun the rain. Leaving Milia to her strawberry-picking, Schwarz began clearing the ground. With his tail he swept away grass and stones, then piled earth into a low mound.
This should be enough…
He exhaled—and a cold droplet struck the bridge of his snout. In the next instant the sky seemed to tear open, and rain poured down in a torrential sheet.
"Kyaaaah! I’m getting soaked!!"
Milia, still absorbed in her berries, scrambled to his side through the sudden downpour.
"Grrn…"
Schwarz rumbled softly and lifted one wing, creating a dry space for her.
"Heehee. Thank you."
"Kyau."
Judging by the sheer volume, it was a cloudburst that would pass quickly. Even so, his wing could not keep every drop away. Rainwater slipped through the gaps and soaked her clothes…
"Ah… achoo!!"
Milia sneezed loudly, then sniffled and gave a small shiver. She was only ten—right at the age when illness struck hardest.
No choice, then.
He flattened himself against the ground and curled his body into a circle.
"Schwarz? What are you doing?"
"Kkuung…"
Milia tilted her head at the sudden movement, then seemed to understand. A soft smile touched her lips.
His coiled body formed walls that blocked the bouncing spray; his fully spread wings became a roof against the falling rain. In moments a tiny cave just for her had taken shape.
"Thank you!"
"Grrrrung…"
She settled onto the foreleg he offered as a seat and gently stroked his cheek. Warmth radiated from her small hand—yet her body still trembled.
This is bad…
A cold was one thing, but hypothermia was another matter entirely. The rain showed no sign of letting up.
How long they waited, he could not say.
"Kkuung…"
"I-I’m fine… I-I can handle this much…!!"
Her shivering had grown markedly worse. Schwarz let out a worried sound. She tried to reassure him, but her lips had already turned blue—clear proof that the cold was sinking deeper.
"Kkiuung…"
He was debating whether to force a flight back to the manor when—
"D-doesn’t the rain sound a little quieter…?"
"Kkiung?"
He cocked his head and listened. The drumming had indeed softened. Carefully lifting a wing, he peered out. The dark clouds were beginning to break apart.
"Phew…"
Schwarz rose with a sigh of relief and shook the water from his scales.
"Kkuung…"
"I-I’m okay… the sun’s coming out, so…"
She answered his anxious rumble as if nothing were wrong, yet the trembling refused to stop. A little sunlight would raise her temperature; once she recovered enough, they would head straight home. Schwarz scanned the surroundings—
"…?"
—and narrowed his eyes. Something glittered deep within the forest.
Not far away, at the very mouth of the woods, red eyes gleamed from the thick darkness that had given the Black Forest its name.
It can’t be…!!
Please just be a passing wild animal.
Tense, he fixed his gaze on those eyes. But his hope proved empty. The red glow was moving steadily toward the open meadow.
[Grrrrrrr…]
What emerged from the trees had the body of a lion, razor-sharp claws, and a pair of wings stretching from its shoulders. Its armored tail ended in a cluster of spikes like a morning star, and more spines ran the length of its spine. Worst of all was the face—half lion, half wizened human, a grotesque and unsettling hybrid.
A manticore…!!
Schwarz’s breath caught.
[Kyaaaaaaah—!!]
In the same instant the manticore turned toward him and loosed a savage roar.