Fate Finds You in Unexpected Places
Fate finds you in unexpected places.
The sun was sinking low over a beach grown quiet with the fading day.
The place called White Beach was the only remnant of Bianca Arca’s former self—when it had been nothing more than a tiny island slowly sinking into the sea.
"Wow… the sand is pure white. That’s amazing."
"I’ve never seen sand this white either."
The pure white sand, like a field of snow, caught the dying sunset and burned with a vivid scarlet glow. The sight was as mysterious as something out of a fairy tale.
"Still, it’s all water. I never knew the ocean could be this vast."
"Ah…!? My La—"
Milia, gazing at the waves rolling onto the white sand with open wonder, stepped toward them.
Schwarz saw her and tried to call her back, but—
"Ah! Cold!!"
A wave surged in without warning and swallowed her ankles. The icy shock made Milia jump back with a startled cry.
"That scared me… my feet are completely soaked."
"Pfft…"
At her grumbling, Schwarz let out a low chuckle.
Milia narrowed her eyes and glared at him; he promptly looked away and pretended nothing had happened.
"You little—! Get over here!"
"W-wait, My Lady! I haven’t even changed clothes yet!!"
The next instant, Milia charged at him with a face full of fury. Schwarz’s expression went pale as he shouted.
But when had Milia ever cared about something so trivial?
She seized his hand and yanked. Unable to offer any real resistance, Schwarz was dragged straight into the waves.
"Gyaaaah! Salty—!!"
"Ahahaha!!"
The sharp salt taste filled his mouth. As Schwarz spat out the seawater and scowled, Milia burst into peals of laughter at the sight.
"Ugh… you’re terrible. I’m completely soaked…"
Looking down at his dripping clothes, Schwarz muttered as he stood. He had brought spare clothes—but they were all still inside the carriage.
"Think of it as punishment for teasing your master."
"Nngh…"
Milia crossed her arms as she spoke; Schwarz could only make a helpless sound of dismay.
"Haaah… we’ve been walking around so long I’m starting to get tired."
"Then shall we head back for today?"
It was only the first day of their trip; there was no need to force themselves to see everything at once.
They had planned for about a week. That was short for touring the entire Riel Coalition, but more than enough for Bianca Arca alone.
"Yeah. I’m getting hungry, too."
"Yes, My Lady."
Milia nodded at his suggestion, and Schwarz answered while wringing water from his clothes.
The sky that had been dyed scarlet was already giving way to soft dusk, stars beginning to sparkle between the shadows.
Watching that sight together, the two of them set off toward Undine Square, where their lodging waited.
On the road to Undine Square, Milia and Schwarz walked through streets thronged with people.
"Ugh… I’m starving. I just want to get back and eat something."
"We’re almost there."
Schwarz answered her weary voice with a faint smile.
Buildings stood packed so tightly that city maps had been posted on guide boards here and there; thanks to them, finding Undine Square took little time.
"Looks like that’s the place."
After slipping through an alley barely wide enough for two people, they emerged onto a broad avenue. What met their eyes was a massive building that looked more like a work of art than a structure.
It was so enormous that even a count’s mansion would have seemed modest beside it. At the entrance of the white-and-blue building hung a sign that read Aqua Marina.
"Hurry up. I’m hungry."
"Yes, My Lady."
Speaking to the whining Milia, Schwarz started toward the building.
Just then—
"Eh…!?"
"Ow!?"
A boy came racing from the opposite direction, unable to slow in time, and slammed straight into Schwarz.
Schwarz let out only a short grunt, but the boy bounced off him, tumbled across the ground, and gave a low cry of pain.
"Schwarz…"
"I-it wasn’t me! He ran into me!"
Milia narrowed her eyes at the scene; Schwarz answered in a flustered, indignant voice as he hurried over to the boy.
"Are you all right? Did you get hurt?"
"Ah—yes…!! I’m fine!"
Schwarz offered his hand; the boy nodded and rose.
But the collision must have been harder than it looked—he swayed and nearly lost his balance. Schwarz steadied him at once.
A mana user?
In that moment Schwarz sensed the faint mana radiating from the boy.
So he was a mana holder… yet the amount was so weak that he likely had talent without yet realizing it himself.
"You don’t look fine…"
Of course, that wasn’t the important part right now.
"If anything hurts, I’ll take you to a hospital."
"I-it’s just a little dizziness! I’m sorry!"
"Wait…!! Hold on!"
The boy bowed and started to leave. Schwarz called after him, but the boy had already vanished into the crowd.
"What in the world…"
"What? He said he’s okay?"
"He did, but… something feels off."
Milia approached as Schwarz muttered in disbelief; he answered while staring in the direction the boy had gone.
The boy’s face had looked desperate, as if something were chasing him.
Schwarz wanted to follow, but something more pressing demanded attention.
"Probably just my imagination. Come on—my stomach’s about to stick to my backbone…"
"All right."
Milia spoke as if it were nothing and walked on; Schwarz rose and followed.
Even so, he could not shake the uneasy feeling.
They stepped into the lobby—
"Welcome. Do you have a reservation?"
"We don’t. But if you give this key to Lady Andrea…"
The receptionist bowed as they approached the desk. Schwarz reached into his pocket as he spoke.
Then—
"…?"
"What’s wrong?"
Fumbling through an empty pocket, Schwarz wore a blank look of shock.
Milia tilted her head at him—
"It’s gone…"
"Gone? What’s gone?"
"My wallet… and the pouch… they’re gone…"
At his words Milia asked in confusion, and Schwarz answered in a trembling voice.
And then—
"Ha…?"
Milia let out a sound of pure disbelief.
A short while later, the two of them were walking down a narrow alley.
"A pickpocket… he’s got some nerve."
"I’m sorry, My Lady…"
Schwarz bowed his head at Milia’s low murmur.
It wasn’t truly his fault, yet because he had been the one carrying the wallet, guilt weighed on him.
"It’s not your fault. The little brat is the one who did wrong."
"But…"
"You’ve always had this habit of blaming yourself for everything that goes wrong."
"Nngh…"
Coldly speaking, she wasn’t wrong, so Schwarz could find no reply. He simply followed the faint trail of mana along the alley.
At least the boy being a mana holder was a stroke of luck.
The farther they went, the narrower the alley became, and the surroundings changed just as sharply.
"This place isn’t any different from Barenberg."
"You’re right…"
Beautiful and clean on the surface—but the stronger the light, the deeper the shadow.
An alley packed with old, shabby houses. It looked exactly like the backstreets of Barenberg.
Things here probably weren’t much better.
With that thought, Schwarz kept following the mana trail. After some time they stopped before a building wedged tightly between two dilapidated structures.
"This is it."
"You’re sure?"
"Yes."
Schwarz nodded as he traced the mana beyond the door.
At the same time Milia cracked her knuckles, looking ready to smash the door down at any moment.
And then—
"You stupid brat! This is all you brought back?!"
"I-I’m sorry!!"
With a bang the door flew open. Out came the boy who had almost certainly stolen Schwarz’s wallet, followed by a rough-looking man whose body was covered in scars.
"I feed and house you little street rats, and you can’t even do one person’s share of work?! As punishment, none of you eat tonight!"
"I-I’m sorry!!"
The boy begged through tears, but the man clicked his tongue in annoyance and flung him to the ground.
"Guh…!!"
"Get out there and make some money!"
The boy rolled across the dirt with a pained cry. The man looked down at him as if he were an insect, then spat at him.
In that instant—
"Excuse me."
"Huh? Who the hell are you? This ain’t a place for kids like you."
Milia spoke to the man; only then did he notice them and narrow his eyes.
"That boy over there seems to have taken something of ours. Would you mind returning it?"
"You don’t listen too good, do you? We ain’t got nothin’ like that. Just turn around and leave."
Milia pointed at the boy still lying on the ground. The man glanced at him, then answered in an irritated tone.
A vein twitched on Milia’s forehead, but she exhaled a short breath, forcing her anger down.
Even as a noble, carelessly harming a citizen of another country could turn into a diplomatic incident. She was trying to settle this as quietly as possible.
"That’s strange. I’m certain this is the place… Would you mind if we just took a quick look—"
"Ah, get lost! Keep hangin’ around and I’ll sell you off too…!!"
The man cut her off with a shout—but the words never finished.
Schwarz had already closed the distance, seized the man by the throat, and slammed him against the wall.
"Ghk! Guh!!"
"How dare you spew such filth at My Lady…"
Schwarz glared down at the man, who could only choke out pained gasps.
"Urgh! Mmph!!"
The moment the man met Schwarz’s eyes, terror flooded his face and he began to thrash.
"Don’t kill him. It’ll be a hassle."
"Yes, My Lady."
Milia sighed softly at the sight; Schwarz nodded in reply.
And the next moment, a scream echoed through the alley.